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Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra

By Kshitij Sharma,
Published: April 11, 2008, Last Updated: April 13, 2014

Name of the book Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra
Author Maharshi Parashara with translation, commentary and editing by R. Santhanam
Publisher Ranjan Publications, New Delhi, India
Amazon Link Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra Of Maharshi Parasara

Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra is one of the classics of Indian Astrology and it can be safely said that Indian Astrology took birth through teachings of Parashara Muni. The teachings of Sage Parshara are presented as a text book cum reference book, although I have been using it only as a reference book for a long time now.

Although it is a collection of shlokas contained in various chapters, the publisher decided to bring it out in two volumes, correctly so, as the two volumes together are more than 1000 pages.

Basics of astrology and horoscopes are covered in volume 1. The author describes planets, their characteristics, castes, deities etc. The twelve signes are described as twelve limbs of Kalapurusha. There is a chapter on special ascendants – bhava, ghatika, hora lagna etc. In volume 1 itself, the author describes each of the twelve houses of horoscope in details. He describes shodashvarga (the sixteen divisions of the main rashi chart – navamsha, dashamsha etc.), yogakaraka planets and determination of longevity as read from the horoscope.

In volume 1, the author deals with definitions of various dashas and a detailed description of Vimshottari dasha periods for various planets. Ashtakavarga, an important tool of predictive astrology is also explained and described in this volume. The author also talks about the evil effects and corresponding remedial measures due to birth of a child in an inauspicious nakshatra and/or yoga.

I read this book because it is the last word on Vedic Astrology. In case of disagreements, other books in turn refer to shlokas in this book for clarification. This book does not contain all the tenets of Indian Astrology; but it defines a set of rules which must not be contradicted.



6 comments

  • Comment by aseet on February 11, 2009 at 12:40 pm

    i am a b.tech student i want to learn astrology from where should i start

  • Comment by Aditya Prakash on April 13, 2009 at 1:24 am

    Hello Kshitij. I have an avid interest in Indian Astrology. I have been looking for an authentic copy of the Brihat Parashar Hora Shastra for some time now. Could you tell me the author name & publisher name as also how and where can I get one (maybe in Delhi)?

    Thanks in advance

  • Comment by Rajesh on August 21, 2009 at 2:19 pm

    I’m very much interested to learn about Astrology. I have had an overview reading of some of these books as well. Can you give the sequence of this learning. Also I’m totally confused about the various system of Dasa system followed in various places like Vimsottari, Astttari, Tribhagi, Yogini etc. In our place Tribhagi is followed and people say that it works while it is different for differnt places. Can you clarify it. Regards

  • Comment by vibhor sharma on June 7, 2010 at 12:58 pm

    dob 05-11-1998
    time 01:55pm
    b.place faridabad haryana

    future forecasting about health studies @ career

  • Comment by Arun on May 14, 2012 at 9:08 pm

    I am very interested in learning astrology. I always keep searching on Internet. Please show me the way to learn it.

  • Comment by Pratima on March 7, 2017 at 12:30 pm

    Dob . 13 August 1991
    6.30 pm
    Amethi

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