Are Planets GODS? Mistakes in an English Edition of BPHS

Philosophy in Bṛhat Parāśara By far the most popular English translation of Bṛhat Parāśara Hora Śāstra is by Girish Candra Sharma. Unfortunately it is not very good. The opening two chapters concern Vedic philosophy, and connect it to astrology – but the translation terribly mangles the concepts elucidated clearly in Sanskrit. For many astrologers from…

Always Delighted by Understanding Impermanence – The blessing of the 7th lord in the 5th house

In Parashara’s Encyclopedia of Astrology (Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra), the great Vedic seer illustrates the nature of what various astrological placements promote for an individual who has those placements in their birth chart. A very useful section is his depiction of images conveying the nature of what arises for people with various house lords occupying…

Classical Vedic Astrology

Let’s start by defining classical.  Classical –                   1. Having the form used by ancient standard authors; 2. Being of recognized authority or excellence. Now let’s define vedic, which is a form of the word veda. Veda – 1. Knowledge 2. Written compilation of knowledge Something is vedic if it is directly related to this…

Astrology “ABC”s from Ancient Sanskrit Texts

There are several medieval and ancient Sanskrit astrology textbooks that have a great wealth of knowledge – but are completely misunderstood by readers without the cultural background required to correctly approach them. This handicap is not the special curse of non-Indian’s by any means! All humans since the dark ages have lost the intellectual culture…

Ancient Prayer to the Sun

This is from the first chapter, 35th song of the world’s oldest surviving book, the Rg Veda. The father of ancient astrology, Sage Parashara, recommends contemplation upon this prayer to make peace with the astrological Sun. I call upon fire, friendship, waters and the restful night to aid us. I call for aid to the…

Courage and Communication – The Third House

Parashara’s Encyclopedic Scripture of Astrology The Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Chapter 13, Verse 4 “The Third House” ORIGINAL SANSKRIT vikramaM bhRitya-bhraatraadi chopadesha prayaaNakam pitror-vai maraNaM vijño dushcikyac-cha niriikShayet WORD-FOR-WORD TRANSLITERATION vikrama – courage, bravery, power, strength, gait & stride; bhRitya – dependents, employees, servants; bhraatra-adi – siblings; cha – and; upadesha – transference of important…

The Seventh House – An Ancient Explanation

The Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Chapter 13, Verse 8 “The Seventh House” jaayaam-adhva-prayaaNaM ca vaanijyaM naShTa-viikShaNam maraNaM ca svadehasya jaayaa-bhavaan-niriikShayet jaayaam – wife/spouse; adhva – journey, roads, travels; prayaaNaM – departures toward destinations and finalities; ca – and; vaaNijyaM – traffic, trade, commerce; naShTa-vikShaNam – vanishing from sight; maraNaM – death, dying, passing away; ca…

The First House – Ancient Translation

Parashara’s Encyclopedic Scripture of Astrology The Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Chapter 13, Verse 2 “The First House” dehaM roopaM ca janma ca varNaM caiva balaabalam sukhaM duHkhaM svabhaavañ ca lagna-bhaavaan niriikShayet deha – body; roopa – form; ca – and; janma – birth; ca – and; varNa – class; ca-eva – and, certainly; bala-abala –…