K.S. Charak

Comment: This is one of the finest studies of medical astrology ever published. The author holds an MS (Surgery), FRCS (UK), & is Head of the Department of Surgery at Indira Gandhi ESI Hospital at Jhilmil, Delhi. His English is excellent.

On the back of the book, it says: [This book] lays down detailed principles relevant to the analysis of a horoscopic chart, with disease & its various aspects as the main focus of attention. Some of the prominent features of this work are: Standardization of approach to analysis of a chart related to disease; Use of four vargas, or divisional charts, & 2 dasas to ensure an accurate assessment of the chart; Discussion of principles of sound & unsound health; Indications for congenital ailments; An elaborate approach to ensure accurate timing of onset of disease & its outcome; Hints about the possible site of disease as well as the nature of disease using the significations of houses & planets, and the Drekkanas; A detailed account of the principles of Balarishta & Arishta-Bhanga; The use of such subtle principles of Vedic astrology as the 22nd Drekkana, the 64th Navamsha, the Sarpa Drekkana, and Gulika or Mandi, to decide on the onset & outcome of illness; Classic combinations indicating some of the common ailments, and the scientific approach to the application of these principles to actual horoscopic charts.

UMA Publications, 204 pages.

Comment: The second, more advanced book on medical astrology from Dr. Charak. In this book: Use of multiple dashas (Vimshottari, Yogini, Chara) to confirm the same event; use of divisional charts & transits for medical astrology; the role of retrograde planets in causing disease; malefic conjunctions leading to ill health; adverse role of Trika houses & their lords; the dreaded 22nd drekkana & the 64th navamsha; the use of the lesser-known, but definitely adverse Mrityu Bhaga; applications of standard astrological dicta & their numerous modifications as determined by actual horoscopes, more.

Uma Publications, 164 pages.

Contents:

Preface

1. Chapter on nomenclature
2. Chapter on houses
3. Chapter on yogas
4. Yogas for Visha-Kanya
5. Determination of longevity
6. Chapter on mutual exchanges
7. Chapter on lineage

Index

Comment: The text is nearly four centuries old & consists of over 100 verses in Sanskrit (included in the text). Charak does not give the original author (if known), but does say the book is written in "a very charming meter called the Sraghara Chhanda. This particular meter is characterized by four lines to a verse, each line consisting of twenty-one letter units which follow the formula: SSS SIS SII III ISS ISS ISS" (pg. 3)

From the back cover we learn the book includes a brief introduction to the 12 houses & planetary interrelationships, A detailed treatement of each house with descriptions of planetary combinations relevant to each, A chapter on yogas, with reference to the individual's physical, mental, intellectual, financial, sexual & social status, A detailed account of various medical ailments (of interest to Charak himself), Numerous yogas that determine life expectancy, The results of the exchange of house lords, A special chapter on Visha-Kanya.

This book was previously serialized in Charak's bimonthly Vedic Astrology Journal. For publication as a book, the text was carefully revised & all calculations checked. The book includes the translated text as well as extensive commentary & practical examples.

UMA Publications, 172 pages.

Comment: Varshaphala, or Tajika, is the Vedic equivalent of the solar return, accomplished by use of 16 Tajika yogas. In Tajika, aspects, friends & enemies, masculine/feminine planets all differ from the classic norms of Parasara. Unique are the annual lords, the 16 yogas, certain sensitive points (sahams), the Muntha & the Tri-Pakaki Map. One of the best books of its kind in English, with many case studies.

UMA Publications, 213 pages.

Elementary Concepts: Elementary concepts of Varshaphala; Casting the annual chart; Importance of Dhruvanka; Aspects in an annual chart; Strength of planets; Role of muntha; The muntha & the rahu-ketu axis; Dashas or operational periods; Lord of the year; Significations of planets; Significations of houses; Transits & Vedha; Birth ascendant in the annual chart;

Scheme of Analysis: Scheme of analysis of an annual chart; Parashari principles in Varshaphala; The Tajika scheme; Application of predictive principles: Rise to power; Fall from power; Relationships & marriage; Accidents & unnatural deaths; Consideration of health; Summary; Index

Comment: Varshaphala is a useful adjunct to the standard Parashari system of chart analysis. It has been primarily used by north Indian astrologers. This book is an advance on Charak's earlier Textbook of Varshaphala (above). In this book: Emphasis on practical applications of Varshaphala; Integration of the annual chart with the natal chart; New light on Tajika aspects, the Muntha & the lord of the year; Inclusion of new subjects, including transits, Vedha, Hudda dasha, etc.; Use of five different dasha systems with special mention of their use in different annual charts; Predominant use of Tajika yogas highlighting their reliability in predictions. Emphasis on yogas not only from the lagna, but also from the Muntha & the lord of the year. A large, profusely illustrated selection of case studies, covering many real-life situations.

Systems Vision, 171 pages.

Section I: The Grand Scheme: 1. Surya, the eternal soul.

Section II: The Sun in the Puranas: 2. The eternal time; 3. The beginning of creation; 4. The sun as the son of Aditi; 5. The sun's wife & progeny; 6. Surya as the victim of Rahu; 7. The sun as the teacher of Hanumaana; 8. Surya's benevolence upon Yudhishthira; 9. Krittika, the nakshatra of the sun; 10. Twelve Aadityas & the chariot of the sun.

Section III: The Sun in Astrology: 11. The sun: signs & signification; 12. The sun, the zodiac & the Kaalachakra; 13. The sun in the natal chart; 14. The dasha-periods of the sun; 15. The ravi yogas; 16. Simha, the rashi of the sun; 17. The Surya Kaalaanala chakra.

Section IV: The Sun in Yoga: 18. Yoga & the chakra of the sun; 19. Surya namaskaara.

Section V: Propitiation of the Sun: 20. Aaditya-hridaya stotra.
Index.

Comment: From the back cover: [This] is a book that deals with various aspects of the Sun not confined to astrology & astronomy only. It is an elaborate & multi-dimensional treatment of the Sun. The different aspects of the Sun covered in this book include the following: The identity of the Sun with the Universal Soul & a link between the macrocosm & the microcosm; A connection between the Sun outside & the Fire element that operates within the invidual body; Origin of the Sun according to the Puranas; The role of the Sun in the cycle of time & the concept of the zodiac; Pauranic stories which highlight the various characteristics of the Sun as of special relevance to predictive astrology; The segmentation of the Eternal Time & the cycles of Creation & Dissolution; A complete section on the Sun as appropriate to astrology; The place of the Sun in the yogic discipline; the importance of the Manipura Chakra & the Surya Namaskaara; Propitiation of the Sun as a panacea against ill health & adverse dasha periods of the Sun.

UMA Publications, 164 pages.

Comment: From the back cover: [This book] deals primarily with the technique of analysis & interpretation of the various astrological yogas according to the Parshari system. The approach to analysis is based on the standard astrological principles which are so often ignored when dealing with this all-important subject. The role of the houses where the various yogas form, the signs involved, the other planetary influences on the yoga-forming planets, the strength & weakness of the constituent planets, their status in the vargas, and the operating dasha have all been elucidated with examples. One full chapter has been devoted to the famous, but ill-understood, Gaja-Kesari yoga as a model example of the technique of yoga interpretation, and the various factors which facilitate or obstruct the functioning of a yoga. The Pancha-Mahapurusha yoga, the solar and the lunar yogas, and the important Dhana yogas, Raja yogas and Arishta yogas have all been treated exhaustively. The generally ignored Nabhasa yogas have been classified in a unique manner & their significance in horoscopic analysis emphasised. One chapter is devoted to the Sanyasa yoga. This book is profusely illustrated with examples.

UMA Publications, 214 pages.