V.K. Choudhry

Contents:

About the authors
Preface to the updated edition
Preface to the first edition

1. Applications of the divine science of astrology
2. Astrological terminology & Systems Approach techniques
3. Tips for predictive accuracy
4. Identification of significant events
5. Rectification of birth chart through transit
6. Case studies
7. The dreaded concept of "manglik"
8. The dreaded concept of Sade Sati traditional theory
9. Corporate or business applications of astrology
10. Planetary influences transit in relation to natal

Comment:

This is the new edition of How to Identify Signficant Events (Through Transit). It is 50% bigger than the earlier edition & and has now replaced it.

In the beginning of the book it gives these salient features:

Predictive techniques for accuracy
Unique & effective methodology to read Triple Transit Influences: Transit to natal, Natal to transit, Transit to transit.
Methodology for rectification of birth charts (through transit)
Dreaded concepts of Manglikand Sade Sati
Application of remedial measures
Case studies - for developing understanding

In the Preface to the first edition, the author writes, Identification of significant events takes precedence over general trends signified by predictive astrology. In today's fast life, people are more concerned about the period in terms of days instead of months and/or years, i.e., the total duration of the sub-period of a particular planet. Further, significant events may occur as per the general trend indications or against the general trend indications. He then goes on to relate the story of a man, ruined by bad astrological advice, who gave Choudhry the challenge of discovering what had happened to his son on over 80 particular days in his life. Choudhry accepted & completed the challenge to the man's satisfaction. This book was an outcome of that odd encounter, a reminder that life happens, astrologers should be prepared for reality, despite what dasas may indicate.

Sagar, 195 pages.

Contents:

About the authors
Preface
Acknowledgements

1. Mission of life & astrology
2. Concepts & advanced analytical techniques
3. The most malefic influence
4. Planetary configurations for a happy married life
5. Planetary configurations evidencing marital discord
6. Marital compatibility
7. Manglik Dosha
8. Case studies: Delay, denial & lack of progeny
9. Case studies: Broken engagements
10. Case studies: Inharmonious relationships & divorce
11. Case studies: Death of spouse
12. Case studies: Harrassment in marriage
13. Case studies: Extra marital relations
14. Peventive astral remedies for marital happiness
15. Application of astral remedies

Appendix A: Kavach for each of the twelve signs.

Comment:

In the Preface it says,

The success in marriage life provides happiness & solace to the person while unhappiness or discord causes numerous mental sufferings. Keeping this background in mind, the subject has been taken up for discussing:

1. Planetary configurations for a happy married life
2. Planetary configurations evidencing marital discord
3. Planetary configurations indicating the nature of maritial discord
4. Factors to be kept in view while matching a horoscope for marital alliance
5. Preventive astral remedies for marital happiness

Besides bringing out the principles, the matter has been illustrated through real life case studies. The case studies have been discussed as per the Systems Approach for Interpreting the Horoscopes propounded by the authors, and the fundamentals of analysis of a horoscope has also been taken up in the book.

This book is twice the size of the earlier edition, and has replaced it.

Sagar, 240 pages.

Comment: A prerequisite to the Systems' Approach. Read this first, then do the SA.

Sagar, 125 pages.

1. Introduction; 2. Concepts & predictive techniques: Important terminology, Analytical techniques, Comprehension tools; 3. Systems' approach; 4. Impact of mysterious Rahu; 5. Impact of mysterious Ketu; 6. Impact of exalted functional malefic planets; 7. Inter-relationship of planets; 8. Delineating results of debilitated planets; 9. Delineating personality; 10. Delineating accumulated wealth & family;

11. Delineating initiative, courage & younger brothers; 12. Delineating educational accomplishments; 13. Delineating assets in life; 14. Delineating progeny & learning; 15. Delineating health & litigation; 16. Delineating marital significations; 17. Delineating longevity; 18. Delineating general fortune; 19. Delineating foreign travel; 20. Delineating profession & status;

21. Delineating income, prosperity & elder brothers; 22. Delineating losses, expenses, residence abroad & comforts of bed; 23. Contradictions & limitations of the classical principles; 24. Remedial measures; 25. Simple & traditional remedial measures; 26. Initiation of remedial measures; 27. Mundane Vedic astrology; 28. Understand & manage relationships through Vedic astrology; 29. Frequently asked questions; 30. Pearls of wisdom.

Comment: In the Preface, the authors have this to say:

In the first edition [1991], the analysis of case studies had been based primarily on the functional nature of the planets. In the second edition [1995] the other features like the applicability of conjunctions & aspects, transit & multi-dimensional role of planets were included. The third edition [2002] included the advanced predictive techniques & the FAQs. The current edition [2006] includes the updated predictive techniques & multi-dimensional significators involved in interpreting the planetary influences for various facets of life (pg. xi)

Clear, crisp writing, lots of example charts (both rasis & navamsas).

Sagar, 366 pages.

Comment: Each of the 12 ascendant signs are considered in detail. After opening remarks (which include the good/bad effects of houses ruled by the various planets), Choudhry gives numerous chart examples for each ascendant. He shows how chart dynamics operate for each of the 12 ascendants. He also shows the proper kavach engravings to strengthen each of the ascendants. I think Choudhry likes kavach as the cost is the same for each sign (unlike gems, which vary widely in cost), they are always worn around the neck (unlike gems, which can be worn in the wrong places by accident), and, like gems, after their initial installation, they require no further action from the native (unlike mantras/yantras). In writing these various notes about Prof. Choudhry, I have been greatly impressed by his work.

Sagar, 170 pages.

Comment: A quick overview of the divisionals: Hora (d-2) shows wealth; Decanate (d-3) is initiative & happiness from younger co-borns; Turyamsa (d-4) is net assets; Shashthamsa (d-6) is health & types of diseases; Sapthamsa (d-7) is progeny & happiness therefrom; Ashthamsa (d-8) is longevity; Navamsa (d-9) is general fortune, marital happiness, religious pursuits; Dasamsa (d10) is profession, fame & deeds; Dwadasamsa (d-12) is parents; and, Chaturvimsamsa (d-24) is education.

In the introductory notes, Choudhry writes, A planet, which occupies the same sign in rasi & navamsa charts is called Vargottama. Classics attribute good results to planets in the state of Vargottama amsa. But these good results are experienced by the native if the planet is strong & well placed in the rasi chart. In case the planet is in its sign of debilitation, combust or weak on any other account, the planet fails to bestow the good results in its main or sub periods. A planet in its own decanate bestows good results relating to its significations in a chart while the one in its own navamsa makes one lucky. A planet in its own Sapthamsa confers fame, wealth & happiness in life through progeny. (pg. 3)

Tables in back give Vimshottari dasa sub-periods & sub-sub periods. Also in the back are tables for constructing the various divisional charts. An excellent book.

Sagar, 162 pages.

About the authors; Preface; Acknowledgements;

1. Predictive techniques (Comprehension tools, How to proceed for analysis)
2. Application of astral remedies
3. Impact of functional malefic lords & planets in malefic houses
4. Timing of events (Recovery of patients, Return of missing persons)
5. Financial prosperity through Jyotish/astral remedies
6. Progenic problems & Jyotish/astral remedies
7. Handling psychiatric problems
8. Cutting down delay in marriage
9. Identifying early widowhood
10. Identifying stability in marriage
11. Identifying criminal tendencies
12. Relevance of vastu to astrology
13. Care of newborn through astrology
14. Relocation through astrology
15. Career counseling for your children
16. Pearls of wisdom for spiritual growth
17. "Essentials of a horoscope reading"

Comment: A useful book. In chapter 2, entitled, "Application of Astral Remedies", are pictured the 12 Kavach, one for each of the 12 signs of the zodiac. For each, the overall design, as well as the numbers & their placements, both front & back, are given. Kavach is one of several remedial measures discussed in the chapter, which also includes gems, color therapy, Vastu, mantras & charities. As in all of Choudhry's books, there are many case studies.

Revised, expanded edition of 2006: Chapters 13 through 17 (some 30 pages) have been added, other chapters have been revised & expanded. Overall, a total of seventy pages have been added to the book.

Sagar, 194 pages.

Contents:

Abut the authors
Preface to the new edition
Preface
Acknowledgements

1. General Analytical Techniques
2. Business applications of astrology
3. Identification of the professional fields to choose right profession for children
4. Professional significations of the signs
5. Professional significations of the houses
6. Professional significations of the planets
7. Identifying professional determinants
8. Averting professional setbacks & augmenting professional prosperity
9. Identification of setbacks in profession
10. Identifying level of status
11. Case studies of professionals/executives
12. Case studies of business entrepreneurs
13. Case studies - good financial gains
14. How to select personnel for top jobs & friends.

Comment:

In the Indian culture, a parent's duties to his children are not complete until the child has obtained secure employment & a suitable marriage partner - often in that order. Only at that point is the kid on his own. Even if it takes until he's 30. Or longer. In Indian culture, this is a book intended primarily for boy children.

From a parent's perspective, proper astrological analysis of the child's chart is easily more reliable than asking the kid what he wants to do when he grows up, or pestering him to "be like his old man" (that is, carry on the family business, but then, look at what V.K. did to his son, K. Rajesh), or trying to puzzle out the results of crude aptitude tests - and all such tests are crude.

V.K. Choudhry determines profession primarily through his Systems Approach, which, as I've mentioned elsewhere, amounts to a powerful simplification of Vedic astrology. The book also continues with analysis of how to avoid getting stuck in one's career, how to advance to one's proper status, and how to judge friends. With many chart examples.

Formerly titled, How to Avert Professional Setbacks. This new edition has 91 more pages. From 2007, it regrettably came too soon to give advice for the current world-wide financial disaster, but then, the traditional, tried & true astrological rules, such can be found in this book, should be more than adequate.

Sagar, 216 pages.

Comment: Case studies comprise nearly 2/3rds of the book & include jaundice at birth, asthma, meningitis, migraine, bone TB, loss of memory, convulsions, mental retardation, mental tension, thyroid, loss of hearing, loss of speech at birth, stammering, pleurisy, congenital lung problem, tuberculosis, breathing problems, hypertension at an early age, bypass surgery, lung disorder, AIDS, intestinal cancer, stomach tumor, brain cancer, fits & stammering, paralysis, blood cancer, breast cancer, polio, brain tumor, skin problem, peptic ulcer, diabetes, weak digestion, fits & appendicitis, hernia, hypertension & appendicitis, diabetes & hypertension, inflammation of the pancreas, weak liver, spinal problems, diabetes at young age, constipation & nervous pressure, kidney transplant, gall bladder removal, piles, arthritis & stomach disorder, loss of vision.

Sagar, 134 pages.

7. Identifying prasna indications (Prime determinants, Afflictors, Spotting the prasna, Timing recovery, Understanding rulership of planets);

8. Application of astrological remedial measures; 9. Problems in profession; 10. New business; 11. Property matters; 12. Identifying health problems; 13. Problems in marriage; 14. Missing persons; 15. Miscellaneous.

Comment: Prasna is, essentially, horary astrology. The introductory notes explain the importance of a spontaneous question from the querent, eg, without prior appointment or warning to the astrologer. Also, Even at the cost of some repetition, the essential predictive techniques of Systems' Approach have been mentioned in this book so that the case studies included in this book are properly understood by the readers without referring to other books of the Systems' Approach.

Choudhry's prasna differs from western horary in a number of aspects. First, Choudhry doesn't tell us what the question was. Second, he considers the rulers of the 6th, 8th & 12th houses to be weak, as well as any planet conjunct Ketu. He considers the prasna chart's dasa. His suggestions to the client are remedial measures, rather than a yes/no answer. This is horary based on the fundamentals of Vedic astrology, rather than on horary rules in & of themselves.

Sagar, 117 pages.