Synopsis: The Brihat Samhita of Varahamihira is an encyclopaedia of astrology and most all other subjects of human interest. Whatever the subject, be it eclipses, planetary movements, rainfall, clouds, water-divination, or any other topic, the author treats them with thoroughness and a mastery based on knowledge of the ancient sastras. Wherever he differs from the ancients, he gives reason for it.

A complete treatise on life in ancient India & essential to fully comprehend the concepts behind Vedic astrology. With exhaustive notes & literary commentary.

Contents, comment.

Motilal Banarsidass, 2 hardcover volumes.

11. Effects of birth stars-padawise; 12. Effects of 27 yogas; 13. Effects of 11 Karanas; 14. Result of Yonis; 15. Effects of Ganas; 16. Effects of birth during day/night; 17. Establishment of Drig-Ganitha; 18. Effects of moon in different rasis; 19. Effect of birth in different lagnas; 20. Effect of birth in Hora;

21. Effects of birth in Drekkana; 22. Effects of birth in Saptamsa; 23. Effects of Navamsa in brief; 24. Effects of planets' strength (Graha Bala); 25. Results of Rashmi balam; 26. Results of Graha Avastha; 27. Results of Navamsa; 28. Results of Chandra Navamsa; 29. Effects of planets in others' Navamsa; 30. Effects of Dwadasamsa;

31. Efffects of Trimsamsa; 32, part 1: Significations of planets; 32, part 2: Effects of sun in Rasis & aspects on him; 33. Effects of moon in Rasis& aspects on her; 34. Mars in Rasis & aspects thereon; 35. Mercury in Rasis & aspects thereon; 36. Jupiter in Rasis & aspects thereon; 37. Venus in Rasis & aspects thereon; 38. Saturn in Rasis & aspects thereon; 39, part 1: Judgement of Bhavas; 39, part 2: Study of Lagna Bhava; 40. Study of Dhana Bhava;

41. Study of third Bhava; 42. Study of 4th Bhava; 43, part 1: Study of Puthra Bhava; 43, part 2: Fifth house-appendices; 44. Study of sixth Bhava; 45. Study of Kalathra Bhava; 46. Study of Mrithyu Bhava; 47. Study of Bhagya Bhava; 48. Study of Karma Bhava; 49. Study of Labha Stana; 50. Study of Vraya Bhava.

598 pages. Total slokas: 1782. Slokas from other sources: 56.

Contents, volume 2: 51. Vesi, Vasi, Ubhayachari Yogas; 52. Moon related Yogas; 53. Study of exaltation etc. of planets; 54. Results of Dwigraha Yoga; 55. Results of Trigraha yoga; 56. Results of Chathur graha yoga; 57. Results of Pancha graha yoga; 58. Results of Shad graha yoga; 59, part 1: Raja yoga gadhyaya - an introduction; 59, part 2: Results of Raja yoga; 60. Pancha Mahapurusha yoga;

61. Raja yoga bhanga; 62, part 1: Nabhasa yoga - an introduction; 62, part 2: Nabhasa yoga; 63. Pravrajya (Sanyasa) yoga; 64. Sthree Jathaka; 65. Nakshatra Arishta yoga; 66. Affliction of Lagna - infantile death; 67. Chandra Arishta yoga; 68. Lagna-Chandra Arishta yoga; 69. Arishtas caused by planets; 70. Lagna-Arishta bhanga yoga;

71. Chandra-Arishta bhanga yoga; 72. Arishta yogas - Yavaya principle; 73. Pithru Arishta yoga; 74. Arishta yoga - Thajika school; 75. Yogas for instant death - Horasara; 76, part 1: Ayurdhaya; 76, part 2: Ayurdhaya; 76, part 3: Ayurdhaya; 77. Arishta yoga bhanga - Horasara; 78. Ayurdhaya yoga - Yavana; 79, part 1: Ashtaka Varga; 79, part 2: Ashtaka Varga - missing links; 80. Various chakras - Swara Shastra;

81. Moola Dasa Adhyaya; 82. Result of Anthar dasas; 83. Misfortunate dasas; 84. Dasa Arishta bhanga; 85. Effects of Sun's dasa - Hora Sara; 86. Effects of Moon's dasa; 87. Effects of Mars' dasa; 88. Effects of Mercury's dasa; 89. Effects of Jupiter's dasa; 90. Effects of Venus' dasa;

91. Effects of Saturn's dasa; 92. Different - Avasthas - Results - YAVANA; Conclusion.

509 pages, 1299 slokas, 25 slokas from other sources.

Comment: In the Preface, the translator writes:

The Author Sri Nrusimha Deivajna seems to have lived during the beginning of the 17th century. It is inferred, that he was the paternal nephew of Sri 'Ganesha Deivajna', author of the well-known work 'Graha Laghav'. As such, he is in the line of dynasty of Sri Ganesa Deivajna. The author's father Sri Krisha Mallary is respectfully remembered by the author.

The author seems to have been born & flourished in Vidarbha desha of Maharashtra. His is a massive work, dealing with complete Varga phala, such as Hora, navamsa, drekkana, etc. While other classical texts have simply given only methods of calculation of these vargas, whereas Nrusimha Deivajna has also given the results of these vargas in detail, which is rarely found in any of the other texts.

Though he has not taken vimshottari dasa or any other conditional dasas of the Sage Parasara, he in his "Moola dasadhyana" has evolved unique dasa system, equating the years of the Dasa to the years of 'Ayurdhaya' calculated for the native. Nowhere in the prevalent texts, this has been done. For this reason, he has evolved 8 dasas namely lagna, chandra, Suyra, Kuja, Budha, Guru, Sukra and Sani. The preference of the priority of these dasas have to be reckoned from the strongest to the weakest of the planets for which, the author has given "dhruva" numbers as factors, for the calculation of the same. He has also shown the methods of the calculation of the periods of dasas covering the total years of Ayurdhaya arrived at. This peculiar system is introduced by this Author only. The pecularity being as follows:

Whereas, Vimshottari dasa years totals to 120 years, which no native will live to cover those years. But in the Author's Mooladasa system, the native will be able to cover all the 8 dasas in proportional parts equated to the Ayurdhaya of an individual which may vary from individual to individual.

Apart from this, he has given few methods on Ayurdhaya etc. He has also given various chakras for pinpointing the results of gochara by various methods. He has given various combinations on predictive side hitherto not given in any of the classical text.... (pgs. iii-iv)

Sagar, paperbacks.

Contents:
Volume 1: 1. Birth of Hora Sasthra; 2. Meaning of Hora; 3. Rasi description; 4. Planetary characters; 5. Miscellaneous matters; 6. Yoga karakas; 7. Planetary indications; 8. Copulation & conception; 9. Conditions at birth; 10. Evils at birth;

11. Evils & the moon; 12. Evils cancelled at birth; 13. Lunar yogas; 14. Yogas from the sun; 15. Conjunctions of two planets; 16. Conjunctions of three planets; 17. Conjunctions of four planets; 18. Conjunctions of five planets; 19. Conjunctions of six planets; 20. Combinations for renunciation;

21. Nabhasa yogas; 22. Effects of the sun; 23. Effects of the moon in various rasis; 24. Effects of the moon in various navamsas; 25. Effects of Mars in various rasis; 26. Effects of Mercury in various rasis. 358 pages.

Volume 2: 27. Effects of Jupiter in various signs; 28. Effects of Venus in various signs; 29. Effects of Saturn in various signs; 30. Effects of planets in bhavas;

31. Two planets in angles; 32. Ninth house & effects thereof; 33. Tenth house & effects thereof; 34. Different houses & worldly affairs; 35. Rajayogas; 36. Planetary rays; 37. Pancha maha purusha yogas; 38. Effects of natural constituents & primordial compounds; 39. Obstruction to rajayogas; 40. Calculation of longevity;

41. Moola dasa; 42. Effects of sub-periods; 43. Evil effects of dasa; 44. Antidotes for evil dasas; 45. Effects of planetary dignities; 46. Female horoscopy; 47. Aphorisms of death; 48. Lost horoscopy; 49. Effects of horas; 50. Effects of decanates;

51. Effects of navamsas; 52. Lost horoscopy; 53. Ashtakavarga; 54. Effects of ashtakavarga; 55. Manifold births. 483 pages.

Comment: Kalyana Varma was an ancient king of Vyaghrapada (c. 900 AD) who studied astrology to better rule his subjects. His classic treatise, much inspired by Parasara, treats of yogas, planetary combinations, effects of planets in rasis & Navamsas, evils at birth & how to cancel them, houses, planetary rays, longevity, moola dasa periods & sub-periods, female horoscopy, lost horoscopy, horas, ashtakavargas & more. Includes original Sanskrit slokas.

Ranjan, 2 volumes.

Synopsis: What eventually became the Lal Kitab was issued over a series of years, beginning in 1939. Subsequent installments appeared in 1940, 1941 & 1942. These were collected into one volume in 1952, all in the Urdu language. This translation is based on the 1952 edition.

The translators believe the actual author to be one "Pt. Roop Chand Joshi who hailed from Pharwala in United Punjab under British Rule. Panditji was an accountant in Royal Indian Army during the British Rule. During his tenure in Army, he received some old manuscripts from one of his collegues who often ventured into Palmistry.... Since the soldier was not a man of letters, he pleaded with Pt. Roop Chand to translate his acquired knowledge into black & white. Thus, the foundations of a great book was laid." (pgs. xiv-xv)

Contents, comment.

Sagar, 775 pages, hardcover with dust jacket.

Volume 2: 6. Marrying of Horoscope; 7. On Raja Yogas or Planetary Conjunctions, leading to kingship; 8. On Conjunctions of two or more planets; 9. The Effect of Gulika year etc.; 10. Ashtakavarga. Comprises pages 319 to 708, includes original Sanskrit.

Volume 3: 11. The effects of the 1st & the 2nd Bhavas; 12. The effects of the 3rd & 4th bhavas; 13. The effects of the 5th & 6th bhavas; 14. The effects of the 7th, 8th & 9th bhavas; 15. The effects of the 10th, 11th & 12th bhavas; 16. Female horoscopy; 17. Kalchakra; 18. Dasas; Errata. Comprises pages 709 to 1080, includes original Sanskrit slokas.

Comment: This is the 1932 translation by the late V. Subramanya Sastri. The publishers have included some brief background notes to the book, and to the translation itself.

Ranjan, three volumes.

11. Horoscopes of women; 12. Issues or children; 13. Length of life; 14. Diseases, death, past & future births; 15. How to study the effects of the houses; 16. General effects of the 12 houses; 17. Exit from the world; 18. Conjunctions of two planets; 19. Dasas & their effects; 20. Dasas of house lords & their sub.;

21. Sub-divisions of dasas & their characteristics; 22. Kala Chakra dasa; 23. Ashtakavarga; 24. The ashtakavarga effects as in Horasara; 25. Upagrahas; 26. Gocharphala; 27. Ascetic yogas; 28. Upasamhara.

Comment: From the introduction: Mantreswara has in this masterpiece given a very deep & scientific study of the effects of transits & the cause & effect resulting therefrom. The Adh. on the effects of bhavas will be found by the reader as a very useful & informative guide. Equally interesting is the discovery through the yogas. So is the revealing experience in the Adh. on Sarvatobhadrachakra. This book is so complete a study of the subject that it has been recommended as a textbook in several institutions. Some of these reasons have prompted me to translate it into English.

Includes the original Sanskrit slokas.

Sagar, 329 pages.

11. Female horoscopy; 12. Birth of children (5th house); 13. Determination of longevity; 14. Diseases, death & past & future births; 15. Assessment of houses; 16. General effects of the 12 houses; 17. Exit from the world; 18. Effects of conjunction of two planets; 19. Dasas of planets & their effects; 20. Effects of Dasas of the lords of houses;

21. Nature of Antar Dasas & Pratyantar Dasas; 22. Kalachakra Dasa; 23. Ashtakavarga; 24. Effects of Ashtakavarga according to Horasara; 25. Gulika & other Upagrahas; 26. Effects of transit of various planets & constellations (Nakshatras); 27. Yogas leading to ascetism; 28 Conclusion.

Comment: From 2003, a new translation. Includes Sanskrit slokas. I am not certain which of the two translations is "better". Both translators are excellent in their own rights, I suspect readers will tell me soon enough.

Ranjan, 328 pages.

Contents:

Preface, by Ashutosh Ojha
Introduction, by Gopesh Kumar Ojha

1. Rashibheda Mangala Charan (analysis of signs)
2. Graha bheda planetary characteristics
3. Divisions of a horoscope
4. Graha bala (planetary strength)
5. Career
6. Yogadhyay (combination & placement of planets)
7. Raj yoga
8. Bhavashraya Phal (effects of planets in houses)
9. Rising sign / Moon at birth
10. The 7th house (the house of marriage / spouse)
11. The nativity of women
12. Children
13. Ayur Bhav (longevity)
14. Decision about disease
15. Bhava Chinta (house analysis)
16. Dwadash Bhavphal
17. Niryana Prakarana (the timing of destruction)
18. Two planets together
19. Dasha Phal - the effect of the periodic influence of the planets
20. Antardasha Phal - influence of the minor periods of planets
21. Pratyantar Dashaphal (sub periods in the minor periods planets)
22. Mixed periods
23. Ashtak Vargas
24. Ashtak Varga Phala - interpretations of the Ashtak Varga
25. Gullikadi Upagrahas
26. The effect of transit
27. Sanyas Yoga
28. Upsanharadhdyaya

Appendices:
1. Glossary of terms used in the book, arranged by chapter as notes to the text.
2. More glossary. 3. Tables of the balance of the Kaal Chakra dasha from the longitudes of the Moon, for 100 years, 85 years, 83 years and 86 years
4. Minor periods in the major periods of Kalchakra.
5. Table of minor periods in the major periods of Vimshotari Dashas (adapted from Lahiri)

Comment:

Gopesh Kumar Ojha translated Mantreswhar's orginal Sanskrit slokas into Devenagri Script (ie, Hindi) in the 1950's. Now, his son, Ashutosh Ojha has translated his father's Hindi into modern English. In addition to the Phaladeepika, the translators have also included a translation of 225 principles (or 450 yogas, it's a bit muddy) of the Bhavarath Ratnakar, but in scanning the book I am uncertain where, exactly, they may be. Presumably in chapter 6, though they are not identified as such.

This is by far the largest of the three translations (and also the most expensive). Includes complete Sanskrit slokas. The commentary is rather good, the writing is refreshingly direct, though it is not always clear what is translation, and what is commentary. Here is what it says on the back of the book:

This is one of the best books on Predictive Astrology. It includes the essence of Parashar Jaimini and many more masters. Four hundred and fifty Yogas of Bhavartha Ratnakar of Shri Ramanuja have been added to benefit the title Phaladeepika: Bhavartha Bodhini.

The 28 chapters in the book cover various topics: the characteristics, house divisions, strength of planets, career, various yogas, raja yogas, marriage, children, longevity, periodic influence of planets, the effect of transits & ashtakavargas. The 11th chapter exclusively deals with the nativity of women; the 22nd chapter gives the interpretations & calculation of the kalchakra dashas.

This English translation also includes many horoscopes, tables & a glossary of Sanskrit & Hindi words. The language is easy to understand & even beginners after studying this book for a few months will be able to arrive at the right interpretations & timing of events.

Gee, you don't think that last paragraph was intended for the US market, do you? This is a most outstanding book.

Motilal Banarsidass, 673 pages.

Contents:

Prayer
Proem

1. Description of signs and houses in general
2. Planetary significators and nature
3. Considerations on divisions of zodiac and divisional charts
4. Considerations on planetary strength
5. On profession linked to livelihood
6. Combinations for ruling and authority
7. Combinations for power, prosperity and popularity
8. Housewise effects of planets

Comment:

The first of three volumes and a total of more than 1800 pages, by the time all 3 books are in print. Massively greater than anything seen before. Since you were wondering, here are the opening words of the Proem. Read carefully:

This commentary of Phala-Deepika has become unimaginably voluminous despite my best efforts to arrest its size for remaining in tune with the prevalent market trend but my concern for the students anxiously wandering around in search of more and more informations ultimately prevailed and cofounded my all such endeavours before the work could be completed. (pg. i) (The author goes on for another 35 pages.)

So more Phala Deepika than you ever imagined possible. Original Sanskrit or Hindu slokas are given (regret I do not know which). While I am not a Vedic scholar, glancing through the book I sense there is a mixture of astrological basics along with brilliant commentary. Here is an example, picked at random. See what you can make of it:

It may be noted that in the scheme of Panch Maha-Purusha-Yoga, both the royal planets Sun and Moon have been ignored because they themselves become Lagna and their disposition in strength makes those Lagnas strong regardless of the position in the chart. Consequently good results are bound to come to pass. But in the case of other five planets this is not the case. As such, their position and strength have been chosen in cardinal houses so that they can strongly influence Lagna for the fructification of good results. However, due to allocation of such places to these planets some other forces come into play in natural way on account of which these yogas either become weak or become infructuous and the desired results are found missing. For a comprehensive and indepth study of these yogas, the reader may refer to Yoga-Pushpanjali of the scribe published by Alpha Publications, wherein it has been dealt with in exhaustive length. (pg. 322)

In the Proem, the author says that all three volumes of his Phala Deepika are complete, so we should see them in print eventually. I will add them when they arrive.

Alpha, 686 pages, hardcover with dustjacket.