Authors names beginning with D & F

Part 2: Elements of delineation; Various types of chakras; Shastymsas (Symbolism attached to each half degree of the zodiac, benefic Sapta Vargas, Dasamsas & Shodasamsas); Raja Yoga (Conditions for kingship or outstanding leader, misuse or loss of power); Gandanta (Inauspicious time of birth); Delineation of the houses: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th; Conclusion to house delineations; Delineation of female horoscopes; Trimsamsas; Nakshatras; Moon in the rasis; The Nakshatras (lunar mansions); Importance in marriage; Nature of the nodes (Rahu & Ketu in the houses during dasas, bhuktis & antardasas.

Part 3: Planetary periods of life - Vimshottari system (Dasas, bhuktis & antardasas, timing planetary rulership of an event); Judging influences of dasas, bhuktis & antardasas (Dasas according to house rulership, bhuktis within each dasa); Ashtaka Varga (Judging transits); Computation wheel, construction & method of use; Delineation of transits according to Ashtaka Varga; Sarva Ashtaka Varga, composite chakra derived from ashtaka varga chakras; Sarva Ashtaka Varga Ayurdaya (Judging length of life if Saturn is strongest factor in the horoscope); Planetary periods in Pindaja system; The Varshika horoscope (The "solar return" in the constellations). Appendix; Tables; Glossary; Bibliography.

Comment: The classic, 1963, guide to Hindu astrology, one of the finest books on Vedic astrology ever published in the US. Many easy to use tables for calculation. This is the original 1963 hardcover edition, usually with the dust jacket.

De Luce Publishing Company. Oversize (8.9 x 11.2 inches, or 22.5 x 28.5 cm), hardcover, 211 pages.

Part I - Structure: 1. History of Indian astrology; 2. Sidereal astrology vs: tropical astrology; 3. Constructing the horoscope.

Part II - Interpretation: 4. Defining the planets, signs & houses; 5. Ascendant combinations; 6. Planets & houses: strengths & weaknesses; 7. Planetary yogas; 8. Interpreting planets in signs & houses.

Part III - Forecasting: 9. Predictive astrology: Vimshottari dasa system; 10. Interpreting the dasas & bhuktis; 11. The role of the astrologer.

Glossary; Appendix (schools & organizations, computer software, mail order calculation services, Vedic gemstone suppliers, Yagyas, publications, services provided by the author); Bibliography; Index.

Comment: An introductory text, covering all the basics. It is well-organized & accessible to anyone with a sincere interest. The author guides newcomers away from the pitfalls & calamities that often befall western students. (Adapted from a review by James Braha.)

Weiser, 312 pages.

10. Eighth house: Ulcers, tumours, rheumatism, piles, hydrocele; 11. Ninth house: Paralysis; 12. Tenth house: Back pain, fractures; 13. Eleventh house: Legs; 14. Twelfth house: Feet; 15. Miscellaneous: Combinations of balarishta, short life, medium life, long life, calculations of longevity, effects of main periods of various planets, timing of diseases in the sub-periods of various planets, auspicious muhurata for administering medicines, Rog-Mukta Snana; 16. Remedial measures: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu, Ketu, specific remedies for Kaal Sarpa Yoga, Sarpa Sukta, Specific remedies for insomnia; Bibliography.

Comment: From the Preface: The extraordinary insight medical astrology affords the doctor into the nature of the whole of his patient has to be experienced and to be believed. The quick insight he can obtain in differential diagnosis will save his time. For instance, Saturn in Libra afflicting Mercury, induces very obscure spasms in the blood vessels of the kidney which frequently is confirmed only after many tests of the blood samples simply because the condition goes on changing with the movements of the planets. Similarly, in the realms of appendicitis, thousands of horoscopes have been studied and the fundamental astrological ingredients of the disease have been defined. Rahu & Mars prominent in respect to the 6th house reveal one's susceptibility to appendicitis and it will manifest under the directional influences of the afflicted planets.... (pg. xiii)

Based on classroom teaching, with many example charts.

Sagar, 220 pages.

Contents:

Preface
Preface to the second edition

1. General introduction
2. Planets
3. Houses
4. Signs
5. Transit
6. Obstructive (Vedha) points
7. Transit results of the sun
8. Transit results of the moon
9. Transit results of Mars
10. Transit results of Mercury
11. Transit results of Jupiter
12. Transit results of Venus
13. Transit results of Saturn
14. Transit results of Rahu
15. Transit results of Ketu
16. Moorti Nirnay
17. Saadhe Saati & Dhaiyya
18. Nakshatra transit
19. Dasha / antardasha transit
20. Transit & ashtakavarga
21. Sarvato bhadra chakra
22. Paryayas

Bibliography

Comment: This is the revised 2007 edition of a book that first appeared in 2003.

We learn in chapter 5 that transits in Vedic astrology are not planet to planet, but planet to house, and the house is not considered from the ascendant, as in the west, but from the house with the natal moon in it. These houses can quickly be divided into benefic & otherwise, based on the transiting planet. The sun, for example, makes a benefic transit to the moon when it is in the lunar houses 3, 6, 10 & 11. Transiting Venus is benefic in all lunar houses except 6, 7 & 10. Mars & Saturn are only benefic if in houses 3, 6 or 11.

Delineations are traditional. Here are a couple:

Transiting Mars in the 6th house from the natal Moon is very auspicious. Native will gain robes, grains, wealth, fame & happiness, prosperity, will perform charitable activities, destruction of enemies, freedom from chronic illness, success in litigations, income from agriculture, chances of marriage if unmarried, birth of a child, elevation of status, fulfillment of desires, may cause infections or accidents. (pg. 60)

When Jupiter transits the natal Moon sign, it creates inauspicious results. The native will lose property & reputation, will have bad health, incur heavy expenditure, domestic worries, bad relations with friends & relatives, loss of intellect, loss of status, humiliation, mentally imbalanced, fear, punishment, incur wrath of rulers, harassment by government, obstacles in marriage. (pg. 73)

Chapter 16, Moorti Nirnay, happens monthly when the sun changes signs. You note the transiting moon's house position at that time (lunar house, again) as extremely auspicious (1, 6, 11), moderatly auspicious (2, 5, 9), moderately inauspicious (3, 7, 10), or extremely inauspicious (4, 8, 12), which presumably sets the overall tone for the month, but there are, of course, other factors. In the following chapter is a useful table showing just how malefic Saadhi Saati is, sign by sign. This, and the subsequent chapters on transits to nakshatras, dasas & ashtakavarga, were all new to me. They comprise slightly more than half the book & are clearly the meat of it. They have a lavish use of tables & numerous example charts.

The chapter on Sarvato Bhadra Chakra runs 40 pages, has many illustrations & is a major treatise in its own right. For those of you who study that chakra, this might just be the reason to get this book.

Sagar, 255 pages.

Comment: There are surprisingly few books on Shad Bala, the organized study of planetary strengths in the horosope. Includes numerous slokas (and translation & commentary) from Vedic classics, and many example charts. This book far exceeds what can be found in De Luce's book (above), and should be the standard reference for the subject.

Sagar, 314 pages.

Part II - The Methodology of Vedic Astrology: 4. The planets: the great cosmic significators; 5. Descriptions of the planets; 6. The signs: how planets transmit the energies of the stars; 7. The houses: domains of planetary action; 8. House lords; 9. Planetary aspects & combinations; 10. Divisional charts/patterns of astrological intricacy; 11. Dasha systems: Vedic planetary periods.

Part III - Astrology, Healing & Transformation: 12. Astrology & ayurveda/medical astrology; 13. Astrology & psychology; 14. Remedial measures: how to balance the influences of the planets; 15. Worship & meditation on the planets.

Part IV - Sample Charts & Appendices: 16. Vedic astrology in practice: 18 sample charts; Glossary of terms: Sanskrit; Glossary of terms: English; Bibliography; Vedic ressource guide; Index.

Comment: Comments about the book: The Astrology of the Seers is a modern classic...(back cover); is a great introduction.... (Chakrapani Ullal); already considered to be a classic text.... (Dennis Harness); a mine of information.... (Gayatri Devi Vasudev)

Comments about the author: David Frawley is recognized as a Pandit & a Vedic teacher.... (back of the book); is one of those few scholars who, though coming from the West, is imbued with the spirit of the East, especially India.... created a crop of highly learned scholars in the subject of whom Dr. David Frawley is easily one of the most outstanding.... A sadhaka (spiritual aspirant) of many years, Dr. Frawley is indeed at his best as he looks at the spiritual factors in the chart.... The expertise & ease with which he wields his pen on astrology.... easily enable him to take the Western mind & intellect on this inner journey.... (from the introduction by Gayatri Devi Vasudev).

Lotus Press, 283 pages.

Part 2: The energetics of yoga & ayurveda: Secrets of self-transformation: 6. The soul & its different bodies; 7. Prana, tejas & ojas: Secrets of yogic alchemy; 8. Agni yoga: Harnessing the inner fire; 9. Secrets of the five pranas; 10. Kundalini & the chakras: Awakening the subtle body; 11. The nadis: The channel systems of mind & prana.

Part 3: The practices of yoga & ayurveda: Techniques of inner transformation: 12. Yogic & ayurvedic diets: Similarities & differences; 13. Preparing soma: Herbs for the practice of yoga; 14. Asana: Yoga postures for health & awareness; 15. Methods of pranayama; 16. Pratyahara: The forgotten limb of yoga; 17. Mantra purusha: The person of sound; 18. Meditations & the mind.

Appendices: 1. The vedic connection; 2. Endnotes; 3. Sanskrit glossary; 4. Sanskrit pronunciation key; 5. Bibliography, English & Sanskrit. Index. Resources.

Lotus Press, 345 pages.

Part 1: The Vedic Astrology of Healing: 1. The Vedic vision; 2. Astrology, Ayurveda & yoga; 3. Doshas & planets: prime factors of astrology & ayurveda; 4. Ayurvedic & astrological types; 5. Disease factors in Vedic astrology; 6. Vedic astrology & Vedic psychology; 7. The chakras & yogic astrology

Part 2: Astrological Treatment Measures: 8. Outer remedial measures: herbs, aromas & colors; 9. Vedic gem therapy; 10. Planetary deities: communing with the cosmic powers; 11. Planetary mantras; 12. The Vedic hymn to the nine planets

Part 3: 33 Example Charts: 1. Mohammad Ali, 2. John Belushi, 3. Sonny Bono, 4. Marlon Brando, 5. George W. Bush, 6. George H.W. Bush, 7. Cher, 8. Bob Dylan, 9. Diane Feinstein, 10. Michael J. Fox, 11. Al Gore, 12. Steffi Graf, 13. George Harrison, 14. Audrey Hepburn, 15. Katherine Hepburn, 16. Michael Jordan, 17. John F. Kennedy, 18. J. Krishnamurthi, 19. Michael Landon, 20. Bruce Lee, 21. Marilyn Monroe, 22. Joe Montana, 23. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, 24. Luciano Pavarotti, 25. Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (Osho), 26. Ronald Reagan, 27. Robert Redford, 28. John Ritter, 29. Franklin D. Roosevelt, 30. Martha Stewart, 31. Barbara Walters, 32. Sigourney Weaver, 33. Oprah Winfrey

Part 4: Appendices: 1. The Vedic Rishis; 2. Glossary; 3. Sanskrit pronunciation key; 4. Bibliography; 5. Endnotes.

Index; Resources; About the author.

Comment: An introductory book. The section on gemstones is especially good.

Lotus Press, 272 pages.