Light on Life brings the insight and wisdom of Indian astrology to the Western reader. Jyotish, or Indian astrology, is an ancient and complex method of exploring the nature of time and space and its effect upon the individual. Formerly a closed book to the West, the subject has now been clarified and explained by Hart de Fouw and Dr. Robert Svoboda, two experts and long-term practitioners. In Light on Life they have created a complete and thorough handbook that can be appreciated and understood by those with very little knowledge of astrology.

The sages of ancient India developed the astrological practice of Jyotisha as a karma-measuring apparatus to indicate where your karmas will permit ideals to be shared between you and those with whom you relate. Jyotisha can help restructure relationship dynamics by providing perspectives on when and how your relationships and their difficulties are likely to arise and dissipate. Light on Relationships is currently the only book that makes relationship analysis accessible to the modern student of Indian astrology. If you want to learn how to use this system for chart comparison, this book gives you the complete details. The authors cover the techniques of synastry and explore all the facets of what makes a relationship work--or not--including personal karma and goals, family influences, the Ayurvedic constitution or dosha of each individual, and how these elements are revealed. In an entertaining and informative way, the authors explain how the individual chart will reveal your inborn ability to relate. They explain the traditional ten Porutthams, which evaluate a couple's sukha (external and internal happiness), and explore superstitious concepts, such as Vishna Kanya (literally, "poison maiden"), or Kuja Dosha ("The Blemish of Mars"). Included are details on determining the most auspicious times for a wedding. This approach to synastry has been developed over years of experimentation. The authors blend the principles of synastry with other techniques culled from Jyotisha's classical canon. Some of the less conventional techniques presented come from ancient oral traditions never before incorporated into the classical works. Other methods come from the authors' mentors; and some have been developed from processes validated over many years of their experience. The authors build on some of the best principles of the astrological traditions of both West and East, hoping to bring the two camps closer together.

This first illustrated book on the ancient star signs of the East guides readers through Verdic astrology, which derives 27 individual signs from the biweekly configuration of the sun and the moon. Photos.

This book critically examines the larger world of astrology in India, its ubiquity and relationship with religion, caste, gender, class and aspirations. It looks at astrology through an empirical and phenomenological lens, analyzing different meanings and questions associated with it. How do people see astrology—as magic, science, religion, or a knowledge system? The volume analyses the role of astrology in religious and social ceremonies; the interplay of faith and fear; beliefs, practices, mysticism, and skepticism in middle-class households; and gendered negotiations in everyday life. It also delves into how astrology has emerged as a livelihood and an industry, the continued fascination with it even in an era of technological advancement, and its domination of the vernacular media. Insightful and highly comprehensive, this book will be useful for scholars and researchers of sociology, political sociology, social anthropology, anthropology, cultural studies, gender studies and urban Sociology.

Vedic Astrology Simply Put is a colorful, fun, and simplified entry into the mysterious and captivating world of Vedic Astrology, called Jyotish in India. William R. Levacy, an astrologer with more than two decades of experience, offers beautifully rendered illustrations and text to ease your understanding of this ancient system of behavior and trend analysis. This book gives you straightforward guidance on: * How to decipher the myths and origins of Vedic astrology * How Vedic astrology differs from Western or Tropical astrology * The Vedic style of interpreting the Sun, Moon, planets, houses, and signs * How the Vedic seers used the Moon signs (called nakshatras) and other special techniques to zero in on how people behave * How to use Ayurveda, the Science of Health; and Vastu--the Science of Space (India's counterpart to Feng Shui)--integrated with Vedic astrology, the Science of Time Much of the Vedic art was custom created for this book by master artists in India. There's also a special bonus enclosed--a free CD-Rom of the popular "Parashara's Light SE" Vedic astrology software.

Astrologers play an important role in Indian society, but there are very few studies on their social identity and professional practices. Based on extensive fieldwork carried out in the city of Banaras, Words of Destiny shows how the Brahmanical scholarly tradition of astral sciences (jyotiḥśāstra) described in Sanskrit literature and taught at universities has been adapted and reformulated to meet the needs and questions of educated middle and upper classes in urban India: How to get a career promotion? How to choose the most suitable field of study for children? When is the best moment to move into a new house? The study of astrology challenges ready-made assumptions about the boundaries between "science" and "superstition," "rationality" and "magic." Rather than judging the validity of astrology as a knowledge system, Caterina Guenzi explores astrological counseling as a social practice and how it "works from within" for both astrologers and their clients. She examines the points of view of those who use astrology either as a way of earning their living or as a means through which to solve problems and make decisions, concluding that, because astrology combines mathematical calculations and astronomical observations with ritual practices, it provides educated urban families with an idiom through which modern science and devotional Hinduism can be subsumed.

Learn how to identify the most salient features of Vedic astrology, how to interpret a birth chart Vedic style, and how to use this information to enhance your life. Enter the fascinating world of Vedic Astrology, an ancient system of study that originated in India thousands of years ago. Vedic Astrology, also known as Jyotish, offers valuable insights into various aspects of life, including personality traits, relationships, career, health, and spiritual growth. This comprehensive beginner's guide provides a solid foundation in Vedic Astrology, empowering readers to understand the fundamentals and start exploring this captivating subject. Author William R. Levacy takes readers on a journey through interpreting a Vedic birth chart and the twelve houses contained within, astrological signs, planetary placements, and much more.

This book has been written mainly for beginners who can learn Hindu astrology without having to learn anything by rote. They must do the exercises given at the end of each chapter systematically, again and again. There are many who have read many books on astrology and developed an incurable astrological constipation. It will be difficult for them to start with a clean slate as they cannot unlearn what they have. Yet, this book may help them remove some of the cobwebs in their minds. They have their minds cluttered with dogmas which they mistake for astrology.

In India, Astrology Is Not Merely A Method Of Divination, But An Integral Part Of Its Religious And Cultural Traditions. The Book Explores The Interrelatedness Of Astrology, Art And Religion. In The Beginning It Deals With The Foundations Of Hindu Astrology And Its Rich Symbolism. It Then Goes On To Describe The Various Representations Of Astral Symbols In The Traditional Arts Of Sculpture And Painting. Finally, The Book Shows How Artistic Representations Of Astral Deities Such As Planets And Stars Are Used In Ritual And Worship.

"Ever since my first journey to India I have desired to share the knowledge I was fortunate enough to receive. I have also felt a need to dispel some rather major misconceptions, the main one being the fact that Hindu astrology is extraordinarily difficult. This is not true, as will soon hopefully be revealed. Although I have always been most fascinated with astrology because of the philosophical implications and revelations which can be extracted. I have done my best to keep philosophy from this work, as that is not my present purpose. It is my intention only to present Hindu astrology in a way that it deserves to be presented, which is long overdue -- a way which western astrologers can understand and utilise, and which will clear away the mystery and finally put into perspective the enormously complex techniques which make up the bulk of most textbooks on the subject. Having worked with both Hindu and western systems, it is my experience that the two greatly complement each other and together form the basis for a complete and profound astrology." -- taken from the Introduction.