Fundamentals of Vedic Astrology: Vedic Astrologer's Handbook Vol. I [Paperback]

I had interests in Astrology since childhood, but in India I was not able to find the good books. Although I had leared the hard way of creating Birth-Chart (Janam Patri)through Panchang and some knowledge of my Pandit Jee. Resently I had started reading lots of books about Astrology written by Western and Indian Authors. Both has different approches as Western wrtiers makes the book easy to read while Indian writers narrates more about the subject. This book is great for fundamentals. It clears all the aspects of Vedic Astrology. Only thing you need is you have to create serious interests and then you will be able to follow each and every words. If not, then just go though this book, let it sink and then read again and again. Thanks to Bepin Behari to provide this misterious and auspicious knowledge to the world.

Like its companion volume, "Planets in Signs and Houses" (2003), this book is a well-organized, portable reference guide to Jyotisha basics. Nicely typeset with clear chapter headings. Assets for the learner include an extensive table of contents, index, glossary, and a variety of handy charts.

Introductory Topics in Part-1 and Part-2 = rashi (signs), bhava (houses), signs (rashi), yogas (combinations), nakshatra (lunar astrology), varga (divisional charts), Kalapurusha (the cosmic man, for medical astrology) and planetary friendships. Part-3 interpretation = more esoteric but still basic enough to guide beginners.

Because this list of topics would be covered in any introductory Jyotisha class, Behari's "Fundamentals" makes a convenient textbook for a first class in Jyotisha or for self-learning. For my beginning classes, I recommend the pair, Vedic Astrology Handbook 1 and Handbook 2. Intermediate students are directed to more comprehensive English texts such as "Light on Life" (1996) and "Three Hundred Important Combinations" (1947, 1983)and others.

The nakshatra descriptions are scaled-down versions from "Myths and Symbols" (1990). These simplified versions = 3-4 paragraphs each, which seems just right for the beginner who is already overwhelmed with the complexity of Jyotisha terminology. Intermediate students can search "Myths and Symbols" for more depth. Behari's drishti patterns seem a bit exotic, esp. for Rahu-Ketu (p 158-160). If the beginner needs more background on planetary aspects (drishti) there is an introductory treatment of Parashari drishti in David Frawley's "The Astrology of the Seers" (1990).

Overall, a right-sized reference guide that is easy to buy and use for a class. Recommended to students and teachers who need an introductory English-language text for ready reference to basic Jyotisha concepts.

For me, as a novice of Vedic Astrology, this one was a bit heavy as a place to start my studies. With that said, Vedic astrology is an amazingly complex system...After reading Beneath a Vedic Sky, this one by Behari was a very helpful, natural next step. He does not write it for the Western mind and leaves out things that, as a Westerner, I didn't know. I have found that Beneath a Vedic Sky and this one have been very complimentary to each other.Beneath A Vedic Sky