The Brihajjatakam of Varaha Mihira (1912) (1st ed)

S$480.00

The Brihajjatakam of Varaha Mihira (1912) (1st ed)

S$480.00

The first English translation of one of the most important texts on Indian astrology. Translated by an early President of the Ramakrishna Mission. Verse-by-verse translation with original Sanskrit text.

: The Brihajjatakam of Varaha Mihira

Author: Varaha Mihira, Swami Vijnanananda (trans)

Publisher: The Panini Office, Allahabad, 1912. First English edition.

Condition: Leather spine with boards. Good. Cover shows some rubbing and wear,back hinge appears to have been repaired. Interior good – pages clean and intact, with slight foxing. 400pp excluding appendix. 10″ by 6.5″.

 

The first English translation of one of the most important texts on Indian astrology. Translated by an early President of the Ramakrishna Mission. Verse-by-verse translation with original Sanskrit text.

About the book (from Wikipedia):

Brihat Jataka or Brihat Jatakam or Brihajjatakam (Sanskrit: बृहज्जातकम), is one of the five principal texts written by Varahamihira,[1] the other four being Panchasiddhantika, Brihat Samhita, Laghu Jataka and Yogayatra. It is also one of the five major treatises on Hindu Predictive Astrology, the other four being Saravali of Kalyanverma, Sarvartha Chintamani of Venkatesh, Jataka Parijata of Vaidyanatha and Phaladeepika of Mantreswara. The study of this classic text makes one grasp the fundamentals of astrology.

Brihat Jataka is considered as the standard textbook on Vedic astrology, and sometimes described as “India’s foremost astrological text”.

Chapter I : Untitled; begins with a prayer and then proceeds to give explanation of various technical terms and concepts used in respect of planets and zodiacal signs.
Chapter II : Grahayoni Prabheda or Planetary natures; this chapter explains the characteristics, qualities, natures, positions, significance and relations of planets, their aspects, sources of strength, etc.,.
Chapter III : Viyoni Janama Adhyaya or Manifold births; deals with births of birds, animals and trees.
Chapter IV : Nisheka or Consummation of marriage; deals with conception, sex of child, effect of birth-time, birth of twins, triplets etc.;
Chapter V : Janama Kal Lakshana or Peculiarities of Birth; deals with normal and abnormal births, fate of new-borns, deformities etc.;
Chapter VI : Balarishta or Planetary combinations indicating early Death; deals with planetary situations indicating early death of new-borns, death of mother or father before birth or soon after birth, time of death, planetary combinations cancelling out early deaths;
Chapter VII : Ayurdaya or Determination of Longevity; explains methods to determine span of life of humans and also animals, grant of life-years by various planets, etc.;
Chapter VIII : Dasantradasa or Periods and Sub-periods of planets; this chapter details the directional effects of planets;
Chapter IX : Ashtaka Varga or Eight-fold inter-relationship of planets and results of their transit in various signs and houses;
Chapter X : Karamjeeva or Determination of Profession; deals with planetary situations/combinations indicating various professions, inherited wealth, legacies and other means and sources of earning/wealth;
Chapter XI : Raja yoga or Combinations for Royalty; gives combinations for royalty and political power, downfall, servitude, etc.;
Chapter XII : Nabhasa Yoga or Special Planetary combinations that have permanent influence and continuous effect on human lives;
Chapter XIII : Chandra Yogadhyaya or Results from Lunar positions and conjunctions of the Moon with other planets in different signs;
Chapter XIV : Dwigraha Yogadhyaya or Results from conjunction of two planets in different signs and bhava;
Chapter XV : Pravrajya Yoga or Sanyasa Yogas indicating Renunciation, results of concentration of many planets in a particular sign or bhava;
Chapter XVI : Rikshasiladhyaya or Influence of Constellations (Nakshatras) i.e. results of births in various nakshatras;
Chapter XVII : Rasisiladhyaya or Lunar effects i.e. results of the Moon in various signs;
Chapter XVIII : Rasisiladhyaya or Results of planets in various signs;
Chapter XIX : Drishti Phaladhyaya or Results of Planetary aspects, significance, strength of aspects, afflictions caused, etc.;
Chapter XX : Bhavadhyaya or Results of planets in various Bhavas or houses e.g. the Moon in Aries, Mars in Aries and so on;
Chapter XXI : Asrya Yogadhyaya or Special planetary combinations, results of planets in own, exaltation or other signs, of aspects on exalted planets, etc.;
Chapter XXII : Prakirnadhyaya or Mixed results; this chapter details typical situations and extraordinary combinations of planets, role of planets in different parts of sign, etc.;
Chapter XXIII : Anishtadhyaya or Misfortunes; details prosperity or adversity indicated by planetary situations, combinations and transits, fortunate or unfortunate marriage and issues, ill-health, poverty, slavery, etc.;
ChapterXXIV : Stree Jatakadhyaya or Female Horoscopy; results of combination of planets applicable to women, nature of woman ascertained via study of trimsamsa, widowhood, etc.;
Chapter XXV : Niryanadhyaya or Determination of Death, fatal diseases, unnatural death, fate of body after death, the past and future existence of soul, etc.;
Chapter XXVI : Nasta Jataka or Unknown Horoscopes; details method to construct horoscope based on query-time;
Chapter XXVII : Drekkanadhyaya or Results of planets in various Decanates;
Chapter XXVIII : Upasamharadhyaya or Concluding Chapter.

About the author (from Wikipedia):

Vārāhamihira About this sound pronunciation (circa 587 CE), also called Vārāha or Mihira, was an Indian astronomer, mathematician, and astrologer who lived in Ujjain. He was born in the Avanti region, roughly corresponding to modern-day Malwa, to Adityadasa, who was himself an astronomer. According to one of his own works, he was educated at Kapitthaka. He is considered to be one of the “Nine Jewels” (Navaratnas) of the court of legendary ruler Yashodharman Vikramaditya of Malwa.

About the translator (from Wikipedia):

Swami Vijnanananda (28 October 1868 – 25 April 1938) was born as Hariprasanna Chattopadhyaya in an upper-class family near Dakshineswar. He was a direct disciple of Ramakrishna. He was an engineer and worked as the District Engineer in the erstwhile State of United Provinces, India. He was a great scholar of Sanskrit with expertise in religio-philosophical works, astronomy, civil engineering etc. He spent considerable time in Allahabad (Prayag) centre of Ramakrishna Math. He became the President of Ramakrishna Mission in 1937. It was under his presidency and direct supervision that the Ramakrishna Temple at Belur Math was constructed and consecrated.