India as you know is the country of origin of many subjects: Mathematics (decimal System, teh concept of zero), Trigonometry, Calculus (Panini had explained Limits, Derivatives, Integration 150+ years before Newton did. Similarly Pythagoras Theorem was a peanuts for Indian mathematicians that goes back to at least 200 years before Pythagoras found it.) The other one is Astronomy and of course Astrology!
Our Astrological achievements date back to more than 10000 years and that can be proved by various notes in our Granthas about ’then’ planetary positions! Our people new distances of moon to earth and also other planets like Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Mars, Venus and also their compositions & basic nature of the planets much before rest of the civilization had any clue about it. (Before Earth is round by Galileo!).
Linda Goodman spent quite a bit of her life time in India and in Himalayas with some Rishis etc. She very well knew that the division of signs in Western calendar was wrong but trying to remedy that would have made western people loose whatever small interest they had in Astrology! Also why disturb a poor Cancerian born on 14th August if they believe they are Lions! :) Check my review on Linda Goodman’s sun signs for more information.
The problem is that our Pundits just ’sat’ on all this information and knowledge and didn’t share outside the families and also chose to transfer to next generations orally instead of writing it down. What ever they wrote was in Sanskrit & also cryptic in say Prayers for Lord Ganesha talking about triple integration!! Just guess what would have happened if the knowledge was shared.
What was documented and existed in Nalanda and Kashi vidyapeeths (Universities) was destroyed by the Intruders from Afghanistan. Nalanda had 2 lac+ Granthas/thesis when it was burnt!
OK, why so much of history talk: To show you the importance of writing down what you know. If Bharat-Ratna is to be awarded for a Astrologer for sharing of knowledge and putting it in rational, scientific manner then it has to be V. D. Bhat (referred as VaDa Bhat) from Pune.
His tini-tiny books pack a great information and knowledge and in an extendible way. He proves thoughts and free thinking unlike our culture where challenging or doubting the Guru is considered the greatest Sin! (Sadly!)
He has written a lot of books on Astrology and each and every one of them is a master-piece for any astrologer. They are also approved by various Jyotish-Peeths in Maharashtra and also India as text books. Many of them are HIGHLY specific and a collector piece for intermediate to higher students. The best part is that these books cost around 60-80 Rs!!! Even if you can read Hindi you should be able to read them!
Let us look at this text Book: Kundali-Tantra-Mantra Part 1 (Marathi)
CONTENTS
This books covers the basics of Astrology. Here are the topics:
(1) How many signs; Names of the signs; Zodiac Description;
(2) Characteristics of the signs, 2 Types of Groups of the signs (element and Attitude)
(3) Planets: Basic Characteristics of the planets & how they affect specific part/department of human-life (Karakatva)
(4) Planetary motion, their speeds, distances from earth -- Astronomical aspects
(5) Horoscope: How to get horoscope from Birth Date, Time, Place; How to represent the chart.
(6) Basic concepts of Horoscope/Kundali; 12 Sthanas/Bhavas/Houses
(7) What every house represents (say 2nd house: Eyes, Tongue, Family, Responsibilities, Loans, Share-market etc): A comprehensive list of all the things that every house represents (covers all aspects of human life)
(8) Owners of the Signs -- Why/How it affects (Basically every sign has some characteristics and these are also in a specific planet)
(9) Effects of every planet in every house
(10) Effects of owner of every house in 12 houses: i.e. say Effect of the owner of 1st house in all teh 12 houses & so on)
(11) Nakshtras: how 27 Nakshtras span across 12 Signs. How a Nakshtra is divided in 4 Charanas & further 4 upacharas (every charan).
(12) Characteristics of Every Nakshatra, Their owner (Nakshatra-swami), if Dev-Manushya or Rakshas-Gana, N Number of different groups of Nakshtras.
(13) Calculation of Vimshottarri (120 years) MahaDashas & related Antardasha....Basically 9 Nakshatraswami repeat for 27 nakshatras with every Swami having 3 Nakshtras...for example: Budha owns Ashlesha, Jyeshtha and Revati. Ketu owns: Ashwini, Magha and Mula & so on. Basically at the time of birth the Nakshatra the moon is in, you have the Mahadash of the planet that owns this Nakshtra. Then the sequence repeats after that (for everyone teh sequence is same but the starting mahadasha is different).
The Writing Style
As simple as it gets, with out any complications the facts are gives as they are. So you can spend your own time to understand them. Take notes etc. It is very much like a text book. Use of charts and tables makes it an easy read. The text is compact and doesn’t drag anywhere unnecessarily. I advise revisiting few of the initial chapters often & also use of the book as reference and not read once and throw it away.
Price
Ultra-cheap 60 Rs! This is one of the most popular books of all times & almost every astrologer in Maharashtra must have read it. So you understand that even if you do not understand Marathi much the book is a great buy.
Conclusion/Recommendation
I highly recommend this book and also the part 2 of it. Along with Part 2 this books makes sure you know the basics and can start looking at the horoscopes in a short period. This is the book I wish I had read when I started! It shows that selecting a good guru is as imp as your sincerity!