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Vimsottari and Udu Dasas: Parasara’s Key to Prognostication goes into the intricacies of the vimsottari and other nakshatra based planetery dasa (udu dasa) to bring out their need and usage. An independent chapter is devoted to the choice of dasa, the how and why of choosing the right dasa for a chart while considering the various criteria as well as variation options in a step by step approach. Judgement of dasa includes the principles, in general used for reading the message of the charts and in timing the events that the drama of life shall show.
Although originally planned for 16 chapters, this first edition of the book
is divided into 14 chapters which cover the foundation of Vedic Astrology, the
paradigm of the nakshatra as well as each individual Udu dasa. An independent
chapter is devoted to the choice of dasa, the how and why of choosing the right
dasa for a chart while considering the various criteria as well as variation
options in a step by step approach. Judgment of dasa includes the principles, in
general used for reading the message of the charts and in timing the events that
the drama of life shall show.
The appendices include a discussion on the philosophy and mathematics behind
the Vimsottari dasa. The order of the other dasa and their mathematics has been
explained in chapters dedicated to each. Since Vimsottari is the best, care has
been taken to explain the philosophy and logic in greater detail in the
appendix. Another appendix gives tables for calculating the dasa balance, and
major and sub-periods of each of the dasa. The appendix on Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQ) includes some interesting questions about dasa usage, calendar
etc. Readers can send their queries to this scribe and we shall attempt to
address them in future editions.
As and when time and space permit, we shall include the remaining seven
chapters in a subsequent edition. There is nothing ‘original' about our work as
we are only attempting to be a sincere servant to the great seer Parasara.
Whatever omissions or commissions occur in this book are solely our fault and
can be attributed to our meager intelligence that struggles to decipher the
teachings of the Vedic Seers.
From the Book:
Preface
Understanding Parasara
Understanding Parasara has been the objective of my life
and as we walk this tedious and circuitous road, we find that there is much more
to the great Guru than what we have fathomed so far. There is a depth in the
thought that has hitherto not been written nor spoken of anywhere, and this book
is an attempt at explaining some parts of the Brihat Parasara Hora Shastra, at
least the chapter related to the dasas. Although seemingly easy, the Vimsottari
dasa is the high watermark of Brihat Parasara Hora Shastra. This book goes into
the intricacies of the Vimsottari and other nakshatra based planetary dasa (udu
dasa) to bring out their need and usage. Often ignored and rejected as
‘incorrect', these dasas have fallen into disuse due to the effect of the Kali
Yuga. With the advent of a very minor satya time cycle of 480 years from 2000 AD
(approx), this knowledge is on its way to rejuvenation and shall again become
visible for the use of this world.
Reasons for Secrecy
Rather than blaming the tradition for hiding things indiscriminately, it is necessary to understand the reasons for the same. Knowledge that can cause sorrow or that can be misused by unscrupulous astrologers was kept secret by the families associated with the tradition of Jyotish. As an illustration take Moola Dasa which delves into the past Karma and brings out the exact period when the effect of curses and bad karma would fructify. This knowledge can be misused by bad astrologers who could start telling all kinds of tales to loot their gullible clients and the net result would be a bad name for Jyotish.
We have given many secrets of the tradition in this book and in doing so, shall suffer the risk of sin if this knowledge is misused. We give this with a prayer that this may not be misused. Another reason for giving this is that in a book titled Mandooka Dasa, the Lagna Kendradi Rasi Dasa has been taught. Mandooka is a totally different dasa system. After debating for many years the benefit or otherwise of keeping this knowledge a secret, we have felt that silence is the cause of doubt and misconception as taught in the Sanskrit aphorism "maunam sammati lakshanam". The primary case being that it delves into past births and helps us to gain a better understanding of our selves and the causes of so much sorrow, its timing as well as its remedy. To keep silent in the face of teachings and statements to which we cannot agree, amounts to accepting the same as correct. In the best interests of the tradition of Vedic Astrology, it is better to give out what we know so that the world at large can debate on the merits of this great knowledge of the seers.
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