Dear Ernst,
I started listening to your free Prasna class. I am not through it. Interesting so far. In the course you mention that there is an very old book that you have sent out to your students. Can you send that to me too or tell me the name of it?
What books can you recommend on Prasna?
What about Prasna Marga by BV Raman? It seems quite extensive with much details about so many things and it seems much to learn.
I found a book on Prasna by Suryanarayana Rao called "Chappanna or Prasna Sastra". Do you know that? Would you recommend that book? Its seems more simple and is much shorter compared to Prasna Marga.
I see that you have a course on Prasna with an written material included. You say in the discription that this course teaches Tajika Prasna. What is Tajika system and what other systems of Prasna are there? Whats the difference?
Kind regards
Naro
Tajika Prashna is the persian style preserved in India. Its the same school as Varashaphala so I like to use it because the principles are the same and skill in principles is important so if a person can do something with the same principles its easier and more accurate than using principles that a person is not familiar with.
With that said, Prasna Marga is the most important prashna book and it's a lifetime of study for those who want to master prasna. How accurate all the techniques are, I can't say as I have not tried everything there. But its covers the south indian style of prasna which is very old and free from the greek and persian influences that have influenced the prashna texts in north india. If i was specializing in prashna i would devote years to that book and maybe someday I will but right now I am specializing in self development astrology and refining predictive calculations. If I remember correctly, the Chappanna is the same as Shatpanchasikia a abook that S. Rao and his grandson BV raman both liked. I attach it here. its a very simple prashna book. The attached has the Battopola commentary which makes it better as he was the most read astrologer of around the 11th century who commented on all the important texts available at the time.
@ernst Thank you for the explanation, thats really helpfull and thank you for the file, thats really great.
@ernst Hello Ernst, me again, I would like to ask additional questions.
-The free Prasna class is based on Tajika principles or mixed?
-Shatpanchashika is based on Tajika?
-The Prasna notes in Kala are based on Tajika alone or mixed?
-The file of Shatpanchashika you sent me seems to be based on the translation of the text done by Sastri. I just compared the beginning verses and it is the same as the Chappana but unfortunately also different. I will attach the files if you or anyone else wants to see it. There are differences in translation, as can be seen form text 4, and als there is a difference in the order of the verses. Sastri and your file have as verse 5 a text that the Chappanna has as text 7. It would be too easy if any text done by different translators would be the same, is it not? Text 4 is quite different in these two translations.
-I understand why you lerned Sanskrit. One is quite lost without.
-What do you think of the differences of text 4?
-What do you think about S.Rao´s translations? Some things sound sometimes a bit strange to me. For example he often uses the word "Vergas" (Sarvarta Cintamani) instead of "Vargas". Maybe my lack of knowledge but why use "Vergas" whereas everyone says "Vargas"?
-In a small book caled "My experiences in Astrology", I believe I remember that BV Raman mentioned that there was some rivalry between Sastri and S. Rao? Maybe I am wrong? Maybe therefore there are differences?
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/lyu0xmvyw53yer3/AABeseNqeB3_QCIcZuaTYnica?dl=0
All my Prasna Courses are based on Tajika. Shatpanchasika is written by Varahamihiri's son so its based on Varaha mihiri astrology which is the Yavana style astrology as per Yavana Jataka. its very similiar to Parashara Astrology.
Yes, its the same as Chappana but different translator. I do not have Rao's translation at this time, but he is not the best translator. I would go with Sastra most likely. I am sure the Vergas is simply a typo. Thank you for the copy of CH appana. I do not have time right now to go through them and decide which is more worthy. But i have not alwasy been happy with rao or especially raman translations.
I do not remember if sastri had rivalry with Rao.
@ernst Thanks for the answer, explanation and for clarifying.
"All my Prasna Courses are based on Tajika. Shatpanchasika is written by Varahamihiri's son so its based on Varaha mihiri astrology which is the Yavana style astrology as per Yavana Jataka. its very similiar to Parashara Astrology. "
>>OK, I understand. Also good to know to make these distinctions Tajika/Varaha Mihira-Yavana/Parasara/etc.
"Yes, its the same as Chappana but different translator. I do not have Rao's translation at this time, but he is not the best translator. I would go with Sastra most likely. I am sure the Vergas is simply a typo. Thank you for the copy of CH appana. I do not have time right now to go through them and decide which is more worthy. But i have not alwasy been happy with rao or especially raman translations."
>>I understand that you dont have time now to go through them and compare. Sharing your experience in regards to translations by S. Rao or BV Raman is helpful and points me in an direction. IF "Vergas" is just a typo I am not sure, its written like that troughout the book but its not so important, I just remembered it and used it as an example. In regards to the Chappanna PDF, you are welcome.
"I do not remember if sastri had rivalry with Rao."
>>No problem. Also not so important.
Thank you for taking time and explaining things to me, I appreciate.
@ernst I have found another translation of Shatpanchashika by a person named N.C. Iyer. I have updated that text too to the link above. I have compared Text 4 of these 4 translations. I have focused only on the part that predicts succes. The reverse holds true for failure. If interested please see text below. I have quoted parts of the comments from the books. I am not sure if these are the comments of the translators or Bhattotpala.
Shatpanchasika:
Text 4 Compared: Adhyaya 1, Text 4: Succes and Failure
Chappana or Prasna Sastra-Suryanarain Rao:
„If the rising sign is beneficial and joins beneficial Shadvergas, or if the rising sign be Sirshodaya, the object of question will be successful...“
From Notes:
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Beneficial sign must rise at time of question and it must occupy beneficial Shadvargas (Lagna (Rasi), Hora, Drekkana, Navamsa, Dvadasamsa, Trimsamsa)
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Let us suppose that Jupiter or Venus, waxing Moon or Mercury alone is posited in the Lagna. Apart from and irrespective of the Lagna being in benefic Shadvargas (example given in book but here not mentioned under notes) we must answer similarly by saying that the object of the querent will be gained. (My Notes: In the translation of the text a benefic planet in the Lagna is not mentioned but in the notes we can see that this concept is explained)
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Suppose the Prasna Lagna falls in any of the Sirshodaya Signs (Simha, Kanya, Thula, Vrischika, Kumbha) we must pronounce succes for the object of the querent.
Shatpanchasika-N.C. Iyer:
„If the Prasna Lagna (a), be occupied by benefic planets (b), if the rising Varga(e) be that of a benefic planet and if such Prasna Lagna be a sign that rises with its head (d), the querent will gain his object...“
From Notes:
(a) Prasna Lagna=Rising sign at the time of query
(b) Benefic planets: Jupiter, Venus, Mercury and full Moon
(c) Varga: This means a division of the ecliptic or of a sign of Zodiac. There are 6 such divisions in common use known as shad-vargas.
(d) For signs that rise with their heads first...
Shatpanchasika-V.S. Sastri:
„When a benefic planet is in the Lagna, or when the rising Navamsa is that of a benefic one and when Lagna or its rising Navamsa happens to be a Seershodaya sign, succes may be predicted in the business attempted...“
From Notes:
„If any of the benefics -viz. Mercury, Jupiter, Venus or the full Moon be rising or if a Varga of a benefic planet be rising at the time, or if a Seershodaya sign be rising, the attempt is sure to succeed. Varga here has been defined as Rasi, Hora, Drekkana, Navamsa, Dvadasamsa and Trimsamsa.“ (My Notes: In the translation of the text only Navamsa is mentioned but in the commentary "Vargas" is equated with Shadvargas)
From that (all 3 texts and from the commentaries I conclude that succes can be predicted when:
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A benefic is in the Lagna
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The rising sign in the Rasi (Lagna) falls in a sign ruled by a beneficial planet and also the Lagna of the rest of the Shadvargas fall in signs ruled by a beneficial planet (Hora, Drekkana, Navamsa, Dvadasamsa and Trimsamsa
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The rising sign (Lagna) is in a Sirshodaya sign
@ernst Yes that would be great. I dont know Sanskrit but if you are willing to check that it would be great. Here is a Dropbox link to the 3 translations. Sastri and Iyer have Sanskrit included. Is that sufficient?
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/lyu0xmvyw53yer3/AABeseNqeB3_QCIcZuaTYnica?dl=0
@ernst I think that should be Text 4 if I am not mistaken...
सौम्ये विलग्ने यदि वास्य वर्भ शीषोंदये सिद्धिसुपेति काखम् । अतोविपय्य स्थमक्िङिनतुः लसच्छण संसिद्धिकरं विसिखम् ॥4॥
The word used is varge, which means in the varga, it does not say shad vargas or navamsa. it simply means in the varga. So one translator read that as shad vargas, this cannot be correct as the sanskrit varge is singular, not plural. ALso, if we consdier the shad vargas we will get a lot of contradictory info. its not usual to use varga for navamsa, usually they use amsa. but it could be that in that region of india they meant navamsa when just saying varga just like its common to mean navamsa when they say amsa. So its best to use navamsa I think.
@ernst Sorry for the late reply and thank you very much for the research. Interesting that it does not say Navamsa or Shad Varga but Varge.