Indian Astrology (An Appraisal) By V.S. Kalyanaraman [CBH]

     The book is an inspiring compilation of interesting  and informative articles on the various characteristics  of Indian Astrology. Taking the reader on an exhilarating excursion into the computational,  contentious and captivating topics, the book includes  some special predictive inputs, peculiar to Kerala,  apart from the narration of amazing anecdotes  associated with some of its astrologers and astronomers. Surveying in brief the land’s contribution to the  astrological erudition, it delineates on some of the  eminent scholars it had produced in the past.Discussing  the causes, it presents a case for astrological acumen  and presents some posers to predictors to ponder and  pursue their investigation. Peripheral in profoundity  and pleasing in procedural parlance, the book can  serve as a perennial guide to any practitioner besides   enlightening the student and engaging the scholar.

CONTENTS
1. A Case for Astrology.  -  Astrology and its Relevance  to the Modern  Scientific World.; 2.How, Why and When of Astrology; 3.Ancient Indian Wisdom and Modern Science; 4. Navagrahas in the Journey of Life; 5. Eclipses of the Sun and Moon.6.Sunspots and Astrology;  7. A Rare celestial event.- Transits of Mercury and  Venus across the disc of the Sun; 8.A Date with Mars; 9.Once in a Blue Moon;   10.The Rules for reckoning leap year; 11.Finding the weekday;  12.Kalaganitha - A brief history of time ;13.The Concept of Adhika Masa - or Intercalary month;  14.  Kalagnana of the ancients - Some constituents of Panchang;  15. Length of the year for Udu dasa calculations;  16. Facts and fallacies of marriage compatibility;   17. Astronomers and astrologers of Kerala; 18. Talakkulathur Bhattathiri - The Astrological genius of Kerala; 19.Machatt Narayanan Elayath-The astrological wizard of Kerala; 20. Some of our Prasna treatises;   21. Ashtamangalaprasna- A Unique horary system of Kerala;  22.  Devaprasna - An introduction;  23. Tamboola Prasna - A unique tool of divination of Kerala astrology;   24. Dasadhyayee - The scintillating Commentary for Brihatjataka; 25. The Thirteenth constellation;  26.Hindu Astrology and other astrological systems in the world. 27. Epilogue.

V S KALYANRAMAN A mathematician and amateur astronomer by training, a bureaucrat by profession and a student of astrology by passion, the author had his traditional training in astrology in his teens, under a couple of doyens of Gurus of yesteryears, with  a vow not to turn a professional.  Commencing his career as a teacher in Kerala   completed it as a Senior Class I officer of the Government of India.  After a stint of story writing in Tamil in the fifties, turned to serious study of Saiva Siddhanta, Philosophy, Psychology, Vedic Mathematics, Bharateeya Ganitha Sastra, Jyothisha (astronomy), the various astrological systems, Vastu Sastra, Vedic Numerology and allied disciplines, under various masters of repute.  As a freelancer, though was contributing on varied topics, occasionally to various magazines in English, Tamil and Malayalam, mostly under disguise, for decades and has received many awards and accolades, would prefer to remain, anonymous and a student, till his last breath