AstroSage on Facebook

I am a big fan of social networking. I already have presence on most of the social networking websites. Though most of those profiles are my personal profiles as these social networking websites don't allow profiles for the websites. Though Facebook allows the same, so I thought it would be a good place to have a profile for AstroSage on Facebook. If you are on Facebook, you can join AstorSage fan club here -

http://www.facebook.com/pages/AstroSagecom/126920215157

There are two reasons why you should join AstroSage on Facebook. First, you can get all AstroSage related updates from within Facebook. Second, you can also show your love and support to AstroSage to the world.

Apart from this, you already know about my personal profiles and everybody is welcome to add me on their friend's list. Here are my profiles on different Social Networking websites -

• Orkut
• Twitter
• MySpace

Which is the best reference Lal Kitab?

Long back I had written an article by the name of "Which Lal Kitab Book" to tell Lal Kitab students which are the good and the bad books available on this subject. The article was written in year 2004 and since then, much water has flown through the Ganga. One very important development is that now almost all five editions of Lal Kitab are available in Hindi, which gives Hindi readers more options. Today, somebody asked about Lal Kitab reference books in my Lal Kitab discussion forum and this was my answer (with some enhancements) -

Lal Kitab is not a name of one single book. There are five books published during year 1939 to 1952 written by Pt. Roop Chand Joshi. One need to read all those books to understand Lal Kitab fully. In my opinion 1952 edition is the most exhaustive and must be the first book to be read by all Lal Kitab enthusiasts. 1952 edition also covers most of the content in previous editions and hence kind of super-set of all Lal Kitab editions. The best transliteration so far for 1952 edition is available in the form of "Arun Samhita", published by Hare Krishna Trust, Chandigarh. Due the nature of language used in Lal Kitab, it is very difficult to understand in one single reading. My suggestion to Lal Kitab students is that one need to read and reread Lal Kitab to understand it.

For further reading, I would suggest reading books in following sequence -

• 1942 edition (Lal Kitab - Tarmeem Shuda): Hindi transliteration of 1942 edition by Pt. Beni Madhav Goswami is available from Durga Pocket Books.
• 1940 edition (Lal Kitab ke Armaan): Hindi transliteration by Pt. Beni Madhav Goswami available from Himalaya Publications/ Sagar Publications
• 1941 edition (Lal Kitab - Teesra Hissa, also known as Gutka): Hindi transliteration by Yograj Prabhakar available from Rahul Computers, Patiala
• 1939 edition (Lal Kitab ke Farmaan): Hindi transliteration by Pt. Beni Madhav Goswami available from Himalaya Publications/ Sagar Publications. This is primarily a book on Palmistry aspect of Lal Kitab.

Two other recommended books are -

• Lal Kitab Prishthabhoomi Aur Vyakhaya by Pt. Krishna Ashant
• Lal Kitab Aur Kashta Nivaran by Sumat Prasad Kalka

Both of the above books are good introductory books, but have some serious shortcomings. For example, reasoning behind remedies is flawed in both the books. So wherever these authors have explained the working of Lal Kitab remedies, those sections should be ignored. Also Pt. Ashant book's section on background of Lal Kitab does not seems to be correct where he questions the authorship of Pt. Roop Chand Joshi. Probably both the books -Krishna Ashant's book and Arun Samhita - questioned the authorship to avoid copyright issues. Sumat Prasad Kalka's book has listed remedies for all nine planets in twelve houses. That is not only incorrect but also risky. Remedies should always be suggested by analyzing the overall chart and should not be given for individual planet position. Lal Kitab has given detailed grammar (rules for analyzing chart) and the cause of problem should be identified using the grammar and the remedies should be suggested to solve that particular problem. In other words, last two books should be used with caution.

Note:

• One can find a list of astrology book stores here.
• If you are looking for the book in English, you will have to rely on the old article for some information on the Lal Kitab books in English. Nothing much has changed on English landscape.
• I have a dedicated blog on Lal Kitab at http://www.lalkitab.in/. If you are mainly interested in Lal Kitab, you can subscribe that blog.
  

Today I have created an "AstroSage.com Fan Club" at Facebook. If you are on Facebook and love AstroSage, please join the fan club at http://www.facebook.com/pages/AstroSagecom/126920215157/

Valentine Day Muhurta - Best Time to Express Love

All set for Valentine day. You want to express your feelings, your love this day. But you fear losing him/ her. Don't worry, Vedic astrology is here to help you. I would like to share some time that can help. But first before that, let us understand what can be classified as best yoga for expressing your love according to Vedic astrology -

• Venus is the planet for love. Other than Venus, Moon, Mercury and Jupiter are also OK. One should avoid Sun, Mars, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu
• Check out the lord of your 5th sign and 9th sign. Choose time period of these planets.
• Also choose the time when Venus is in Ascendant.
• Choose the time when these planets rule of Ascendant, Hora or Moon Sub Lord

Ascendant (lagna) and Hora are city dependent. So you need to check the exact time for your city. I'll give you a URL from where you can check the good time for your city.

Before listing out good time for all signs, here are two slots which are good for all signs -
1. 10:44 AM to 11:39 AM
2. 5:15 PM To 6:10 PM

Sign	Planet of Love for You	Time period of the planet on 14th February
Aries	Jupiter	14:27 - 15:22 19:15 - 20:19
Taurus	Mercury	11:39 - 12:35 23:31 - 00:35 Night
Gemini	Venus	10:44 - 11:39 22:27 - 23:31
Cancer	Jupiter	14:27 - 15:22 19:15 - 20:19
Leo	Jupiter	14:27 - 15:22 19:15 - 20:19
Virgo	Venus	10:44 - 11:39 22:27 - 23:31
Libra	Mercury	11:39 - 12:35 23:31 - 00:35 Night
Scorpio	Jupiter & Moon	14:27 - 15:22 19:15 - 20:19 12:35 - 13:31 00:35 - 01:39 Night
Sagittarius	Jupiter	14:27 - 15:22 19:15 - 20:19
Capricorn	Venus & Mercury	10:44 - 11:39 22:27 - 23:31 11:39 - 12:35 23:31 - 00:35 Night
Aquarius	Mercury & Venus	11:39 - 12:35 23:31 - 00:35 Night 10:44 - 11:39 22:27 - 23:31
Pisces	Moon	12:35 - 13:31 00:35 - 01:39 Night

To find out exact time of these planets for your city, please note planet for your sign from above table and check time at http://www.astrosage.com/hora.asp