Customer Reviews

The Essentials of Vedic Astrology

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As a Vedic Astrologer and teacher of Vedic Astrology myself, I am constantly on the look out for books that explain this complicated discipline in easy to understand terminology. Ms. Sutton's book fits this qualification admirably and should be purchased as an introductory text by students interested in this discipline. Ms. Sutton has had years of experience as a practicing astrologer and also has an exceptional grasp of the natures of the signs and planets, and for the more advanced astrologer, provides an excellent presentation on the qualities of the signs (Rajas, Sattwa, Tamas) and the qualities of the nakshatras, the Lunar mansions that play such an enormous role in Vedic Astrology. I commend Ms. Sutton for writing a text that provides an excellent overview and also manages to synthesize advanced concepts in an easy to understand format. Her book, along with introductory texts by James Braha, Dr. David Frawley, Ronnie Gale Dreyer, William Levacy, and Howard Beckman, should be obtained by every one interested in this subject. This is a valuable addition to the literature, but can also be used as an exceptional starting point by any one. I look forward to additional texts from her. Gary Gomes New England Council of Vedic Astrology North East Institute of Vedic Astrology American Council of Vedic Astrology

Komilla provides a clear text for the novice. Her delineations make this work accessible to the Western student without compromising the work itself. She has obviously read many charts in a compassionate way that is often missing in Vedic texts. The section on the nakshatras makes this text well worth the price and the wait for its arrival. Perhaps it will catch on here quickly.

Although I have been a western astrologer for 28 years, I'm very new to Vedic astrology, and The Essentials of Vedic Astrology is only the second book on the subject which I have read. Thanks to Komilla Sutton's clear, inspiring and supportive text, I am now well and truly hooked on the subject. People coming to Vedic astrology from the better known western system will probably find themselves more at sea than those who haven't studied astrology at all: the reason for this is that, though sharing many elements, the two systems have a different way of arriving at the overall balance of the chart. Komilla steers the student through these differences in a way which clarifies and inspires, while at the same time providing a thorough and easy to understand foundation for people who know nothing about astrology at all. Her treatment of the subject of karma is particularly inspiring and reassuring; instead of treating it in a fatalistic way, she shows how karmic patterns can be traced in the chart with a view to working with them positively...a far cry from the usual impression of Vedic astrology as being fatalistic and dire. Her introduction to the Nakshatras, dashas and transits fascinated me and make complete sense in terms of my own chart and life events, and the material on Rahu and Ketu (the moon's nodes) has got me determined to buy her book on the subject. Though I don't see myself ever discarding the western system of astrology, I know my passion for Vedic astrology will continue to unfold, and this is in no small part due to Komilla Sutton's excellent, supportive, inspiring and accessible book, which I will not only continue to use for reference but will recommend to anyone else wanting a sound and lucid introduction to the subject.

I had read another book on Vedic astrology and it didn't come close to giving me the understanding that I got from this book. Everything was explained in easy to understand language. This book left me with a great appreciation for the science.

i have read several vedic astrology books and really have enjoyed Komilla's approach. Its a complicated subject and she lays it out well.

This is not a book for the novice. The author presumes that the reader is familiar with basic astrology i.e. there are no details on how to draw up a chart from first principles given a birth date, time and place. In that sense the title is a bit mis-leading. I can't judge the book from an astrologer's perspective, since (as you have probably gathered by now) I am a novice!

The author's lack of command of the English language is pretty evident even in the first few pages. As far as astrological knowledge is concerned, this book falls below every introductory book written in India or the WEst.

This book is a complete disgrace to the exalted science of Jyotish. Only a Punjabi (this term would have meaning for only those who are native to India) could have stooped so low as to put out this load of crap for all to laugh.

The "sattwa-rajas-tamas" theory and their relationship with the 12 signs conceived out of thin air by the author, makes one have serious doubts regarding the author's sanity.

What's more surprising is that the educated savants of Vedic Astrology in the west haven't come out openly in criticizing this book and are only willing to do so in the confines of privacy. It is only because of the ignorance, hypocrisy and pretension of the present times that alot of paper is wasted for such rubbish!

One can be rest assured that the trees of the Amazon, which are sacrificed for such useless enterprises, are not singing praises of the author from the world beyond!