7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Introductory Cookbook, Great for Beginners, August 28, 2009
This review is from: Planets in the Signs and Houses: Vedic Astrologer's Handbook Vol. II (v. 2) (Paperback)
Great textbook for a first class in Jyotisha or for self-learning. Organized in an easy look-up, reference book format. English vocabulary is well chosen. Descriptions of the planetary placements are clear enough that the engaged reader can perceive the underlying relationship between the graha (planet) which occupies the rashi (sign) and the graha which owns the rashi. This fundamental relationship is crucial to all Jyotisha interpretation.
The reader who claims that the book (or its interpretations) is "flawed" may be reacting to a slightly fatalistic or judgmental tone in Behari's descriptions. It is true that the reader will need a moderate level of East-West intercultural competence to appreciate the rather somber writing style of men of Behari's generation. However, the descriptions are accurate and the tone, in the case of negative placements, is not unwarranted.
It is also true that studying one's own nativity, exclusively and in detail, is never a good way to learn Jyotisha. It is almost impossible to take an objective view of one's own self. The mature student of Jyotisha will do case-studies of numerous charts (friends, family, celebrities) about which the factual life details are well known. After comparative study, the student can determine whether Behari's placement descriptions are accurate across a range of objective samples. This method will avoid the type of personal reactivity expressed by the angry reader above.
As a student and teacher of Jyotisha in the West, I appreciate that the late Bepin Behari (and his USA publishers) have provided an accessible, affordable, and easy-to-use English-language guide to basic planetary placement interpretation. I would recommend Planets in the Signs and Houses to any beginning student or teacher of beginners.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
A Useful Book, January 30, 2012
This review is from: Planets in the Signs and Houses: Vedic Astrologer's Handbook Vol. II (v. 2) (Paperback)
This book is very useful in studying the meanings of planets in signs and houses. It is simple, easy to use, and written in easy to understand English.
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1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Planets in the Signs and Houses: Vedic Astrologer's Handbook Volume II, December 20, 2009
This review is from: Planets in the Signs and Houses: Vedic Astrologer's Handbook Vol. II (v. 2) (Paperback)
Easily a must-have for any serious astrologer. He's like the Simon Cowell of astrology, and I really value his words.
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