Astrology books for beginners, and what to read after them
Most Indian astrologers learn from the same short shelf: B. V. Raman first, then the classics in translation, then books on one branch. Here is that shelf by stage, with each edition's publisher and size.
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Short answer
The usual astrology books for beginners are by B. V. Raman: A Catechism of Astrology (108 pages, UBS Publishers' Distributors), Hindu Predictive Astrology, and How to Judge a Horoscope in two volumes from Motilal Banarsidass 1,2,3. After those, read the classics in translation, such as R. Santhanam's Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra (Ranjan Publications) and V. Subrahmanya Sastri's Phaladeepika 4,5. Phaladeepika can be read free online in its 1950 translation 6. Kismo does not run training, so applicants bring what they learned from books like these to one test reading.
Key facts
- First book
- A Catechism of Astrology, B. V. Raman, UBSPD, 108 pages 1
- Core beginner set
- How to Judge a Horoscope, Vol. I and II, Motilal Banarsidass, 779 pages 3
- Main classic
- Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra, tr. R. Santhanam, Ranjan Publications, 1,042 pages 4
- Free classic
- Phaladeepika, 865 verses in 28 chapters, free to read online 6
- Out of copyright
- Raman's Muhurtha (1948), per the Digital Library of India record 10
Which astrology book should a beginner read first?
A beginner's first astrology book is usually a short one by B. V. Raman. His A Catechism of Astrology runs to 108 pages in the 1992 UBS Publishers' Distributors edition, small enough to finish in a few evenings 1.
Raman's Hindu Predictive Astrology is the next step. Open Library's oldest record is a 1955 Raman Publications edition of 444 pages, and IBH Prakashana's 1986 edition has 293 2,12. Read it before the longer How to Judge a Horoscope.
Read these with a chart in front of you. Check every rule you meet on your own kundli or a family member's. Use how to read a kundli as your order of work.
Which books make up a beginner's shelf?
A beginner's shelf needs three books by one author, so that the terms stay the same from book to book. B. V. Raman's three cover the basics, prediction and the houses.
| Book | Publisher, year | Size | Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Catechism of Astrology | UBS Publishers' Distributors, 1992 1 | 108 pages | Terms and basics |
| Hindu Predictive Astrology | IBH Prakashana, 1986; a 1955 edition is also listed 2,12 | 293 pages | Rules of prediction |
| How to Judge a Horoscope, Vol. I and II | Motilal Banarsidass, 1999 3 | 779 pages | Reading the 12 houses one by one |
The combined Motilal Banarsidass set carries ISBN 9788120808492 3. Single volumes are sold under other ISBNs, so check which one you are paying for.
Which classical texts should you read in translation?
The classical texts to read next are Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, Phaladeepika, Saravali and Brihat Jataka. Each has an English translation from an Indian publisher.
| Text | Translation and publisher | Edition facts |
|---|---|---|
| Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra | R. Santhanam, Ranjan Publications 4 | 2008 edition, 1,042 pages, ISBN 9788188230600 |
| Phaladeepika | V. Subrahmanya Sastri, first published by the translator 5 | 1937, 352 pages; a 1981 edition runs 408 pages |
| Saravali of Kalyana Varma | R. Santhanam, Ranjan Publications 7 | 1991 |
| Brihat Jataka of Varahamihira | Motilal Banarsidass 8 | 1996, 655 pages |
Use the classics as reference, not as a first read. Look up the verse behind a rule you met in Raman, and you will learn the source and the rule together.
Which books cover one branch of astrology in depth?
Branch books come after the basics, one branch at a time. Pick the branch your clients ask about most, not the one that sounds most advanced.
| Branch | Book | Edition facts |
|---|---|---|
| Yogas | Three Hundred Important Combinations, B. V. Raman | 1947, 152 numbered pages 9 |
| Muhurta | Muhurtha or Electional Astrology, B. V. Raman | 1948, 204 pages in the scan 10 |
| Prashna | Prasna Marga, Part I, tr. B. V. Raman, Motilal Banarsidass | 1996, 717 pages with Devanagari text 11 |
| KP | KP Reader 1: Casting the Horoscope, K. S. Krishnamurti | First of the KP Reader series 13 |
| Prediction practice | Risk and Tricks in Astrological Predictions, K. N. Rao, Vani Publications | 2014, 120 pages 14 |
Each branch has its own guide here: prashna, KP astrology and, for tarot readers, learning tarot.
Which astrology books can you read free and legally?
Phaladeepika is the main classic you can read free and legally online. Wisdom Library hosts Sastri's 1950 translation of its 28 chapters, and says it is free to read but not proofread, so check against the source PDF 6.
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra is free to read verse by verse on Enjoy Learning Sanskrit, with the Sanskrit, a transliteration and a translation 15. Raman's Muhurtha (1948) is in the Digital Library of India scans on Internet Archive, and its record marks it out of copyright 10.
Not every scan is free to use. The same library's record for Three Hundred Important Combinations marks it in copyright 9, so buy that one. More free routes are in free astrology courses.
How do you make sure you buy the right edition?
- Match the ISBN, not just the title: Prasna Marga Part I with Devanagari text is 9788120809185 11.
- Check the translator's name, because the same classic has several translations 4,5.
- Check the page count against the publisher's: Santhanam's BPHS runs 1,042 pages 4.
- Prefer an edition with the Sanskrit verse alongside, so you can check the translation 11.
Old editions are often fine for learning, as long as the author or translator is the one you want.
Do you need to have read these books before applying to Kismo?
Kismo does not ask which books you have read; it judges you on one reading. Its application has three steps: your details, your profile, and your ID with one chat reading of about 10 minutes.
Kismo does not run training, so the books above are where your skill comes from. Once you are approved, the app's short course, "How to earn on Kismo", teaches reading online, not astrology. It has five episodes of about two and a half minutes each.
Be honest about your experience when you apply, because years of experience cannot be changed after you submit. If you are still on your first books, pick "Just starting out".
What do astrologers ask about this?
What is the best astrology book for a complete beginner?
There is no single best book, but most beginners start with B. V. Raman. A Catechism of Astrology is the shortest at 108 pages 1, followed by Hindu Predictive Astrology and How to Judge a Horoscope 2,3. If you apply to Kismo while still on these first books, pick "Just starting out" for experience.
Is Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra good for beginners?
It is the classical source, but heavy as a first book: R. Santhanam's Ranjan Publications edition runs to 1,042 pages 4. Read a Raman book first, then use BPHS to look up the verses behind the rules.
Which edition of Phaladeepika should I read?
Read V. Subrahmanya Sastri's English translation. It was first published in 1937 at 352 pages, a 1981 edition runs 408 pages 5, and the 1950 text is free on Wisdom Library 6.
Can I read astrology books online for free?
Yes, some. Phaladeepika is free on Wisdom Library 6, and Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra is readable verse by verse on Enjoy Learning Sanskrit 15. Raman's Muhurtha is a Digital Library of India scan marked out of copyright 10.
Which book should I read for KP astrology?
Start with the KP Reader series by K. S. Krishnamurti, beginning with Reader 1, Casting the Horoscope 13. Read a Parashari beginner book first, because KP builds on the same signs, houses and planets.
Do I need a certificate as well as books to apply to Kismo?
No certificate is part of Kismo's application: you give your details, build a profile, verify your ID and do one test reading. A person reads that reading in full and decides within 2 days.
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Where should you go from here?
Where do these facts come from?
- A Catechism of Astrology, B. V. Raman (UBS Publishers' Distributors, 1992), Open Library. Accessed .
- Hindu Predictive Astrology, Bangalore Venkata Raman (IBH Prakashana, 1986), Open Library. Accessed .
- How to Judge a Horoscope (Vol. I and II), B. V. Raman (Motilal Banarsidass, 1999), Open Library. Accessed .
- Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra, tr. R. Santhanam (Ranjan Publications, 2008), Open Library. Accessed .
- Phaladipika, with an English translation by V. Subrahmanya Sastri (1937; 1981 edition), Open Library. Accessed .
- Phaladeepika by Mantreswara (text and translation), V. Subrahmanya Sastri, 1950, Wisdom Library. Accessed .
- Saravali of Kalyana Varma, tr. R. Santhanam (Ranjan Publications, 1991), Open Library. Accessed .
- Brihat Jataka of Varahamihira (Motilal Banarsidass, 1996), Open Library. Accessed .
- Three Hundred Important Combinations (B. V. Raman, 1947), Digital Library of India record, Internet Archive (Digital Library of India). Accessed .
- Muhurtha or Electional Astrology (B. V. Raman, 1948), Digital Library of India record, Internet Archive (Digital Library of India). Accessed .
- Prasna Marga (Pt. I: Chs. I to XVI), Eng. tr. with original text in Devanagari and notes, B. V. Raman (Motilal Banarsidass, 1996), Open Library. Accessed .
- Hindu Predictive Astrology, Bangalore Venkata Raman (Raman Publications, 1955), Open Library. Accessed .
- Krishnamurti Padhdhati Reader 1: Casting the Horoscope, Internet Archive. Accessed .
- Risk and Tricks in Astrological Predictions, K. N. Rao (Vani Publications, 2014), Open Library. Accessed .
- Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra: Sanskrit text in Devanagari and IAST with translation, Enjoy Learning Sanskrit. Accessed .