Which Lal Kitab Book?

Which Lal Kitab to Refer?
Which one is the original Lal Kitab?

Above questions are raised again and again in our Lal Kitab discussion forum. So I decided to give answer of the question a permanent URL. I'll try to give some definite answer to the best of my knowledge. There are many books by the name of "Lal Kitab" available in the market and it is really difficult for a new student to get the right one.

My answer depends upon what language you can read best. There are five editions of Lal Kitab written during the period of 1939 to 1952 by Pt. Roop Chand Joshi. Details are as follows -

1. Lal Kitab Ke Farman, 1939, 383 pages
2. Lal Kitab Ke Arman, 1940, 280 pages
3. Lal Kitab third part, 1941, 428 pages (Also known as Gutka)
4. Lal Kitab Ke Farman, 1942, 384 pages
5. Lal Kitab, 1952, 1173 pages

First four editions were published by Sharma Girdhari Lal (cousin of Pt. Roop Chand), at Hazi Press, Lahore. Last edition i.e. 1952 edition was published at Narender Press, Delhi.

As you can see the last edition i.e. 1952 edition is the most exhaustive one and sufficient for start learning Lal Kitab. You can get more editions after becoming acquainted with Lal Kitab basics.

Photocopies of original Urdu editions are available in market. If you can read Urdu well, there can be nothing better than that. Go get the photocopies of original Urdu editions. But if you cannot, it becomes more difficult and depends upon which language you can read better.

ENGLISH
1. The best choice in English is available in the form of Lal Kitab translated by Goswami and Vashishta and published by Sagar Publications. It is mostly a translation of 1952 edition with some additions from 1939 edition. It is a well proofread and neatly printed. Right now, it is the best (and probably only) choice available for English readers. Though, in my opinion, the quality of translation is not very good and so this book must be used in conjunction with any other book.
2. Lal Kitab (The Exposition & Background) by Pt. Krishna Ashant. It is not the recommended book by experts. But as not many options are available, it is not a bad idea to take help of this book. Mr. Ashant has left out many important topics without which you will find yourself guessing. Also he has created few of his own hypotheses that may or may not be true.

HINDI
1. There are four Arun Samhits available from Arun Publications, Chandigarh. It is not mentioned which Arun Samhita is translation of which edition of Lal Kitab. Details are as follows -

I. Arun Samhita (Lal Kitab) Jyotish, Rs. 549/-, Translation of 1952 Edition
II. Arun Samhita (Lal Kitab) Hast Rekha Vigyan, Rs. 275/-, Translation of 1941 Edition
III. Arun Samhita (Lal Kitab) Samudrik, Rs. 149/-, Translation of 1939 Edition
IV. Arun Samhita (Lal Kitab) Chaturth Bhag, Rs. 270/- , Translation of 1942 Edition

I found all above four editions useful. In my opinion, 1952 edition (Arun Samhita Jyotish) is more than sufficient to start with. 1952 edition is well translated but not that well proofread. Quality of printing is also not good in comparison to English Translation. But remember beggars are not choosers. It is direct translation (rather transliteration - only change of script) from Urdu, it is quite close to the original Urdu edition. For example, I have seen loss of meaning at some places in English (Goswami and Vashista) translation but you will not find this problem with Arun Samhita. Here you can apply your own mind, if you have basic knowledge of Hindi. Quality of other Arun Samhitas is even worse but again you don’t have many options other than to apply your own common sense.

2. As mention in English section, Hindi version of Lal Kitab (The Exposition & Background) is also available in market by the name of "Lal Kitab (Prishthaboomi aur Vyakhya). As options are available in Hindi, I don't think it is a good book anymore.

Other than above two options, highly priced photocopies of Hindi translations are also being sold in market claiming the 'original translation' in Photostat format. Personally, I was never able to believe whatever written on these photocopy editions due to misprints and errors. Please go for them on your own risk.

These three books are also worth noting -
1. Lal Kitab Aur Kashta Nivaran By Sumat Prasad Kalka
Publisher:
Arun Publication House Pvt. Ltd.
SCO 49-51, Sector 17C, Chandigarh - 160 017 (INDIA)
email: nebaaph@sancharnet.in, arunpublishing@hotmail.com

2. System Of Progression and Curative Measure By R.S.Chillar.
Publisher:
SAGAR PUBLICATION, 72,Janpath, Ved Mension, New Delhi-110001(India)
Phone No. 91-11-23320648, 91-11-23328245 Email: sagarpub@del3.vsnl.net.in

3. Horoscope Reading Made Easy and Self-Learning By U.C. Mahajan
Publisher:
PUSTAK MAHAL
Fax: 91-11-23280567, 91-11-23260518 Email: pustakmahal@vsnl.com

Other than our Lal Kitab group, It is all what you require to learn Lal Kitab. Please refrain from various other translations and helpbooks available in market.

Lal Kitab Aspects (Tewa Ki Drishti)

What is difference between 100% and 7th aspect

I had not long written any post for this blog. So I decided to revive this blog with my aspect posting in Lal Kitab group. I hope it will be useful for learners of Lal Kitab. Here is my answer -

Every planet can aspect 7th from it's house. Also there is 100% aspect which is applicable only in case of 1st to 7th house and 4th to 10th house. IMO 100% aspect is given precedence over 7th aspect of planets.

In case of 100% aspect -

1. We will take the result as complete mix of both the planets in aspected house.
2. If the aspecting planet is giving good result in the house occupied, it will give bad results for aspected house. But this good or bad effect will be applicable only to the relative signified by aspected planet.

In case of 7th aspect -
1. It will not be a complete mix but it will be seen as a location shift for aspecting planet.
2. Again the aspecting planet will give the result as it is situated in aspected house for the aspected planet.

More details can be found under the heading of "Graha Drishti" in Lal Kitab. As few examples are already there, I din't find it useful to repeat them here.

What you need to learn Lal Kitab?

When I started learning Lal Kitab, it was not easy. Understanding Lal Kitab is difficult task due to untraditional Urdu language. And moreover it is difficult to know that out of many books, which one is the true Lal Kitab. There was no one to help me.

But now I can say precisely what resources can help you in learning Lal Kitab. You need only two things, one is Lal Kitab and other is Lal Kitab discussion group. If you can understand Urdu, go for Urdu Lal Kitab. Otherwise you can use Arun Samhita (Hindi Translation by Dr. Arun) or English Translation by Goswami et al. In fact, for learning any subject you need to study the theory of the subject and need some practical. Theory or practical alone will not be much useful. Now the Lal Kitab forum can assist learners of Lal Kitab very well. There are many astrologers who have good command over Lal Kitab. I have seen some good discussions are going on. So if you are interested in learning Lal Kitab, join the group and read the achieves.

Here I want to salute the expert Lal Kitab astrologers (we call them Lalkitabists in the forum) who are selflessly helping others in learning this great branch of astrology.

Download Lal Kitab

One Lal Kitab in Hindi can be foudn here on Lal Kitab yahoogroup -
Download Lal Kitab (in English)
You will have to be a member of this group to download any file. A Lal Kitab student will find many useful resources at this location. So go get it.

Lal Kitab in Hindi can be downloaded from here -
Download Lal Kitab - Arun Samhita 1952 Edition (in Hindi)

If any visitor of this website knows about other Lal Kitab download links, please let me know. I'll publish it here.