Skyscript Astrology Forum

I would be very interested to know which astrologers list members consider to be the major figures in the 'Vedic astrology' scene in the west -- particularly, which ones have been most important in bringing Indian astrology to a western audience and in influencing its direction in the west. Thanks in advance for any replies!

Martin Gansten wrote:I would be very interested to know which astrologers list members consider to be the major figures in the 'Vedic astrology' scene in the west -- particularly, which ones have been most important in bringing Indian astrology to a western audience and in influencing its direction in the west. Thanks in advance for any replies!

I'll reply soon, Martin. I think I have a fairly complete picture beginning in the early 90s. It all began with the first "Vedic" astrology symposium in California in 1992. Prior to that time the Raman family publications were available on what was called Hindu astrology. There is a movement in Great Britain that I'm not as familiar with, but the same names keep appearing in conference brochures, such as Komilla Sutton. I could write a book on what has happened to India's astrology since the 90s.

Therese Hamilton wrote:I'll reply soon, Martin. I think I have a fairly complete picture beginning in the early 90s. It all began with the first "Vedic" astrology symposium in California in 1992. Prior to that time the Raman family publications were available on what was called Hindu astrology. There is a movement in Great Britain that I'm not as familiar with, but the same names keep appearing in conference brochures, such as Komilla Sutton. I could write a book on what has happened to India's astrology since the 90s.

Such an insider view would be very valuable to me. I'm not writing a book, just an encyclopaedia entry (covering the last 130 years or so), so I'll need to be highly selective; but the selection ought to be well-considered.

Unfortunately, I have left it a bit late -- most of the text is finished, but I need to complete the bit about recent developments by the end of this week.

Start with Karma concept and the nodes.

Mohan Koparkar(US based) comes to mind.
So does, David Frawley with Astrology for the Seers.

Personally, I found Ronnie Gale Dreyer's book as closest to the indian jyotish concept.It must have been her book Indian Jyotish-1990(revised to Vedic Jyotish) that I read in the tiny Cranford public library in London.

http://www.jyotishstar.com/interview-ro ... -2011.html

Now, I know why she was closest to the Indian version, she studied sanskrit in Benares(Varanasi).

The archives of this emagazine may help you somewhat about other vedic astrologers of the west:


http://www.jyotishstar.com/emagazine_01.html

and James T.Braha.

PD

Thanks for the suggestions, Pankaj. However, the entry on 'Modern astrologers' (for Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism, vol. 5) is not meant to explain the underlying philosophical concepts of Indian astrology, but rather the most prominent figures in its development during the modern period -- which, for this purpose, I have defined as beginning in the late 19th century, when English-language (and some vernacular Indian) translations of classical Sanskrit astrological texts began to appear. Intriguingly, they seem to have done so as a direct result of the presence of the Theosophical Society in (South) India, which means that the TS was directly involved in the birth of 'modern astrology' in India as well as the west, although the two developed in rather different directions.

Incidentally, to my knowledge, the nodes are not specifically connected with karma in any form of Indian astrology.

David Frawley will definitely have to be included in the later stage of globalization, but I have never heard of Mohan Koparkar. Has he been particularly influential in any way?

Martin Gansten wrote:

..... I have never heard of Mohan Koparkar. Has he been particularly influential in any way?

A lot of Koparkar's books are stocked by the Astrology Center of America and he get very favourable reviews by Dave Roell the owner. Thats perhaps not remarkable for a book seller but Roell doesn't pull his punches if he doesn't approve of an author.

The following books have been published by Mohan Kpparkar through his own publishing company:

-Aspects Magnified: All major & minor aspects synthesized using the process of magnification

-Degrees of the Zodiac

-Lunar Nodes

-Moon Mansions

-Precise Progressed Charts

-Retrogrades

http://www.mohanstars.com/books.html

I have read his books on the Nakshatras and retrograde planets. His book on the nodes seems to be one of his more influential. He puts forward the idea of 'Karmic Control Planets' which are essentially the planetary dispositors of the nodes. I thought his book on retrograde planets was quite disappointing. Its quite idiosycratic and I dont think its that traditional at all.

As for his influence I couldn't say. Although I notice the American tropical astrologer Celeste Teal has adopted Koparkar's notion of 'Karmic control planets' in her recent book on the lunar nodes without acknowledging him as a source.

Korparkar was born in Poona India in 1946.

http://www.astrotheme.com/astrology/Mohan_Koparkar

He seems to have come to the US in the early 1970's to study engineering but soon transferred his energies to astrology. Koraparkar self publishes his books through 'Mohan Enterprises' which is registered in Rochester, New York State USA.

http://www.mohanstars.com/lunarNodex.html

http://www.mohanstars.com/retrogrades.html

http://www.mohanstars.com/aspectsMagnified.html

http://www.mohanstars.com/moonMansions.html

http://www.mohanstars.com/degreesZodiac.html

http://www.mohanstars.com/preciseProgressedCharts.html

Mark

Mark wrote:A lot of Koparkar's books are stocked by the Astrology Center of America and he get very favourable reviews by Dave Roell the owner. Thats perhaps not remarkable for a book seller but Roell doesn't pull his punches if he doesn't approve of an author.

Indeed -- or if he doesn't understand the subject. Personally, I'd be rather wary of a book that did get a favourable review by Roell; but fortunately, all that concerns me at present is the extent to which Koparkar has helped shape the overall development of modern Indian astrology.

He puts forward the idea of 'Karmic Control Planets' which are essentially the planetary dispositors of the nodes.

I suppose he got that from Manik Chand Jain (and so could Celeste Teal -- another new name to me, incidentally). It all sounds a bit peripheral, though.

It all sounds a bit peripheral, though.

Yes I agree! I wasn't endorsing Koparkar or Dave Roell. Even with my limited understanding I can see he is as more modern than Jyotish in his inspiration.

I appreciate you are looking at this subject for an article covering the last century. Still looking at regular book recommendations on popular introductions to Jyotish might give you a steer where to focus on in the later phase.

Indian
B.V. Raman
N. P. Subramania Iyer
Belpin Behari,
Gopesh Kumar Ojha
K.S Krishnamurti
Ramkrishna Bhat
Dr. K. S. Charak
Chandulal S. Patel
Rama.R Rao
Kotamraju Narayan Rao
Manik Chand Jain
Komilla Sutton

Western
Robert De Luce
David Frawley
Hart DeFouw
Robert Svobodoa
James T. Braha
Valerie Roebuck
Dennis Flaherty
Barbara Cameron
William Levacy
Richard Houck
Ronnie Dreyer

I find it interesting that the post WWII popularisation of Indian astrology was initially heavily focused on American astrologers. One might have thought the United Kingdom was tailor made for a strong interest in Indian astrology with the Imperial link to India and the arrival of a large Indian immigrant community in Britain after WWII. However, even to this day there are not that many high quality practitioners of Indian astrology in the UK outside the ethnic Indian/South Asian community.

Like the American practitioners of Vedic astrology many British astrologers were clearly looking for something different from modern western astrology from the 1980's onwards. However, while large numbers of Americans turned to Indian astrological teachings it seems similar minded British astrologers almost exclusively turned instead to traditional methods within their own astrological tradition.

Incidentally, what about pioneers of Indian astrology in the non-English speaking parts of Europe? Prior to WWII there seems to have been considerable interest in Indian astrology amongst German astrologers.

In particular Otto Von Bressensdorff (1921) , Johannes Stoeffler (1921-22), Wilhelm Wulffe (1929 onwards) , Dr A Schoeler (1930-1) Alfred Grimm (1926-31). Prior to WWI there are also numerous articles on Indian astrology by Karl Brandler-Pracht, and Dr Christian W?llner

Here is the full bibliography:

http://www.hermes-astrologie.com/english/litind.htm

The sheer volume of this literature means that interest in Jytoish must have been quite strong in the pre-WWII German astrological community. Unfortunately, the persecution of German astrologers under the Nazis must have seriously retarded such progressive developments.

Mark

The real moving force which has brought India's astrology to a western audience is The American Council of Vedic Astrology which later became the Council of Vedic Astrology. Martin, you will find this PDF by Dennis Flaherty helpful:

http://www.acvaonline.org/library/11flaherty.pdf

A core group was formed at that time which set the western educational standards for Jyotisha, and this core group and those trained according to ACVA-CVA standards have formed the driving force behind publications, conferences and outreach from the early 90s until the present. I have to go back and check on personalities and facts, but among others the core group consisted of Dr. David, Frawley, K. N. Rao (from Delhi, India), Chakrapani Ullal, and Dr. Dennis M. Harness. Here is the web site for the Council of Vedic Astrology:

http://www.councilvedicastrology.com/index.html

I was one of the founding members of the American Council, but withdrew very early because there was a tight control structure from the beginning which did not have my sympathy. There have been a number of new books on India's astrology (heavily influenced by western principles) in recent years, and I want to briefly summarize the content and authors in a later post.

This post is meant only as an introduction to the topic of contemporary Vedic astrology in the west. It will be difficult to write a brief summary, but I'll give it a try.

Martin Gansten wrote:...the entry on 'Modern astrologers' (for Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism, vol. 5) is not meant to explain the underlying philosophical concepts of Indian astrology, but rather the most prominent figures in its development during the modern period -- which, for this purpose, I have defined as beginning in the late 19th century...David Frawley will definitely have to be included in the later stage of globalization, but I have never heard of Mohan Koparkar. Has he been particularly influential in any way?

Late 19th century and on....that will take some research that will be difficult to complete in a day or two. Yes, David Frawley would be included and also Hart deFouw who published Light on Life in 1996. That text was contemporary Jyotisha's basic textbook for most students until the proliferation of texts in more recent years. Light on Life is still the most authoritative and extensive modern reference penned by a western author. To be fair, Light on Life was co-authored by Robert Svoboda, but he isn't noted in astrological circles.

On another thread I posted a few words on Robert De Luce's Constellational Astrology. Because his book came earlier (1963), it was also an important introduction to India's astrology in modern times.

I don't see Koparkar as particularly influential, though he published a number of books. Though Indian, K.N. Rao has had a huge influence on western students due to his research and scientific approach. Of course, B. V. Raman is a key figure since his books were written in English and available in English speaking countries.

Martin Gansten wrote:I would be very interested to know which astrologers list members consider to be the major figures in the 'Vedic astrology' scene in the west -- particularly, which ones have been most important in bringing Indian astrology to a western audience and in influencing its direction in the west. Thanks in advance for any replies!

i think alan leos involvement with the theosophy movement might have helped make some inroads into indian astrology being introduced to the west!
see page 45 from this link for a start.
http://www.archive.org/stream/lifeworko ... +astrology

There is no doubt that the person responsible for introducing classical Indian astrology to the west is B. V. Raman. In 1969 Raman published Hindu Astrology and the West detailing his travels, contacts and adventures through western countries which included major U. S. cities and parts of Europe. Cyril Fagan wrote the introduction to this book. In the forward Dr. Hans A. Havemann writes:

"...Prof. B. V. Raman who through his The Astrological Magazine and a proud number of books, has initiated a veritable renaissance of classical Hindu astrology. He is therefore uniquely qualified to convey Eastern astrological history and thought to the West..." (p. xii)

Robert De Luce (Constellational Astrology, 1963) continued in the classical tradition. Valerie Roebuck's The Circle of Stars (2002) stayed closely with the classics, but I'm not sure how much impact her book might have had. Hart deFouw's Light on Life also stayed reasonably close to the classical tradition.

Other contemporary authors have improvised and added western concepts in their books and teachings. Tomorrow I can briefly outline these authors and the basic adjustments made to India's classical teachings. As I said, the major change came with The American Council of Vedic Astrology in 1992-1993 and has continued to the present time.