Astrology Books For Beginners 

Part 1: For Beginners 

Alright, this set is for beginners who are starting from scratch or who have been on this journey for 1-2 months. These books will build your foundation of astrology. Many authors in this list are traditional authors and not modern ones. So language can be on a heavier side. So let’s begin. 

  1. Adhyatma Jyotish by H N Katwe 

Jyotish is part of Vedang, which means to become a good astrologer, you will need to understand the Vedas, and this book gives an excellent base to connect with the Vedas without going through thousands of pages of the Puranas. 

  1. Jyotish Fundamentals By Visti Larsen 

He is one of the best students of Shri Sanjay Rath Ji. This book covers the most essential fundamentals of astrology and is very easy to understand. He talks about topics that you will not find anywhere, and everything is beautifully explained. 

  1. Fundamentals of Astrology by Ramkrishna Bhatt

He is a traditional author, so the language is quite heavy and description-heavy. But this book covers a detailed foundation of astrology, including an introduction to rashis, divisional charts, basic yoga, ashtakvarga, panchanga, and so much more. Once you read two books, grab this book and devour it.

  1. Hindu Astrology by Shil Ponde

Shil Ponde is not a known name today, but he has written an excellent book on Hindu Astrology, and it’s perfect for beginners who are trying to grasp the concepts of Jyotish. The best thing about the book is that it talks in a few words. He explains the concept in a few lines and does not talk nonsense to increase the length of the book. You can easily complete this book within 2 or 3 days. 

  1. Crux of Vedic Astrology by Shri. Sanjay Rath

One of the good books by one of the renowned astrologers worldwide. Sanjay Rath ji belongs to the Achutnananta tradition, and this book gives us access to some of the traditional jyotish vidya that was passed down only to a few lucky people. This is a heavier read, so go through it slowly. Take time to understand each chapter.

  1. Vedic Astrology- An Integrated Approach by P.V. R Narsimha Rao

PVR Narisimha Rao is one of the most humble souls I have seen. He is the designer of Jagannath Hora, one of the best free astrology software programs available today. It’s because of him, astrologers can quickly build accurate charts within minutes and build the database. The first half of this book deals with beginner concepts, whereas the latter part is advanced. He explains the concepts in a simple manner without over-explaining or under-explaining. You can read this book alongside Crux of Vedic Astrology or Jyotish Fundamentals by Visti Larsen. 

Astrology Books For Intermediate 

Over the years, I have come across quite good intermediate books. These books have a strong foundation and do not adhere to trends. The knowledge and wisdom inside them are evergreen. 

  1. Grah Vichar Mala by H. N. Katwe 

This is an entire series on planets in different houses and signs by H. N Katwe. Katwe Ji was known for writing only those techniques that he himself saw working in real life. So you can rest assured that you are going to find the treasures of practical wisdom here.

  1. Golden Rules of Astrology by S S. Chatterjee 

S.S. Chatterjee quickly became my most favourite author of astrology books. He has magic in his hands and can explain even the toughest of principles effortlessly. This book contains several golden tried-and-tested rules, and each dictum is sure to blow your mind and open up a new universe within you.

  1. New Dimension of Hindu Astrology By S. K Mehta 

S. K Mehta is a hidden gem in the Jyotish area. The book explores Vedic astrology from a completely different point of view. Once you have built a strong foundation, pick this book up, and you won’t regret it.

  1. Esoteric Principles of Vedic Astrology by Bepin Bihari

All the books of Bepin Bihari Ji are worth exploring. But this one deals with certain principles that are very useful as an intermediate astrologer. It explores the deep characteristics of each planet and how they create yogas in birth charts. It also breaks misconceptions related to Kaal Sarp Yoga logically.

Astrology Books For Advanced Learners

This section is for those who already have a solid grasp of astrology and want to deepen their technical understanding. These books challenge conventional ideas and take you into specialized areas like medical astrology, muhurta, nakshatras, and karmic interpretations. Many of them are classics that advanced astrologers continue to refer back to throughout their careers.

  1. Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Volume 1 and 2 by Girish Chanda Sharma 

There are several versions of BPHS available in the market; this is one of the good ones, other than Suresh Chandra Mishra’s version. BPHS is the ‘Geeta of Jyotish’ and is must must-have book for all levels of astrology learners. Advanced learners can explore the chapters of remedies and different types of mahadashas. Can you imagine, Rishi Parashar has given us more than 60 types of dasha calculations? However, Vimshottari, Yogini, Kaal Chakra Dasha, and Narayan Dasha are more widely utilized.

  1. Advanced Medical Astrology by S. S. Chatterjee

This is the only book where medical astrology is treated with clinical precision. S. S. Chatterjee, being a doctor, connects astrological logic to actual human anatomy and pathology. It goes far beyond the usual “Mars rules blood” type of explanation and includes case-based reasoning on diseases, organ functions, and planetary influence in medical conditions. It’s not a casual read, but if you want a real application of astrology in diagnostics or health prediction, this book fills that gap.

  1. New Techniques of Astrology Vol. 1 & 2 by Seshadri Iyer

These two volumes dismantle a lot of commonly repeated half-truths in astrology. Iyer re-examines bhava logic, yogas, exaltation and debilitation principles, and redefines several classical rules using tested observations. The books are full of cross-verifications from charts, not just theory. If you want to understand why certain classical results fail in modern practice, this is where to look.

  1. Muhurt Chintamani

A must-read for practical muhurta work. It not only lists auspicious and inauspicious timings but also explains the calculation process clearly, allowing you to verify and adjust timings manually. This is important because many astrology software programs miscalculate muhurta due to time zone or ayanamsha differences. The book helps you identify those errors and correct them yourself.

  1. Jatak Naveentam

This book focuses entirely on nakshatra-based chart interpretation. It shows how each planet behaves when placed in various nakshatras and under different lords. The strength of this text lies in its application of Vimshottari Dasha. Once you understand the patterns described here, dasha prediction becomes more consistent. It’s a technical book, but it gives practical clarity on how nakshatras actually drive results.

  1. Jatak Tattvam by Mahadeva

An essential classical text for anyone at an advanced stage of astrology. It’s written in concise sutra-style statements, so you need prior grounding to interpret it. The dictums are practical, not abstract, and many of them directly relate to judgment of yogas, strength of planets, and combinations for events. You’ll often find rules here that are missing from later compilations.

  1. Saravali by Kalyan Verma

One of the most fundamental classical texts in astrology. It covers planetary combinations, yogas, aspects, and behavior in different houses in great detail. Most later texts borrow from Saravali. Studying it helps you understand where many modern interpretations come from and which ones have been distorted over time. It’s a reference book for serious students, not a beginner text.

  1. Karmic Control Planets by M. C. Jain

Introduces a unique framework that links karmic lessons with planetary control. Jain explains how certain planets dominate the chart in a karmic sense, often overriding other influences. It helps in identifying which planet is actually “running the show” behind life events. The logic is simple, but it shifts how you prioritize planets during reading.

  1. Missing Links of Hindu Astrology by N. N. Krishna Rau

A sharp, analytical text that fills gaps left by standard classical sources. Krishna Rau focuses on why certain traditional principles fail in real-life chart application and suggests corrected interpretations. It’s a book that strengthens reasoning and makes predictions more consistent. Excellent for those who already know the basics but want to refine accuracy.

  1. Nakshatra by T. Shubhkaran

One of the better modern texts on nakshatras. It provides clear behavioral and predictive correlations for each nakshatra rather than mythological symbolism. The author links nakshatra traits directly to planetary outcomes in Dasha and transit. If you work extensively with nakshatras or Dasha-based systems, this book helps bring precision.

  1. A Guide for Astrologers by William Lilly

Though based on Western astrology, Lilly’s methods teach structured judgment, how to weigh multiple factors, prioritize houses, and form conclusions logically. It improves your analytical discipline as an astrologer. Even if you follow Indian astrology, studying Lilly’s reasoning process can help you make cleaner, more defensible predictions.

Conclusion

These books are not meant to be read quickly or collected on a shelf; they’re meant to be lived with. Read one at a time, take notes, and come back to the same pages after a few months; you’ll always notice something new. If you stay patient with the process, these texts will take you from simply knowing the planets and signs to actually thinking like a Jyotishi. The deeper you go, the more the system opens up. The goal isn’t to finish the list it’s to keep learning from it.