The Crucial Building Blocks  (English, Paperback, Sarajit Poddar)

This book in the series covers several building blocks of Jyotiṣa not covered before. This includes the Kārakādi Saṅjñā, that classifies Grahas as Kāraka, Akāraka, Māraka, Taṭastha and Yogakāraka. This deals with questions such as whether the 8th or 12th lord is neutral or inauspicious. Questions such as how the lord of gain can be bad are also addressed. In a Kuṇḍalī assessment how when a Krūra becomes a Koṇeśa, does it remain malicious because it is a Krūra or benevolent because it is a Koṇeśa? How to reconcile such differences? Besides, there is detailed deliberations on Bhāvacalit, the significance of Udaya and Daśama Lagna and the four cardinal points, 1st, 7th, 4th and 10th. This contains how the Śrīpati Bhāvamadhyas are used in making predictions, and their usage in Rāśi and Vargas. Another important topic that is covered in great detail is Aprakāśagrahas and Upagrahas. Even though Guḻika and Māndi are often used, there are others such as Ardhaprahara, Yamaghaṅṭa etc. which are also important. There is a deliberation on whether Guḻika and Māndi are the same Grahas or different. Also covered as topics such as the Śāstraic method of writing a Kuṇḍalī, invoking the blessings of divinity, the 5 different kinds of Avasthās viz., Bālādi, Jāgṛtādi, Dīptādi, Lajjitādi and Sayanādi, the concept of Argalā, the effects of Mahābhūtas, Guṇas and Doṣas. This book covers several lesser-used topics of Jyotiṣa in detail.