This is Volume 1 of total 2 volumes of the Title Parashar Hora.

Every student of astrology is familiar with BPHS ie Brihat Parashar Hora Shastra. However, this book reveals the hitherto hidden storyline behind the naming convention.

Parasara Hora by Maharishi Parasara is of prime importance in Vedic astrology. All the Acharyas following Rishi traditions like Varahamihira, Kalyan Varma, Nrisingh, Daivagya, Vaidyanath Dixit, Manteshwar, Balbhadra Mishra, Mahadev Pathak, etc., have quoted Parasara in their books. The tradition of giving names started from 'Jatak Sar Deep'. 'Hora Ratna' of Bal Bhadra Mishra has quoted a few Shalokas from 'Parasara Hora' and 'Parasara Jataka', which are found in the currently published versions of texts designated as 'Brihat Parasara Hora Shastra'. Why 'Parasara Hora' was named as 'Brihat Parasara Hora Shastra'? This important question has been answered in this book only.

The special focus of this book is to make the ardent readers aware of the salient features of this Vedic text on astrology and how it is distinct from the other transcripts on the subject, available thus far. Great concerted efforts were made to collect, collate and combine all the available manuscripts and other related published material contributed by the eminent contemporary writers and commentators and then the sequence of subject matters is aligned to make it comprehensible and authentic. The name of this holistic text is also as per the ancient statement and record, namely 'Parasara Hora'. This book adduces certain critical and important features which were never attempted before.

This book in one hundred chapters falls in line with the description or narration: "होरा शताध्यायी सर्व पाप विनाशिनी" verse as appeared in the Uttara Khanda of the text collated by Shridhar. Amongst the other contemporary writers of such treatise, Sitaram Jha, Devchandra Jha, Tarachand Shastri to name a few, have formatted this text covering between 71 and 101 chapters, but in most of the cases 20 odd chapters were not from 'Hora Shastra'. These details are available in the introductory note: 'The specialties of this book'. This note also minutely explains the deletion of inapt Shlokas, the addition of relevant Shlokas and also some Shlokas have been rearranged purposefully so are the chapters. Besides, the treatment of some of the subjects is so unique that will fill the void for the readers to experience. These 20 odd supplementary researched chapters culled out of the published and manuscript materials are unavailable in any text of the Brihat Parasara Hora Shastra (BPHS) of the present time. Trust with this value addition, the esteem readers will get immensely benefited.

Shri Om Prakash Paliwal has authored this 'Parashar Hora' with Hindi translation. This involved collecting and collating the Sanskrit Shlokas through sustained research from the published sources and manuscripts. For the convenience of the readers, each set of Shalokas carries the initials of the writers with their work references. Besides, Shalokas borrowed from ancient treatises are also quoted. This is the uniqueness of this book.
After the publication, the fervent response prompted the need of bringing it in English. With our humble request, Mr. PK Vasudev agreed to undertake this arduous and complicated task.

This book will also be translated into other languages.