The Kalaprakasika: choosing times for every part of life · Chapter 1 of 6
The book and the almanac
The author
The Kalaprakasika ("the light of time") is the standard South Indian handbook of muhurta — choosing the right time for every undertaking of life. Its author introduces himself after his prayers:
Having thoroughly mastered the ancient text books on the science, I, Narasimhan, the son of Varadarya, of the family of Bharadwaja at Proudarayapuram (Poli-Pakkam), distinguished for virtue, learning and parentage, propose to write this book, Kalaprakasika, embodying the essential principles of the science of astrology (I).
His purpose is practical:
The student trying to master the contents of the various ancient astrological works is likely to feel bewildered, finding them too high and elaborate; only here and there does he find any nutriment to his mind. The aim of this compilation is to present the substance of the several astrological texts in a concise and intelligible form (I).
The book was translated into English, with the Sanskrit text, by N. P. Subramania Iyer in 1917 (Kalaprakasika: The Standard Book on the Election (Mahoortha) System). This book follows that translation, cited by chapter.
Studying the almanac (I)
The book opens with the merit of knowing the panchanga:
He who makes a study of the panchangam — the tithi, the varam, the nakshatra, the yoga and the karana of every day — becomes free from all sins. Knowledge of tithi brings prosperity; knowledge of varam prolongs life; knowledge of nakshatra causes the destruction of sins; knowledge of yoga gives immunity from disease... (I)
The almanac is not only a tool here but a devotion.
Against the careless and the dishonest (I)
The first chapter is also severe about bad astrologers. One who expounds a science without understanding its texts — "be he painter, poet, physician or astrologer" — is condemned; but "he who interprets the science in the light of the authorities, with a knowledge of its theory and practice" earns great merit. And then, plainly:
Any treatise on astrology should be based on accurate and well-grounded knowledge. Charlatanry is a crime (I).
Just as a lighted lamp illuminates the objects around it, "Kalaprakasika" mirrors the quality of Time (I).
The plan of the book
The Kalaprakasika runs through a whole life in order:
| Chapters | Subject | This book |
|---|---|---|
| I | the almanac | this chapter |
| II | a summary of natal astrology | this chapter |
| III–XII | the rites of childhood, learning and initiation | chapter 2 |
| XIII–XVIII | marriage: matching, the wedding, the girl's character, conception and pregnancy rites | chapter 3 |
| XIX–XXVIII | farming, treasure, jewels, building, house-warming, coronation, installing a deity | chapter 4 |
| XXIX–XXXII | travel, illness, medical treatment, debts | chapter 5 |
| XXXIII–XLV | the faults of time and their remedies, the good and bad yogas, the daily periods, and other matters | chapter 6 |
Chapter II gives a brief summary of natal astrology — the houses, the influence of the nakshatras, the gandantas, birth in Jyeshtha or on the dark fourteenth, and the lunar yogas (Sunapha, Anapha, Durudhura, Gajakesari) — before the book turns to its real subject, the choosing of times.
Summary
- The Kalaprakasika was written by Narasimha, son of Varadarya, of Poli-Pakkam, to make the old texts concise and clear; translated by N. P. Subramania Iyer, 1917.
- It praises the study of the five limbs of the almanac (I).
- It condemns careless and dishonest astrologers: "Charlatanry is a crime" (I).
- It covers muhurta for every stage of life, in order.
Exercises
- Who wrote the Kalaprakasika, and why?
- What does the book say knowledge of each limb of the panchanga brings?
- What does it say about charlatans?
Answers: 1. Narasimha, son of Varadarya, of Poli-Pakkam; to present the substance of the bewildering older texts concisely and clearly. 2. Tithi prosperity, weekday long life, nakshatra the destruction of sins, yoga freedom from disease (I). 3. That astrology must rest on accurate and well-grounded knowledge, and that charlatanry is a crime (I).