Parashari school
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra · बृहत् पराशर होरा शास्त्र
The foundational reference for house, lordship, divisional and dasha technique.
Attributed to
Maharishi Parashara
Approximate period
c. 600–1000 CE (received form)
Rights status
source_text_public_domain
What it covers
The broadest classical handbook in circulation: sign and planet descriptions, house significations, divisional charts, planetary strengths, yogas, dashas and remedial measures.
Foundational Parashari text on natal astrology: houses, lordships, yogas, divisional charts and Vimshottari dasha.
Signature methods
- Sixteen divisional charts with their assigned uses
- Functional benefic and malefic status derived from lordship
- Vimshottari dasha as the primary timing cycle
- Extensive yoga catalogue with cancellation conditions
What makes it different
It defines the vocabulary the other Parashari texts assume. Where later works disagree, they are usually narrowing or qualifying a rule stated here.
How the Parashari school reads a chartChapter-by-chapter summary
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra circulates in editions of roughly 97 to 100 chapters, and chapter numbers shift by one or two between them. Chapters are grouped below by subject so the outline holds whichever edition you read from.
How to work through Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra
- 1Read the creation and planetary-character chapters first — later rules assume that vocabulary.
- 2Take signs, houses and house significations next; almost every judgement rule refers back to them.
- 3Study the divisional-chart chapters before any yoga material, since yogas are confirmed in vargas.
- 4Only then move to yogas, strengths and dashas, which combine everything before them.
- 5Treat the remedial chapters as the closing section, not as a shortcut past the analysis.
20 entries covering the full text
These summaries describe what each chapter covers in Astravya's own words. No verses are translated or reproduced.
Glossary
- Functional benefic
- A planet treated as helpful for a chart because of the houses it rules.
- Shodashavarga
- The set of sixteen divisional charts.
- Bhava madhya
- House midpoint used in cusp-based house systems.
Published rules cited from this text
Tenth house and its lord govern career
The tenth house and its lord describe profession, status and public action. A strong tenth lord placed in a kendra or trikona and unafflicted supports steady professional rise; an afflicted or weak lord points to obstacles or changes of direction.
When it applies: Career and reputation questions; read with the Sun, Saturn and Mercury as karakas.
Where sources disagree: Phaladeepika gives more weight to planets occupying the tenth than to its lord.
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Bhava effects (tenth house)
Seventh house and Venus describe partnership
The seventh house, its lord and Venus (for a man) or Jupiter (traditionally for a woman) indicate marriage and partnership. Benefic aspect on the seventh and a well-placed lord favour harmony; malefic occupation or a lord in a dusthana shows friction or delay.
When it applies: Relationship and marriage questions.
Where sources disagree: Modern practice reads Venus as the relationship karaka for every native.
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Bhava effects (seventh house)
Lords of kendra and trikona combine as Raja Yoga
When a lord of an angular house (1, 4, 7, 10) joins, aspects or exchanges with a lord of a trine (1, 5, 9), a Raja Yoga forms, promising rank and success, especially in the dashas of the planets involved.
When it applies: Status, authority and timing of success.
Where sources disagree: Results are reduced if either lord also owns a dusthana (6, 8, 12).
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Yoga chapters (Raja Yoga)
Dasha lord delivers results of the houses it owns and occupies
A planet's Vimshottari period brings forward the matters of the houses it rules and occupies, modified by its dignity and aspects. The sub-period lord's relation to the main lord (friend, enemy, sixth/eighth from each other) colours the outcome.
When it applies: Timing any event; always read the running mahadasha and antardasha lords.
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Dasha effects chapters
Special aspects of Mars, Jupiter and Saturn
Every planet fully aspects the seventh from itself; Mars additionally aspects the fourth and eighth, Jupiter the fifth and ninth, and Saturn the third and tenth. Aspects transfer a planet's nature to the house and planets they reach.
When it applies: Any house or planet analysis.
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Graha drishti
Moon as karaka of mind and mother
The Moon signifies the mind, emotional steadiness and the mother; a waxing, well-placed Moon is read as supporting emotional balance.
When it applies: Read with the 4th house and the Moon's paksha strength.
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Karaka descriptions
Sun as karaka of father, authority and vitality
The Sun signifies the father, government, authority and vitality; its strength colours how these themes appear in life.
When it applies: Read with the 9th and 10th houses.
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Karaka descriptions
Antardasha lord relationship to the mahadasha lord
Sub-periods tend to be smoother when the sub-period lord is friendly to, or well placed from, the major-period lord, and more mixed when placed 6th, 8th or 12th from it.
When it applies: Count the position of the sub-period lord from the major-period lord.
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Antardasha effects
Dasha lord gives results of the houses it rules and occupies
During a planet's major period, the matters of the houses it rules and the house it occupies come forward, modified by its strength and dignity.
When it applies: Applies to Vimshottari periods; sub-period lords modify the result.
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Dasha effects
Raja yoga from kendra and trikona lords combining
A connection (conjunction, mutual aspect or exchange) between a lord of an angular house and a lord of a trinal house is described as a yoga for rise in status.
When it applies: Results come mainly in the dashas of the planets forming the yoga.
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Raja yoga chapter
Gajakesari yoga: Jupiter in a kendra from the Moon
Jupiter placed in the 1st, 4th, 7th or 10th from the Moon forms Gajakesari yoga, associated with reputation, intelligence and lasting goodwill.
When it applies: Weakened when Jupiter is combust, debilitated or in an enemy sign.
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Yoga chapters
Lord of the 7th and Venus describe partnership
The condition of the seventh-house ruler and of Venus as the significator of partnership are read together to describe the nature of marriage and close partnerships.
When it applies: Judge both factors together; one weak factor alone is not conclusive.
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Bhava effects (seventh house)
Lord of the 10th in a kendra or trikona supports career standing
When the ruler of the tenth house sits in an angular or trinal house and is not afflicted, the texts describe steady professional recognition and authority.
When it applies: Birth time must be reliable, since the tenth house depends on the ascendant.
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra Bhava effects (tenth house)
Sanskrit source text is public domain. Modern translations remain in copyright — store original summaries only.
Every summary on these pages is Astravya's own wording of a classical principle. Sanskrit verses are not reproduced unless the source wording is out of copyright or licensed, and each published rule records its chapter, verse and rights basis.