[su_icon_text icon=”icon: heart” icon_color=”#ff4a66″ icon_size=”32″]Visnu Purana (Contents)[/su_icon_text]

Concepts

Before we begin, we need to study a few sources to understand the importance of Maharṣi Parāśara. The first Lesson in this group was prepared for another course and the original word document is lost. I hope some of you can preserve these file for posterity. There is a nice description of the life and times of Parāśara.

Note: These Lessons were taught for the Brhaspati Jyotish Program and some of you may have alrady learnt them. I want to ensure that all students are on the same footing for this course. There are some more lessons in the Brihaspati course, which if necessary, will be mentioned at the right place for you to get.

Purāṇa Upadeśa

Visnu PuranaThe purāṇa upadeśa is given below. A sincere student who wishes to follow Maharṣi Parāśara must have a copy of the most authentic Viṣṇu Purāṇa where the life of Śrī Kṛṣṇa has been taught. Please order one copy for yourself if you have not attended the contact course in person.
Śrī Parāśara taught this purāṇa to his ardent disciple Maitreya muni and in a similar dialogue between guru and śiṣya, the Bṛhat Parāśara Horā śāstra was also taught. One cannot fully imbibe the teachings of Parāśara in BPHS without studying this purāṇa.

Purāṇa Upadeśa

Additional Reading

1. Kṛṣṇa avatāra series {Late Sri. Kulapati K.M.Munshi’s famous narration of the life of Lord Krishna titled “Krishnavatara” (Volumes 1 to 8) published by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan} Online Link [We are not connected to Gujratibooks.com]
2. Viṣṇu Purāṇa Series by Smt. B. Lakṣmī Ramesh published in The Jyotish Digest Order Online
3. Please get a copy of the Viṣṇu Purāṇa (Parimal Publications). It wil provide the background necessary to understand Parāśara. This purāṇa is considered by scholars as the most authentic and ancient text.

Vasudeva mantra
It is good to recite the Vasudeva mantra, which is the signature mantra of Vedavyasa in the Puranas

Karma Theory

An introduction to Karma and reincarnation that is extremely essential to understand the principles of Jyotisa. Why do we incarnate and what keeps us un this cycle of rebirth. Basic concepts that must be well understood. Twelve slides explaining the basic of Karma including –
1. quotes from Brhaspati niti to bring out importance of karma,
2. three processes for karma – mind, body, soul > understand how karma is created by these.
3. three types of karma – sanchita, prarandha and kriyamana > which jyotish charts show what and the role of astrologer
4. three modes – sva, samyoga, paraspara yoga

Kośa: The Five Sheaths

This basically explains the kośa – what they are and what they are composed of. Unless we know what is causing bondage, how can we ever think of getting out of it? The jīvātmā believes that it is born free and is free to live life the way it wants to. However, nature and destiny have special plans in the form of karma manifestation and it is only a question of time before the jīva realizes its limitations and these are the limitations of the body, the breath, the mind and the information or learning.