This work is an encyclopaedia of astrological and other subjects of human interest. Whatever subjects the author takes up for delineation, whether it is eclipse, planetary movements, rainfall, cloud, architecture, water-divination or some other topic he discusses the same with thoroughness and mastery based on the knowledge of ancient sastras.
Birhat Jatak from time immemorial has been considered as the standard textbook on Astrology. The English translation of Varahamihira`s Brihat Jataka is a monumental work in completing which the difficulties in translating a beautiful, technical and suggestive work in sanskrit had to surmounted by hard labour, profound research and want of adequate expressions. It is not mere a translation work; the ripe experience of Mr. Rao for over 60 years in the field of Astrology and his sound judgment on doubtful points have substantiated its value further.
The European 'dark ages' in the millennium 500 to 1500 CE was a bright age of scientific achievements in China, India and the Middle East. The contributors to this volume address the implications of this seminal era of Asian science for comparative and connective science studies. Although such studies have generally adopted a binary perspective focusing on one or another of the Asian (Chinese, Indian, Islamic) civilizations, this study brings them together into a single volume within a wider Eurasian perspective. Moreover, by drawing together historical, philosophical, and sociological dimensions into one volume it promotes a richer understanding of how Eurasian connections and comparisons in the millennium preceding the modern era can illuminate the birth and growth of modern science. Contributors are Arun Bala, Andrew Brennan, James Robert Brown, George Gheverghese Joseph, Henrik Lagerlund, Norva Y.S. Lo, Roddam Narasimha, Hyunhee Park, Franklin Thomas Perkins, Hans Pols, Kapil Raj, Sundar Sarukkai, Mohd. Hazim Shah, Geir Sigurðsson and Cecilia Wee.
This book contains articles on various subjects. If you look at the contents page, you will get an idea of the range of subjects I have dealt with. But the main focus is on two books Amarakosa, the Sanskrit dictionary cum thesaurus and Brihat Samhita of Varahamihira, an encyclopaedia in Sanskrit. The commentaries on Amarakosa give us enormous information. But not all the commentaries are available in English. I have collected as much information as possible through a Sanskrit scholar.
