Lal Kitab is not the name of one single book. There are five books published during year 1939 to 1952 written by Pt Roop Chand Joshi of Pharwala in Punjab. The book was authored originally in Urdu in 19th century, and has all the knowledge, principles and the rules of prediction well written for the understanding of a common man. The series of five books in Urdu script are "Samudrik Lal Kitab Ke Farman" published in 1939, "Samudrik Lal Kitab Ke Arman" published in 1940, "Samudrik Lal Kitab Teesara Hissa" published in 1941, "I am Samudrik Lal Kitab Tarmeem Shuda" published in 1942, and I am Samudrik Buniyad Par Samudrik Lal kitab published in 1952.

There is constant debate going on among astrologers and other readers of Lal Kitab about how the book actually originated. Some researchers say that in the 18th century, some copper scripts written in Urdu and Persian language were dug out from a Lahore construction site. Pandit Giridhari Sharma was an astrologer and expertise linguist of that time, so the copper scripts were taken to him. These scripts were recorded in a register that has red colour and that is why it is known as Lal Kitab. Another school of thought says that Lal Kitab was actually the work of Pt Roop Chand Joshi Ji who was the cousin of Pandit Girdhari Lal Sharma Ji and Pt Sharma was only the publisher of the book. Whichever version is true, it does not matter how Lal Kitab originated but the important point is that Lal Kitab has benefited and improved lives of millions of people who showed belief in its simple & accurate remedies. I believe that Lal Kitab is a book that can make every individual life happy and peaceful.

Lal Kitab offers simple remedies for various planetary afflictions in the horoscope or birth chart that did not involve tedious religious cure or wearing gemstones to dampen the ill-effects. That is why People welcomed it with open arms, as this was the first time in the history of astrology that a new style of horoscope analysis was provided with quick and affordable remedies. All the remedies of Lal Kitab are scientific in nature and although its basic principles are same as in Vedic astrology but the concepts like artificial planets, blind planets, sleeping houses or planets, scapegoat planets make the system different from traditional Vedic astrology.

I have read and practicing Lal Kitab and teaching it to the students all over the globe since last 10 years. I can say with confidence that once you read and understand this book and follow its remedies in your life, you will appreciate the utility of this book. You will start looking things around you from a changed perspective and you will be transformed into a better person.
 

Why Lal Kitab is an exceptional book of Astrology? (लाल किताब ज्योतिष निराली क्यूँ है?)

I would start my discussion with a famous quote from Lal Kitab where Pandit Roop Chand Joshi Ji writes:

"LAL KITAB HAI JYOTISH NIRALI,
JO KISMAT SOYI KO JAGA DETI HAI
FARMAAN PAKKA DEKE BAAT AAKHRI
DO LAFZI SE ZEHMAT HATA DETI HAI"

Truly Lal Kitab is a unique book of astrology which has the ability to activate your fortune through simple and easy remedies. I would not discuss here the origin of Lal Kitab and description of five books of Lal Kitab as they are dealt with earlier by me in my earlier articles and posts. You can visit our website or social media pages to read about how Lal Kitab originated, its basic concept, five editions of Lal Kitab written by Pandit Roop Chand Joshi Ji.

In this post, I am discussing the unique features of Lal Kitab which are different from Vedic astrology. These unique features are the pillars of strengths of Lal Kitab. Understanding of Lal Kitab principles in the right manner may enable a practitioner to recommend simple and easy remedies for various planetary combinations and thus clients would be able to get the advantage of this wonderful book of astrology. Vedic and other branches of astrology generally suggest very few remedial measures which are complicated and expensive, whereas in Lal Kitab simple remedial Measures are suggested based on the position of every planet. Lal Kitab is a book which is based on Palmistry and thus a sound knowledge of Palmistry is an added advantage for the Lal Kitab practitioner. Palmistry helps a lot in rectifying horoscope known as “Durusti” of horoscope. It is important to mention here that there is a misconception even among the practitioners of Lal Kitab that is it is a book of remedial measures only. It is not a book of Totka as is perceived and communicated by many practitioners of Vedic astrology and general public also. Lal Kitab is based on certain scientific principles & remedies are suggested looking at the planet which can be rectified or which is exhibiting doubtful nature. The results of planet which is in its permanent house or a planet which is of Grah Phal cannot be changed and in such cases remedies for other planets have to be undertaken. Lal Kitab has a considerable part that is devoted to discussing its grammar so that appropriate remedial measures can be suggested. There are many practitioners in the market who recommend Lal Kitab remedies for nine planets looking at their position in the horoscope or varshphal but this is a wrong practice. A good Lal Kitab practitioner goes to the root cause of problem for the native and then a remedy is suggested for the planet which can be rectified through Lal Kitab remedies.

Today many practitioners of Vedic astrology have combined their astrology with the remedies suggested by Lal Kitab. They give predictions according to their own theories and suggest remedial measures of Lal Kitab which is not the correct way. Good or Bad planet suggested by the other astrological theories may differ from the theory of Lal Kitab Astrology because it has different system of judging good or bad planets, so the remedial measures suggested will not give desired results or may be ineffective.

Many astrologers have quoted that the messages given in the Lal Kitab are written in a hay way manner and also are irrelevant, but nobody has tried to solve the mystic messages of Lal Kitab by analysis of such messages systematically. Such mystic messages in Lal Kitab do have specific meanings which cannot be understood without its deep study & application to practical horoscopes.

Lal Kitab is unique because the remedies suggested by it are very simple and can be performed easily. It does not require the practice of any hard remedies, Yagnas, Havanas and other costly and impossible affairs. The most important aspect of Lal Kitab is that it suggests every individual to live a life without hatred and ill feelings towards others. It suggests an individual to maintain his relations and have good conduct to get the best of his or her planet results.

There are some differences between Lal Kitab and Vedic Astrology which are important before learning Lal Kitab. I have summarized some of the important differences hereunder:

1.         Ascendant or Lagna (the first house in a horoscope) is always considered to be having Aries sign in it.  A traditional Indian horoscope is converted to the Lal Kitab system by changing the Lagna sign to Aries and the sign of the second house to Taurus and so on. The planets that are in these houses are not changed, only the Rashis (signs) are changed.  This removes the need for having to consider the “Lord of the first” (Lagnesh) or Dhanesh, Shashtesh etc.  Each house in a horoscope has been assigned a fixed lordship of a Rashi, which is Aries for the first house, Taurus for the second house and so on. Varshphal is prepared every year to show change in planets position
2.         Rahu and Ketu, (the lunar nodes) which are always seven houses (180 degrees) apart from each other in the traditional Indian astrology do not have to be bound by this condition. Especially, while making an annual progressed horoscope using Lal Kitab Varshphal table, these two may or may not be seven houses apart. These two can even occupy adjoining houses. Rahu and Ketu can even be together, when a horoscope is made based on one’s palm or the house that one lives in (Makaan Kundli.)
3.         Multiple planets that are together in the birth chart in a particular house, remain grouped together for the rest of an individual life. While preparing the annual horoscope, these planets move together as a group. For example, if a native has Jupiter, Sun and Saturn together in the first house in the birth chart, these planets will move together to the fourth house in 25th year of native life. You can refer to annual horoscope or varshphal tables for this purpose.
4.         In order to judge a horoscope, one need not consider the Nakshatra (constellation) or Rashi.  Also Lal Kitab does not consider the effect of transition of planets (gochar) thus eliminating the need for an almanac.  The only time one needs an almanac is, when one is preparing the natal birth chart. After that, an almanac is not needed at all, ever.

                             “Rashi chhor nakshatra bhoola, naa hee koi panchaang liya,
                             Mekh raashi khud lagna ko gin kar, barah pakke ghar maan gayaa”

 Roughly translated:

“He” disregarded the constellations and the birth sign and got rid of the almanac or panchang. “He” fixed Aries as the sign in the first house and similarly the twelve signs in the twelve houses of the horoscope.

5.         All the things around us have been fixed as representatives of, or belonging to, the nine planets.  Relatives, professions, things placed in a dwelling including cattle, pets, trees, plants etc. establish good or evil effect of a planet.
6.         The need for Navmansha and other charts, such as Saptamsha etc. have been completely eliminated from Lal Kitab consideration. Only the basic natal chart is required. Lal Kitab has its own way of making the Chandra Kundli, which is looked at in special circumstances.
7.         Lal Kitab neither has Vimshottari Maha dashaa, nor the Sade Sati consideration of Saturn. It does, however, have its own planetary cycle of thirty-five years.
8.         Mangalik dosh has been eliminated from consideration. However, since Mars has been assigned two mounts on the hand (Upper and Lower mounts). Lal Kitab considers Mars as giving dual effect – good and bad.
9.         Malefic effect of planets can be of two types:  Graha Phal and Rashi Phal. An Upaya can be utilized to guard against the Rashi Phal effect. Graha Phal cannot be altered by ordinary mortal beings.  It is the Rashi Phal effect that can be modified using the upayas.
10.       Lal Kitab system neither prescribes nor prohibits fasts.
11.       Lal Kitab is neither a Tantrik book nor does it have anything to do with witchcraft. The whole idea behind the upayas is to take advantage of the “doubtful” position of certain planets and minimize their evil effects. Ordinary mortal beings cannot completely eliminate the evil effect of a planet; however the evil effect can, generally, be reduced. The Lal Kitab system does not claim to be “God promise”
               “Duniyaavi hisaab kitabb hai, koi daawaa-e-khudaai nahin”
12.       Lal Kitab system cannot be used to harm others. There is no provision in it to do that. This system attempts to defend one against evil planetary effects.
13.       Lal Kitab system is secular in nature. In order to perform an upaya, one can go to a religious place of individual choice, which could be a temple, a gurudwara or, a mosque or church.  

14.       All the upayas are to be performed between dawn and dusk. There are only two or three exceptions and those are explicitly mentioned in the Lal Kitab. There is absolutely no requirement to perform particular upayas on particular days (unless specifically

15.       As stated before, this system does not consider itself superior to other prevalent systems of astrology.
16.       The Lal Kitab should be utilized to help others:
                Kar Bhalaa hoga bhalaa, Jab tak naa ho, bhalay ka buraa
17.       And finally, Pandit Roop Chand Ji blessed all the readers and practitioners of the Lal Kitab system:
            “Khush Raho Aabaad Duniya, Maal-o-zar Badhtey raho,
                 Madad Maalik apni dega, Neki khud kartey chalo”

Finally I would like to give a word of caution. There are numerous fake books in the name of Lal Kitab which are available in the market, so before starting any remedy take proper consultation of an expert astrologer and a Lal Kitab reader. Get a detailed analysis of the remedies according to the horoscope. For learning Lal Kitab at basic and advanced level (online or offline), you can enroll in our centre. You can visit Learning Lal Kitab link at our website for more information. For learning basics of Lal Kitab, you can also order my book titled, Lal Kitab Astrology Simplified - a guide to learning Lal Kitab and its remedial measures"  by visiting following link of our website:

http://lalkitabastrocentre.com/buy-our-lal-kitab-book.php

The golden rule of Lal Kitab is "Do good deeds to others, it will result in good results for you also"because the rule of nature is "If you do Good, you will receive Good". In Pandit Ji own words: