We can see a surge to learn astrology among the youngsters since last few years with the advert of various ‘you-tube channels’ on the subject. But internet can never be the best option for a sincere student of astrology to learn this divine subject. Similarly attending some short courses in a seminar or though a webinar can never help you to learn astrology in depth. If someone seriously want to practice astrology in modern times then he or she should attend a diploma or degree course in some University or Institute which is teaching this subject. In year 2014 i had filed an RTI application with Ministry of Human Resource Development to seek information about Indian Universities imparting education on Jyotisha (astrology). An article of mine on the subject was appeared in 2015 in the Express Star Teller Magazine. Since then i have been receiving so many queries from young students who are interested to learn this subject. My advise to them has always been to join some reputed institute or university to learn astrology in organized manner.
Which are the best institutes in India for learning astrology ?
Bhavan’s K.N. Rao Institute of Astrology Institute of Astrology {Before 2023 it was Institute of Astrology Bharitiya Vidhya Bhavan} is best amount the school which offer courses in astrology and also conduct research on the subject. The present astrology course in this institute was started by legendary astrologer Shri K.N. Rao in 1987. In year 2013 when this institute completed its silver jubilee (25 years) by then more than 20 thousands students had pass out its astrology course. You can get the details about astrology courses offer by them through their website link given below.
Bhavan’s K.N. Rao Institute of Astrology , New Delhi
Apart from this the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Education Trust also offer astrology courses in Mumbai and Bangalore. The information about the same can be obtained by clicking the given below links of their respective websites.
Jyotisha Bharati by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Mumbai
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (BVB), Bengaluru, Kendra
ICAS (Indian Council of Astrological Sciences) is another very good institute for learning astrology which have more than 50 centers across India. This reputed institute was founded by late Dr. B.V. Rama in November 1984 with a vision to establish an All India Body for propagating astrology in an organized manner. At present ICAS has more than 50 centers across different cities of India which are offering courses on the subject. You can get information about the same from their website link which is given below.
Indian Council of Astrological Sciences Centers
But the limitation these institutes have is that they do not have accreditation with any University run by central government or state government. So although you will get best of the knowledge and faculties to learn astrology from these above mention private institutes but then you are not going to get any diploma or degree which is recognized by any University. So if you are aiming to get a degree in astrology then you have no choice but to go to a UGC recognized university which offer courses on the subject.
Astrology Courses offered by Indian Universities
Astrology as a subject of study in degree courses was introduce by Indian Universities in year 2000. Prior to this Sanskrit collages and institute use to have astrology or Jyotisha in their curriculum of Acharya and Shastri degrees. In year 2000 HRD minister Shri Murali Manohar Joshi ordered the UGC to introduce astrology ( Jyotir Vigyan) as degree courses in Universities. Department of Astrology and Vastu were establish in many reputed universities like Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth (New Delhi), Banaras Hindu University (Varanasi UP), Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidayala (UP), Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University (Hyderabad), Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University (near Nagpur, Maharashtra) etc.
You can find the names of Indian Universities that offer courses on astrology and vastu by going through the given below links.
Astrology Courses at Indian Universities
Vastu Courses in Indian Universities
These universities offer both full time and part time courses in Astrology and Vastu. Although some private institutes claims that they have affiliation from some of the university to offer a course in the subject but i would recommend a student of astrology to personally visit the university campus to get the required information to avoid a possible fraud.
Self learning in ‘Astrology or Jyotisha’
In my intersections with various astrologers since last two decades i have found some excellent ‘self learned astrologers’. Some people have this divine gift which make them highly intuitive astrologer with good predictive ability. I have seen many astrologers who have learned the subject from reading books and magazines only. For those who can not attend a university or institute to learn astrology they should read some of the classical texts and also subscribe to magazines to get quality material for learning this subject easily. I would specially recommend the books written by Shri K.N. Rao and his student who have done good research on the subject. Then i would suggest astrology students to read classical text like Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, Brihat Jataka, Prashana Marga, Jataka Tattwam, Phaladeepika, Jataka Parijat, Jaimini Sutram etc. to get deep knowledge of Jyotisha. Reading a good book on mathematical astrology is also a must to know how to cast a horoscope using an ephemeris, calculating various dashas , strength of planets, strength of houses and divisional horoscopes etc. For astrologers into self learning the website of Lois Rodden astro.com is best resource for authentic horoscopes.
For a self learning effort in astrology one must subscribe to at least two or three good astrology magazines so that he or she can get horoscopes to practice. If you learn astrology from a university or institute the advantage you get in the form of friend circle of your classmates who always gives you horoscopes to study is missing in case of self-learning astrologers is what i have observed. I would advise students of astrology to subscribe to these given below reputed astrological magazines.
The Planets & Forecast Magazine
The above mention astrology magazines are in English only.
For those who are outside India can learn Vedic Astrology from the Council of Vedic Astrology which is allied with the Indian Council of Astrological Sciences since 1993 as a non-profit organization. Also American College of Vedic Astrology is another non-profit organization that was founded by Dr. B.V. Raman in 1993 is teaching the subject in USA.
In this post i have tried to provide the information about all the reputed institutes and universities teaching astrology since more than 20 years. I will keep updated this page in future so that the interested students of astrology can get the best available information to learn the subject easily.