Two Great Maha Rishi's have expounded the theory of astrology in two entirely different ways. One was named Parashara son of Shakti and grand son of Sage Vasishta who was the preceptor of Sri Rama the legendary Hindu God. The other one is of the name Jaimini who is also the author of one of the six great expositions called 'Poorva meemamsa".

This is quoted here to say that astrology is not a new subject to the Vedic people of India and it goes back to unknown age of the great sages.

The system of Parashara is called Parashari and is widely used by all over India. The system is simple to understand and easy to cast horoscope and read the same. The Jaimini system is coded in secret verses called "Sutras" which have to be decoded to read the meaning. Secondly all the chapters of Jaimini astrology are not available now. The interpretation of sutras is very difficult and presently there are hardly few scholars of Jaimini are alive. Yet the Jaimini system is so accurate that the students of Parashari try to attain at least working knowledge in that system.

Parashari has to other branches, which are used for delineating the effects of transits. The first one is the Prashna Marga or what is known as Horary in English. This is based on question and answer system. There are a number of methods by which an answer to a question is found. Very detailed procedures are explained in the book of the same name. The other is ashtaka varga system. This is purely mathematical way of delineating a horoscope. So this system attracts the math's students.

In this system each planet is supposed to be benefic from the other planets in certain positions. All these positions are marked on a chart which is called "Bhinnashtaka" varga. Thus 7 Bhinnashtaka varga charts are prepared. In the 8th chart the total points of each sign are added which gives the "Sarvashtaka varga chart". Each planet is supposed to contribute a fixed number of points such as Sun =48, Moon 49, Mars = 39, Mercury = 54, Jupiter = 56, Venus 52 and Saturn = 39, The total works out to 337. According to prasna marga an old astrological classic the minimum benefic points in each bhava is given as

Lagna/ascendant=25, 2nd house =22, 3rd house = 29, 4th house = 24, 5th House =25, 6th House = 34, 7th House = 19, 8th House =24, 9th House= 29, 10th House = 36, 11th House = 54, and 12th House =16

Ashtaka varga results are put to all the usual astrological findings.
It is a subject of great interest and requires deep study. In practice very seldom a horoscope comes with 54 points in the 11th house of gains. Even 44 and above places an individual amongst the ruling elite.

The Nadi Granthas:
Apart from Parashari and jaimini systems there is a branch of Vedic astrology called the Nadi system. The Nadi or Samhitas are many and are named after the sages who compiled them. These are Bhrigu Nadi or Samhita, Ahastya Nadi, Vasishta nadi, Kaka bhujanda Nadi etc

Nadi's contain the life History of every individual born on this earth. The Nadi reader takes the fingerprint of the person who wants his life to be read and finds out the correct one from his collection. Nadi readers are spread all over India and remain in isolated areas and many times are not conversant with the languages other than their own. They also do not have all the required chapters with them. Many charlatans also pose as nadi readers and fleece the people. Due to these reasons Nadi's are not popular.