Jataka Tattva is a standard treatise on the predictive part of Hindu astrology and follows the

Parashari System. It is written in Sanskrit. Its author has adopted the Sutra method for imparting
knowledge of astrology instead of the traditional Sloka format. A great deal of importance is given to
Medicine and Astrology.[1] The author of this text, Mahadeva, son of Revashankar Pathak, hailed
from Ratlam, Rajasthan, he was a devotee of Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva and wellversed in medicine, Sanskrit and Jyotisha. Mahadeva is believed to have lived from 1842 to 1888.
[2]

He had written this treatise with the assistance of Vishnushastri, and completed its writing on

Phalguna Shukla Panchami Vikram Samvat 1928 (on 14 March 1874 [3]). The brevity of the sutras
employed to describe lengthy original passages culled from other texts is noteworthy. His son,
Shriniwas Mahadeva Sharma translated this text into Hindi which translation with commentary was
published in 1913.[4] The earliest translation of this text into English appears to be that of
V.Subramanya Sastri which was published in 1941 by V.B.Soobbiah and Sons, Bangalore.
Jataka Tattva comprises five tatvas or sections, namely, Samjna, Sutika, Prakirna, Strijataka,
and Dasha. These five then are further divided into 13 sub-sections. Some say it can be used to
diagnose medical ailments, in addition to reading the dasha effects.[5][6] In his book titled - Light on
Life: An introduction to the Astrology of India, Hart de Fouw has cited Jataka Tattva [7]

References[edit]
1.

Jump up^ Mahadeva. "Jataka tatva".

2.

Jump up^ "Mahadevas Jataka Tatva".

3.

Jump up^ Census Of the Exact Sciences in Sanskrit.

4.

Jump up^ Mahadeva. Jataka Tattvam (With translation and commentary by Dr. Suresh
Chandra Misra). Ranjan Publications. p. iii.

5.

Jump up^ Dr. K.S.Charak. Essentials of Medical Astrology. Institute of Vedic Astrology.
p. 193. yogas indicating dental diseases and hydrocoele

6.
7.

Jump up^ "Vedic Astrology". yogas indicating mental illnesses

Jump up^ Hart de Fouw. Light on Life: An introduction to the Astrology of India. Lotus Press.
pp. 350/378.