Prasna Marga is a unique work on astrology, natal and horary, of vital importance to every astrological scholar, practitioner and student. The author, a Nambudari Brahmin of Kerala who wrote this book in 1650 A.D., was a renowned scholar and has culled valuable information from a number of ancient sources. This ancient work, an English translation of which is presented here is simple and elegant English interspersed with copious notes incorporating the author's own experiences, touches on some of the most important aspects of life marriage, children, longevity, death, disease, etc. Part 1 is an exhaustive treatise on the various aspects of predictive astrology of immense practical utility, which deals not only with the various aspects of Prasna or Horary Astrology but also with almost the entire range of the forecasting art-Jataka or predictive astrology, Muhurta or electional astrology, Parihara or remedial astrology and Nimittas or the science of indications (Omens). Part II is an encyclopaedic work on matters that affect all areas of human life, such as marriage, children, causes of diseases as given in karma vipaka and the remedies, matters relating to deities, rulers, war, natural calamities, travel, rainfall, digging wells, details for finding underground water, theft cases, dreams and their interpretation as indicators for the death of disease and its timings, etc.

होरायास्तु दशाध्याय्यां व्याख्यायां क्रियतां श्रमः -दैवज्ञेन विशेषेण फलमादेष्टुमिच्छता --दशाध्याय्यां विशेषेण श्रमो नैव कृतो यदि -दुष्करः फलनिर्देशस्तद्विदाञ्च तथा वचः --अदृष्ट्वा यो दशाध्यायीं फलमादेष्टुमिच्छति -इच्चत्येव समुद्रस्य तरणं स प्लवं विना ---Prashnamarga, Chapter 1, Shlokas 30, 31 & 32An astrologer who wants to excel in predictions should study the Dasadhyayi commentary of Brihajjataka with special emphasis. The scholars who have a deep understanding of the Dasadhyayi say that it would be difficult to make correct predictions without a thorough study of the Dasadhyayi. One, who tries to make predictions without looking into the Dasadhyayi, would be like a person trying to cross an ocean without a boat.For a keen reader, the words referred above from Prashnamarga about the Dasadhyayi would not appear to be an exaggeration when the hitherto unknown deeper meanings of the Brihajjataka Shlokas become revealed before the eyes. The reasons behind the celebrated status and fame of the Kerala school of Jyotisha becomes clear when the reader goes through the ingenuous way the commentator has shown the application of various Shlokas of Brihajjataka.This commentary is not a mere theoretical discourse on the Jyotisha principles. Revealing his practical approach, Sri Govinda Bhattattiri has shown the way to interconnect different Shlokas within the text of Brihajjataka and also from other treatises. Further, the efficacy of the Dasadhyayi is also proven by real-life experiences.

This book provides an insight into the importance of astrology viz., natal, electional and horary, as well as deals with other dimensions of this science such as spirituality, spiritualism, Ayurveda, transmigration of souls, thought-reading, dreams, temple and its rituals and effects of particular sins. The work presents new theories and methods of determining success and defeat in contests and wars with the help of illustrative charts. It urges readers to avoid fatalism commonly associated with predictions and explains how one could solve riddles in life and tide over the pessimistic attitude and related psychological problems. The author has thrown fresh light on some questions like the name of the author of Prasnamarga, line of succession of his pupils, and the authorship of the Dasadhyayi. The most significant contribution of this work is the clear exposition of the rules of Astamangala and Devaprasna, in addition to Candragupti (water-divination), martial problems, Coragrahas, Necromancy, special importance of Mandi and Dasa of its star, Kalacakradasa, etc.