Lal Kitab (Hindi: लाल किताब, Urdu: لالکتاب, literally Red Book) is a set of five books, written on a branch of Vedic astrology and palmistry. The treatise is based on ancient Vedic astrology and Samudrika Shastra. The extant version of the text is written 19th century, in Urdu with a sprinkling of Punjabi and Persian in a style which is without the punctuation and sounds which are hard to understand for a layman. Poetic verses with philosophy and hidden nuances form the core farmanns or upaya (remedy recommended) of the book.[1][2] It is believed to have Persian origins and has led to field of remedial astrology known as Lal Kitab remedies, that is simple remedies for various planetary afflictions in the horoscope or birth chart, which have over the years become part of the folk traditions of the region, that includes North India and Pakistan.[3][4][5][6][7]
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Although, the author of the original verses is unknown or a matter of debate, however, Pandit Rup Chand Joshi (1898–1982), resident of Village Pharwala, Nurmahal tehsil in Jalandhar district of Punjab, who authored the presently available version during the years 1939 to 1952 in five volumes, is regarded as the master of this science.[8] Some regard him also as originator of this books or this branch of vedic astrological science while others believe original writer preferred to remain anonymous and Pandit Rup Chand Joshi re-wrote his work. The anonymous person by some is considered to be mystic Guru of the author mentioned in his memoirs.
According to some believers Ravana is considered to be the original author of Lal Kitab. They say that when Ravana lost power due to arrogance, he also lost possession of Lal Kitab which later surfaced in a place called Aaad in Arabia, where it got translated into Urdu and Persian.[9] Some people believe it to be a part of Arabian and Islamic culture and believe it to be having Persian origins, many call it The Red Book of Persia[4] but most of acclaimed followers and researchers attribute it to be a book on branch of jyotisha, as the book follows the planetary positions and names of Navagraha used by vedic people to give predictions and remedies.
The names of the five set of books authored by Pt. Rup Chand Joshi, together called as Lal Kitab with their years of publication, are as follows.[10][11][12] A copy of first book published in 1939 is preserved in Lahore Museum. :-
Lal Kitab is unique in field of vedic astrology because for the first time a book explained how certain planetary positions in one's horoscope should also reflect in the lines of his palm. In other word the book is on astro-palmistry, that is, it has mixed the two different arts of Palmistry and Jyotisha a.k.a Hindu astrology together.[13][14]
The books were published in red hard-cover. In Hindi and Urdu languages Lal means the color red and Kitab means a book. Further, in India traditionally, business ledger books are bound in red color. Also red color in Hindu religion is considered to be very auspicious and as symbol of Ganesha and Lakshmi. The red kum-kum is essential in all auspicious occasion and Hindu religious rites. The Lal Kitab volumes were also given a red binding because these books contain duniyavi hisaab kitaab ( the ledger book of one’s life). In fact, Lal Kitab mandates in very clear terms, that any book dealing with this system must be bound in non-shining, red color.[11]
For the first time in the history of astrology, Lal Kitab introduced a new style of horoscope analysis with quick and affordable remedies,[10] which were devoid of remedies like pooja and wearing of gemstones, generally recommended by other branches of Vedic astrology and Jyotisha.
In present days, there are many followers of Lal Kitab. In India and abroad one can find many practitioners of Lal Kitab, prescribing remedies as per farmanns of these books. There are many people, who claim to have benefited from the remedies of these books. The mass followers of Lal Kitab are increasing everyday and this science has become very popular in present days throughout different parts of world.
The book has been popular in both Indian and Pakistan, many of its astrological remedies upaya or farmans have become part of every day culture in the subcontinent, like throwing coins into a river while passing over it, feeding grass to cow, bread to a dog and offering meals to unmarried girls etc.[15] Some of its farmans have become proverbs, in languages as diverse as Multani language.[16]
Lal Kitab is also the term used for the red catalogue, in which yearly records are kept at the village level, including developmental and infrastructure statistics, either with the Patwari or at Tehsil level, with Tehsildar.[17][18]
Further, as said earlier, Lal Kitab is also a term used in India traditionally for the business ledger books, which are bound in red color and are referred to as Lal Kitabs (Red Books of Accounts.) This is where a business entity maintains its accounts - its debits and credits.[11] These red colored ledger books are worshiped on eve of Diwali festival for Lakshmi Puja.