History Of Hindu Astronomy

Interpreting the Universe

Celestial phenomena are joyful to watch, they are both amazing and, at times, frightful to watch. Eclipses, the passage of comets and shooting stars inspire a sense of awe and possibly instil fear in some minds, even now.

Initially, these phenomena could have been regarded as fearful and portentous of divine wrath. Christopher Columbus used this to his advantage to the natives of an island, stating that the Sun god would hide when he was displeased and then reappear subsequently. Also, it is a known fact that around 584 BC, the 5-year war between Lydia and Media came to an end, because both the warring factions were horrified by the  Solar eclipse which occurred during that time.

Mahabharat has similar incidents recorded of two eclipses within 13 days resulting in tremendous loss of life. The Puranas do mention such phenomena preceded the calamities.

Having known the natural units of time, day, month and year created by celestial phenomena. The seasons are due to the movement of the Sun and tides due to the Moon. A curious mind would definitely have commended the quest for astronomical knowledge.

Agriculture, the mainstay of survival, depended upon the celestial phenomena. He quickly learnt that the field may yield a bumper crop if the seeds are sown at a particular position of Sun and Moon in the sky, and the crops destroyed in another set of combinations.

Furthermore, it was natural to assume that, if the heavenly bodies have close association with worldly affairs, they must also affect the individual life as well. Given out by the various combinations of the Sun Moon stars etc.

This quest for knowledge led to the creation of three branches of Astronomy, namely. त्रिस्कंध

1. गणित- This branch is also known as सिद्धांत. The mathematics part deals with the calculation of the number of days in a year, occurrence of eclipses, Moon phases, position of planets etc.

2.  संहिता- The knowledge of the effects of eclipses, comets, planetary conflicts and knowledge on auspicious days for performance of various rites.

3. होरा/जातक. Deals with the knowledge, which enables one to the benefic and malefic effects of the particular position of the planets 

Narad observes that

सिद्धातसंहिताहोरारूपं स्कधत्रथार्मक । वेदस्य निर्मल चश्षुरज्यतिःशास्त्रमनृत्तमः ॥; नारदरसंहता. १. ४.

Meaning-" The excellent science of astronomy comprising Siddhanta, Samhita and Hora as its three branches is the clear eye of the Vedas "- Narad Samhita 1.4

Mahadev,(1185 Saka year) who commented on Sripati's Ratnamala says:-

प्रहगणितपाटीगणितजीजगणितरूपसूनिशचलम्‌लस्य बहुविधविततहोरातंत्रल्ाखस्थ भ्योतिःशास्त्र वनस्पतेः संहितार्था एव फलानोत्यवधाथं, ज तकममनासकरणमौजोबंघनविवाहूयात्रानौ निखिलसंहितायमल्पग्रयेनाभिधातुभिच्छः. .. 

Meaning " I am desirous of describing in brief, the interpretation of Samhita rules, which are to be followed while performing ceremonies relating to, post-natal sacrament, naming a child, thread ceremony,etc. Knowing fully well that Samhitas are fruits of tree od astronomy, of which various forms of Horas are the branches of elementary arithmetic, algebra and calculation of planetary places are the firm roots"

The most ancient of the astronomical works these days is the वेदांग ज्योतिष, dealing with mathematical aspects only..अथर्ववेदांग ज्योतिष may be a later work, dealing with the 2nd and 3rd branches of astronomy. 

There were certain works in which these three branches were discussed together.. Such type of work did exist and is known by the name Samhita.

Varahamira says in his Brhat Samhita 

ज्योतिःशास्त्रमने कभेदविषयं स्कंधत्रयाधिष्ठितं ॥ | तत्कात्स्थोपनयस्य नाम मृनिभिः संकीत्यंते संहिता ।॥ अध्याय १

Meaning " The science of Astronomy, which comprises a variety of subjects is established mainly on three branches. But the treatment of the subject in its entirety is also named Samhita"

References " Bhartiya Jyotish Shastra Part 1