Historical Overview And Chronology of Indian Classical Or Siddhantic Astronomy & It's Vedic Foundation
Date : 28'th April 2014, first draft
Overview
The question asto what is the correct period of Indian history when classical or siddhantic astronomy
started to flurish and what were the factors behind the rapid rise of classical astronomy in
India that goes upto Aryabhatta, Varahamihira and to Brahmgupta, has been a mystery
in the recent times for the most people , due to the contradictory findings by scholars of yore, however, noticing the fact
that hardly those researchers looked into original texts, This author upon
careful inquiries and researches made into several versions of available
classical or siddhantic astronomy texts, finds that the latest phase of
revival and reconstruction of the vedic age siddhantic Astronomy happened in the period of
Indian history, when, Indian rulers were providing patronage
to Jaina religion, predominantly, that could be read into the
period when Magadh dynasty was flurishing starting with Bimbasar to Ajatshatru and spanning upto Nanda and Maurya rulers holding the reign of the concerned geography. The emergence of classical or siddhantic astronomical texts could be the reactive effort
made by then scholastic astronomers to preserve the ancient vedic legacy of astronomical knowledge.
A question why are so many siddhantas or schools of astronomy in the classical age, is quite obvious to come up, however, the answer is not so difficult and revolves around two points of inquiry firstly the method to measure the length of the year or the samvatsar and secondly, to ascertain the time elapsed since kalpa, this is where siddhantas differ from each other.
A question why are so many siddhantas or schools of astronomy in the classical age, is quite obvious to come up, however, the answer is not so difficult and revolves around two points of inquiry firstly the method to measure the length of the year or the samvatsar and secondly, to ascertain the time elapsed since kalpa, this is where siddhantas differ from each other.
The
basis of chronology
Classical astronomical texts rarely provide explicit references to socio-political incidences of their time, therefore, the author relied more on the linguistic account of such texts, while analyzing classical or siddhantic astronomy texts from chronological perspective, we arrive at incidences of using certain sanskrit terms as variables to denote specific numerals such as – Nanda to denote 09, Jin to denote 24. although the use of term "Ram" to denote 03, too found in such texts that could be the sign of contniuity of traditional faith. We find that such a peculiarity, that’s also a commonality across Siddhantic astronomy texts with the exception found in Varahmihira’s version of Surya Siddhanta and thereby, we infer that Varhamihira belongs to posterior era of history and his version of Surya Siddhanta is a later day re-creation if not his own creation, However, the fact that he used Yavana specific terms into several works, alerts our historians, indologists, faithful followers etc to reevaluate Varahmihira’s contribution and his place in history of Indian astronomy. I as an author, is of the opinion that Varahmihira was a pervert scholar of Indian astronomy.
A Comment : On those alleged Greek terms found in Varahmihira's work,
however, the author differs as linguistically those words can further be
traced back in Vedic Sanskrit as lately demonstrated by handful scholars of Indian history and linguistics such as Prof Shivraj Khora and therefore, it’s concluded that through the
Varahmihira, in fact, those alleged greek words travelled back to India where these terms were originated
in Sanskrit and earlier in the era called "Proto Greek Era", through the Phrygians and Phoenicians whose aryan connection is attested well, reached to Greek, as per the primary estimate of this development could have happened around 800 BCE, that's the bottom line.
Herodotus on Phoenicians : the Phoenicians who came with Cadmus, and to whom the Gephyraei belonged, introduced into Greece upon their arrival a great variety of arts, among the rest that of writing, whereof the Greeks till then had, as I think, been ignorant. And originally they shaped their letters exactly like all the other Phoenicians, but afterwards, in course of time, they changed by degrees their language, and together with it the form likewise of their characters. Now the Greeks who dwelt about those parts at that time were chiefly the Ionians
Plato (Cratylus) on Phrygians : Phrygians are originally the residents of Bhrigukachha in Gujraat, India who migrated to Anatolia and Nearby Greece, Phrygians were the speakers of Sanskrit that historians call Indo-Europian language and they had also been a channel for the Sanskrit to donate lot of words to present Greek, the old word bekos " bread " in Phrygian is from the Aryan root Bhag " food " ( Ref, John G. R. Forlong ), Ancient
Phrygia was a state in the west of the Anatolian plateau, the country around the
sources of the Sakarya (river) within the triangle of the modern cities
of Afyon, Eskisehir and Ankara, named after the western Indo-Europeans or Bhrigu-Aryans who
came to this area via Europe that happened around 1200 BCE - 800 BCE and left their mark as skilled craftsmen
with a culture of their own.
Herodotus on Phoenicians : the Phoenicians who came with Cadmus, and to whom the Gephyraei belonged, introduced into Greece upon their arrival a great variety of arts, among the rest that of writing, whereof the Greeks till then had, as I think, been ignorant. And originally they shaped their letters exactly like all the other Phoenicians, but afterwards, in course of time, they changed by degrees their language, and together with it the form likewise of their characters. Now the Greeks who dwelt about those parts at that time were chiefly the Ionians
Plato (Cratylus) on Phrygians : Phrygians are originally the residents of Bhrigukachha in Gujraat, India who migrated to Anatolia and Nearby Greece, Phrygians were the speakers of Sanskrit that historians call Indo-Europian language and they had also been a channel for the Sanskrit to donate lot of words to present Greek, the old word bekos " bread " in Phrygian is from the Aryan root Bhag " food " ( Ref, John G. R. Forlong ), A
We
have a testimony by Al-Baruni, although, hundreds of the years after the classical age of Indian Astronomy thrived, however, still holds the relevance, he said that people of many countries don’t know the numbers above
thousand i.e three digits but Indians count the numbers upto 18 digits and that
shows no other cultures have as rich astronomical knowledge as Indians had, all
others learnt astronomy from India and enhanced as per their own cultural prowess.
1. Brahma
Siddhanta :
The first known revival of Brahma Siddhanta is done by Rishi Shakalya, Who
also founded the available recension of Rigveda on that Acharya Sayana has made
his commentary. We have confirmed information available to us that in the
remote antiquity, Brahma Siddhanta was known as Paitamah Siddhanta handed over
by Prajapati Brahma to vedic rishis.
The text is preserved in Vishnu
Dharmottar Puran. it may have some issues and inconsistencies crept in, over the
long passage of history but the fact that tradition of Siddhantic astronomy is traceable
to Vedic Age is astonishing discovery, a matter of fact that was not known to modern day
historians, indologists of world over, It's claimed to have been reconstructed
by Brahmgupta, but I doubt that he could do his work without having influenced
by Arya Bhatta and Varahmihira.
Some of the verses of Paitamaha
siddhanta are available but the astronomical information given in those verses
is not consistent not accurate that is a state of discontinuity of tradition
untill Rishi Shakalya might have reconstructed it, however, Shakalya’s version also
lacks consistency and accuracy at some places, that indicates discontinuity of
Brahma Siddhanta even after reconstruction by Shakalya.
2. Lomash
Siddhanta :
It's reconstructed by Risjhi Laat who in fact, combined astronomy of Vasistha
and Lomasha and presented as Lomash Siddhanta, In some versions of manuscripts, “Lomasha” is written as
"Romasha" and it's where, most readers are misled, next phase of
reconstruction to original Lomasha siddhanta was probably done by Vishnuchandra.
The explicit significance of Lomash siddhanta
is that it explains the formation of Navami tithi of Chaitra month, on that Sri
Ram was born and hence it’s being of Greek origin is ruled out, A fact that was never brought to notice of common men and scholars active in field of Indian astronomy.
3. Soma
Siddhanta :
It's founded by Shaunak Rishi, It's written in anushtup meter, Rishi Shaunak
mentioned Rishi Garga's view also in the Soma Siddhanta, Tradition of Soma
siddhanta is attested in some of astrological texts as well, What is important from historical perspective is
the finding that Soma Siddhanta doesn’t include any Greek terms that are allegedly found in Surya Siddhanta.
4. Vasistha
Sindhanta :
Various incomplete manuscripts pertaining to Vasistha Siddhanta are available,
Vasistha Siddhanta comes in the form of a dialogue held between Rishis Vasistha
and Rishi Mandavya.
Vasistha Siddhanta aligns itself with Vedang
Jyotish of Rishi Lagadha, however, gives the length of years equal to 365.25
days that is the mean value of a solar day.
5. Surya
Siddhanta :
It’s confirmed that at least two versions of Surya Siddhanta have been in prevalence
until the medieval period of Indian history , the one that’s contained in Varahmihira’s
Panch-Siddhantika and the other that’s not available but whose verses are
quoted by a myriad of Indian astronomers in a sequence in last 1500 years, since
the period subsequent to Varah Mihira.
Who
was Mayasura
We find that there are remarkable inconsistencies
in the information that Surya Siddhanta provides on it’s historical antiquity,
however, the texts follows the philosophy of the Puranic Age.
The text begins with stating that Lord
Surya given the knowledge of Surya Siddhanta to Maya the Asura in the last leg
of Treta Yuga, and ends stating that Rishis earned same knowledge from
Mayasura, This whole episode may not be true, It’s surprising that in the Treta
yuga, In the Valmiki’s Ramayana there is no mention of Mayasura gaining
blessings from Vivasvan or the Sun, Rishis like Vasistha and Vishwamitra
learning astronomy from the Mayasura, however, there is citation of one Maya
Daanava, Daanavas are descendants of Danu and different from the Asuras.
Mayasura of Dwapara
At another occasion in Surya siddhanta too, The Mayasura contradicts
story of it’s antiquity, wherein, Mayasura changes the answering God from Sun to Vasudev who is Krishna as it further get's clearer, It's a sudden change with queries are now being put to lord Vasudeva and Sankarshan also a reference to Anirudha the grandson of Sri
Krishna is found insubsequent verse, here, we have to deduce that Maya’s devotion is shifted from lord Sun to
lord Krishna who incarnated into Dwapara Yuga therefore, puts a clear negation
to story of Treta yuga. We have no information asto who was the real author of
Surya Siddhanta but on my personal capacity, I opine that this Mayasura or Yavana, must be
the one who adopted the Vedic religion after Sahadeva, one of the Pandavas who invaded
Europe, particularly, the Greeko-Roman land, that’s called Ketumal in indian puranic
text, and it's he, who documented Surya Siddhanta. However, There is no evidence to prove, even at a distant possibility that Mayasura brought in Sumerian or Greek version of astronomy to India for the simple reason that there is
no equivalent astronomical work available in Greek history in early common era and secondly, Sumerians and Greek's philosophical base is different from the base Surya Siddhanta such as Kalpa, Manvantar, Yuga. However, herein the context, We have another also to opine that another distant possibility could also be that some other descendant of Maya clan, might have come to India along with migration of Magi brahmins during the next invasion made by lord Kirshna's son Samba or in a late day of the history, it's he the unknown descendant, who in the return of the favor, might have created the Surya Siddhanta having learnt the astronomy in India, It's known to traditional brahmins of India that Samba brought in many Magi Brahmins from the region of north west of present Iran and from the surounding places, Samba is belived to have created Sun temple in Saurastra region of India and we find a small region within the Mathura - Vrindavana range, called Surasena, we argue that all in all, there is a basis for this hypothesis also that further substnatiated with the fact that Varahmihira was also a Magi brahmin, and possibly, Varahmihira had some affinity to Magi,Yavana, Maya link.
The Mayasura, as underlined by the author, is mentioned in Mahabaharata, least half a dozen places, however, Author is not providing references as part of this post, as that's not necessary, if any case, a reader is interested in those specific references, author can be approached with an email request.
Disclaimer: This research article is based on the information
collected from original core books of Siddhantic Astronomy texts and commentaries thereon as well as the
work of SB Dixit and history of Magi Brahmins.
The text is under copyright's act that reservered solely with auhtor, however, can be used anywhere with providing reference to this article.
The text is under copyright's act that reservered solely with auhtor, however, can be used anywhere with providing reference to this article.
