The Rashtrakutas and their Times c21.201

c21.201

The sciences of astronomy and astrology were remarkably developed in our period, and epigraphy supplies ample evidence to illustrate the hold which the latter had over the popular mind. From the Kadba plates of Govind III¹⁵⁶ we learn that even the Jains had taken to astrol[ogy]; for, the record states how a grant was made in favour of a Jaina Matha because its head had removed the evil influence of Saturn from which a feudatory Chalukya prince was suffering. Saturn was indeed tremendously dreaded in our period; the Śilāhāra prince Aparājitadeva¹⁵⁷ and Mahāmaṇḍaleśvara Govuṇarasa¹⁵⁸ are seen taking with pride the title of 'Sanivāravijaya, 'one who is successful (even) on Saturdays'. The time when Dahir started to fight with Kasim was carefully selected by his astrologers; and in order to counteract the advantage which the Muslim opponent enjoyed by the presence of Venus behind his back, Dahir had fixed on his back a golden image of that planet.¹⁵⁹ Unfortunately this golden Venus did not perform her duties faithfully, and poor Dahir was defeated and slain. What Marco Polo has said about the people of Gujarat and Malabar, viz. 'They pay greater heed to signs and omens than any other people that exists seems to have been substantially true of the Deccan of our period.