History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c82.214.3

v6.c82.214.3

The countries governed by the nakṣatras are set out in chap. 14 of the Bṛhat-saṃhitā Herein Varāha differs from Ptolemy in two respects: (1) Varāha does not mention countries governed by rāśis, but countries governed by nakṣatras; (2) Varāha confines himself to India, while Ptolemy in his Tetrabiblos (II 3 pp. 157-159, Loeb Classical Library) deals with all countries then known. This is an important circumstance against the theory that Varāha's astrology is borrowed from Ptolemy or later Greek writers. If he had known Ptolemy's work he could have easily followed him even as to countries outside India. The whole of India is divided into nine parts, the Madhyadeśa and the regions in the eight quarters from the East to the North-east, each part being under groups of three nakṣatras from Kṛttikā onwards. Vide also Viṣṇudharmottara I. 86. 1-9. When the group of three nakṣatras in each of nine divisions is affected by the Sun, Mars or Saturn, the countries falling under any of the three nakṣatras of the group suffer calamities The Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa (chap 58. 10-54 in B. I. edition, chap. 55 in Veṅkaṭeśvara Press edition) also specifies the countries in the nine groups, but the names differ to some extent There is some divergence about the nomenclature also. According to Parāśara and the Viṣṇudharmottara (I. 87 7) the 4th nakṣatra from the nakṣatra of birth is called Mānasa.