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Bharatiya Jyotihshastra (History of Indian Astronomy), translated by R. V. Vaidya v2.c12.s2.t32: Karaṇa Kamala Mārtaṇḍa

Bhāratīya Jyotiḥśāstra (History of Indian Astronomy), translated by R. V. Vaidya v2.c12.s2.t32

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Karaṇa Kamala Mārtaṇḍa

v2.c12.s2.t32.1

This is a Karaṇa work. Its epochal year is Śaka 980. The author of this work also is, like that of Rājamṛgāṅka, a king. The following verses are written at the end of the work :

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बलभान्वयसंजातो विरोचनसुत: सुधी: ।। इंद दशबल: श्रीमान् चक्रे करणमुत्तमम् ।। १० ।।
धन्यैरायभटादिभिनिजगुणैर्दिंडीरफेलाज्वलैरब्रह्मांडविसारिभि: प्रतिदिनं विस्तारिता: कीर्तय: ।।
स्मृत्वा तच्चरणांबुजानि रचितोस्माभि: परप्रार्थितग्रंथोयं तदुपार्जितैश्च सुकृतै: प्रीतिं भजतां प्रजा: ।। ११ ।।

v2.c12.s2.t32.3

*Translation:*—“(10) This “best of the Karaṇa works” has been compiled by the learned king Daśabala, son of Virocana, and belonging to Valabha dynasty.

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(11) Illustrious scholars like Āryabhaṭa and others have spread their fame every day by power of their accomplishments, spotless like foam and well-known throughout the world.

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At the request of others this work has been compiled by me, offering homage at their sacred feet. May people be happy with the benefits acquired by its help.”

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His School

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It appears that the work was compiled by king Daśabala of the Valabha dynasty. It does not state the name of the Siddhānta followed; still, the annual motions given for its ‘abdapa’ (moment of the mean Aries Ingress) and tithi-śuddhi (means tithi elapsed at the mean Aries Ingress) agree with the figures calculated from the Brahma Siddhānta as corrected with the help of Rājamṛgāṅka. Similarly, the sides, the ‘nakṣatra’ dhruvas, nodes, etc. agree with the Brahma Siddhānta. From this, it is undoubtedly proved that the work conforms to the corrected Brahma Siddhānta. It has not separately mentioned the corrections; the motions have been determined after actually taking these into account.

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Advantages

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The mean planetary places used to be calculated from the ahargaṇa in well-known earlier Karaṇa works like the Pañca Siddhāntikā, Khaṇḍakhādya and Rājamṛgāṅka. In other words, they describe the method of calculating mean motions and mean places of planets from the number of days obtained by multiplying by 365¼ the number of years elapsed after (epoch of) the Karaṇa work. But the ahargaṇa increases with the increase in the number of years elapsed, and this causes lengthy multiplications and divisions. If tables showing mean motions for successive periods of days are prepared for calculating mean places, the calculation of mean places of planets would take very little time, or if mean places are found from the number of years elapsed after the epochal year, on the basis of the yearly mean motions of planets, even then it would take very little time. But it is surprising that the Pañcasiddhāntikā, Khaṇḍakhādya and Rājamṛgāṅka, and even well known Karaṇa works like the Karaṇa prakāśa, Karaṇakutūhala and Grahalāghava which were compiled after them, and from which calculations are made even now, give the extremely laborious method of finding mean places of planets from the total ahargaṇa. The mean place of a planet can be obtained from ‘varṣagaṇa’ or from tables in one tenth of time or even less required for finding the place by that method. The present work, Karaṇa Kamala Mārtaṇḍa, has not only given methods for finding planets’ places from ‘varṣagaṇa’ but has also prepared tables of motions in period of years in order to save the labours of multiplying the ‘varṣagaṇa’ by the figures of annual motions. This is a great advantage. Some astronomers, who following the Grahalāghava, are, in these days, found using tables giving motions for days which are useful in finding planets positions from the ahargaṇa. Similar tables based on the Pañca Siddhāntikā and other works, might have been compiled by astronomers at different times; but many ignorant astronomers are found who prefer the overlaborious method given in the old works instead of making use of tables, because these are not met with in the works. The author of Karaṇa-Kamala Mārtaṇḍa deserves praise in this respect. The work gives the calculation of mean places of planets from the mean Aries Ingress. It is somewhat surprising that the positions at the epoch and the yearly motions are not given in verse form; but it seems that these may have been given in the tables which accompany the work. The work seen by the author (Deccan College Collection No. 20 of 1870-71) however, contains tables for ‘Tithi Śuddhi’ only. The work, as it stands, is not sufficiently useful for making planetary calculation. It contains the following ten chapters consisting of 279 verses in ‘anuṣṭup’ metre:- mean places (of planets); three problems; lunar eclipse; solar eclipse; risings and settings; elevations of the moon’s cusps; soli-lunar parallels of declinations; conjunctions of planets; true intercalary months; and calculation of the saṃvatsara (year). This work has assumed Śaka year 444 as the no-precession year and one minute of arc as the annual rate of precession.

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The Aufrecht catalogue mentions another work by Daśabala, entitled Cintāmaṇi Sāraṇikā which contains tables useful for almanac-making. Daśabala claims that the work of almanac-making can be expedited to a great extent through the aid of his work. He also appears to claim that the like of his work was never compiled before.

Cites (6)