Bharatiya Jyotihshastra (History of Indian Astronomy), translated by R. V. Vaidya v2.c12.s2.t44: Dāmodara

Bhāratīya Jyotiḥśāstra (History of Indian Astronomy), translated by R. V. Vaidya v2.c12.s2.t44

Language: English

Dāmodara

v2.c12.s2.t44.1

Dāmodara has to his credit a work, Bhaṭatulya by name. Its epochal year is Śaka 1339. The author observes,

v2.c12.s2.t44.2

दामोदर: श्रीगुरुपदमनभपदारविंदं शिरसा प्रणम्य ।। प्रत्यब्दशुध्यार्यभटस्य तुल्यं विदां मुदेहं करणं करोमि ।। २ ।।

v2.c12.s2.t44.5

Dāmodara, after saluting the Lotus-like feet of his Guru Padmanābha, compiles this karaṇa work, comparable to that of Āryabhaṭa, for the pleasure of laerned men(2)

श्रीनर्मदादेवसुतस्य म्तियु: श्रीपद्मनाभस्य समस्य भावतः ।। यस्मात् सुसंपन्नमनुग्रहात् गुरोर्भयादिहंतत्पकनात् प्रदं श्रिय: ।। १६ ।। सच्छिष्येरसंकृत कृतप्रणतिभि: संप्रार्थितो बीजवित वक्त्रांभोजरविश्चकार करणं दामोदर: सत्कृती ।। १६ ।।

v2.c12.s2.t44.7

उपसंहार.

v2.c12.s2.t44.8

*Translation :—* May the study of the work made with the favour of my father and preceptor Śrīpadmanābha, son of Śrīnārmadadeva, bring me prosperity. (16)

v2.c12.s2.t44.9

The virtous Dāmodara, whose lotus face was like the Sun and who is offered continuous prayers by his good disciples, compiled this Karaṇa (work) (19)

v2.c12.s2.t44.10

——‘Conclusion’

v2.c12.s2.t44.11

From this, it appears that Padmanābha was his father’s name, who was also his preceptor and the name of his grandfather was Nārmadadeva. In the Dhruva-bhramayantra mentioed above, the author observes in the beginning.

v2.c12.s2.t44.12

श्रीनर्मदानुग्रहलब्धजन्मनः पादारविंदं जनकस्य सद्गुरोः नत्वा त्रियामासामायादिबोधकं ध्रुवभ्रमं यंत्रवरं ब्रवीम्यथ ।। १ ।।

v2.c12.s2.t44.13

*Translation* :—After saluting the feet of my father and preceptor, who was born because of the favour of Śrīnārmadadeva, I describe the best of the instruments, the Dhruvabhramayantra, which is useful in giving the time at night (1)

v2.c12.s2.t44.14

and in the end, the following remark is made :—

v2.c12.s2.t44.15

इति श्री नार्मदात्मजश्रीपद्मनाभविरचितयंत्ररत्नावल्यां स्वविवृतौ ध्रुवभ्रमधधिकारो द्वितीयः ।।

v2.c12.s2.t44.16

*Translation* :—So ends the second chapter on Dhruvabhramaṇa, in his self-written work Yantra Ratnāvalī, which is compiled by Śrīpadmanābha, son of Śrīnārmada.

v2.c12.s2.t44.17

It appears from this, that Nārmada was the name of Padmanābha's father and this leads one to believe, beyond all doubt, that this Padmanābha was Dāmodaras father. Dāmodara's work was written in Śaka 1339. Hence, assuming 20 years for one generation, the date of Padmanābha's work comes to be about Śaka 1320. The work, ‘Jātakābharaṇa’, (see section on ‘jātaka’ later on) written in about Śaka 1460, refers to the Dhruvabhramayantra, which lends support to the above argument. Although it does not prove beyond doubt that the Nārmada whose verse has been quoted by Ranganātha (page 43) was the father of Padmanābha, referred to in the above verse. still there is a similarity of names. Padmanābha says that Nārmada, his father, was a scholar and was also his preceptor, and it appears quite probable that he could have been the author of some work. The Nārmada, mentioned by Ranganātha, must have lived before him (Śaka 1525) and this does not give rise to any contradiction ; and the most important fact is that Dāmodara has adopted in his work, Bhaṭatulya, 54 seconds as the rate of annual equinoctial motion. This is the same as in the Sūrya Siddhānta. None of the ‘pauruṣeya’ (human) authors of works described so far, have adopted this notion except Dāmodara. From this, it seems beyond doubt, that Nārmada who was his grandfather, must also be the author of the commentary on Sūrya Siddhānta. The date of his commentary may be Śaka 1300.

v2.c12.s2.t44.18

The work ‘Bhatatulya’ has adopted epochal positions for the mean Aries Ingress of Śaka 1339. They agree with those obtained after applying the Lalla's corrections to First Āryasiddhānta. The sides and nodes are given according to the First Ārya Siddhānta. He has adopted 54 seconds as the annual equinoctial motion and Śaka 342 as the zero-precession year. More information about this will be given later on. This work contains the following chapters :—

v2.c12.s2.t44.19

(i) mean places.
(ii) true places.
(iii) calculation of places of five planets.
(iv) three problems.
(v) lunar eclipse.
(vi) risings and settings and
(vii) conjunctions of planets. It contains, in all, 222 verses in various metres. The author has remarked in the end that the number of verses would be 400, if composed in ‘anuṣṭup’ metre.

v2.c12.s2.t44.20

He has dealt with the chapter on ‘three problems’ very extensively. It consists of 87 verses, which contain some problems also and the figure 5 for the ‘palabhā’ has occurred a number of times in those problems. The first Ārya Siddhānta does not mention longitudes of stars. The work ‘Karaṇa-prakāśa which also follows the Āryapakṣa, does not give longitudes of stars. But those given by Dāmodara are some what different from what one finds in all other works. This speaks of his independent discovery in this respect. A more detailed discussion of this will be found further in the chapter on conjunctions of planets.

Cites (4)

Sūryasiddhānta — Maya, Sanskrit
Āryabhaṭīya — Āryabhaṭa, Sanskrit
Jātakābharaṇa (Rāmacandra) — Rāmacandra 1722, Sanskrit
Karaṇaprakāśa — Brahmadeva, Sanskrit