Bharatiya Jyotihshastra (History of Indian Astronomy), translated by R. V. Vaidya v2.c12.s2.t63: Mallāri
Bhāratīya Jyotiḥśāstra (History of Indian Astronomy), translated by R. V. Vaidya v2.c12.s2.t63
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Mallāri
v2.c12.s2.t63.1
Mallāri was born in the famous family described by Viṣṇu above. He has written a commentary on the Grahalāgava. He has described in it the date of this commentary in a strange way, thus:
v2.c12.s2.t63.2
बाणो ५ नाच्छ्र्कतः कुराम ३१ विहृतन्मूलं हि मासः स युक्
बाणै ५ भं च दशोनित्त १० दिनमितितस्तस्या दलं स्यात्तिथिः ॥
पक्षः स्यात्तिथिसमितोऽखिल*युतिः सप्तान्वितथ्युन्मिता १५४७
बलाख्यो गणको लिखेच तदा टीका परार्थ त्विमां ॥
v2.c12.s2.t63.3
Translation :—The astronomer, Bāla, wrote this commentary in the Śaka year, denoted by 1547 diminished by the sum of the numbers denoting the month, the nakṣatra, the day of the week, the lunar day, and the half month. The month was the number which is the square root of “the current śaka year reduced by 5 and divided by 31” i.e. √((1524-5)/31) = √49 = 7. The nakṣatra was equal to the month plus 5 i.e. 12th. The day of the week was equal to the nakṣatra reduced by 10, hence 2 or Monday; the lunar day was the 1st and Pakṣa was the 1st”
v2.c12.s2.t63.4
From this it is proved that an astronomer named Bāla, wrote this commentary on Monday, the 1st lunar day of the bright half of Aśvin in Śaka 524, the nakṣatra being Uttarā. This must be the date of the commentary also, because it agrees with that of his brother Viśvanātha.
v2.c12.s2.t63.5
Mallāri has explained the theory of Grahalāghava in the commentary. The task of explaining the theory of a work like the Grahalāghava can be said to be even more difficult than that explaining the theory of a Siddhānta work. But they accompanied the work with great success.
v2.c12.s2.t63.6
∗ 1524 + 7 + 1 + 1+ 2+ 12 = 1547 Śaka + month + tithi + pakṣa + day of the week + nakṣatra.