Pramāṇa · Search · About · API

Bharatiya Jyotihshastra (History of Indian Astronomy), translated by R. V. Vaidya v2.c12.s2.t64: Viśvanātha

Bhāratīya Jyotiḥśāstra (History of Indian Astronomy), translated by R. V. Vaidya v2.c12.s2.t64

Language
English

Viśvanātha

v2.c12.s2.t64.1

He was a commentator like Bhaṭṭotpala. He was the son of Divākara of Golāgrāma. His family history can be found from the account given by Viṣṇu. He has recorded the date of his commentary on Tājakanīlakaṇṭhī, as below :—

v2.c12.s2.t64.2

चंद्रबाण शरचंद्र १५५१ संमिते हायने नृपतिशालिवाहने ।।
मार्गशीर्षसितपंचमीतिथौ विश्वनाथविदुषा समाप्तम् ।।

v2.c12.s2.t64.3

*Translation :—*

v2.c12.s2.t64.4

“This was completed by Viśvanātha on the 5th lunar day of the bright half of Mārgaśīrṣa in the year 1551 of the era of king Śalivāhana.”

v2.c12.s2.t64.5

The author has seen a number of commentaries on the Nīlakaṇṭhī, in many of these the above verse was missing ; it was found only in a few commentaries. It is an instance of how our people are indifferent in the matter of specifying the dates of the compilation of their works. There is absolutely no doubt about this Śaka. It authentically becomes evident from the references at other places in the commentary. Viśvanātha has written commentaries, consisting of illustrative examples, on several works like the Sūryasiddhānta. For the main example in them he has adopted Śaka 1534 as the year, but has incidentally also, taken Śaka years 1530, 1532, 1542 and 1555. In the commentary on ‘Pātasāraṇī’, he has adopted Śaka 1553 as the year for his example. In the Keśavi-jātaka-paddhati, he has adopted for his example Śaka 1508. The birth horoscopes are cast with the help of the Jātakapaddhati. It would appear that Śaka 1508 may have been the date of birth of Viśvanātha and he appears to have compiled his works between the Śaka years 1534-56. In a line from his commentary on Grahalāghava, (already given on page 131) he calls Gaṇeśa Daivajñya his preceptor, but it is simply a matter of formality. It is like the remark by Dhanarāja, the commentator of the Mahādevī Sāraṇī, who in his commetary written in Śaka 1557, calls Mahādeva his preceptor, even though the Mahādevī Sāraṇī was compiled in Śaka 1238.

v2.c12.s2.t64.6

Kṛṣṇa śāstrī Goḍbole has given in the Grahalāghava three verses at the end which state that, in order to ensure agreement with observation, Viśvanātha has mentioned a correction to it 211 years after it was compiled. This means that the date of Viśvanātha comes to Śaka 1653. But it is quite evident from his family history and his works that the date of Viśvanātha, the commentator of the Grahalāghava, must be in the 16th century and not the 17th. The author has seen several editions of Viśvanātha’s commentary on Grahalāghava, but they do not contain these three verses. Viśvanātha, referred to in them, must be a different person. Viśvanātha Davajñya Sangameśvarkara, the son of Gopāla compiled a work entitled Vratarāja at Vārānasi in śaka 1658. The above three verses may have been compiled by this Viśvanātha.

v2.c12.s2.t64.7

HIS WORKS

v2.c12.s2.t64.8

Viśvanātha has written the following commentaries containing examples:—

v2.c12.s2.t64.9

(1) The Gahanārtha Prakāśikā Ṭīkā on the Sūrya Siddhānta. In this, Viśvanātha writes, “I am elucidating the Sūrya Siddhānta, the commentary by Nṛsiṃha may be consulted for its theory”. Nṛsiṃha wrote his ‘Saurabhāṣya’ commentary in Śaka 1533. From this it is evident that Viśvanātha wrote his Udāharaṇa on the Sūrya Siddhānta after that date. The number of verses in it is 5000. (2) Siddhāntaśiromaṇi* (3) Karaṇa Kutūhala (4) Makaranda (5) Grahalāghava (6) Pātasāraṇī by Gaṇeśa Daivajñya (7) Anantasudhārasa* (8) Rāma Vinodakaraṇa* (9) the Karaṇa work by his brother Viṣṇu* (10) Keśavī Jātakapaddhati (11) Samātantraprakāśikā on Tājaka-Nīlakaṇṭhī. This belongs to śaka 1551. The Aufrecht's Catalogue has mentioned the following additional commentaries on :—(12) Somasiddhānta (13) Tithi Cintāmaṇi (14) Candramā-natantra (15) Bṛhajjātaka (16) Śrīpatipaddhati (17) Vasiṣṭhasamhitā (18) Bṛhatsamhitā.

v2.c12.s2.t64.10

Viśvanātha has added solved examples in the commentaries and hence those commentaries are very useful for the student. Kṛṣṇa Śāstrī Goḍbole has published a Marāṭhī edition of Grahalāghava containing solved examples, which is for the most part, a translation of the Viśvanāthī commentary.

v2.c12.s2.t64.11

Viśvanātha has not given any theory in his commentary; still the fact that he had a good knowledge of the astronomical science is evident from his works. He compiled all his works at Vārāṇasī.

Cites (9)