Pramāṇa · Search · About · API

Bharatiya Jyotihshastra (History of Indian Astronomy), translated by R. V. Vaidya v2.c12.s2.t68: Ranganātha

Bhāratīya Jyotiḥśāstra (History of Indian Astronomy), translated by R. V. Vaidya v2.c12.s2.t68

Language
English

Ranganātha

v2.c12.s2.t68.1

An account of his family has already been given while describing Kṛṣṇa’s family. He wrote a commentary, Gūḍhārtha Prakāśikā, on the Sūrya Siddhānta. A detailed description of it has already been given. He has given in the commentary itself, the date of its compilation in the following verse :—

v2.c12.s2.t68.2

शके तत्विध्युन्मिते १५२५ चैत्रमासे सिते शंभुतिथ्यां बुधर्कोद्यान्मे ।
दलाद्यद्विनाराचनाडीषु ५२।३० जाता मुनीशार्कसिद्धांतगूढप्रकाशौ ॥

v2.c12.s2.t68.3

Translation :—(not necessary)

v2.c12.s2.t68.4

Ranganātha says that his son Munīśvara, and the commentary Gūḍhārtha prakāśikā, both appeared 52½ ghaṭis after sunrise, on Wednesday, the “Śivatithi of the bright (or dark) half of Caitra in Śaka 1525 ; and it is written in the same commentary that Kṛṣṇa was honoured by the Emperor Jehangir. Jehangir began to rule since Śaka 1527 and not before. Hence, this śaka appears doubtful. But Munīśvara’s works belong to Śaka 1557, 1568 and 1572. This means that the above Śaka is not quite improbable. Ranganātha might have began writing his commentary in Śaka 1525. The ‘ekādaśī’ day in the “śukla or Kṛṣṇa pakṣa” of the elapsed Śaka year 1525, could not be a Wednesday. The Śukla Caturdaśī fell on Wednesday and lasted for 10 ghaṭis. This would agree with the particulars in the quotation if śivatithi is taken to mean Caturdaśī. Otherwise, the Wednesday must be the ‘daśamī’ day in Caitra Kṛṣṇa pakṣa of Śaka 1524 which lasted for 8 ghaṭis. Hence, complete agreement is reached if 1525 be taken as the current śaka (i.e. elapsed Śaka 1524), the dark half as the pakṣa, and Ekādaśī as the Śivatithi. In short, Ranganātha was alive in Śaka 1525, but not in Śaka 1557, as is apparent from the Marici commentary.

v2.c12.s2.t68.5

His commentary on the Sūrya Siddhānta shows that Ranganātha had a sound knowledge of astronomy, particularly that of Bhāskara’s Siddhānta. He has explained the theory, throughout the commentary. It also appears from the commentary that he taught students with the help of astronomical instruments, like the celestial globe, which he had constructed himself. He wrote the commentary at Vārāṇasi.

v2.c12.s2.t68.6

GRAHA PRABODHA, Śaka 1541

v2.c12.s2.t68.7

This is a Karaṇa work, its epochal year being Śaka 1541. It consists of 38 verses in all, and they deal with only the question of the true places of planets. The treatment of this subject, the method of calculating ahargaṇa, eleven years’ cycle, etc. are all on the lines of the Grahalāghava. The author writes in the colophon :

v2.c12.s2.t68.8

आसीत् गार्ग्य ( ? र्य ) कुलेंकभूषणमणिर्विद्वज्जनानंदकृत
शिष्याज्ञानतमोनिवारणविभुर्मीपतिप्रार्थितः ।।
ज्योतिःशास्त्रमहाभिमानमहिमास्पष्टीकृतब्रह्मधी-
धैर्यादार्यनिधिस्तुकेश्वर इति ख्यातो महीमंडले ।। ३६ ।।
तदात्मजस्तच्चरणैकभक्तिस्तत्प्रसिद्धः शिवनामधेयः ।।
तदंगजो दृग्गणितानुसारे ग्रहप्रबोधं व्यतनोच्च नागः ।। ३७ ।।

v2.c12.s2.t68.9

Translation :—

v2.c12.s2.t68.10

(36) There was a Brāhmaṇa, named Tukeśvara, who was an ornament for the Gāryya, (Gārgya ?) family, who gave joy to learned men, who was the ‘sun’ competent to remove the darkness of ignorance among his pupils, who was honoured by the king, who was very famous in the world as one who explains the astronomical theory and one who was courageous and broadminded.

v2.c12.s2.t68.11

(37) His son, named Śiva, who was devoted to him, was equally famous. The latter’s son, Nāga, compiled this work on planetary calculation, agreeing with observation.

v2.c12.s2.t68.12

It appears that the author’s name was Nāgeśa, his father’s name was Śiva and that of his grandfather, Tukeśvara. It is doubtful how far his description of Śiva and Tukeśvara was true; but so far as his claim to having compiled a work agreeing with observation goes, the work is hopeless. He has not mentioned his place of residence. But the parts of A. D. (ascensional difference) correspond to a place having its palabhā equal to 4½. The work neither gives any eopchal position ‘norcakra-dhruvaka’s (i.e. explements of the motion in a cycle). These may have been included in separate tables. The copies which the author happened to see (No. 422 of 1881-82 in the Deccan College collection and No. 2619 of the Ānandāśrama collection) did not contain any table.

v2.c12.s2.t68.13

Nāganātha’s disciple, Yādava, wrote on ‘Udāharaṇa’ type of commentary on this work, adopting śaka 1585 for the illustrative example.

Cites (2)