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Bharatiya Jyotihshastra (History of Indian Astronomy), translated by R. V. Vaidya v2.c12.s2.t77: Jayasiṃha

Bhāratīya Jyotiḥśāstra (History of Indian Astronomy), translated by R. V. Vaidya v2.c12.s2.t77

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Jayasiṃha

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Jayasimha was a unique personality so far as the science of Indian astronomy is concerned. Copernicus was born in Europe about the same time as Keśava Daivajñya and Gaṇeśa Daivajñya, the two research-minded astronomers, were flourishing in our country, and the condition of astronomy both here and abroad could be said to have been similar till that age. But a great transformation took place in the condition of astronomy in Europe from Copernicus onwards. One may safely say that the science has now attained the acme of knowledge so far as the motions and positions of planets are concerned. It is true that the discovery of telescope and the needs of navigation were particularly responsible for this remarkable progress; still, it must be admitted that unlike Europe, our country failed to produce a galaxy of talented and diligent scholars capable of bringing about a similar advance of knowledge. It is found, only Jayasimha in our country could be named as the solitary exception, comparable with the European scholars of his time.

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Jayasimha was a king in Rajputana. He ascended the throne at Ambher in Vikram Saṃvat 1750 (Śaka 1615, i.e. 1693 A.D.). Later on, he built the present city of Jaipur and made it his capital. In his work, Siddhāntasamrāt, he has been styled “ Matsya deśādhipati ”. He set himself the task of compiling a work, after taking observations wih newly built instruments, set up in newly built observatories, because no existing Hindu, Muslim, or European works could give results agreeing with observation ; and accordingly he accomplished his task with success. He established observatories at Jaipur, Indraprastha (Delhi), ujjayinī, Vārānasī and Mathurā. He got built* very big, immovable instruments, made of mortar and stone, huge in size and very useful for observation, because, he found that metallic instruments are very small in size and wear out easily. Of these, the Jaiprakāśa, Yantrasamrāt, Bhittiyantra, Vṛttaṣṭhāṃśa etc. were newly devised by him ; and after engaging a staff of competent astronomers as observers for seven or eight years, he compiled a work entitled viz. ‘ Muhammad ’ in Arabic and Siddhānta Samrāt in Sanskrit, on the basis of the records of observations taken. At that time, Muhammad Śāh was the Emperor of Delhi and the first work was ramed after him. It appears that it was also called ‘ Mijasti ’. This work belongs to the year 1141 of Hijrī era (i.e. Śaka 1650). He got the Siddhāntasamrāt compiled by a scholar, Jagannātha, about Śaka 1653 (i.e. 1731 A.D.). It is mainly a translation of the work, Mijasti. It consists of 13 chapters, contaning 141 articles and a study of 196 propositions (Kṣetras). The work records the observations taken in the year 1650-51-52 ; and the elements such as planteary motions have been determined, after comparing his own observations with those of Ulugh Beg and other ancient observers.

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∗ The latitude of Indraprastha has been given as 28°39' which tallies with the present day estimate.

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The Siddhāntasamrāt could not be obtained in its complete form in this province. The Ānandāśrama possesses a copy of the book prepared from the incomplete work in the possession of the Rājajyotiṣi (palace Astrologer) of Kolhapur. It contains two chapters in the beginning which describe, by way of introduction, the earth and the celestial sphere. The first chapter contains 14 articles and a study of 16 propositions (Kṣetras), and the second, 13 articles with 25 theorems. The book contains, in addition, a study of instruments and problems in geometry and trigonometry, three problems and mean & true places. The “ spaṣṭādhyāya ” is incomplete, and this portion contains a study of 67 propositions. All these together make about 5500 verses. From this it appears that the complete work may have consisted of about 10000 verses. Sudhākara says that according to a legend, the number was about 50000; but it is an impossibility. Moreover, Sudhākara too has not seen the entire work.

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If a description of the observatories built by Jayasiṃha, and of the observations taken, and the items of original information gleaned from these, be attempted, it would take a small volume. It is enough to state here, however, that Jayasiṃha ensured a higher degree of accuracy in the calculation of planetary positions and motions than that achieved in Europe in those days. This reflects great credit on him as well as this country. The length of the year adopted in this work is tropical and the rate of annual precession about 51″.4. The planetary places obtained from the work appear to be sāyana. We are instructed to take the nirayana places obtained by applying the ayanāṃśa-correction. The numbers of revolutions and other elements also appear to have been given as in the Sūrya Siddhānta along with corrections to be applied to them.

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It is not that the work in Arabic might have been entirely compiled by Jayasiṃha himself. He had many scholars under his patronage and he might have got it compiled by them. The Siddhānta Samrāt which is for the most part a translation of the Arabic work was compiled by Jagannātha. Nevertheless, Jayasiṃha was himself a good observer, a mathematician and an astronomer. The works mention the fact that some of the subjects were explained by him in quite a new way; and the idea of first taking observations and then compiling a work that would give results in conformity with observations was first originated by him. He had engaged competent artisans and scholars knowing one or both the languages, Sanskrit and Arabic. He had sent astronomers even to foreign lands to take observations. It is obvious that the observation work has to be carried on at several places and by several persons working in co-operation.

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The Siddhānta Samrāt describes the instruments newly designed by Jayasiṃha. A description of his observatories and instruments has been given later on in the chapter on ‘Observations’.

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The Siddhānta Samrāt refers not only to ancient works in Sanskrit but to a work compiled by ULUGE BEG, grandson of Tamerlane in the Hijrī year 841 (i.e. Śaka 1359). It refers also to a work compiled by Boosanassar, which seems to have been compiled 619 years before that of Jayasiṃha. This figure may be indicating years of Hijrī era. It refers to the Romakasiddhānta and to the Yavana (Arab) astronomers, Batalmajuṣa and Awarakhas.

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Jagannātha translated in Śaka 1641, 15 books of Euclid's geometry in to Sanskrit, under orders of Jayasiṃha. It is called ‘Rekhā-gaṇita’. It is well known in Jaipur province. There is a copy of this book in the Ānandāśrama library (Book No. 3693), Poona. It does not mention Euclid's name. It is said to have been prepared with the help of works compiled by Ṛṣis; there is, however, no doubt that it was compiled with the help of Euclid's work. It may have been compiled from some Arabic work which did not make any mention of the original writer, or else which contained some words suggestive of the “apauruṣeya” (divine) nature of the work and a similar remark might have found its way into the Sanskrit work also.

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Sudhākara writes that Jayasiṃha offered some villages to Jagannātha by way of reward and they are still in the possession of his descendants.

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Jayasiṃha got another work entitled ‘Kaṭar’, compiled by ‘Navanāsukhopādhyāya’. It is an independant work different from Euclid though compiled on the same lines. It conains three chapters which respectively consist of 22, 23 (or 22) and 14, i.e. 58 or 59 theorems in all. The first two chapters deal with theorems about circles on spheres. This book was originaly written by ‘Sivajusayūsa’ in the Greek language. It was then translated into Arabic under the orders of Abul Accās AHMED. There is a commentary on it compiled by NASIR. It has been stated in the work that it was translated from Arabic into Sanskrit.

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The enterprises of Jayasiṃha were not continued further. No one makes any use of his observatories and now they are mostly in a dilapidated condition. Jayasiṃha's work, Siddhānta Samrāṭ also does not appear to have come into use; nor have almanacs been rectified therefrom. The length of the year is still the same as before. And the same works which guided the almanac-makers before the time of Jayasiṃha continue to hold the field to this day. The fact that Jayasiṃha's works were not used even in Rajputana, is really very deplorable and thought-provoking.

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