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Bharatiya Jyotihshastra (History of Indian Astronomy), translated by R. V. Vaidya v2.c12.s2.t89: Karaṇa Tilak by Vijayanandī (Śaka 888)

Bhāratīya Jyotiḥśāstra (History of Indian Astronomy), translated by R. V. Vaidya v2.c12.s2.t89

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Karaṇa Tilak by Vijayanandī (Śaka 888)

v2.c12.s2.t89.1

Beruṇi says that Vijayanandī, the commentator, who was a resident of Vārāṇasi, compiled the work Karaṇa Tilak. Beruṇi has described the methods of calculating ahargaṇa given in the work, the calculation of mean places from ahargaṇa, finding the discs of the Sun and the Moon for calculating eclipses, calculation of Mahāpāta etc. It contains subjects similar to those of the Graha Lāghava, the epochal positions given are true for the first lunar day of Caitra Śukla, Śaka 888. Dr. Sehram writes in his notes that the method of calculating the ahargaṇa is similar to that of the Puliśa Siddhānta. Vijayanandi remarks that stars like Dhaniṣṭhā and Uttarābhādrapadā do not set even when they are in proximity to the sun. The Aufrecht Catalogue does not mention this Karaṇa work. It seems that this Karaṇa work is not at present available anywhere. The Vijayanandi referred to by Varāha Mihira was much more ancient than this Vijayanandi.

v2.c12.s2.t89.2

BHĀNUBHAṬṬA-BHĀNARJU—He has, according to Beruṇi, compiled a ‘tantra’ work, named Rasāyana Tantra, ard a Karaṇa work entitled, Karaṇa paratilak. Prof. Sachau believes that the author’s name may be pronounced as Bhānuraja or even as Bhanuyaśa. Varun’s commentary on Khaṇḍakhādya (Śaka 962) has borrowed some Anuṣṭup verses, from Bhānubhaṭṭa’s work and from the work “Tantra Rasāyana”. It is not explicitly stated there that the work “Tantra Rasāyana” was compiled by Bhānubhaṭṭa himself, still, the context, shows it to be so; and hence, the Bhānuraja (Bhānurajju) referred to by Beruṇi and the Bhānubhaṭṭa referred to by Varuṇa appear to be the same person. His date may be about Śaka 900. The Aufrecht Catalogue does not mention either his name or that of his work. It appears from this that the works are probably not available anywhere at present. The word ‘tantra’ in ‘Tantra Rasāyana’ suggests that the work had adopted the method of calculating planets’ places from the beginning of the Yuga.

v2.c12.s2.t89.3

OTHER KARAṆA WORKS—After enumerating the names of some Karaṇa works like the Karaṇa Cūḍāmaṇi, Lokānanda Karaṇa by Lokānanda, Bhaṭṭila Karaṇa by Bhaṭṭila etc. Beruṇi winds up the description with the remark that “there are innumerable such works”. This statement of Beruṇi supports the inference that have been drawn before (page 120). It was but natural that several Karaṇa works came into existence according to the needs of different times and places. They are not all available at present, and even if they become available, they would be of no actual use. They will, however, be found useful in tracing the history of our country in general and that of astronomy in particular.

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OTHER WORKS AND AUTHORS BELONGING TO PERIODS LATER THAN ŚAKA 950

v2.c12.s2.t89.5

ŚRIPATI :—Muniśwara’s commentary on Līlāvati contains passages from Śripati’s works which show that he had compiled works on Pāṭigaṇita and Bījagaṇita. The following lines occur in those passages :—

v2.c12.s2.t89.6

दो: कोटि भागरहिताभिता: खनागचन्द्रा १८० स्तदीयचरोनशरार्कदिग्म: १०१२५ ।
ते व्यासखंडगुणिता विहता: फलं तु ज्याभिर्विनापि भवती भुजकोटिजीवे ।।

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This describes the method of finding the value of shadow directly from the arcs without making use of tabular sines. Bhāskarācārya has shown the calculation of chāyā without sines & arcs. Gaṇeśa Daivajñya has succeeded in carrying out all mathematical work in his Grahalāghava without the use of sines & arcs. (see pages 133 to 135). This idea, Sudhākara observes, must have occurred to him from Śrīpati's method. According to Sudhākara, Śrīpati had compiled Ratnāvalī and Ratnasāra, as additional Muhūrta works. The Aufrecht Catalogue mentions Ratnasār. This work may have been an abridged edition of Ratnamālā. The compilation of the other work, Ratnāvalī, does not seem very likely since these two works on Muhūrta were already in existence. Perhaps the work Ratnamālā itself may have been called Ratnāvalī by some people.

v2.c12.s2.t89.8

KEŚAVA :—Keśava, the author of Vivāhavṛndāvana (page127) has stated in that work, in the verse “Tribhāga śeṣe dhruvanāmni” etc. that the ‘vyatipāta’ type of ‘mahāpāta yoga occurs when the third part of the “Dhruva yoga” is still to pass. This condition was true when the anyanāṃśas were about 12¼°; and in his commentary on the verse Gaṇeśa Daivajñya says, “this has been so stated because, the anyanāṃśas at the time of compilation of the work were 12°”. This means that Keśava, the writer of the work, Vivāhavṛndāvana, lived when the ayanāṃśas were 12°, that is, about the Śaka year 1165. The work, in the chapter on Lagnaśuddhi, mentions 4-48 as the palabhā of ‘Nārmadi’ (a city on the bank of the Narmadā). The latitude corresponding to this palabhā comes to 21° 48.’ The latitude of Broach, a city situated near the mouth of the Narmadā, is 21°-41’. This shows that his place of residence in those days may have been a town on the bank of the Narmadā.

v2.c12.s2.t89.9

GRAHA SIDDHI BY MAHĀDEVA :—(page 123). The verses in the work, giving the account of his family which have been quoted by the author of the Gaṇaka Taraṅgiṇī are correct. They show that the names of his ancestors, from the father backwards were Paraśurāma, Padmanābha, Mādhava and Jojadeva; and he was a resident of Rasin, near the river Godāvarī. The palabhā of the place was 4½. There is a village named Rasin situated to the south of Ahmednagar but its palabhā is only 4 and it is not situated near the Godāvarī but near the river Bhima, in Mahārāṣṭra. The opening part of the verses giving his family account runs thus :—

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ईश्वरकौबेरजजौदाससमस्तज्जजीग्रजन्मासीत् । श्रीजोजदेवनामा गौतमगोत्रः सदैवज्ञः

v2.c12.s2.t89.11

From this and from some other clues mentioned before (page 124), he appears to be a Gujerati. Though originally a native of Gujerat, he or one of his anscestors may have shifted to Mahārāṣṭra.

Cites (10)