Bharatiya Jyotihshastra (History of Indian Astronomy), translated by R. V. Vaidya v2.c12.s2.t90: Kāmadhenu Karaṇa by Mahādeva :—(Śaka 1289)

Bhāratīya Jyotiḥśāstra (History of Indian Astronomy), translated by R. V. Vaidya v2.c12.s2.t90

Language: English

Kāmadhenu Karaṇa by Mahādeva :—(Śaka 1289)

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Mahādeva, son of Bopadeva, a Brāhmaṇa belonging to Kauṇḍinya gotra residing at Tryambak on the bank of the Godāvarī and enjoying an honorable position at the court, compiled the work, Kāmadhenu, which follows the Brahma pakṣa and Āryapakṣa. It contains 35 verses and tables, and it gives the annual motions and epochal positions of planets. It is claimed that the tithi can be calculated by collecting figures from 22 tables.

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GAṄGĀDHARA (Śaka 1356)

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In the Kali year 4535 (i.e. Śaka 1356), he compiled a tantra work, named ‘Cāndramān.’ It follows the modern Sūrya Siddhānta. There is a copy of this work in the Government Library Vārānasī. It explains only the methods of calculating mean and true places of planets. It contains nearly 200 verses. The mean positions in it have been calculated from the number of lunar months. But the solar reckoning too appears to have been included in it. Gaṅgādhara used to reside ir the city of Sagar, situated between the rivers Kṛṣṇāveṇi on one side and Bhīmarathī on the other, both of them lying to the west of Śrī Śaila mountain, which is situated on the prime (Ujjayinī) meridian. He was a Brāhmaṇa, belonging to Jamadagnya gotra. The names of his ancestors, from his father backwards were Candrabhaṭa, Bhaṭṭārya and Viṭṭhal. The astronomer, Śrī Candal, was born in this very family. Gaṅgādhara was a follower of the Sūrya Siddhānta. He was in the good graces of the king of Vidyāpur. As “Candramāna-Tantra” was very difficult to understand, his son Viśwanātha recast the work into easily intelligible verses. Viśwanātha’s date is not given.

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NṚSIMHA—Rāma, brother of Gaṇeśa Daivajñya, author of Grahalāghava, had a son, named Nṛsimha, (page 139). Rāma may have been a younger brother of Gaṇeśa Daivajñya. Sudhākara writes that this Nṛsimha compiled in Śaka 1480, a work entitled “Madhya-graha-siddhi” on the lines of Mahādeva’s work “Graha-siddhi”. It explains the calculation of the mean only. The true places are further to be calculated with the help of Mahādeva’s work. Kṛṣṇa Śāstrī Goḍbole observes in his Marāṭhī manuscript: “Nṛsimha, son of Rāma and grandson of Keśava Daivajñya, compiled a work entitled Graha Kaumudi in Śaka 1510. The date of birth of Nṛsimha is Śaka 1470”. One of the two dates, this one and Śaka 1480, mentioned above, must be erroneous. Since Nṛsimha says that the planets places should be obtained after multiplying the difference between the given year and Śaka 1480 by the annual motiins, the latter date cannot be wrong. Nṛsimha may perhaps have compiled this work some years after Śaka 1480.

Cites (1)

Sūryasiddhānta — Maya, Sanskrit