Bharatiya Jyotihshastra (History of Indian Astronomy), translated by R. V. Vaidya v2.c12.s5.72

v2.c12.s5.72

∗ While this chapter was being printed (during the months of Vaiśākha and Jyestha of Śaka 1818) Mr. Naraso Gaṇeśa Bhānu, a resident of Mirāj, sent to the author some papers on which he had copied out diagrams of some of the instruments. Bhānu is not an astronomer. He is at present a pensioner of the Mirāj State, still, he has a great liking for this subject. The original instruments of which these were the copies were constructed by one Sakhārāma Jośī, a resident of Koḍoli near Kolhapur, between Śaka 1712 and 1718. Of these, some were probably made of cast brass, as stated by Bhānu. They include grades of some instruments and ‘turya yantra’, ‘phalak yantra’ ‘dhruvabhramana yantra’ and other instruments. One kind of Yantrarāj instrument was constructed at Saptarṣi (Sātārā) in Śaka 1712 ; it has marked on its dial 17° 42′ as the latitude of Sātārā, and the altitudes of junction stars of 27 asterisms and of some other stars at the times of transit, along with their directions ; e.g. the altitude of Maghā has been given as 83° 57′ South. Another Yantrarāj has been constructed for Karavīr (or Koḍoli) in Śaka 1718. It has marked on it 17° 21′ as the latitude of Karavīr (Koḍoli) and the altitude of Maghā as 84° 15′ South. According to modern astronomy, the latitude of Sātārā is 17° 41′ and that of Kolhapur 16° 41′, and in Śaka 1718, the declination of the junction star of Maghā was about 12° North ; and the transit altitudes of the star were 84° 19′ at Sātārā and 85° 19′ at Kolhapur. Anyway, Sakhārāma Jośī appears to have been very painstaking. The above-mentioned instruments are at present with his great grandson Sakhārāma Śāstri at Kadeguddi near Belgaum in the Śāhapur Taluka. His another great grandson Moraśāstri lives at Mirāj, and he has also some instruments with him.