Bharatiya Jyotihshastra (History of Indian Astronomy), translated by R. V. Vaidya v2.c13.s1: Subject-Matter of Saṃhitā

Bhāratīya Jyotiḥśāstra (History of Indian Astronomy), translated by R. V. Vaidya v2.c13.s1

Language: English

Subject-Matter of Saṃhitā

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The work which treated in all branches of astronomy used to be called Saṃhitā. But at the time of Varāhamihira, the definition had changed. Saṃhitā was then known as the third branch of astronomy, the other two being Gaṇita and Horā. Later on, all the subjects dealt with in the Varāha Saṃhitā very soon dropped away, and the Muhūrta Skandha alone became the third branch. This will be considered later on. The author first describes the contents of the Varāha Saṃhitā, so that the nature of the Saṃhitā branch may be clearly understood. The subjects dealt with are :—The motions of the sun, the moon, Rāhu and other planets and Ketu; and a description of the effects of their movements in the Zodiac, good or evil on the world, the results of the rises of Agastya (Canopus) and Saptarṣi (the Great Bear). These questions are treated in the first 13 chapters. The 14th Chapter is entitled Kūrmādhyāya. It mentions the lordships of nakṣatras over the region falling in the 9 divisions into which India was supposed to be divided. The next question is the nakṣatra “Vyūha” (arrangement of stars) and results accruing from planetary fights and conjunctions. It has already been mentioned that the Saṃhitā does not describe astrological effects on persons; it mentions results, benefic or malefic, affecting nations.

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Then follows the study of yearly forecast. It is somewhat similar to the one given now-a-days in almanacs under the heading “Samvatsara phalam”. The next chapter is entitled “grahaśṛṅgātaka”. It gives a forecast of the phenomenon in which all or some planets are seen grouped near the sun or some star in the shape of a bow, a horn, etc. The questions next to follow are the “Parjanya garbha lakṣaṇa” (impregnation of rains) “garbha dhāraṇa” (conception) and ‘Varṣaṇa’ (raining). It describes in detail how rains are ‘conceived’ in Mārgaśīrṣa and other months and what would be the nature of the rains. Some people study this subject even in the present times, and it is reported that there are some who accurately predict how rains will occur on the basis of their conception. It is stated in this chapter that rainfall should be measured, if it rains, and the method of measuring it is also described. Next are described the results of the moon’s conjunctions with Rohiṇī, Svātī, Āṣāḍhā, and Bhādrapadā. Next comes the description of the following phenomena :—sudden rainfall, the description of the plant croton, then comes the question of twilight, the red colour visible in the sky in the morning and evening i.e., ‘digdāha’ (preternatural redness of the horizon), earthquake, meteors, ‘pariveṣa’ (a halo), rainbow, gandharvanagar* (celestial city), perihelion or mock sun, whirlwind’,——(Thunderstorm). The next questions dealt with are the prices of grains etc., Indradhwaja (a flag raised on Bhādrapad Śukla 12) and neerajan (lustration of arms). These are followed by the results of the sight of the bird named ‘Khañjan’ (wag-tail). Next are described three kinds of disasters namely ‘divya’ (celestial), ‘āntarikṣa’ (spatial) and ‘bhauma’ (terrestrial). Then follows the chapter on Mayūr-citra. The questions which follow are those of interest to kings, e.g. the Puṣyasnāna

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*A news item had appeared in newspapers about 1887 that the people on a ship sailing on the sea at a distance of some miles from New Holland, witnessed a city in New Holland, in the sky. It seems therefore the subject of Gandharva-nagar (celestial city) may not be merely fictitious.

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(coronation ceremony performed with the moon in puṣya nakṣatra), Paṭṭa-lakṣana, (the characteristics of the crown), the Khaḍga laksana (the characteristics of the sword). The next chapter relates to Vāstu (building). This contains a very extensive description. It provides useful information regarding the choice of site and wood for the house and the method of building houses for different purposes. Utpala has given five charts in the commentary on the work. The next chapter, entitled Udakārgala, mainly describes the art of water-finding and sets forth incidentally some ideas on geology. It is said that even now there are people who can direct one to a place, where water would be obtained after digging. Next comes the chapter on Vṛkṣāyurveda (the therapy of trees), which contains some sound hints on Botany. Next comes the chapter on Prāsādalakṣaṇa (characteristics of palaces), the next chapter headed Vajralepa, treats of the method of manufacturing some kind of lime. It is said to have been revealed by Maya. Further on comes the question of the idols of deities (that is, the method of moulding etc). Then comes the question of Vāstu pratiṣṭhā (the consecration of buildings). Further on are discussed the characteristics of cows, dogs, cocks, tortoises, goats, men and women. These are followed by the question of testing the chowrie and the sceptre, some ideas on erotics, testing of jewels like diamonds, pearls, ruby etc. Then are discussed the questions regarding lights, cleaning of teeth, omens. These are followed by the results, auspicious or otherwise, of the cries of dogs and jackals. Next are considered the questions regarding dear, elephants etc. After this comes the description of the effects of tithi, nakṣatra and Karaṇa and those of the transiting planets.

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The author has not seen many of Saṃhitā works. However, all the earlier Saṃhitā works such as those by Garga and others, who lived before Varāha, appear to have dealt with these very subjects or some of them. The selection of auspicious time (muhūrta) for ceremonies like marriage etc. appears to be a subject dealt with by saṃhitā works. But because Varāha had compiled separate work on pilgrimage and marriage, it appears that these subjects have not been included in this work.

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Varāha has stated at several places that particular subjects have been treated as taught by particular Ṛiṣis. The following names of Ṛiṣis have occured in this connection.—Garga, Parāśara, Asita, Devala, Vṛddhagarga, Kaśyapa, Bhṛgu, Vasiṣṭha, Bṛhaspati, Manu, Maya, Sārasvata* and Ṛiṣiputra. It appears, therefore, that so many saṃhitās were extant at the time of Varāha. There may have existed even more since Varāha has at some places remarked “anyān bahūn” (meaning ‘many others’). The commentator has cited not only the views of the above authors in the commentary but has added many more from other authors also. Among these we find the quotations from Vyāsa, Bhānubhatta, Viṣṇugupta, Viṣṇucandra, Yavana, Roma, Siddhāsana Nandi, Nagnajit and others and also some from the work Bhadrabāhu. Some of these authors may have flourished before Varāha and some after him. The chapter on Vāstu (house building) contains quotations from Kiraṇākhya Tantra, as also from Maya.

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The above list of subjects will show that it includes several sciences of the present day, which are related not only to astronomy but to other celestial phenomena also, and they include several natural phenomena relating to the

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*The name of Sārasvata occurs only in the chapter on Udakārgala and that of Maya in the chapter on Vastu and similar subjects.

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earth. Besides these they treat in questions bearing on every-day life. Some of these subjects had been considered long before Varāha's time and some others appear to have been under consideration from ancient times right up to his days. Varāha has recorded some views of his own at several places. Thus after citing the chapter on Udakārgala, as taught by the sage Sārasvata, he has given much information with the prefatory words "I shall now quote the views of human beings". If the subjects in the Varāha Samhitā had continued to be explored even later, the results would have proved very useful according to the author's remarks before (page 80). But no single work or even a number of works was ever produced in later years which treated in all or most of the subjects dealt with in Varāha's Samhitā. The work Muhūrtatatva has discussed almost all the subjects in the work Jyotiṣadarpaṇa contains a chapter on the subject of grahachāra' (movements of planets). But it would not be wrong to say that these subjects were consigned to oblivion after Varāha; some stray thoughts on two or three questions like 'garbhāvali.' (conception of rain waters) are found in some works or in miscellaneous writings and they are even now taken into consideration by some people; but very few of these writings are important. The chapter on Vāstu (building) is given by all works on muhūrta in the present times and it does contain some useful information; however, their original object has been mostly forgotten and now-a-days no one cares much to follow the method explained even in the present-day works while who would care to observe a rule* which says, for instance, that the house would be auspicious or inauspicious according to the remainder obtained by dividing the sum of the length and breadth by a certain number. But while rejecting such rules, one is even disposed not to consider and utilize useful information given in such works.

Cites (1)

Bṛhatsaṃhitā — Varāhamihira, Sanskrit