Bharatiya Jyotihshastra (History of Indian Astronomy), translated by R. V. Vaidya v2.c14.54

v2.c14.54

Varāhamihira has referred to Yavanācārya. Bhaṭotpala writes in his commentary on verse 9, Chap. 7, of Bṛhajjātaka, “SPHUJIDHVAJA”, the Yavana king compiled another scientific work after the beginning of the Śaka era ”, Varāhamihira has cited the views of Yavanācāryas before him. The author has not seen Yavanācārya’s work, but he has seen one by Sphujidhvaja. He has, in his work, remarked “ The Yavanas i.e. the Greeks say ”. This shows that one or more Greek astrologers, whose works were not available at the time of Bhaṭṭotpala, lived before the time of Varāha. It seems to be Utpala's view that they lived before the Śaka era. There may have been only one Greek work, but it may be that it was followed by a number of Yavanas, (Greeks) and hence, the word ‘Yavana’ continued to be used in the plural. Bhaṭṭotpala has called Sphujidhvaja himself Yavaneśvara, and has taken quotations only from his works as if they belonged to Yavanas. (This work too is written in Sanskrit). There is a work, named Mīnarāja Jātaka, at present available. It is also known as Vṛddha Yavana Jātaka or Yavana Jātaka. It is remarked in the beginning of the work, “The science of astrology which was explained by a former sage to Maya had one lakh verses in it, but was abridged by Mīnarāja into 8000 verses”. Bhaṭṭotpala has quoted 12 verses describing the nature of signs as extracts from Yavaneśvara (see commentary on verse 5, chap. 1, Bṛhajjātaka) and these are found in the Mīnarāja Jātaka. But many other verses cited by Utpala as extracts from Yavaneśvara are not found in the Mīnarāja Jātaka. From this it appears that the works by Sphujidhvaja and the Mīnarāja Jātaka are different from each other and the Yavana, who lived before Varāha, appears to be quite a third party. The later works were compiled by abridging or enlarging the ancient works, and the three writers possibly held the same view.