The Astronomical Observatories of Jai Singh c15.s1.t3.1

c15.s1.t3.1

67. Varāha Mihira and others, about A.D. 550, made popular new ideas borrowed from the west: they remodelled the Hindu astronomical system on Greek lines. Varāha Mihira’s astrological works contain numerous Greek technical terms and show, unmistakably, Greek influence. His great astronomical work, the Pañchasiddhāntikā, consists of summaries of the Paitāmaha, Vāsisṭha, Romaka, Pauliśa¹ and Saura Siddhāntas. “The Siddhānta made by Pauliśa is accurate, near to it is the Siddhānta proclaimed by Romaka, more accurate is Sāvitra and the two remaining ones are far from the truth.” The summary of the Paitāmaha Siddhānta exhibits the teaching of the Vedānga stage but adds the epoch of 2 Śaka (=A. D. 80). The Vāsisṭha Siddhānta appears to represent the transition stage. It alters the longest day rule and introduces shadow calculations, and the lagna or ‘rising sign’ notion; while the other three introduce, unequivocally, the Greek teaching. The main characteristics of the Romaka Siddhānta are—