[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Science, technology and education](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science) › [Jyotihshastra: Astral and Mathematical Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.pingree-1981) › c4.28 # Jyotihshastra: Astral and Mathematical Literature c4.28 Jyotiḥśāstra: Astral and Mathematical Literature c4.28 - **Language:** English ### [c4.28](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.pingree-1981.c4.28) The Babylonian component of the astronomy expounded in these works is especially noticeable in the planetary theory which is based on the well known period relations for the planets, and the divisions of the synodic periods at the Greek-letter phenomena (YJ 79, 35–36, and PS 17), and in the elaborate lunar theory of the Vasiṣṭhasiddhānta (PS 2, 2–6) and the Pauliśasiddhānta (PS 3, 4–9). It would not have been possible to compute planetary positions with only the information in the texts as extant; their original forms were presumably more complete. The Hipparchan elements include the year-length 6,5;14,48 civil days (probably YJ 79, 34), which is combined with the Metonic cycle in the Romakasiddhānta (PS 1, 9–10 and 15); values close to his maximum solar and one of his maximum lunar equations, also in the Romakasiddhānta (PS 8); and the use of analemmata to solve problems in spherical trigonometry in the Pauliśasiddhānta (PS 3). Also from Hipparchus came the concept of the precession and trepidation of the equinoxes,¹² and, most likely, the polar coordinate system for fixing the positions of the fixed stars and the value 3438 for the Radius in tables of Sines.¹³ This value of R first appears in India in the early fifth century (Pait. 3, 12); Varāhamihira uses R = 120 (PS 4, 6–15). - [Previous: c4.27](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.pingree-1981.c4.27) - [Next: c4.29](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.pingree-1981.c4.29) - [Up: c4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.pingree-1981.c4) ## Linked texts (6) - [Vṛddhayavanajātaka](https://indike.org/pramana/in.astro.hora.yavana.vrddhayavanajataka) — Mīnarāja, Sanskrit - [Paitāmahasiddhānta (lost early version)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.astro.siddhanta.early.pitamaha) — Sanskrit - [Vāsiṣṭhasiddhānta](https://indike.org/pramana/in.astro.siddhanta.early.vasistha) — Sanskrit - [Pauliśasiddhānta](https://indike.org/pramana/in.astro.siddhanta.early.paulisa) — Sanskrit - [Romakasiddhānta](https://indike.org/pramana/in.astro.siddhanta.early.romaka) — Sanskrit - [Pañcasiddhāntikā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.astro.siddhanta.early.pancasiddhantika) — Varāhamihira, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.pingree-1981.c4.28](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.pingree-1981.c4.28) · Pramāṇa