Jyotihshastra: Astral and Mathematical Literature c6.59

c6.59

Probably not far in time from Varāhamihira an unnamed Jaina composed an immense work in Prakrit on omens entitled Aṅgavijjā,⁴⁷ which classifies every perceptible object in the world as a ominous entity. It remains an inadequately explored treasure of the material aspects of Indian culture. Another Jaina, claiming to be Bhadrabāhu,⁴⁸ the last śrutakevalin, composed on mainly celestial omens a Bhadrabāhusaṃhitā or Nimitta⁴⁹ in the period between the BS, on which much of the work is based,⁵⁰ and Bhaṭṭotpala, who cites BBS 15, 92–95, on BS 9, 37. The subjects not directly corresponding to Varāhamihira's that Bhadrabāhu takes up are lightning (BBS 5; cf. Pariśiṣṭa LIX); clouds (BBS 6 and 8; cf. second GS 14); military expeditions (BSS 13; cf. GS 32); planetary omens (BBS 25); and oneiromancy (BBS 26; cf. VYJ 66). A third Jaina text (though some manuscripts make it Śaiva) written in this period is by Garga,⁵¹ who is usually identified with the guru named by Siddharṣi in 905; this is variously titled Pāśakevali,⁵² Marutajñānapraśna, etc. It is an elaborate treatise on divination by means of dice, giving the interpretation of each of the combinations of three of the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4, in all possible orders.