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A History of the Kerala School of Hindu Astronomy (in Perspective) c9.s8: 14. Auspicious times (Muhūrta)

A History of the Kerala School of Hindu Astronomy (in Perspective) c9.s8

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14. Auspicious times (Muhūrta)

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Practically all the texts popular in Kerala, enunciating the fixation of auspicious times (*muhūrtas*) for the numerous religious and social ceremonies, are of indigenous origin. The *Muhūrtadarśana* of Vidyāmādhava of Nilamana near Gokarṇa, with six commentaries, and the *Muhūrtaratna* of Govinda Bhaṭṭatiri of Talakkulam, with its commentary by Parameśvara of Vaṭaśreṇi, are the early texts of this category. But, by far the most popular works on the subject are two *Muhūrtapadavī*-s written by two brothers of the Māttūr family in Cochin, whose names have, hitherto, remained unknown, but can, now, be identified as Puruṣottama and Subrahmaṇya. The popularity of these two *Muhūrtapadavī*-s can be judged from the profusion of manuscripts of these works available and the seven commentaries composed on them.¹

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¹ To cite but one instance, the Kerala Oriental Res. Institute and Mss. Library holds in its collections not less than 103 of these manuscripts, as recorded in their catalogues.

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15. Astrological query (*Praśna*)

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The branch of astrology called *Praśna* has been very popular in Kerala where many a new technique and practice has been evolved. The classical work on the subject which was popular in the land was the *Praśnaṣatpañcaśikā* of Pṛthuvaśas, son of Varāhamihira, which claims two good Kerala commentaries. There has, however, been substantial literary production, in consonance with the high popularity of its practice. Here too, several treatises comprehending all aspects of *Praśna* and many others which dealt with special items therein have come to be composed. The most important work of the former category is the *Praśnamārga* by a Nampūtiri of the Panakkāṭṭu family, possibly named Parameśvara. Numerous manuscripts of this work and of the four commentaries on it have been recorded. A good number of later works have been based on it or take it as their chief authority. Other full-fledged works on *Praśna* include three treatises with the identical title *Praśnasāra*, one by Śaṅkara, the second by a Somayāji of Bhūtanāthapura and the third by Mādhava of Iñcakkāzhvā family, two works of the name *Praśnānuṣṭhanapaddhati*, both anonymous, *Praśnāmṛta* of Śrīkumāra, *Praśnāyana* of Puruṣottama with auto-commentary, *Praśnamālā*, possibly by Śaṅkaran Nampūtiri of Mahiṣamaṅgalam, with commentary, two works entitled *Praśnarīti*, one by Dāmodaran Nampūtiri of Maṅgalaśśeri and the other by Iṭakkāṭṭu Kukkaṇiyāl and three different works of the name *Praśnalakṣaṇa*, all anonymous. Among works dealing with individual subjects, there are a large number devoted to topics like *Akṣara*, *Aṣṭamaṅgala*, *Āyus*, *Āyudha*, *Pakiṭa*, *Tambula*, *Roga* etc.

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16. Natural astrology

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Of classical texts on natural astrology, the *Bṛhatsaṃhitā* of Varāhamihira was generally known, besides *Lampaka* by Padmanābha, a later work well known in the whole of South India. Among works on natural astrology produced in Kerala, a mention might be made of *Sāmudrikasāra* of Śaṅkara, with two commentaries, two anonymous *Sāmudrikalakṣaṇa-s* and the *Raṇadīpikā* by Kumāra Gaṇaka. The last-mentioned work which, in eight chapters, deals in detail with the preparation for and conduct of war, is particularly significant. Some works deal with individual topics like *Bhūparīkṣa*, *Rekhaśastra* etc. and some others like *Naraceṣṭa*, *Pakṣiśastra* etc. with special types of prognostication.

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