A Bibliography of Sanskrit Works on Astronomy and Mathematics, Part I: Manuscripts, Texts, Translations and Studies c8.2220

c8.2220

VARĀHAMIHIRA. (c. 505 A.D.)
1. *Bṛhajjātaka*. बृहज्जातक It is primarily an astrological work. Its importance lies in the use, probably for the first time in India, of the zodiac, with Greek names of the zodiacal signs and planets. Some of the names frequently employed by Varāhamihira are as follows: Kriya- κριός, Tāvuri- ταυρος, Jituma- διδυμος, Kulira- κόλουρος, Leya- λε'ων, Pāthona- παρθε'νος, Jūka- ζυγόν, Kaurpya- σκορπιος, Tauksika- τοξότης, Ākokera- αἰγόκερ'ως, Hṛdroga- υ'δροχοος etc. Other Greek technical terms found in the work are: dreṣkāṇa or dṛkkāṇa, liptā, anaphā, sunaphā, durudharā, kemadruma, kendra, panapharā, trikoṇa, hibuka, jāmitra, meṣūraṇa etc. Similarity of these technical terms with those in use in Greek works was pointed out long ago by Jesuit Father Pons, Whish, Lassen and Kern. *Bṛhajjātaka* and the author's another work *Horā Śāstra* bear testimony to the introduction into India of the Greek or more probably Alexandrian astrology and along with it other important astronomical concepts which later on found integrated into the Indian system. A work in 25 chs. viz. (i) Rāśiprabhedādhyāya, (ii) Grahayonibhedādhyāya, (iii) Viyonijanmādhyāya, (iv) Niṣekādhyāya, (v) Jātakādhyāya, (vi) Sadyomaraṇādhyāya, (vii) Āyurdāyādhyāya, (viii) Daśāpākādhyāya, (ix) Aṣṭakavargādhyāya, (x) Karmājivādhyāya, (xi) Rājayogādhyāya, (xii) Nābhasayogādhyāya, (xiii) Candrayogādhyāya, (xiv) Dvigrahādhyāya, (xv) Pravrajyāyogādhyāya, (xvi) Rāśiśilādhyāya, (xvii) Dṛṣṭiphalādhyāya, (xviii) Bhāvādhyāya, (xix) Āśrayayogādhyāya, (xx) Prakīrṇādhyāya, (xxi) Aniṣṭādhyāya, (xxii) Strījātakādhyāya, (xxiii) Niṛyāṇādhyāya, (xxiv) Naṣṭajātakādhyāya, (xxv) Drekkāṇādhyāya.