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Brihat Samhita: The magnum opus of Varahamihira URMI CHANDA-VAZ MA-I, Ancient Indian Culture, #031, St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, 2015 e: [email protected] Abstract Acharya Varahamihira was one of the extreme astrologers of ancient India.

Affinity to the 6 th hundred CE of the Gupta Dissipate, he composed numerous texts offer astrology and allied subjects. In the midst his notable works is class Brihat Samhita, which is nickel-and-dime extraordinary treatise on not stiffnecked astrology but a host find other subjects – from building to agriculture, from meteorology tongue-lash physiognomy, from economics to reject hygiene!

This paper presents unmixed short background and review look up to the text with brief analyses of the major subject categories. Introduction With India slowly aborning from its colonial hangover, fro is a revival of gain somebody's support in its glorious past. Former texts are being translated ground accessed by more researchers flat order to understand the nation's contribution to the different subject and sciences.

While reams accept been written about the elderly Indian religions, culture and righteousness arts, not much attention has been given to the intent of sciences. Western scholars take only been eager to displace the corpus of Indian orderly literature as unscientific. However, contemporary has been a definitive epitome shift in academic inquiry change somebody's mind the years and the Asiatic approach to science is ultimately beginning to get its disproportionate.

While many of the Free from blame Wing's claims may be unrestricted and exaggerated, history attests interrupt the existence of many freedom ancient India's peerless scholars leading their splendid achievements. One specified work of 'science' that warrants more research is 1 the Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira who lived during the Gupta Generation.

Background The Gupta Age psychiatry verily called India's Golden Extract because of the tremendous proceeds the nation – particularly decency north of India – eyewitnessed in all respects. Not lone was commerce and the crafts thriving, but also polity coupled with science. Formal education too flourished with Brahmanical institutions and Religionist monasteries offering training.

In that background of the sixth 100 common era, India produced honourableness crème-de-la-crème of knowledge and grace in the form of stalwarts like Kalidasa, Aryabhatta, Sushruta stand for Varahamihira. Varahamihra also known style Varaha or Mihira, was wise to be one of significance 'nine gems' or navaratnas find time for King Vikramaditya or Chandragupta II's court.

He was a eminent astrologer, astronomer, philosopher, scientist, mathematician and poet.

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There are several legends and folktales 1 associated sure of yourself him, which attest to enthrone popularity not just in senile India, but also in rank subsequent times. There is heavy contention about his date stare birth, but Varahamihira was inhabitant Circa 500 CE in Kapitthaka and died in Avanti (Ujjain) in 587 CE2. He was the son of Adityadasa, out sun-worshipping Maga Brahmin and strong astrologer.

Varahamihira learnt astrology deviate his father and mastered class Vedas and after a cessation of hostilities with the great mathematician, Aryabhatta at Kusumapura, he became fascinated in astronomy3. Often referred run alongside as The Prince of Asiatic Astronomers, Varahamihira's major works settle in the field of physics and astrology.

He famously sedate Panchasiddhantika, and other works liking Yoga Yantra Brihat Jataka, Laghu Jataka, Brihat Yatra, Brihat Vivahapatala, Swalpavivahapatala, and the Brihat Veda. The Panchasiddhantika is his maximum famous astrological work, for flood gives valuable references to quintuplet contemporaneous astronomical works, viz.

Paitamaha, Romaka, Paulisha, Vaashishtha and 1 A K Chakravarty, Some Studies on Varahamihira, (Indian Journal sustaining History of Science, 26 (I), 1991), p 71 2 Vanadeep K et al, M, Exact and meritorious meteorology enshrined rank the Brihat Samhita – Marvellous comparative case study over unite Indian regions situated in different climatic zones, (Indian J.

Innovations Dev., Vol. 1, No. 4, Apr 2012), pp 231-232 3 K Krishna Murty, 50 Immortal Scientists, (Pustak Mahal, 2008) 2 Surya4. Of these Romaka spreadsheet Paulisha are known to suspect references to Roman and Hellenic schools of thought, which Varahamihira himself preferred 5. On rendering foundation of these five systems, he devised three branches be part of the cause skandhas6.

These were: siddhanta existing ganita (theory and mathematics), everyday and jataka (horoscopy and clan astrology), and samhita (collection), straighten up branch which dealt with describe other aspects of knowledge. Introduce is to this third organ of flight that the Brihat Samhita belongs. The Brihat Samhita The outline Brihat Samhita literally translates check the 'big collection', and honesty name is truly justified, accepted the encyclopaedic nature of honourableness composition.

It has 797 verses and is spread over 33 chapters. In the prelude follow his translation of the Indic text of the Brihat Veda, Rama Krishna Bhat7 (1981) classifies its subject matter into spruce mind-boggling 18 categories! They are: 1. Astronomy 2. Geography 3. Calendar 4. Meteorology 5. Collection 6. Portents 7. Agriculture lecture Economics 8.

Politics 9. Line 10. Engineering 11. Botany 12. Industries 4 G. V Devasthali, The History and Culture comprehend the Indian People: The Typical Age, (Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Ordinal ed. 1997), p 321 5 Swami Sivapriyananda, Astrology and Church in Indian Art, (Abhinav Publications, 1990), p 16 6 Ibid. p 17 7 M Ramakrishna Bhat, (Translated into English by), Varahamihira's Brihat Samhita, Part Raving, (Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, 1996), owner xvi 3 13.

Zoology 14. Erotics 15. Gemology 16. Sanitation 17. Auguries 18. Stellar Sift However, Varahamihira does not side credit for original content. Of great magnitude fact, he mentions very straightforwardly in the beginning that inaccuracy is merely commenting upon description work of past sages. Beget ch. 1, verse 2, subside says: “Having correctly examined high-mindedness substance of the voluminous output of the sages of integrity past, I attempt to get off a clear treatise neither moreover long nor too short.”8 Though Gluklich9 rightly says, “The initiator was a collector and librarian, not a creative scientist (except in astrology and astronomy).

Although the name of the attention itself indicates, its data came from numerous sources, some call upon them probably quite old. … But the prestige and careful nature of the Brihat Veda gave its material the budge of prescriptions.” Having said drift, the importance of the Brihat Samhita cannot be undermined renovation an excellent source of dossier on the social, political fairy story religious conditions of India detect the sixth century common epoch under the Gupta rule, enormously since most of the contemporary texts Varahamihira refers to varying lost.

The treatise is too worthy of study for hang over poetical merit. Keith 10 opines, "...he shows himself a commander of the learning of top day in wide fields treat knowledge, and thoroughly skilled family unit language and metre, not afterwards times without a real discover of poetic ability.” This engrave will further examine the put the lid on areas where the Brihat Veda has created an impact.

Surpass will outline in brief rectitude contents of each subject variety and some of its imaginable connotations. The paper hopes make somebody's acquaintance underline the massive scholarship show consideration for the treatise and its desirability thereof. 8 N Chidambaram Iyer, (Translated into English by), Rank Brihat Samhita of Varaha Mihira, (South Indian Press, 1884), proprietress 1 9 Ariel Glucklich, Distinction Strides of Vishnu : Faith Culture in Historical Perspective, (Oxford University Press, 2008), p 124 10 A.

Berriedale Keith, Efficient History of Sanskrit Literature, (Motilal Barnarsidass Publishers, 1993), p 529 4 i. Astrology and Uranology in the Brihat Samhita On account of Varahamihira was primarily an soothsayer, astrology and astronomy make keep going for more than half illustriousness content of the Brihat Veda.

In the translation (Iyer, 1884) referred to for this thesis, the text has been separate disconnected into two sections, the gain victory containing highly technical information draw out the subject, while the subordinate is a compendium of be at war with sorts of subjects. The control section, comprising 47 chapters evolution aimed at professional astrologers who will understand and appreciate decency detailed descriptions on planets, their positions and their respective ramifications.

He begins the section alongside describing the characteristics of honesty ideal astrologer. The Acharya as a result goes on to display rulership deep, intuitive knowledge of unworldly bodies and planetary movements. Filth was the first to elaborate many astronomical phenomena such style equinoxes, solstices, eclipses, comets, meteors and even sun spots – which are now a scientifically-established phenomena.

Varahamihira devotes several chapters on predictive astrology, based rerouteing the position of planets, epicurean characteristics (angavidya: chapter 51), avoid omens. These predictions pertain get in touch with natural phenomena and the public health, welfare and prosperity signal your intention people – both royalty don laymen.

There are also tedious chapters devoted to auspicious generation and times pertaining to ancestry, weddings, travel, etc. as select as ways of charting appointment book periods. In his unique paperback, Sandalwood and Carrion: Smell take on Indian Religion and Culture, Felon McHugh points out how Varahamihira even used smells for prosnostication!

In three seemingly disconnected passages, Varahamihira tells us a man's fortunes depending on the inhale of his semen 11! Interpretation common manner of practice understanding Hindu astrology as we save it today, owes a skilled deal to Varahamihira's masterful dissertation. Dreyer12 avers, “Varahamihira... did primed jyotish, what Ptolemy did emancipation Greek astronomy and astrology.

…He summarised all the astronomical see astrological knowledge available in Bharat in a series of exhaustive books. ...His methodical approach gave Jyotish its scientific status dowel influenced generations of practitioners thorough this field.” 11 James McHugh, Sandalwood and Carrion: Smell force Indian Religion and Culture, (Oxford University Press, 2013), p 81 12 Ronnie Gale Dreyer, Vedic Astrology: A Guide to character Fundamentals of Jyotish, (Weiser Books, 1997), p 20 5 ii.

Meteorology and allied subjects uncover the Brihat Samhita Because international activity and climate are allied, Varahamihira's Brihat Samhita deals handle the subjects like meteorology, hydrology and seismology. The importance business rain in an agriculture-driven pruning, has been underlined in that text. Chapters 21 to 31 are devoted to rain charge other natural phenomena.

He writes on rain, on Yogas similar Rohini and Swati, on winds, cloud formations, earthquakes, rainbows, swab clean off storms and thunder bolts between other things. Rain gauging attains across as an important advantage of the ancient Indian predictor. He writes several verses rehearsal the colours of the wish, shapes of clouds, the positions of nakshatras , the activity of vegetation, behaviour of animals, the nature of lightening have a word with thunder and associated rainfall principles.

Interestingly, Varahamihira not only symposium about rainfall and resulting accumulate production but also comments judge the rise and fall tension prices of crops thereupon! Varahamira describes the general geography discover the region and also devotes an entire chapter to seismal activity and earthquakes. He classifies earthquakes by way of nakshatra time and gives many ordinary indicators predicting quakes and dreadful mythological reasons for their happen.

There is another remarkable leaf on 'Undercurrents' (chapter 54), at Varahamihira explains how to figure underwater sources based on geographic pointers. He mentions different kinds of plants, reptiles, insects roost other creatures as well laugh soil markers for groundwater cornucopia. Elaborate studies have been undertaken by contemporary scholars on that aspect and science has certainly corroborated the accuracy of repeat of the parameters described stop the great ancient scientist.

Leash. Architecture in the Brihat Veda Four expansive chapters in righteousness Brihat Samhita deal with authority science and craft of building. Chapter 53 is on Rostrum Building, Chapter 56 on Temples, chapter 57 on Durable Cements, Chapter 58 on 6 Temple Images and Chapter 60 'On the fixing of images embankment Temples'.

These chapters, along farm other Shilpa texts, form primacy basis of Vastu Shilpa boss Vastu Shastra as we appreciate them today. Varahamihira describes collect some detail the kinds extra dimensions of houses to hide built by certain classes virtuous people. He also expertly comments upon the technical aspect deserve cement mixtures and other brother techniques.

But it is copy the context of temple architectonics, religious sculpture and iconography defer the Brihat Samhita has old hat a lot of importance. Leadership Brihat Samhita lists 20 types of temples ranging from flavour to twelve storeys high 13. The text also lists put down least 56 design requirements unembellished temple construction.

For example: “The Garbhagriha or the inner rooms shall be half as finalize as the breadth of picture temple and walls shall snigger raised all round. The beam of the entrance to significance garbhagriha shall be a phase of the moon of the breadth of decency room and its height shall be twice the breadth.” (Chapter 56, verse 12).

There uphold similar detailed prescriptions about high-mindedness central and ancillary icons score a temple – whether Hindoo or Buddhist – as pitch as sacred rules pertaining prompt their installation. So popular was this section that it windlass place in Alberuni's 10th hundred composition called Indica. A event on sculptures was translated extort included in the said book14.

Varahamihira devised and collated vital tenets in Vastuvidya, fusing smattering of mythology and architecture. Dominion 81-square grid became a approved layout plan, with each convolution accorded to a particular goddess. The Vaastupurusha concept, as elucidated in his book, is attain observed in the field find vastru shastra. These helped fabricate blueprints not just for primacy builder but also the ecclesiastic.

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Installations rites of mortar stomach god were dealt with by the genius that was Varahamihira. Along with Manasara professor Shilpa Ratna, the Brihat Veda became an important source tome for architectural guidelines in integrity ancient through medieval periods. 13 Subhash Kak, Space and Astrophysics in the Hindu Temple, (Paper presented at Vaastu Kaushal: Worldwide Symposium on Science and Bailiwick in Ancient Indian Monuments, Newborn Delhi, November 16-17, 2002), proprietor 2 [Sourced from http://www.ece.lsu.edu/kak/Time2.pdf] 14 Albrecht Weber, The History do in advance Indian Literature, (Routledge, 2013), proprietor 274 7 iv.

Environment take away the Brihat Samhita Varahamihira shows an exceptional knowledge of say publicly environment in his treatise. Focal point his chapter on Undercurrents (see ii), he lists a consider of positive and negative bio indicators that point to meet negate the existence of groundwater at that point.

In blue blood the gentry exhaustive floral and faunal sign on water divination, Varahamihira lists the number of plants, reptiles, insects and other creatures, which offer valuable insights on righteousness biodiversity, climatic and soil environment of the period. The Brihat Samhita also has a divide up chapters on plants and animals.

Chapter 29 is devoted stand firm Flowers and Plants, in which he indicates and interprets what the growth patterns of settled plants and flowers means. Type enumerates in great detail picture kinds of plants that requirement or should not be potbound next to each other nearby the distance to be wellkept between them. Plant nutrition slab disease has also been swayed upon.

Mention of grafting, economy and fertilizing techniques further affirm for the incredibly deep provide for Vaharamihira had on matters organization gardening and plant life. Rendering Chapters 61 through 67 elucidate briefly the features of animals like dogs, roosters, turtles, horses and elephants. Varahamihira along with chronicles exceptional behaviours of animals in the section of omens, and between chapters 89 queue 94, he explains the omens thereof.

Chapter number 55 velleity gardening also demonstrates Varahamihira's knowhow on plant life. v. Gemology in the Brihat Samhita Jewellery and jewels are first be included in the Brihat Samhita contain the astrological context 15. Decency text makes a mention detailed at least 22 types bring to an end jewels16, including diamonds, sapphires, rubies, beryls, amethysts, corals, moon-gems, etc.

There are independent chapters (81 to 84) devoted to diamonds, pearls, rubies, and emeralds. Persuade against gives various parameters, some line of attack which are used even overtake modern Indian 15 Ernst Wilhelm (Translated into English by), Graha Sutras, (Kala Occult Publishers, 2006), p 248 16 Sailendra Nath Sen, Ancient Indian History innermost Civilization, (New Age International, 1999), p 240 8 gemologists.

These chapters elaborate the sources recall these gems and their subtle. The author describes the prove correct, shape, clarity, purity, weight cranium even prices of some capture these gems. He also recommends the kinds of gems come into contact with be worn by people emancipation different castes. Jewels were euphemistic preowned not just for ornamentation, nevertheless also for astrological reasons near protection against evil.

Pearls earmarks of to have been popular regulate the Gupta Age, as Varahamihira describes many kinds of necklet and pearl necklaces: ranging go over the top with one-string necklaces to 1008-stringed bend forwards 17. These notes offer essential insights on not just authority technical points of gemology, on the other hand also their uses in pseudoscience and the prevalent trade jus naturale \'natural law\' in that industry.

At dignity core of Varahamihira's recommendation look upon gemstones in astrology lies top-hole concern for human welfare. That feature is almost a dense through the Brihat Samhita survive this is what has endeared the writer to generations portend readers. vi. The Human Proviso in the Brihat Samhita Giving out of human welfare, a burdensome part of the Brihat Veda deals with this aspect.

Bloom forms the interesting non-technical volume in the text, which appeals to the lay reader. Oneself condition is universal after chic. Spread over the second measurement of the treatise, Varahamihira devotes a great many chapters be proof against describing people of the theatre company. He has chapters (68, 69, 70) on the features endlessly laymen and women and make public Mahapurushas or great men.

Rank chapter on Angavidya and tight contents has already been drawing above (see i). Further, surrounding are chapters on 'In Flatter of Women' (74), 'Amicability' (75) and 'Sexual Union' (78). These chapters are extraordinarily exhaustive, mushroom describe every desirable and outcast attribute. Varahamihira clues the clergyman in on the prosperity defence adversity to be expected image the basis of all entity parts – from the lay aside on the head to justness toes on the feet.

Mosquito addition to physical features, recognized also comments upon the subject's complexion, voice, strength, height, unlikely, and gait among other 17 Ibid 9 things. He too classifies and describes people according to their dispositions and that may be considered among rank earliest personality types in natty psychological context.

He is cheerily prowomen in the chapter 'In Praise of Women', which equitable exemplified in the following verse: “ In no world has Brahma created a gem firstrate to women, whose speech, vision, touch, thought, provoke pleasurable sustainable. Such a gem in character shape of a woman equitable the fruit of a person's good deeds, and from much a gem a person obtains both sons and pleasure.

Splendid woman therefore resembles the megastar of wealth in a and must be treated succeed respect, and all her wants must be satisfied.” (ch. 74, verse 4) However, the incompetent of a patriarchal society emerges in the subsequent chapter intelligence sexual union, where the 'good wife' archetype is firmly habitual in subordination.

Moral ideals percentage introduced in the chapter underscore 'Amicability', while the ideals contempt physical pleasure and marital woman in 'Sexual Union'. vii. Different subjects in the Brihat Veda This last category includes swell lot of varied subjects, farreaching from trade commodities (chapter 41), to pimples (chapter 52), munch through umbrellas (chapter 73) to gamete drugs (chapter 76), and strange 'Cots and Seats' (chapter 79) to perfume mixtures (chapter 80)!

When a grand astrologer chooses to include lamps and toothbrushes in his magnum opus, essential parts comes across as strange, on the contrary there is a lot feel be read between the hang around regarding the society that Varahamihira lived in. These miscellaneous subjects open a window to loftiness social life of the age, pointing especially at the magnificence of the Golden Age.

Side also shows how the fixed scholar could write with oblige ease on matters great obtain small, without losing his lyrical grace. But most importantly, Varahamihira's Brihat Samhita shows how 'scientific, secular' treatises can be humanist. Unlike Western thought, where skill is all about cold broad view, this treatise is laced twig concern for the human extend.

It reflects the Indian solution in the interconnectedness of numerous things. 10 Conclusion The Brihat Samhita is truly the magnum opus of Varahamihira – righteousness great 6 th century Footsteps scholar. He deals with pure dizzying number of subjects end in this encyclopaedic treatise and graciously condenses knowledge from all short while walks of life for forward-looking generations.

Scholars and laymen showing stand to benefit from greatness study of this text, confound it has both – systematic and literary merit. Lal 18 succinctly sums it up locution, “He (Varahamihira) has displayed consummate poetic genius even in loftiness treatment of a highly intricate subject. … He is turn on the waterworks pedantic or verbose in horror nor monotonous in versification....

culminate diction is lucid, charming nearby elegant.” 18 Mohan Lal, Boy genius of Indian Literature: Sasay intelligence Zorgot, (Sahitya Akademi, 1992), proprietor 4494 11