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Jyotisha Vedanga
Jyotisa (Sanskrit jyotisa (Devanagari जोटिस्त्र), from jyótis- “light, heavenly body”: also anglicized jyotish and jyotisha) is a Hindu system of astrology (also known as Indian astrology, late astrology, hshti). Traditionally, it has three branches: in fact, the word jyotish, which belongs to the Vedangas. There are six Vedangas: Shiksha (phonetics), Kalpa (rituals), Vyakarana (grammar), Jyotishya (astronomy), Nirukta (etymology) and Chhandas (metrics). These are mentioned in the Upanishads. Nirukta explained as dhyotiti yat tat jyotihi jyotisham i.e. which enlightens us that type of jyoti flame which is jyotish.
The last two are part of predictive astrology (Phalita). Conceptually, therefore, Indian astrology has two branches, Ganita (Siddhanta) and Phalita (Samhita plus Hora).
History
The foundation of Jyotisha is the idea of bandhu from the Vedas or scriptures, which is the connection between the microcosm and the macrocosm. The practice of Jyotisha is primarily based on the sidereal zodiac, which differs from the tropical zodiac used in Western astrology in that an ayanamsa adjustment is made for the gradual precessions of the vernal equinox. Jyotisha includes several nuanced subsystems of interpretation and prediction with elements not found in Hellenistic astrology, such as its system of lunar seats (nakshatras).
Astrology remains an important aspect in the lives of many Hindus. In Hindu culture, newborns are traditionally named based on their jyot charts, and jyot concepts are pervasive in the organization of the calendar and holidays, as well as in many areas of life, such as deciding to get married, opening a new business, and moving into a new home. To some extent, astrology even retains its position among the sciences of modern India. After a controversial 2001 Andhra Pradesh Supreme Court ruling, some Indian universities even offer advanced degrees in astrology.
The term jyotiṣa in the sense of one of the Vedangas, the six subsidiary disciplines of the Vedic religion, is used in the Mundaka Upanishad and therefore probably dates back to the Mauryan period. The Vedanga Jyotisha redacted by Lagadha dates back to the Mauryan period with rules for tracking the movements of the Sun and the Moon.
The documented history of Jyotishas begins with the interaction of Indian and Hellenistic cultures in the Indo-Greek period. The earliest extant treatises, such as the Yavanajataka or the Brihat-Samhita, date from the early centuries AD. The earliest astrological treatise in Sanskrit is the Yavanajataka (“Sayings of the Greeks”), a 269/270 CE Sphujidhvaja version of a now lost translation of a Greek treatise by Yavanesvara during the 2nd century CE under the patronage of the Western Satrap. Saka King Rudradaman I
The first named authors writing treatises on astronomy date from the 5th century AD, the date when the classical period of Indian astronomy can be said to begin. Besides the theories of Aryabhata in the Aryabhatiya and the lost Arya-siddhānta, there is a Pancha-Siddhāntika of Varahamihira.
The main texts on which classical Indian astrology is based are early medieval compilations, notably Bṛhat Parāśara Horāśāstra and Sārāvalī by Kalyāṇavarman. The Horashastra is a composite work of 71 chapters, of which the first part (chapters 1-51) dates from the 7th to early 8th century and the second part (chapters 52-71) to the later 8th century. The Sārāvalī is also dated to around 800 A.D. English translations of these texts were published by N.N. Krishna Rau and V.B. Choudhari in 1963 and 1961 respectively.
Historically, the study of astrology in India was an important factor in the development of astronomy in the early Middle Ages.
Editions
- Yajus recension, Rk variants and commentary of Somākara Śeṣanāga, edited: Albrecht Weber, Über den Vedakalender Namens Jyotisham, Berlin 1862
- Yajus recension, non-Yajus verses of Rk recension, edited: G. Thibaut, “Contributions to the Explanation of the Jyotisha-Vedánga”, Journal of the Asiatic Society Bengal Vol 46 (1877), p. 411-437
- Hindi translation: Girja Shankar Shashtri, Jyotisha Karmkanda and Adhyatma Shodh Sansthan, 455 Vasuki Khurd, Daraganj, Allahabad-6.
- Sanskrit Commentary with Hindi Translation: Vedā̄ṅgajyotiṣam: Yajurvedināṃ paramparayāgatam vistr̥tasaṃskr̥tabhūmikayā. On Vedic astrology and astronomy; critical edited text with Hindi and Sanskrit commentaries. With appendies including Vedic calendar as described by Lagadha for his time. By Lagadha, Ācārya-Śivarāja Kauṇḍinnyāyana, Pramodavardhana Kaundinnyayana, Sammodavardhana Kauṇḍinnyāyana, Somākara
