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Mañjula (astronomer)

February 26, 2024

Mañjula (fl. 932), also known as Muñjāla, was an Indian astronomer, whose only surviving work is Laghu-mānasa, an ephemeris and calculation text in Sanskrit language. He may have also authored another text, the Bṛhan-mānasa, but this is not certain.

Name edit

Mañjula is also known as Mañjālaka,[1] Muñjāla, Muñjālaka, and Mañjulācārya (Manjula-acharya). Mañjula (Sanskrit for "lovely" or "charming") seems to be his actual name, as early writers - including his earliest commentator Prashasti-dhara (958 CE) - refer to him by this name. The name Muñjāla or Muñjālaka became popular, especially in South India, because of the popularity of Surya-deva Yajva's commentary (1248 CE), which refers to him by this name. Bhaskara II (c. 1150 CE) and his commentator Munishvara (fl. 1646 CE) also use the name Muñjāla. Nevertheless, several other writers continued to use the name Mañjula, including those in South India; these include Yallaya (fl. 1482 CE) and Tamma Yajva (1599 CE).[2]

Biography edit

In the introductory verse of Laghu-mānasa, Mañjula describes himself as a Brahmana of the Bharadvaja gotra.[2] He calls himself the "best among the Brahmanas", which according to his commentator Yallaya, means that he was a teacher (acharya) by profession.[3] He or his commentators do not provide any information about his ancestry or education.[2]

Mañjula adopted the noon of 10 March 932 CE as the epoch of computation in his Laghu-mānasa, which suggests that he started writing the work around this time, and was likely born in the early 10th century CE.[4]

The place of Mañjula's residence is not known. Prashasti-dhara of Kashmir in the north wrote the first commentary on his Laghu-mānasa, 26 years after he had composed the text. However, the text was most popular in present-day Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, where commentaries in Sanskrit as well regional languages (Telugu and Malayalam) were written on it.[5]

Mañjula generally follows Aryabhata I, but does not belong to any particular school of astronomy: he sometimes follows Brahmagupta as well.[6] His Laghu-mānasa appears to derive information from Aryabhata's various works (c. 500), Brahmagupta's Brahma-sphuta-siddhanta (c. 628 CE), and Lata-deva's Surya-siddhanta (6th century).[2] It also appears that the works of Lalla and Vateshvara (born 880 CE) were available to Mañjula, and he borrowed from them. For example, Mañjula's rules for calculating the path of Mars are exactly same as the ones found in some manuscripts of Lalla's Shishya-dhi-vrddhida. Similarly, he seems to have borrowed the second lunar correction from some work of Vateshvara, as suggested by Yallaya.[4]

According to Yallaya, the elderly people of his time said:[7]

Aryabhata knows planetary astronomy, Damodara spherical astronomy, and Jishnu-suta (Brahmagupta) practical astronomy, but Manjulacharya knows all of them.

Yallaya's commentary on the Laghu-mānasa[8]

Yallaya lived near Addanki, present day Andhra Pradesh and was a student of Sūrya, son of Bālāditya.[9]

Residence edit

The introductory verse of the Laghu-mānasa contains the phrase prakashadityavat khyatah. K.S. Shukla translates it as "famous as the Sun in Prakasha", but adds that it can alternatively translated as "well-known as light and sun" (interpreted to mean that the author was known by a name that meant "light" and "sun").[3]

I, famous as the Sun in Prakasha, born in the Bharadvaja Gotra, best among the Brahmanas, set forth another work, entitled Laghumanasa, which is small and contains brief and unprecedented methods of planetary computation.

Manjula in the introductory verse of Laghu-manasa, as translated by K.S. Shukla.[3]

Several writers interpret the word prakasha (IAST: prakāśa, Sanskrit for "light") as the name of the town (pattana) where Mañjula lived. The commentators Suryadeva Yajva and Yallaya state that he lived in the town of Prakasha-pattana which was located in the northern part of the country (uttara-desha).[4] The commentators add that the town had a famous temple of the Sun god, and in the regional dialect used there, the word "Mañjula" was a synonym of the sun.[6]

The identity of this town is uncertain. Mallikarjuna Suri's commentary on Lalla's Shishya-dhi-vrddhida states that a town with this name existed 80 yojanas to the east of the Hindu prime meridian, and the equinocital midday shadow there measured 5.75 angulas. This suggests that the town existed near present-day Patna, at latitude 25°36' N and longitude 85°6' E.[6]

Works edit

The Laghu-mānasa is the only surviving work of Mañjula. But the prefix Laghu- ("small") suggests the existence of an earlier work titled Mānasa, alternatively called Bṛhan-mānasa or Mahā-mānasa ("large mānasa"). The introductory verse of Laghu-mānasa uses the adjective anyat ("another") to qualify the title of the text.[10] The commentators Yallaya and Parameshvara interpret this to mean that Mañjula had written a larger work titled Bṛhan-mānasa. Prashasti-dhara also attests to the existence of a text titled Bṛhan-mānasa, describing it as "large and detailed". Bhaskara II and his commentator Munishvara quote certain verses from Mañjula, without mentioning the title of the text they are from; these verses may be from the now-lost Bṛhan-mānasa.[10]

Another commentator, Suryadeva Yajva, provides a different interpretation of the word anyat:[10] According to Surya-deva, Mañjula studied Mahā-mānasa and other astronomical texts, and wrote a text titled Laghu-mānasa as a summary of their content. He then asked one of his pupils to show the work to the regional king. The pupil took the work to the king, but claimed to have written it himself. Later, when Mañjula visited the king, he asked the king to conduct a test to determine the true authorship of the work. Accordingly, both Mañjula and his pupil were asked to write another text under the king's observation. Mañjula then wrote the present-day Laghu-mānasa, recalling the content of his earlier work but summarizing it an unusual way. The pupil failed to write any text, and the king punished him by banishing him from the kingdom. The king honored and rewarded Mañjula, destroyed his earlier work, and popularized his latest work.[11][12]

References edit

  1. ^ K.S. Shukla 1990, p. iii.
  2. ^ a b c d K.S. Shukla 1990, p. 1.
  3. ^ a b c K.S. Shukla 1990, p. 97.
  4. ^ a b c K.S. Shukla 1990, p. 2.
  5. ^ K.S. Shukla 1990, pp. 50–51.
  6. ^ a b c K.S. Shukla 1990, p. 3.
  7. ^ K.S. Shukla 1990, pp. 97–98.
  8. ^ K.S. Shukla 1990, pp. vi, 97–98.
  9. ^ Venugopal, P.; Rupa, K.; Uma, S. K.; Balachandra Rao, S. (2019). "The concepts of deśāntara and yojana in Indian astronomy". Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage. 22 (3): 401–406. doi:10.3724/SP.J.1440-2807.2019.03.02. S2CID 256567507.
  10. ^ a b c K.S. Shukla 1990, pp. 4–5.
  11. ^ K.S. Shukla 1990, pp. 98–99.
  12. ^ Kim Plofker (2009). Mathematics in India. Princeton University Press. p. 108. ISBN 9780691120676.

Bibliography edit

  • K.S. Shukla (1990). "Supplement: A critical study of the Laghumānasa of Mañjula". Indian Journal of History of Science. Indian National Science Academy. 25 (1–4). OCLC 24307203.
  • Dennis W. Duke (2007). "The Second Lunar Anomaly in Ancient Indian Astronomy". Archive for History of Exact Sciences. 61 (2): 147–157. doi:10.1007/s00407-006-0119-3. ISSN 0003-9519. JSTOR 41134243. S2CID 123007892.

External links edit

  • Laghu mānasa with commentary by Paramesvara edited by Balvant Dattatreya Apte

February 26, 2024
mañjula, astronomer, mañjula, also, known, muñjāla, indian, astronomer, whose, only, surviving, work, laghu, mānasa, ephemeris, calculation, text, sanskrit, language, have, also, authored, another, text, bṛhan, mānasa, this, certain, contents, name, biography,. Manjula fl 932 also known as Munjala was an Indian astronomer whose only surviving work is Laghu manasa an ephemeris and calculation text in Sanskrit language He may have also authored another text the Bṛhan manasa but this is not certain Contents 1 Name 2 Biography 3 Residence 4 Works 5 References 5 1 Bibliography 6 External linksName editManjula is also known as Manjalaka 1 Munjala Munjalaka and Manjulacarya Manjula acharya Manjula Sanskrit for lovely or charming seems to be his actual name as early writers including his earliest commentator Prashasti dhara 958 CE refer to him by this name The name Munjala or Munjalaka became popular especially in South India because of the popularity of Surya deva Yajva s commentary 1248 CE which refers to him by this name Bhaskara II c 1150 CE and his commentator Munishvara fl 1646 CE also use the name Munjala Nevertheless several other writers continued to use the name Manjula including those in South India these include Yallaya fl 1482 CE and Tamma Yajva 1599 CE 2 Biography editIn the introductory verse of Laghu manasa Manjula describes himself as a Brahmana of the Bharadvaja gotra 2 He calls himself the best among the Brahmanas which according to his commentator Yallaya means that he was a teacher acharya by profession 3 He or his commentators do not provide any information about his ancestry or education 2 Manjula adopted the noon of 10 March 932 CE as the epoch of computation in his Laghu manasa which suggests that he started writing the work around this time and was likely born in the early 10th century CE 4 The place of Manjula s residence is not known Prashasti dhara of Kashmir in the north wrote the first commentary on his Laghu manasa 26 years after he had composed the text However the text was most popular in present day Andhra Pradesh and Kerala where commentaries in Sanskrit as well regional languages Telugu and Malayalam were written on it 5 Manjula generally follows Aryabhata I but does not belong to any particular school of astronomy he sometimes follows Brahmagupta as well 6 His Laghu manasa appears to derive information from Aryabhata s various works c 500 Brahmagupta s Brahma sphuta siddhanta c 628 CE and Lata deva s Surya siddhanta 6th century 2 It also appears that the works of Lalla and Vateshvara born 880 CE were available to Manjula and he borrowed from them For example Manjula s rules for calculating the path of Mars are exactly same as the ones found in some manuscripts of Lalla s Shishya dhi vrddhida Similarly he seems to have borrowed the second lunar correction from some work of Vateshvara as suggested by Yallaya 4 According to Yallaya the elderly people of his time said 7 Aryabhata knows planetary astronomy Damodara spherical astronomy and Jishnu suta Brahmagupta practical astronomy but Manjulacharya knows all of them Yallaya s commentary on the Laghu manasa 8 Yallaya lived near Addanki present day Andhra Pradesh and was a student of Surya son of Baladitya 9 Residence editThe introductory verse of the Laghu manasa contains the phrase prakashadityavat khyatah K S Shukla translates it as famous as the Sun in Prakasha but adds that it can alternatively translated as well known as light and sun interpreted to mean that the author was known by a name that meant light and sun 3 I famous as the Sun in Prakasha born in the Bharadvaja Gotra best among the Brahmanas set forth another work entitled Laghumanasa which is small and contains brief and unprecedented methods of planetary computation Manjula in the introductory verse of Laghu manasa as translated by K S Shukla 3 Several writers interpret the word prakasha IAST prakasa Sanskrit for light as the name of the town pattana where Manjula lived The commentators Suryadeva Yajva and Yallaya state that he lived in the town of Prakasha pattana which was located in the northern part of the country uttara desha 4 The commentators add that the town had a famous temple of the Sun god and in the regional dialect used there the word Manjula was a synonym of the sun 6 The identity of this town is uncertain Mallikarjuna Suri s commentary on Lalla s Shishya dhi vrddhida states that a town with this name existed 80 yojanas to the east of the Hindu prime meridian and the equinocital midday shadow there measured 5 75 angulas This suggests that the town existed near present day Patna at latitude 25 36 N and longitude 85 6 E 6 Works editThe Laghu manasa is the only surviving work of Manjula But the prefix Laghu small suggests the existence of an earlier work titled Manasa alternatively called Bṛhan manasa or Maha manasa large manasa The introductory verse of Laghu manasa uses the adjective anyat another to qualify the title of the text 10 The commentators Yallaya and Parameshvara interpret this to mean that Manjula had written a larger work titled Bṛhan manasa Prashasti dhara also attests to the existence of a text titled Bṛhan manasa describing it as large and detailed Bhaskara II and his commentator Munishvara quote certain verses from Manjula without mentioning the title of the text they are from these verses may be from the now lost Bṛhan manasa 10 Another commentator Suryadeva Yajva provides a different interpretation of the word anyat 10 According to Surya deva Manjula studied Maha manasa and other astronomical texts and wrote a text titled Laghu manasa as a summary of their content He then asked one of his pupils to show the work to the regional king The pupil took the work to the king but claimed to have written it himself Later when Manjula visited the king he asked the king to conduct a test to determine the true authorship of the work Accordingly both Manjula and his pupil were asked to write another text under the king s observation Manjula then wrote the present day Laghu manasa recalling the content of his earlier work but summarizing it an unusual way The pupil failed to write any text and the king punished him by banishing him from the kingdom The king honored and rewarded Manjula destroyed his earlier work and popularized his latest work 11 12 References edit K S Shukla 1990 p iii a b c d K S Shukla 1990 p 1 a b c K S Shukla 1990 p 97 a b c K S Shukla 1990 p 2 K S Shukla 1990 pp 50 51 a b c K S Shukla 1990 p 3 K S Shukla 1990 pp 97 98 K S Shukla 1990 pp vi 97 98 Venugopal P Rupa K Uma S K Balachandra Rao S 2019 The concepts of desantara and yojana in Indian astronomy Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage 22 3 401 406 doi 10 3724 SP J 1440 2807 2019 03 02 S2CID 256567507 a b c K S Shukla 1990 pp 4 5 K S Shukla 1990 pp 98 99 Kim Plofker 2009 Mathematics in India Princeton University Press p 108 ISBN 9780691120676 Bibliography edit K S Shukla 1990 Supplement A critical study of the Laghumanasa of Manjula Indian Journal of History of Science Indian National Science Academy 25 1 4 OCLC 24307203 Dennis W Duke 2007 The Second Lunar Anomaly in Ancient Indian Astronomy Archive for History of Exact Sciences 61 2 147 157 doi 10 1007 s00407 006 0119 3 ISSN 0003 9519 JSTOR 41134243 S2CID 123007892 External links editLaghu manasa with commentary by Paramesvara edited by Balvant Dattatreya Apte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Manjula astronomer amp oldid 1198398141, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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