Vedanga Jyotisha (IAST: Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa), or Jyotishavedanga (Jyotiṣavedāṅga), is one of earliest known Indian texts on astrology (Jyotisha).[1] The extant text is dated to the final centuries BCE,[2] but it may be based on a tradition reaching back to about 700-600 BCE.[3]
The text is foundational to Jyotisha, one of the six Vedanga disciplines.[4] Its author is traditionally named as Lagadha.[5][6][7]
The dating of the Vedanga Jyotisha is relevant for the dating of the Vedic texts.[2] The Vedanga Jyotisha describes the winter solstice for the period of ca. 1400 BCE. This description has been used to date the Vedanga Jyotisha.[2] According to Michael Witzel, the question is "whether the description as given in the Jyotisha is also the date of the text in which it is transmitted. It is written in two recensions – Rigveda recensions and Yajurveda recensions. Rigveda recensions and Yajurveda recensions have same verses except for eight additional verses in the Yajurveda's one".[2] T. K. S. Sastry and R. Kochhar suppose that the Vedanga Jyotisha was written in the period that it describes, and therefore propose an early date, between 1370 and 1150 BCE.[2]David Pingree dates the described solstice as about 1180 BCE, but notes that the relevance of this computation to the date of the Vedanga Jyotisha is not evident.[8] The estimation of 1400-1200 BCE has been followed by others,[9][10] with Subbarayappa adding that the extant form can possibly be from 700-600 BCE.[10]
Other authors propose a later composition. Santanu Chakraverti writes that it has been composed after 700 BCE,[7] while Michael Witzel dates it to the last centuries BCE, based on the style of composing.[2] According to Chakraverti, its description of the winter solstice is correct for ca. 1400 BCE, but not for the time of its composition after 700 BCE.[7] This may be due to the incorporation of late Harappan astronomical knowledge into the Vedic fold,[7] an idea also proposed by Subbarayappa.[11] Michael Witzel notes:
[O]nly if one is convinced that Lagadha intended the solstice to be exactly at alpha Delphini of Dhanishta, one can date his observations back to the late second millennium. Since that cannot be shown beyond doubt, since the composition of the text is in Late Epic language, and since its contents have clear resemblances to Babylonian works, the text must belong to a late period, to the last centuries BCE.[2]
Editionsedit
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[12]
^Pingree, David (1973), "The Mesopotamian Origin of Early Indian Mathematical Astronomy", Journal for the History of Astronomy, 4: 1–12, Bibcode:1973JHA.....4....1P, doi:10.1177/002182867300400102, S2CID 125228353
Chakraverti, Santanu (2007), Science in History. In: Jyoti Bhusan Das Gupta (ed.), "Science, Technology, Imperialism, and War", Pearson Education India
Klostermaier, Klaus (2010), A Survey of Hinduism (Third ed.), SUNY, ISBN978-0-7914-8011-3
Subbarayappa, B.V. (1989). "Indian astronomy: a historical perspective". In Biswas, S. K.; Mallik, D. C. V.; Vishveshwara, C. V. (eds.). Cosmic Perspectives. Cambridge University Press. ISBN978-0-521-34354-1.
Witzel, Michael (25 May 2001). "Autochthonous Aryans? The Evidence from Old Indian and Iranian Texts". Electronic Journal of Vedic Studies. 7 (3).
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Vedanga Jyotisha IAST Vedaṅga Jyotiṣa or Jyotishavedanga Jyotiṣavedaṅga is one of earliest known Indian texts on astrology Jyotisha 1 The extant text is dated to the final centuries BCE 2 but it may be based on a tradition reaching back to about 700 600 BCE 3 The text is foundational to Jyotisha one of the six Vedanga disciplines 4 Its author is traditionally named as Lagadha 5 6 7 Contents 1 Textual history 2 Editions 3 References 4 Sources 5 External linksTextual history editThe dating of the Vedanga Jyotisha is relevant for the dating of the Vedic texts 2 The Vedanga Jyotisha describes the winter solstice for the period of ca 1400 BCE This description has been used to date the Vedanga Jyotisha 2 According to Michael Witzel the question is whether the description as given in the Jyotisha is also the date of the text in which it is transmitted It is written in two recensions Rigveda recensions and Yajurveda recensions Rigveda recensions and Yajurveda recensions have same verses except for eight additional verses in the Yajurveda s one 2 T K S Sastry and R Kochhar suppose that the Vedanga Jyotisha was written in the period that it describes and therefore propose an early date between 1370 and 1150 BCE 2 David Pingree dates the described solstice as about 1180 BCE but notes that the relevance of this computation to the date of the Vedanga Jyotisha is not evident 8 The estimation of 1400 1200 BCE has been followed by others 9 10 with Subbarayappa adding that the extant form can possibly be from 700 600 BCE 10 Other authors propose a later composition Santanu Chakraverti writes that it has been composed after 700 BCE 7 while Michael Witzel dates it to the last centuries BCE based on the style of composing 2 According to Chakraverti its description of the winter solstice is correct for ca 1400 BCE but not for the time of its composition after 700 BCE 7 This may be due to the incorporation of late Harappan astronomical knowledge into the Vedic fold 7 an idea also proposed by Subbarayappa 11 Michael Witzel notes O nly if one is convinced that Lagadha intended the solstice to be exactly at alpha Delphini of Dhanishta one can date his observations back to the late second millennium Since that cannot be shown beyond doubt since the composition of the text is in Late Epic language and since its contents have clear resemblances to Babylonian works the text must belong to a late period to the last centuries BCE 2 Editions editYajus recension Rk variants and commentary of Somakara Seṣanaga edited Albrecht Weber Uber den Vedakalender Namens Jyotisham Berlin 1862 Yajus recension non Yajus verses of Rk recension edited G Thibaut Contributions to the Explanation of the Jyotisha Vedanga 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 Veda ṅgajyotiṣam Yajurvedinaṃ paramparayagatam vistr tasaṃskr tabhumikaya 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 Acarya Sivaraja Kauṇḍinnyayana Pramodavardhana Kaundinnyayana Sammodavardhana Kauṇḍinnyayana Somakara 12 References edit N P Subramania Iyer 1991 Kalaprakasika Asian Educational Services p 3 a b c d e f g Witzel 2001 Subbarayappa 1989 pp 25 40 Hart Defouw 1996 Light on Life An Introduction to the Astrology of India Penguin p 3 ISBN 978 0 14 019507 1 Debiprasad Chattopadhyaya History of Science and Technology in Ancient India Firma K L Mukhopadhyaya 1986 pp 486 494 Helaine Selin Encyclopaedia of the History of Science Technology and Medicine in Non Western Cultures Kluwer Academic Publishers 1997 p 977 a b c d Chakraverti 2007 p 33 Pingree David 1973 The Mesopotamian Origin of Early Indian Mathematical Astronomy Journal for the History of Astronomy 4 1 12 Bibcode 1973JHA 4 1P doi 10 1177 002182867300400102 S2CID 125228353 Klostermaier 2010 p 977 a b Subbarayappa 1989 p 29 Subbarayappa 1989 pp 47 48 Lagadha 2005 Veda ṅgajyotiṣam Yajurvedinaṃ paramparayagatam vistr tasaṃskr tabhumikaya Somakarabhaṣyeṇa Kauṇḍinnyayanavyakhyanena ca sahitam Saṅkṣiptahindibhumika Hindyanuvadadiyutaṃ vividhaparisiṣṭavibhuṣitaṃ ca Sources editChakraverti Santanu 2007 Science in History In Jyoti Bhusan Das Gupta ed Science Technology Imperialism and War Pearson Education India Klostermaier Klaus 2010 A Survey of Hinduism Third ed SUNY ISBN 978 0 7914 8011 3 Subbarayappa B V 1989 Indian astronomy a historical perspective In Biswas S K Mallik D C V Vishveshwara C V eds Cosmic Perspectives Cambridge University Press ISBN 978 0 521 34354 1 Witzel Michael 25 May 2001 Autochthonous Aryans The Evidence from Old Indian and Iranian Texts Electronic Journal of Vedic Studies 7 3 External links editVedaṅga jyotiṣa of Lagadha translated by TSK Sastry edited by KV Sarma Portals nbsp India nbsp History nbsp Astronomy nbsp Stars nbsp Outer space nbsp Solar System nbsp Science Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vedanga Jyotisha amp oldid 1212336662, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
