A ' is a text from a classical body of literature on the topic of

Hindu astrology Jyotisha or Jyotishya (from Sanskrit ', from ' “light, heavenly body" and ''ish'' - from Isvara or God) is the traditional Hindu system of astrology, also known as Hindu astrology, Indian astrology and more recently Vedic astrology. It is one ...

, known as , dating to the medieval period of

Classical Sanskrit literature Sanskrit literature broadly comprises all literature in the Sanskrit language. This includes texts composed in the earliest attested descendant of the Proto-Indo-Aryan language known as Vedic Sanskrit, texts in Classical Sanskrit as well as som ...

(roughly the 3rd to 9th centuries CE) Only the most important ones exist in scholarly editions or translations, such as the

Yavanajataka The Yavanajātaka (Sanskrit: ''yavana'' 'Greek' + ''jātaka'' ' nativity' = 'nativity according to the Greeks'), written by Sphujidhvaja, is an ancient text in Indian astrology. According to David Pingree, it is a later versification of an earli ...

(3rd century), Brihat Samhitā (6th century),

Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra The Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra (Sanskrit: बृहत् पराशर होरा शास्त्र; IAST: '; abbreviated to BPHS) is the most comprehensive extant Śāstra on Vedic natal astrology, in particular the Horā branch (p ...

(7th century) or

Sārāvalī :''Kalyanavarman is also the name of a member of the Varman dynasty (5th century).'' The ''Sārāvalī'' of is a foundational compilation of Indian astrology, dating to ca. 800 CE, somewhat post-dating the ' An English translation was publishe ...

(8th century), while many remain unedited in Sanskrit or vernacular manuscripts. Such classical texts should be distinguished from modern works. There are a great number of contemporary publications, reflecting the persisting importance of astrology in

Hindu culture Hinduism () is an Indian religions, Indian religion or ''dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the Major religious groups, world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion ...

, and the corresponding economical attractivity of the market in India. Notable modern authors include

Sri Yukteswar Giri Sri Yukteswar Giri (also written Sriyuktesvara, Sri Yukteshwar) (Devanagari: ) (10 May 1855 – 9 March 1936) is the monastic name of Priya Nath Karar (also spelled as Priya Nath Karada and Preonath Karar), an Indian monk and yogi, and the g ...

(1855–1936),

Bangalore Venkata Raman Bangalore Venkata Raman (8 August 1912 – 20 December 1998) was an Indian astrologer in modern India and an author of numerous books and articles. He was instrumental in making Vedic Astrpology (Saint Parashar System) or Hindu astrology known a ...

(1912–1998), and Sanjay Rath (b. 1963).

Classification

Pingree classifies as ''jyotihshastra'' (

treatises A treatise is a formal and systematic written discourse on some subject, generally longer and treating it in greater depth than an essay, and more concerned with investigating or exposing the principles of the subject and its conclusions."Treat ...

jyotisha Jyotisha or Jyotishya (from Sanskrit ', from ' “light, heavenly body" and ''ish'' - from Isvara or God) is the traditional Hindu system of astrology, also known as Hindu astrology, Indian astrology and more recently Vedic astrology. It is one ...

) manuscripts on

astronomy Astronomy () is a natural science that studies astronomical object, celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and chronology of the Universe, evolution. Objects of interest ...

mathematics Mathematics is an area of knowledge that includes the topics of numbers, formulas and related structures, shapes and the spaces in which they are contained, and quantities and their changes. These topics are represented in modern mathematics ...

astrology Astrology is a range of Divination, divinatory practices, recognized as pseudoscientific since the 18th century, that claim to discern information about human affairs and terrestrial events by studying the apparent positions of Celestial o ...

and

divination Divination (from Latin ''divinare'', 'to foresee, to foretell, to predict, to prophesy') is the attempt to gain insight into a question or situation by way of an occultic, standardized process or ritual. Used in various forms throughout histor ...

, and estimates that about 10% of surviving Sanskrit manuscripts belong to the category. He cites the Brihat Samhita (1.9) for a traditional tripartite division of subject matter which, in his view, does not cover the field adequately:Pingree (1981) p.1 * samhitā: omens * ganita: astronomy * horā: astrology This classification is also found as follows: first comes Siddhanta, without correct calculations of Siddhanta, all types of astrology fail. * Siddhanta: Mathematical astronomy, determining the correct degrees of planets by pure calculations, calculations for finding start and end of Muhurtas (auspicious/inauspicious periods), finding exact sunrise time/sunset time, finding exact moonrise time/moonset time, finding eclipses time and place, finding exact birth Lagna (rising sign), Science of making almanacs etc.. * horā: astrology (Natal Horoscopy - i.e. Jataka, Interrogative astrology - i.e. Prashna etc.). Another type of astrology is Nadi astrology, i.e. foretelling a person's future (also past lives) though their nerves and veins only. *samhitā: Collective astrology (Mundane Astrology i.e. Predicting Rains, Draught, Epidemics, Wars, Political ups & downs of a country etc.)

Classical texts

Treatises on nativity

Gargiya-jyotisha ''Gargiya-jyotisha'' (IAST: ''Gārgīya-jyotiṣa''), also known as ''Garga-samhita'' (IAST: ''Garga-saṃhitā''), is a 1st-century Indian Sanskrit-language astrological treatise attributed to Vrddha Garga, Garga. The oldest extant text of the Indi ...

* Garga-samhita (Garga and Bharadvaja) * Garga Hora * Brihat Parasara Horashastra (Sage Parasara) * Jaimini Sutra (Sage

Jaimini Sage Jaimini was an ancient Indian scholar who founded the Mīmāṃsā school of Hindu philosophy. He is considered to be a disciple of Rishi/Sage Veda Vyasa, the son of Parāśara Rishi. Traditionally attributed to be the author of the ''Mima ...

) * Sphujidhwaja Hora or

(King Sphujidhwaja) *

Saravali Saravali ( el, Σαράβαλι) is a village and a community in the municipal unit of Messatida, Achaea, Greece. The community is located at the southeastern edge of the agglomeration of Patras. The community consists of the villages Saravali, ...

(Kalyanavarma) *

Brihat Jataka ''Brihat Jataka'' or ''Brihat Jatakam'' or ''Brihajjatakam'' (Sanskrit: बृहज्जातकम्), is one of the five principal texts written by Varāhamihira, the other four being ''Panchasiddhantika'', ''Brihat Samhita'', ''Laghu Jataka ...

( Varahamihira) *

Phaladeepika ''Phaladeepika'' is a treatise on Hindu astrology written by Mantreswara. The text is written in lyrical Sanskrit verse comprises 865 ''sloka meter, sloka''s and 28 chapters. It is one of the more significant works on Hindu astrology, along with ...

(Mantreswara) * Hora Sara (Prithuyasas) * Sarvartha Chintamani (Venkatesa Daivajna) * Hora Ratna (Acharya Balabhadra) *

Jataka Parijata ''Jataka Parijata'' is an Indian astrological text that is ranked alongside Bṛhat Parāśara Horāśāstra of Parāśara Muni, Bṛhat Jātaka of Varāhamihira and Phaladīpikāḥ of Mantreśvara. It is regularly studied as a textbook a ...

(Vaidyanatha Deekshita) * Chamatkara Chintamani (Melpathur Narayana Bhattatiri) * Uttara Kalamritam (Ganaka Kalidasa) * Tajika Neelakanthi ( Neelakantha) *

Prasna Marga ''Prasna Marga'' is a unique work on Hindu astrology, natal and horary ('Prashna' means 'Horary'), that appears to be a major classical text covering every aspect of human existence. It was written in Sanskrit Sloka – format in the year 1649 A ...

(Panakkattu Nambootiri) * Daivajna Vallabha ( Varahamihira) * Dasadhyayi (

Govinda Bhattathiri Govinda Bhaṭṭathiri (also known as Govinda Bhattathiri of Thalakkulam or Thalkkulathur) ( 1237 – 1295) (p.15) was an Indian astrologer and astronomer who flourished in Kerala during the thirteenth century CE. Govinda Bhaṭṭatiri w ...

)

Notes

References

David Pingree David Edwin Pingree (January 2, 1933, New Haven, Connecticut – November 11, 2005, Providence, Rhode Island) was an American historian of mathematics in the ancient world. He was a University Professor and Professor of History of Mathematics ...

, ', Vol. VI Fasc. 4 of J. Gonda (Ed.) ''A History of Indian Literature'', Otto Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden, 1981, {{DEFAULTSORT:Jyotihsastra Hindu astrological texts

Jyotisha Jyotisha or Jyotishya (from Sanskrit ', from ' “light, heavenly body" and ''ish'' - from Isvara or God) is the traditional Hindu system of astrology, also known as Hindu astrology, Indian astrology and more recently Vedic astrology. It is one ...

Sanskrit texts

Classification

Classical texts

Treatises on nativity

See also

Notes

References