Jyotiḥśāstra
A jyotiśhāstra is a text from a classical body of literature on the topic of Hindu astrology, known as Jyotiṣha, dating to the medieval period of Classical Sanskrit literature (roughly the 3rd to 9th centuries CE) Only the most important ones exist in scholarly editions or translations, such as the Yavanajataka (3rd century), Bṛhat Saṃhitā (6th century), Bṛhat Parāśara Horāśāstra (7th century) or Sārāvalī (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, and the corresponding economical attractivity of the market in India. Notable modern authors include Sri Yukteswar Giri (1855–1936), Bangalore Venkata Raman (1912–1998), Bejan Daruwalla (b. 1931), V. K. Choudhry (b. 1951) or Sanjay Rath (b. 1963).
Classification
Pingree classifies as jyotihshastra (treatises on jyotisha) manuscripts on astronomy, mathematics, astrology and divination, and estimates that about 10% of surviving Sanskrit manuscripts belong to the category. He cites the Bṛhat Saṃhita (1.9) for a traditional tripartite division of subject matter which, in his view, does not cover the field adequately:[1]:
This classification is also found as follows:
- Siddhanta: Mathematical astronomy
- samhitā: Collective astrology (Mundane Astrology, Omens etc)
- horā: astrology (Natal Horoscopy - i.e. Jataka, Interrogative astrology - i.e. Prashna etc)
Types of texts
- Siddhanta
- Karana
- Kosthaka
- Misraka
- Ganita
- Jataka
- Muhurta
- Prashna
- Tajika
- Yatra
- Vivaha
- Nibandha
- Kosa
Classical texts
Treatises on nativity
- Skanda Hora or Jyotishmati (God Brahma)
- Brihat Prajapatya (Daksha Prajapati)
- Laghu Prajapatya (Daksha Prajapati)
- Vasishta Hora (Sage Vasishta)
- Garga Hora (Sage Garga)
- Koushika Hora (Sage Viswamitra)
- Sounaka Hora (Sage Sounaka)
- Brihat Parasara Horashastra (Sage Parasara)
- Surya Hora or Surya Jatakam or Suryaruna Samvadam (Sage Surya)
- Lomasa Samhita (Sage Lomasa)
- Jaimini Sutram (Sage Jaimini)
- Brigu Sutram (Sage Brigu)
- Vedanga Jyotish (Lagadha)
- Yavaneswara Hora or Yavanajataka (Sage Yavaneswara)
- Vishnugupta Hora (Vishnugupta, also known as Canakya)
- Satyacharya Hora (Satyacharya)
- Jeevasarma Hora (Jeeva sarma)
- Srutakeerti Hora (Srutakeerti)
- Sidhasena Hora (Sidhasena)
- Maya Hora (Maya, the student of Sage Surya)
- Sphujudwaja Hora (King Sphujidwaja)
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- MeenarajaHora or Vridha Yavana Hora (King Meenaraja)
- Saravali (Kalyanavarma)
- Brihat Jatakam (Varahamihira)
- Phala Deepika (Mantreswara)
- Hora Saram (Prithu Yasas)
- Sarvartha Chintamani (Venkatesa Daivajna)
- Hora Ratna (Acharya Balabhadra)
- Jataka Parijatam (Vaidyanatha Deekshita)
- Chamatkara Chintamani
- Kashyapa Hora
- Poorva Kalamritam (Ganaka Kalidasa)
- Uttara Kalamritam (Ganaka Kalidasa)
- Suka Nadi
- Deva Keralam or Chandra Kala Nadi (Achyuta)
- Tajaka Neelakanthi (Neelakantha)
- Pranasanushata Padhati
- Prasna Ratna
- Prasna Margam (Panakkattu Sankaran Nambootiri Brahmin)
- Daivajna Vallabha (Varahamihira)
- Kālaprakashika
- Dasadhyayi (Govinda Bhattathiri)
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Treatises on Hindu electional astrology
- Adbhuta Sāgar
- Brihannarad
- Brihatdaivygyaranjan
- Brihatjyotisār
- Daivygyamanoranjan Daivygyamanohar Granth
- Ganak Mandan
- Gian Manjari
- Jaganmohan Granth
- Jyotiprakash
- Jyotirnibandh
- Jyotish Ratan
- Jyotishsār
- Jyotish Chintamani
- Jyotirvidabharnam
- Kāl Khanda
- Kāl Nirnaya Deepika
- Kāl Prakashika
- Madhaveeyam
- Muhurtarnava
- Muhurtharathna (Govinda Bhattathiri)
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- Muhurt Bhaskar
- Muhurt Chintamani (Daivygya Ram)
- Muhurt Chudamani
- Muhurt Darpan
- Muhurt Deepak
- Muhurt Deepika
- Muhurt Ganpati
- Muhurt Kalpadrum
- Muhurt Mālā
- Muhurt Manjari
- Muhurt Martanda
- Muhurt Muktāvali
- Muhurt Prakash
- Muhurt Padavi
- Muhurt Sāgar
- Muhurt Sangraha
- Muhurt Tattva
- Muhurt Tattvapradeep
- Muhurtarnava
- Muktāvali
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- Narpatijacharyāswarodaya
- Nārdeeya
- Nibandh Chudamani
- Poorva Kālāmrit (2)
- Rajmartanda
- Ratan Koosh
- Ratanmāla
- Samarsār
- Shiv Swarodaya
- Vaivahār Pradeep
- Vivah Kautuhal
- Vivah Patal
- Vivah Pradeep
- Vivah Sār
- Vivah Vrindavan
- Vyvahārochchya
- Yoga Yatra
- Vyvaharsār
- Muhurtha malya
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Samhitas – treatises on mundane, portents, omens, meteorology, etc.
- Brahmarshi Samita
- Brihaspati Samhita
- Brihat Samhita
- Parasara Samhita
- Garga Samhita
- Rishiputra Samhita
- Guru Samhita
- Kashyap Samhita
- Lomasha Samhita
- Mānav Samhita
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- Nāgarjun Samhita
- Narad Samhita
- Shakalya Samhita
- Samās Samhita
- Samhita Pradeep
- Samhita Sidhhanta
- Satya Samhita
- Sur Samhita
- Vaikhān Samhita
- Vasist Samhita
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See also
Notes
References
- David Pingree, Jyotiḥśāstra, Vol. VI Fasc. 4 of J. Gonda (Ed.) A History of Indian Literature, Otto Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden, 1981, ISBN 3-447-02165-9