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Vedic Literature Vis-a-Vis Mathematical Astronomy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2016

Pamatosh Sarkar
Pamatosh Sarkar*
Affiliation:
Birla Planetarium, 96, Chowringhee Road, Calcutta, India

Extract

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The present paper restricts to the analysis of some passages from the Vedic literature, viz. Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa and Vedāṅga Jyautiṣa, from the view point of mathematical astronomy.

The Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa in 2.1.2.1 to 2.1.2.5, refers to some ritual in which some fire has to be set up. It recommends Kṛttikā as the nakṣatra or the lunar asterism under which to set up the fire. For, there are some special features that Śatapatha-Brāhmana obviously considers as good points. According to the text, one good point about Kṛttikā is that it is ′the most numerous′; secondly, it rises ′in the east′.

Type
Ancient Astronomy and its Characteristics
Information
International Astronomical Union Colloquium , Volume 91: History of Oriental Astronomy , 1987 , pp. 29 - 32
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

References

Indian Astronomical Ephemeris (1985). Pub. India Meteorological Department, Govt, of India.Google Scholar
Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa - Ed. Julius Eggeling, , Sacred Book of the East, 1882; reprinted Delhi, 1972.Google Scholar
Vedāṅga-jyautiṣa - Ed. Sitesh Chandra Bhattacharya, , Sanskrit College, Calcutta, 1974.Google Scholar