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Zodiacal Circumference As Graduated in Jaina Astronomy
Zodiacal Circumference As Graduated in Jaina Astronomy
JAINA ASTRONOMY*
Sajjan Singh Lishk and S. D. Sharma
Department of Physics, Punjabi University, Patiala (Punjab)
Introduction
Here it would be worthy of Introduction that Jainas had a peculiar theory3
of two Suns and two Moons and two sets of naksatras (asterisms). Here we
need not enter into whatever may be the mystery of the real and counter
bodies existent in Jaina Prakrit texts, China, Greece, and ancient Babylon*
but one will find that actually a singte set of naksatras (asterisms) constituted
the lunar zodiac of Jainas8.
Theory
1. Zodiacal stretch (=ZS) of every naksatra (asterism) has been expressed
in time-units called muhurtas ( 1 muhiirta = 48 minutes). In this context
Jambudvipa Prajnapti* (=JP) 9.8 states as :
"Abhijit combines with Moon for 9|f muhurtas (1). Satabhisa, Bharani,
Ardra, Aslesd, Svati, aud fjefohci (6 naksatras) combine ( with Moon ) for
15 muhurtas each (2). Three Uttards, Punarvasu. Rohinl and Visdkhd ( 6
naksatras) combine (with Moon) for 45 muhurtas each (3). The rest of the
15 naksatras (asterisms) combine (with Moon) for 30 muhurtas each (4)."
* Paper presented at the 4th annual meeting of the Astronomical Society of India
(Ootacamund, March 1978).
VOL. 14, No. 1
2 S. S. LISHK AND S. D. SHARMA
These data can easily be generated. Thus we know that on the full-moon
day,
L, — Lm = half the zodiacal circumference,
where L, and Lm denote the longitudes of Sun and Moon respectively
on a full-moon day.
27 27
.". Z,8 — \ x %19——mufnirtas (V zodiacal circle=819 -~=- muhurtas
67 67
47
* 409 z=- mukurtas
67
In the present case,
Lm=0, because zero of the scale graduating the zodiacal circumference
in muhurtas coincides with ending moments of Uttarasadha (a Sagittarii) or
beginning of Abhijit («t Lyrae) naksatra (asterism) where the Moon is posited
at the end of 62nd purnima (full-moon day) or the beginning of the 5-year
cycle.
.'.At the ending moments of the 62nd purnima (full-moon day)
L8 = 409-^ muhurtas
67
mu/tSr,as
= 1830 parts/mMAiir/a.
This indicates that the zodiacal circumference was graduated into 54900
celestial parts (gagana khandas).
It may be seen that this number 54900 is the same as the number of
muhurtas in a 5-year cycle, for
one 5-year-cycle = 1830 days=54900 muhurtas
(V 1 day=30 muhurtas)
Numerically,
54900 C. P.=54900 muhurtas in a five-year cycle.
Thus the earlier concept of dividing zodiacal circle in the ratio of
muhurtas of the 28 naksatras (asterisms) in a naksatra month (sidereal
revolution of Moon) was further developed into dividing zodiacal circle
in the ratio of respective sums of muhurtas of the 28 naksatras (asterisms)
in a 5-year cycle.
V One 5-year cycle=67 naksatra months1" (sidereal revolutions of Moon).
Numerically,
54900 C. P. = 67 x length of a naksatra month in muhurtas
or
2 (C. P. of a naksatra)n= 67 2 (ZS)n
11=1 " II=I
where n is the serial number of a naksatra (asterism) starting form Abhijit
(<c Lyrae) as the first one (See Table 1)
.•. C. P. of a naksatra (asterism)=67 ZS . (2)
From eq. No. (2), zodiacal stretch in C. P. of every naksatra can be
easily computed. Jain has compared the celestial parts of naksatras
(asterisms) with the modern degrees of arc.
6 S. S. LISHK AND S D. SHARMA
Incidentally it may be seen that the motion of Sun (1830 C. P. per muhurta)
relative to that of the Moon (1768 C. P. per muhurta is (1830—1768)=62 C. P.
per muhurta. Thus there is a conjunction of Sun and Moon after
54900 fHufrfirfat or 29 516 days whereas the modem value is 29.5305 days.".
62
ZODIACAL CIRCUMFERENCE AS GRADUATED IN JAINA ASTRONOMY 7
54900
days (time degrees)=360°
30x67
30x67
30x67
13
30x67 = °^
30 x 67 61
(1) "How many naksatras (asterisms) are completed in the first month
of Varsa (rainy season) ? (The answer is) Uttarasadha (a Sagittarii) remains
for 14 ahoratras (days and nights), Abhijit («c Lyrae) for 7 ahordtras, Dhanisthd
(P Delphini) for one ahoratra.
Second month of Hemania . Mrgasirsa (A Orionis) for 14, Ardra (<c Orionis)
8, Punarvasu (j3 Geminorum) 7 and Pusya (8 Cancri) for one ahoratra.
Third month of Hemania .. Pusya (a Cancri) for 14 ahoratras, Aslesa
(e Hydrae) 15 and Magha (<c Leonis) for one ahoratra.
Table 4
Table of Naksatras (asterisms) and their numbers of ahoratras (days and
nights) associated with different months of the year.
Season Sr. No. of Nakfatras and their numbers of ahoratras
month (days and nights)
Varsa 1 Uttarafadha 14, Abhijit 1
(Rainy) Sravana 8, Dhaniftha 1.
2 Dhaniftha 14, Satabhifa 7,
Purvabhddrapada 8, Uttarabhadrapada 1.
3 Uttarabhadrapada 14, Rtvaii IS, Aivinl 1.
4 Asvini 14, Bharani 15, Krttika 1.
Hemanta (Winter) 1 Krttikd 14, Rohtni 15, MragSirfa 1.
2 MrgaHrfa 14, Ardra 8, Punarvasu 7, Pusya 1
3 Pu$ya 14, Aslefa 15, Magha 1.
4 Magha 14, Purvaphalguni 15. Uttaraphdlgui 1.
Grisma (Summer) 1 Uttaraphalguni 14. Hasta 15, Citra 1
2 Citra 14, Svati 15, Viiakha 1
3 Viiakhd 14, Anuradha 8, Jyestha 7, Mula 1
4 Mula 14, Purvdfadha 15, Uttarafadha 1.
2
10 S. S. LISHK AND S. D. SHARMA
This shows that twenty individual naksatras (asterisms) plus four pairs
of naksatras (asterisms), i.e. Abhijit (\ Lyrae) and ISravana («t Aquilae),
katabhisa (A Aquarii) and Purvdbhadrapada (< Pegasi), Ardra (< Orionis) and
Punarvasu (p Geminorum) and Anuradhd (o- Scorpii) and Jyestha (< Scorpii)
have been allocated 15 saura days each. This hints upon a 24-fold division
of the zodiacal circumference comprised of 360 saura days (one saura day
equals the time taken by the Sun to move on 1/360th part of zodiacal
circle).
Besides, we find that Vttardsddhd (o Sagittarii) lying near the winter
solstice is associated with last saura day of the fourth saura month of
Grlsma (Summer) when the Sun is in the neighbourhood of Summer solstice.
This shows that the number of saura days associated with any naksatra
(asterism) represents its number of acronical risings in the eastern horizon
after sunset. In this context. King13 also refers to the use of dekanal system,
a kind of clock calendar of the stars, constellations and parts of constellations
based on a year of 360 days, used by priests in some parts of the east.
With the observed disposition of dekan stars, both the time and the direction
could be found out. Ipso facto the Jainian approach may be contemplated as
a sign of graduating the zodiacal circumference into 360 saura days.
Besides, if Summer ends with Sun at Summer solstice, Winter solstice
coincides with one saura day of Uttardsadha (a Sagittarii), i.e. 14 saura days
(time degrees) preceding Winter solstice coincided with Abhijit (< Lyrae)
naksatra (See Table No. 4). Taking 72 years for 1° (=one saura day) of
precession, we have
14° (saura days) of precession = 72 x 14 = 1008 years.
Thus this observation dates about 1008 years after Winter solstice coincided
with the beginning of Abhijit (< Lyrae) naksatra. So the event might have
occurred in about 3rd/4th century a.d., i.e. just the transition period between
pre-Siddhantic and Siddhdntic astronomical systems.
Be it mentioned that the method of season determination as implied in
the given data (vide Table 4) has been exhaustively dealt with in a separate
paper.14 However a passing reference may be made that allotment of equal
numbers of saura days to the seasons is an indication that some inequalities
of the Sun were not at all conceived contrary to the notion of stop function,
in Babylonian astronomy.
5. Discussion
In Vedic period, days were called after the names of naksatras asterisms)15
That was the first attempt to graduate zodiacal circumference in 27 days
ZODIACAL CIRCUMFERENCE AS GRADUATED IN JAINA ASTRONOMY 11
Abhijit (< Lyrae) is the extra naksatra and their is a legend (Maitraiya
Brahmana Hi, 230.11 ) that it dropped out, but Taittiriya Brahmana
(1.5.2.3) marks it as a new comer,19 This fact hints that Jaina system of
astronomical thought had established its identity in the Brahmanic period
also and zodiacal circumference was graduated in 28 naksatras (asterisms)
corresponding to 27|^ days of a naksatra month (sidereal revolution of Moon).
It is worthy to note that 27|| or 27.313 days is the length of naksatra
month (sidereal revolution of Moon) correct upto one place of decimal
fraction. (The correct value is 27.3216615 days).10 Thus the arguments of
Jones e/o/.ai that perfect exactness being either not attained or not required
by Hindus, they fixed on the number 27 and inserted Abhijit (< Lyrae) for
some astrological purpose for their nuptial ceremonies, are altogether
12 S. S. LISHK AND S. D. SHARMA
"Leaving aside Abhijit («<. Lyrae) only 27 naksatras (asterisms) are used
in Jambudvipa (isle of Jambu tree)."
Acknowledgements
Thanks are due to Professor L. C. Jain for valuable discussions and
Dr. K. S Shukla for encouragements.
11
Jones, Sir W. et al. (1792) Disstrtatlons and Miscellantout Piecem Relating to the History
and Antiquities, the Arts, Science and Literature of India. (Ch. Antiquity of
Indian Zodiac), pp. 369-390.
11
Yabuuti, Kiyosi (1974) The Calendar Reforms in the Han dynasties and Ideas in
their Background. Archives Internationales D'Historle Des Sciences, 24, No. 94,
pp. 51-65.
M
Samvayahga Sutra (=SVS)- Hindi translation by Amolak Rishi (Klra era 2446).
Jaina Shastrodhara Mudralaya, Sikandrabad.
Tke SVS is the fourth ahga (limb) of Jaina Cannon of Sacred Literature.
For more details, see ref. No. 6
14
See Jha, Sitaram (1960). MuhQrta Cintomani (Hindi commentary), p. 77
,s
Cf. Neugebauer, Otto (1952) The Exact Sciences in Antiquity, p. 97
M
See Jones, Sir W. (1790) Antiquity of the Hindu Zodiac. Asiatic Researches, Vol. II,
p. 289
(We have used the subject matter as contained in Centenary Review of the
Asiatic Society of Bengal from 1783 to 1886 A. D. (1885) part III, p. 22)