Jainthology

SR No.: 006577
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Ganesh Lalwani
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1991
Total Pages: 294
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 8 MB

Page 234

(ii. 11.37) notion of solar months with refence to eight auspicious samkrāntis also; 13 days halfmonth, which according to Dixit implies true computations of planets and the notion that the large stars look so small in concequence of their distances (iii. 42-24). Such references are not found in Vedānga Jyotiṣa but they are dealt with part and parcel in Siddhantic astronomy ascribed to 3rd/4th century A.D., but as a matter of fact the antiquity of Surya Siddhanta (200 B.C), the earliest milestone in Siddhantic astronomy, is still controversial. Such views were naturally held in esteem in the absence of any link between Vedānga Jyotișa and Siddhantic astronomy. However our investigations into Ganitänuyoga, a class of Jaina works chiefly dealing with Jaina astronomical and geographical data, reveal out that Jainas had not merely aquainted themselves with Vedanga Jyotișa, but also advanced the cause of astronomy to a greater extent and had ranked it as an essential part of education of a Jaina priest.8 Jainas had explicitly developed notions of declination, celestial latitude, and obliquity of ecliptic.10 Yoga and Karana were added to the incomplete pañcänga of Vedanga Jyotiṣa.11 The zodiacal stretches of nakṣatras were first measured by Jainas who later evolved the system of graduating the zodiacal circle into modern degrees.12 The probable course of conversion of 30-fold system of time units (trigesimal system as we have called it) extant in Atharva Veda Jyotişa into the sexagesimal system13 was made during Jaina astronomical period and the system was later commonly used in Siddhäntic astronomy. Such notions have not been unearthed in Mahabharata so far. It may therefore be strongly emphasized that Mahabharata dates earlier than the Jaina school of astronomy was profoundly established. Evidences are still wanting to prove this view :
a.
b.
Mahabharata contains time-units like kalā, kāṣṭhā etc. resembling with Vedānga Jyotisa units of time, but Jaina texts present an advanced system of time-units like muhurta, truți, kalā, lava, and nimeşa etc. 18
Mahabharata does not contain any reference to week days,1 and we do not find it in Jaina texts also.?
C. Tilak's interpretation of the 13 days' half month implying the knowledge of very accurate astronomical computations has been refuted by K. L. Daftari14 arguing that the 14th tithi coming on a day on which at the sunrise there was the 13th tithi, was made the 15th tithi by the Rahu i.e., by the eclipse. This view is more authenti
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