Jain Journal 1983 01

SR No.: 520069
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1983
Total Pages: 36
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 2 MB

Page 15

JAIN JOURNAL
lengths versus the corresponding parts of the day elapsed22 as the practice is still in current among some sects of Buddhistic monks in Ceylon etc. Jainas had also employed the use of shadow-lengths for the determination of seasons.23 They had advanced in measuring shadow-lengths to such an extent that Summer solstice was determined upto thirty muhūrtas of day. 24
4. Kinematics
Solar and lunar motions among their respective mandalas (diurnal paths) imply a motion of declination. But they could not make out the algebraic sense of declination (that is, that it increases on both sides of the equator).25
Besides, the average relative velocity of Venus in heliacal combustion in different parts of lunar zodiac was compared with some conventionally known relative as well as discrete velocities like those of snake, horse, elephant etc. and the corresponding vithis (lanes) of Venus were specified among the stars. The relative north-south directions of vithis (lanes) of Venus also imply their trends towards notion of geocentric latitudional motion of Venus.26 Such kinematical studies of Venus are parallel to those of planetary sphemerides of Seleucid and Manomides periods.
5. Calendar
T
.
The quinquennial cycle of Vedānga Jyotişa remained in vogue during Jaina astronomical period but with different solstices (winter solstice occurred at Dhanistha i.e., B Delphini and Abhijit i.e. ac Lyrac during Vedānga Jyotişa and Jaina astronomical periods respectively.)27 They might have also strived for the reformation of the five-year cycle as they
22 Lishk, S. S. and Sharma, S. D. (1976), 'The Time of Day Measured through Sha
dow-Lengths in Surya Prajnapti', The Mathematics Education, Vol. 10, No. 4,
pp. 83-89. 23 Lishk, S. S. and Sharma, S. D. (1977), 'Seasons determination through the Science
of Sciatherics in Jaina School of Astronomy', IJHS, Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 33-44. Sharma, S. D. and Lishk, S. S. (1978), 'Length of Day in Jaina Astronomy', Centaurus, Vol. 22, No. 3, pp. 165-176. Lishk, S. S. and Sharma, S. D., Notion of Declination Implied in the Concept of
Mandala (Diurnal Circle) in Jaina School of Astronomy (in Press). 26 Lishk, S. S. and Sharma, S. D. Kinematics of Venus in Jaina Astronomy (in press). 27 Lishk, S. S. and Sharma, S. D., 'Similarities between Jaina Astronomy and Vedanga
Jyotisa', To appear in Pracya Pratibha (Journal of Centre of Advanced Studies in Indology and Museology, Bhopal).