Chronological Systems of Gujarat

Author(s): Bharati K Shelat
Publisher: Pranav Shelat

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the Yajnavalkya Smrti, there occurs the word Vṛddhi, but it cannot be ascertained whether the word here: denotes the particular yoga of that name." Nakṣatras muhurtas and tithis have also been mentioned45. Thus in the Smrti literature we come across many astronomical terms.
In the Mahabharata references to technical terms: of chronology are found to a large extent. The references indicate that the people of those times were aware of nakṣatras,46 seasons.47 solstices, lunar as well as solar months and tithis. The months were both Pūrṇimanta and Amanta.48 The days were divided into kāṣṭhās, kalās, muhurtas, lavas and kṣaṇas.49 Sometimes names of nakṣatras 50 are found. At one place the word Vāra occurs, but it is here used in the general sense of a day (not in the sense of a week-day51). Yogas, Karanas and Rasis are not mentioned at any place in the Mahabharata52. Descriptions of solar and lunar eclipses are found at many places.
Among the sources mentioned above, the Vedānga Jyotiṣa alone was a regular treatise on Jyotișa, all the other sources containing only incidental references to terms and topics of Jyotișa. To these references may be added references to early astronomers that flourished prior to the period of scientific Jyotișa in India.
44. BJ, p. 151 45. Yajnavalkya Smrti, 1, 180 46. Mahābhārata, Adiparvan, Adhyāya 71,34, 44,2
47. Ibid., 83, 7; 189,16.
48. Ibid., 84,96
49. Ibid., 160,7
50. Ibid., 49, 28, 21, 48
51. Ibid., 160,7
52. BJ, p. 161