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A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM
Constellations:-The following nakṣatras are mentioned. Assiņi (Aśvini) 20. 55, Bharani 20. 42, Kittiya (Kṛttikā) 20. 43, Rohiņi 20. 44, Punavvasu (Punarvasu)-20. 30; Pussa (Puśya 20. 41;) Magha 20. 31, Hatta (Hasta) 20. 50. Cittă 20. 32, Visahā (Viśākhā-20.49), Apuraha (Anuradha 20. 34), Inda (Aindra or Jyeṣṭhā) 20. 29, Müla 20. 35, Puvvāsāḍha and Uttara asādha 20.36; 20. 27; 97. 7; Samana Savana (Śrāvana) 17.107; 97. 7; Sayabhisa (Satabhisaj) 20. 38; Uttarabhaddavaya 20. 39 and Revai (Revati) 20. 40. Thus nineteen of the twenty-seven nakṣatras have been mentioned. Some of the months are specifically mentioned. They themselves indicate the corresponding nahṣatras-viz. Maggasira for Mrgaśiras, Phagguna for Phalgunis and Jettha for Jyeṣṭhā (6.27; 66. 14; 74. 34).
Zodiacs -The zodiacs which have been referred to specifically are Meşa (Mesa-17.108), Vrsa (Vasabha-17.108), Karka (Kulira and 17.108), Kanya (Kaņņā 17.109), Makara (Mayara 17.108) Mina (Miņa 17.109).
C. Astrology.
The art of judging the influence of stars upon human affairs is called astrology. The PCV reveals that people had great faith in astrology. On various social and political occasions people took into consideration the timely planetary position to find out whether the particular time was auspicious or inauspicious. This subject has already been dealt under popular beliefs. Here it is to be noted that astrologers (ganiyaņu 17,107 or nakkhastapāḍhaya 17.112) were consulted on various occasions. The PCV states that on the occasion of the birth of Hanu, an astrologer read out the planetary position and foretold after calculation that Hanu would be a great person (balabhogarajja sāmiddhi) and would attain liberation (17.111-118). Thus the PCV reveals that astrology had developed greatly and it had become a pseudo. science.
D. Medical Science.
Diseases and their cure :-The act of curing or healing the deseases was called Tigiccham (Cikitsam 110.27. The physician was called Vaidya (Vejja 22.64). Roga or Vähi (Vyadhi) denoted the general desease (3.124; 13.33). Osahi (Oṣadhi 3.158) denoted the herb while Osaha (Auşadha 22.46) meant the medicine compounded of several ingredients. The engaging of Vaidyas for making a diagnosis of the disease of an elephant indicates that veterinary doctors were also available (81.12).
