Jaganmohanlal Pandita Sadhuwad Granth

Author(s): Sudarshanlal Jain
Publisher: Jaganmohanlal Shastri Sadhuwad Samiti Jabalpur

Page 443

Similarities Between Jaina Astronomy & Vedanga Jyotisa
Dr. SAJJAN SINGH LISHK Govt. In-Service Teachers Training Centre, Patiala-147001
Vedanga jyotisa has often been compared with Siddhantic astronomy and B. G. Tilak (Vedic Chronology And Vedanga Jyotisa, p. 42, 1925) has expounded some similarities between them. Most likely the common features between Vedanga Jyotisa and Siddhantic astronomy must also be exhibited in the intervening period of Jaina astronomy. Some of the prominent resemblances between Jaina astronomy and Vedanga Jyotisa are elucidated as given below:
1. The Vedanga Jyotisa Quinquennial cycle continued to be in vogue down to the time of fag end of Jaina astronomy. Jainas had however strived for reforming the five-year cycle but they could not dispense with its use, albeit they had propounded the theory of some other cycles like twelve-year cycle of Jupiter and twentyeight year cycle of Saturn. Sixty-year cycle (Jovian years) seems to be a hybrid form of the five-year cycle and twelve-year cycle of Jupiter.
Besides it is worthy of note that Jaina five-year cycle is distinguishable from Vedanga Jyotisa five-year cycle in several factors like different ayana system, first point of the commencement of the year, seasons and the reckoning of the zodiacal circumference, use of fifteen-day cycle of days instead of twentyseven-day cycle of days. It is to be emphasized that Jaina five-year cycle should not be mistaken for Vedanga Jyotisa five-year cycle at any cost.
2. There were four time measures in Vedanga Jyotisa, viz. savana (civil), Siura (solar), lunar and naksatric (sidereal). Jaina had used in addition laksana (symptomatic) and pramana (authentic) measures also, e. g. laksana samvatsara (symptomatic year) and pramana samvatsara (authentic) etc. in Siddhantic astronomy only Vedanga Jyotisa measures are found.
3. Both in Vedanga Jyotisa and Jaina astronomy, calculations were made for the whole yuga or five-year cycle and this period comprises of integral numbers of lunar cycles, solar cycles, decayed lunar days etc. Jainas had howaver tended to devise a 780-year (156 times the five-year cycle) cycle which also contains an integral number of abhivardhana samvatsara (lustfully increased year with an intercalary lunar month). Similar traditions were followed during Siddhantic period and bigger cycles like mahayuga (big cycle) etc. were found out