Jain Journal 1983 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 7

JULY, 1983
Venus
Arc of Visibility of Venus for Heliacal Rising or Setting
Western horizon,
Direct
Retrograde
Eastern horizon,
Retrograde Direct
Table No. 1
5 Ball, R. S. (1892), Story of the Heavens, p. 140.
Heliacal
rising
5°.8
5°.8
Heliacal setting
...
5°.2
Evidently the heliacal visibility of Venus would be greatly influenced by factors like the brightness of the planet, azimuthal difference between Sun and the planet, altitude of the place of observation, intensity of illumination of twilight and atmospheric conditions prevailing at the place. In the light of foregoing discussion it is revealed in the following paragraphs that Jainas had some trends towards kinematical studies of the phenomena of heliacal rising and setting of Venus in different parts of lunar zodiac.
2. Concept of Vithis (Lanes) of Venus
Venus appears as a morning star or an evening star. The lustre of the capricious goddess of beauty depends upon several factors as mentioned before. The phenomena of gradual diminution of the lustre of Venus from its full brilliancy to the state of invisibility and vice versa5 very similar to that of moon must have been noticed, albeit inadequately by the ancient star-gazers. Some alike trends are exhibited in some texts of Jaina canon. Jainas had cognised the phenomena of heliacal rising and setting of Venus and they attempted to estimate the average velocities of Venus in heliacal combustion in different parts of lunar zodiac. The heliacal combust Venus is supposed to move in different vithis (lanes) among stars. The earliest record in this connection is found in Thāṇānga
5°.9
3