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JAIN JOURNAL
number of eclipses, lunar and solar, in a single year is four, two of the Moon and two of the Sun.
The Vārähisamhita 37 refers to the occurrence of the lunar and solar eclipses in the one and the same month and also after six months 88 in a year.
According to modern astronomy, “The greatest possible number of lunar eclipses in a calender year is three and a year may pass without any."89 "The greatest possible number of solar eclipses in a year is five and the least is two."40
"When two solar eclipses occur at a given node passage, a lunar eclipse always takes place between them. The greatest possible number of eclipses in a single year is seven, either two of the Moon and five of the Sun o three of the Moon and four of the Sun. The least possible number is two, both of the Sun."41
It is to be noted here that although there lies the difference of views between Jaina Astronomy and modern astronomy on the number of eclipses in a year, both of them point to the frequency of eclipses in a year.
Recurrence of Eclipses : The Saros
The Jainacaryas have discovered the recurrence of eclipses of the Sun and Moon in the interval42 of six months, etc. with their astronomical observation.
“The recurrence of eclipses in the interval was discovered in the prehistoric times by the Chaldeans who named the interval the saros, signifying repetition."43
As pointed out, there occurs a lunar eclipse, according to Jaina Astronomy, after six months in the minimum and after forty-two months in
37 yadyekasmin mase grahanam ravisomayostada ksitipah I
srabalaksobhaih samksayamayantyatisastrakapesca II, Varahisamhita, ch. v. 26. 38 graste kramannimittaih punargraho masasatkaparivrddhya 1, Ibid., v. 63. *Astronomy by John Charles Duncan. p. 147. 40 Ibid. 41 Ibid., p. 148. 41 Bhagavati Vyakhyaprajnapti, 12.6 453-5.
Suriyapannatti, pahuda 20.
Camdapannatri, pahuda 20. 45 Astronomy, p. 148, John Charles Duncan.
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