________________
concept of shadow causing eclipse. The categorization of mahagrahas (greatplanets), and tarakagrahas (star-planets), the classification of nakṣatras into kula (category), upakula (sub-category) and kulopakula (sub-sub-category) in relation to their conjunctions with the Moon at different syzygies in a five-year cycle also exhibit their trends towards skilled observation of the celestial phenomena, sa 10. Astronomical Instruments
Besides gnomon, some sort of clepsydra (water-clock) and star-clock such as acronical risings of stars used in the determination of seasons etc. might have also probably been used. Description of construction of a water clepsydra is mentioned in Visnu Puranas and Jyotisa Karandaka34 (a Jaina non-canonical work).
Here it is worthy of note that in the absence of knowledge of Jaina astronomy (the astronomy as expounded in Jaina canonical texts), a confusing link between Vedänga Jyotișa and Paitamaha Siddhanta due to certain similarities between them has often been disillusioning. Our findings in pre-Aryabhatian Jaina School of astronomy have opened up many new vistas of research in this field and thus the task of bridging the gap between Vedänga Jyotisa and Siddhantic astronomy has been initiated in its true perspectives. The role of pre-Aryabhatiyan Jaina School of astronomy in the development of Siddhantic astronomy has been dealt with in a separate paper.38 Consequently D. Pingree's views about Mesopotamian origin of ancient Indian Mathematical astronomy become questionable.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Thanks are due to Professor L. C. Jain and Professor Priyavrata Sharma. for some valuable suggestions. The authors are grateful to Shri Shanti Muniji, Shri Chandan Muniji and Shri Krishnachandracharyaji for encouraging comments and giving some useful books.
References
1. Hocking, W. E. (1944): Science And The Idea of God. p. 85.
See also Pannekoek, A. (1830): Astrology and Its Influence upon the Development of Astronomy. Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Vol. XXIV, No. 4, pp. 159-176.
2. Brodrick, A. H. (1940): The Sacrifices of the Son of Heaven. The Asiatic Review, Vol. XXXVI, No. 125, p. 123 (January 1940).
See also our paper 'An Introduction to a Thesis on Jaina Astronomy," The Jaina Antiquary, Vol. 30 No. 2 pp. 9-17.
3. Yabuuti, Kiyosi (1968): Comparative Aspects of the Introduction of Western Astronomy Into China and Japan Sixteenth to Nineteenth centuries. The Chung Chi Journal, Vol. 7 No. 2, pp. 151-154.
4. Carrussis, E.: Mathematics and Logic in History and Contemporary Thought. English translation by Isabel Quisly (1964), p. 9.
5. Allen, R. H. (1936): Star-Names and their Meanings. pp. Introduction. 6. Jain, L C. (1975) Indian Jaina School of Mathematics (A Study of Chinese influences and transmissions) Contribution of Jainism to Indian Culture (A souvenir) edited by N. L Jain. pp. 206-220.
- 443
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org