ARCHNA’ S COLUMN VEDCASTROLOG 101 VARAHAMIHIRA AND EVOLUTION OF ASTROLOGY

Dr. S. Archna Murthy is an Astrology Consultant with a PhD (Astrology), M.A (Astrology), M.A Bridge (Astrology in Sanskrit), M.B.A (Singapore), Kovida (Sanskrit) & 18 years of Corporate Experience. She also spreads awareness about Astrology through her YouTube channel ‘Jyotish Shastrm (AstroScience) - Our Legacy’ (57 videos) https://www.facebook.com/JyotishShaastram

Welcome to this monthly series where you will learn the fundamentals of Astrology in a structured manner. In the previous month’s issue of The Astrological eMagazine (July 2023) 8 prominent Astrologers who inspired Varahamihira were covered.

In this article, we will focus on Varahamihira, the Father of Modern Jyotish Shastram and how Vedic Astrology evolved over centuries.

In any field in history, there are always a few select personalities who make a profound impact, act as a catalyst & boost the development & the popularity of the subject itself. Varahamihira was one such scholar who accelerated the growth of Jyotish Shastram. So much so that we divide the timeline of Jyotish Shastram as Pre & Post Varahamihira period.

Varahamihira

INTRODUCTION:

Varahamihira was an Astronomer, a Jyotisha Daivagna and a Mathematician from the 6th Century. He introduces himself in this verse.

He was born in Kapittha, a place near Ujjain in M.P. He is believed to be blessed by Sun God as he and his family were into Surya Upasana.

His father’s name was Adityadasa which means one who serves the Sun & his own name, Mihira, is another name for Surya. He paid homage to Surya in almost all his works. Sage Bhattotpala considered Varahamihira as an incarnation of Surya.

Varahamihira was from the period 505 CE to 587 CE. He was well known as one of the Navaratnas in the court of Vikramaditya as mentioned in this verse.

The Navaratnas are experts in their fields who embellish a King’s court. In the court of Vikramaditya, the following were considered as Navaratnas - Dhanvantari (Ayurveda), Kshapanaka (Jyotisha expert), Amarasimha the author of Amarakosha (Amarakosha is one of the first Sanskrit dictionaries that listed the word along with its gender & synonyms), Sri Sanku (Architect), Betala Bhatta (Mantra Shastra expert), Ghatakarpara (Poet), Mahakavi Kalidasa, Varahamihira & Vararuchi/ Katyayana (Sanskrit scholar & Grammarian). It is interesting to note that all 9 of them were not contemporaries in the court of Vikramaditya.

Varahamihira was the first person to identify and write many books in the three divisions of Vedic Astrology (Sidhantha, Hora & Samhita). He was a master of Sanskrit grammar and presented his ideas with a poetic style. He lists his works in this verse.

As per this verse, he gave details of Karana Grantha in Pancha Sidhanthika, of retrograde and direct motions of the several (non-luminous) planets from Mars onwards, their disappearance (eclipse) through proximity to the Sun, and their reappearance after conjunction with the Sun, their state of being at planetary fight. All things

TRANSIT DETAILS OF THE SUN AND THE MOON - JULY 2023

The SUN