The Tradition of Astronomy in India Jyotihsastra: History of Science, Philosophy and Culture in Indian Civilization (Volume IV Part-4)

by B.V. Subbarayappa

This Volume endeavours to present the preceptible facets of the tradition of astronomy in India:- the torch-bearers of this tradition and their texts; main characteristics of Indian astronomy; scientific approach to the phenomenon of eclipse; pancanga and its social dimensions including the vrata-s, festivals and other observances, origin of astrological ideas, their seeming links with astronomy and certain contraditictions; extensive computations concerning planetary revolutions in a huge cyclic period, mean as well as true positions of planets and associated mathematical aspects.  In order to have the narrative undisturbed, the related mathematical astronomy has been given in the Appendices.  Computations apart, Indian astronomers were keen observers of the motions of celestial bodies and used several instruments, and this aspect has been dealt with approapriately.  the question of transmissions in the early centuries before and after the Christian Era vis-a-vis the originality and endogenous developemnts of Indian astronomy, has been addressed in an objective manner.  Since Islamic astronomy has also fostered its tradition in India for over 500 years, three articles on this have been reproduced in the Appendices.  Indian astronomical texts are noted for their mathematical-astronomical scientific terminology which was so standardized that it enabled astronomers (who were separated both in time and space), to articlulate and promote this tradition over the centuries, as evidenced by the extensive glossary of technical terms given at the end.