Jyotiḥśāstra

A jyotiśhāstra is a text from a classical body of literature on the topic of Hindu astrology, known as Jyotiṣha, dating to the medieval period of Classical Sanskrit literature (roughly the 3rd to 9th centuries CE) Only the most important ones exist in scholarly editions or translations, such as the Yavanajataka (3rd century), Brihat Samhitā (6th century), Brihat Parāśara Horāśāstra (7th century) or Sārāvalī (8th century), while many remain unedited in Sanskrit or vernacular manuscripts.

Such classical texts should be distinguished from modern works. There are a great number of contemporary publications, reflecting the persisting importance of astrology in Hindu culture, and the corresponding economical attractivity of the market in India. Notable modern authors include Sri Yukteswar Giri (1855–1936), Bangalore Venkata Raman (1912–1998), V. K. Choudhry (b. 1951) or Sanjay Rath (b. 1963).

Classification

Pingree classifies as jyotihshastra (treatises on jyotisha) manuscripts on astronomy, mathematics, astrology and divination, and estimates that about 10% of surviving Sanskrit manuscripts belong to the category. He cites the Brihat Samhita (1.9) for a traditional tripartite division of subject matter which, in his view, does not cover the field adequately:^[1]

• samhitā:^[1] omens^[1]
• ganita:^[1] astronomy^[1]
• horā:^[1] astrology^[1]

This classification is also found as follows:

• Siddhanta: Mathematical astronomy
• samhitā: Collective astrology (Mundane Astrology, Omens etc.)
• horā: astrology (Natal Horoscopy - i.e. Jataka, Interrogative astrology - i.e. Prashna etc.)

Types of texts

• Siddhanta
• Karana
• Kosthaka
• Misraka
• Ganita
• Jataka
• Muhurta
• Prashna
• Tajika
• Yatra
• Vivaha
• Nibandha
• Kosa

Classical texts

Treatises on nativity

Treatises on Hindu electional astrology

Samhitas – treatises on mundane, portents, omens, meteorology, etc.

See also

• Jyotiṣa
• Indian astronomy
• Vedanga
• Lal Kitab

Notes

References

• David Pingree, Jyotiḥśāstra, Vol. VI Fasc. 4 of J. Gonda (Ed.) A History of Indian Literature, Otto Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden, 1981, ISBN 3-447-02165-9
• Brahmasri Melanathuru Venkata Subrahmanyam - Vedic Astrology and Vastu Sastra (Author : Maya Matham Simplified) - Mantra, Tantra and Yantra Sastra- Sri Vidya Upasaka - 9849120534 / mvsmvs9@ yahoo.com