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Introduction

According to the Sakalya Samhita The Sakalya Samhita is an ancient astronomical treatise; here it lists the positions or coordinates of the Saptarishi, the Seven Sages/Stars of the Big Dipper.

During the time of Brahmagupta A prominent 7th-century mathematician and astronomer, the star Chitra Spica was situated at 183 degrees; that is, from the time of the author of the Surya Siddhanta and Varaha, the star Chitra advanced three degrees eastward. Therefore, Brahmagupta was born 215 years after Varahamihiracharya, specifically in the Shaka year 421 approx. 499 CE, though the author's calculation here suggests a later period for Brahmagupta's activity.

It is said that in the court of Shah Naushirvan Khosrow I of Persia, there was a minister named "Buzurjmihir." Because this name bears some resemblance to the name Varahamihira, some might speculate that he was a member of Shah Naushirvan's court (who reigned from 534 CE to 590 CE). If such people were to learn the facts, their misconception would be cleared—specifically the idea that it was by this minister's order that Vishnusharma’s Panchatantra was translated into the Persian language. Furthermore, another reason is that Vishnusharma mentioned Varahamihiracharya’s name in the Panchatantra; how then could Varahamihiracharya have lived during the time of Naushirvan? The author argues against the identification of the Indian astronomer with the Persian minister based on internal literary evidence.

Varahamihiracharya, in his work Brihat Jataka, mentioned the names of many astrologers who preceded him, such as: Maya, Yavana, Manittha, Shakti, Satya, Bali, Vishnugupta, Devasvami, Siddhasena, Jivasharma, Prithuyasha, etc. Varaha also acknowledged that the Yavans Ionians, Greeks possessed special proficiency in the science of astronomy/astrology. He says:

"The Yavans are indeed foreigners, yet this science is well-established among them. Even they are honored like sages; how much more so then a twice-born Brahmin who is a knower of the celestial science?" original: "म्लेच्छा हि यवनास्तेषु सम्यक् शास्त्रमिदं स्थितम् । ऋषिवत्तेऽपि पूज्यन्ते किं पुनर्दैवविद्विजः ॥"

Among the "Mlechha" (those of foreign conduct) Yavans, there is a specialized critique and study of this science Predictive Astrology; for this reason, they are worthy of worship like Rishis (sages). If the knower of the scripture is a Brahmin, then what more need be said? Seeing this statement, it is inferred that Varaha was also acquainted with the astronomers residing in Egypt.

Before determining the time of Aryabhata, it is necessary to write something regarding the Ayanamsha The longitudinal difference between the tropical and sidereal zodiacs caused by the precession of the equinoxes. Just as our astronomers do not agree on the measurement of the year, their views on the Ayanamsha are also not uniform. The author of the Parashari...