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Introduction |

According to the opinion of some astronomers, the Ayanamsha The longitudinal difference between the tropical and sidereal zodiacs, caused by the precession of the equinoxes began in the year 444 of the Shaka era. These astronomers believe that the equinox moves forward by one degree every 60 years. Their formula is as follows:

original: "शको वेदाब्धिवेदोनः षष्टिभक्तोऽयनांशकः । देयास्ते तु रवौ स्पष्टे चललग्नादिसिद्धये ॥"
Subtract 444 from the Shaka year and divide by 60 to obtain the precession (Ayanamsha). By adding this to the sidereal Sun, the tropical Sun's ascensional difference and the ascendant (Lagna) can be determined.

It is estimated that later astronomers derived this erroneous opinion from Bhaskaracharya’s Karanakutuhala. The Karanakutuhala was written in 1105 Shaka, and in it, eleven (11) degrees of precession are recorded. Therefore, according to the ratio of one degree every 60 years, 11 degrees would equal 660 years. Later astronomers subtracted 660 from the Shaka year 1105 to find the "start" of the precession. However, we do not consider Bhaskaracharya’s opinion to be accurate. Bhaskara wrote:

original: "ब्रह्मगुप्तादिभिः स्वल्पान्तरत्वान्न कृतः स्फुटः । स्थित्यर्द्धपरिलेखादौ गणितागत एव हि ॥ नक्षत्राणां स्फुटा एव स्थिरत्वात् पठिताः शराः । दृक्कर्मणायनेनैषां संस्कृताश्च तथा ध्रुवाः ।"
Because the precession was very slight, astronomers like Brahmagupta did not calculate the Sphuta-shara True celestial latitude! In the Sthityardha Half-duration of an eclipse and Parilekha Graphical representation or projection of an eclipse, the true values are found through calculation. Since the stars remain fixed (they do not move), only the true latitudes of the stars are recited; similarly, the true polar longitudes of the stars, corrected by Drik-karma Reduction to observation/visibility calculation and Ayana (Declination), are also recited.

Therefore, it appears that in Bhaskara’s Drik-karma (Observation) Original text spells it 'Obsaervtion' results, there may have been an error of 1 or 2 degrees. Many astronomers existed before Bhaskara. The dates of several astronomers, as told to Mr. Hunter by the scholars of Ujjain, are written below.

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• This person was born in this Shaka year. Evidence of this is found by looking at the commentary on the Brihat Samhita. See the end of the commentary book. For example: "On the second day of the dark fortnight of Phalguna, on a Thursday, in the Shaka year measured by eight, eight, and eight (888), this explanation was completed by me." The quote refers to the completion of a commentary, likely by Utpala, though the text links it to the timeline of Varahamihira.