Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series Office

original: "Śrīḥ". This is a traditional invocation to the goddess of fortune or a general symbol of divine blessing at the start of a Sanskrit text.

Preface

original: "Prākśabdāḥ", literally "Preliminary Words".

I have carefully reviewed the Manual of Astronomical Calculation original: "Karanakutūhalam" composed by the venerable teacher Bhaskara. Truly, Bhaskara The name "Bhaskara" means "The Sun-maker". shines like the sun itself in the fields of mathematics and Jyotish The traditional Indian science of astronomy and astrology.. In this text as well, his profound scholarship and matchless genius are clearly visible. Originally, this work consists of ten chapters. However, the eleventh chapter appears to be an interpolation A later addition not written by the original author., as it contains a different subject matter which is discussed here in an incomplete and inconsistent manner. If this chapter had been intended by Bhaskara himself, then surely there would be a comprehensive and enlightening analysis of the Nīrada Likely referring to cloud-theory or meteorology, a topic sometimes appended to astronomical texts. provided here.

Furthermore, another reason for this conclusion is that everywhere else, Bhaskara concludes his chapters with the verse: "Thus, in the Kutūhala, the planetary manual spoken by Bhaskara..." and so on. But in this "Cloud Chapter" original: "Nīradādhyāya", this pattern is absent. Descriptions of the author’s lineage original: "vaṃśavarṇanam" typically occur only at the end of a work. Here, too, the lineage description is found at the end of the tenth chapter. It does not seem appropriate for another chapter of technical discussion to follow after the lineage has been given. Therefore, the view held by scholars—that this is an interpolated chapter—is entirely correct.

Above this text exists a highly authoritative Sanskrit commentary by Sumatiharsha entitled "Moonlight for the Lotus of Astronomers" original: "Gaṇakakumudakaumudī", which unravels the "hidden knots" or difficult passages of the work, providing great delight to its readers.

The inclusion of Sumatiharsha’s commentary alongside this edition enhances the prestige of the work. The editor, Dr. Satyendra Mishra, has edited this text with great effort and, for the convenience of readers, has provided a Hindi translation, making the knowledge within this volume easily accessible to the general public of astrologers and scholars. The unique importance of this text is still recognized today by the makers of Panchangas Traditional lunar-solar calendars.. Indeed, some calendars are still constructed specifically using the methods of the Karanakutūhalam. We hope that people will continue to be benefited by the publication of this work.