The Wonder of Calculation (Karana Kutuhala)

...[the present] is finished, it has already passed into the past. Therefore, we proceed according to the chronological order of sacrificial time. Thus, one who knows the science of time governance—Astronomy—1 also knows the sacrificial rituals. Because it regulates time, Astronomy is considered the most supreme of sciences. Just as the crest sits upon the heads of peacocks, 2 and the jewel resides in the heads of cobras, so too does mathematical astronomy stand as the crown jewel among the auxiliary sciences of the Vedas Vedanga. In ancient times, "Mathematics" Ganita and "Astronomy" Jyotish were synonymous, but later they were divided into three branches:

1. Tantra—Gaining knowledge of and calculating the movements of planets and lunar mansions Nakshatras through mathematics.

2. Hora—This related to the casting of horoscopes. it had three sub-divisions: (a) Birth, (b) Travel, and (c) Marriage.

3. Shakha (Branch)—This was an extensive section containing details on the examination of omens, physical traits, and the foretelling of the future.

One who mastered these three pillars (Tantra-Hora-Shakha) was called a "Master of the Compendium" Samhita Paraga.

Tantra—Tantra, or Siddhanta (treatises), mainly consists of two parts: one involves the calculation of planets and the like, and the other deals with the beginning of creation, spherical geography, the construction of instruments, and the standards of time measurement. Tantra and Siddhanta cannot be kept entirely separate. The distinction between the definitions of Siddhanta, Tantra, and Karana is as follows: a work where planetary mathematics is calculated from the start of a vast cosmic cycle Kalpa or the beginning of creation is a Siddhanta; one calculated from a Great Age Mahayuga is a Tantra; and one calculated from a desired specific epoch or era is called a Karana. From the perspective of planetary mathematics alone, there is no difference between these three. The specific chapters in a Siddhanta, Tantra, or Karana text where planetary mathematics is discussed are generally as follows:

1. "The Vedas are revealed for the sake of sacrifice, and sacrifices are laid out according to the sequence of time. Therefore, he who knows this science of time-governance, Astronomy, knows the sacrifices." original Sanskrit: "vedā hi yajñārthamabhipravṛttāḥ kālānupūrvā vihitāśca yajñāḥ | tasmādidaṃ kālavidhānaśāstraṃ yo jyotiṣaṃ veda sa veda yajñān ||" Yajusha Jyotisha, Verse 3
2. "Like the crests of peacocks, like the jewels of cobras, so does mathematics stand at the head of the Vedic sciences." original Sanskrit: "yathā śikhā mayūrāṇāṃ nāgānāṃ maṇayo yathā | tadvadvedāṅgaśāstrāṇāṃ gaṇitaṃ mūrdhani sthitam ||" Yajusha Jyotisha, Verse 4

The Status of Indian Astronomy—Regarding the astronomical science of India, Western scholars like Weber, Whitney, and Thibaut 19th-century Indologists who often debated whether Indian science was borrowed from the Greeks. have cited unproven statements based on imaginary foundations. They do not realize that a massive portion of Indian Sanskrit literature has been destroyed and can no longer be traced. The same is true of Greece; after Ptolemy's "Almagest," much of Greek literature is no longer available. What remains of Indian Sanskrit literature is primarily religious rather than historical, and whatever mathematical points are found appear naturally within the sequence of presenting a subject. If certain things are missing or mentioned briefly, one should not assume those concepts did not exist or were simply followed from elsewhere.

The famous French scholar "Biot" Jean-Baptiste Biot (1774–1862), a physicist and astronomer. claims that Indians adopted the knowledge of lunar mansions Nakshatras from the Chinese, and "Whitney" supports this view. In the Chinese system of "Sieu," there were initially 24 Nakshatras which later became 28 in 1100 BCE 1. However, in our Vedic texts, there is no mention of 24 Nakshatras. In Babylon and China, the relationship between zodiac signs and Nakshatras was not tied to religious rituals, but here, even in the Vedic period, no one could perform a sacrifice or ritual without lighting the sacred fire under a specific designated Nakshatra. The names of the months—Magha, Phalguna, Chaitra, etc.—were established based on the Nakshatras themselves, and this linguistic connection is found only in the Sanskrit language, not in Greek, Latin, or Chinese. The presiding deities of the Nakshatras are Vedic; their Babylonian or Chinese names are not found. In our tradition, the names of all Nakshatras are meaningful and are connected to oral traditions. For example, Ardra means "moist"; this Nakshatra became famous by the name Ardra because when the Sun enters it, the rains begin. The name Punarvasu was given because the seeds of grain and other plants that fall into the earth sprout in this Nakshatra. In Pushya, they grow and are nourished. In Ashlesha, they grow and "embrace" gloss: wrap around one another. In Magha, the manifestation of the grain occurs in the plants. Based on all these facts, how can it be said that India took the knowledge of Nakshatras from others? The Indian calculation of Nakshatras...

1. Gundris, pages 6-11.

2. Thibaut Gundris, page 13.