The Jewel of Auspicious Moments

The History of Muhurta Texts

A brief overview regarding the history of Muhurta Muhurta refers to 'Electional Astrology,' the branch of Vedic astrology used to determine the most auspicious time to begin an activity texts is presented here. As previously stated, in ancient times, Muhurta was considered a part of the Samhita Samhita: the branch of astrology dealing with collective phenomena like omens, weather, and kingdom-wide events category. When considering when Muhurta attained its status as an independent branch, the consensus is that it occurred only after the time of the teacher Varahamihira. After Varahamihira’s work, the Brihat Samhita, no other comprehensive Samhita text of that caliber is found. It is reasoned that from this point forward, Muhurta gained prominence among Samhita topics, and the tradition of composing dedicated Muhurta texts began. Among the available Muhurta works, the Ratnakosha by Lalla is considered by experts in the field to be the very first dedicated Muhurta text. Historians are of the opinion that Lalla flourished in the 6th century CE. Based on this view, they determine the starting period of Muhurta literature to be the 6th century CE. Over time, many books on the subject of Muhurta appeared. Even within these texts, highly practical and useful ideas found a place, leading to the beginning of a tradition of composing shorter and more concise manuals.

Some Famous Muhurta Texts and Their Authors

As time passed, the popularity of Muhurta texts expanded greatly. In the literature of Jyotisha Jyotisha: the traditional Indian system of astronomy and astrology, many Muhurta works are available. Here, a brief introduction to some famous Muhurta texts is presented.

Muhurta: Auspicious timing; Varahamihira: A 6th-century polymath; Brihat Samhita: The Great Compilation; Lalla: An early astronomer; Ratnakosha: The Jewel-Treasury; Jyotisha: Astrology/Astronomy; Shaka-varsha: The Shaka calendar year; Rajamartanda: The Royal Sun; Ballalasena: A 12th-century King of Bengal; Vyavaharapradipa: The Lamp of Daily Practice; Jyotirvidabharanam: The Ornament of the Astrologer