The Great Compilation

Introduction

For example,—“From the beginning of Dhanishta to the middle of Paushna original: "Paushna" refers to the nakshatra Revati is the cool season (Shishir). From the middle of Paushna to the end of Rohini is spring (Vasanta). From the beginning of Saumya original: "Saumya" refers to Mrigashira to the middle of Ashlesha is summer (Grishma). From the middle of Ashlesha to the end of Hasta is the rainy season (Pravrit/Varsha). From the beginning of Chitra to the middle of Jyeshtha is autumn (Sharad). From the middle of Jyeshtha to the end of Shravana is the winter season (Hemanta).”

From the beginning of Dhanishta to the first half of Revati is the cool season. From the remaining half of Revati to the end of Rohini is the springtime. From the beginning of Mrigashira to the first half of Ashlesha is the summer season. From the remaining half of Ashlesha to the end of Hasta is the rainy season. From the beginning of Chitra to the first half of Jyeshtha is the autumn season. From the remaining half of Jyeshtha to the end of Shravana is the winter season.

The zodiac Rashichakra is divided into twenty-seven parts. In each part resides one Constellation (Nakshtra); therefore, the span of each constellation occupies 13 degrees and 20 minutes of the zodiac. In the spring season, the point in the zodiac where the Sun is positioned when day and night are equal the vernal equinox is considered the beginning of the sign of Aries (Mesha). At that location resides the junction star Yogatara Revati of our Indian astronomy and Piscium original: "Piscum"; likely Zeta Piscium of Western astronomy. According to the Surya Siddhanta A foundational Sanskrit text on astronomy, the junction star Revati is located at 359 degrees and 50 minutes of the zodiac. However, according to the view of Brahmagupta and others, Revati resides at 360 degrees—that is, at the very beginning of the zodiac. The coordinates (polar longitudes and latitudes) of the constellations as determined by astronomers will be published in their proper places.

By looking at the list written below, it will become clear which positions of the zodiac were occupied by all the seasons as determined by Parashara:

In the time of Varahamihira A 6th-century Indian astronomer, all seasons began at the start of the zodiac signs; therefore, in his time, the cool season began when the zodiac reached 270 degrees. This means that from the time of the author of the Parashara Samhita to the time of Varaha, the solstice Ayana had advanced by (293° 20' - 270°) = 23 degrees and 20 minutes. This implies that the seasonal changes occurring in the era of the Samhita author were shifting 23° 20' earlier by Varaha's time. In English, this motion is called the Precession of the Equinoxes original: "advance of the equinoctial point or ecliptic intersection to the east". According to Western mathematical theory, the annual rate of the precession is 50.1 seconds; therefore, it takes 1676 years for a shift of 23° 20'. For this reason, according to Western mathematics, a difference of this many years is seen between the two astronomers. Once the era of Varahamihiracharya is firmly established, the time in which Parashara lived can be known.

Now it must be observed how many degrees the solstice has advanced eastward from the time of Varahamihiracharya to the present day. From examining the almanacs Panjikas of Bengal, it is known that in the Shaka era—