From Arsha to Yavan to Quintessence (of astrology)

[Guest guest]

Dear S-ji

 

These then are some of the articles you have published. Share with

the forum some of your other publihed work. Pls move on to more

ready-to-use material.

I have a suggestion (more a request actually). Could you pls take

the pains of sampling here portions the precious Horas you have,

maybe step by step or at random depending on areas wanting in

consensus.

 

RK

 

, " Sreenadh "

<sreesog wrote:

>

> Dear All,

> Given below is an article on Yavana school of astrology.

>

> ==============================================================

> Yavana School of Astrology

> ==========================

> There is a controversy about the meaning of the word Yavana.

Modern

> historians almost always erroneously take `Yavana' to mean

`Greek'.

> Of course Greeks where called Yavana by Indians for a long time,

and

> so it is not completely wrong to take `Yavana' to mean `Greek' if

one

> is talking about the a limited historic period, i.e. Period after

the

> invasion of Alexander. But when we look at the literature, we see

> that the word Yavana is used to indicate Pharsi or Persian in

several

> instances. The popular definition of this word, supported by

classics

> is that, any person who is not a native of India and does follow

our

> custom and tradition is called Yavana. So the point to be kept in

> mind is that-

> • The `Yavana' has some link outside India

> • Their tradition and system is slightly different than ours.

> • The heir (sons and daughters) and successors of a `Yavana'

> (Guru-sishya paramapara) would be termed `Yavana'.

> The 3rd point is often ignored by even the learned. It essentially

> means that at times even people who were and born and lived in

India,

> and even followed the Indian custom and tradition where

> termed `Yavana' only because, they were the descendents of

Yavana.

> Before the arrival of Greeks it was Persian peoples who were known

by

> the word `Yavana', and even before that? Yes, at that time it

could

> mean even people from `Afghanistan', `China', or `Egypt', i.e. any

> where outside India or their descendants or followers (students).

> Yavaneswara

> ----------------

> Someone in ancient past brought some new knowledge of astrology to

> India. It was even before the period of Parasara (1400 BC), and

this

> great scholar gets mentioned by Parasara, Narada, Kasyapa and many

> more. He must have been an astonishing store house of knowledge,

and

> well versed in Sanskrit, even the Rishis considered him as an

Rishi.

> His great knowledge, made Rishi Garga speak out-

> Mlescha hi yavanasteshu samyak sastramidam stitam

> Rishivattepi pujyante kim puna daiva vad dwija

> Meaning, even though a person outside from, by native place or

> tradition followed, the knowledge of astrology is well settled and

> find comfort in `Yavana' (Yavana Kula). Because of this they are

> worshiped like Rishis. Then why not if a person who took second

birth

> by devoting himself to knowledge and is learning astrology?

> We should remember that Garga was the head guru (like chancellor

of a

> university) of the Garga kula. Many great learning centers like

> Vasishta Kula, Kousika kula, Atri Kula, Mareechi Kula, Angira

Kula,

> Bhrigu Kula, Chyvana Kula, Vyasa Kula etc existed at that period –

 

> and the knowledge preserved was so vast. Garga know about this

all,

> and was part of this great tradition. Even then he felt astonished

by

> the astrological knowledge preserved and propagated by another

such

> learning center – Yavana Kula. This is wonderful! We could see

that

> later acharyas started mentioning the name of Yavanewara,

including

> him in the list of 18 great gurus of astrology. Narada, Kasyapa,

> Parasara – no body failed to mention his name! How great an

influence

> he and his school of thought would have been to Indian

astrology?!!

> Yes, this `Yavaneswara' is a great Rishi, vast treasure house of

> knowledge, worshiped Surya, had some connections outside India,

was

> well-versed in Sanskrit, was the head guru of Yavana Kula, and

lived

> before BC 1400. He very much appreciated the astrological

tradition

> and knowledge of India, adopted many concepts from India streams

and

> tried to modify them. This too made the Indian scholars give

special

> attention towards him. This is the knowledge we have about his

> mountainous individuality – he stands tall and unique even among

the

> peaks!

> Yavanewara Hora is the text known by his name. His successors

(sishya

> parampara) like Sphujidwaja, Meena raja amply quotes from this

text.

> Later day scholars like Mihira too quotes him and mentions the

> opinions by him. Yavanswara says that he got this knowledge of

> astrology from Brahma (Prajapati), which indicates that he was a

> follower of Indian tradition itself, but with somewhat slight

> difference.

> Some problems surfacing

> -------------------------------

> If even Garga felt astonished by this knowledge stream how Mihira

can

> not? But due to these mutual appreciation (between Arsha and

Yavana

> schools of astrology) and scholarly interaction many problems

> surfaced. They are –

> • Ancient Indian Rishi Kulas appreciated the knowledge of

> Yavana school, but never mixed it with there own system.

> • Even Garga was not an exception to this even though he

> himself was somewhat outside the Arsha or Sanatana stream due to

the

> fact that he was a follower of Jain philosophy (originated by

> Rishabha Deva). But we should also remember that at that time

Jain

> hadn't become a separate religion, but was part of the Vedic

stream.

> • Just contrary to this, Yavaneswara tried to lean all the

> Indian knowledge as well, modified it applying logic, and taught

them

> as well in his guru kula. This is evident from the example of

Nabhasa

> yogas. Nabhasa Yogas are just mentioned in Arha (Sanatana) Rishi

> horas like Skanda hora, Brihal prajaptyam etc, but Yavaneswara

took

> this concept and made the number of named Nabhasa Yogas 1800 by

> applying permutation combination!!!!! The concept of Nabhasa yogas

> were not totally in line with the foundations of ancient Indian

> astrology, that is why the Indian Rishis didn't gave much

importance

> to them. Yavanewara never bothered about it, took this concept,

and

> applied maths to it! The result was 1800 Nabhasa yogas, out of

which

> hundreds of them were astronomical impossibilities!! Here we see

the

> type of interaction and the reason for respect or disrespect.

> • In the Arsha system of Parasara started mixing the concepts

> of Yavana, and many of his new concepts as well. Due to this he

was

> also not considered as a true follower of Arsha stream, and was

even

> called Yavana at times, even though he was not Yavana. What ever

that

> be, Parasara is also honored among the 18 great gurus of

Astrology.

> We should remember that, Yavana, Romaka, Poulisa, Lomasa &

Parasara

> schools may not be part of the true (Arsha/Sanatana) stream of

> astrology. But there was a lot of give and take, and they where

also

> honored among the 18 like the Rishis of Arsha stream – Brahma,

> Vasishta, Kousika, Atri, Manu, Mareechi, Angira, Vyasa, Sounaka,

> Kasyapa, Chyevava, Garga, Brihaspati etc. We should remember the

> other reputed scholars like – Bhrigu (Sukra), Agastya, Suka, Soma,

> Skanda, Daksha, Surya etc as well. May be this classification

itself

> is not that correct, since every Rishi Kula may have their

uniqueness

> in the system of astrology taught and followed. [We shouldn't

forget

> the fact that different teachers teach even the same subject

> differently, and therefore slight differences are always a

> possibility]

> • Unlike the ancient Rishis, Mihira also started mixing Arsha

> School of astrology with thoughts and ideas borrowed from Yavana

> School, even though he never introduced hundreds of new ideas like

> Parasara. Even though Mihira was a great teacher this has became a

> big cause for confusion in later years. Parasara was a Rishi,

Mihira

> a scholar and there is no comparison, but both of them borrowed

ideas

> from Yavana school and thus the original school and system fell

back

> to the back side of memory, and logic and foundations an almost

lost

> memory.

>

> This is the brief history of astrology. A problem originated due

to

> the presence of Yavana school of astrology, but for sure not

caused

> by it, as much as the later great scholars like Parasara and

Mihira.

> If Parasara and Mihira the great teachers of Indian astrology

deserve

> better blame, then how can we blame Yavana school of astrology and

> the great Yavaneswara who peaks high among many?! This school of

> astrology was successful in preserving its teachings and books

while

> the Arsha school failed to do so!! Shouldn't we appreciate them,

and

> learn from them? They adopted even the Arsha (astrological) ideas

as

> well and still preserves many and now without their minor help we

can

> not go back and retrieve our originals!!! Apart from this what a

> great system it in itself is!!

> [This essay is becoming too long and so I would just brief about

the

> other gurus of this stream and conclude]

> Sphujidhwaja

> ----------------

> He was an Indian king who was well versed in Sanskrit, Vedic

> philosophy and astrology. But he was a follower of Yavana school

of

> astrology and considers Yavaneswara as guru. A great text with the

> name Sphujidhwaja Hora is available – and it is very good in

> understanding the contributions of Yavana school.

> Meenaraja

> -------------

> He too was an Indian king, well versed in Sanskrit, and a

> follower of Yavana school of astrology. A great text with the name

> Meenaraja Hora (Vridha Yavana Hora) is available. It too is a very

> good text.

> Maya

> ------

> Many are confused about whether to call Maya `Yavana' or

not.

> He is not the student of `Yavaneswara' but `Surya'. As we know

`Surya

> Kula' was another great teaching center for astrology. Maya

> modified/wrote `Surya Sidhanta', which later became the backbone

of

> Arsha school of astrology. So even if Maya is `Yavana', he is

Yavana

> of a different mould and is not part of the Yavana school of

> astrology which started from `Yavaneswara'. He was a great

architect

> as well. Surya Sidhanta, Maya Hora, Maya Matam(Vastu) etc are some

of

> the texts by him. He was true acharya with mathematical par

> excellence, and may be only Aryabhata I of later years have any

> comparison to him. Maya is not part of this school of astrology

> taught by `Yavaneswara'.

> Manindha

> ------------

> Manindha Hora is the text by him. Mihira mentions and quotes

> form this text and mention the name of Manindha with respect.

Manidha

> Hora is not available today.

>

> Srutakeerti

> ---------------

> Srutakeerti was a hindu king, but he followed Yavana stream

> of astrology. Srutakeerti Hora is the text by him. Mihira

mentions

> and quotes form this text and mention the name of Sruitakeerti

with

> respect. Srutakeerti Hora is not available today.

> Other gurus

> --------------

> There might have been many other gurus in this school of

> thought but the names of many are not popular may be due to the

all

> covering presence of Sphujidhwaja and Meenaraja. Later people

started

> calling Sphujidhwaja by the name `Yavana'and Meenaraja by the

> name `Vridha Yavana'. Only a few scholars were good enough to come

> out of this shade. One of them is Haraji.

> Haraji

> -------

> He is the author of Manasagari Jataka padhati. He is a

> Gujarat Brahmin born of `Sandilya gotra'. But he too followed the

> Yavana system of astrology. Therefore Manasagari Jataka padhati

> should be considered as one of the last text in Yavana school of

> astrology.

> The Yavana school of astrology is one of the well reputed

and

> respects schools of ancient Indian astrology, like the Arsha

school &

> Jain school of ancient Indian astrology. The now extinct

prediction

> schemes of Vedic school and Tantric school also needs mention,

from

> which everything seems to have originated. (Call them Vedic and

Non-

> Vedic or Nigama and Agama origin of everything if you want).

> ===============================================================

>

> In this article I had tried to give a brief idea about the

Yavana

> school of astrology and its books and masters, as far as I know.

> History is not always simple – it always hides something far

beneath

> hiding even the sources for retrieving them. I hope this article

may

> help you in getting a glimpse of the almost forgotten history of

> Yavana school of astrology.

> Love,

> Sreenadh

>

[Guest guest]

Dear RK ji, I have only the samples collected from every where, and note many of those horas. Yes, for sure we can share those samples. I will start a try in some of the coming mails. P.S.: I am trying to make things systematic. That is - First on schools - Then we would have an idea about the depths we are looking to. Then about the methods (of interpretation) - Let us make them systematic too. Yes, some where in between, the point put forward by you is also very important - so I will give it prime importance too. ==> These then are some of the articles you have published. Share with the forum some of your other publihed work. <== No! These are articles now written for this forum alone - They are now published articles.

Most of my published works (not much - only 4 books) are in malayalam - and would be no use to you. Trying to transilate them is a herculian task - and who is going to publish them? They are already born children - and in mean time more children take birth as well ! What should I do??!!!!! Love, Sreenadh arkaydash <arkaydash wrote: Dear S-jiThese then are some of the articles you have published. Share with the forum some of your other publihed work. Pls move on to more ready-to-use material. I have a suggestion (more a request actually). Could you pls take the pains of sampling here portions the precious Horas you have, maybe step by step or at random depending on areas wanting in consensus.RK ,

"Sreenadh" <sreesog wrote:>> Dear All,> Given below is an article on Yavana school of astrology.> > ==============================================================> Yavana School of Astrology> ==========================> There is a controversy about the meaning of the word Yavana. Modern > historians almost always erroneously take `Yavana' to mean `Greek'. > Of course Greeks where called Yavana by Indians for a long time, and > so it is not completely wrong to take `Yavana' to mean `Greek' if one > is talking about the a limited historic period, i.e. Period after the > invasion of Alexander. But when we look at the literature, we see > that the word Yavana is used to indicate Pharsi or Persian in several > instances. The popular definition of this word, supported by classics > is that, any person who is not a native

of India and does follow our > custom and tradition is called Yavana. So the point to be kept in > mind is that-> • The `Yavana' has some link outside India> • Their tradition and system is slightly different than ours.> • The heir (sons and daughters) and successors of a `Yavana' > (Guru-sishya paramapara) would be termed `Yavana'.> The 3rd point is often ignored by even the learned. It essentially > means that at times even people who were and born and lived in India, > and even followed the Indian custom and tradition where > termed `Yavana' only because, they were the descendents of Yavana. > Before the arrival of Greeks it was Persian peoples who were known by > the word `Yavana', and even before that? Yes, at that time it could > mean even people from

`Afghanistan', `China', or `Egypt', i.e. any > where outside India or their descendants or followers (students).> Yavaneswara> ----------------> Someone in ancient past brought some new knowledge of astrology to > India. It was even before the period of Parasara (1400 BC), and this > great scholar gets mentioned by Parasara, Narada, Kasyapa and many > more. He must have been an astonishing store house of knowledge, and > well versed in Sanskrit, even the Rishis considered him as an Rishi. > His great knowledge, made Rishi Garga speak out-> Mlescha hi yavanasteshu samyak sastramidam stitam> Rishivattepi pujyante kim puna daiva vad dwija> Meaning, even though a person outside from, by native place or > tradition followed, the knowledge of astrology is well settled and > find comfort in `Yavana' (Yavana Kula). Because of this they are > worshiped like Rishis.

Then why not if a person who took second birth > by devoting himself to knowledge and is learning astrology?> We should remember that Garga was the head guru (like chancellor of a > university) of the Garga kula. Many great learning centers like > Vasishta Kula, Kousika kula, Atri Kula, Mareechi Kula, Angira Kula, > Bhrigu Kula, Chyvana Kula, Vyasa Kula etc existed at that period –> and the knowledge preserved was so vast. Garga know about this all, > and was part of this great tradition. Even then he felt astonished by > the astrological knowledge preserved and propagated by another such > learning center – Yavana Kula. This is wonderful! We could see that > later acharyas started mentioning the name of Yavanewara, including > him in the list of 18 great gurus of astrology. Narada, Kasyapa, > Parasara – no body failed to mention his name! How great

an influence > he and his school of thought would have been to Indian astrology?!! > Yes, this `Yavaneswara' is a great Rishi, vast treasure house of > knowledge, worshiped Surya, had some connections outside India, was > well-versed in Sanskrit, was the head guru of Yavana Kula, and lived > before BC 1400. He very much appreciated the astrological tradition > and knowledge of India, adopted many concepts from India streams and > tried to modify them. This too made the Indian scholars give special > attention towards him. This is the knowledge we have about his > mountainous individuality – he stands tall and unique even among the > peaks! > Yavanewara Hora is the text known by his name. His successors (sishya > parampara) like Sphujidwaja, Meena raja amply quotes from this text. > Later day scholars like Mihira too quotes him and mentions the

> opinions by him. Yavanswara says that he got this knowledge of > astrology from Brahma (Prajapati), which indicates that he was a > follower of Indian tradition itself, but with somewhat slight > difference.> Some problems surfacing> -------------------------------> If even Garga felt astonished by this knowledge stream how Mihira can > not? But due to these mutual appreciation (between Arsha and Yavana > schools of astrology) and scholarly interaction many problems > surfaced. They are – > • Ancient Indian Rishi Kulas appreciated the knowledge of > Yavana school, but never mixed it with there own system.> • Even Garga was not an exception to this even though he > himself was somewhat outside the Arsha or Sanatana stream due to the > fact that he was a follower of Jain philosophy (originated by

> Rishabha Deva). But we should also remember that at that time Jain > hadn't become a separate religion, but was part of the Vedic stream.> • Just contrary to this, Yavaneswara tried to lean all the > Indian knowledge as well, modified it applying logic, and taught them > as well in his guru kula. This is evident from the example of Nabhasa > yogas. Nabhasa Yogas are just mentioned in Arha (Sanatana) Rishi > horas like Skanda hora, Brihal prajaptyam etc, but Yavaneswara took > this concept and made the number of named Nabhasa Yogas 1800 by > applying permutation combination!!!!! The concept of Nabhasa yogas > were not totally in line with the foundations of ancient Indian > astrology, that is why the Indian Rishis didn't gave much importance > to them. Yavanewara never bothered about it, took this concept, and > applied

maths to it! The result was 1800 Nabhasa yogas, out of which > hundreds of them were astronomical impossibilities!! Here we see the > type of interaction and the reason for respect or disrespect.> • In the Arsha system of Parasara started mixing the concepts > of Yavana, and many of his new concepts as well. Due to this he was > also not considered as a true follower of Arsha stream, and was even > called Yavana at times, even though he was not Yavana. What ever that > be, Parasara is also honored among the 18 great gurus of Astrology. > We should remember that, Yavana, Romaka, Poulisa, Lomasa & Parasara > schools may not be part of the true (Arsha/Sanatana) stream of > astrology. But there was a lot of give and take, and they where also > honored among the 18 like the Rishis of Arsha stream – Brahma, > Vasishta, Kousika,

Atri, Manu, Mareechi, Angira, Vyasa, Sounaka, > Kasyapa, Chyevava, Garga, Brihaspati etc. We should remember the > other reputed scholars like – Bhrigu (Sukra), Agastya, Suka, Soma, > Skanda, Daksha, Surya etc as well. May be this classification itself > is not that correct, since every Rishi Kula may have their uniqueness > in the system of astrology taught and followed. [We shouldn't forget > the fact that different teachers teach even the same subject > differently, and therefore slight differences are always a > possibility]> • Unlike the ancient Rishis, Mihira also started mixing Arsha > School of astrology with thoughts and ideas borrowed from Yavana > School, even though he never introduced hundreds of new ideas like > Parasara. Even though Mihira was a great teacher this has became a > big cause for confusion in later years. Parasara

was a Rishi, Mihira > a scholar and there is no comparison, but both of them borrowed ideas > from Yavana school and thus the original school and system fell back > to the back side of memory, and logic and foundations an almost lost > memory.> > This is the brief history of astrology. A problem originated due to > the presence of Yavana school of astrology, but for sure not caused > by it, as much as the later great scholars like Parasara and Mihira. > If Parasara and Mihira the great teachers of Indian astrology deserve > better blame, then how can we blame Yavana school of astrology and > the great Yavaneswara who peaks high among many?! This school of > astrology was successful in preserving its teachings and books while > the Arsha school failed to do so!! Shouldn't we appreciate them, and > learn from them? They adopted even the

Arsha (astrological) ideas as > well and still preserves many and now without their minor help we can > not go back and retrieve our originals!!! Apart from this what a > great system it in itself is!!> [This essay is becoming too long and so I would just brief about the > other gurus of this stream and conclude]> Sphujidhwaja> ----------------> He was an Indian king who was well versed in Sanskrit, Vedic > philosophy and astrology. But he was a follower of Yavana school of > astrology and considers Yavaneswara as guru. A great text with the > name Sphujidhwaja Hora is available – and it is very good in > understanding the contributions of Yavana school.> Meenaraja> -------------> He too was an Indian king, well versed in Sanskrit, and a > follower of Yavana school of astrology. A great

text with the name > Meenaraja Hora (Vridha Yavana Hora) is available. It too is a very > good text.> Maya> ------> Many are confused about whether to call Maya `Yavana' or not. > He is not the student of `Yavaneswara' but `Surya'. As we know `Surya > Kula' was another great teaching center for astrology. Maya > modified/wrote `Surya Sidhanta', which later became the backbone of > Arsha school of astrology. So even if Maya is `Yavana', he is Yavana > of a different mould and is not part of the Yavana school of > astrology which started from `Yavaneswara'. He was a great architect > as well. Surya Sidhanta, Maya Hora, Maya Matam(Vastu) etc are some of > the texts by him. He was true acharya with mathematical par > excellence, and may be only Aryabhata I of later years have any > comparison to him. Maya is not part of

this school of astrology > taught by `Yavaneswara'.> Manindha> ------------> Manindha Hora is the text by him. Mihira mentions and quotes > form this text and mention the name of Manindha with respect. Manidha > Hora is not available today.> > Srutakeerti> ---------------> Srutakeerti was a hindu king, but he followed Yavana stream > of astrology. Srutakeerti Hora is the text by him. Mihira mentions > and quotes form this text and mention the name of Sruitakeerti with > respect. Srutakeerti Hora is not available today.> Other gurus> --------------> There might have been many other gurus in this school of > thought but the names of many are not popular may be due to the all > covering presence of Sphujidhwaja and Meenaraja.

Later people started > calling Sphujidhwaja by the name `Yavana'and Meenaraja by the > name `Vridha Yavana'. Only a few scholars were good enough to come > out of this shade. One of them is Haraji.> Haraji> -------> He is the author of Manasagari Jataka padhati. He is a > Gujarat Brahmin born of `Sandilya gotra'. But he too followed the > Yavana system of astrology. Therefore Manasagari Jataka padhati > should be considered as one of the last text in Yavana school of > astrology. > The Yavana school of astrology is one of the well reputed and > respects schools of ancient Indian astrology, like the Arsha school & > Jain school of ancient Indian astrology. The now extinct prediction > schemes of Vedic school and Tantric school also needs mention, from > which

everything seems to have originated. (Call them Vedic and Non-> Vedic or Nigama and Agama origin of everything if you want). > ===============================================================> > In this article I had tried to give a brief idea about the Yavana > school of astrology and its books and masters, as far as I know. > History is not always simple – it always hides something far beneath > hiding even the sources for retrieving them. I hope this article may > help you in getting a glimpse of the almost forgotten history of > Yavana school of astrology.> Love,> Sreenadh>

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