Guest guest Posted October 12, 2008 Report Share Posted October 12, 2008 Dear Sreenadh ji, This is an excellent piece of information and indeed thought-provoking. Thanks for always sharing such interesting and rare knowledge. Regards Neelam 2008/10/12 Sreenadh <sreesog > *Bhavishya Purana on Varaha Mihira* > > *- Written by Sreenadh OG* > > I came across a unique quote present in Bhavishya Purana, which states that > Mihira of Ujjain came to Lanka to learn astrology. The quote is as follows – > > Varahamihiracharyo jyotiHsastra pravartakaH > > Lankamagatya tatraiva jyotiHsastramadheetavan > > Jatakam phalitam chaiva mookaprasna tathaditaH > > Mleschair vinasitam yattu vedanga jyotisham gati > > Punarudharitam tena tridha bhootam sanatanam > > (Bhavishya Purana, Chaturtha Khanda, Ashtama Khanda) > > [Varaha Mihira, the propagator of astrological knowledge, came to Lanka and > learned astrology from here. He learned – Jataka (Natal astrology), Phalitam > (predictive astrology in general such as Mundane astrology etc), and Mooka > Prashna (Silent question system that is part of Horory astrology). He > revived the Vedic astrology having 3 major branches that got destroyed by > Non-vedic people] > > I just got this quote as quoted in a book and is yet to verify > the context of the above quote. The statement `Varahamihira came here in > Lanka to learn astrology' makes us feel that the above lines were either – > > · Written in Lanka OR > > · Written as stated by some one of Lanka > > Anyway that is another subject. The following points stated by the above > quote should be noted – > > · Varaha Mihira learned astrology from Lanka > > · Vedanga Jyotisha had numerous branches such as – Jyotisha, > Phalita, Mooka Prashna etc > > · Vedic astrology was destroyed by Mlecchas (Non-Vedic people). But > later Mihira revived, this branch of astrology. [This reference points to > the revival of Tropical Stellar Astrology by Mihira. It seems that Mihira > was revered by both Agama and Nigama people. Mihira accepted, adopted, and > revived not only Nigama (Vedic) astrology, but also Agama (non-vedic) > astrology. > > > > It is fun to note that there is one more Purana viz – Samba Purana which > mentions Varaha Mihira. Samba Purana mentions Brihat Samhita while > discussing the construction of idols of Surya, Vishnu etc. Some scholars > suggest 7th or 8th century period as the period of origin of these two > Puranas viz – Bhavishya Purana and Samba Purana. This quote also points to > the popularity Mihira gained in India within two centuries of his lifetime. > > Everything seems fun and natural except the undigested statement `Mihira > came to Lanka and learned astrology from there'. Did it really happen? It is > certainly true that in North India astrology got almost totally destroyed > and become a neglected subject, after the advent of Buddhits and Vedic > Vaishnava Aryans. The popularity of Vedic religion and Buddhism was a death > blow to astrology in North India. The credit for presence of this ancient > Agama sasta goes to all the Agama people viz – Saiva Agama, Naga Agama, > Tantra Agama and Jain Agama people. Agama people, the indigenous culture > and people of India from Sindhu-Sarasvati period onwards were enjoying > excellent culture and knowledge. Then came the Vedic religion along with the > Aryan Brahmanic Invasion. After the spreading Vedic religion first (BC 1400 > – BC 500), then Buddhism (BC 500 – AD 200), and then again the counter > spread of Vedic religion (AD 200 – AD 500), very little astrology was spared > in the North. What ever little Agama knowledge escaped the destruction was > available only in the South and Lanka (as preserved by the original native > Agama people such as Saivaits, Nagas, Tantrics and Jains running away to the > south). It is from here that the tide of astrological revival started again > – > > · from Mihira (who learned from Lanka) > > · from Aryabhata (the jain who lived in Kerala) > > · Vararuchi (the out cast Brahman who migrated to Kerala, and > gained astrological knowledge from there. He was the father of Haridatta, > the originator of Parahita system of astronomical calculation. Haridatta was > popular as a near lunatic genius in the name Naranattu Bhrantan) > > > > Again came the next tide of destruction of non-vedic knowledge, this time > form the south itself, from Kerala, as Sri Sankaracharya! Again it was Dark > Age for astrology but revival period for Vedic knowledge, that lasted from 8 > th century AD to 14th century AD. Then again came the revival as > contributions of Nrisimha Daivajna's family from Maharashtra (which > contributed Nrishimha, Kamala kara bhatta and numerous other scholars, more > than 15 popular scholars in number) in North; Edakkattu Nambutiri (author of > Prasnamarga), Talakkulattu Govinda Bhattatiri (Author of Dasadhyayi) and > numerous others from South. The light produced by some excellent books such > as Saravali (from AP in10th century) and Bhattolpala's commentary on > Varaha Mihiras works (from Kashmir in 10th century) etc stands apart from > the main stream and are away form this general trend. > > Among these two major destructions and two major revivals, Mihira's revival > after the first destructive phase stands high. Like an one man army, he > revived both Nirayana Agama astrology (Non-Vedic stream; `Jyotisham Agama > sastram' he says) and Tropical Nigama astrology (Vedic stream; Vedanga > Jyotisha) – and mixed them both. Mixing of Sign based system of Nirayana > astrology and Nakshatra based system of stellar tropical astrology had both > positive and negative results. Any way that is not our point of discussion. > The point to remember is – > > · Mihira revived Sign based Nirayana Agama astrology having three > branches viz – Siddhanta, Samhita, Hora > > · Mihira revived Nakshatra based Tropical Nigama Astrology having > numerous branches viz – Jataka, Phalita, Mooka Prashna etc > > > > `Learning from Lanka' might have helped him a lot in implementing this > Herculean task almost all alone. It does seem that the whole contribution of > this great scholar especially to Vedic Stellar Astrology did not survive. > > *Note:* This article tries to provide an excellent pointer for anyone who > is interested to ponder over. > > *- 0 -* > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 12, 2008 Report Share Posted October 12, 2008 Hare rama krishna dear sreenadh ji many times in astronomical works frm south Lanka is refered as a niraksha desa means need not b even a geographical entity and if 4th/5th century lanka i mean srilanka with advent of budhism already i dont know realy it has offered this study . where as kerala is highest possible place even refred as patala loka as deep in south ,also asura country and non vedic ppl ( remebr kerala vedagamas still stand diffrnt than northern systems even poojas and yajnas too ) ,so tamilandu and kerala are possible places if varhamihira studied it ( ancient tamil astro works done by agastya and 18 disciples again it has tradition of bc 1000 to AD first centuries as sangam periods ) even remebr skanda hora is also considered as ancient most text in astrology and skanda is another name of Lord Murga yes ,but sidha texts says srilanka was part of sidha land and it was b4 the seperation srilanka frm indian main land geographicaly when plates started moving under the earth and even many continents strted forming ( god knows the truth ) but there is a place in Lnaka i blv Lord muruga met his one of his wife Valli ( she is known as out caste too may b because out of indian continent later periods ) and it was near katirgamer or i dont know real name of the place now . regrds sunil nair om shreem mahalaxmai namah . > 2008/10/12 Sreenadh sreesog > > *Bhavishya Purana on Varaha Mihira*> >> > *- Written by Sreenadh OG*> >> > I came across a unique quote present in Bhavishya Purana, which states that> > Mihira of Ujjain came to Lanka to learn astrology. The quote is as follows –> >> > Varahamihiracharyo jyotiHsastra pravartakaH> >> > Lankamagatya tatraiva jyotiHsastramadheetavan> >> > Jatakam phalitam chaiva mookaprasna tathaditaH> >> > Mleschair vinasitam yattu vedanga jyotisham gati> >> > Punarudharitam tena tridha bhootam sanatanam> >> > (Bhavishya Purana, Chaturtha Khanda, Ashtama Khanda)> >> > [Varaha Mihira, the propagator of astrological knowledge, came to Lanka and> > learned astrology from here. He learned – Jataka (Natal astrology), Phalitam> > (predictive astrology in general such as Mundane astrology etc), and Mooka> > Prashna (Silent question system that is part of Horory astrology). He> > revived the Vedic astrology having 3 major branches that got destroyed by> > Non-vedic people]> >> > I just got this quote as quoted in a book and is yet to verify> > the context of the above quote. The statement `Varahamihira came here in> > Lanka to learn astrology' makes us feel that the above lines were either –> >> > · Written in Lanka OR> >> > · Written as stated by some one of Lanka> >> > Anyway that is another subject. The following points stated by the above> > quote should be noted –> >> > · Varaha Mihira learned astrology from Lanka> >> > · Vedanga Jyotisha had numerous branches such as – Jyotisha,> > Phalita, Mooka Prashna etc> >> > · Vedic astrology was destroyed by Mlecchas (Non-Vedic people). But> > later Mihira revived, this branch of astrology. [This reference points to> > the revival of Tropical Stellar Astrology by Mihira. It seems that Mihira> > was revered by both Agama and Nigama people. Mihira accepted, adopted, and> > revived not only Nigama (Vedic) astrology, but also Agama (non-vedic)> > astrology.> >> >> >> > It is fun to note that there is one more Purana viz – Samba Purana which> > mentions Varaha Mihira. Samba Purana mentions Brihat Samhita while> > discussing the construction of idols of Surya, Vishnu etc. Some scholars> > suggest 7th or 8th century period as the period of origin of these two> > Puranas viz – Bhavishya Purana and Samba Purana. This quote also points to> > the popularity Mihira gained in India within two centuries of his lifetime.> >> > Everything seems fun and natural except the undigested statement `Mihira> > came to Lanka and learned astrology from there'. Did it really happen? It is> > certainly true that in North India astrology got almost totally destroyed> > and become a neglected subject, after the advent of Buddhits and Vedic> > Vaishnava Aryans. The popularity of Vedic religion and Buddhism was a death> > blow to astrology in North India. The credit for presence of this ancient> > Agama sasta goes to all the Agama people viz – Saiva Agama, Naga Agama,> > Tantra Agama and Jain Agama people. Agama people, the indigenous culture> > and people of India from Sindhu-Sarasvati period onwards were enjoying> > excellent culture and knowledge. Then came the Vedic religion along with the> > Aryan Brahmanic Invasion. After the spreading Vedic religion first (BC 1400> > – BC 500), then Buddhism (BC 500 – AD 200), and then again the counter> > spread of Vedic religion (AD 200 – AD 500), very little astrology was spared> > in the North. What ever little Agama knowledge escaped the destruction was> > available only in the South and Lanka (as preserved by the original native> > Agama people such as Saivaits, Nagas, Tantrics and Jains running away to the> > south). It is from here that the tide of astrological revival started again> > –> >> > · from Mihira (who learned from Lanka)> >> > · from Aryabhata (the jain who lived in Kerala)> >> > · Vararuchi (the out cast Brahman who migrated to Kerala, and> > gained astrological knowledge from there. He was the father of Haridatta,> > the originator of Parahita system of astronomical calculation. Haridatta was> > popular as a near lunatic genius in the name Naranattu Bhrantan)> >> >> >> > Again came the next tide of destruction of non-vedic knowledge, this time> > form the south itself, from Kerala, as Sri Sankaracharya! Again it was Dark> > Age for astrology but revival period for Vedic knowledge, that lasted from 8> > th century AD to 14th century AD. Then again came the revival as> > contributions of Nrisimha Daivajna's family from Maharashtra (which> > contributed Nrishimha, Kamala kara bhatta and numerous other scholars, more> > than 15 popular scholars in number) in North; Edakkattu Nambutiri (author of> > Prasnamarga), Talakkulattu Govinda Bhattatiri (Author of Dasadhyayi) and> > numerous others from South. The light produced by some excellent books such> > as Saravali (from AP in10th century) and Bhattolpala's commentary on> > Varaha Mihiras works (from Kashmir in 10th century) etc stands apart from> > the main stream and are away form this general trend.> >> > Among these two major destructions and two major revivals, Mihira's revival> > after the first destructive phase stands high. Like an one man army, he> > revived both Nirayana Agama astrology (Non-Vedic stream; `Jyotisham Agama> > sastram' he says) and Tropical Nigama astrology (Vedic stream; Vedanga> > Jyotisha) – and mixed them both. Mixing of Sign based system of Nirayana> > astrology and Nakshatra based system of stellar tropical astrology had both> > positive and negative results. Any way that is not our point of discussion.> > The point to remember is –> >> > · Mihira revived Sign based Nirayana Agama astrology having three> > branches viz – Siddhanta, Samhita, Hora> >> > · Mihira revived Nakshatra based Tropical Nigama Astrology having> > numerous branches viz – Jataka, Phalita, Mooka Prashna etc> >> >> >> > `Learning from Lanka' might have helped him a lot in implementing this> > Herculean task almost all alone. It does seem that the whole contribution of> > this great scholar especially to Vedic Stellar Astrology did not survive.> >> > *Note:* This article tries to provide an excellent pointer for anyone who> > is interested to ponder over.> >> > *- 0 -*> > > >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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