Astrology in Grihya Sutras

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Dear All, I was going through the text "Bhadra Bahu Samhita" and found an interesting Paragraph about astrology in Grihya Sutras as given by Nemichandra Sastri. I am transilating and stating the same below.Love and regards,Sreenadh===================================================================Astrology in Grihya Sutras

[Translated from the introduction to Bhadrabahu Samhita written by Dr. Nemichandra Sastri]

Apart from Atharva Veda, the roots of Samhita stream of astrological knowledge can be fond in Aswalayana Grihya Sutra, Paraskara Grihya Sutra, Hiranyakesi Sutra, Apastambha Grihya Sutra, Sankhyayana Grihya Sutra, Panineeya Vyakaran, Manu smriti, Mahabharata, Arthasastra of Koutilya, Swapna Vasavadatta, Harsha Charita etc. Aswalayana Grihya Sutra states â€" “Sravanyam pournamasyam sravana karmani†[On Full Moon Day of the month of Sravana, Sravana Karma should be done], “Seemantonnayanam......yada Pushya nakshatrena chandrama yuktaH syat†[For Seemandta............. (the time is auspicious) if Moon is placed in Pushya Nakshatra]. Fro these sentences it is evident that while considering Muhurta for various Sanskaras the purity of time (as per astrology) was considered. Paraskar Grihya Sutra states â€" “Trishu trishu uttaradishu svatau mrigasirasi rohinyam†etc. As per this sutra, Uttara phalguni- Hasta-Chitra, Uttarashadha-Sravana-Dhanishta, Uttara Bhadrapada-Revati-Asvini are good for marriage. This Grihya sutra gives the shape and number of stars ascribed to Nakshatras and the results ascribed to them are also given. As per Sankhyayana Grihya Sutra, honey bees building their combs inside the house and crows crying at night are states as inauspicious (these are actually subject matter of later day Samhita texts). Boudhayana Grihya Sutra states â€" “Meena meshayor mesha vrishbhayor vasanta†[sisira ritu is in Pisces-Aries, and Vasanta Ritu is in Aries-Taurus] etc. It is well evident that, Boudhayana Grihya Sutra is speaking about Signs as per Sayana system. In Sayana (Tropical) astrological stream Boudhayana Grihya Sutra could be the first text among the available texts that speaks about the Signs such as Mesha (Aries), Vrishabha (Taurus) etc.

By the time of Grihya Sutras the concept of Seasons (Ritus) and the influence (results) of those Ritus on agriculture had started laying the foundation of Sayana stream of astrology.

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