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Varāhamihira
Bornpossibly 20-21 March 505 CE (disputed; seeDate section)
possibly Kapitthaka (identified withKayathaorSankissa)
Diedpossibly 587 CE (disputed; seeDate section)
Occupationastrologer-astronomer
Notable worksPancha-siddhantika,Brhat-samhita,Brihajjataka

Varāhamihira(6th century CE, possiblyc.505 –c.587), also calledVarāhaorMihira,was anastrologer-astronomerwho lived in or aroundUjjainin present-dayMadhya Pradesh,India.

Date[edit]

Unlike other prominentancient Indianastronomers,Varāhamihira does not mention his date.[1]However, based on hints in his works, modern scholars date him to the 6th century CE; possibly, he also lived during the last years of the 5th century.[2]

In hisPancha-siddhantika,Varāhamihira refers to the year 427 of theShaka-kala(alsoShakendra-kalaorShaka-bhupa-kala). Identifying thiscalendar erawith theShaka eraplaces Varāhamihira in the 505 CE. Alternative theories identify this calendar era with other eras, placing him before the 5th century CE. However, these theories are inaccurate, as Varāhamihira must have lived afterAryabhata(born 476 CE), whose work he refers to. The particulars of the date mentioned by Varāhamihira -Shuklapratipadaof theChaitramonth of the Shaka year 427 - align accurately with 20-21 March 505 CE.Al-Birunialso places Varāhamihira in 505 CE.[3]

In accordance with the contemporary tradition, 505 CE was most probably the year in which Varāhamihira composedPancha-Siddhantakaor began planning it.[1]However, some scholars believe that it was the year of Varāhamihira's birth or of another important event in his life. This is because according to Amaraja, the author of a commentary onBrahmagupta'sKhanda-khadyaka,Varāhamihira died in 587 CE (Shaka year 509). If Varāhamihira wrote his work in 505 CE even at the young age of 25, he must have been over 105 years old at the time of his death, which seems exceptionally high to these scholars.[4]Consequently, these scholars consider date Varāhamihira's lifespan to 505-587 CE.[5]Other scholars doubt the accuracy of Amaraja's statement, since he lived a thousand years after Varāhamihira.[4]

According to a historically inaccurate tradition, Varāhamihira was associated with the first century BCE legendary emperorVikramaditya.[6][7]This tradition is based onJyotirvid-abharana,a work attributed toKalidasa,which states that Varāhamihira (along with Kalidasa) was one of thenavaratnas( "nine gems" ) at Vikramaditya's court. However, this text is a literary forgery, and is dated variously from 12th-18th century.[1][8]Varāhamihira definitely did not live in the same century as some of the purported "Navaratnas", such as the much olderKalidasa.[9]

Early life[edit]

1399 CE manuscript of theBrihajjataka
1279 CE manuscript of theBrhat-samhita

Much of the undisputed information about the life of Varāhamihira comes from a stanza in hisBrhaj-jataka.According to this stanza, he was a resident ofAvanti,was a son of Aditya-dasa, and studied at Kapitthaka through the boon of the sun god.[10]

Ancestry[edit]

Varāhamihira's father Aditya-dasa likely trained him injyotisha(Indianastrology and astronomy), as suggested by theBrhaj-jatakastanza and the opening stanza ofPancha-siddhantika.[10]

Varāhamihira's commentatorUtpalacalls him "Magadha-dvija". According to one interpretation, this means that Varāhamihira was aBrahmin(dvija), whose ancestors belonged to theMagadharegion.[11][12]

According to another theory, the word "Magadha" in this context refers to the sun-worshippingMagacult that Varāhamihira was a part of. In hisBrhat-samhita,Varāhamihira mentions that the Magas were the only people suitable for consecrating an image of the Sun god. The Magas, as they came to be known in India, originated from theMagipriests of theAchaemenid Empire.HistorianAjay Mitra Shastricites aBhavishya Puranapassage according to which the term "Magadha" is a synonym of "Maga" and refers to "those who contemplate on the Maga". According to Shastri, Utpala has used the word "Magadha" to denote the Magas, who had been accepted as Shaka-dvipi (Maga) Brahmins in the Indian society.[13]

Shastri theorizes that "Varaha-mihira" may be a Sanskritized form of the Iranian name "Varaza-Mihr", and may refer to a legend mentioned in theMihrYashtof theAvesta.According to this legend, the god Verethraghna, in the form of a boar (varaza), precedes Mihr in his march. Shastri notes that the 5th centurySassanianmonarchBahram Vbore the name Mihrvaraza, which is quite similar to Varahamihra. AcademicJ.E. Sanjanasuggests that Varāhamihira was descended from an Iranian Magi priest.[14]

Some scholars, such as M.T. Patwardhan and A.N. Upadhye, have identified Varāhamihira with Bazurjmehr, mentioned inFirishta's writings as a minister of the Sasanian kingKhusraw Nushirwan(r. 531-578). However, A.M. Shastri dismisses this theory as unconvincing.[15]

There are several historically inaccurate legends about the ancestry of Varāhamihira:

  • Jain writersMerutunga(14th century) and Rajashekhara-Suri claim that his original name was Varaha, and he was a brother of the Jain patriarchBhadrabahu.He gained knowledge because of a favour by the Sun, because of which the suffix "Mihira" ( "Sun" ) was added to his name.[16]Jain authors seem to have fabricated this story to prove the pre-eminence of the Jain astrology over the Brahmanical astrology.[17]
  • Another 20th century legend, purportedly based on "some oldGujaratitext "claims that Aditya-dasa's wife was called Satya-vati alias Indu-mati: Varāhamihira was born to them in their fifties by the boon of the Sun. He was originally known as Mihira, and was given the prefix" Varaha "by King Vikramaditya when he correctly predicted that a boar (varahain Sanskrit) would kill the king's son.[18]
  • A tradition associates Varāhamihira withBerachampainWest Bengal,where a mound called "Varāhamihira's house" is located. This seems to be the result of an attempt to associate the locality with a famous figure. A legend from the Bengal region claims that Varaha and Mihira were a father-son duo at Vikramaditya's court, and the poetKhanawas Mihira's wife. This legend is of no historical value.[19]"Varaha" and "Mihira" were alternative names for the same person - Varāhamihira, as attested by the later astronomical works.[10]
  • Another legend claims that theMimamsateacherShabara-svaminhad four wives, one from eachvarna,and Varāhamihira was his son from his Brahmin wife. Some scholars, such as S.K. Dikshit, have theorized that Aditya-dasa (or Aditya-deva) was another name of Shabara-svamin, but no historical evidence supports this tradition.[17]

Birthplace[edit]

Kapitthaka, where Varāhamihira studied, was probably his birthplace.[12][10]While "Kapitthaka" is the most popular reading the place's name, several variants of this name appear in various manuscripts, including Kampilyaka,[a]Kapilaka, Kapishthala, and Kapishkala.[10]Utpala suggests that this village had a sun temple. According to one theory, Kapitthaka is the modernKayatha,an archaeological site near Ujjain. Statues of the sun deitySurya(whom Varāhamihira worshipped) dated 600-900 CE have been found there, andkapitthatrees are abundant in and around Kayatha. However, no historical source suggests that Kapitthaka was another name for Kayatha. According to another theory, Kapitthaka is same asSankissa(ancient Sankashya) in present-day Uttar Pradesh: according to the 7th-century Chinese travelerXuanzang,this town was also known as Kah-pi-t'a. HistorianAjay Mitra Shastrinotes that Kah-pi-t'a is phonetically similar to Kapittha or Kapitthaka.[21]

Based on the term "Magadha-dvija" (see above),Sudhakara Dvivedisuggests that Varāhamihira was born and brought up in Magadha, and later migrated to Ujjain.[22]Ajay Mitra Shastridisputes this, noting that Utpala describes him as "Avantikacharya" (AcharyaofAvanti) and "Magadha-dvija": these two terms cannot be reconciled if "Magadha-dvija" is interpreted as "Dvija(Brahmana) of Magadha "; instead" Magadha "here meansMaga,as attested by theBhavishya Purana.[11]

Residence[edit]

Besides the above-mentioned stanza, Varāhamihira's association with Avanti is confirmed by other evidence: inPancha-siddhantika,he calls himselfAvantyaka( "of Avanti" ), and the later commentators such asUtpalaand Mahidhara describe him asAvantikacharya( "acharyaof Avanti ").[10]Utpala also describes Varāhamihira's son Prthu-yashas as Avantikacharya, in his commentary onShat-panchashika.[23]

HistorianAjay Mitra Shastri,relying on Utpala, believes that "Avanti" here refers to the city ofUjjayiniin theAvanti regionof central India.[10]Scholar Dániel Balogh, however, notes that Avanti here may refer to the city of Ujjayini or the Avanti region in general: there is no concrete evidence that Varāhamihira lived in the city; he may have lived elsewhere in Avanti.[24]

Royal patron[edit]

Varāhamihira likely lived in theAulikarakingdom, as the Aulikaras ruled Avanti in the 6th century CE.[25][26]Varāhamihira'sBrhat-samhitastates that on the topic of omens (shakuna), one of the works he consulted was that of Dravya-vardhana, the king of Avanti.[27]Dravya-vardhana likely belonged to the Aulikara dynasty, several of whose members bore names ending in-vardhana.[25]

HistorianAjay Mitra Shastrinotes that Dravya-vardhana is the only person for whom Varāhamihira employs the honorificShri,although he mentions several other notable people. Moreover, he mentions Dravya-vardhana's work before he mentions reputed authorities such as theSaptarishisandGarga.According to Shastri, this, combined with the fact that both Dravya-vardhana and Varāhamihira lived in Avanti, suggests that Dravya-vardhana was the royal patron of Varāhamihira.[27]Shastri theorizes that Dravya-vardhana was a successor ofYashodharmanalias Vishnu-vardhana, who may have also been a patron of Varāhamihira.[28]

Some other historians identify Dravya-vardhana with the earlier Aulikara rulerDrapa-vardhana.Shastri disputes this, arguing that Varāhamihira describes Dravya-vardhana as amaharajadhiraja(emperor), while theRīsthal inscriptiondescribes Drapa-vardhana as asenapati(commander). Balogh disagrees with Shastri, noting that Varāhamihira actually uses the termnrpo maharajadhiraja-kah(nrpaor ruler "connected to the emperor" ) for the king, which Shastri has misunderstood asmaharajadhirajah(emperor). Only one manuscript readsmaharajadhirajah,which can be discarded as it doesn't fit the metre; three others havemaharajdhiraja-jah.Thus, the actual title of Drapa-vardhana wasnrpa,which is much closer tosenapatiin status. Utpala also interprets the termmaharajadhiraja-kahto mean "born in the dynasty of the (or an) emperor".[29]Hans Bakkerinterprets the term tomaharajadhiraja-kahas a governor installed at Ujjayini by the contemporary Gupta emperor.[26]Balogh believes that Dravya-vardhana was probably same as Drapa-vardhana: "Dravya" may be a variant arising from a mistake in a medieval manuscript, which is the source of later manuscripts.[26]

Balogh disputes Shastri's assertion that Varāhamihira shows a particularly reverential attitude to the king, and even if he did, this is no evidence that the two were contemporaries. Varāhamihira consulted the king's work instead of the original work of Bharadvaja that it was based on; according to Balogh, this actually makes it more likely that the king lived at a time earlier than Varāhamihira, who did not have access to the older work of Bharadvaja.[30]

According to Balogh, Varāhamihira likely lived during the reign of the Aulikara kings Prakasha-dharman, Yashodharman, or an unknown successor of Yashodharman. However, unlike Shastri, Balogh believes that Varāhamihira did not have a royal patron.[26]

Religion[edit]

Several scholars theorize that Varāhamihira came from aBrahminizedfamily of the sun-worshippingMagipriests (seeAncestryabove).[31][13]He was a worshipper of the sun godSavitur,and stated that he had received all his knowledge by the grace of this god.[32]For example, inBrhaj-jataka,he states that he was able to compose the text because of a boon by the Sun.[28]While he mentions other deities, he devotes a much larger number of verses to the Sun.[11]His commentator Utpala credits his sharp intellect to a boon by the Sun.[28]Some later writers describe him as an incarnation of the Sun god.[18]Utpala, for example, declares that the Sun descended on earth in the form of Varāhamihira to save the jyotisha-shastra from destruction.[33]TheSubhashita-ratna-koshaquotes stanzas that praise Varāhamihira as an incarnation of Vishnu and the Sun, presumably because of two parts of his name (varahareferring to an avatar of Vishnu, andmihirameaning sun).[23]

Sun worship seems to have been his family's religion, as his father Aditya-dasa's name literally means "slave (or servant) of the Sun".[28][34]Kutuhula-manjari,a later text, suggests that Varāhamihira was born to Aditya-dasa by the blessings of the Sun. Varāhamihira's son Prthu-yashas also invokes the Sun in the opening stanza of his workShatpanchashikha.[28]

Varāhamihira was well-versed with theVedic tradition.[35]He recommends the performance of several ancient Hindu rituals such asPunyahamand chanting ofVedic hymns.[36]

Varāhamihira praises Vishnu in the chapters 42 and 104 of Brhat-samhita, leading A.N.S. Aiyangar and K.V.R Aiyangar to speculate that he came in contact with theShrivaishnavasaints (Alvars); however, A.M. Shastri dismisses this theory, describing the praise for Vishnu as an example of religious eclecticism.[37]

InBrhat-samhita,Varāhamihira discusses the iconography of several Brahmanical deities, includingVishnu,Baladeva,Ekanamsha,Shamba,Pradyumna,consorts of Shamba and Pradyumna,Brahma,Skanda,Indra,Shiva,Surya, the divine mothers (Matrikas),Revanta,Yama,Varuna,andKubera.[38]These were presumably the popular gods worshipped during his period. He also describes the iconography of two non-Brahmanical faiths, that of theBuddhaand theJinas.He appears to have been religiously liberal, as he reveres the Buddha as "the father of the world" and devotes an entire stanza to Buddha's iconology (compared to shorter descriptions of several Brahmanical deities).[39]A verse in theBrhat-samhitadescribes the iconography ofGanesha,but this verse appears only in one or two manuscripts, and is likely a later interpolation. Similarly, aTikanika-yatraverse in which the author reveres Ganesha (among other deities), is likely spurious; this verse appears only in one manuscript.[40]

Works[edit]

Varāhamihira is credited with writing several authoritative texts onastronomy and astrology.He was also known for his poetic skills, and the 11th-century writerKshemendradescribes him as a great poet.[2]

He apparently wrote a set of two works - detailed and short - in the following areas:[41]

Area Detailed work Short work
Mathematical astronomy (tantra) Pancha-siddhantika Now lost, known from Utpala's commentary
Horoscopy(hora):nativity Brhaj-jataka Laghu-jataka
Horoscopy:marriage Brhad-vivaha-patala Svalpa-vivaha-patala
Horoscopy:journeys Brhad-yatraandYoga-yatra Svalpa-yatra
General astrology (samhita) Brhat-samhita Samasa-samhita

The chronological order of some of these works can be determined based on the internal evidence and Utpala's commentary. In order or earliest to latest, these works are:[42]

  • Pancha-siddhantika
  • Brhaj-jataka
  • Brhad-yatra
  • Yoga-yatra(according to Utpala, Varaha-mihira wrote this because he was dissatisfied withBrhad-yatra)
  • Brhad-vivaha-patala
  • Brhat-samhita

Laghu-jatakastates that it was written afterBrhaj-jataka,and Utpala's commentary states that it was written after the abridged version ofPancha-siddhantika.However, its order with respect to the other works is not certain.[42]

Later authors also mention or quote from some other works composed by Varaha-mihira. Manuscripts of some other works attributed to Varaha-mihira exist, but these attributions are of doubtful nature.[42]

Influences[edit]

TheRomaka Siddhanta( "The Doctrine of the Romans" ) and thePaulisa Siddhantawere two works of Western origin which influenced Varāhamihira's thought. ThePauliṣa Siddhāntais often mistakenly thought to be a single work and attributed toPaul of Alexandria(c. 378 CE).[43]However, this notion has been rejected by other scholars in the field, notably byDavid Pingreewho stated that "...the identification of Paulus Alexandrinus with the author of thePauliṣa Siddhāntais totally false ".[44]A number of his writings share similarities with the earlier texts likeVedanga Jyotisha.[45]

Some scholars consider Varāhamihira to be the strong candidate for the one who understood and introduced the zodiac signs, predictive calculations for auspicious ceremonies and astrological computations in India.[46][47][48]

Varāhamihira's works contain 35 Sanskritized Greek astronomical terms, and he exhibits a good understanding of the Greek astronomy.[49]He praised the Greeks (Yavanas) for being "well trained in the sciences", though impure in ritual order.[50]

Legacy[edit]

Varāhamihira gained reputation as the most eminent writer onjyotishaafter his death, and his works superseded nearly all the earlier Indian texts in this area. Several later Indian astrologer-astronomers speak highly of him, and acknowledge his works among their main sources.[51]The 11th-century writerAl-Birunialso greatly admires him, describing him as an excellent astronomer.[52]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^Sudhakara Dvivedi, following the reading "Kampilyaka", identified Varahamihira's birthplace as present-dayKalpiin Uttar Pradesh. However, this identification is incorrect: the ancient name of Kalpi was Kalapriya, not Kampilyaka.[20]

References[edit]

  1. ^abcA.M. Shastri 1991,p. 3.
  2. ^abA.M. Shastri 1991,p. 1.
  3. ^A.M. Shastri 1991,pp. 3–4.
  4. ^abA.M. Shastri 1991,p. 4.
  5. ^Evans, Brian (24 February 2014).The Development of Mathematics Throughout the Centuries: A Brief History in a Cultural Context.John Wiley & Sons. p. 61.ISBN978-1118853979.Varāhamihira, a mathematician born around 505 CE and died 587 CE, who was also known for innovation with Pascal's triangle.
  6. ^History of Indian Literature.Motilal Banarsidass Publications. 2008. p. 46.
  7. ^Gopal, Ram (1984).Kālidāsa: His Art and Culture.Concept Publishing Company. p. 15.
  8. ^M. Srinivasachariar (1974).History of Classical Sanskrit Literature.Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 94–111.ISBN9788120802841.
  9. ^Winternitz, Moriz(1985).History of Indian Literature.Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 45–47.ISBN978-81-208-0056-4.
  10. ^abcdefgA.M. Shastri 1991,p. 5.
  11. ^abcA.M. Shastri 1991,p. 10.
  12. ^abT.K Puttaswamy (2012).Mathematical Achievements of Pre-modern Indian Mathematicians.p. 141.ISBN9780123979131.
  13. ^abA.M. Shastri 1991,pp. 10–11.
  14. ^A.M. Shastri 1991,p. 13.
  15. ^A.M. Shastri 1991,pp. 17–18.
  16. ^A.M. Shastri 1991,pp. 8–9.
  17. ^abA.M. Shastri 1991,p. 17.
  18. ^abA.M. Shastri 1991,p. 9.
  19. ^A.M. Shastri 1991,p. 248.
  20. ^A.M. Shastri 1969,p. 15.
  21. ^A.M. Shastri 1991,p. 6.
  22. ^A.M. Shastri 1991,p. 27.
  23. ^abA.M. Shastri 1991,p. 24.
  24. ^Dániel Balogh 2019,p. 142-143.
  25. ^abA.M. Shastri 1991,p. 51.
  26. ^abcdDániel Balogh 2019,p. 143.
  27. ^abA.M. Shastri 1991,pp. 43–45.
  28. ^abcdeA.M. Shastri 1991,p. 8.
  29. ^Dániel Balogh 2019,pp. 141–142.
  30. ^Dániel Balogh 2019,p. 142.
  31. ^Abraham Eraly (2014)."Pearls and Pebbles".The First Spring Part 2: Culture in the Golden Age of India.Penguin.ISBN9789351186465.He belonged, as his name indicates, to a Brahminized family of the Magi, sun-worshipping Zoroastrian priests, and he himself came to be regarded in later times as an incarnation of the sun god.
  32. ^B. Suryanarain Rao, ed. (1986).Sree Varaha Mihira's Brihat Jataka.Motilal Banarsidass. p. 612.ISBN9788120813953.
  33. ^A.M. Shastri 1969,p. 1.
  34. ^M.R. Bhatt 1996,p. 572.
  35. ^M.R. Bhatt 1996,p. 638.
  36. ^M.R. Bhatt 1996,p. 570.
  37. ^A.M. Shastri 1969,p. 21.
  38. ^A.M. Shastri 1991,pp. 100–120.
  39. ^A.M. Shastri 1991,pp. 120–121.
  40. ^A.M. Shastri 1991,p. 121.
  41. ^A.M. Shastri 1991,pp. 19–20.
  42. ^abcA.M. Shastri 1991,p. 20.
  43. ^McEvilley, Thomas(November 2001).The Shape of Ancient Thought: Comparative Studies in Greek and Indian Philosophies.Allworth Press. p. 385.ISBN978-1-58115-203-6.
  44. ^Pingree, David (1978).The Yavanajātaka of Sphujidhvaja.Harvard Oriental Series.Vol. 2. pp. 437–438.
    Pingree, David (1969).The Later Pauliśa Siddhānta.Centaurus 14. pp. 172–241.
  45. ^Velandai Gopala Aiyer.The chronology of ancient India: beginning of the Sat Yuga, Dwaper, Treta, and Kali Yuga with date of Mahabharata.Sanjay Prakashan. p. 63.
  46. ^Winternitz, Moriz (1985).History of Indian Literature.Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 685–697.ISBN978-81-208-0056-4.
  47. ^Pingree, David (1963). "Astronomy and Astrology in India and Iran".Isis.54(2). University of Chicago Press: 229–246.doi:10.1086/349703.JSTOR228540.S2CID128083594.
  48. ^Sarma, K. V. (2008)."Varahamihira".In Helaine Selin (ed.).Encyclopaedia of the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine in Non-Western Cultures.Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands. pp.2184–2185.doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-4425-0_9604.ISBN978-1-4020-4559-2.
  49. ^A.M. Shastri 1991,p. 18.
  50. ^Chaudhuri, Kirti Narayan (1990).Asia Before Europe Economy and Civilisation of the Indian Ocean from the Rise of Islam to 1750.Cambridge University Press. p. 54.ISBN0521316812.
  51. ^A.M. Shastri 1969,pp. 1–3.
  52. ^A.M. Shastri 1969,p. 4.

Bibliography[edit]

External links[edit]

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