Structure and semantics of Sanskrit terminology in Jyotiṣa Vedāṅga

Abstract

This article analyzes the structure and semantics of Sanskrit terminology in Jyotiṣa Vedāṅga, one of the six Vedāṅgas directly related to the Vedas and intended for the understanding and preservation of the Vedas. Jyotiṣa Vedāṅga takes its name from the word jyotis “light, luminary” and denotes the discipline concerned with the movement of celestial bodies and the temporal periods determined by them. The article focuses on key lexical and terminological units of the Jyotiṣa corpus: the names of its three divisions, Gaṇita, Horā and Saṃhitā, the terms apauruṣeya and pauruṣeya, and selected passages from Sanskrit metrical treatises. The Sanskrit material is presented in scholarly IAST transliteration and is accompanied by Russian translation and concise explanatory comments. In terms of content, Gaṇita describes computational and astronomical issues, Horā deals with horoscopic interpretation, while Saṃhitā is concerned with natural and social omens. This format makes it possible to present Jyotiṣa Vedāṅga not only as a source for the history of Indian astronomy but also as a textual corpus with a stable lexical-semantic and terminological organization.

References

1. Yelizarenkova T.Ya. Rigveda. Mandaly V–VIII [Rigveda. Mandalas V–VIII]. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1995. 743 p. Available at: https://djvu.online/file/YvLka2SaIPzfE (In Russ.)

2. Kochergina V.A. Sanskritsko-russkii slovar’ [Sanskrit-Russian Dictionary]. Moscow, Akademicheskii proekt; Alma Mater Publ., 2005. 384 p. (In Russ.)

3. Burgess E. Translation of the Surya-Siddhanta, a Text-book of Hindu Astronomy. Journal of the American Oriental Society, 1860, vol. 6, article 3, pp. 141–498. Available at: https://archive.org/details/jstor-592174/page/n1/mode/2up

4. Dhavale D.G. The Brahmasiddhānta of Śākalyasaṃhitā. Pune, Bhandarkar Institute Press, 1996. 102 p. Available at: https://archive.org/details/BrahmasiddhantaOfShakalyasamhita

5. Dvivedi V.P. Jyautiṣa Siddhānta Saṅgraha: A Collection of Ancient Hindu Astronomical Works. Somasiddhānta and Brahmasiddhānta. Part II. Benares, Benares Printing Press, 1912. 126 p. Available at: https://archive.org/details/jyotisasiddhanta01jyotuoft/page/40/mode/2up

6. Keith A.B. Rigveda Brahmanas: The Aitareya and Kauṣītaki Brāhmaṇas of the Rigveda. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press, 1920. 580 p. Available at: https://archive.org/details/rigvedabrahmana00keitgoog/page/n7/mode/2up

7. Monier-Williams M. A Sanskrit-English Dictionary. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1956. 1388 p. Available at: https://archive.org/details/nSrb_a-sanskrit-englishdictionary-sir-monier-monier-williams/page/n9/mode/2up

8. Pingree D. The Pañcasiddhāntikā of Varāhamihira. Part I. København, Munksgaard, 1970. 211 p. Available at: https://archive.org/details/pancasiddhantika1_1970/mode/2up

9. Pingree D. A History of Indian Literature. Vol. 6, fasc. 4: Jyotiḥśāstra: Astral and Mathematical Literature. J. Gonda, ed. Wiesbaden, Otto Harrassowitz, 1981. 149 p. Available at: https://archive.org/details/pingree1981/page/n3/mode/2up

10. Sastri V.S. Varahamihira’s Brihat Samhita with English Translation and Notes. Bangalore City, V.B. Soobbiah & Sons, 1946. 1105 p. Available at: https://archive.org/details/Brihatsamhita/mode/2up

11. Sastry T.S.K. Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa of Lagadha: In Its Ṛk and Yajus Recensions, with the Translation and Notes of Prof. T.S. Kuppanna Sastry. New Delhi, Indian National Science Academy, 1985. 80 p. Available at: https://archive.org/details/VedangaJyotisa/page/10/mode/2up

12. Sharma G.C. Maharishi Parasara’s Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra. Vol. I. New Delhi, Sagar Publications, 1995. 651 p. Available at: https://archive.org/details/brihatparasarahorasastrawithenglishtranslationgirishchandsharmavolume1_547_G

13. Sharma V. Nārada Saṃhitā. Mumbai (Bombay), Venkateshwar Steam Press, 1906. 309 p. Available at: https://archive.org/details/naradasamhita/mode/2up

14. Shukla K.S. Sūrya Siddhānta with commentary of Parameshvara. Lucknow, Department of Mathematics and Astronomy, Lucknow University, 1957. 153 p. Available at: https://archive.org/details/suryasiddhanta-shukla/page/n1/mode/2up

15. Shukla K.S. Āryabhaṭīya of Āryabhaṭa. Vol. I. New Delhi, Indian National Science Academy, 1976. 294 p. Available at: https://archive.org/details/aryabhatiyaofaryabhattaenglishtranslationkripashankarshuklasarmak.v.vol1_954_l/page/n3/mode/2up