The Followers of the Stars: on the Early Sources and Historical Development of Indian Astrology

Audrius Beinorius

doi:10.15388/aov.2003.18272

Abstract

This article sets itself a goal to explore the early historical development of the traditional astrological sciences (jyotiṣaśāstra, jyotiṣavidyā) in India, tracing its relationship to the astrology developed in Mesopotamia and in the Hellenistic period by the Greeks, as well as discussing some of its amplifications in South Asia, and the direct intercourse between India and the Arabs. Some attention is paid to the transformation and re-interpretation of foreign astral and divinatory sciences in India. The primarily sources of the present study are the early Sanskrit texts (mainly those of Sphujidhvaja’s and Varāhamihira’s, and the study itself is grounded on the critical analysis of contemporary discussions carried on by D. Pingree, O. Neugebauer, P. V. Kane, A. M. Shastri, and others scholars in the field.

Highlights

This article sets itself a goal to explore the early historical development of the traditional astrological sciences
That planetary astrology was introduced into India from Greece in conjunction with astronomy as it was essential to possess some means of determining planetary positions in order to be able to cast horoscopes
Under Hariin (786-808 AD.) another influx ofIndian learning took place, and Sanskrit texts on medicine, pharmacology, toxicology, philosophy, astrology and other subjects were translated into Arabic, while in later times these activities continued on a limited scale.[85]

Summary

Audrius Beinorius

This article sets itself a goal to explore the early historical development of the traditional astrological sciences The science of planetary astrology was developed in, most probably, the late 2nd or early 1sI century B.C. as a means to predict, draw up from horoscopic themata the moment of an individual's birth (or conception), the fate of the native, and depend upon the computed position of the seven celestial bodies and of the zodiacal signs in their relation to the given horizon. This form of astrology, called genethlialogy, is rooted in Aristotelian physics and Hellenistic astronomy, and borrowed much from Mesopotamia and some elements from Egypt as well as developing many theories of its own. Agni Prajapati Soma Rudra Aditi Brhaspati Sarpa!:t Pitara!:t Bhaga Aryaman Savitr Tva!:)tr Vayu Indragni

ViglU Vasava

The Concept of Astrology in the Texts ofVarahamihira

Intercourse between India and the Arabs

Conclusions