Jain Jyotish Sahitya Ek Drushti - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Jain Jyotish Sahitya Ek Drushti" by Tejsinh Gaud, based on the provided PDF pages:

The article, "Jain Jyotish Sahitya Ek Drushti" (Jain Astrology Literature: A Perspective) by Dr. Tejsinh Gaud, explores the historical development and significant contributions of Jain scholars to the field of astrology. It highlights the inherent human curiosity that led to the study of celestial bodies and the measurement of time, forming the foundation of astrology.

Origins and Definition of Astrology:

The etymology of "Jyotish" is given as "Jyotishaam Suryadi Grahaanaam Bodhakam Shaastram," meaning the science that explains the Sun and other planets, as well as time.
Jyotish is broadly divided into two aspects:
- Bahya (External): Deals with celestial bodies like planets, stars, and comets, their movements, positions, and the auspicious and inauspicious results derived from them.
- Aabhyantrik (Internal): Encompasses all of Indian philosophy, particularly the concept of the immortal soul and the transformation of its states due to the eternal flow of karma.
Indian astrology is structured around three main branches (Skandhatraya): Siddhanta (astronomical calculations), Hora (natal astrology), and Samhita (mundane astrology, omens, etc.). Some traditions also include Prashna (horary astrology) and Shakuna (omens). The author notes that if analyzed comprehensively, this framework could even encompass modern sciences like psychology, biology, physics, chemistry, and medicine.

Early History and Vedic Influence:

The exact origins of astrology are lost in antiquity. However, a structured history is traceable from Aryabhata's time.
Even before Aryabhata, texts like the Vedas, Anga literature, Brahmana literature, Surya Prajnapti, Garga Samhita, Jyotish Karan Daka, and Jyotish Vedanga contain significant astrological information.
Astrology was studied in the Vedic period, evidenced by mentions like "Nakshatradarsh" in the Yajurveda and "Nakshatra Vidya" in the Chhandogya Upanishad.
Astrology has been considered one of the six Vedangas (limbs of the Vedas) since ancient times.
The Rigveda mentions twelve months in a year and thirty days in a month, and also provides information about intercalary months (Adhik Maas). It also names some constellations, indicating early attention to lunar motion.
The Taittiriya Samhita lists twenty-seven constellations, the Atharvaveda discusses eclipses, and the Kaushitaki Brahmana also offers astrological insights.

Vedanga Jyotisha:

Lagadha Muni's "Jyotisha Vedanga" is considered the oldest Hindi text on astrology. It primarily focuses on the movements of the Sun and Moon, without discussing other planets.
Vedanga Jyotisha exists in two recensions: Rigveda Jyotisha (36 verses) and Yajurveda Jyotisha (44 verses), with largely similar content.
It calculates the Uttarayana and Dakshinayana based on a five-year cycle. The cycle's beginning is marked by the Sun and Moon reaching the constellation Dhanishta in the ecliptic on Magha Shukla Pratipada.
The dating of Vedanga Jyotisha is placed several centuries BCE. Scholars consider Jain astrology as a background for dating it, noting the influence of Jain astrological texts like Shatkhandagama, Surya Prajnapti, and Jyotish Karan Daka on Vedanga Jyotisha.

Jain Astrological Literature:

Jain texts like Yativṛṣabha's Tiloya Pannatti, Surya Prajnapti, and Chandra Prajnapti, though slightly later than Vedic texts, describe the structure of the universe, including various lokas (realms) and siddhaloka.
The availability of Jain "Karananuyoga" or Prakrit "Loka Vibhaga" texts would have further proven their antiquity. Yativṛṣabha's Tiloya Pannatti was based on such texts, indicating that by his time, constellations, zodiac signs, and planets were fully developed, and humans were using astrological knowledge for daily activities.

Surya Prajnapti:

This text contains 20 "Pahudas" (sections) and 108 sutras detailing the movements of the Sun, Moon, and constellations. It's crucial for understanding ancient Indian astronomical beliefs.
It mentions a five-year Yuga starting when the Sun reaches the Abhijit constellation on Shravana Krishna Pratipada.
Written in Prakrit with a Sanskrit commentary by Malayagiri Suri, it primarily describes the Sun's motion, lifespan, family, and number.
It states that there are two Suns and two Moons in Jambu Island, each with its own set of twenty-eight constellations. These celestial bodies move alternately, making only one visible at a time.
The text describes days, fortnights, months, and "Ayana" (solstices). It acknowledges that the duration of a day might vary across different locations on Earth, which is not perfectly flat, despite Jain tradition considering Jambu Island as flat. The presence of six mountains (Himavan, Mahimavan, Nishadha, Nila, Rukmin, and Shikharini) causes variations in elevation.

Chandra Prajnapti:

Similar in its division and exposition to Surya Prajnapti, though the original subjects might have differed, they have become almost identical.
Its subject matter is considered more refined than Surya Prajnapti.
It details the Sun's daily progressive motion and the separate widths of the Uttarayana and Dakshinayana paths to determine the motion of the Sun and Moon.
The fourth "Prahṛt" elaborates on the arrangement of the Sun and Moon and their heat zones.
It describes the Moon as having a perfectly circular shape in sixteen paths, refuting other shapes. The reason for this is explained by the initial movement of the first Sun and Moon in specific directions at the beginning of the Uttam-uttam Sukshama period.
The text calculates shadow measurements and, based on them, the duration of the day.
The 19th "Prahṛt" states that the Moon is self-luminous and explains its waxing and waning.
The 18th "Prahṛt" discusses the altitude of the Moon, Sun, planets, constellations, and stars, comparing them with other beliefs and stating the Jain position that planets and stars are located between 760 and 900 yojanas in altitude.
The 20th "Prahṛt" describes solar and lunar eclipses and lists synonyms for Rahu and Ketu, which differ from modern names.
The statement that the Moon is self-luminous is noted as a point for scholars to consider in light of modern scientific findings, which contradict this belief.

Jyotish Karan Daka:

An ancient text attributed to "Purvabhṛd Valabhya Prachintaracharya" with a commentary by Padalipta Suri.
The available version, "Jyotish-Karanḍaka-Prakirṇaka," contains 376 verses in a style similar to Jain Maharashtrian Prakrit compositions.
It states that it briefly extracts and presents the detailed topics from Surya Prajnapti.
The text covers twenty-one "Pahudas" related to time measurement, intercalary month calculation, tithi (lunar day) calculation, constellations, Sun-Moon motion, constellation yoga, division of celestial circles, ayana repetition, muhurta (auspicious time), motion, seasons, equinoxes, Vyatipata (astronomical yoga), heat, day purity, new moon, full moon, "Pranashta Parva," and "Pauraṣī."
It is considered an original text of ancient astrology, with its subject matter in an undeveloped state, similar to Vedanga Jyotisha. It also discusses constellation ascendants (Nakshatra Lagna).
The verse regarding ascendants is quoted: "Laggam ca dakkhiṇāya viṣuve suvi assa uttaraṁ ayaṇe. Laggam sa'i visuvesu pañcasu vi davikhṇe ayaṇe." This explains that Ashvini and Swati are considered ascendants at the equinoxes, where specific constellations are treated as ascendants similar to specific zodiac signs.
The text critiques various constellation calculations, including Krittikaadi, Dhanishthaadi, Bharanyaadi, Shravanaadi, and Abhijitaadi.

Influence on Non-Jain Literature:

Jain and non-Jain literature contemporaneous with or later than these texts discuss astrology, and independent astrological works were written, named after their authors.
Varahamihira's "Pancha Siddhantika" compiles five Siddhantas: Pitamaha, Vasishtha, Romaka, Paulisha, and Surya. Dr. Thibaut suggested Pitamaha Siddhanta is as ancient as Surya Prajnapti and Rig Jyotisha, but this is disputed. Brahmagupta and Bhaskaracharya used Pitamaha Siddhanta as a basis.

Prominent Jain Astrologers and Their Works:

The article then lists several significant Jain astrologers and their contributions:

Rishiputra: A learned Jain astrologer, possibly a disciple of Gargacharya, whose works are found in commentaries. He is credited with the development of omenology (Shakuna Shastra) and his "Nimitta Shastra" is available, detailing auspicious and inauspicious results from various omens and sounds. His works predate Varahamihira.
Kalakacharya: A scholar of omenology and astrology who brought the Rammal Vidya (divinatory art) from Yavana (Greek) lands. He is considered a key figure in establishing astrology within Jainism, preventing its neglect.
Mahaviracharya: A renowned mathematician who authored "Jyotish Patala" and "Ganitasara."
Chandrasena: Author of the extensive and important work "Kevalgyan Hora."
Sridharacharya: From Karnataka, authored "Jataka Tilaka" (or Horashastra), "Jyotirgyan Vidhi" (or Shri Karan), and "Ganitasara" (or Trishatika). He also wrote works on algebra and "Lilavati."
Durgadeva: From Kumbhanagar, authored "Rishtasamuchchaya" (1086 CE), and "Ardh Karan" and "Mantramahodadhi" in Prakrit.
Mallishana: Author of "Aayasaḍbhava," an important text on horary astrology and predictive astrology.
Narchandra Upadhyay: Authored many works, including "Vedajatavrutti," "Prashnashatak," "Satsik," "Vart-prashna Chaturvimsatika," "Janma Samudra," and "Lagna Vichara."
Samantabhadra: Author of "Kevalgyan Prashna Chudamani," likely from the 12th-13th century.
Hemaprabhasuri: Author of "Trailokya Prakash" and "Meghmala."
Harikalash: From Khartaragachha, authored "Jyotishsara" in Prakrit in 1564 CE.
Meghavijayganni: A prominent astrologer (around 1737 CE), authored "Meghamahodaya" (or Varsha Prabodh), "Udaya Deepika," "Rammal Shastra," and "Hasta Sanjeevan," among others.
Mahimoday: (around 1722 CE) A scholar of both mathematical and predictive astrology, authored "Jyotish Ratnakara" and "Ganita Saath Sau Panchanganayan Vidhi."
Ubhaya Kushala: (around 1737 CE) A skilled predictive astrologer, authored "Vivaha Patala" and "Chamatkar Chintamani."
Labdhichandraganni: A disciple of Kalyan Nidhi of Khartaragachha, authored "Janmapatri Paddhati" (1751 CE).
Baghaji Muni: From the Parshwachandra Gachchha branch (around 1783 CE), authored "Tithi Sarini" and other works on auspicious timings.
Yashasvatasagar (Jasvantsagar): A profound scholar of astrology, logic, grammar, and philosophy. He wrote a commentary on "Graha Laghava" and "Yashoraj Paddhati" (1762 CE) on natal charts.

Conclusion:

The article concludes by emphasizing that Jain scholars have made significant contributions to astrology, creating a rich body of literature. It highlights that the antiquity of Jain astrology is evidenced by its methods, such as the calculation of Vyatipata in the five-year cycle, which predates Vedanga Jyotisha. Jain scholars have extensively researched constellations, as seen in the "Prashna Vyakarana" section, which details constellation yogas, "Kula," "Upakula," and "Kulopkula."

Jain astrology is divided into two main parts: Ganita (Mathematics) and Phalita (Predictive Astrology). Mathematical astrology within Jainism deals with planetary motion, positions, retrograde motion, speed, ephemerides, calculations of distance, angles, circumference, and center. It explains the relationship between stars and planets in the sky through mathematical processes. Jain scholars have utilized various branches of mathematics, including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, spherical geometry, integral calculus, and calendrical mathematics for creating horoscopes, calculating planetary conjunctions, ascents, and descents.

The article states that Jain astrology's influence extended not only to North India but also to South India, demonstrating its antiquity and wide dissemination. It calls for the discovery, study, and publication of the many hidden Jain astrological manuscripts to bring to light Jain beliefs and their contributions to this science.