All Topics  
Yavanajataka

 

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Yavanajataka
 
 
  Topics Yavanajataka Topic Home

The Yavanajataka (Sanskrit
Sanskrit

Sanskrit is a historical Indo-Aryan language, one of the liturgical languages of Hinduism and Buddhism, and one of the 22 official languages of India....
 for "Saying (Jataka
Jataka

The Jataka Tales also known in other languages refer to a voluminous body of folklore-like literature native to India concerning the previous births of the Gotama Buddha....
) of the Greeks (Yavanas)") is the earliest writing of Indian astrology. It is a translation from Greek to Sanskrit made by "Yavanesvara
Yavanesvara

Yavanesvara was a man who lived in the Gujarat region of India under the rule of the Western Kshatrapa Saka king Rudrakarman I.In 149-150 CE, Yavanesvara translated the Yavanajataka , one of the earliest writings of Indian astrology, from Greek to Sanskrit:...
" ("Lord of the Greeks") in 149–150 CE, under the rule of the Western Kshatrapa king Rudrakarman I, and then versified 120 years later by Sphujidhwaja.

The original Greek text is though to have been written around 120 BCE in Alexandria
Alexandria

Alexandria , with a population of 4.1 million, is the second-largest city in Egypt, and is the country's largest seaport, serving about 80% of Egypt's imports and exports....
.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Yavanajataka'
Start a new discussion about 'Yavanajataka'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


The Yavanajataka (Sanskrit
Sanskrit

Sanskrit is a historical Indo-Aryan language, one of the liturgical languages of Hinduism and Buddhism, and one of the 22 official languages of India....
 for "Saying (Jataka
Jataka

The Jataka Tales also known in other languages refer to a voluminous body of folklore-like literature native to India concerning the previous births of the Gotama Buddha....
) of the Greeks (Yavanas)") is the earliest writing of Indian astrology. It is a translation from Greek to Sanskrit made by "Yavanesvara
Yavanesvara

Yavanesvara was a man who lived in the Gujarat region of India under the rule of the Western Kshatrapa Saka king Rudrakarman I.In 149-150 CE, Yavanesvara translated the Yavanajataka , one of the earliest writings of Indian astrology, from Greek to Sanskrit:...
" ("Lord of the Greeks") in 149–150 CE, under the rule of the Western Kshatrapa king Rudrakarman I, and then versified 120 years later by Sphujidhwaja.

The original Greek text is though to have been written around 120 BCE in Alexandria
Alexandria

Alexandria , with a population of 4.1 million, is the second-largest city in Egypt, and is the country's largest seaport, serving about 80% of Egypt's imports and exports....
. It is India's earliest Sanskrit work in horoscopy. It was followed by other works of Western origin which greatly influenced Indian astrology: the Paulisa Siddhanta
Paulisa Siddhanta

The Paulisa Siddhanta is an Indian astronomical treatise, based on the works of the Western scholar Paul of Alexandria . "Siddhanta" literally means "Doctrine" or "Tradition"....
 ("Doctrine of Paul"), and the Romaka Siddhanta
Romaka Siddhanta

The Romaka Siddhanta is an Indian astronomical treatise, based on the works of the ancient Ancient Rome. "Siddhanta" literally means "Doctrine" or "Tradition"....
 ("Doctrine of the Romans").

Genesis

The last verses of the text describe the role of Yavanasvera in the creation of the text, and the role of Sphujidhwaja in its subsequent versification:

  • "Previously Yavanesvara (the lord of the Greeks), whose vision of the truth came by favor of the Sun and whose language is flawless, translated this ocean of words, this jewel-mine of horoscopy, which was guarded by its being written in his tongue (i.e., Greek), but the truth of which was seen by the foremost of kings (in the year) 71; (he translated) this science of genethlialogy for the instruction of the world by means of excellent words." (Chapter 79/60-61 The Yavanajataka of Sphujidhvaja)


  • "There was a wise king named Sphujidhvaja who versified this entire (text), which was seen by him in the year 191, in 4,000 indravajra verses." (Chapter 79/62 The Yavanajataka of Sphujidhvaja)


The dates employed in the Yavanajataka are based on the Saka era (see Chapter 79/14 "When 66 years of the Sakas have elapsed..."), meaning that the translation of the text into Sanskrit was made by Yavanasvera in 149 CE
149

Events...
 (year 71 of the Saka era, which starts in 78 CE). Accordingly, the versification by Sphujidhvaja was made in 269 CE
269

Events...
.

The Yavanajataka contains instructions on calculating astrological charts (horoscope
Horoscope

In astrology, a horoscope is a chart or diagram representing the positions of the Sun, Moon, planets, the astrological aspects, and Angle at the time of an event, such as the moment of a person's Childbirth....
s) from the time and place of one's birth. Astrology flourished in the Hellenistic world (particularly Alexandria) and the Yavanajataka reflects astrological techniques developed in the Greek-speaking world. Astronomical mathematical methods, such as the calculate of the 'horoskopos' (zodiac sign on the eastern horizon) was used in the service of astrology.

See also

  • Indo-Greek kingdom
    Indo-Greek Kingdom

    The Indo-Greek Kingdom covered various parts of the northwest and northern Indian subcontinent during the last two centuries BC, and was ruled by more than 30 Hellenistic civilization kings, often in conflict with each other....
  • Paulisa Siddhanta
    Paulisa Siddhanta

    The Paulisa Siddhanta is an Indian astronomical treatise, based on the works of the Western scholar Paul of Alexandria . "Siddhanta" literally means "Doctrine" or "Tradition"....
  • Romaka Siddhanta
    Romaka Siddhanta

    The Romaka Siddhanta is an Indian astronomical treatise, based on the works of the ancient Ancient Rome. "Siddhanta" literally means "Doctrine" or "Tradition"....


External links