India-Central
Asia: Reflections
Jyotrivid Brijendra S. Shrivastava
.Director Apara Jyotisham, Member Board
of Studies in Jyotirvigyan Jiwaji University
Gwalior. He specializes in Medical
Astrology & teaches as Guest Lecturer in
UGC approved PG courses in Astrological
Science in Jiwaji University Gwalior. Has
presented more than 50 research papers in
national & international forums
of science, engineering,
technology, medical science,
astronomy, astrology and vedic
sciences
organized
/sponsored by Universities IITs,
etc and published in research journals like
Science India (recipient of award from the
Prime Minister in 93rd Indian Science
Congress), Vigyan Bharati Pradeepika,
AIFAS Research Journal of Astrology etc
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From Astronomy
& Astrology
By
Brijendra S. Shrivastava, India
Full of pearls a bowl I kept
Upside down on every one’s crown
In all directions the bowl moves
But Not a single pearl rolls down
A Hindi folk Child’s Quiz
S ky has always fascinated human
psyche as the history of Astronomy
suggests. When we look at sky it
evokes mixed feelings of joy, wonder,
admiration, mysticism and challenge. It
has an unconscious yet constantly
expanding horizon of individual human
consciousness and has transformed into
social consciousness because sky is one of
those natural phenomena which is
common to all. With its early advent from
anthropocentric universe to geo‐centric
universe and from geocentric to
heliocentric universe and from there to
galaxy centric universe; from multi‐
galactic cosmos up to Cosmology of
universal oneness, our awareness about
‘we’ has undergone a paradigm shift every
time affecting our understanding of global
relationships. Sky has also contributed in
the advancement of mathematics, science
and philosophy.
V.Komarov, science writer has observed
that if we trace the history of many
sciences we find that mankind has been
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immensely benefited by the study of the universe 1.
Einstein had every reason to say that intellectual potential, without which modern
technology would have been inconceivable, is mainly drawn on observations of the stars.

1‐Contribution of Brahmagupta and Other Astronomer

Mathematicians
1.1‐Indian Astronomers‐Astrologers through cultural synergy with Central Asia between
early 8th century to 12th century have also contributed in the advancement of various sciences
particularly astronomy and mathematics and also astrology. This Indo‐Arab relationship
gave both momentum and direcion to this ‘Expansion‐of consciousness‐mission’ carried out
by mankind in this part of world, when Europe was in slumber2 . The Arabic translation of
Sanskrit Greek and other literature later translated in Latin provided a great help to
European great Renaissance or reawakening from around 11th ‐12th century AD onwards as
acknowledged by many European scholars and historians

1.2‐After Mohammad Sahib, Caliph Al Mansoor founded Baghdad in 762AD Indian scholars
visited the Caliph during 772‐773 AD with Astronomical Astrological books, which were
translated in Arabic, on the order of Al Mansoor. Confirming this, Ebenezer Berges in his
translation (1860) of Surya Siddhant of Hindu Astronomy has quoted Bin Al
Admi from the astronomical tables of planetary positions worked
out by Admi and published in 920AD that during the regime of
Caliph Al Mansoor (773AD) one Indian Astrologer visited the
court along with table of planets, observations on eclipses and
coordinates of zodiacal signs. This fact was also quoted by
Colebrooke in his ‘Hindu Algebra’2 .

1.3‐At that time, arithmetic, geometry, spherical trigonometry

and algebra were part of Astronomy. In Arabic two works are most
famous: SindHind and Al Arkand, both were translation of
BrahmaGupta’s Braahma Sphuta Siddhantas Sindhind and Khand Khandak as Al Arkand
These works were translated by Persian scholar Yakoob Ibn Taatiq and Arabian AlFazaari’s
son Mohammad in Arabic with the help of Indian Pundits. Later on several translations
were done and Al Beruni (973‐1048AD) also did one.

1.4‐Edward C. Sachau, a German scholar who translated Al‐Beruni has observed that in the
history of science and knowledge in eastern countries, Brahmagupta ranks very
high.Brahmagupta taught Astronomy‐Astrology to Arabs before they came to know about
Ptolemy 3. From Brahmagupta’s Brahmasphuta Siddhant, Arabic scholar Ibrahim Ibn Habib‐
Al‐Phazaari took basic elements and computation method and prepared tables in
Mohammadan lunar months.

1.5‐Yakoob Ibn Taarik authored Tarqueeb‐Al‐Aflaaqor Construction of Astronomical

Sphere based on elements of Brahmagupta brought by another group of scholars in 161Hizri
or 777‐778AD in Baghdad from India.

1.6‐Great Islamic Mathematician Al Khwaarismi (b783 AD) authored two books on Indian
ganita and Beeja ganita‐‘Hisaab Al Hind’ or ‘Kitaab al zaam’ and ‘Tafreek Bi Hisaab Al
Hind’ explaining zero based decimal place value mathematics Number system called Hind
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Kaa Hisaab. Hisaab al Hind is not available in Arabic but was found from Spain’s Arabic
center (1126 AD) in Latin as Liber Algorizmi de Numero Indurum meaning book of
Alkhwarizmi on Hind’s Numbers.
1.7‐Impact of the work titled ‘Alkhwarizmi on Hind’s Numbers’ on Europe was so great that
Indian Number System was named as Alkhwarismi now known as Algorithm in
Mathematics. AlKhwarizmi has called the Indian Numerals used in the book as Haroof Al
Gubaar. Gunakar Muley4 has pointed out that these numbers are Indian which were
developed from Brahmi script. Muley further strengthens his assertion by bringing a
manuscript written in Spain in 976AD.It should be remembered that Spain was under
Islamic rule and to quote Rahul Sankratyaayan, Spain‘s capital Kardova had become
Baghdad of the West in the matter of knowledge and culture during 10th century.5

Sanskrit word Jeeba in trigonometry was translated as J‐B. Latin translation mistook it for
Jeb or pocket on chest and translated it sinus or chest which is now called “sine” in English
is an example of the impact of Indo‐Arabic relations on European re‐awakening.

Alkhwarizmi was born in Kheewa city of Khwarism region of today’s Uzbekistan of Central
Asia. Al Beruni (793‐1048) was also born here.

1.8‐ Indian Astronomer Aryabhat (b476AD) was first in Astronomy to expound daily
rotation of Earth. Abul Hasan Al Ahwaazi compiled his theories of planetary motions as “Al
Arjbhad” during 8th century AD. Faizi in Persian translated Bhaskaracharya’s Leelavati a
book on mathematics in 1587AD.

There’re hundreds works which deal with contribution of Indian astronomer‐

mathematicians ranging from value of Pi to different branches of mathematics, algebra,
geometry, trigonometry, spherical trigonometry etc and the joint impact of Indo‐Arabic
literature on European thought process. However, only an outline has been given here to
arouse curiosity among scholars and readers for further exploration in Indo‐Arab cultural
relations.

2. Ramal Vidya
2.1‐Ramal or the art of prediction through dice is an excellent example of cultural synergy. It
is based on four elements fire or aatashi, air or khhaarva, water or aabi and earth or baadi of
saankhya philosophy.

2.2‐Science historian Paul Tannery (1897 AD) translates Ilm Ul Ramal as Sand Time or
‘earth element’ based time calculation which in my opinion is erroneous. It reminds Dhooli
Karma because in India mathematic earlier was called Dhooli Karma – spreading dust or
sand on a board or earth for calculation, which was translated in Arabic as Haruf Al Gubaar,
as pointed out while referring to AlKhwarizmi.

2.3‐However, names of all 16 shapes formed on dice‐ kabzul daakhil etc are Arabic and its
muhurta is based on moon’s counting in Hizri calendar. This leads us to ascribe Ramal to
Arabic origin.

2.4‐S.B.Dixit in his monumental work on History of Indian Astrology6 has disproved this
assumption with a chronological analysis on the basis of a book found by Babur a European
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scholar written between 350‐500AD and mentioned in ‘Bengal Asiatic Society’ Journals
which mentions Ramal type system of answering questions with Sanskrit and Prakrat
nouns. Dixit further refers to GargSamhita of Tanjor Museum, which contains a chapter
with 235 Shlokas on Paashavali, “Paash” in Sanskrit means “Dice”. He therefore concludes
that since Sanskrit books were lost, later Sanskrit books on Paashavali or Ramal were
written from Arabic text basis. Whatever might be the fact the Vidya of Ramal is an
excellent exmple of Indo‐Arabic exchange of knowledge.

3. Annual Horoscopy
3.1‐In this system planetary chart is worked out for the moment when the sun after
completing one year arrives at the same degrees in birth chart this system is called Taazik
which is an Arabic Word. All its 16 planetary combinations employed in predictions are
Arabic in name like Itthashaal Eeshraaf etc. However, mutual degree‐wise angles of planets
called Dristis or aspects are Arabic and differ from traditional Hindu Natal Horoscopy
despite their names being in Sanskrit. Again in assessing strength of planet Hadda strength
is used in Taazik only which is nowhere used in any Indian predictive system while
working out six fold strength of a planet called shad‐bala.

3.2‐In 1592 Balbhadra who living with King Shah Shuza authored ‘Haayan Ratna’ on Taazik
System of prediction and acknowledged its Arabic origin by stating ‘yavanacharyen paarseek
bhaashayam praneetam’ jyotish shastra etc.

3.3‐It is pertinent to note that AlFazari and Al Beruni while translating predictive astrology
from Sanskrit to Arabic has adopted 1 day =1 year system which was later adopted by
westerners as secondary direction system of prediction for one year this is acknowledged by
Alfraid Pears in his Text Book of Astrology written some 100 years ago.7 Nevertheless, all
these systems are somewhat different from Taazik Annual system of prediction.

4. Sawai Jai Singh’s Observatories

4.1‐When European Astronomers were following circular orbits of planets Jai Singh (1686‐
1743AD) had discovered elliptical orbits. During the regime of Mohammad Shah, Jai Singh
worked out new tables of planetary positions after rectifying astronomical tables of Mirza
Ulug Beg, which had accumulated difference of 4 degrees and 8 minutes of arc by then.
These tables are contained in his work called ZizMohammad Shahi for determination of
Hindu and Muslim festivals more accurately.

4.2‐Sawai Raja also constructed Astronomical observatories in five places with due consent
from his ruler Mohmmad Shah, for more accurate positions of planets including the moon
which was crucial in determining Hindu and Muslim festivals as both were moon based,
because he found that metallic instruments get eroded in use and do not give precision. He
sent Father Manual to Europe for collecting observation table prepared 30 years before for
comparison. These observatories which were viewed by Jagannath Pandit as light‐house of
knowledge are also illustrations of ancient Indo‐Arabic‐cooperation. We can still draw some
inspiration from them. He also got translated Ptolemy’s work Syntaxes called Almagest in
Arabic into Sanskrit as Samrat Siddhanta. Sawai Jai Singh had also a good collection of
instruments like Atro‐Labs from Samarkand because these instruments were being prepared
in Arab countries with good precision in 17th century. Sawai Raja Singh’s work and attitude
is of immense value because his period was of political instability yet he showed high
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wisdom in strengthening Hindu Muslim relations through calenderic Astronomy and also
Indo‐Arabic relations.

B
efore this is concluded we draw attention to recent research done by Prof.C.K.Raju
of Nehru Museum who played a leading role in the C‐DAC team which built Param
our supercomputer. In his research,8 he has established that in the field of European
Gregorian calendar reform and in streamlining European navigation system Indo‐
Arabic techniques and rules of Laghu Bhaskariya a text on Indian astronomy authored by
Bhaskar I (550‐630AD) had played a decisive role.
The object of this paper is to remind that historical and scientific relations are part of a
larger social spectrum which act like a bridge often abandoned; but visiting the past through
such conferences can reaffirm our faith to evolve new patterns of relationships for making
the planet called earth‐ more better. To quote Al‐Beruni:

‘Knowledge in its true sense is always universal.

Thoughts and inventions originating from
any geographical region benefit all nations.’

References:

1. V.Komarov : The Fascinating Astronomy ,Mir Publication Moscow

2. Euclid Ptolemy and other great mathematician and astronomer of Greece and Alexenderia –Egypt,
flourished during around 300BC to 300AD. After that there was no development of knowledge. The
European world was unaware of these works till the great European Renaissance starting around 12th
century AD when European scholars came in contact with the works of Greek, Egyptian, Indian and
Arabic scholars translated from Arabic to Latin. During that time Spain was under Islamic rule and that
is why several Latin translations of Arabic works were found at first in Spain.
2 Colebrooke:Hindu Algebra P64
3.Edwrd C. Sachau translation of AlBeruni’s Kitaab Ul Hind in English as Alberuni’s India p‐xxxi
4. Gunakar Muley: Great Mathematicians of World p64‐66
5.Rahul Sankratyaayan: Darshan Digdarshan p‐146. Alfraid Hupar historian of mathematics has
observed that Arabs were first to introduce Indian numerals in Spain. It was a new and revolutionary
system. This method has paved the way of modern science and engineering .Laplace, French
mathematician (1749‐1827) has observed that this wonderful Indian method of expressing all figures only
in10 symbols appears so simple that we don’t consider its importance…
6.p‐640
7. 1‐Alfraid Pears: Text Book of Astrology P175 Published by American Federation of Astrologers
7.2‐Shri Awatar Krishna Kaul an eminent Astronomer in his article on Indian Astronomy and
Astrology of 1996 at p‐35 has quoted Robert Zoler from his Last Keys to Prediction at p‐8 that Arabs
established a link between India and Spain. Kaul says that it is to be noted that Spain’s St.Placidus
translated several astrological works in Spanish later translated in English, which included AlBeruni’s
Elements of Astrology, which is an amalgam of astrology prevailing in Central East Asia, Persia and
India. That was the period when Arabs were spreading Astrology and Astronomy in Europe.
8.Prof C. K. Raja’s article http/www/hinduwisdom.info
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