Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
SpringerLink
Log in

Divisions of Time and Measuring Instruments of Varaḥmihira

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Ancient Indian Leaps into Mathematics

  • 1091 Accesses

Summary

This paper is concerned with the study of the various divisions of time and their measurements from the early Vedic age up to the time of Varah. mihira. Although there are some inconsistencies among these divisions, at the practical level, the basic partitions of time correspond to the motion of the sun and have been extremely useful for the day-to-day work of society and people.

G. S. Pandey has been professor and head of the Department of Mathematics at Vikram University, Ujjain, and also president of the Indian Society for History of Mathematics for six years. His areas of interest include history of mathematics, Approximation Theory, Theory of Distributions and Macroeconomic Analysis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Abraham, George: The Gnomon in Early Indian Astronomy. Indian Journal of History of Science, Vol. 16, No. 2, 215–218 (1981).

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  2. Achar, Narahari: A Case for Revisiting the Date of Vedāṅga Jyotisa. Indian Journal of History of Science, Vol. 35, No. 3, 173–183 (2000).

    MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  3. Āryabhata: Āryabhatiyam of Āryabhata. Edited with commentary by K.S.Shukla, Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi, India (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  4. The Atharvaveda. Sanskrit Text with English Translation by Devi Chand, Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd., 54 Rani Jhansi Road, New Delhi, India (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Bhaskaracarya II. Siddhānta-Siromani. Edited with commentary in Sanskrit by Muralidhara Caturvedi, Publication Department, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi, India (1998).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Brahmagupta: Brahmasphuta-Siddhānta. Edited with commentary by R.S.Sharma, Indian Institute of Astronomical and Sankrit research, Gurudwara Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi, India (1996).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Brahmagupta: The Khandakhadyaka, Vol. I, with English Translation and Commentary by Bina Chatterjee, World Press, 37 College Street, Kolkata, India (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Burgess, Rev. Ebenezer: Translation of the Sūrya-Siddhānta (English) with commentary, University of Kolkata (1935).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Dikshit, S. B.: Indian Astronomy (Hindi Version). Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow (1990).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Fleet, J. F.: The Ancient Indian Water-Clock. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, 213–230 (1975).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hermann, Hunger and Pingree, David: Astral Sciences in Mesopotamia. Koninkvijke Bril, Leiden, the Netherlands (1999).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Jha, Parameshwar: Lives and Works of Mathematicians of Bihar. Bihar Mathematical Society, Bhagalpur, India (2004).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Kautilya: Kautilyam Arthaśāstram, Part I, with Hindi Commentary by Raghunath Singh, Krishnadas Academy, Varanasi, India (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Kautilya: The Kautilya Arthaśāstra, Part II, English Translation with Commentary by R. P. Kangle, Motilal Banarasidas Publishers Pvt. Ltd., Delhi, India (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Lagadha: Vedāṅga Jyotisa. Edited with Commentary by Sudhakar Dvivedi and Murlidhar Jha, Medical Hall Press, Banaras, India (1908).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Lagadha: Vedāṅga Jyotisa with English translation and Commentary by T.S.Kuppanna Sastry and K.V. Sarma, Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi, India (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Mahāvīrācārya: Ganitasara-Samgraḥa. Edited with Hindi Translation by L.C.Jain, Jain Sanskriti Samraksak Samgha, Sholapur, India (1963).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Ôhashi, Yukio: Astronomical Instruments in Classical Siddhāntas. Indian Journal of History of Science, Vol. 29, No. 2, 155–313 (1994).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Pandey, G. S.: The Vedic Concept of Zero. Ganitā, Bharat Ganita Parisad, Lucknow (India), Vol. 54, No. 1, 1–12 (2001).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Pandey, G. S.: Calendar Systems of Ancient India. Journal of Natural and Physical Sciences, Vol. 18, No. 1, 11–30 (2004).

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  21. Pandey, G. S.: Foundations of Golden Age of Mathematics in India (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Pandey, G. S.: Algebraic Models in Vasistha Siddhānta. Ganita (accepted for publication).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Pataṅjali: Yogasūtra – Yoga Philosophy of Pataṅjali with Bhasvati commentary and English Translation by P.N. Mukerjee, University of Caluctta, India (2000).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Rgveda. Edited by Shri Ram Sharma Acharya, Sanskrit Sansthan, Khwaja Kutub, Ved Nagar, Bareilli, India (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  25. Sarasvatī, Svamī Satya Prakash: Founders of Science in Ancient India, Part II. Vijay Kumar, Govindram Hasanand, Nai Sarak, Delhi, India (1986).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Smith, D. E.: History of Mathematics I. Dover Publications, Inc., New York (1951).

    Google Scholar 

  27. The Sūrya Siddhānta. Edited with Sanskrit commentary by K.S. Shukla, Department of Mathematics and Astronomy, Lucknow University, India (1957).

    Google Scholar 

  28. Varaḥmihira, Āchārya: Pancasiddhāntikā. Edited with English Translation and Commentary by G. Thibaut and Sudhakar Dvivedi, Kashi Sanskrit Series, Banaras, India (1889).

    Google Scholar 

  29. Varaḥmihira, Āchārya: Pancasiddhāntikā. English Translation with Commentary by T. S. Kuppanna Sastry and K. V. Sarma, P.P.S.T. Foundation, Adyar, Madras, India (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  30. Acharya Varaḥmihira: Brhatsaimhitā. English Translation with Commentary by M. R. Bhat, Motilal Banarasidas Publishers Pvt. Ltd., Jawahar Nagar, Delhi, India, (1995).

    Google Scholar 

  31. Yajurveda Samhita. English translation and commentary by R. T. H. Griffith. Edited and Revised by Ravi Prakash Arya, Parimal Publications, Shaktinagar, Delhi, India (1999).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Rashtrapati Nivas, Shimla, India

    G. S. Pandey

Authors
  1. G. S. Pandey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. S. Pandey .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mathematics, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110 021, India

    B.S. Yadav

  2. , Ramjas College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110 007, India

    Man Mohan

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Pandey, G.S. (2009). Divisions of Time and Measuring Instruments of Varaḥmihira. In: Yadav, B., Mohan, M. (eds) Ancient Indian Leaps into Mathematics. Birkhäuser, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-8176-4695-0_6

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation