bsp astrology ancient_indian_astrologers an review 11 6 2013

7/28/2019 BSP Astrology Ancient_indian_astrologers an Review 11 6 2013

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ancient_indian_astrology : Message: The 18 family non ... - Yahoo!

The 18 family non-vedic and 8 family vedic traditions of astrology:

The 18 family non-vedic and 8 family vedic traditions of astrology

- Written By Sreenadh OG

As all of you may know the name of Jaimini as a Jyotisastra pravartaka (propagators of

ancient indian astrological wisdom) is not available in any of the popular lists of Jyotisastra

pravartakas. Many used to wonder why the name of Jaimini is not mentioned in any of

those lists, if Jaimini is an ancient sage who wrote books on astrology. This write-up is an

effort to answer this question.

It is wrong to say that the name of Jaimini is not mentioned in any of the lists; but it would

be rather correct to state that, Jaimini's name is not mentioned in any of the lists that refer

to the 18 families of `propagators of astrology'. Jaimini is not part of the non-vedic 18

family tradition of astrology, but of the vedic 8 family tradition of astrology. But when I say

so, I am supposed to provide some references as well, regarding the 8 family tradition and

also about the families included on that list. Here it goes -

Chamatkara Chintamani is a texts that builds up and provides the results for planets in all

the 12 houses based on the ancient 18 family tradition of astrology. But while speaking

about the propagators of astrology Chamatkara Chintamani states "Vadantashta

deemantamanye muneendraH" (Sloka 63.) [It is told that there are 8 other sages as well

(popular as propagators of astrology)]. This statement kindles our curiosity. From the

wording "other sages" it is evident that the author of Chamatkara Chintamani does not

consider himself as a follower of this 8 sages (or 8 family) tradition. But the question is who

are these 8 ancient sages, the kula acharyas of 8 families who contributed to astrology? The

following quote answers our curiosity

Atreyaschasmarathyopi choudulomeeti samjitaH

Karshnalini tathacharyaH kasakrintana eva cha

Jaimini Badari Badarayanascha muneeswaraH


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Ete chashtau samakhyata jyotiH sastra vidhayakaH

[Atreya, Asmarathya, Audulomi, Karshnalini (Karsnajini), Kasakrintana (Kasakrtsna),

Jaimini, Badari, Badarayana (Parasari) - these 8 sages are known as teachers provides us

with the rules regarding astrology (they too are the propagators of astrology)]

This is interesting! These 8 names are not popular in current astrology, and p o s s ib l y t h i s

i s t h e o n l y l i s t a v a i la b l e t h a t m e n t i o n s t h e n am e s o f Ja i m i n i a s a n a n c i e n t

p r o p a g a t o r o f a s t r o l o g y . The system propagated by the Badarayana mentioned above is

the one popular with the name Parasari now a days and is the base of BPHS. Among those

mentioned above Parasari and Jaimini systems are popular today, but we have no news

about the astrological contribution of Atreya, Asmarathya, Audulomi, Karshnalini

(Karsnajini), Kasakrintana (Kasakrtsna) and Badari mentioned in the above list. It is

interesting to note that this 8 family teacher list is primarily available in Brahma Sutras

written by Badrayana. They are all Vedic ritual teachers and reformists. Is it possible that

the above quote and list is a made up one where after taking the list of 8 vedic scholars

mentioned Brahma Sutra someone added the word "jyotiH sastra vidhayakaH" into it? Till

we know more about the authenticity of the above quote this doubt too should be kept

alive. (I got the above sloka from a Malayalam commentary to Phaladeepika as quoted by

Brahmasri Cheruvalli Narayanan Nambootiri, and he does not give any reference regarding

where this quote is taken from). But as of now, let us assume that the above quote is

authentic and that it points to an ancient astrological tradition an alternate school of

thought.

None of the popular ancient astrological classics mentions their names or refers to their

astrological contribution! Why? The answer to this question possibly lies in the fact that

most of the astrological classics available today is a continuation of one or other of 18

family tradition and not of the not known 8 family tradition. Let us have a brief

understanding about both these traditions.

1 8 f a m i ly a g a m a ( n o n - v e d i c ) t r a d i t io n

The ancient indian astrology mainly depends on the teachings of 18 families possibly of non-

vedic or early vedic stream. Skanda, Vasishta, Kausika, Surya, Sounaka, Manu, Chayavana,

Yavana, Brigu, Garga are all among these 18 ancient masters of astrology. Not only the

available ancient texts and quotes of these 18 acharyas and their followers, but also even


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the medieval scholars like Mihira (Brihat Jataka 6th century), Gunakara (Hora Makaranda

6th century), Balabhadra (Hora Ratna), Acharya Narasimha (Hora Sara 16th century),

Kalyana Varma (Saravali 10th century), Bhattolpala (commentry of Brihat Jataka

9th century), Talakkulattu Govinda Bhattatiri (Dasadhyayi commentary of Brihat Jataka

15th

century), Kaikulangara (Hridyapatha commentary of Brihat Jataka 19th

century),Ballala Sena (Adbhuta Samhita 12th century) are all texts that belong to this tradition

initiated by this ancient 18 families; the ancient. But please note that the Jaimini sutra text

available today, the Tajik jyotisha texts, the lal kitab texts, the Ramala Jyotish texts and the

current BPHS with too much Jaimini methods interpolation DOES NOT belong to this

tradition (but of course many of ancient methods and info that is not part of Jaimini

system present in current BPHS does belong to this tradition).

8 f a m i ly n i g a m a ( v e d i c ) t r a d i t i o n

But then we find a possibly later day stream of the teachings of 8 families possibly of vedic

or later vedic stream. Among them only the astrological teachings of Jaimini and

Badarayana (Parasari) are popular as of now possibly the version of astrological teaching

introduced by some vedic reformists of the 8 family order. Let us see who they are

Atreya, Asmarathya, Audulomi, Karsnajini,Kasakrtsna, Jaimini, Badari, Parasari (B

adarayana). Karmandi-bhiksu and Alekhana etc are other personalities mentioned along

with them. They were all reformists and ritual teachers but of non-conventional vedic order.

The absence of early commentaries for the texts written by the above masters indicate that

these texts might be of much later origin possibly between 10th to 17th century texts

written by some notable individuals from the above family order. Let us remember that the

first commentary that refers to Jaimini Sutram named Phala Ratnamala by Krishna Mishra

(1050-1070) and Kalpalatha by his son Somanath Mishra appeared only in 11 thcentury AD.

From texts like Jaimin Sutra, Badarayana sutras etc we may assume that the texts by the

above 8 generally written in a sutra style and are devoid of any reference to their place,

period of creation etc depicting a confusing and made-up nature in general. Their woks

can be better treated as efforts of later day Vedic ritualists to adopt and improve upon the

non-vedic astrological foundation in a vedic way. Since there is no evidence that the

scholars of the above 8 families who lived during the ancient vedic period talked much on

astrology anywhere (in Brahmanas, Aranyakas, discussions on Brahma sutra, Meemamsa

texts etc) it is doubtful that the astrological literature ascribed to these families belongs to


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the vedic past. Most possibly (as indicated by the absence of commentaries to their

astrological texts, or references to them or their astrological texts in ancient astrological

classics) it can concluded that the astrological texts ascribed to these families must have

been created by later day scholars of these families in their effort to create the vedic

(nigama) version of the non-vedic (agama) branch of knowledge astrology; an effort by the8 vedic families to counter or extend the foundation provided by the ancient 18 family

tradition. Possibly the astrological texts ascribed to this 8 ancient vedic families do not

belong to the ancient vedic past but originated only after or around 10 th century AD it

seems.

Till more evidence surfaces in favor or against the ancient 8 family origin and association of

astrological Jaimini, Badarayana etc, it can only be assumed that, may be it was all part of

an effort by the 10th century vedic brahmins to accept and assimilate this ancient agama

branch of knowledge into their knowledge base, after seeming the revival that happened toastrology after Meenaraja and Sphujidwaja (3rd Century Tantirc Yamala followers?),

Vararuchi (4th century north indian scholar who got settled in Kerala), Mihira (6 th century

indian settled Iranian of Avanti who learned astrology from Srilanka?), Aryabhata

(5th century Kerala Jain scholar) etc who adopted and developed this ancient Aganama

branch of knowledge that was adored by Agama Tantric tradition of Skanda hora, Brihat

Prajapatya, Brahma Yamala, Adi yamala etc. But instead of integrating and adopting the

then existing astrology with the Vedic astrology as mentioned in Atharva parisishta, Atharva

Vedanga Jyotisha the 8 family tradition seems to have taken the path of extending and

introducing new innovative methods of interpretation such as Chara karakas, Rasi drishti,

Argala, Numerous dasas and so on just as done by the innovators behind the Prashna

branch of astrology happening nearly the same time in Kerala started by Vararuchi of

4thcentury AD that extended upto the creation of texts such as Prshna Marga in 16th century

AD. The South Indian Prashna stream and this 8 family stream seems to have much in

common especially considering the fact that both of them mostly use and depend upon

secondary methodologies derived based upon the foundation system provided by the 18

family traditions.

Those who are interested in this information bit can build upon this pointer and strengthen

their foundation I hope that the followers of 8 family traditions (such as Jaimini and

Parasari systems) will utilize this information and build upon it further.


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T a i lp i e c e 1 :

Badari = The Badarian culture provides the earliest direct evidence of agriculture in UpperEgypt during the Predynastic Era. It flourished between 4500 to 3800 BCE, and might have

already existed as far back as 5000 BCE.

Is it possible that the words like "Atreya, Asmarathya, Audulomi, Karsnajini, Kasakrtsna,

Jaimini, Badari, Parasari (Badarayana)" etc points to non-indian, or outside indian origin of

these vedic words and people

bsp astrology ancient_indian_astrologers an review 11 6 2013

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