Ancient Indian Astronomy (Planetary, Positions and Eclipses)

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About the Book

The book Ancient Indian Astronomy-Planetary. Positions and Eclipses is mainly addressed to students who are keenly interested in learning and becoming proficient in the concepts, techniques and computational procedures of Indian Astronomy.

The procedures and algorithms described succinctly in the popular Indian traditional texts like Khanda Khadyaka of Brahmagupta, Sürya Siddhänta and Graha Laghavam of Gansa Daivajna for (1) the mean and true positions of the sun and the moon, the tärägrahas (star planets) and (ii) computations of lunar and solar eclipses are elaborated with actual examples.

A unique and pioneering feature of the book is providing ready- to-use computer programs for the above-cited procedures, which can be readily used by the students and researchers in the field of astronomy for computations of planetary positions and eclipses according to the popular Indian astronomical texts used in this work and for a comparative study.

Appendices present the effect of the phenomenon of precession of equinoxes and the resulting ayanämśa, relevant to Indian astronomy and the computation of lagna, the orient ecliptic point (ascendant) according to the traditional Indian method respectively. To enhance the usefulness of the book, a detailed Bibliography of the original Sanskrit works and also of the secondary sources in English is provided. Fairly exhaustive Glossary of technical words and an index, for ready reference, form the last part of the book.

A sincere attempt has been made to contribute significantly to the field of astronomy by (i) providing suggested improved procedures for computing lunar and solar eclipses, and (ii) suggesting bijas (corrections) for planetary positions to yield better results comparable to modern ones.

About the Author

S. Balachandra Rao is currently Principal & Professor of Mathematics, National College, Basavanagudi, Bangalore. He has authored the book Indian Mathematics and Astronomy-Some Landmarks which received critical appreciation from eminent scholars and reviewers.

Acknowledgements

I acknowledge my sincere gratitude to the prestigious Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi, and in particular to Dr. A.K. Bag, for sponsoring my research project on the subject. In fact, this project forms the genesis of the present book.

Preface

The present book, Ancient Indian Astronomy-Planetary Positions and Eclipses, is mainly addressed to students who are keenly interested in learning and becoming proficient in the concepts, techniques and computational procedures of Indian astronomy. These form an integral part of our Indian culture and are developed by the great savants of Indian astronomy over the past more than two millennia.