Research article written by London swaminathan

Research article No 1631; Dated 7^th February 2015

Varahamihira (505 –587 CE) was a great astronomer, mathematician, scientist, poet, astrologer and a compiler. Samhita means compilation. He rightly named his book Big Compilation or Great compilation. He wrote it in Sanskrit. He deals with all the subjects under the sun in 106 chapters. Anyone that sees the contents of the book would understand the necessity of learning Sanskrit. A man who lived 1500 years before our time cared to gather whatever he can from different authors and sources and put them in a book for the future generations. We have lost thousands of books in course of time. But we are not that unlucky. We have still thousands of books in the libraries and Brhat Samhita is one of them. They are untapped sources. Someone has to study them with a modern science background. We can find new things.

In one of my articles I mentioned that Varahamihira and the Sangam Tamil poets who lived 500 years before Varahamihira refer to the link between the rain and planet Venus. No scientist has found the connection yet. There are many more in Varahamihira’s encyclopaedic work.

Though he wrote the book around 570 CE, he mentioned the name of his predecessors. This shows that India had great scientists before 500 CE. Some of the names he mentioned are Kapila, Kanabhuj, Ausanasa, Visnugupta, Purvasastra, Garga, Vrddha Garga, Parasara, Asita, Devala, Siddhanta, Surya Siddhanta (these two may be books) , Kasyapa, Vajra, MayaAtri, Bhaguri, Baladeva, manu, Sarasvata, savitra, Sakra, Sukra, Vagisa, Vasistha, Kapisthala, Garutmat, Rsaba, Bharatwaja, Visvakarman, Nagnajit, Narada, King Dravyavardhana, Saptarsimatra and Munis and Yatrakaras. So many subjects were dealt with by these people 2000 years ago and Varahamihira refers to all their works. He was very humble to say that he just compiled them.

He was a great Vedic scholar and poet. When he writes about rainfall and crops suddenly he bursts into beautiful Sanskrit poetry (I will deal with this topic separately). He quotes Vedic Mantras with the beginning line. He is an example for modern book writers and authors.

He wrote another astrological treatise known as Brhat Jataka. That is for the believers of astrology. But here in this book he writes on the following subjects:

Chapter 1 to 10: on Planets and their course

Chapters 11 to 20: Comets, Canopus (Agastya nakshatra), Sapta Rsi Mandala (Ursa Major constellation), Conjunction of Moon and other planets

Chapter 21 to 28: Clouds, Rainfall, Wind Circle, Moon’s conjunction with Rohini and Svati.

29: Flowers, 30, 31 Dawn and Twilight, 32 Earth quake, 33 Meteors

35 to 39: Halos, Rainbows, Aerial cities, Mock suns, Haze and Hurricane

Agriculture:

40 Crops, 41 Classification of Substances, 42 Price Fluctuation

42 to 47 Bird Omens (Wagtail) etc

48 to 50 Royal Ablutions, Crowns, Swords

51.52 Science of Limbs, Pimples,

53 Architecture, 54: Exploration of Water Springs, 55: Treatment of Trees

Animals:

56 and 58 Temples and Idols, 57 Preparation of Adamantine Glue

59 Entering Forest 60 Installation of Images

61 to 68 : Features of Cows, Dogs, Cocks, Tortoises, Goats, Horses, Elephants

68,69,70 Signs of men and maidens

71:Omens 72, 73 Signs of Chowries and Umbrellas

74 Praise of Women, 75 Winning Affection

Erotic Recipes!

76 Erotic Recipes 77 Preparation of Perfumes

78 Union of man and woman

79 Signs of Couches and Seats

Gemmology

80 Examinations of Gems

81, 82, 83 Pearls, Rubies and Emeralds

84,85,86,87,88, 89 Lamps, Tooth sticks, Bird Omens, Beast omens, Dogs

90 to 96 Omens : jackal cries, Crow cries etc

97 Time of Fruition

98, 99: Asterisms and Lunar Days

Marriage matches and Birth Charts

100 Qualities of Karanas

101 to 106: Birth Horoscopes, Zodiac, Marriage planetary combinations, Transits of planets, worship of planetary deities and conclusion

We must learn Sanskrit and study the originals, because there are various interpretations on words. Apart from that one can enjoy poetry.

An amazing range of subjects dealt with 1500 years ago! They existed 1000 years before his time!! He just compiled them!!

In the next few articles I will give some interesting titbits from various chapters.