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Yavanajataka
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Yavanajātaka (Sanskrit: yavana 'Greek' + jātaka 'nativity' = 'nativity according to the Greeks') of
Sphujidhvaja is an ancient text in Indian astrology.

It is a later versification of an earlier translation into Sanskrit of a Greek text, thought to have been written
around 120 BCE in Alexandria,[1] on horoscopy. The original translation, made in 149–150 CE by
"Yavanesvara" ("Lord of the Greeks") under the rule of the Western Kshatrapa king Rudrakarman I, is lost.
Only a substantial portion of the versification 120 years later by Sphujidhvaja under Rudrasena II has
survived.[2]

Yavanajataka is the earliest known Sanskrit work referencing western horoscopy.[3] It was followed by other
works of Western origin which greatly influenced Indian astrology: the Paulisa Siddhanta ("Doctrine of
Paul"), and the Romaka Siddhanta ("Doctrine of the Romans"). However the earliest known sanskrit work
on horoscopy is Vedanga Jyotisha

It was translated by David Pingree into English, which was published as volume 48 of the Harvard Oriental
Series in 1978.[4][5]

Contents
1 Genesis
2 References to Greek astrology
3 See also
4 Notes
5 References
6 External links

Genesis
The last verses of the text describe the role of Yavanasvera in the creation of the text, and the role of
Sphujidhvaja in its subsequent versification:

"Previously Yavanesvara (the lord of the Greeks), whose vision of the truth came by favor of
the Sun and whose language is flawless, translated this ocean of words, this jewel-mine of
horoscopy, which was guarded by its being written in his tongue (i.e., Greek), but the truth of
which was seen by the foremost of kings (in the year) 71; (he translated) this science of
genethlialogy for the instruction of the world by means of excellent words." (Chapter 79/60-61
The Yavanajataka of Sphujidhvaja)

"There was a wise king named Sphujidhvaja who versified this entire (text), which was seen by
him in the year 191, in 4,000 indravajra verses." (Chapter 79/62 The Yavanajataka of
Sphujidhvaja)

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The dates employed in the Yavanajataka are based on the Saka era (see Chapter 79/14 "When 66 years of
the Sakas have elapsed..."), meaning that the translation of the text into Sanskrit was made by Yavanasvera
in 149 CE (year 71 of the Saka era, which starts in 78 CE). Accordingly, the versification by Sphujidhvaja
was made in 269 CE.

The Yavanajataka contains instructions on calculating astrological charts (horoscopes) from the time and
place of one's birth. Astrology flourished in the Hellenistic world (particularly Alexandria) and the
Yavanajataka reflects astrological techniques developed in the Greek-speaking world. Astronomical
mathematical methods, such as the calculate of the 'horoskopos' (zodiac sign on the eastern horizon) was
used in the service of astrology.

References to Greek astrology

There are various direct references to Greek astrological knowledge in the text, and the nomenclature is
clearly taken from the Greek language:

"The seventh place from the ascendent, the descendent, is called jamitra (diametros) in the
language of the Greeks; the tenth from the ascendent, the mid-heaven, they say, is the mesurana
(mesouranma)." (Chapter 1/49 The Yavanajataka of Sphujidhvaja)

"This is said to be the method of determining the strength or weakness of the signs and planets
according to the teaching of the Greeks; they say that, of the complete set of influences in
horoscopy, there is an enormous number..." (Chapter 1/92 The Yavanajataka of Sphujidhvaja)

"Thirty-six are the thirds of the zodiacal signs which are called Drekanas (dekanos) by the
Greeks. They have various clothes, forms, and colors; I will describe them with all their qualities
beginning with their characteristic signs." (Chapter 3/1 The Yavanajataka of Sphujidhvaja)

"The rule concerning the actions of people which was described by the foremost (astrologers) of
the Greeks with respect to the planetary week-days is to be established in a similar rule with
respect to the hours (hora) which pass through the days" (Chapter 77/9 The Yavanajataka of
Sphujidhvaja)

"If the ascendant is an upacaya of his birth-ascendant and is occupied by a benefit planet, but
not conjoined with a malefic, and if the Moon is in a good and favourable sign, the Greeks say
that he always succeeds in his undertakings." (Chapter 78/3 The Yavanajataka of Sphujidhvaja)

"The wise say that the observed course of the planets is the supreme eye of the entire body of
the rules of horoscopy. I shall explain it concisely according to the instruction of the Greeks."
(Chapter 79/1 The Yavanajataka of Sphujidhvaja)

"Some who are students of the laws (of astronomy) find that it is good to follow the opinion of
the sage Vasistha; (but according to) the best of the Greeks (the yuga) should consist of 165
years." (Chapter 79/3 The Yavanajataka of Sphujidhvaja)

See also

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Indo-Greek kingdom
Paulisa Siddhanta
Romaka Siddhanta

Notes
1. ^ Source (http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Search/historysearch.cgi?SUGGESTION=Greek*&
CONTEXT=1)
2. ^ Pingree (1981) p.81
3. ^ Mc Evilley "The shape of ancient thought", p385 ("The Yavanajataka is the earliest surviving Sanskrit text in
horoscopy, and constitute the basis of all later Indian developments in horoscopy", himself quoting David
Pingree "The Yavanajataka of Sphujidhvaja" p5)
4. ^ Dhavale, D. G. (1984). "The Yavanajataka of Sphujidhvaja by David Pingree". Annals of the Bhandarkar
Oriental Research Institute 65 (1/4): 266–267. JSTOR 41693124 (https://www.jstor.org/stable/41693124).
5. ^ Rocher, Ludo (March 1980). "The Yavanajataka of Sphujidhvaja by David Pingree". Isis 71 (1): 173–174.
doi:10.1086/352443 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1086%2F352443). JSTOR 230349 (https://www.jstor.org/stable
/230349).

References
"The shape of ancient thought", Thomas McEvilley, ISBN 1-58115-203-5
David Pingree, "Jyotiḥśāstra", Jan Gonda (ed) A History of Indian Literature, Vol, VI Fasc. 4, Otto
Harrassowitz — Wiesbaden, 1981

External links
The Yavanajataka of Sphujidhvaja (full text) (http://www.brihaspati.net/yavana_jataka.htm)

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Categories: Indian literature Astrological texts Hindu astrology

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