Arikah Map

Varahamihira

Varahamihira (505 – 587) was an Indian astronomer, mathematician, and astrologer born in Ujjain. Varahamihira's book Pancasiddhantika (or Pancha-Siddhantika, The Five Astronomical Canons) dated 575 AD gives us information about older Indian texts which are now lost. The work is a treatise on mathematical astronomy and it summarises five earlier astronomical treatises, namely the Surya Siddhanta, Romaka Siddhanta, Paulisa Siddhanta, Vasishtha Siddhanta and Paitamaha Siddhantas. His other most important contribution is the encyclopedic Brihat-Samhita.

Varahamihira is said to have been a Maga Brahmin. Varahamihira's picture may be found in the Indian Parliament alongside Aryabhata's.

Varahamihira made important contributions to mathematics. He was also an astrologer. He is the only author who has written treatises on all the three main branches of Jyotisha astrology. He has gifted us with the following treatises on astrology :

  • Brihat Jaatak - is considered as one the five main treatises on Hindu astrology on horoscopy.
  • Daivaigya Vallabha
  • Laghu Jaatak
  • Yoga Yatra
  • Pancha-Siddhantika
  • Vivaha Patal
  • His son Prithuyasas also contributed in the Hindu astrology; his book "Hora Saara" is a famous book on horoscopy.

    Some important trigonometric results attributed Varahimira

    <math> \sin^2 x + \cos^2 x = 1 \;\!</math>
    <math> \sin x = \cos\left(\frac{\pi} {2} - x \right) </math>
    <math> \frac {1 - \cos 2x}{2} = \sin^2x </math>

    He not only presented his own observations, but embelished them in attractive poetic and metrical styles. The usage of a large variety of meters is especially evident in his Brihat Jatak and Brihat-Samhita.

    Categories


    Hindu mathematicians | 505 births | 587 deaths | Indian mathematicians | 6th century mathematicians | Indian astronomers | Indian astrologers | Medieval astronomers | Astrologers

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