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Varaah Mihir (499-587 AD) or (505-587 AD) Varaah Mihir is the father of Hindu Astrology. Varaah means wild pig or boar. His real name was Mihir, but how he came to be known as Varaah Mihir, is an interesting story - given below. He was a minister in a King’s court allotted to foretell happenings. He wrote many laws to follow the effects of Planets on human life. Varaah Mihir (499-587 AD) or (505-587 AD), an eminent astrologer and astronomer who was honored with a special decoration and status as one of the nine gems in the court of King Vikramaaditya in Avantee (Ujjain). Very little is known about his life, but he is believed from South Bangaal. There is a mound called "Mound of Khaanaa and Mihir". Khaanaa was the daughter-in-law of Varaah Mihir. Khaanaa herself was a great astrologer. According to one of his works he was educated in Kapitthakaa. Suryanarain Rao has written his biography "Life of Varaha Mihir", which says - that he was a Braahman, a son of Aaditya Daas, from the region of Avantee. He was taught astrology by his father who was a great worshipper of Krishn. By performing severe austerities to please Soorya Naaraayan, Mihir got blessed with the knowledge of Ganit (mathematics), Horaa, and Sanhitaa. He was one of the nine Gems in Vikramaaditya's court. How He Got His Name as Varaah Mihir
On the given day, at the hour of the prediction, the king was informed that his child, kept safe in that palace, died. King was in shock. He was informed that in the gale, hitting the top of the palace that day, the forceful wind removed the bronze state symbol, that flew into the palace room and hit the child with massive force. The child was killed by that statue. King asked Mihir - "Mihir, you never told me that child will die by hit of a metal statue.’ Mihir replied - "This is the difference between God and me. He only informs the result in this science of deduction and not the tool." He was named ‘Varaah’ before his name by that king because of this event only – the father of Astrology. Another Explanation Works of Varaah Mihir
He notes that the Moon and planets are lustrous not because of their own light but due to sunlight. His another important contribution is Brihad Sanhitaa. In the "Brihad Sanhitaa", he has revealed his discoveries in the domains of geography, constellation, science, botany and animal science. In his treatise on botanical science, Varaah Mihir presents cures for various diseases afflicting plants and trees. The Rishi-scientist survives through his unique contributions to the science of astrology and astronomy. He has written "Brihad Jaatak" also. Brihad Jaatak is his astrological book which is considered one of the five main books on astrology. In this book he has covered three branches of astrology - Daivagya Vallabh, Laghu Jaatak, Yog Yaatraa, and Vivaah Patal. Varaah Mihir is in many ways even more important than Paraashar Muni (another astrologer) for the reason that while there are several ancient commentaries on the work of Varaah Mihir, none exists for those of Paraashar Muni. His son Prithuyaas was also a great astrologer. His book "Horaa Saar" is also very famous in the field of astrology. Varaah Mihir's mathematical work included the discovery of the trigonometric formulas. Varaah Mihir improved the accuracy of the sine tables of Aaryabhatt I and calculated the binomial coefficients, known in the European civilization as Pascal's triangle. Among Varaah Mihir's contribution to physics is his statement that reflection is caused by the back-scattering of particles and refraction (the change of direction of a light ray as it moves from one medium into another) by the ability of the particles to penetrate inner spaces of the material, much like fluids that move through porous objects. Lagna Varaahee by Varaah Mihir
Sreenadh is going to include the following paragraph about the birthplace
of Varaah Mihir in his above mentioned book (Brihat Jataka) Some believe that Varaah Mihir was originally from Aassaam (Pragjyotish Pur) and some others believe that he was from Bangaal or as a compromise from the border region between Aassaam and Bangaal (not much away from Pragjyotish Pur). Apart from this and the fact that his daughter-in-law Khanaa's Bangaalee book became popular in Bangaal, (so probably she lived in Bangaal too), there is not much evidence to support this argument."
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Created and Maintained by Sushma Gupta
Created on 05/18/2008 and Updated on
06/09/2013