Chapter Twelve

PAITĀMAHA SIDDHANTA

द्वादशोऽध्यायः

पैतामहसिद्धान्तः

Introduction In this chapter Varāhamihira deals with the Paitāmaha siddhānta, the other four having already been dealt with. As an astronomical work the Paitāmaha is of very little value, as the author has remarked in his Introduction, “the tithis of the other two, (meaning the Vāsiṣṭha and the Paitāmaha), are far from correct.” Since this siddhānta gives only the mean Sun and Moon, and therefrom the mean tithis, it cannot satisfy the requirements of the Dharmaśāstras. But it is historically important as a system that immediately followed the Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa. We shall explain at the end of the chapter how this could have subserved religious purposes in ancient times, and what merits it possesses as the basis of a civil calendar.

[अहर्गणः] रविशशिनोः पञ्च युगं वर्षाणि पितामहोपदिष्टानि | अधिमासास्त्रिंशद्भिर्मासैरवमो द्विषष्ट्याऽह्नाम् || १ || (द्व्यू) नं शकेन्द्रकालं पञ्चभिरुद्धृत्य शेषवर्षाणाम् | द्युगणं माघसिताद्यं कुर्याद्द्यु[गभानि] वह्न्युदयात् || २ ||

Days from Epoch

1. The Siddhānta of Paitāmaha teaches that the luni-solar yuga is five years. After every thirty synodic months there is an intercalary month, and there is an omitted day for every 62 lunar days or tithis.
2. Subtract two from the years of the elapsed Śaka era, and divide out the remaining year by five. The ‘days from epoch’ are to be calculated for the remaining years etc., the first day being the śuklapratipad of the month of Māgha. The nakṣastras of the Sun and the Moon, calculated by using the days, are for sunrise.

1-2 Quoted by Utpala on BS 8.22 1c. D. मासः 1d. A. मासैरवमस्त्रिपद्याप्तुं |; B. मासिरवमस्त्रिषष्ट्यार्का (B2.3. षष्ट्यंर्का) C. द्विषष्ट्या तु. 2a. A.B. द्युनं; U. द्यूनं 2b. A. पञ्चविगुधृत्य; B. पञ्चविगुहृत्य A1. वर्षाणं 2c. A.B. ॰माघसिताद्यं 2d. A.B.C.D. कुर्याद्द्यु (B. द्युध्यु; C.D. द् यु) गणं A.C.D. तदह्न्युदयात्; B. तदद्वैद्यात्; U. तद्वह्न्युदयात्