How Rasi (Zodiac) arrived in Jathaka?

Bharath Ratna Kane on rasis and week days – Vol V Part 1 Pge 532


One remarkable feature in Mhabharatha passages is that while they put forward observations of the position of the sun, the moon and the planets, not a single passage gives the position of planets in relation to the signs of the zodiac or the weekdays.

This article will deal with rasis or the signs of the zodiac..

The 12 divisions of the zodiac with 30 degrees each is not mentioned in Mahabharatha.

The Sanskrit names like Mesha, Vrishabha, Mithuna, Karkataka, Simha, Kanya, Thula, Vrischika, Dhanus, Makara, Ku.’mbha and Meena are but equivalent names given to the Greek Names.

Vrahamihira has given the Greek names as follow.

Kriya, Taavuru, Jituma, Kuleera, Leya, Paarthona, Juka, Korpiaakyaah /

Thaukshika, Akokero, Hridrogahaschaanthy abham chettham //

The Hindus were using the 28 nakshatras (including abhijit) for denoting the movement of the moon, the sun and other planets.

The 28 nakshatras were 27 of 24 hour duration and abhijit of 8 hour duration.

Abhijit is mentioned after uttara-ashadha before sravanam in two places in Mahabharatha.

But when the Hindus wanted to adopt the 12 divisions of the zodiac, they divided 27 nakshatras by 12 and assigned 2 and quarter nakshatras each for a sign and discarded the 28th nakshatra i.e. abhijit.


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Thanks to
P.K. Ramakrishnan

http://peekayar. blogspot. com