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Date of the Mṛcchakaṭikā

By J. C. Ghatak

Vol. 5 · No. 1March - 1929pp. 137–138English

Summary

The text discusses two main topics: the dating of the Sanskrit play *Mṛcchakatika* and the location of Matilakam. Regarding *Mṛcchakatika*, the author defends their astrological analysis against criticism by Rai Bahadur Hiralal, who attributed certain discoveries to Pandit Hirananda Sastri. The author argues that their findings on planetary positions and the equation of time are original and more precise, narrowing the play’s date to a 100-year period, unlike Sastri’s broader 800-year range. They emphasize a comprehensive study of astrological literature, particularly the *Brhajjataka*, to support their conclusion. On Matilakam, the text describes it as a locality four miles north of Cranganur, originally part of Cochin but now in Pippinivattam, Malabar District. It notes a mosque, church, post office, and police station, with a weekly fair on Mondays. The name Matilakam (meaning "a place within walls") is linked to an ancient Shiva temple shared by the sixty-four *gramas* of Nambudiri Brahmins, evidenced by daily offerings of food prepared from 101 *paras* of rice, indicating the temple’s wealth and significance.

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Conclusion

The analysis of the Mṛcchakatikā's astronomical references reveals significant insights into ancient Hindu timekeeping and planetary models. By demonstrating that the Sun's apparent slowdown aligns with seasonal solstice transitions, the study bridges mythological narratives with empirical astronomy. The critique of prior scholarship highlights the limitations of narrow textual interpretations, emphasizing the necessity of comprehensive astrological literature analysis for precise dating. This investigation not only refines the chronological framework of the play but also underscores the broader implications for understanding the evolution of equinox libration theories in Indian astronomy, offering a methodological model for future historical and scientific inquiries into ancient texts.

Key passages

Chosen by AI from the article's text. Each one is checked word for word against the text before it is shown.

  • “It is my humble request that the oriental scholars may consider this problem seriously as it has an important bearing on the vexed question of the libration of the equinoxes in Hindu Astronomy.”
  • “With regard to the first point the text of the Mrechakatika has “Angarakaviraddhasys prakeinasya Brhaspateh” 50 if there 15 any credit દિ this discovery it goes to the author of the Mrechakatika and not to 11. Sastrii”
  • “Indeed, the ascertainment of an author’s time within a space of 800 years profits very little the history of Sanskrit literature.”

Works cited in this article

  1. Journal of the Bihar and Orissa Research Society, June, 1928
  2. JDL, ૪૦. xiv (C.U.)
  3. Brhajjitaka
  4. Minavadharma-dastra
  5. History of Sans, Lit, p. 441

Discussed in this article

People

Places

  • Matilakam
  • Cranganur
  • Pippinivattam

Texts & works

  • Matilakam
  • Varihamihira
  • Date of Mrcchakatika from astrological Data
  • Minavadharma-dastra
  • Brhajjitaka

Dynasties, sects & groups

  • NambGiri Brahmins

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In this issue

Vol. 5 · No. 1
1–5Fables in the Vinaya‑Piṭaka of the Sarvāstivādin SchoolJean Przyluski6–14The Coronation of Candragupta MauryaJyotirmoy Sen14–30A Buddhist Inscription from Bodh‑Gaya of the Reign of JayacandradevaNirad Bandhu Sanyal31–35The Adipurāṇa and BrhatkathaA. Venkatasubbiah35–48Madanapāla’s Coronation and Identification of CandraRadha Govinda Basak49–80The Date of KanishkaHari Charan Ghosh81–86Vasubandhu and the VādavidhiH. R. Rangaswamy Iyengar86–102The Gahādavālas of KanaujAtul Krishna Sur103–112On some points connected with the Land Revenue Administration in Bengal during the 5th–7th centuries A.C.U. N. Ghoshal113–119Studies in the History of VijayanagarV. Narasimham119–124The Karoura of PtolemyK. V. Krishna Ayyar124–128Condition of Education and Architecture in the Bahmani KingdomJogindra Nath Chowdhuri129–133A Note on the Vastrapatha‑Mahatmya of the Skanda PurāṇaHem Chandra Raychaudhuri133–135Date of BallālasenaChintaharan Chakravarti136–137Was the Equation of Time known to the Vedic Seers?Ekendra Nath Ghosh137–138Date of the MṛcchakaṭikāJ. C. GhatakCurrent article138–141MatilakamT. K. Krishna Menon142–143Sankisa as a Jaina TirthaKamta Prasad Jain143–144PrasnottararatnamalikaVidhushekhara Bhattacharya145–153Notes on DravidianL. V. Ramaswami Aiyar153–154Fifth All‑India Oriental Conference, 1928U. N. Ghoshal155–164ReviewsDinesh Chandra Bhattacharya, Batakrishna Ghosh165–169Select Contents of Oriental Journals170–171Obituary: Prof. Karl Friedrich GeldnerBatakrishna Ghosh172–172Bibliographical Notes

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