Varāhamihira
वराहमिहिर
Sixth-century astronomer-astrologer of Ujjain, writing in all three branches.
Definition
Varāhamihira (6th century CE) worked at Ujjain and wrote in all three branches of Jyotiṣa: the Pañcasiddhāntikā (astronomy), the Bṛhat Saṃhitā (saṃhitā) and the Bṛhajjātaka and Laghujātaka (horā), along with works on marriage and military expeditions. His texts transmit Greek-derived technical terms such as horā, kendra and āpoklima alongside older Indian material. Bhaṭṭotpala's 10th-century commentaries became the standard aid to reading his works.
Articles that use this term
- Siddhanta
Eclipses in the Indian sky: what is computed and what is kept
How the siddhantas compute a grahana, what Rahu and Ketu stand for in that computation, and sutak as a practice that varies from one tradition to another.
7 min read · 30 September 2026