[INDOLOGY] About "bha-graha"

[Martin Gansten]

Well, bha = nakṣatra typically means the asterism (out of the 27, 
beginning with Aśvinī or, in the older system, with Kṛttikā) occupied by 
the moon, unless otherwise specified. This is normal usage in muhūrta 
texts too. I am less certain about what to do with the graha part. I had 
a look at Bṛhatsaṃhitā 4.4 (pratidivasam evam arkāt...) but am not sure 
how it would apply to the discussion in the present verses.

The overall concern seems to be the same as in muhūrta generally, that 
is: (1) within each of the different calendric/astronomical variables 
such as tithi, yoga, day of the week, lunar nakṣatra, etc., which are 
most suitable for action X? and (2) when it is not possible to find a 
time that matches all or most these criteria, which one(s) should be 
prioritized? But graha is not a calendric element, and I am not sure 
what precisely it means here.

Best wishes,
Martin


Den 2019-09-24 kl. 18:05, skrev Mrinal Kaul:
> Dear Prof Gansten,
>
> Thanks very much for your email. Indeed the discussion is about 
> determining the most suitable time for following certain rituals. But 
> I am curious about "/bha/" that is prefixed to '/graha/'. In the 
> /Tantrāloka/28 and the commentary titled Vivek thereupon by Jayaratha 
> there are expressions like '/*bha*grahādyātmanaḥ/' (Viveka on 28.35) 
> where he also quotes a verse that reads 
> '/*bha*grahasamayaviśeṣaḥ/.....'. 28.40ab reads 
> '...../*bha*grahādyātmakatvāt/ /viśeṣarūpatvameva/|' In 28.42cd 
> Jayaratha begins with a question '/nanu kasmād atra āśvayuje māsi 
> *bha*grahādiyogi nokta/....|' to which Abhinavagupta is supposed to 
> have replied '/*bha*grahasamayaviśeṣo/.....|' 28.46cd also reads 
> '/dinavelā*bha*grahakalpanena/....|' 28.47cd has 
> '/*bha*grahatithiḥ'/and in 28.49cd Jayaratha quotes from the 
> /Bṛhatsaṃhitā/ 4.4 and concludes after a short discussion there saying 
> /sā hi tithir ucyate yā *bha*grahaiḥ sphuṭībhavati./ Again, 28.51d has 
> /tithi*bha*grahayogataḥ/and 28.52a has /*bha*grahayogābhāve tithiḥ/.
>
> I think Prof Gnoli also translated the expression as 'asterismi'. I 
> think I have some clarity now, but it would be nice if some expert is 
> able to throw more light, may be from Jyotiṣa texts.
>
> Many thanks and best wishes.
>
> Mrinal



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