[INDOLOGY] Mathematical/Astronomical charts and diagrams

[Eric Moses Gurevitch]

Dear Matthew,



The following two overviews, both available online, contain sections that
address some of the questions you raised in your email.



Montelle, Clemency, and Kim Plofker. *Sanskrit Astronomical Tables*.
Sources and Studies in the History of Mathematics and Physical Sciences.
Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2018.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97037-0.



Keller, Agathe, Koolakodlu Mahesh, and Clemency Montelle. “Numerical Tables
in Sanskrit Sources.” In *History of Numerical Tables*, edited by Dominique
Tournès. Springer, In Press. https://shs.hal.science/halshs-01006137v1.



All the best,

Eric



On Mon, Jun 16, 2025 at 4:30 AM Matthew Kapstein via INDOLOGY <
indology at list.indology.info> wrote:

> Dear friends,
>
> Is there any scholarship that you can recommend that addresses the use of
> charts and diagrams in Sanskrit manuscripts (and inscriptions) dealing with
> mathematics, astronomy/astrology, or divination? I would also of course be
> interested in any observations that you may have made concerning the
> history of such visual devices in the Indian sciences. An example of the
> sort of thing I have in mind might be the well-known magic square inscribed
> at the temple of Pārśvanātha in Khajuraho, which, if it dates to the period
> of the temple's foundation, would belong to the 10th c.
>
> More generally, because we must assume that some such diagrams were used
> fairly early, in the case of horoscopes for instance, what can be said
> about the surfaces used for their preparation? Ephemeral charts inscribed
> in sand or ash, for instance, would be one type of example, but what of
> more durable materials? Are there examples on palm-leaf or birch bark that
> are more than just a few centuries old? (Of course, there are relevant
> mss., but without the sorts of visual devices that interest me, that are
> much earlier, the Bakhhshali ms. for instance.) My interest is primarily in
> materials dating to before the 14th c.
>
> with thanks for your learned guidance,
> Matthew
>
> Matthew T. Kapstein
> Professor emeritus
> Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, PSL Research University, Paris
>
> Associate
> The University of Chicago Divinity School
>
> Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
>
> https://ephe.academia.edu/MatthewKapstein
>
> https://vajrabookshop.com/product/the-life-and-work-of-auleshi/
>
>
> https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501716218/tibetan-manuscripts-and-early-printed-books-volume-i/#bookTabs=1
>
>
> https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501771255/tibetan-manuscripts-and-early-printed-books-volume-ii/#bookTabs=1
>
> https://brill.com/edcollbook/title/60949
>
> Sent with Proton Mail <https://proton.me/mail/home> secure email.
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