No reason to mistrust Weber in this peculiar case. The word is clearly of Arabic origin; cf. also np. moddat.

With best wishes

Chlodwig H. Werba

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Von: INDOLOGY [mailto:indology-bounces@list.indology.info] Im Auftrag von Hock, Hans Henrich
Gesendet: Mittwoch, 01. Mai 2013 21:00
An: Martin Gansten
Cc: <indology@list.indology.info>
Betreff: Re: [INDOLOGY] Mudda?

This couldn't be a later Indo-Aryan form corresponding to Skt. mudrā? 

Hans Henrich Hock

On 1 May 2013, at 08:23, Martin Gansten wrote:

I should be very grateful if anyone could enlighten me as to the meaning and etymology of the North Indian word muddā, as in muddā daśā, referring to a particular astrological division of a single year of life (employed in varṣaphala or annual horoscopy). Clearly the word is not of Sanskrit origin, although it made its way into Sanskrit in early modern times. Monier-Williams and Böhtlingk just refer to mudda (with short -a) as an astrological term, without commenting on its meaning; the source is apparently Weber's Indische Studien 2: 276, which gives two possible Arabic etymologies; but as Weber was notoriously unlucky in his etymological guesses, I would rather hear the opinions of knowledgeable list members.

Martin Gansten
Lund University

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