Varahamihira biography of william

6th-century Indian astronomer-astrologer

Varāhamihira (c. 20/21 March 505 – c. 587), also called Varāha or Mihira, was a Hindu astrologer-astronomer who lived in or around Ujjain in present-day Madhya Pradesh, India.

Date

Unlike other prominent ancient Indianastronomers, Varāhamihira does not mention his date.

Varahamihira biography of william

However, based on hints in his works, modern scholars date him to the 6th century CE; possibly, he also lived during the last years of the 5th century.

In his Pancha-siddhantika, Varāhamihira refers to the year 427 of the Shaka-kala (also Shakendra-kala or Shaka-bhupa-kala).

Identifying this calendar era with the Shaka era places Varāhamihira in the 505 CE. Alternative theories identify this calendar era with other eras, placing him before the 5th century CE. However, these theories are inaccurate, as Varāhamihira must have lived after Aryabhata (born 476 CE), whose work he refers to.

The particulars of the date mentioned by Varāhamihira -