THE EQUATION OF THE CONJUNCTION (ŚĪGHRAPHALA) OF THE PLANETS IN CLASSICAL INDIAN ASTRONOMY

Abstract

: In classical Indian Astronomy the true positions of the five planets are determined by repeatedly applying two equations, viz the equation of centre ( mandaphala ) and the equation of conjunction ( śīghraphala ). In the present paper we concentrate on the equation of conjunction ( śīghraphala ). Here, conjunction refers to the conjunction of a planet with the Sun, considering the ‘anomaly’ of their mean positions. In this process the concepts involved are the śīghra anomaly ( śīghrakendra ), śīghraparidhi (periphery) and the śīghrakarņa (hypotenuse).