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    Kriya Tavuru

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    iamkutty
    The document discusses whether the Indian sign names used in astrology are of Greek origin. It analyzes the meanings of the Sanskrit and Greek names and finds they differ, suggesting a common older origin rather than Greek influence. References from ancient Indian texts are provided to show the names predate any Greek contact.

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    Kriya Tavuru

    Uploaded by

    iamkutty
    239 views3 pages
    The document discusses whether the Indian sign names used in astrology are of Greek origin. It analyzes the meanings of the Sanskrit and Greek names and finds they differ, suggesting a common older origin rather than Greek influence. References from ancient Indian texts are provided to show the names predate any Greek contact.

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    Kriya-Tavuru

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    The document discusses whether the Indian sign names used in astrology are of Greek origin. It analyzes the meanings of the Sanskrit and Greek names and finds they differ, suggesting a common older origin rather than Greek influence. References from ancient Indian texts are provided to show the names predate any Greek contact.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    239 views3 pages

    Kriya Tavuru

    Uploaded by

    iamkutty
    The document discusses whether the Indian sign names used in astrology are of Greek origin. It analyzes the meanings of the Sanskrit and Greek names and finds they differ, suggesting a common older origin rather than Greek influence. References from ancient Indian texts are provided to show the names predate any Greek contact.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    1

    Are the Indian Sign Names of Greek Origin?


    In Brihat Jataka of Varaha Mihira, there is a sloka that gives some
    alternate names for signs, which some people use in support of the
    argument that, Indian Sign names used to describe zodiac signs is of
    Greek origin. The sloka is as follows -

    G-i-Vi-E--{lx-VE-E{J&
    iIE +EE pM-Sxi-Sil**
    - iViE
    [Kriya, Tavuru, Jutuma, Kuleera, Leya, Parthona, Jooka, Korpi,
    Taushika, Akokera, Hridroga, Chetthasi are the names of Signs (starting from Aries)]
    There is a striking phonetical similarity between these words and
    their greek counter parts as listed belowSign

    Sanskrit

    Synonym

    Greek

    Aries

    Mesha

    Kriya

    Krios

    Taurus

    Vrishabha

    Tavuru

    Taurus

    Gemini

    Midhuna

    Jutuma

    Didymoi

    Cancer

    Karkitaka

    Kuleera

    Karkinos

    Leo

    Simha

    Leya

    Leon

    Virgo

    Kanya

    Parthona

    Parthenos

    Libra

    Tula

    Juka

    Khelai

    Scorpio

    Vrischika

    Korpi

    Skorpios

    Sagittarius

    Dhanu

    Taushika

    Toxotes

    Capricorn

    Makara

    Akokera

    Aigokeros

    Aquarius

    Kumbha

    Hridroga

    Hydrokhoos

    Pisces

    Meena

    Chetthasi

    Ikhthys

    Notice the sharp phonetical similarity between the words of 3rd and
    4th column. It is these similarities that lead many to ascribe Greek

    origin to the Ancient Indian Sign names.


    But the argument in favor of Greek origin of these words is base
    less due to the following reason.
    The meaning of these words as used in India and as used in
    Greek differ greatly pointing to a common source of origin (possibly from the great Asura Agama tradition which spanned large
    geographical area covering Assyria, Harappa etc).
    Let us analyze this second point in detail. The meaning of these
    similar Greek words and indian words are given in the following table.
    Indian

    Meaning

    Greek

    Meening

    Kriya

    Ram

    Krios

    Ram

    Tavuru

    Camel

    Taurus

    Bull

    Jutuma

    Chicken

    Didymoi

    Twins

    Kuleera

    Crab

    Karkinos

    Crab

    Laya

    A type of deer Leon

    Lion

    Parthona

    Virgin

    Parthenos

    Virgin

    Juka

    Domestic bird

    Khelai

    Claws

    Korpi

    Snake

    Skorpios

    Scorpion

    Taushika

    Whale

    Toxotes

    Archer

    Akokera

    Hippopotamous Aigokeros

    Got-horned

    Hridroga

    Pot

    Water-pourer

    Chetthasi

    Water-Women Ikhthys

    Hydrokhoos

    Fishes

    The above tabulation clarifies that even though there is much phonetical similarity between these words, their meaning in both Indian
    and Greek context greatly differ except in the case of 3 out of the total
    12 of them! Thus it points to a possible common origin, but never an
    adoption of Indian names by Greek or vice versa.
    Let go a bit more deep to clarify the meaning of the words used by
    Mihira in Indian context - giving importance to astrology texts, ancient

    Sanskrit Nikhandus itself. Most of the Nikhandu references are given


    below from Sabda vyooha Tarangini or Dharanadha. (I am quoting
    these references from Hridyapadha Vyakhya of Brihat Jataka - a commentary of Brihat Jataka very popular in Kerala)
    Kriya
    Kriya means Ram. Brihat Parjapatya says - G(+)Vi meaning
    if it is Kriya then tell Ram (or sheep). G& { {xV& meaning Kriya
    is the name for male got or Ram.
    Tavuru
    Tavuru means Camel. Sabda Vyooha Tarangini says =]& GE &
    ES {& i iii il meaning Ushtra, Ilaka, Babhru,
    Karabha, Mahavapu, Tavuru, Tavuri, Tavu, Tavura etc are all names
    for Camel
    Jutuma
    Jutuma means Chicken or Domestic foul. Vi meaning
    Samau, Jutuma and Sarasa are the names for Chicken.
    Kuleera
    Kuleera means Crab. But this word also got another meaning Crocodile. (i.e. The word Kuleera can be used to refer to both Cancer and
    Capricorn). As per Sabda Vyooha Tarangini E xGEE] meaning
    the word Kuleera refers to Crocodile and Crab (Capricorn and Cancer signs). Amarakosha says E& ECE]E& means Kuleera is
    the name for Crab (Cancer sign). Nanardha Ratnamala says E]
    ECE] meaning both the Kuteera houses (Capricorn and Cancer)
    are the dwelling places of Crabs. Thus it becomes clear that Cancer
    is the popular meaning for the word Kuleera, but the meaning Capricorn is also not less popular.
    It should be noted that both the Sankrit Nikhandus, Sabda Vyooha
    Tarangini of Dharanadha and Amarakosha are equally popular among
    scholars.
    Leya
    Leya means a special type of deer as big as a cow - it is said that it

    is an 8 feet long deer. +l M]{ meaning Leya means 8 feet


    long deer.
    Parthona
    Parthona means virgin or unmarried woman. +j { {i\S iE\Si
    {ilx{ {lx Ex u il meaning unmarried woman without
    children and virgin - both of them are known by the words Parthonam,
    Pathonam etc.
    Juka
    Juka means domesticated bird especially domesticated city birds,
    like parrot, pigeon etc. VE xMM E{in {I meaning Juka means
    birds like pigeon etc domesticated in houses and cities.
    Korpi
    Korpi means Snake. {& {nEVMSGE{VM means Sarpa,
    pridakur, Bhujaga, Chakri, Korpi, Bhujangama are the names for Snake
    Taushika
    Taushika means Whale (very big fish). iIEi Z& meaning
    Taushika is the name for very big fish (whale).
    Akokera
    Akokera means Hippopotamus (water elephant). +EE MVvV&
    means Akokera is the name for water elephant (Hippopotamus).
    Hridroga
    Hridroga means water pot. P]& E]x{j pM& Eil means
    The words Khata, kuta, nipava, kalasa all refer to water pot.
    Chethasi
    Chethasi means water-women or water-man (fish below waist and
    human above waist; also may refer to fisher man and fisher woman).
    pE x& SSilSilx{ +l uzSil u{xi& meaning
    the human in the sea is called Chethasi or Chethavan. Or the half fish
    half human beings are also called Chethasi.

    Hope that this write-up may help at least some confused people in
    approaching this delicate subject in a better scholarly manner and come
    out with truthful sincere conclusions - instead of bush bashing.
    There are other reasons too due to which the above mentioned words
    used to refer to signs in Indian context cannot be of Greek origin. To list
    some 1) The same sloka is found in Parasara hora of BC 1400 as well.
    (The BC 1400 origin of Parasara Hora is dealt with in another article).
    2) Even the first and greatest work of Nirayana Astrology called
    Jyotishmati Upanishad (also known as Skanda hora) gives these names
    while dealing with Signs. The relevant quote from Jyotishmati Upanishad
    (Skanda Hora) is quoted below -

    iS SE&
    lx Vi |zMi S{
    E]& ECE]& ECE EE]Svi
    MxpS Exj ExE{ S
    SE v{& E{ vxvx S iIE&
    +EE M xG E|Mi
    E& Ex pM <i SSi
    +x x vSili{**
    - Vii ={xn (Exn)
    [Tavuri, Saurabheya, Vrisha are the names of Vrishabha (Taurus).
    Mithuna, Jutuma, Nriyugma are the names of the next sign (Gemini).
    Kuteera, Karkata, Karki, Krikata are the names of Karkata (Cancer).
    Simha, Leya, Mrigendra are the names of Simha (Leo). Kanya, Sti,
    Kanyaka are the names of Kanya (Virgo). Vrischika, Madhupa, Korpi
    are the names of Vrischika (Scorpio). Dhanur, Danvi, Taushika are the
    names of Dhanu (Sagittarius). Akokera, Mriga, Nakra are the names
    of Makara (Capricorn). Kumbha, Kalasa, Hridroga are the names of
    Kumbha (Aquarius). Animesha, Meena, Chethasi are the names of
    Meena (Pisces)]
    I know that all those who just want to bish-bash and never sincere
    will not be satisfied even with these references - actually they cannot
    be satisfied at all due to their inborn insincerity. Usually people dont

    want to dive into in-depth study - and jumps into conclusions based on
    superfluous similarities - and it is then that the ignorant lot start wearing
    clownly attire of scholarly ones and start acting as if they know everything. But I hope there would be at least some sincere individual for
    whom this write-up will become guidance to further study. It is for
    them.
    Note: Consider this write-up only as a beginning point for a detailed
    and in-depth study, of these subjects (both astrology and history) which
    have great secrets in store to share with every true seeker.
    - Written by Sreenadh OG
    group:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ancient_indian_astrology

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