Life
Varāhamihira (6th century) compiled encyclopedic works on astronomy, astrology and related omen lore, notably the Bṛhat Saṃhitā and Bṛhat Jātaka. He stands in the Jyotiṣa scholarly lineage bridging earlier siddhāntas and later medieval handbooks. ORDL lists him under Jyotiṣa as classical literature—not as a modern consulting course.
The system
- Jyotiṣa as mixed astronomy, calendrics and natal lore.
- Encyclopedic saṃhitā style gathering omens and architecture lore.
- ORDL boundary: classical texts—not personal chart sales copy.
Key works
- Bṛhat Saṃhitā
- Bṛhat Jātaka
- Pañcasiddhāntikā (astronomical handbook)
Where to start
- A modern translation of Bṛhat Jātaka with historical notes
- Compare with ORDL’s Western astrology mentors for exchange history
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How does Varāhamihira’s saṃhitā encyclopedism differ from a narrow natal-only idea of ‘Vedic astrology’?Ask Orin this question