Brihajjatakam, also known as Brihat Jataka, is an astrological text written by Varahamihira of the 6th century CE. Varahamihira (5050-587) CE, who was a native of Avanti and pupil of his astronomer-father Adityadasa, was one of the navaratnas (nine jewels) in the court of the celebrated king Vikramaditya. He was a worshiper of the Sun, as evident from the invocatory verse of Brihajjataka. It refers to the Sun as the path of liberated souls and also as the atman of the Vedantins. In fact, the invocation is an exposition and elaboration of the Gayatri mantra, addressed to the Sun (Savitr) in Vedas.
Brihajjatakam deals with rules of the classical Hindu
astrological system, known as the Jataka, in twenty seven chapters, showing:
- Rashibheda (the divisions of the signs of the Zodiac)
- Grahabheda (detailed description of the planets, their properties, aspects, and mutual relationship)
- Vyomajanma (manifold birth of trees, birds, and other atmospheric objects
- Nisheka (conception)
- Sautika (matters of birth)
- Arishta (calamities)
- Ayurdaya (life span)
- Dasa-antardasa (principles and methods of direction and their effects)
- Ashtavarga (an eight division system of the seven planets and the rising sign)
- Karmajiva (avocation)
- Rajayoga (combinations for royal position)
- Nabhasa Yoga (planetary combinations known by the name Nabhasa);
- Chandrayoga (lunar combinations)
- Dvigrahayoga (combinations of two planets)
- Pravarjya yoga (ascetic combinations)
- Rikshashila (effects of birth under different asterisms)
- Chandra Rasishila (effects of the moon in different signs of the zodiac)
- Graha-Rasishila (effects of planets in different signs of the zodiac)
- Drishtiphala (effects of planetary aspects)
- Bhavaphala (effects of different planets in the twelve houses)
- Asryayoga (effects of the planets in several division)
- Prakirnaka (miscellaneous combinations)
- Anishtayoga (malefic combinations related to ill health)
- Strijataka (horoscope of women)
- Nirayana (matters related to death)
- Nastajataka (lost horoscopes)
- Drekkanalakshana (the decanates)
Varahamihira composed Brihat Jataka in an attractive style.
Each verse in the text bears testimony to his efficiency in expressing the full
desired meaning as briefly as possible. While reading the text, one recognizes
his poetical talent and his command over the meter. At the end of the text, he
mentions that he had consulted the works of the most of the earlier writers
such as Maya, Yavana, Manittha, Garga, Parasara and others. He also acknowledges,
having read Greek works on astronomy, some of the terms used by him as being of
Greek origin. However, he does not appear to be a blind follower of earlier writers
as he boldly points out what in his opinion do not seem to be correct.
There is also another work, Laghujataka, an abridged version
of Brihat Jataka.
All later authors of the astrological works, including those
in Puranas, have drawn heavily upon Brihatjjatakam and it remains the most authoritative
treatise on astrology. There are several well-known commentaries on it, namely,
Vritti by Bhattotpala, Visamaksaravivrti or Prakasika by Nityaprakasha
Bhattaraka, Dasadhyayi by Govinda, Vivarana Nauka by Rudra, Vivarana by
Mahidhara, Subodharthini and Tatparya-tika.