Like many branches of knowledge, the beginnings of astronomy in Bharatavarsha have been traced back to the Vedas. Vedanga Jyotisha text is found in two recensions - Rigveda Jyotisha and Yajurveda Jyotisha. Though the contents of both the recensions are the same they differ in the number of verses contained in them. Rigveda version contains only 36 verses whereas the Yajurveda version contains 44 verses, the difference attributed to the addition of explanatory verses given by the adhvaryu who used them.<blockquote>यथा शिखा मयूराणां नागानां मणयो यथा । तद्वद्वेदाङ्गशास्राणां ज्योतिषं (गणितं) मूर्धनि स्थितम् ॥ १९ ॥ (Veda. Jyot. Yaju. 4) </blockquote>Like the crests on the heads of peacocks, like the gems on the hoods of the snakes (cobras) astronomy (mathematics) is at the highest position of vedanga shastras (the six ancillary branches of knowledge). | Like many branches of knowledge, the beginnings of astronomy in Bharatavarsha have been traced back to the Vedas. Vedanga Jyotisha text is found in two recensions - Rigveda Jyotisha and Yajurveda Jyotisha. Though the contents of both the recensions are the same they differ in the number of verses contained in them. Rigveda version contains only 36 verses whereas the Yajurveda version contains 44 verses, the difference attributed to the addition of explanatory verses given by the adhvaryu who used them.<blockquote>यथा शिखा मयूराणां नागानां मणयो यथा । तद्वद्वेदाङ्गशास्राणां ज्योतिषं (गणितं) मूर्धनि स्थितम् ॥ १९ ॥ (Veda. Jyot. Yaju. 4) </blockquote>Like the crests on the heads of peacocks, like the gems on the hoods of the snakes (cobras) astronomy (mathematics) is at the highest position of vedanga shastras (the six ancillary branches of knowledge). |