Quick read: Ghati Yantra measured time with a bowl of water.
Indian astronomers had a range of astronomical instruments, easily made by most craftsmen.
Brahmagupta’s magnum opus Brahmasputa Siddhanta describes among others, a water clock (ghati yantra). It is a bowl with a small hole at the bottom, which would sink in exactly 24 minutes (a ghati) if placed over water.
It also describes a gnomon (short stick kept vertically for the study of the motion of its shadow) and a graduated disk or half disk and a scissor like pair acting as compass. Later astronomers like Lalla described more instruments. Brahmagupta (born 598 CE), lived near Mount Abu. He mistakenly rejected Āryabhaṭa’s view of the earth as a rotating sphere. He contributed much to calculations of the mean and true longitudes of planets, conjunctions and problems of lunar and solar eclipses, applying to all these his considerable mathematical skills.
Brahmagupta was one of the major sources of inspiration to Arab astronomers, his works being translated into Arabic called Al-Zij-al-Sindhind in the late 8th cent CE.
Varahamihira was another great astronomer of this period. His Surya Siddanta is considered the fundamental text of Indian astronomy. He also summarized the tenets of Greek astronomy.
Picture Credit: CBSE
Quick read: Ghati Yantra measured time with a bowl of water.
Indian astronomers had a range of astronomical instruments, easily made by most craftsmen.
Brahmagupta’s magnum opus Brahmasputa Siddhanta describes among others, a water clock (ghati yantra). It is a bowl with a small hole at the bottom, which would sink in exactly 24 minutes (a ghati) if placed over water.
It also describes a gnomon (short stick kept vertically for the study of the motion of its shadow) and a graduated disk or half disk and a scissor like pair acting as compass. Later astronomers like Lalla described more instruments. Brahmagupta (born 598 CE), lived near Mount Abu. He mistakenly rejected Āryabhaṭa’s view of the earth as a rotating sphere. He contributed much to calculations of the mean and true longitudes of planets, conjunctions and problems of lunar and solar eclipses, applying to all these his considerable mathematical skills.
Brahmagupta was one of the major sources of inspiration to Arab astronomers, his works being translated into Arabic called Al-Zij-al-Sindhind in the late 8th cent CE.
Varahamihira was another great astronomer of this period. His Surya Siddanta is considered the fundamental text of Indian astronomy. He also summarized the tenets of Greek astronomy.
Picture Credit: CBSE
