The Concentric Equant Model Of Aryabhata

By Author: G Kumar
Total Articles: 37
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Aryabhata developed a Concentric Equant Model, in the sixth century. The Sun moves on a circle of radius R, called a deferent, whose center is the Observer on Earth. The distance between the Earth and the Sun, the Ravi Manda Karna, is constant. The motion of the Sun is uniform from a mathematical point, called the " Equant", which is located at a distance R x e from the observer in the direction of the Apogee ( e = eccentricity ).

All Indian computations are based on this Concentric Equal Model. The normal equation for computing the Manda Anomaly is R e Sin M and resembles the Kepler Equation, M = E - e Sin E.

The Concentric Equant theory was developed by the Indian astronomer, Munjala ( circa 930 CE ).

The Geocentric theory of the ancient astronomers had the ability to produce true Zodiacal Longitudes for the Moon. But the perturbations of the Moon were so complex, that the early Indian and Greek astronomers had to give birth to complicated theories.

The simplest model is a concentric Equant Model to compute the lunar true longitude.

In the above diagram

M = Moon
...
... O = Observer
Eo = Equant , located at a distance r from the observer , drawn on the Line of Apsis and the Apogee.

A = Apogee, Luna's nearest point to Earth

Angle Alpha = Angle between Position and Apogee
Angle q1 = Equation of Center . Angle subtended at Luna between Observer and Equant
Equation in Astronomy = The angle between true and mean positions.

The Physics Professor of Florida State University, Dennis Duke remarks

"The planetary models of ancient Indian mathematical astronomy are described in several texts. These texts invariably give algorithms for computing mean and true longitudes of the planets, but are completely devoid of any material that would inform us of the origin of the models. One way to approach the problem is to compare the predictions of the Indian models with the predictions from other models that do have, at least in part, a known historical background. Since the Indian models compute true longitudes by adding corrections to mean longitudes, the obvious choices for these latter models are those from the Greco-Roman world. In order to investigate if there is any connection between Greek and Indian models, we should therefore focus on the oldest Indian texts that contain fully described, and therefore securely computable, models. We shall see that the mathematical basis of the Indian models is the equant model found in the Almagest, and furthermore, that analysis of the level of development of Indian astronomy contemporary to their planetary schemes strongly suggests, but does not rigorously prove, that the planetary bisected equant model is pre-Ptolemaic. "

The mutli step algorithms of Indian Astronomy never approximated any Greek geometrical model. Ptolemy's Almagest was the first book, according to Western Astronomy. We have now the information that Ptolemy did not invent the equant.

Bhaskara II was an astronomer-mathematician par excellence and his magnum opus, theSiddhanta Siromani (" Crown of Astronomical Treatises") , is a treatise on Astronomy and Mathematics. His book deals with arithemetic, algebra, computation of celestial longitudes of planets and spheres. His work on Kalana ( Calculus ) predates Liebniz and Newton by half a millenium.

The Siddanta Siromani is divided into four parts

1)The Lilavati - ( Arithmetic ) wherein Bhaskara gives proof of c^2 = a^ + b^2. The solutions to cubic, quadratic and quartic indeterminate equations are explained.

2)The Bijaganitha ( Algebra )- Properties of Zero, estimation of Pi, Kuttaka ( indeterminate equations ), integral solutions etc are explained.

3)The Grahaganitha ( Mathematics of the planets ).

For both Epicycles

The Manda Argument , Mean Longitude of Planet - Aphelion = Manda Anomaly

The Sheegra Argument, Ecliptic Longitude - Long of Sun = Sheegra Anomaly

and the computations from there on are explained in detail.

4)The Gola Adhyaya ( Maths of the spheres )

Bhaskara is known for in the discovery of the principles of Differential Calculus and its application to astronomical problems and computations. While Newton and Liebniz had been credited with Differential Calculus, there is strong evidence to suggest that Bhaskara was the pioneer in some of the principles of differential calculus. He was the first to conceive the differential coefficient and differential calculus.

Article by G Kumar, astrologer, academician & programmer of
www.eastrovedica.com. He believes that Knowledge is the criterion for
Success and his ebooks are available at
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