Dear Matthew,
The following two overviews, both available online, contain sections that address some of the questions you raised in your email. Montelle, Clemency, and Kim Plofker. *Sanskrit Astronomical Tables*. Sources and Studies in the History of Mathematics and Physical Sciences. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97037-0. Keller, Agathe, Koolakodlu Mahesh, and Clemency Montelle. “Numerical Tables in Sanskrit Sources.” In *History of Numerical Tables*, edited by Dominique Tournès. Springer, In Press. https://shs.hal.science/halshs-01006137v1. All the best, Eric On Mon, Jun 16, 2025 at 4:30 AM Matthew Kapstein via INDOLOGY < [email protected]> wrote: > Dear friends, > > Is there any scholarship that you can recommend that addresses the use of > charts and diagrams in Sanskrit manuscripts (and inscriptions) dealing with > mathematics, astronomy/astrology, or divination? I would also of course be > interested in any observations that you may have made concerning the > history of such visual devices in the Indian sciences. An example of the > sort of thing I have in mind might be the well-known magic square inscribed > at the temple of Pārśvanātha in Khajuraho, which, if it dates to the period > of the temple's foundation, would belong to the 10th c. > > More generally, because we must assume that some such diagrams were used > fairly early, in the case of horoscopes for instance, what can be said > about the surfaces used for their preparation? Ephemeral charts inscribed > in sand or ash, for instance, would be one type of example, but what of > more durable materials? Are there examples on palm-leaf or birch bark that > are more than just a few centuries old? (Of course, there are relevant > mss., but without the sorts of visual devices that interest me, that are > much earlier, the Bakhhshali ms. for instance.) My interest is primarily in > materials dating to before the 14th c. > > with thanks for your learned guidance, > Matthew > > Matthew T. Kapstein > Professor emeritus > Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, PSL Research University, Paris > > Associate > The University of Chicago Divinity School > > Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences > > https://ephe.academia.edu/MatthewKapstein > > https://vajrabookshop.com/product/the-life-and-work-of-auleshi/ > > > https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501716218/tibetan-manuscripts-and-early-printed-books-volume-i/#bookTabs=1 > > > https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501771255/tibetan-manuscripts-and-early-printed-books-volume-ii/#bookTabs=1 > > https://brill.com/edcollbook/title/60949 > > Sent with Proton Mail <https://proton.me/mail/home> secure email. > > _______________________________________________ > INDOLOGY mailing list > [email protected] > https://list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology >
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