Bhutasamkhya in Brihatparashara Horashastra

Abstract

This article aims to study the usage of Bhutasamkhya and the concept of expressing numbers as Bhutasamkhyas in Brihatparashara Horashastra, which is an important Sanskrit astrological treatise, through the book was edited by Devachandra Jha by focusing on the content of Planets, Dashas and Physiognomy from chapter 1-3, 47-65, 75 and 81-82. The result discovered that the Bhutasamkhyas in Brihatparashara Horashastra usually indicate the periods of lord of Dashas, the multiplier and the divisor in the calculation formulas of Dasha period, the number of zodiac signs (Rashis) as the lord of Dasha in the Rashidasha systems, the degrees of planet’s dignities and the length of face. The whole number expressed by Bhutasamkhya has appeared in important contents of this treatise. The usage of Bhutasamkhya in Brihatparashara Horashastra found 4 types as follows: 1. Single-Bhutasamkhya words 2. Compound words consisting of two Bhutasamkhyas 3. Compound words consisting of Bhutasamkhya and cardinal number 4. Compound word consisting of Bhutasamkhya and yuj. Moreover, the concept of expressing numbers as Bhutasamkhyas found that most Bhutasamkhyas are nouns which deeply related to concept of philosophy, religious belief, and Indian wisdom.