Matrcakra: Difference between revisions
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=== Origin of Constellation === | === Origin of Constellation === | ||
[[File:C022 vima.jpg|thumb|The astrolabe C022 dated 1720 has the marker with the abbreviation vi ma for viśākhāmātṛmanḍala|179x179px]] | [[File:C022 vima.jpg|thumb|The astrolabe C022 dated 1720 has the marker with the abbreviation vi ma for viśākhāmātṛmanḍala|179x179px]] | ||
On early modern Indian astrolabes | On early modern Indian astrolabes, the individual stars are listed with coordinates with this name included. In fact, the constellation is marked as Viśākhā Mātṛmanḍala abbreviated as vi ma on some astrolabes. The pointer tip is for α CrB ([[Alphecca]]), but this only marks the brightest star of the asterism. Therefore, it is assumed that the name refers to a single star. The word mandala signifies a group, a circular arrangement. | ||
The example of the globe from 18th century shows the name and the the stars of Corona Borealis marked. | The example of the globe from 18th century shows the name and the the stars of Corona Borealis marked. | ||
Revision as of 07:32, 27 April 2026
Authors: Susanne M Hoffmann, Shylaja B S
Mātīcakra, (मातृचक्र), is an Indian name for Corona Borealis found in ...[1]
Concordance, Etymology, History
Variants
- Mātīcakra
- Matrichakra
- Mātṛmanḍala (मातृमन्डल )
All these terms are synonymous; Manḍala and Cakra both mean "circular" or "circle". This is not be confused with viśākhā of the 27 stars
Origin of Constellation
On early modern Indian astrolabes, the individual stars are listed with coordinates with this name included. In fact, the constellation is marked as Viśākhā Mātṛmanḍala abbreviated as vi ma on some astrolabes. The pointer tip is for α CrB (Alphecca), but this only marks the brightest star of the asterism. Therefore, it is assumed that the name refers to a single star. The word mandala signifies a group, a circular arrangement.
The example of the globe from 18th century shows the name and the the stars of Corona Borealis marked.
Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation
-
The astrolabe C022 dated 1720 has the marker with the abbreviation vi ma for viśākhāmātṛmanḍala -
Matrichakra on globe in Jaipur (18th century).
Religion/ Tales/ Mythology
The word matr refers to the mother. Since this is a mandala, it is a group of mothers. The word visakha refers to another deity Skanda with six faces. Therefore putting the words together we may gather that these were the six mothers who nourished the six headed baby. However, the same story is told in the context of krttika, Pleiades. In the absence of any chart of earlier period (may be this was in use in the beginning of the millenium) this remains a speculation
Weblinks
References
- References (general)
- ↑ R. Venketeswara Pai and B. S. Shylaja (2016) "Measurement of coordinates of Nakśatras in Indian astronomy" (Sarvasiddhāntarāja by Nityānanda, 1639 CE)
