How do Indian astrologers predict solar and lunar eclipses and positions of the planets so exactly from long back without much knowledge of physics?
The predictions of position of planets is very approximate and crude compared to the European astronomers. Since observations were not taken very seriously there was no effort to refine the methods.Similarly prediction of eclipses was not accurate and reliable.
The methods were mainly based on Surya Siddanta which was composed some time in 6th or 7th centuries.
In the case of eclipses the method of Surya Siddanta is sound and prediction of lunar eclipses was much simpler. However in the case of solar eclipse,it is very essential to determine the position of moon accurately ,using a number of correction terms ,which are not available in the Surya Siddanta . Hence prediction of solar eclipses with regard to occurrence and timing are not reliable.
Before independence,different panchangams with differing data and methods were in use in different provinces and there was no uniformity and there were variations in thitis etc up to 10 days and not matching with the actual position of planets,sun ,moon etc in the sky.
To set right the confusion,in 1952 Government of India constituted the calendar reforms committee to bring uniformity and accuracy with the actual position of the planets etc with the eminent astrophysicist M N Saha as chairman.
The committee has given the guide lines ,parameters like length of year and other details in line with the modern practice .
Government of India publishes the Indian ephemeris containing all the data of panchamgam ,the data regrading eclipses etc. in more than 10 languages . THIS INFORMATION IS USED BY ALL PANCHANGA MAKERS TO MAKE LOCAL CALENDARS AND LOCAL PANCHANGAMS AS PER THE LOCAL REQUIREMENTS TAKING IN TO ACCOUNT THE LOCAL FESTIVALS ETC.THEY DO NOT MAKE ANY CALCULATIONS NOR AWARE NOR CAPABLE OF DOING ANY ORIGINAL CALCULA TIONS.
People falsely believe all the details are calculated including details of eclipses by the makers of the local panchanga makers.
Please read the report of the calendar reforms committee which is available in the internet in freely downloadable in PDF format for full details.
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