Journal of Seven Heavens

Journal of Seven Heavens

On Sun-Worshipping Sistanis, Mage Brahmans and Brhat Samhita

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Homayoun Sanatizadeh
Translator and Scholar of Ancient Iranian Religions.
Abstract
Mage Brahmans or sun-worshiping Mages were a group of Indian priests who were probably of Iranian origin, descending from sun-worshipping Sistanis. These Sistanis were groups of Iranian descent but were not Zoroastrian; they had immigrated to India long ago and succeeded in penetrating into the caste of priests, that is, Brahmans. Brahamehra, a well-known Indian astronomer, had risen from these Mage Brahmans. One of his most important work entitled Brhat Samhitra was fortunately translated into Farsi in the 13th century AD. Since Mage Brahmans are probably of Iranian descent, an investigation into their writings may help shed light on the evolution of astronomy in ancient Iran. Thus, the present paper is an attempt introduce, although briefly, the sun-worshiping Sistanis and Mage Brahmans as well as to give a short report of Brhat Samhitra.
 
Keywords
Sun-worshipping Sistanis
Mage Brahmans
Brahamehra
Brhat Samhita
Avesta
بیرونی، محمد بن‌احمد (بی‌تا)، کتاب التفهیم لاوائل صناعة التنجیم، با تجدیدنظر و تعلیقات و مقدمة جلال‌الدین همایی، تهران: انجمن آثار ملی.
پینگری، داوود، «نجوم و احکام نجوم در هندوستان و ایران»، ترجمة همایون صنعتی‌زاده، مجلة فرهنگ.
بویس، مری، تاریخ کیش زرتشت، جلد 3: پس از اسکندر گجسته، ترجمة همایون صنعتی‌زاده.
واندروردن (1374)، پیدایش دانش نجوم، ترجمة همایون صنعتی‌زاده، تهران: مؤسسة مطالعات و تحقیقات فرهنگی.
داستان‌های بیدپای (1365)، ترجمة محمد بن‌عبدالله البخاری، تصحیح پرویز ناتل خانلری و محمد روشن، تهران: خوارزمی.
مصاحب، غلامحسین (1345)، دایرة المعارف فارسی، تهران: جیبی.
یشت‌ها (1347)، گزارش پورداوود، چ2، تهران.
خرده اوستا (1367)، ترجمه و تفسیر موبد اردشیر گشسب، فروهر.
Varahamihira's (1992), Brhat Samhita, M. Rama krishna Baht, Matilat Banarasidass.
Britanica Ency. 1974.
Sachau, Edward C. (1989), Alberuni's India…, New Delhi: Atlantic pub.
Neugebauer, O. (1947), Studies in ancient astronomy, VIII, The water clock in Babylonian astronomy, IsIs.
Mul, Apin: an astronomical compendium in Cuneiform, by Hermann Hunger and David Pingree, Austria: Verlag Ferdinand Berger, 1989.
Needham, J. (1975), Science and Civilization in China, Cambridge univ, Press.
 
 
 
 
 

  • Receive Date 02 September 2018