4 ms·

Probably something no one here wants to hear, but astrology is a big thing in India -- serious astrology, which is highly mathematical and historically goes han

Probably something no one here wants to hear, but astrology is a big thing in India -- serious astrology, which is highly mathematical and historically goes hand-in-hand with advances in astronomy, not "sun sign astrology." I'm guessing that's not entirely irrelevant to there being this mnemonic system, though I don't know enough about India to support that suggestion.

goldfeld 4y ago
As far I went down the ancient sanskrit traditions, I also think this numbering system has deep ties to numerology, astrology and derived spiritual disciplines like raga (classical carnatic music, hindustani) and classical dances like Kathak, all of which are studied through numbers, patterns and thus math. Though I'm sure I'm missing something.
Calamitous 4y ago
I’m curious why you think no one here would want to hear it?
- DoreenMichele 4y ago
  I've been on HN a long time. I know how it usually goes to say anything at all about astrology.
  - beebmam 4y ago
    Is Indian astrology falsifiable?
  - bakul 4y ago
    Not today as 5 planets are moving into a rare alignment this week :-)
    - DoreenMichele 4y ago
      That's called astronomy, not astrology. It's fine to be fascinated with the sun, moon and stars and go outside to look at them before dawn. It's not okay to think they influence events here on earth (like tides, winds, moods) through "invisible forces" (like gravity).
      - nunodonato 4y ago
        Why is it not ok? And who decided that? Or is it just your opinion?
        DoreenMichele 4y ago
        That's not my opinion. That's the general sentiment of HN as judged by the negative reactions I've gotten over the years as someone who once studied astrology in earnest and dares to occasionally comment on it.
      - bakul 4y ago
        It was a mild joke as planetary alignment does play a part in Vedic Astrology. Astrology indeed had a high place in ancient India and significantly influenced the development of mathematics and astronomy. 5th/6th century mathematician Aryabhatta was also an astronomer as well as an astrologer. He even devised his own numerical encoding, which is far more compact than the Katyapadi system but not as amenable to writing numbers poetically.
      - jazzyjackson 4y ago
        You don't believe in astrology but u believe it's ""3 PM"" ?!?!?

goldfeld 4y ago

As far I went down the ancient sanskrit traditions, I also think this numbering system has deep ties to numerology, astrology and derived spiritual disciplines like raga (classical carnatic music, hindustani) and classical dances like Kathak, all of which are studied through numbers, patterns and thus math. Though I'm sure I'm missing something.

Calamitous 4y ago

I’m curious why you think no one here would want to hear it?

DoreenMichele 4y ago
I've been on HN a long time. I know how it usually goes to say anything at all about astrology.
- beebmam 4y ago
  Is Indian astrology falsifiable?
- bakul 4y ago
  Not today as 5 planets are moving into a rare alignment this week :-)
  - DoreenMichele 4y ago
    That's called astronomy, not astrology. It's fine to be fascinated with the sun, moon and stars and go outside to look at them before dawn. It's not okay to think they influence events here on earth (like tides, winds, moods) through "invisible forces" (like gravity).
    - nunodonato 4y ago
      Why is it not ok? And who decided that? Or is it just your opinion?
      - DoreenMichele 4y ago
        That's not my opinion. That's the general sentiment of HN as judged by the negative reactions I've gotten over the years as someone who once studied astrology in earnest and dares to occasionally comment on it.
    - bakul 4y ago
      It was a mild joke as planetary alignment does play a part in Vedic Astrology. Astrology indeed had a high place in ancient India and significantly influenced the development of mathematics and astronomy. 5th/6th century mathematician Aryabhatta was also an astronomer as well as an astrologer. He even devised his own numerical encoding, which is far more compact than the Katyapadi system but not as amenable to writing numbers poetically.
    - jazzyjackson 4y ago
      You don't believe in astrology but u believe it's ""3 PM"" ?!?!?