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I
CONTENTS
After saluting the Jina Parsva natha, the author praises the lagna (horoscope) as the best of everything in the world. He calls it by all auspicious names like God, Master, brightest Light, father, mother, brother, the planets etc.
In v. 6 it is admitted that the science of horoscope was widely prevalent among the mlecchas from whom it was borrow" ed by the Jains.
In the next vetse stress is laid on the use of instruments
( तुला तु मुख्य यन्त्राणि) which provide accurate data to proceed with the sixfold calculations. In the succeeding verses the author explains the title of the work, z.e,, it sheds light on the three worlds (the upper, middle and lower regions) through all the three ages (past, present and future) Hereafter the technical terms are defined in a few verses. All sorts of attributes connected with man and nature are applied to the planets and the rasts, e, g. caste, colour, smell, age, anger. kindness, wisdom. folly, male, female, neuter, enemy, friend, etc. etc.
Next come the predictions They relate to the different aspects of human life and needs such as birth of a son; recovery of health; acquision of wealth, land etc; marriage; knowledge; profit or loss in trade. going on a journey: victory or defeat in war or law suit; approach of death; forecast of weather esp fall of rain; rise and fall in prices, etc. Various methods are described to predict about the matters just enumerated.
The Author.
The author's name is mentioned as Hemaprabha Suri disciple of Devendra Suri at several places in the text, e.g., in Vv. 225, 299, 328, 373, 1113, etc. In verse 225 the name is skilfully woven and can be msde out by taking the first two letters of each pada as श्री हे । मन । भसू । रिभिः || The colophons at the end of the sections and the work repeat the name देवेन्द्र सूरि शिष्य हेम प्रभ सूरि This leaves no doubt about the authorship of the treatise. No information about the author, however, is available beyond this. About his personality absolutely nothing is known. Hemaprabha does not give his guruparampara (genealogy of teachers) beyond naming his immediate teacher, nor he mentions the name of the gaccha to which he belonged. Under these circumstances it is difficult to say anything more with certainty.
The names Devendra and Hemaprabha are very common in Jain history. About half a dozen authors bore the first
