Hemangada Thakura was the King of

Mithila Mithila may refer to: Places * Mithilā, a synonym for the ancient Videha state ** Mithilā (ancient city), the ancient capital city of Videha * Mithila (region), a cultural region (historical and contemporary), now divided between India and Nepa ...

between 1571 AD to 1590 AD. He was also an Indian

Astronomer An astronomer is a scientist in the field of astronomy who focuses on a specific question or field outside the scope of Earth. Astronomers observe astronomical objects, such as stars, planets, natural satellite, moons, comets and galaxy, galax ...

in 16th century. He was famous for his astronomical treatise Grahan Mala. The book told the dates of the eclipses for 1088 years from 1620 AD to 2708 AD. The dates of

lunar Lunar most commonly means "of or relating to the Moon". Lunar may also refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Lunar'' (series), a series of video games * "Lunar" (song), by David Guetta * "Lunar", a song by Priestess from the 2009 album ''Prior t ...

and

solar eclipse A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby obscuring the view of the Sun from a small part of Earth, totally or partially. Such an alignment occurs approximately every six months, during the eclipse season i ...

that Hemangad Thakur had fixed on the basis of his unique calculations are proving to be true till date.

Early life

Hemangada Thakura was born in a

Maithil Brahmin Maithil Brahmins are the Indo-Aryan Hindu Brahmin community originating from the Mithila region and original inhabitants of Southern Nepal and bordering regions of India that comprises Madhesh Province & some areas of Koshi Province in Nepal ...

family in

region of present

Bihar Bihar ( ) is a states and union territories of India, state in Eastern India. It is the list of states and union territories of India by population, second largest state by population, the List of states and union territories of India by are ...

state in

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

. He born in 1530 AD. He was the grandson of Mahamahopadhyay

Mahesha Thakura Mahesha Thakura was the ruler of Mithila (region), Mithila in the 16th century. He made his capital at Bhaur Gram, Bhaur which is in the northwest of Sarisav Pahi, Sarisab-Pahi and Rajgram. He was also wrote some treatises and commentaries on as ...

and the son of Gopal Thakur. Mahesh Thakur was also the King of

in Khandwala Dynasty.

History

After the

abdication Abdication is the act of formally relinquishing monarchical authority. Abdications have played various roles in the Order of succession, succession procedures of monarchies. While some cultures have viewed abdication as an extreme abandonment of ...

of his father Gopal Thakur, he was handed over the throne of Mithila in 1571 AD. But he was not interested in governance. In 1572 AD, he was arrested and taken to

Delhi Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, but spread chiefly to the west, or beyond its Bank (geography ...

and imprisoned for not paying taxes on time to the

Mughal Empire The Mughal Empire was an Early modern period, early modern empire in South Asia. At its peak, the empire stretched from the outer fringes of the Indus River Basin in the west, northern Afghanistan in the northwest, and Kashmir in the north, to ...

. It is said that in prison he started writing mathematical calculations on the surface of the floor of the jail, then the jailer asked him about the mathematical figures drawn on the floor. Hemangada Thakura replied that he was trying to understand the motion of the Moon. Then the jailer spread the news that Hemangada Thakura had been mental mad. After hearing the news, the Mughal Emperor himself went to see Hemangada Thakura and asked about the mathematical calculations and figures drawn on the floor. Then Hemangada Thakura replied that he had calculated the dates of the eclipses for the next 500 years. After hearing the reply, the emperor immediately granted copperplate and pen to him for writing the calculations and told him that if his calculations became true, then he would be released from the prison. There in prison, he composed his famous book Grahan Mala which explained the eclipses for 1088 years. He predicated the date and time of the next lunar eclipse and informed the emperor. The prediction of the next lunar eclipse came to true on the same date and time as calculated by him. On composing this book, the

Mughal emperor The emperors of the Mughal Empire, who were all members of the Timurid dynasty (House of Babur), ruled the empire from its inception on 21 April 1526 to its dissolution on 21 September 1857. They were supreme monarchs of the Mughal Empire in ...

not only released him, but also returned the tax-free kingdom of

Discovery in Astronomy

Hemangada Thakura calculated the dates of the

eclipse An eclipse is an astronomical event which occurs when an astronomical object or spacecraft is temporarily obscured, by passing into the shadow of another body or by having another body pass between it and the viewer. This alignment of three ...

s for 1088 years from 1620 AD to 2708 AD on the basis of his unique calculations. The

s dates have been proved to be true till date. He composed an astronomical treatise book known as Grahan Mala which explains the dates of the eclipses. In making Panchang, scholars and Pandits take helps of this book. The manuscript of the book was preserved in

Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit University Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit University (KSDSU) is a state university located at Darbhanga, Bihar, India, dedicated to the teaching and promotion of Sanskrit. History KSDSU was established in 1961, with the scholar Umesh Mishra as its ...

, which has been stolen a few years back. By the way, in 1983 itself, the university had published this book, which is present in various libraries.

Indian National Science Academy The Indian National Science Academy (INSA) is a national academy in New Delhi New Delhi (; ) is the Capital city, capital of India and a part of the Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). New Delhi is the seat of all three b ...

started a research project through national commission ( 2014 - 2022 ) by Vanaja V on the astronomical treatise Grahan Mala. The research project is known as “A Critical Study of Hemangada Thakkura’s Grahaṇamala” .

References

{{Reflist Astronomers Mithila Indian royalty 16th century in Asia 16th-century births History of Mithila