In Hinduism

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Ambuyantra (अम्बुयन्त्र) refers to the “water instrument”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 2), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “We shall now proceed to give a brief description of (the qualifications of) a jyotiṣaka. [...] The predictions of one, who knows astronomy well, who is able to calculate the exact Lagna with such helps as the shadow, water and astronomical instruments [i.e., ambuyantra] and who is well-versed in horoscopy will never fail. Viṣṇugupta says—‘Flying with the speed of the wind, one might find it possible to cross to the ocean’s opposite shore; but a non-Ṛṣi can never, even mentally, reach the opposite shore of the vast ocean of Jvotiṣa-śāstra’.”.

Source: Google Books: Studies in the History of the Exact Sciences (Astronomy)

Ambuyantra (अम्बुयन्त्र) (Cf. Kapāla, Kapālayantra) refers to a “water clock”, used for telling the time, according to Āryabhaṭa’s Āryabhaṭasiddhānta.—(Cf. Astronomical instruments in Bhāskarācārya’s Siddhāntaśiromaṇi).—Accordingly, “[...] Or, alternatively, any hemispherical (kapāla) copper vessel made according to one’s liking with a perforation in the bottom, which sinks into water sixty times in a day and night, is the water clock (ambuyantra)”.

context information

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Ambuyantra (अम्बुयन्त्र):—[=ambu-yantra] [from ambu] n. clepsydra, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]

[Sanskrit to German]

Ambuyantra in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Ambu, Yantra, Ampu.

Full-text: Ambu, Jalayantra, Khendu, Khashad, Kha, Kapala.

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