Kapalayantra, Kapālayantra, Kapala-yantra: 1 definition
Introduction:
Kapalayantra means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Hinduism
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Google Books: Studies in the History of the Exact Sciences (Astronomy)Kapālayantra (कपालयन्त्र) or simply Kapāla is the name of a “water instrument”, used for telling the time, according to Āryabhaṭa’s Āryabhaṭasiddhānta.—(Cf. Astronomical instruments in Bhāskarācārya’s Siddhāntaśiromaṇi).—Accordingly, “One should get a hemispherical bowl made of copper, 10 palas in weight, six aṅgulas in height, and twelve aṅgulas in diameter at the top. At the bottom thereof, let a hole be made by a needle eight aṅgulas in length and 1 pala in weight. This is the ghaṭikā-yantra, (so named) because it is filled by water in a period of 60 palas (i.e. one ghaṭī). Any copper vessel made according to one's liking with a hole in the bottom, which sinks into water 60 times in a day and night, is the water instrument called Kapāla”—(Kripa Shankar Shukla’s translation).
Note: Shukla obviously thught that this passage describes two different instruments, called respectively Ghaṭikā-yantra and Kapāla-yantra. But the fact is that these are two different methods of producing one and the same Ghaṭikā-yantra. The first method is to take ten palas’ weight of copper and with that to produce a hemispherical bowl, having a height of six aṅgulas and an upper diameter of twelve aṅgulas. There should be a fine perforation a t the bottom of the bowl. The small size of the perforation is defined in a peculiar manner.—(Cf. Mahārandhra or Pṛthucchidra)
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Kapala, Yantra.
Full-text: Ambuyantra, Ghatikayantra, Kapala.
Relevant text
No search results for Kapalayantra, Kapālayantra, Kapala-yantra, Kapāla-yantra; (plurals include: Kapalayantras, Kapālayantras, yantras) in any book or story.