Alternative spellings of this word include Svachchhaya.

In Hinduism

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Svacchāyā (स्वच्छाया) refers to “one’s own shadow”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 5), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “[...] If, as some say, there be two Rāhus, when the moon is eclipsed by one of them at rising or setting how comes it we see the sun in the opposite point uneclipsed by the other Rāhu of equal motion? The truth is that in her own eclipse, the moon enters the shadow of the earth, and in that of the sun, the solar disc. Hence, the lunar eclipse does not commence at the western limb nor the solar at the eastern limb. Just as the shadow of a tree [i.e., svacchāyā—vṛkṣasya svacchāyā] neither continues in the same direction nor of the same length, so changes the shadow of the earth, night after night owing to the revolution of the sun”.

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Chaya, Shva.

Full-text: Vrikshachaya.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Svacchaya, Svacchāyā, Sva-chaya, Sva-cchāyā, Sva-chāyā, Sva-cchaya; (plurals include: Svacchayas, Svacchāyās, chayas, cchāyās, chāyās, cchayas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Philosophy of Charaka-samhita (by Asokan. G)

Perception (pratyakṣa) [in Charaka philosophy] < [Chapter 6 - Source of Knowledge (pramāṇa)]

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