National Workshop on “COMPUTATION OF PLANETARY POSITIONS AND ALMANAC”
- A comprehensive Report
The three day National Workshop on “Computation of Planetary Positions and Almanac” was convened by I-SERVE (Institute of Scientific Research on Vedas) at KMG Paradise Function Hall, Usha Gardens, Mehdipatnam during 20-22nd of March 2009. The prime objective of the workshop is to educate the general / traditional elite connected with Almanac readings in scientific computations of Almanac making. This helps in bridging the gap between the traditional and modern astronomers, thereby to pave the way for the emergence of a uniform Almanac throughout the country.
The inauguration of the workshop was marked with the lighting of the lamp by Prof. Anumandla Bhoomaiah, Vice-Chancellor, Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad on 20.03.2009 at 0930 hrs. The inaugural function was presided by Brahmasri Kuppa Venkata Krishna Murthy, the Chairman of I-SERVE and Vidyadhikari of Avadhoota Datta Peetham. Smt. Sarojbala, Member CBDT, Govt. Of India, New Delhi was the special guest of the function. Dr. B. L. Deekshitulu, Fellow, INSA and Formerly Director, NRSA, Hyderabad Dr. GVSRK Somayajulu, Former Scientist, International Atomic Energy Agency and Prof. D. Swaminathan, Vice Chairman, Andhra Pradesh Planning Commission took part in the function as special invitees.
Prof. Kuppa Venkata Krishna Murty started his presidential address by by extending a warm welcome to the guests, the media and the participants, stressed the need for the traditional Panchanga scholars of the country to understand the theoretical background of their own system and evaluate themselves, strive for perfection and should not be hesitant to take the support of modern astronomical science and its mathematical calculations for refining their understandings thereby avoiding confusion and controversies and strive for emergence of a uniform Indian Almanac. The mission of I-SERVE is not merely to unearth the forgotten secrets of vedic sciences but also to spread them for the benefit of man kind at large. The organization of this workshop –cum – classes is a part of that mission, he said. Eminent modern scientists like Prof. Rama Subrahmanyam, IIT, Mumbai, Prof.S.Madhavan, University of Kerala, Trivendrum, Prof. S. Balachandra Rao, Bangalore, Prof. Padmaja Venugopal, Bangalore, are the faculty in the three day workshop besides the traditional scholar, Ch. Siva Rama Krishna, Machilipatnam.
The Chief Guest of the function Prof. Anumandla Bhumaiah released the technical souvenir on “National Workshop on Computation of Planetary Positions and Almanac” and addressed the gathering. He lauded the efforts of I-SERVE in conducting the workshop and wished the participants to make use of the presence of the best of the faculty, a rare mix of traditional scholars and modern scientists.
Smt. Sarojbala, in her address, eloquently quoted many aspects of Vedic sciences and said that all such scientific secrets of Veda must be utilized by the modern society. The inaugural function concluded with the vote of thank proposed by Sri K.V.R.S Murthy, Research Co-ordinator of I-SERVE.
The technical sessions followed and the table given below gives a broad picture of the events in the sessions.
Session – I
Chair Person: Sri Chebrolu Subrahmanya Sastry – Leading Advocate and traditional astronomer.
* “Ayanamsa Nirnaya” by H.H. Prasanna Venkatachariar Chaturvedi Swamy Managing Trustee Sri Ramanuja Mission Trust Chennai. He showered his blessings on the participants of the workshop and the organizers of I-SERVE. The audience was spell bound with his extempore lecture.
Session - II
Chair Person: Prof. C.V.B .Subramanyam, Jyotisha Dept. Potti Sree Ramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad.
* “Ahargana” by Dr. Padmaja Venugopal, Professor & Head of the Dept of Mathematics, SJB Instittute of Technology, Bangalore.
* “Eclipses” by Dr.S. BalaChandra Rao, Honorary Director Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Gandhi Center of Science and Human Values & Honorary Professor at National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore.
* A cultural programme was organized to entertain the delegates with “Bharatanatyam” by Smt. Gita Ganeshan & Troup, Hyderabad.
21-3-09 (Saturday)
* “Kriya Yoga Classes” by Sri Avadhoota Datta Peetham Troup, Hyderabad
Session – III
Chair Person: Prof. G. Yellaiah, Astronomy Department, Osmania university, Hyderabad.
* “Vedanga Jyothisha” by Dr. U.K.V. Sarma Research Scholar – HSS Department – IIT Mumbai
* “Units of Time & Planetary Computations” by Prof. K. Rama Subrahmanian Professor of Humanity & Social sciences, IIT Mumbai
Session – IV
Chair Person : Dr. Sasirekha – Professor & Head of the Sanskrit department, Osmania University, Hyderabad
* “Ideas of Physical forces in Astronomy” by Dr. T.E. Girish ,Department of Physics, University College, Trivendrum.
* “Ayanamsa” by Professor S. Madhavan , Former Professor of Mathematics, University of Kerala, Trivendrum.
* “Dharma Sastra” by Dr. Chirravuri Siva Ramakrishna, Lecturer Hindu College. Machilipatnam.
* “Components of Panchanga” by Dr. Padmaja Venugopal.
* A cultural program was organized with “Hasya Avadhanam” by Sri Sankaranarayana
22-03-09 (Sunday)
* “Kriya Yoga Classes”
Session – V
Chair person: Sri Pidaparty Hariprasad - Traditional Astronomer, & Finance Expert.
* “Transits & Occultations” by Prof. S. Balachandra Rao
* “Calculations of Lagna” by Prof K. Rama Subrahmanian
* “Poles & Constellations” by Sri P.S. Sachdeva, Commissioner, Income Tax Department, Hyderabad.
Session – VI
Chair person: Prof. G. Veerabhadracharyulu, Jyotisha Department, Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad.
* Interactive Session. Many queries and doubts of the participants were addressed by the panel of modern and ancient scholars.
As a mark of the successful completion of the three day workshop/classes, the Valedictory function was organized by I-SERVE at 03.00 P.M. on 22.03.2009 at the venue of the workshop. The function was presided over by Prof. Kuppa Venkata Krishna Murty, the Chairman of I-SERVE and Vidyadhikari of Avadhoota Datta Peetham. H.H. Sri Sadguru Kandukuri Sivananda Murthy, Bhimli, Visakhapatnam, graced the occasion. The dais was glorified with the presence of Sri K. Aravind Rao, Addl. Director General of Police, Intelligence, Govt. of AP, Hyderabad, as Special Guest. The other dignitaries present on the dais were Sri Gattu Narayan Guruji, Chairman emeritus, Excel Industries and Sri MVR Sastry, Editor, Andhra Bhoomi, Hyderabad and the faculty members of the classes. Prof. Kuppa Venkata Krishna Murthy in his presidential address said that this is 2nd in the series of workshops conducted by I-SERVE on Computation of planetary positions and Almanac. He also said that some suggestions that were made by the participants in the previous workshop and all necessary care was taken to address most of them in the present one. He reviewed the three day proceedings of the workshop.
Sadguru Sri Sivanada Murty in his valedictory address appreciated the objectives of the workshop, the spirit with which it is conducted and lauded the efforts of I-SERVE for educating people in this direction. He showered blessings on the participants, faculty and the organizers.
Sri Aravinda Rao, Addl. DGP, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh said that the need of the hour is to unearth our ancient scientific knowledge bank and applauded the efforts of I-SERVE in this direction. Sri Narayana Guruji and Sri M.V.R. Sastry spoke elaborately on the greatness of Indian Culture and appreciated the efforts of I-SERVE.
Mrs. Rama Devi, one of the participants thanked profusely I-SERVE for conducting such a workshop and said that this gave her the opportunity to learn more subject than the she was taught by Jyotisha scholars.
The other speakers, in their message to the participants, said that they should make use of the theories and techniques taught in the workshop in their day to day practice. The vote of thanks was proposed by Sri KVRS Murty, Research Co-ordinator, I-SERVE and the function concluded with group singing of National Anthem.
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