History

Madhya Pradesh

Title

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Indian Economy - Understanding the basics of Indian economic system

Ujjayini Meridian

Why in News?

According to a new Class-6 NCERT textbook for social science, India had a prime meridian of its own much ahead of the Greenwich meridian and it was called "madhya rekha", which passed through the city of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh.

Key Points:

=> Madhya rekha (or 'middle line') passed through the city of Ujjayini (today Ujjain), which was a reputed centre for astronomy over many centuries.

=> Varahamihira, a famous astronomer, lived and worked there some 1,500 years ago.

=> Indian astronomers were aware of the concepts of latitude and longitude, including the need for a zero or prime meridian.

=> The Ujjayini meridian became a reference for calculations in all Indian astronomical texts.

Varahamihira (505–587 CE):

=> He was a renowned astronomer, mathematician, and astrologer.

=> Notable works:

Brihat Samhita (comprehensive work on astronomy, astrology, architecture, gemology, agriculture, mathematics, and gemology).
He wrote about chief aspects of Jyotisha (astrology) like horoscopy.
He was the first to state Panchasiddhantika (book on mathematical astronomy) that the ayanamsa (precession of the equinoxes) lasted for 50.32 seconds.
He first described gravity as an attractive “Force”, which binds various things together.