AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES KNOWN TO
VARAHAMIHIRA
Dr. N. Gangadharan
Ancient India has been mainly
an agricultural country. Ancient Indian treatises in Sanskrit such as the
Krsisastra ascribed to Parasara, Vrksayurveda, the Puranas such as the
Agnipurana, the Upavanavinoda in the Sarngadhara Samhita and other texts
and the aphorisms of Khana have recorded the different agricultural practices.
Varahamihira, though prominently
an astronomer; has also dealt with this topic in his compendium Brhatsamhita
in Ch. 55 besides many other topics.
Varahamihira describes the
methods of making the soil soft for sowing seeds or planting saplings.
He prescribes a formula for manure for promoting better flowering and fruit
formation. The seeds are also given some treatment. He suggests some methods
for planting saplings and transplanting saplings. This papers makes an
attempt to evaluate these methods in the light of the modern methods.
About the Author :-
Dr. N. GANGADHARAN
