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Are the Indian Sign Names of Greek Origin?

In Brihat Jataka of Varaha Mihira, there is a sloka that gives some
alternate names for signs, which some people use in support of the
argument that, Indian Sign names used to describe zodiac signs is of
Greek origin. The sloka is as follows -

G-i-Vi-E--{lx-VE-E{J&
iIE +EE pM-Sxi-Sil**
- iViE
[Kriya, Tavuru, Jutuma, Kuleera, Leya, Parthona, Jooka, Korpi,
Taushika, Akokera, Hridroga, Chetthasi are the names of Signs (starting from Aries)]
There is a striking phonetical similarity between these words and
their greek counter parts as listed belowSign

Sanskrit

Synonym

Greek

Aries

Mesha

Kriya

Krios

Taurus

Vrishabha

Tavuru

Taurus

Gemini

Midhuna

Jutuma

Didymoi

Cancer

Karkitaka

Kuleera

Karkinos

Leo

Simha

Leya

Leon

Virgo

Kanya

Parthona

Parthenos

Libra

Tula

Juka

Khelai

Scorpio

Vrischika

Korpi

Skorpios

Sagittarius

Dhanu

Taushika

Toxotes

Capricorn

Makara

Akokera

Aigokeros

Aquarius

Kumbha

Hridroga

Hydrokhoos

Pisces

Meena

Chetthasi

Ikhthys

Notice the sharp phonetical similarity between the words of 3rd and
4th column. It is these similarities that lead many to ascribe Greek

origin to the Ancient Indian Sign names.

But the argument in favor of Greek origin of these words is base
less due to the following reason.
The meaning of these words as used in India and as used in
Greek differ greatly pointing to a common source of origin (possibly from the great Asura Agama tradition which spanned large
geographical area covering Assyria, Harappa etc).
Let us analyze this second point in detail. The meaning of these
similar Greek words and indian words are given in the following table.
Indian

Meaning

Greek

Meening

Kriya

Ram

Krios

Ram

Tavuru

Camel

Taurus

Bull

Jutuma

Chicken

Didymoi

Twins

Kuleera

Crab

Karkinos

Crab

Laya

A type of deer Leon

Lion

Parthona

Virgin

Parthenos

Virgin

Juka

Domestic bird

Khelai

Claws

Korpi

Snake

Skorpios

Scorpion

Taushika

Whale

Toxotes

Archer

Akokera

Hippopotamous Aigokeros

Got-horned

Hridroga

Pot

Water-pourer

Chetthasi

Water-Women Ikhthys

Hydrokhoos

Fishes

The above tabulation clarifies that even though there is much phonetical similarity between these words, their meaning in both Indian
and Greek context greatly differ except in the case of 3 out of the total
12 of them! Thus it points to a possible common origin, but never an
adoption of Indian names by Greek or vice versa.
Let go a bit more deep to clarify the meaning of the words used by
Mihira in Indian context - giving importance to astrology texts, ancient

Sanskrit Nikhandus itself. Most of the Nikhandu references are given

below from Sabda vyooha Tarangini or Dharanadha. (I am quoting
these references from Hridyapadha Vyakhya of Brihat Jataka - a commentary of Brihat Jataka very popular in Kerala)
Kriya
Kriya means Ram. Brihat Parjapatya says - G(+)Vi meaning
if it is Kriya then tell Ram (or sheep). G& { {xV& meaning Kriya
is the name for male got or Ram.
Tavuru
Tavuru means Camel. Sabda Vyooha Tarangini says =]& GE &
ES {& i iii il meaning Ushtra, Ilaka, Babhru,
Karabha, Mahavapu, Tavuru, Tavuri, Tavu, Tavura etc are all names
for Camel
Jutuma
Jutuma means Chicken or Domestic foul. Vi meaning
Samau, Jutuma and Sarasa are the names for Chicken.
Kuleera
Kuleera means Crab. But this word also got another meaning Crocodile. (i.e. The word Kuleera can be used to refer to both Cancer and
Capricorn). As per Sabda Vyooha Tarangini E xGEE] meaning
the word Kuleera refers to Crocodile and Crab (Capricorn and Cancer signs). Amarakosha says E& ECE]E& means Kuleera is
the name for Crab (Cancer sign). Nanardha Ratnamala says E]
ECE] meaning both the Kuteera houses (Capricorn and Cancer)
are the dwelling places of Crabs. Thus it becomes clear that Cancer
is the popular meaning for the word Kuleera, but the meaning Capricorn is also not less popular.
It should be noted that both the Sankrit Nikhandus, Sabda Vyooha
Tarangini of Dharanadha and Amarakosha are equally popular among
scholars.
Leya
Leya means a special type of deer as big as a cow - it is said that it

is an 8 feet long deer. +l M]{ meaning Leya means 8 feet

long deer.
Parthona
Parthona means virgin or unmarried woman. +j { {i\S iE\Si
{ilx{ {lx Ex u il meaning unmarried woman without
children and virgin - both of them are known by the words Parthonam,
Pathonam etc.
Juka
Juka means domesticated bird especially domesticated city birds,
like parrot, pigeon etc. VE xMM E{in {I meaning Juka means
birds like pigeon etc domesticated in houses and cities.
Korpi
Korpi means Snake. {& {nEVMSGE{VM means Sarpa,
pridakur, Bhujaga, Chakri, Korpi, Bhujangama are the names for Snake
Taushika
Taushika means Whale (very big fish). iIEi Z& meaning
Taushika is the name for very big fish (whale).
Akokera
Akokera means Hippopotamus (water elephant). +EE MVvV&
means Akokera is the name for water elephant (Hippopotamus).
Hridroga
Hridroga means water pot. P]& E]x{j pM& Eil means
The words Khata, kuta, nipava, kalasa all refer to water pot.
Chethasi
Chethasi means water-women or water-man (fish below waist and
human above waist; also may refer to fisher man and fisher woman).
pE x& SSilSilx{ +l uzSil u{xi& meaning
the human in the sea is called Chethasi or Chethavan. Or the half fish
half human beings are also called Chethasi.

Hope that this write-up may help at least some confused people in
approaching this delicate subject in a better scholarly manner and come
out with truthful sincere conclusions - instead of bush bashing.
There are other reasons too due to which the above mentioned words
used to refer to signs in Indian context cannot be of Greek origin. To list
some 1) The same sloka is found in Parasara hora of BC 1400 as well.
(The BC 1400 origin of Parasara Hora is dealt with in another article).
2) Even the first and greatest work of Nirayana Astrology called
Jyotishmati Upanishad (also known as Skanda hora) gives these names
while dealing with Signs. The relevant quote from Jyotishmati Upanishad
(Skanda Hora) is quoted below -

iS SE&
lx Vi |zMi S{
E]& ECE]& ECE EE]Svi
MxpS Exj ExE{ S
SE v{& E{ vxvx S iIE&
+EE M xG E|Mi
E& Ex pM <i SSi
+x x vSili{**
- Vii ={xn (Exn)
[Tavuri, Saurabheya, Vrisha are the names of Vrishabha (Taurus).
Mithuna, Jutuma, Nriyugma are the names of the next sign (Gemini).
Kuteera, Karkata, Karki, Krikata are the names of Karkata (Cancer).
Simha, Leya, Mrigendra are the names of Simha (Leo). Kanya, Sti,
Kanyaka are the names of Kanya (Virgo). Vrischika, Madhupa, Korpi
are the names of Vrischika (Scorpio). Dhanur, Danvi, Taushika are the
names of Dhanu (Sagittarius). Akokera, Mriga, Nakra are the names
of Makara (Capricorn). Kumbha, Kalasa, Hridroga are the names of
Kumbha (Aquarius). Animesha, Meena, Chethasi are the names of
Meena (Pisces)]
I know that all those who just want to bish-bash and never sincere
will not be satisfied even with these references - actually they cannot
be satisfied at all due to their inborn insincerity. Usually people dont

want to dive into in-depth study - and jumps into conclusions based on
superfluous similarities - and it is then that the ignorant lot start wearing
clownly attire of scholarly ones and start acting as if they know everything. But I hope there would be at least some sincere individual for
whom this write-up will become guidance to further study. It is for
them.
Note: Consider this write-up only as a beginning point for a detailed
and in-depth study, of these subjects (both astrology and history) which
have great secrets in store to share with every true seeker.
- Written by Sreenadh OG
group:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ancient_indian_astrology