MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR WISSENSCHAFTSGESCHICHTE Max Planck Institute for the History of Science

Event

Oct 9, 2024
Public Talk by Prof. Dr. Kenneth G. Zysk: Garga’s Knowledge of the Crow (vāyasavidyā) and the Dawn of South Asian Ornithology

Garga’s Knowledge of the Crow (vāyasavidyā) and the Dawn of South Asian Ornithology
Dhūmavati and Śiva in a cremation ground surrounded by crows, c. 19th century. https://ia801706.us.archive.org/10/items/dhumavati_202008/Dhumavati.jpg.

 

This talk explores a collection of crow omens from South Asia, aiming to elucidate the epistemological underpinnings of their understanding. The content reveals a fascinating blend of empirically based knowledge and religious ritual, both rooted in empirical observation. When this rational approach is applied to bird omens, particularly those associated with corvids, the collection can be interpreted as representing an early form of “ornithology” within the South Asian context.

In this talk, we will delve into the Gārgīyajyotisa texts, the earliest extant collection of Brahmanic Astral Science, compiled by a certain Garga likely in the Northwest of the Indian subcontinent around the beginning of the Common Era. Through these texts, we will illustrate the mode of thought that underpins the knowledge of the crow, or vāyasavidyā, as presented by Garga.

 

Biography

  • Prof. Dr. Kenneth G. Zysk
    Professor Emeritus Kenneth G. Zysk

    Professor Emeritus Kenneth G. Zysk (University of Copenhagen) is a renowned scholar of traditional Indian medicine and science. He began his academic journey in the field of traditional Indian medicine (Āyurveda), subsequently expanding his research into the realms of sexology (Kāmaśāstra) and the astral sciences (Jyotihśāstra). Professor Zysk’s scholarly interests extend  beyond the sciences to encompass the broader cultural contexts in which these disciplines  emerged and the intercultural exchanges that contributed to their development. In recent  years, he has focused on exploring the connections between ancient Mesopotamian, Greek, and Indian traditions of physiognomy and omenology. 
     

Organizer(s)
Address
MPIWG, Boltzmannstraße 22, 14195 Berlin, Germany
Room
Main Conference Room
Contact and Registration

To register for the event, please email astra@mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de, providing your name and affiliation by Monday, October 7, 2024. Since places may be limited, please indicate if you wish to attend in person or remotely via Zoom.

Download Event Poster
2024-GargasKnowledgeCrowDawnSouthAsionOrnithology-rgASTRA-Poster-AMisra.pdf
2024-10-09T10:30:00SAVE IN I-CAL 2024-10-09 10:30:00 2024-10-09 12:30:00 Public Talk by Prof. Dr. Kenneth G. Zysk: Garga’s Knowledge of the Crow (vāyasavidyā) and the Dawn of South Asian Ornithology Dhūmavati and Śiva in a cremation ground surrounded by crows, c. 19th century. https://ia801706.us.archive.org/10/items/dhumavati_202008/Dhumavati.jpg.   This talk explores a collection of crow omens from South Asia, aiming to elucidate the epistemological underpinnings of their understanding. The content reveals a fascinating blend of empirically based knowledge and religious ritual, both rooted in empirical observation. When this rational approach is applied to bird omens, particularly those associated with corvids, the collection can be interpreted as representing an early form of “ornithology” within the South Asian context. In this talk, we will delve into the Gārgīyajyotisa texts, the earliest extant collection of Brahmanic Astral Science, compiled by a certain Garga likely in the Northwest of the Indian subcontinent around the beginning of the Common Era. Through these texts, we will illustrate the mode of thought that underpins the knowledge of the crow, or vāyasavidyā, as presented by Garga.   Biography Professor Emeritus Kenneth G. Zysk Professor Emeritus Kenneth G. Zysk (University of Copenhagen) is a renowned scholar of traditional Indian medicine and science. He began his academic journey in the field of traditional Indian medicine (Āyurveda), subsequently expanding his research into the realms of sexology (Kāmaśāstra) and the astral sciences (Jyotihśāstra). Professor Zysk’s scholarly interests extend  beyond the sciences to encompass the broader cultural contexts in which these disciplines  emerged and the intercultural exchanges that contributed to their development. In recent  years, he has focused on exploring the connections between ancient Mesopotamian, Greek, and Indian traditions of physiognomy and omenology.    MPIWG, Boltzmannstraße 22, 14195 Berlin, Germany Main Conference Room Anuj Misra Anuj Misra Europe/Berlin public