A Favorable Constellation of the Stars

This conference will take place in person at ISAW. Registration is required.

The Smith Collection of the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Columbia University, which was cataloged by renowned historian of mathematics Professor David Pingree, contains a wealth of materials for researching astronomy, mathematics, astrology, and omens in South Asia. Most of the 358 manuscripts are primarily Jyotiṣaśāstra in category. We have organized a conference entitled Favorable Constellation of the Stars to encourage scholarly discussion as a celebration of the collection. The one-day conference will comprise presentations on topics including the premodern astral sciences, history of sciences, and mathematics.

Conference Schedule:

9:00am
Alexander Jones (NYU-ISAW)
Opening Remarks

9:15am
Charlotte Gorant (Columbia University)
"A Brief Introduction to the Smith Indic Manuscript Collection and its History"

9:45am
Kim Plofker (Union College)
"The Smith Indic Collection and Indian Astronomical Schools"

10:25am
Bill Mak (ISF Academy)
"Early Indian Pre-Siddhāntic Astronomical Treatises — A Chronology"

11:05am
Coffee Break

11:25am
Marko Geslani (University of South Carolina)
"Notes on the Formation of the Yātrā"

12:05pm
Toke Knudsen (SUNY-Oneonta)
"Resembling a Mirror: Purāṇic Statements on the Shape of the Earth"

12:45pm
Break

2:30pm
Tejas Aralere (University of New Hampshire)
"Ratna Prabhāva: Astrological Metaphysics and Healing Amulets"

3:10pm
Eric Gurevitch (Vanderbilt University)
"Bringing Tables Down from the Heavens: Consultation Reading and the Everyday Life of Manuscripts"

3:50pm
Coffee Break 2

4:10pm
Alexander Jones (NYU-ISAW)
Culminating Remarks and Reflections

4:50pm
Open Discussion

Please check isaw.nyu.edu for event updates.

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Host or Publisher Institute for the Study of the Ancient World at NYU