ThePauliṣa Siddhānta (literally, "The scientific-treatise of Pauliṣa Muni") refers to multipleIndian astronomical treatises, at least one of which is based on a Western source. "Siddhānta" literally means "doctrine" or "tradition".
It is often mistakenly thought to be a single work and attributed toPaul of Alexandria (c. 378 CE).[1] However, this notion has been rejected by other scholars in the field, notably byDavid Pingree who stated that "...the identification of Paulus Alexandrinus with the author of thePauliṣa Siddhānta is totally false".[2] Similarly,K. V. Sarma writes that it is from a Greek source, known only as Pauliṣa.[3]
Alberuni wrote that the Siddhanta is based on the teaching of a Greek named Paulus.[4]
The earlier Pauliṣa-siddhānta dates from the third or fourth century, and the later Pauliṣa-siddhānta from the eighth century.[5]
Similar to theYavanajātaka ("The Sayings of the Greeks"), the Pauliṣa Siddhānta is an example of Hellenistic astronomy (especially theAlexandrian school) in India during the first centuries CE.
The Pauliṣa Siddhānta was particularly influential on the work of the Indian astronomerVarāhamihira. It was considered one of "The Five Astronomical Canons" in India in the 5th century.