Varahamihira (505–587 CE) was a renowned astrologer in the court of king Vikramaditya. He was counted as the one of the nine jewels(eminent intellectuals) of Vikramadithya. His work Brihat Jataka, Brihat Samhita are considered as authority in astrology and horoscope. Pancha Sidhantika, another work by him is a discussion of the five astronomical work of that period. Al Berumi who came to India in 1030 CE refers to Varahamihira in his book Indica. Varahamihira was also a skilled poet and had encyclopedic knowledge of all the sastras. His books gives details of not just astrology and planetary movements alone but a wide range of subjects like climate, rainfall, crops, moral subjects, perfumes, pearls, gems.

The earlier name Varahamihira was Mihira and there is an interested story on how he came to be known as Varahamihira. The story is like this: When king had a son, Mihira predicted the boy’s death by a boar on a particular day and time. The king kept the boy in a safer place in the 7th floor of the palace where no boar can approach. But on the fateful day at the predicted time an iron boar which was the royal emblem fixed on the top of the ceiling fell on the boy and killed him. The king Vikramaditya then honored Mihira with the title Varaha and he came to be known as Varahamihira.