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Hindu Astronomy HINDU ASTRONOMY BY W. BRENNAND, WITH THIRTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS AND NUMEROUS DIAGRAMS. London : Published by Chas. Straker & Sons, Ltd., Bishopsgate Avenue, E.C. 1896. S JUL 3 1 1974 fysm OF Wf B-7M Printed by Chas. Straker & Sons, Ltd., BisiiorsoATE Avenue, London, E.G. PREFACE. It is perhaps expected that some reason should be given for tho publication of this work, though it may appear inadequate. Force of circumstances; rather than deliberate choice on my part, impelled it now that it has been I cannot but feel how ; and, accomplished, imperfect the production is. A lengthened residence in India led me to become interested in the study of the ancient mathematical works of the Hindus. This study was frequently interrupted by official duties, and much information acquired in its course lias been for a time forgotten. Recent circumstances, and chiefly the interest displayed by my former pupils in a paper presented to the Royal Society on the same subject, has induced me to make an effort to regain the lost ground, and to gather together materials for a more extended work. Moreover, a conviction formed many years ago that the Hindus have not received the credit due to their literature and mathematical science from Europeans, and which has been strengthened by a renewal of my study of those materials, has led me also to a desire to put before the public their system of astronomy in as simple a maimer as possible, with the object of enabling those interested in the matter to form their own judgment upon it, and, possibly, to extend further investigations in the subject. I have found far greater difficulties than I had anticipated from the fact that, although, no doubt, many Hindu writings exist which, if translated and consulted, would throw greater light upon the matter, yet comparatively few have undergone European investiga- tion. I have been greatly assisted in my endeavours by the follow- ing books, from some of which I have made copious extracts, in order to present the views of others than myself. l*. Preface, " and The works of Sir W. Jones, Bnilly'e Astronomie Indienne," of on in the "Transactions of the Royal Society Playfiurs'i paper it, in Asiatic Researches," Colebrooke's Edinburgh," Davis's "Essays "Hindu mys and Translations from the Sanscrit," Bentle/s Professor Max Muller, Astronomy," references to Captain Wilford, and other the Institutes of Ferguson*! "Architecture," works; Akber, and the translation of the Siddhanta Siromani of Launcelot Wilkinson. I .8. know- f have not entered at greater length into the mathematical char- ledge of the Hindus than will he sufficient to show its general acter, and that it was adequate for their requirements in the ordinary business of their lives, and for the purposes of their astronomy. In the description of the Surya Siddhanta I have been indebted to tin- translation, of this work from the Sanscrit, by Pundit Bapu Dt-va Saatri, of the Sanscrit College of Benares. I take this opportunity of offering my thanks to my former pupils, who, after so many (23) years, still retain their attachment to ine in my retirement, and especially to Rajah Rajendro Narayan of Roy Chowdry Bhowal, who have all taken the greatest interest in the progress of this work. W. BRENNAND. Thi Fort, Milverton, Somerset, 25th March, 1896. CONTENTS PART I. CHAPTER I. PREHISTORIC ASTRONOMY OF THE ARYAN MIGRATING TRIBES. Countries inhabited by Aryan Races. Routes of Migration, East, West and South Alpha Draconis as Polaris 2800 B.C. Regulus, or Alpha Leonis, rising with Sun and Summer Solstice 2280 B.C. Early Religion of Chinese, resembling that of the Hindus. of Astronomical carried to ., t^Similarity Conceptions by Migrating Tribes ' / their new homes. A figures representing the twelve signs connected with Mythology. *lA Similar imaginary forms of the figures implying nearly the same early Mythology. Origin of the Zodiac traced to Prehistoric Nomads. Natural Deductions from heliacal risings of stars. Origin of Sun Dial from observance of shadow cast by tent poles. Reasons for veneration in which the Solar Signs Taurus and Leo were held. ^ Phases of the Moon Synodic Period figures of signs illustrated. Chinese Signs. Conclusion that all Migrating Tribes carried with them similar signs of the Solar Zodiac. v/The Chinese indebted to Hindus for improvements in their Astronomy. Greeks not possessed of the System of Lunar Mansions. Lunar Mansions called Arabian supposed to be derived from the Chaldeans. Contents. s i of Lunar Mansions being the common possession Probability of the System nons. Names of the Arabian Lunar Mansions. Arabic, and Hindu Lunar Mansions. nparison of Egyptian, Chinese, to Asiatic Nations. Cyole of Sixty Years common of a common in the Summary of Characteristics affording evidence origin Astronomy of Asiatic Nations. CHAPTER II. EAELY HINDU PEKIODS. found in their Origin of the Study of Hindu Astronomy to be religious observances. ^ The Necessity for a Calendar. The Science of Astronomy confined to Brahmins. Antiquity and Civilization of the Hindus, as studied by Europeans in the last century. Exaggerated Chronological Dates of most Eastern Nations in some measure accounted for. Evidence of the great Antiquity of Hindu Astronomy afforded by astronomical tables published in 1687 and 1772 A.D. Hailly's "Astronomie Indienno." l'layfair's investigation of Bailly's work. oral Conclusions arrived at by Playfair. The , supposed general conjunction of planets, etc., in 3102 B.C. The Hindu of Theory Epicycles differs in some respects from that of Ptolemy. The Kali Yuga one of several epochs invented to facilitate astronomical calculations. Years of the M iha Yuga and Kalpa. CHAPTER III. T^E HINDU ECLIPTIC. k ription of the Nncphat-as, or Lunar Asterisms. on into twelve Solar and Signs twenty-eight Lunar Constollations. Illustration, oi the with Northern Ecliptic and Southern Yuga-taras. Contents. vii. Other important stars mentioned. j^Names of the twenty-seven Lunar Asterisms, with figures representing them. Table >f Apparent Longitudes and Latitudes of the twenty-seven Yuga- taras. Observations on Phenomena occurring near the Ecliptic-. Eclipses, and their return in succession in periods of every eighteen years and ten or eleven days. the ^/Eclipses supposed, by ignorant, to presage dreadful events. ^-Extracts from Hindu Writings showing that the causes of eclipses were well understood. " " The point marking the origin of Apparent Longitudes. The modern origin fixed when the Vernal Equinox was in the first point of Aswini, or Mesha (ciro. 570 A.D.) " Meaning of the term precession." Methods of determining the date 570 A.D. Date when the Vernal Equinox coincided with the first point of Crittica. Confirmation of such date found by Bentley in the Hindu Allegory of the birth of four planets (15281371 B.C.) Extract from the Varaha-Sanhita, with reference to the date when the Solstitial Colure passed through the first point of Dhanishtha (oir;. 1110 B.C.) CHAPTER IV. THE HINDU MONTHS, etc. v Different Methods of Measuring Time. I Astronomy of the Vedas described in a treatise entitled Jyotisha. for the adjustment of the ancient Hindu Calendar. Birth of Durga (a personification of the year). ^Formation and Names of the Months. Extracts regarding the Months from the Institutes of Menu. Months called, in the Institutes, Daughters of Dacsha (the Ecliptic), and Consorts of Soma (the Moon). Tiii. Contents. to Sir W. Jones. The Lunar Year more ancient than the Solar, according of India. The Lunar Month having a different beginning in different parts Phases of the Moon- Lunar Month*, according to the Puramts. The tame, according to Jyotishicas (Mathematical Astronomers). Names of the Seasons. CHAPTER V. THE RISHIS. Heliacal Hiving of Rcgulus, marking the position of Summer Solstice, 2280 B.C The Rishis Seven Indian Sages, authors of Vedio hymns, etc., translated to the Celestial Sphere, as stars, Alpha to Heta Ursoe Majoris. Meaning of the word "Rishi." Explanation of the motion erroneously ascribed to these stars. " The Line of the Rishis," a fixed great circle. TV Solstitial Colure, as distinct from the Line of the Rishis. Tl.c Annual Rate of Precession determined by ancient Hindu Astronomers hv means of retrogression of Colure from Line of Rishis. An alternative theory adopted by later astronomers, i.e., a hbration of the on each Equinox side of a mean point. Probable origin of the theory of Hbration. "Line of Rishis" fixwl in position, 1590 B.C. CHAPTER VI. THEORY REGARDING THE CAUSE OF THE PLANETAEY MOTIONS. The Sun and Planet, suppoeed to be carried diurnally Westward with the tart by Pravaha (a mighty wind). The irregular motions caused deities by situated at the Apsides and Nodes, or attracting deflecting them. Contents. ix. CHAPTER VII. ARITHMETIC, ALGEBRA, AND GEOMETRY OF THE HINDUS. Opinions of Dr. Peacock regarding antiquity of Hindu Notation. Dr. Hutton's views on origin and history of Algebra, The Earliest Arabian Treatise on Algebra, by Mahomed Ben Musa. The Algebra of Diophantus probably a translation from some ancient Asiatic manuscript. Encouragement of the Alexandrian School of Astronomy, by the Ptolemies. The Lilavati and Vija-Ganita Hindu treatises on Arithmetic and Algebra. Description of these works by Dr. Hutton. (/The Sun Dial. Examples of problems and methods of solution from Algebra of Hindus. CHAPTER VIII. V HINDU ASTRONOMICAL INSTRUMENTS. The Armillary Sphere. The Nadi Valaya. The Ghati, or Clepehydra. The Chakra., or Circle. CHAPTER IX. EARLY HINDU ASTRONOMERS. Distinction between circumstances derived from a consideration of the great Epic Poems of the Hindus, and even of the Vedas and Institutes of Menu, and circumstances connected with purely astronomical deductions. " " " Two Royal Dynasties the Children of the Sun and the Children of the Moon." Rama, the son of Dasaratha, the hero most distinguished by the Hindus.
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