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XIII. 



ON THE ANTIQUITY 



OF 



THE SURYA' SIDDHA'NTA, 



AND 



The Formation of the Astronomical Cy-cles thereiit 

 contained. 



BY MR. J. BENTLEY. 



I. 'T^HE Sitryd Siddhdnta is generally believed to 

 -*- be the most ancient astronomical treatise the 

 Hindus have, and according to their notions is sup- 

 posed to have been received through divine revela- 

 tion at the close of the Saiya yng, of the 28 th Maha 

 yug^ of the 7th Alanwantara : that is about 2164899 

 years ago* 



2. That the Hindus are an ancient people is ge- 

 nerally allowed, and proved beyond a doubt by his- 

 torical evidence; but that they are possessed of 

 astronomical works, of such stupendous antiquity, 

 as the Suryd Siddhdiita fs pretended to be, is a cir- 

 cumstance not warranted by the strictest investi- 

 gation. 



3. Several of the learned have written on the 

 laws, manners, customs, &c. of the Hindus^ but it 

 is only within a few years past, I believe, that at- 

 tempts have been made to investigate, through the 

 medium of their astronomical works, &c. the truth 

 or falsehood of their pretensions to the high and mon- 

 strous antiquity they assume to themselves above all 



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