THE SURYA' SIDDHA'NTA, 5cc. i€*i 



the Hindu astronomer who first observed the obliquitjr 

 of the ecliptic, and settled it at twenty-four degrees, 

 must have lived so far back as the point of time when 

 it was really so : for it is well known, that indepen- 

 dent of errors in observations for want of proper in- 

 struments, the Hindu astronomers make it a rule in 

 all cases, where extraordinary accuracy is not requir- 

 ed, to reject fractional quantities, and take the nearest 

 whole number; so that if the first Hi?idu astronomers 

 found the obliquity to exceed23'' 30'. they would state 

 it at 24^^, as being sufficiently near for their purpose. 



54. Therefore, in investigating the antiquilv of 

 any Hindu astronomical work, the quantities of the 

 equations of the orbits of the planets, and that of the 

 obliquity of the ecliptic must be rejected, as not only 

 too incorrect for the purpose, but altogether falla- 

 cious; for, being as I have above stated (§ 52 — 53) 

 copied from the works of the earlier astronomers, they 

 cannot in the smallest degree add to the antiquity of 

 the works into which they are so transcribed, except 

 in delusive appearance only. 



55. The aphelia and nodes of the planets being 

 invisible points in the heavens, their positions and 

 motions for want of proper instruments, have been 

 but ill determined by the Hindu astronomers; and 

 therefore, are to be rejected also : unless, where they 

 are found to agree with the general result, deduced 

 from the motions and positions of the Sun, Moon, 

 and planets. 



56. Having thus given a fall and comprehert* 

 sive view of the pinciples of the Hindu systems, with 

 their formation, and pointed out all those delusive 

 .appearances which are apt to mislead ; I shall nov7 

 proceed to the investigation of the antiquity of the 

 Sun/a Siddhanta 



57. T«E 



