THE SURYA SIDDHA'nTA. ^8i 



epoch instead of the year 102 1 o^Saka^ the date of tlic 

 Bhasvoti. The J'ls/uiu Siddhdnta differs in nothing 

 from the Broma Slddhdiita except in the epoch 

 from which the calculations are directed to be made; 

 being the commencement of the Culpa of Vara'ha. 

 Hence, these books are evidently modern forgeries. 

 The Pardsar Siddhdnta, I am informed, has been 

 taken from the Brohma Siddhdnta, in the same 

 manner, as that of Vasishta has been taken from 

 the Surija Siddhdnta. — Indeed^ there is reason to 

 suspect that the whole of the works attributed to 

 Para'sar, are forgeries of a very modern date: I 

 have now in my possession a work pretended to be 

 his, entitled " A>/y^ Pardsar'' (i.e. Para'sar on 

 agriculture) which is a most palpable forgery. This 

 insignificant little work contains more of astrological 

 nonsense and predictions, than of real husbandry ; 

 nothing of any moment can be undertaken j the 

 ground cannot be ploughed ; nor the corn sown ; 

 without first examining the slate of the heavens, to 

 know if the time be lucky or not; but what disco- 

 vers the imposition, are certain astrological rules 

 given in the body of the work. — Thus, to calculate 

 the governing planet or Raja for the year ; the au- 

 thor says, " multiply the year of Saka by 3, to the 

 '* product add 2, divide the sum by 7, and the re- 

 " mainder will shew the governing planet or Raja 

 " for the year, to which if you add 3 (deducting 7 

 " if the sum admit), you will have its prime minister."* 

 The name " Saka'' shews the forgery, for Para'sar 

 is supposed to have lived several centuries before the 

 era oi Saka oxSaliban. 



76. The Bhasvoti, I believe, was originally calcu- 

 lated for the meridian of Siam, and was introduced 



* The gov-erning planets are I. Sun. 2. Moon. 3. Mari. 

 4'. Mercury. 5.Jiipiler. 6. Venus. 7. Saturn in their order, 



in- 



