334 ox THE INDIAN, &C. 



Hindu astronomers define a point in this constella- 

 tion, of some importance in their fanciful astrology. 

 According to the Siirva s'ulcClianta^ when a planet is in 

 the 7th degree of Vr'isha (Taurus) and has more than 

 two degrees of south latitude, or, as commentators ex- 

 pound the passage^ 2° 40' ; the planet is said to cut 

 the cart of Rohhil. This is denominated sacat'ahhcaay 

 or the section of the wain. Lalla and the Graha- 

 laghava give nearly the same definition ; and it is 

 added in the work last mentioned, that, when Mars, 

 Saturn and the Moon are in that position (which oc- 

 curs, in regard to the moon, when the node is eight 

 nacshalras distant from Piwarvasu, and might happen 

 in regard to the rest during another Yiiga), the world is 

 involved in great calamity. Accordingly, the Puranas 

 contain a legendary story of Dasarafhas dissuading 

 Saturn from so traversins; the constellation Rohmi. 



•t3 



V. ISIngdsiras the fifih Nacshati-a, represented by 

 an antelope's head, contains three stars ; the same 

 which constitute the fiflli lunar mansion Hakah ; for 

 the distance of 10° S. assigned to the northern star of 

 this JSacshalra^ will agree with no other but one of the 

 three in the head of Orion. The difference of longi- 

 tude (24° to 254^) from Crill'ica corresponds with suf- 

 ficient exactness ; and so does the longitude of its cir- 

 cle of declination {iSl^ to (33°) from the end of Revati ; 

 since the true longitude of x Orionis, from the princi- 

 pal star in Revati (<; Piscium), is 63^°. It was it mis- 

 take to suppose this asterism to comprise stars in the 

 feet of Gemini, or in the Galaxy (x\s. Res. vol. 2. p, 

 298). 



VI. A'nlra, the sixth Nacshatra, consists of a single 

 bright star, described as a gem, and placed in 90 S. by 

 one authority, but in 1 \° by others, and at the distance 

 of 4^° to 4° in longitude from the last asterism. This 

 indicates tlic star in the shoulder of Orion f« Orionis) ; 



