DIVISIONS OP THE ZODIACK, 357 



added to Q8 for the sun's place in degrees, on the day 

 when Jlgastya TiSQS I or is deducted from 78, to find 

 the sun's place when that star sets. By this rule, the 

 star should rise, in latitude 260 34', when the sun is at 

 the 26th degree of the lion, and should set when the 

 sun quits the ram. Accordingly, the Bhavishya and 

 the Brahmevaivaria Puranas ordain oblations for j^gast- 

 ya three days before the sun reaches the Zodiacal sign 

 Virgo ; though the inhabitants of the province of Ganra^ 

 as observed in the last mentioned Furdrui, perform this 

 ceremony three days earlitr. 



In regard to the passages above quoted, it may be 

 remarked, that the rule, stated in the Bljasvsati, im- 

 plies the distance of three signs'!! from the beginning of 

 Aries, to Agasiya, and supposes the star to become vi- 

 sible when distant one sign from the sun. But the 

 rule, delivered in the Grahaldghava^ places the star at 

 the distance of 88^ from the beginning of Mesha, and 

 supposes it visible in the right sphere, when 10° distant 

 from the sun. According to the quotation from Pa- 

 ka'sara, the right ascension of the star must have 

 been, in his time, not less than 100*^ reckoned from 

 the beginning of Mesha ; and the star, rising cosmi- 

 cally, became visible in the oblique sphere, at the dis- 

 tance of 600 from the sun; and disappeared, setting 

 achronically, when within that distance. Making al- 

 lowance therefore for the star's proper motion, and 

 change of declination and right ascension, it remains 

 probable, that Para'saka's rule was framed for the 

 north of India, at a period when the solstitial points 

 were, as stated by that author, in the middle of Aslesha 

 and beginning of Dhannlifha^. 



I HAVE purposely reserved for separate consideration 

 the seven Rishis^ who give name to seven stars in Ursa 



? As. Res. vol. 2. p. 393. 



2 A 



