506 On the Use of the Siddhantaa [Oct. 



ridicule the monstrous absurdities of the Jain Sutras and the Purans. 

 They have always professed in their writings the greatest admira- 

 tion for the learned men of the West, the Ionians or " Yavans;" 

 whilst the Purans have denounced those who hold any communication 

 with men of these nations, termed by them the lowest of the low. A'rya 

 Bha't, the author of the A'rya Siddhanta, expressly maintains the daily 

 revolutionof the earth on its own axis, though not its annual revolution. 

 It is the object of this essay to draw the attention of the pub- 

 lic, and especially that of all friends of native education to these Sid- 

 dhantas, and to recommend them to more general attention and study 

 than they have yet found. It will be asked, " Are you of opinion 

 that they contain any thing which has escaped the research of Davis. 

 Colebrooke, and Bentley, and which may yet throw some new light 

 on the science of Astronomy, on Chronology, or on History ?" I must 

 answer, No. But I feel assured from experience, that they afford us 

 beyond all comparison the best means of promoting the cause of edu- 

 cation, civilization, and truth, amongst our Hindu subjects. 



4th. Here I shall be at once met with the question, " Why go back 

 a thousand years in search of truth avowedly containing some admix- 

 ture of error, when the pure and the unadulterated truth is at hand, 

 and may be communicated with equal facility ?" 



To this I reply, that the pure and unadulterated truth not only can- 

 not be communicated with equal facility, but is absolutely rejected by 

 the mass of the Hindu population of India ; but that with the aid of 

 the authority of the Siddhantas, the work of general and extensive en- 

 lightenment may be commenced upon at once, and will be most readily 

 effected, the truths taught by them being received with avidity. To 

 explain and correct their errors will at the same time be easy. 



5th. With regard to the population of the three Presidencies, the 

 argument of my supposed opponent may, and I believe, does, apply. 

 The native mind there is fully prepared, nay, eager, to receive any cul- 

 tivation that can be given to it ; but what has led to this ? For gene- 

 rations, indeed, I may say for centuries past, the native populations 

 there have enjoyed the humanizing advantages of daily intercourse 

 with enlightened Europeans and foreigners of all nations ; of a moderate 

 and steady government ; and of an extensive foreign commerce ; there 

 too the brahmans and the studious have for the same long period, had the 

 benefit of many schools, colleges, and learned institutions, superintended 

 by English teachers, distinguished for their learning and science ; 

 there the Press, English and Native, disseminating its daily modicum of 

 knowledge, has at length succeeded in awakening a spirit of inquiry 



