m ' ' HINDU ASTRONOMERS. 



Tun whlmlieal fyuem, more worthy of the mytholagift than of 

 the affronomer, is gravely fct forth in the Surya-fidd'hdnta ; and evera 

 Bhascaea gives into it, though not without indications of reluctant 

 acquiefeenee ; for he has not noticed it in his text, and only briefly in his 

 a©tes 8 



To explain @a mathematical principles the irregularity of the ptai* 

 nefcary motions, the Hindu aftronomers remove the earth from the ccr- 

 tre of the planet's orfeit 9 and ailume the motion in that excentrick to be 

 really equable^ though it appear irregular as viewed from the earth. 

 Another hvpothefis k alfo taught by them; according to which tl ' 

 planet revolves with in equal but contrary motion in an epicycle, of 

 which the centre Is carried with like but direct motion on a concentrick 

 orbit. 



x 



Bhascara remarks, that both theories are equivalent, giving the 

 fame refults in computation : but he maintains, that the planet's motion 

 In an excentrick orbit (fratimandcHa) is confonant to the truth ; and 

 the other hypotheEs of an epicycle (nicMchcha-vrltta) is merely % 



device for tke facility of e@m$uMmm e 



Both theories^ with certain modifications, which will be fub« 

 fequenily noticed, fufHee for the anomaly of the Sun and Moon. 



To account for the Hill greater apparent irregularities of the five 

 minor planets, the Hindu aftronomers make them revolve with direct 

 motion on an epicycle borne on an excentrick deferent (In the cafe 

 of the two inferior planets, the revolution in the excentrick is perform- 

 ed in the fame time with the Sun : confequently the planets motion 

 in its epicycle is in fa£fc its proper revolution in its orbit. In the in- 

 ilanee of the fuperior planets on the contrary, the epicycle corref- 



