2 



JOURNAL, R. A. S. (CEYLON). [Vol. VIL, Pt. I. 



True Hindu astronomy is very different from Hindu mytho- 

 logy. Some Europeans seem to think that the mythology and 

 the astronomy of the Hindus are identical. 



Hindu mythology is mingled with legends and exaggera- 

 tions of poetry, which are utterly fantastic and absurdly false. 

 But the true science of astronomy is found in other works which 

 are really scientific, such as : — 

 Brahma Siddkdntam. 



Surly a Siddkdntam. 

 Soma Siddkdntam. 

 Vaskda Siddkdntam. 

 Romaka Siddkdntam. 



Vlydsa Siddkdntam. 

 Posa Siddkdntam. 

 Vardka Siddkdntam. 

 A'rlya Siddkdntam 

 Slddkdnta SiromanL 



There are several other works among the Hindus on astro- 

 nomy, but these are the important ones. 



I do not pretend to say that I have read all these books. 1 

 have read only two of them, from which I will give quotations 

 and authorities, to prove that many of the doctrines of the 

 Hindu science do perfectly correspond with those of the Euro- 

 pean science. 



The 59th verse of the 1st chapter of Surly a Siddkdntam 

 reads as follows :— 



" Twice 800 yqjanas are the diameter of the earth ; the 

 square root of ten times the square of that is the earth's 

 circumference." 



Here it is plainly said that the earth's diameter is 1,600 

 yqjanas, which at 5 miles each* will give 8,000 miles, 



* The measurement of the yojana is not exactly settled. According to 

 some authorities, it is equal to 16,000 yards ; according to others, to 

 8,000 yards. The Chinese traveller Hieuen Thsang, who visited India in 

 the middle of the 7th century, reports that in India, according to ancient 

 tradition, a yojana equalled 40 li (a li being about 550 yards). According 

 to the customary use of the Indian kingdoms, it is 30 li. But the yojana 

 mentioned in the sacred books contains only 16 li ; which smallest yojana 

 is equal to 5 English miles. 



