No. 23.-1881.] 



HINDU ASTRONOMY. 



3 



and its circumference 25,298 miles. According to European 

 science the diameter is 7,917 miles, and the circumference 

 24,856 miles, shewing a very close proximity to the Hindu 

 calculation. 



Again, the 52nd verse of the 3rd chapter of Siddhdnta 

 Siromani reads thus : — 



" The circumference of the earth has been pronounced to be 

 4,967 yojanas, and the diameter of the same has been declared 

 to be 1581 2 | yojanas." 



According to this, the diameter is 7,905.^ miles, and 

 the circumference 24,835 miles, which figures are very much 

 nearer to the European than those given in Suriya Siddhdnta, 

 the difference being very insignificant. 



II. — According to Hindu mythology, the earth is a cir- 

 cular, flat body, supported by the serpent "A'tichedan" 

 &c; but the 32nd verse of the 12th chapter of Suriya Siddkan- 

 tam says that the earth is a globe and a self-supporting 

 body. 



The same description is given in the 2nd verse of the 3rd 

 chapter of Siddhdnta Siromani : — 



" This globe of the earth is perfectly round, and encom- 

 passed by the orbits of the Moon, Mercury, Yenus, the Sun, 

 Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, and by the constellations. It has no 

 (material) supporter, but stands firmly in the expanse of 

 heaven by its own inherent force," &c. 



The 4th verse demonstrates the self-support of the earth: — 



" If the earth were supported by any material substance or 

 living creature, then that would require a second supporter ; 

 and for that second, a third would be required. Here, we have 

 the absurdity of an interminable series. If the last of the 

 series be supposed -to remain firm by its own inherent power, 

 then why may not the same power be supposed to exist in the 

 first— that is, in the earth ? " 



