No. 23, — 1881.] HINDU ASTRONOMY. 5 



it is caused by the sun going once through the twelve (12) signs of 

 the zodiac in 365 days, 6 hours, 12 minutes, and 29 seconds. 

 Whatever may be the difference in the theory, the result is 

 almost alike in determining the length of a year, the difference 

 being only about 24 minutes. 



VIII. — The 2nd verse of the 4th chapter of Siddhanta 

 Siromani says : " The atmosphere extends to the height of 

 12 yojanas from the earth; within this limit are the clouds, 

 lightning, &c." Twelve yojanas are equal to 60 miles. 



European science also says that the atmosphere surrounds 

 the earth to the height of 50 or 60 miles. 



IX. -— The cause of the motion of the planets is explained in 

 the first five verses of the 2nd chapter of Suriya Siddhdntam, 



(Verse 1.) " Forms of time, of invisible shape, stationed in 

 the zodiac ( bhagana )] called the conjunction (sighrochcha ), apsis 

 (mandochcha ), and node (pdta j, are causes of the motion of the 

 planets." 



(2.) " The planets, attached to these beings by cords of air, are 

 drawn away by them with the right and left hand, forward or 

 backward according to nearness, toward their own place. " 



(3,) " A wind, moreover, called pravdha impels them towards 

 their own apices (uchchaj; being drawn away forward and 

 backward, they proceed by a varying motion." 



(4.) " The so-called apex ( uchcha ), when in the half orbit in 

 front of the planet, draws the planet forward; in like manner, 

 when in the half orbit behind the planet, it draws it backward." 



(5,) " When the planets drawn away by their apices (uchcha ) 

 move forward in their orbits, the amount of the motion so 

 caused is called their excess ( dhana ) ; when they move back- 

 ward, it is called their deficiency (rina. )" 



There is some. sort of agreement between European and 

 Hindu sciences in this intricate and abstruse part of astronomy. 

 European science says that the planets take their circular 



