podes, &c. as the priests and princes of Europe could not be persuaded to entertain four or even but three hundred years ago; and for asserting which, they were sending our earliest philosophers to the dungeon. 19th. I take this opportunity of informing the public of the existence. of a native observatory at Kotah, or rather of a valuable collection of astronomical apparatus, made by the late Maháráo UHMAID SINGH; and posited on one of the bastions of the citadel, fitted up for their reception. This apparatus consists of a very splendid and large armillary sphere; of the celestial and terrestial globes, dials, gnomons, and also the Ráj Yantra, or astrolabe, borrowed from the Musalmáns about 250 or 300 years ago. The axes of the globes are fixed at an elevation of 24° 30′, the supposed altitude of the North Polar Star at Kotá. But the latitudes given by the native astronomers, for all the principal cities of Rájputáná and Málwá, are under-rated by about 40′; that of Kotah is, I believe, 25° 10'. The authority of BHA'SKAR A'CHA'RYA has led to this error. In the 34th verse here quoted, the latitude of Oujain is stated at of 360°, which would give just 22° 30'. This accordingly is always stated by Native Astronomers as its latitude, and when I have stated the result not only of Dr. HUNTER'S but also of the celebrated Rájá JAY SINGH's more accurate observations (vide vol. vi. Asiatic Researches); this verse has always been quoted to me to prove their assertions. 1 16 The Maháráo's collection contains also a Túriya Yantrá, or quadrant, with a radius on one side of 30 digits, and linear rectangular intersections, rising from each digit, representing their whole canon of sines, cosines, and versed sines adapted to this radius. From the Maháráo's astronomer I procured a copy of the Sanscrit treatise on the quadrant, called the Yantra Chintámaní, by CHAKRADHARA, son of SRI Wámána, containing directions for the construction and use of the instrument, with the mathematical proofs and demonstrations of all the many problems which may be worked by it. The reverse side of this quadrant contains the signs and degrees of the ecliptic, and an hour circle, with an index-hand by which you are enabled to tell at once the lagna (or horoscope), that is, the exact point or star of the ecliptic, rising in the horizon at any given time. I am unable at the present moment to fix the date of this work, but I am inclined to think that it is not of a much more ancient date than the astrolabe, and that it, like the astrolabe, has been borrowed from the Musalmáns. To the European public, translations of this and the other works alluded to in this letter, would be highly curious and highly valuable. To enable us to communicate our greater knowledge in the sciences they treat of, the study of them would seem indispensable, to give us a due command of their mathematical modes of expression. I earnestly hope, that some persons better qualified than myself, may be induced to undertake the task of translation. I do not refuse the task; but I I confess my present incompetence, from my own limited knowledge of mathematics, to understand and follow the authors of these learned works in their more abstruse calculations; and the never-ceasing pressure of arduous and responsible public duties, prevents my devoting such time to the study as would better qualify me for the duty. It would be unjust in the public to expect, and imprudent in me to promise much; what I can, I will do. But the public may with much justice turn their eyes upon those men of science at the head of our schools, colleges, and literary institutions now scattered over India. To a MILL, a YATES, a TYTLER, a SUTHERLAND, a THORESBY, and many other distinguished scholars of this Presidency, and to the two JERVISES of the Engineers, and to many gentlemen of the Scotch and American Missions, so much distinguished for their labours in the cause of education, on the Bombay side of India, the task would be easy; I hope it will not be declined. Extract from Bháskar A'chárya's Treatise on the Globes. वृत्तेर्वृत्ताष्टतः सन् मृदनिम्नसलिलव्योमतेजोमयेोयं । 3 नान्याधारः खशक्त्येव वियति नियतं तिष्ठतीहास्य पृष्ठे निष्टं विश्वच्च शश्वत्सदनुजमनुजादित्यदेत्यं ममन्तात् ॥ २१ ॥ Verse 21st. This sphere of the earth, formed of the five elementary principles, viz. earth, air, water, the ethereal atmosphere, and fire, is perfectly round, and encompassed in the orbits of the moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn; and lastly, by that of the constellations. It has no material supporter, but stands On its surface, all living and inanimate fixed in air by its own inherent force. objects subsist throughout, as well titans, as human beings, gods, as well as daityus. सर्वतः पर्वतारामग्राम चैत्य चयेवितः । कदम्ब कुसुमग्रन्थिः केसरप्रसरैरिव ।। २२ ।। Verse 22nd. Its surface is bespread on all sides with numberless mountains and groves, towns and buildings, as the bulb of the flower of the Kadamb tree is covered with filaments without number. मी धर्ती चेवरिया स्तदन्यस्तस्याप्यन्ये । प्येवमचानवस्था । मूर्तिः || २३ jà ae særfa: faurà faâr yà: regäu afd: 11 33 11 Verse 23rd. Let it be admitted, that this earth is supported by any material substance, or living creature, still for the support of that, a second supporter is required, and for that second in like manner, a third is necessary. Here you have the absurdity of an interminable succession: if reduced to admit a power of self-support in that which you place the last of the series, I would ask, why not admit the same power in the earth itself, the first of the series? for the earth is one of the forms of the eight-fold divinity. यथेोष्णताकीनलयोश्च शीतता विधौ द्रतिः के कठिनत्वमश्मनि । मरुञ्चला भूरचला खभावतो यतो विचिचा वत वस्तुशक्तयः ||२४|| Verse 24th. As heat is the inherent property of the sun and of fire; as cold of the moon, fluidity of water, and hardness of stones; as the air is volatile, and the earth is immovable, and as other wonderful (oh! how wonderful!) properties belong to other things: : चाक्कष्टशक्तिश्च मही तथा यत् खस्थं गुरु खाभिमुखं खशक्त्या । आकृष्यते तत्पततीव भाति समे समन्ताक्त पतत्वियं खे ॥ २५ ॥ Verse 25th. In like manner, the power of attraction is inherent in this globe of earth. By this inherent power, any thing heavy projected into the air is attracted down to it. The thing so projected appears to be falling of itself; but in lf, with the Jains fact, it is in a state of being drawn downwards by the earth. you suppose the earth to be perpetually falling in space, in what direction, I ask you, is it falling? Above and below and all around the ethereal expanse is equally outspread. भपञ्जरस्य भ्रमणावलेाकादाधारशून्या कुरिति प्रतीतिः । स्वस्यं न दृष्टन्तु गुरुचमातः खेऽधः प्रयातीति वदन्ति बाह्वाः || २ || Verse 26th. That the earth is poised in space, and without support, the fullest assurance is felt from beholding the revolutions of the circling constellations; but the Jains maintain, that it is perpetually falling downwards in space; resting the proof of this assertion on the fact, that all heavy things naturally fall downwards, and that the earth is the heaviest of heavy visible things. द्वै। द्वा रवीन्द्र भगणौ च तद्वदेकान्तरन्तावुदयं व्रजेता । यदब्रुवन्नेवमनंबराद्या ब्रवीम्यतस्तान्प्रति युक्तियुक्तं ॥ २७ ॥ Verse 27th. The Jains and others likewise maintain, that there are two suns, and two moons, and also two sets of constellations, which are rising in constant alternation. But to them I give this appropriate answer. भूःखेऽधः खलु यातीति बुद्धिबौद्ध मुधा कथं । जाता यातं तु दृष्ट्वापि खे यत् चिप्तङ्गुरु क्षितिं ॥ २८ ॥ Verse 28th. Let it be admitted, that the earth is falling downwards in space ; but O Jain, dost thou not see that every heavy thing projected into space, comes back again to, and overtakes, the earth? How then can your idle proposition hold good ? If true, a heavy thing once projected into air would keep at an uniform distance from, but never overtake, the earth. किं गष्यं तव वैगुण्यं द्वैगुष्णं यो दृथा कथाः । भार्केन्दूनां विलोक्याका ध्रुवमत्स्यपरिभ्रमं ॥ २८९ ॥ use Verse 29th. What can I say to your folly, O Jain, who without object or supposest a double set of constellations, two suns, and two moons? Canst thou not at times see the circumpolar stars revolving round the polar star, even in broad day-light ? यदि समा मुकुरोदरसन्निभा भगवती धरणी तरणिःक्षितैः । उपरि दूरगतोपि परिभ्रमन् किम् नरैरमरैरिव नेक्ष्यते ॥ ३० ॥ Verse 30th. If this blessed earth were like the surface of a looking glass an extended plane, why should not the sun, even when removed to a distance from the earth, as at night, (the Puráns assert that it revolves in a horizontal circle, as it does when seen from the poles,) still be visible in every part of its revolution to men, as well as to the gods? यदि निशाजनकः कनकाचलः किमु तदन्तरगः स न दृश्यते उदगयं ननु मेरुरथं।शुमान् कथमुदेति च दक्षिणभागके || ३१ || Verse 31st. If (the intervention of) Merú causes night, why is not this mountain, when between us and the sun, visibly developed to our eyes? Let it be granted that this Merú is, as is stated in the Puráns, situated to the north, pray tell me why should the sun ever rise at all in the south, as it does when it has southern declination ? ममा यतः स्यात्परिधेः शतांशः पृथ्वी च पृथ्वी नितरां तनीयान् । नरश्च तत्पृष्ठगतस्य कृत्स्ना समेव तस्य प्रतिभात्यतः सा ।। ३२ ।। Verse 32nd. The fact is, that one hundredth part of the circumference of the earth is or may be assumed to be a plane. The earth is an excessively large body; a man is immeasurably smaller; and hence it is, that to him, as he stands on its surface, the whole earth has the appearance of being a plane, पुरांतरं चेदिदमुत्तरं स्यात्तदक्षविश्लेषलवे स्तदा किं । चक्रांशकैरित्यनुपातयुक्त्या युक्तं निरुक्तं परिषेः प्रमाणं || ३३ || Verse 33rd. The measurement of the circumference of the earth is easily and correctly ascertained by the simple rule of proportion, in this way—there is a town situated to the south; you are residing in another lying due north of it; ascertain the distance between the two, and the difference of their latitudes; then say if the number of degrees (difference of latitudes) give this distance, what will the whole circumference of 360 degrees give ? निरक्षदेशात् चितिषोडशांशे भवेदवन्ती गणितेन यस्मात् । Verse 34th. Oujain, for instance, is ascertained by calculation to be distance from the equator, where there is no latitude, part of the whole circumference of the earth—this distance multiplied by 16, will be the measurement of the circumference of the earth: what reason then is there in asserting such an immense magnitude of the earth? शृंगोन्नति ग्रहयुति ग्रहणोदयास्तछायादिकं परिधिना घटतेऽमुना हि । नान्येन तेन जगुरुक्तमहोप्रमाणप्रामाण्यमन्वययुजा व्यतिरेककेण || २५ || Verse 35th. By assuming as true this circumference thus ascertained, the calculations of the position of the moon's cusps, the conjunctions of the planets, eclipses, the times of the rising and setting of the planets, and the lengths of the shadows of the gnomon, and the like, correspond with the observed facts. By assuming any other circumference, no such correspondence is found to exist. The truth of the above-mentioned measurement of the earth is thus plainly established by the law of "rule and exception" set forth in the Nyáya Shástri. लंका कुमध्ये यमकोठिरस्याः प्राक् पश्चिमे रोमकपत्तनञ्च । च्यधस्ततः सिद्धपुरं सुमेरुः माम्याथ याम्यो वडवानलश्च || ३६ || Verse 36th. Lanká is situated in the middle of this globe; Yamkothi is situ ated to the east of it; to the west is Rome or Romaka Patan; the city of Siddhapur is on the opposite side of the globe to that of Lanká. Sumerú is situated to the north, on the North Pole, and Baravanala to the south, at the South Pole. generafcaifa aifa waifa qğıofazı azifa I वसंति मेरै। सुरसिद्धसंघा ओर्वे च सर्वे नरकाः सदैत्याः || ३७ ।। Verse 37th. These six places are situated at a distance of one-fourth part of the earth's circumference, each from its adjoining one; so say those who are acquainted with the globe. At Merú the various classes of the gods and pure spirits have their abodes: at Baravanala, at the South Pole, are situated the residences of all the evil spirits. यो यत्र तिष्ठत्यवनिं तलस्यामात्मानमस्या उपरिस्थितं च । स मन्यतेऽतः कुचतुर्थमंस्था मिथस्य ते तिर्यगिवामनंति || १८ || Verse 38th. A man, on whatever part of the globe he is placed, thinks the earth to be under his feet, and that he is standing upright upon it; men placed at the distance of 90 degrees, or one-fourth of the earth's circumference, from each other, fancy each other to be standing as it were at right angles to each other. च्वधः शिरस्काः कुदम्लांतरस्थाः छायामनुष्याद्रव नोरतोरे । अनाकुनास्तिर्यगधः स्थिताश्च तिष्ठन्ति ते तच वयं यथात्र || ३८ ॥ Verse 39th. Those who are placed at the distance of half the earth's circumference from each other, are antipodes each to the other, and fancy each that the others have their heads turned into directions exactly opposite, in exactly the same way, as a man beholding his shadow on the bank of a river. But neither do those who are standing at right angles to each other, nor those with their heads turned into directions opposite to each other, feel any difficulty in maintaining their several positions. They stand as perfectly at ease in their respective positions, as we do here. [We have had much pleasure in giving insertion to the above article, in the sentiments of which we entirely concur. While we endeavour to push our own systems of instruction and science in this country, we are too apt to spurn and decry the literature, the science, and even the languages of the east, as if they were not only incapable of imparting the smallest particle of knowledge, virtue or truth, but incapable also of improvement by engrafting upon them the new growth of western knowledge, which has sprung ahead of the Asiatic and elder stock only within the last century or two. Were the moralist to follow Mr. WILKINSON'S example, he could doubtless produce from the mental philosophy of the Hindus parallel maxims for most of those in our own moral code:-the selection of these; -their separation from the dross of the ancient schools ;-and their presentation to pupils in this form, would doubtless work the same wonders in moral education, as has the Siddhanta system in the astronomical classes of Mr. WILKINSON. We trust this gentleman, evidently qualified by taste as by ability for the task, will favor the English reader with a full translation of the Siromani. The astronomical formulæ of the Siddhanta have been fully made known to us, but not the arguments and reflections with which they are accompanied.-ED.] |