English
22 Mar In the above table, the first column contains the periods, the second the year before and after Christ, the third and fourth the Hindu month and Lunar Asterism with which the periods begin; the fifth and sixth, the sun and moon's longitudes at the commencement of each period; the seventh, the names and lunar days of commencement, according to the calendar; and the eighth, the corresponding day of the European months, according to common reckoning. Thus the first period began in the year 1192 B.C. on the first of the Hindu month Aswina^ at the commencement of the Lunar Asterism Chitra^ the sun's longitude from Aries being then 6", and the moon s T 12°, corresponding to the 2d Septem- ber, about sunrise, according to common reckoning in India. The commencement of each period falling at the end of the sixth lunar day, it might therefore begin either on the sixth or seventh; but the com- mon practice afterwards being to commence on the following sunrise, the calendar states them all as beginning on the seventh, except the two first periods. The names Mitra, Bkascara, and Jaknu, are those of the sun. The third period began with the month Marga- sirsha, which name was changed into Agrahayana, Digitized by Google OF THE HINDUS. 35 to express the circumstance of its commencing the year, and which it has ever since retained, though no longer beginning the year. The precession of the equinoxes was reckoned from the commencement of the first period, in the year 1192 B.C., because in that year the moveable Lunar Mansions, or those depending on the sun's re- volution in the tropics, coincided with the fixed or sideral ones of the same name ; and the beginning of the solar month Magha, which was always the in- stant of the winter solstice, and the conmiencement of the season Slisira, coincided with the beginning of the Lunar Asterism Dhanishi'ha, otherwise called Sravisht'ha. All these, that is to say, the moveable Lunar Mansions, the solar months, Colures, and seasons, fell back in respect of their then positions with the fixed stars, at the rate of 3° 20' in every astronomical period of 247 years and one month, or 48',56661, annually. Digitized by Google 36 THE ANCIENT ASTRONOMY SECTION III. THE WAB BETWEEN THE OOBS AND THE GRANTS IN THE WEST. The War between the Gods and the Giants in the West, described hy Hesiod if! hie Theogony — The time of it determined from varieme Data — lis dura- tion 10 years and Jive months — The ZodiaciU Constettaiions and others then formed — The original idea qf some qf them appears to have been derived from the HlnduAf^TMe Tropical Signs named after the Zodiacal OmstdlaiionS'^ The Months named qfter the Tropical Signs with which they then coincided-^ Their names compared — Homer and Hesiod not so ancient as generally ewp- posed — The year represented by the Ancients under a great variety qf names and persan\ficatUms, as Mercuryy Hermesy AmibiSy Budha, Stc-^C* In the foregoing section I have endeavoured to show the progress of Astronomy in India in the time of Ram^, ; we shall now take a view of the labours of the astronomers in other parts of the world, particu- larly in Chaldea and Egypt. Before, however, we can enter on this interesting subject, which will re- quire particular attention, it will be necessary to insert here some parts of the fiction of the War between the Gods and the Giants in the West, the idea of which doubtless was borrowed fi-om the one in the East, it being in like manner not only con- nected with, but serving essentially to point out the time of the formation of the constellations, to immor- talize which seems to. have been the object of the fiction. Hesiod in his Theogony gives the following de- scription : — ** WbeD first the sire 'gainst Gottas, Briareas, And Gjges, felt his moodj anger chafe Within him, ^^ sore amazed with that their strength Immeasurable, their aspect fierce, and balk Gigantic, — with a chain of iron force 825 Digitized by Google OF THE HINDUS. 37 He boimd them dowo, and fixd ihdx dweUiag pUee Beneath the spaoioiu grooMd : bwaath the (TMUid Thej dwelt in pain and dofaaea in th' abjas There sitting where earth's ntmaat boandaries end. 830 Toll long opprest wiifa ma^tj grief of heart Thej brooded o'er their wees : bat then did Jo? c, Satamian, and those other deathless gods Whom fair-hair'd Rhea bore to Satam's kHre, Bjcoonsel wise of earth, lead forth again 8S6 To light For she saooeaaive all things told : How with the giant brethraa thay shoald wia The glory bright of oonqaesi. Long they foagbi With ton soal-harrowiag ; they the deities Titanic and Satamian ; each to each 840 Opposed, in Toloor of proauaoaoaa war. From Othrys' lofty samaiH warr'd the host or glorious Titaas : from Olympas, they The band of gift-dispensing deities Whom fair-hair'd Rhfa bore to Satara's love. 846 So wag'dthey warsoal4ianrowiag: each with each Ten years and more th farioas batHe joiaad UDintermitted : nor to cither boat Was issne of stem strife nor end : alike Did either stretch the linut of the war. 860 <* Bat now when Joto had aet before bis powers All things beiittug : the repast of gods. The nectar and ambrosia, in each breast Kindled th' heroic spirit : antd now all The nectar and ambrosia swoet had shar'd, 866 When spake the father both of gods and men. < Hear, ye mastrioos race o f earth apd hear'o. What now the soul within ae prompts. Full long Day after day in battle hxfm we stood, Oppos'd Titanic and Satomian gods 860 For conquest and for empire : ^till do ye In deadly combat with the Titvis job'd. Strength mighty and naconipiarable hands Display : remembering oar beiugiMiit lore ^, And tender mercies which ye prav'd, again 866 From restless agony of booda^ risen. So will'd our ooonsel, an4 from gjoom to-day.* " He spake ; when auiwer'd Cottos the renown'd : ' O JoTC aagiist ! not darkly haajt thou said : Nor know we not how excellent thou art • 870 In wisdom ; from a corse most horrible Rescuing immiHrtals. O imperial son Of Saturn ! by thy coonsels have we ris'n Digitized by Google 38 THE ANCIENT ASTRONOMY ^gain, from bitter bondage and the depth Of darkness, all onhoping of relief^ ^75 Then with persbting spirit and device Of pradent warfare, shall we still assert Thj empire midst the rage of arms, and still In hardy conflict brave the Titan foe.' " He oeas'd. The gift-dispensing gods aroand S80 Heard, and in praise assented : nor till then So bom'd each breast with ardoor to destroy. All in that day roosed infinite the war, Female and male : the Titan deities. The gods from Satom sprang, and those whom Xive From saf>terraneoas gloom released to light, 885 Terrible, strong, of force enormous ; burst A hundred arms from all their shoulders huge : From all their shoulders fifty heads up sprang O'er limbs of sinewy mould. They then array'd Against the Titans in fell combat stood, 890 And in their nervous grasp wielded aloft ' Precipitous rooks. On th' other side aleit The Titan phalanx dos'd : then hands of strength Join'd prowess, and displayed the works of war; Tremendous then th' immeasurable sea 895 Roar'd ', earth resounded : the wide heavens throughout Groan'd shattering : from its base Olympus vast Reel'd to the violence of gods : the shock Of deep concussion rock'd the dark^byss 900 Remote of Tartarus : the shrilling din Of hollow tramplings, and strong bakle-strokes, And measureless uproar of wild purdnit. So they reciprocal their weapons hurFd Groan-scattering ; and the shout of either host 905 Burst in exhorting ardour to the stara Of heaven ; ^with mighty war-cries either host Encountering clos'd. Nor longer then did Jove Curb his full power ; but instant in his soul There grew dilated strength, and it was filled 910 With his omnipotence : at once he loos'd His whole of might, and put forth all the god. The vaulted sky, the mount Olympian, flashed With his continual presence : for he pass'd Incessant forth, and scattered fires on fires ; 915 • Hnrl'd from his hardy grasp the lightnings flew Reiterated swift ; the whirling flash * Cast sacred splendour, and the thunderbolt Fell : roar'd around the nurture-yielding earth In conflagration, for on every side 920 The immensity of forests crackling blaz'd, Digitized by Google OF THE HINDUS. 39 Yea, the broad earth biini*d red, tlie ttreams that mix With ocean, and the deserts of the sea.