Page 17 - Lokmanya Tilak Samagra (khand 2)

4 SAMAGRA TILAK - 2 • THE ORION
of scholars to fix the age of the Vcdal by ~hat may be called the
astronomical method, have not y~t met with the expected success.
Unfortunately for us, all the Sanskrit astronomical words that we
now possess, except perhaps the Ved&nga Jyoti~ha, belong to the
later period of. Sanskrit literature, when the Greek influence is
perceptible in all its mathematical works. The different methods
of astronomical calculations given in these works, the various
eras that were established in India after ShAlivthana or Vikrama,
the introduction of the BArhaspatya cycle, and the adoption of
the Greek division of the Zodiac, make it extremely difficult to
correctly interpret the astronomical references in the later works;
while the confusion, caused by the supposed absence of any de-
finite statement as to the character of the year and the cycle ..
mentioned in the Vedic works, renders it a hard task to dedtlce
a consistent theory out of the various but stray references to
astronomical facts in the Ved~c literature. Take for instan~;e the
question of the commencement of the year in the Vedic calendar.
There are grounds to hold that the ancient Aryas commenced
their year either with spring or with autumn, at the equinoxes
or at the solstices; • while the later astronomical works and
systems furnish us with facts which go to prove that the year, in
the different parts of India, commenced with almost all the
different months of the year-KArtika, Mcirgashiqha,t A~M~ha,
Chaitra and BhAdrapada. The discussion as to the number of
the Nak~hatras and different opinions as to their origin have
further complicated the problem; while doubts have been raised
as tp the capacity of the Brihmaps in 1200 B.C. to make observa-
tions of solstitial points with astronomical accuracy.: I shall have
to examine hereafter how far some of these objections are tenable.
For the present it is sufficient to state that in consequence of
such doubts and objections, definite observations or allusions
to astronomical events. in the earliest works have been
looked upon with suspicion by a good many Oriental scholars,

• See infra Chap. II.
t Whitney's Silrya Siddhinta :tiv, 16, n.
:t Pref. to Sig. Vol. IV, p. nix. It is very difficult to understand
on what grounds this a sertion is made. Ancient Vedic bards had no
mathematacal instruments, but still they could have easily marked
when day and night became equal in length.