Page n10

Position of Lanka and Ujjayim (17)

Page n130

cara is zero there, the day-time being always 30 nadis there. The Sanskrit name 'Lankodaya' itself suggests this, Lanka representing a place on the equator.

Page n281

29. Lanka is beneath the celestial equator, i.e. the celestial equator itselfis the prime vertical at Lanka. There the stellar sphere is equally divided (into the northern half with the N.P. at its centre, and the southern half with the S.P. at its centre). There the day and night are always 30 nddls each.

Page n281

Note. This is because all diurnal circles of the Sun are divided into two equal halves by the equatorial horizon. Note also that what is said of Lanka applies to all places on the equator.

Page n282

30-32 Place a plank in a raised position, with its surface plane, as examined by dropping water on it. Set it so as to have its surface horizontal and level with the eye, and its parallel sides north-south and east-west. At the southern edge, in the middle, hinge a sighting tube (sanku) equal in length to the north-south length of the plank. With the eye at the hole of the rigid sighting instrument, at the hinge, lower the instrument so much, that the North-pole-star is sighted through the hole of the instrument. When lowered completely, (the observation) will be towards Lanka: when vertical it will be towards Meru; and lowered appropriately, it will be equal to the (local) latitude (as read) from the plank.

Page n300

30. Dividing as in the case of tithi, find the local time in terms of ghatls for the end of fullmoontithi (as reckoned fromlocalsunset). Increaseordiminish the ghatis obtained by the time corresponding to the Sun"s ascensional difference, according as the Sun is the six signs bĕginning with Aries or in the six signs beginning with Libra. The result is the local time for the end of the full moon tithiat the local equatorial place. (The difference of this and the local time for the end of the full moon tithi at Lanka) is the true longitude for the local place.

Page n300

(b) Also, local time for the end of the full moon tithi at the local equatorial place ~ local time for the end of the full moon tithi at Lanka = local longitude in terms of time.

Page n305

Now GS is the arc of the ecliptic which rises above the horizon (of Lanka) in the time given by the arc A'S' of the equator. Hence it is obvious that Canopus A will rise heliacally when the Sun is at S, i.e., when

Page n305

= longitude of G (i.e., 90°) + arc of the ecliptic which rises (at Lanka) in the time given by the arc A'S' of the equator.

Page n314

B1.2.0f*<tfS!Ftfa; (B3.M°) b. Al.WIT; A2.*P*I; B.D. M.U.^ssp* c. A.B1.2. dMMl3 d. A.B.^tCB.^I)^; M.^T^t 19. Siriihacarya has declared that reckoning cay-total commences at a sunrise in Lanka. The preceptor of the Yavanas has said that the day commences for the Yavanas ten muhurtas, or twenty nddikds, in the night, (i.e. after sunset).

Page n314

20. Aryabhata has said that the day commences at mid-night at Lanka. He himself again has said, the day commences from sunrise at Lanka.

Page n315

In the above two verses the early siddhantic conception of a world geography is given briefly. The equator is the Jambudvipa, with the North Pole at its centre. Lanka is the point where the Ujjain meridian cuts the equator. The point 90° east of Larika is Yamakoti, also calted Yavakoti. Here seems to be a vague concept of Java, called Yavadvipa, whose exact distance was not realised. Ninety degrees west of Larika is Romaka-pura, answering to Rome, whose exact position was not realised. The antipode point ofLarika is called Siddhapura. A vague notion of the Mayan and Aztec civilisation brought in by early exporters sailing the seas might have given rise to the idea. The astronomical idea of sun-rise, moon etc. is correct according to the conception. The four varsas mentioned, Bharata, Bhadrasva, Kuru, and Ketumala are supposed to be situated round the North Pole, at its south, east, beyond the pole and west, from our stand point, in Bharatavarsa. The Puranas give seven divisions of the Jambudvlpa, and these are the principal four. The puranic concept is that of an earlier period of a flat earth, with the mountain Meru at the centre with Jambudvlpa arranged all round, transmitted by tradition. The Siddhantas tried to fit whatever is possible of the Puranic geography, into the conception of the spherical earth, refuting the rest outright or explaining them away.