def what period of antiquity history allows to the three great
nations above enumerated, and to what age we must refer
the origin of that resemblance and parallelism Which the
comparison of two of them displays.
S e c t io n II.— Of the Antiquity of ike Indian and the
Semitic Nations^. |
It was known to the ancients that a learned caste among the
Indians devoted themselves to philosophical pursuits, and that
the system of nature formed in part the subject of their speculations.*
When, in modern times, the European conquerors
of India began to obtain some knowledge of the literature of
the Brahmans, it Was understood that the latter were in pos-r
session of ancient works on astronomy; containing a seriessof
observations which reached baek into very remote periods of
antiquity, and by means of which, connected with the events
of Indian history, the existence of the Hindoos as a civilized
and learned people could be traced by authentic records in'ages
long* preceding the earliest dates from which the chronology
of other nations is supposed to commence. These pretensions,
until their real extent and nature were better known,
obtained some distinguished patrons among European philOK
sophers. The celebrated M. Bailly entertained a favourable
opinion of them, and Professor Playfair was their persevering
advocate. But the real bearings of the question were not well
understood until Mr. Bentley’s Analysis of the Hindu System
of Astronomy appeared in the Asiatic Researches» By this
writer the principles were explained on which the calculations
contained, in the Indian works on astronomy were actually
formed, and the cloud which had overhung the ancient
history of the East was effectually dispelled. The great astronomical
work on which the claims of the Hindoos were supposed
in Europe to have their principal support, was the
celebrated treatise, entitled Surya Siddhanta. This book, ac-
*. Strabon. Geog. lib. xv. p. 713.
*j* On the Hindu Systems of Astronomy, and their connexion with History in
ancient and modern times, by T. Bentley, Esq. Asiatic Researches, vol. viii.
cording to the notions of the Brahmans, was dictated by
divine inspiration more than 2,164,Ԥ99 y ears ago. The astronomical
system contained-in' it is entitled the Varaha Galpa.
It is, according^ toi Mr. Bentley, the newest of three similar
compilations, now^gOnerally known in India* It has been
clearly demonstrated by the same writer, that the Surya
Siddhanta was-composed between^seven and eight centuries
ago. The-most ancient of the three-systems above.mentioned,
termed the B rahma Galpa- Was invented by Brahma Gupta,
nearly thirteen-centuries,-from the present time.
But the I origin of astronomical* science and of chronology
among the Hindoos is not reducedby Mr. Bentley within so recent
a date, as the period assigned for the invention of these systems,
' Ho admits that they have preserved astronomical works
more ancient than the three treatises above mentioned. Among
these is the compilation of Parksara, -who by the position'of
the colu'res recorded by him, is ascertained to have lived about
1299 years before the-Christian era. In the time of Park*-
sara, however, Indian astronomers had very imperfect knowledge;
they copld not determine the times of conjunctions
and oppositions of the sun and moon for six years together
With correctness, owing to their -erroneous estimate of- the
lunatiofa, nor is any mention made in their works, of the
days of the week or of the twelve signs, which seem to have
been introduced into the Indian astronomy at a much.- later
period. By a careful examination of the older systems of
chronology, and a comparison ■ of fhem with the poetical history
contained in the Puranas, it has been proved by Mr.
Bentley that the earliest period from which the history of the
Hindoos, as deduced entirely from their own literature, may
be considered to commence, is about twenty-two centuries
before the Christian era.* This conclusion is obtained in
part from two of the most ancient Hindoo systems now
known, which in early times were applied to purposes of
chronology; they are contained in theastronomical work
entitled Graha Munjarj. In the first of the two systems
mentioned in this work the Calpa or “ annus magnus/’ a con-
• See Remarks on the principal eras and dates of the ancient Hindus. Asiatic
Researches, vol. v.
o 2