Intentions of Burgess in translating Surya Siddhanta

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

 

I am discussing Burgess here, who has written on Surya Siddhanta.

 

1. It

is Balley who first wrote about Surya siddhanta in his book Indian Astronomy. There he had estimated that " accurate

astronomical observations had been made in Inda, probably before 3000 bce " This

is a conclusion which is justified on independent evidence.

2. The

Vedic sacrificial rites had a close connection with astronomical calculations

and several of Vedic deities are in actual, are cosmological figures rather

than mere deities representing the immediate natural forces

3. In

any case, as the vedic rites were regulated by the position of moon with

reference to starts, they must be held to pres suppose accurate astro

observations, which in fact have come to be a religious necessity . It is therefore reasonable to argue , a

priori, that an extensive astronomical knowledge was obtained in India even

during the Vedic times, which is as new evidence shows , is much prior to the

times of Harappan civilization

4. It

is Pandit Satyavrata Samasrami who had showed that Vedic seers had knowledge of

motions of planets – at least five and the causes of solar and lunar eclipses. It is very reasonably accepted that a

knowledge of solstice and equinox points existed on the part of Vedic authors.

5. Surya

siddhanta, by the very confession of Ebenezer Burgess was being taught in

Indian schools at that time

 

With these facts in mind, we also have to consider the following facts which

make the intentions of Burgess very

clear

1. Burgess

is a Christian missionary

2. He

could not digest the discussion by Bailey who pushed the date of Indian

astronomy to 4th Millennium which directly contradicts the Biblical

faith

And hence, he went to great lengths of pain to prove that what Bailey wrote was

nonsense.

Well, we can not hide that what Burgess wrote was

all with prejudiced mind and should be summarily rejected, what ever be the

other credentials of him.

 

My two pence.

 

Kishore patnaik