Siddhanta

Verse 6.

A Siddhanta work ie an astronomical treatise is such a one which deals with the various measures of time ranging from a Trti up to the duration of a Kalpa which culminates in a deluge ; planetary theory , arithmatical computations as well as algebraical processes , Questions with respect to intricate ideas and their answers , location of the earth , the stars and the planets , and description and usage of instruments.

Verse 7

Though one knows astrology and that part of the science of Jyotisha which is known as Samhita (and which deals with various subjects like Muhurtas i.e . auspicious moments to be prescribed for various functions , Desarishtas ie Calamitous occurences to the countries etc . ) which form a part of the Science , he cannot answer so many intricate problems pertaining to Artronomy.

Sush a person , who does not know the astronomical part of the science , which abounds in innunerable reasonings , is one like a king depicted in a drawing , or a lion fast tied to a pole .

Verse 8.

The Science of Jyautisha without Astronomy, is like a king’s a my without roaring elephants though ex - celling in horses etc ; is like a garden without mango trees , or like a lake without water , or again like a lady parted with her newly married lover .

Verse 9.

The Vedic lore prescribes Sacrifices to be performed. These sacrifices are based on a knowledge of appropriate time to perform them.

This science of astronomy gives a knowledge of time; hence it has been reckoned as one of the six Vedangas or limbs of the Veda.

Verse 10. (Out of the six Vedangas) The science of grammar is like the face of the person of the Veda, the science of Jyautisha takes the place of the eyes, the Nirukta that of the ears; the Kalpa that of the hands; the Siksha that of the nose and the Chandas the place of the feet.

Verse 11. This science of Jyautisha being depicted as the very eyes of the Person of the Veda, so it has been acclaimed as the most important of the six Angas or limbs of the Veda, in as much as, even if a person be endowed with limbs like the ears, nose etc, if he be devoid of vision, he could not do anything.

Verse 12. This Science of Astronomy has been declared as the most important of the Vedangas. Hence this has to be studied by the Dwijas (ie Brahmins Kshatriyas and the Vaishyas who form the three higher castes), also because it is sacred, secret and the best discipline.

By so doing they would acquire Dharma, Artha, Kama as well as fame (Life is depicted as having a four-fold purpose out of which, Dharma, Artha and Kama form the first trio, Moksha being the ultimate goal of life).

Verses 13 and 14. The creator having created the stellar circle along with the planets, placed the latter at the beginning of the circle, put them in constant revolution, at the same time putting the extreme two stars (on either side) in a fixed position.

Verse 15. The first Mahayuga, the first year, the first day of the bright half of the first month named Madhu, all of them began simultaneously at the Sun-rise² at Lanka on Sun-day, at the beginning of the first Kalpa which marked the beginning of creation.

Verses 16, 17 and 18. The unit of Time named Tatpara is 1/30th of what is known as Nimesa or the time taken during the fall of an eyelid; One-hundredth of a Tatpara is known as a Trti ie the time taken to pierce a lotus-leaf with the finest needle.

Eighteen Nimesas are equal to a Kastha. Thirty Kasthas are equal to a Kala, thirty Kalas are equal to one sidereal ghati.

Two ghatis make a Kshana and thirty Kshanas make a sidereal day.

30 sidereal days are equal to a sidereal month and twelve sidereal months make a sidereal year (not the sidereal solar year).

The Zodiac, divided into twelve parts, and 360 degrees, a degree divided into 60 minutes of arc and a minute divided into 60 seconds of arc all correspond to the year and its successive divisions.

Verses 19, 20. The time taken by the Sun to complete one revolution with respect to the stars goes by the name ’the sidereal solar year'.

This will be a day for the gods and demons. The time that elapses between two consecutive new moons or conjunctions of the Moon with the Sun is called a Chandra-masa or a lunar month or simply a lunation. This again is the day of the Pitrs or the Manes.

The time that elapses between two consecutive Sun rises at a place is termed the Sivana day or civil day. This is called Saura-Sivana day and is also the day of the earth.

The sidereal day is the time taken by the stars to go round the earth once. It is called Nakshatra-dina.

Verses 21, 22, 23, 24, 25. The four yuga-padas named Krita, Treta, Dwapara and Kali consist of 4 × 432000, 3 × 432000, 2 × 432000 and 432000 mean solar years respectively, the sum total of which consisting of (4+3+2+1) × 432000 = 43,20,000 mean solar years, is called a yuga.

Each of the yuga-padas above are inclusive of what are called their respective Sandhyas and Sandhyamsas which constitute one-twelfth of their own durations.

A Manu’s duration consists of 71 yugas and 14 Manus’ duration is reported to be the day-time of Brahma, whose night is also of an equal duration.

The duration of a Manu, known as a Manvantara, has a Sandhya-Kala on either side, ie before and after, equal to one Krita.

If these are taken into account, the day-time of Brahma amounts to one thousand yugas and it goes by the name a Kalpa so that a complete day of Brahma equals two Kalpas. The life-duration of Brahma consists of one hundred years on this scale (where one year = 360 days).

This life-duration of Brahma goes by the name Maha-Kalpa, as reported by elders. In as much as Time was without a beginning and will have no end either, I do not know how many Brahmas have gone before.