Dating

[l.m.fosse at easteur-orient.uio.no]

>Astronomy (and of course astrology) has been a part of Indian society since the
>vedic times. It has been a living tradition which has existed continuously all
>through the ages. The concepts of Nakshtras, tithis, rasis, planets, precession
>of the equinoxes,the days can all be found in the vedas and is certainly older
>than the vedas. There has been a continuous stream of astronomers and their
>works throught the ages,contributing to the pool of knowledge. VedAnga
>jyotisha,sUrya prajnApti, AryabhatIya,Pancha siddhAntika,lIlAvati,have
>incorporated the sidereal astronomy of the vedas. One can not simply discount
>the earlier references quoted in the SiddhantAs, because they are not available
>now and attribute every thing to the Greeks.
>>

Maybe those of you who take part in this discussion would like to read the
following papers:

Georg von Simson, Die Buddhas der Vorzeit: Versuch einer
astralmythologischen Deutung. StII (Studien zur Indologie und Iranistik),
1981. 7: p. 77-91.

Georg von Simson, The mythic background of the Mahabharata. Indol. Taur.,
1984. 12: p. 191-223.

Georg von Simson, Die zeitmythische Struktur des Mahabharata, i
Bopp-Symposium 1992 der Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin, Reinhard
Sternemann, Editor. 1992, Univesitatsverlag C. Winter: Heidelberg. p.
230-247.

Furthermore, these titles might be of interest:

J. Filliozat, Ancient relations between Indian and Foreign Astronomical
Systems. Journal of Oriental Research, Madras, 1955-1956. XXV(I-IV).

Hugh Thurston, Early Astronomy. 1994, New York: Springer Verlag.

Rolf Muller, Der Himmel uber dem Menschen der Steinzeit. Astronomie und
Mathematik in den Bauten der Megalithkulturen. 1970, Berlin:
Springer-Verlag. VIII + 153.

There is no reason to believe that early peoples had no astronomical
interests. After all, what did they watch at night? TV?

Best regards,

Lars Martin Fosse



Lars Martin Fosse
Research Fellow
Department of East European
and Oriental Studies
P. O. Box 1030, Blindern
N-0315 OSLO Norway

Tel: +47 22 85 68 48
Fax: +47 22 85 41 40

E-mail: l.m.fosse at easteur-orient.uio.no