2 MEAN LONGITUDE OF A PLANET dium of the astronomical processes taught by Aryabhata") given to this work by the author¹ indeed show that aśmakaṁ sphuta-tantram is none else than the Aryabhatiya. The word aśmaka (aśmaka+an) literally means "pertaining to Aśmaka", and likewise āśmakam sphuta-tantram means "an accurate work on astronomy written, studied, or venerated in Ašmaka, or belonging to Aśmaka". This seems to suggest that Aryabhata I, the author of that work, belonged to the Aśmaka coun try.2 It is noteworthy in this connec- tion that according to Nilakantha (1500 A.D.) he was born in that country.s Reference to the Aryabhatiya in the above stanza at the beginning of this work is meant, as stated in the Prayoga-racanã and by Govinda Svāmi to indicate the school to which the present work belongs. MEAN LONGITUDE OF A PLANET A rule for calculating the ahargana: 4-6. Add 3179 to the number of elapsed years of Saka kings; then multiply (that sum) by 12; and then add the num- ber of months elapsed (since the beginning of Caitra). Put down the result at two places. At one place multiply (that) by the number of intercalary months in a yuga and divide by the number of solar months in a yuga; and add the resulting inter- calary months (omitting the fraction of a month) to the result put at the other place. Multiply tha tsum by 30 and then add the number of lunar days (tithis) elapsed (since the beginning of the current month). Set down the result (i.e., the sum obtained) at two places. At one place multiply that by the number of omitted lunar days (in a yuga) and divide by the number of lunar days (in a yuga), and subtract the resulting omitted lunar days (neglecting the fraction of a day) from the result set down at the other place. The result (thus obtained) is the number of (mean) civil days elapsed since the beginning of Kali- yuga (at mean sunrise at Lankā on the given lunar day). These ¹ See vs. 26 of Chapter VIII.
- For the Aśmaka country, see Part 1, Chapter 2.
- See Nilakantha's comm, on Ã, ii. 1,
