precession assigned by the astronomers. We have already seen the various rates assigned by them. As the Súrya-Siddhanta's rate of 54 seconds per year is a close approximation to the rate known at present, let us take this first for consideration. Apparently, the rate of 54 seconds is higher by nearly 4 seconds than the actual. I say apparently, for the rate makes the ayanánsa less, instead of increasing it in the proportion of about 50 to 54. It must be therefore really lower than the true rate. To explain the anomaly we have to consider the Sid- dhánta year. The length of the sidereal year--the year used by us instead of the tropical year in use in Europe—is 365.25875 mean solar days, according to the Surya-Siddhanta, and is thus greater than the true length by 0·00238 days. Now, taking the sun's daily motion at 59'8", we find that during the excess the sun moves to the east through a distance of 8":44 nearly. But the equinoctial point moves to the west. It is therefore clear that the precessional rate assigned by the Stérya-Siddhanta is practically 34" – 8"44, or 45":56 per year. It is for this reason that the ayanámsa, calculated from the Siddhánta's apparently higher rate, becomes less than the amount observed. Hence if we accept the Siddhánta's length of the year, we should make the annual precessional rate 50":24+84.44 or 58":68. It is re markable that the rate of 45":56 per year is almost equal to the precessional rate in Right Ascension. Whether the Siddhanta writer meant the rate to be what we find, I cannot say, though there are certain reasons favourable to our conjecture. The point may be illustre ted by taking other Siddhantas. Bhaskara's year consists of 365-25843 days, and is therefore righted by Google
