INTRODUCTION,
In his B¢ihat Samhita, Var४ha-mihira enumerates the Yequisite qualifications of an astronomer. According to him, an astronomer should be able to explain the differences in the various Siddhknta8, to demonstrate with the help of instruments the moment of the sum's turning to the north or to the south, and of his entering the prime vertical and the 'meridian, and to .make eleulation agree with observation.
Unforttrately, the true science of astronomy has been ouated by the pseudo-science of astrology, whose votaries are to be found in almost every town and village of India at the present day. N७ doubt, there are men who have committed to memory some stray couplets from Siddhkntas, and caa perhaps compute am almanac with the aid of tables. But, as Bhtskara has well sid, an astronomer without a knowledge of spherica is what food is without clarified butter. a monarchy without its monarcl , and an assembly without a speaker .
Astronormy as a science is not cultivated by thoss whose bus mess it should be to do so. They would rather learn to read the thoughts of simple persons and pretend to predict future events, ॐhan dive into the mysteries of Kalpa and ¥ugs, far less observe the heaven. Those that have a desire to study the science have no means of doing it, while those that have the neans have no desire to patch the movements of the planets, Our students of the English colleges are busy ia cramming the Answers to expected questions, and our university men are too busy to have leisure t= +tink about the revival of the in isted by Google
