पञ्चसिद्धान्तिका (आचार्य वराहमिहिर - सूर्य, रोमक, पौलिश, वासिष्ठ एवं पितामह सिद्धान्त)

290 PAÑCASIDDHĀNTIKĀ XV.27 21. If it is argued that the different times for commencing the day can be accounted for by correction for longitude, it does not agree with what they themselves have said in this matter, according to the śāstras, (which is as follows). 22. 'The sun rising in Bhārata-varṣa, makes at that very moment, mid-day in Bhadrāśva-varṣa, sun-set in Uttara-kuru-varṣa, and mid-night in the Ketumāla-varṣa. 23. What is sun-rise at Laṅkā, that same moment is sun-set at Siddhapura, noon at Yamakoṭi, and mid-night in the Romaka-pura. In the above two verses the early siddhāntic conception of a world geography is given briefly. The equator is the Jambūdvīpa, with the North Pole at its centre. Laṅkā is the point where the Ujjain meridian cuts the equator. The point 90° east of Laṅkā is Yamakoṭi, also called Yavakoṭi. Here seems to be a vague concept of Java, called Yavadvīpa, whose exact distance was not realised. Ninety degrees west of Laṅkā is Romaka-pura, answering to Rome, whose exact position was not realised. The antipode point of Laṅka is called Siddhapura. A vague notion of the Mayan and Aztec civilisa- tion brought in by early exporters sailing the seas might have given rise to the idea. The astronomical idea of sun-rise, moon etc. is correct according to the conception. The four varṣas mentioned, Bhārata, Bhadrāśva, Kuru, and Ketumāla are supposed to be situated round the North Pole, at its south, east, beyond the pole and west, from our stand point, in Bhāratavarṣa. The Purāṇas give seven divisions of the Jambūdvīpa, and these are the principal four. The purāṇic concept is that of an earlier period of a flat earth, with the mountain Meru at the centre with Jambūdvīpa arranged all round, transmitted by tradition. The Siddhāntas tried to fit whatever is possible of the Purāṇic geography, into the conception of the spherical earth, refuting the rest outright or explaining them away. 24. At the beginning of the yuga, the intercalary months, the omitted days, the planetary days, the lunar days, the first point of Meṣa, the Moon, the Sun, half-years, ṛtus, and the sidereal days, begin together (and can be reckoned anew). 25. The longitude correction reckoned from the Romaka region is different from that from Yavanapura. Reckoning time from mid-night at Laṅkā is different from that from sun-rise. 21a-b. B. द्धिंत्तचन्न (B3. ०न०) | 23a. A. Hap. om of one यो; c. B. ०स्मात् साम्यं (B3. साम्यां) | B. दनम्रो यो लङ्कायां d. A. नैर्वोक्तं | c. A.B1. यमकोद्यां U. यवकोट्यां मध्याह्नं B1.2.3. gap indicated for यथाशास्त्रं | d. B. रोमवियेर्द्ध U. रात्रं च and part of the next line up to कुरुषू | 24a. B. 'अ' lost. B. रात्रिग्रह 22a. A. भद्रेभ्रस्त; C.D.U. भद्राश्वेष्वस्तमयं | b. B. दिवसमयूष A. मेषं b. A.C.D.U. om उत्तरेषु and read | c. A. अयन-र्क्ष; B. अयनत्वर्क्ष; D. अयनत्वृक्षगति कुरुषु केतुमालानाम; | A1. युगस्पादौ B. .....तरेषु कालेंतुलानानाम् c. A. ०मृद्यद्धरात | 25b. B. विषयादेशा d. B2. युगपदर्कः | d. A. दन्यसूर्यो; B. दन्यः सूर्यो