University of Calcutta Notes on Indian Astronomy

The Libration theory being accepted the next problem which pr'3sents itself is how to keep the relation between the fixed asterisms - (Rasis and Nakshatras) and the months of the year (inseparable with the Hindu astronomers) uchanged when both the first point of Aries and the point nearest it where the Equation of Time is zero are not fixed with respect to the stars. [...] The point in the Ecliptic nearest the Vernal Equinox at which the Equation of Time is zero marks the starting point for the commencement of the Hindu Nirvana year (Nirayana from Nir and ayana no parting of the mean and apparent Suns about the Vernal Equinoctial pOinW When this point recedes 20 degrees from point in the Ecliptic which is recognised as the beginning of one of the twelve constella [...] This is the origin of the Hindu system of the twenty-seven Nakshatral—twenty-eight with Abhijit (alpha Lyrae Vega) the brightest star in the northern hemisphere occupying the remarkable situation of the Pole Star of the ancient period when the month of Agrahayanawaa the first month of the year. [...] Now the naming of the month as Margasirsa and the significance of I am Margasirsa of the months and Abhijit of the Nakshatras " of the Bhagabata is now clear. [...] "They period of the planets' revolution about the eentro of the.epicy cle is the time which it takes the latter to make the circuit of the orbit from the apsis"NOTES ON INDIAN AsTtioN0MY It' around to the apsis again or the period of its anomalistic revolution.