From time immemorial Indians have been reputed among non-Indians as being well-versed in different types of sciences. Western scholars unanimously consider India the birthplace of mathematics. Upon studying the ancient textbooks, Indologists wonder at the advanced mathematically-based astronomical knowledge possessed by the ancients of India. Among the eighteen basic astronomical texts of ancient India, Çré Sürya-siddhänta is unanimously accepted as the oldest. Negligence has pushed this book to the verge of oblivion. Indians have always shown disregard in preserving the ancient knowledge of their ancestors, and I do not expect that they will give that up upon the words of someone like myself. In spite of that, being driven by my conscience, I take pleasure in presenting this version of the text along with translation, devoting myself with utmost effort for the benefit of today’s astronomers and laymen, even though I am incapable of doing so effectively.At present most persons reputed as learned are averse to çästric understanding. They shamelessly promote themselves as knowledgeable in çästra even if totally unaware of their contents. So the evil lies in this circle of aversion and attempt of attaining false praise. This evil has unfortunately engulfed the jyotirtérthas and as a result we can see really stupid and short-sighted mistakes.1 I have brought out this translation of Çré Sürya-siddhänta with the hope of attracting the attention of really intelligent persons toward the study of astronomy. The jyotirtérthas spend most of their life busily increasing the size of their bellies and have completely stopped cultivation of the complex knowledge of mathematical astronomy received in guru-paramparä. To add to this, they take the help of the tables provided in different reference books. Without ever reading or even seeing Çré Sürya-siddhänta they continually quote it to defend their wrong calculations. We would become extremely disappointed were we to make a list of the actual number of supposed experts who had actually even seen Çré Sürya-siddhänta.

Nowadays in India a new brand of expert has cropped up who lauds newly invented siddhäntas and cares not for the tradition based on Sürya-siddhänta. The main types include logicians, experts in public works, those who consider themselves authorities in general mathematics, persons trying to attain honor by proficiency in promoting new-fangled theories, and those students of accomplished astronomers who are themselves adept in studying the literature of the science. Some have read only the mathematical chapter of the Siddhänta-çiromaëi by Bhäskaräcärya; some having received from their gurus a few formulas of the Western astronomers obtained as translations, and seek honor as astronomers on that basis, while thinking themselves genuine

1 Jyotirtértha—person engaged in astronomical calculations. Such persons were responsible for determining the times of different festivals, offerings, oblations, rituals, etc., for which they received ample remuneration.

disciples of their gurus; others, although ignorant even of solstice calculation, prefer to follow some particular independent-minded Western astronomer. I hope that by reading this original text they become submissive to their own gurus, to the predecessor gurus of Bhäskara and others, and to he who gave intelligence to them all, the åñi who is the author of Çré Sürya-siddhänta; thus their internal burning pride may be extinguished. However I have something more to say about this, which will be in another essay.Some consider themselves experts in the mathematical calculations of Sürya-siddhänta and demonstrate such from time to time by publishing their calculations and claiming that on the basis of their genuine abilities, as also their studies in logic and other sciences, they are competent to reform astronomy. May Bhagavän bring them to the right path and grant them faith in dharma. They may be considered like a Muslim magistrate impudently criticizing the Hindu system of charity, thus acting beyond his qualification and jurisdiction. Whatever the case may be, I present this translation with adequate examples for the benefit of those confused egoists, and for general beginners in astronomy.