The Universal System of Astronomy

Om! Salutations to the illustrious Ganesha. The traditional elephant-headed deity invoked at the start of Hindu manuscripts to remove obstacles.

Having supported all beings, the breath of the three worlds, full and supreme, the Lord of the Earth, whose form is the universe, who is unbroken consciousness, the natural and eternal bliss, the source of all the worlds—though they be illusory—to Him I bow. 1

In the Chapter on the Mean Motions of the Planets original: Madhyādhikāra; the first section of a Siddhānta focusing on the mathematical average positions of planets, the terrestrial sphere was mentioned. Here, I shall explain its true nature and position for the benefit of my students. Therefore, I speak now of the globe of the Earth. 2

From the illustrious Vasudeva a name for the Supreme Divine arose the soul-self, Sankarshana; from him, by his will, came the being Pradyumna, who is like a lamp of knowledge in the darkness. From him was produced Aniruddha. 3

From him came Hiranyagarbha literally "the Golden Womb," referring to the Creator-God Brahma, the dispeller of the darkness of great ignorance, the leader of all, the first being. He is the visible Sun, the extra-ordinary one, well-known in the Vedas, whose light is unhindered. 4

From him, by the power of his will, the world was created; the ego-driven Creator original: Virañci; another name for Brahma came into being. From his eyes came the Sun, from his heart the Moon, and from his feet and breath, the physical forms were obtained. 5

The planets, beginning with Mars, and the stars are all created as spheres.

20 This marginal note likely refers to a verse number or a division of the 20 parts The Ecliptic original: krāntivṛtta; the apparent path of the Sun across the sky is divided into twelve parts the Zodiac signs and twenty-seven parts the Lunar Mansions or Nakshatras. 6

The atmospheric sphere original: vāyu golā was then created, along with the sky called Pravaha original: pravahākhya; the "provector" wind believed in ancient Indian astronomy to drive the motion of the stars and planets. Everything described here was arranged by the Creator original: Brahmaṇā. 7

The Earth is a composite of vapor, fire, and water. Because of their unity, the parts are equal. Together, they form the nature of the terrestrial globe, situated in the center of the cosmic womb. 8

The Creator made everything perfectly balanced. Because of its sphericity, it is called a "Gola" (sphere). Therefore, this globe is the support of all things and remains stable. 8

But this idea of it being "below" is only a matter of common perception. 9 The author is beginning to argue that "up" and "down" are relative to the center of the sphere.

If the Earth, being a massive object, required a physical supporter, there would be no end to the chain of supporters, leading to an infinite regress. Therefore, its stability is a natural property. In the works of Bhaskara referring to Bhaskara II, the famous 12th-century astronomer, it is said that the Earth stands by its own power, like a magnet, and this is logical. 10

The "Supporters of the Earth" mentioned in the Puranas ancient Hindu texts of myth and lore, such as the Great Serpent Ananta and others—what is the fault in them? They are mentioned in the Vedas. However, if the Earth were not moving, then why would its properties not be evident everywhere? 11 The author is reconciling scriptural descriptions of the serpent Shesha holding the earth with physical observation.

It is not as if a specific part is restricted; rather, the power of a physical mass is effective everywhere. Just as a pot or similar object does not have the power to draw water on its own, here too, one must understand the specific cause. 12

Even if one accepts the criticisms against it, why did Bhaskara mention this for the sake of explaining the world's stability? To protect the theory, he spoke of a "Stable Power" original: sthira śakti, which is indeed the Power of Attraction original: ākarṣaṇā; a significant early reference to a concept similar to gravity. Such is that power.

Birth 13 The margin note "ja" probably starts the word "janma" (birth/origin)

Just as there is an attraction of water or an attraction of the stars, there is a delay in attraction because it is not seen here as great; it is seen as the opposite of that, due to the nature of the distance. 2