Page 75 - SBV (English)

Early Life 15

of them have even seen Çré Sürya-siddhänta, we would
become extremely disappointed were we to make a list of
their names.

Nowadays in India, a new brand of worshipers of siddhänta
has cropped up, who laud newly invented siddhäntas and care
not for the tradition based on Sürya-siddhänta. Although
inexperienced and incomplete in their learning, these creators
of siddhäntas are busily increasing their prestige by promoting
themselves as paëòitas even before they have begun studying
jyotiña-çästra. The main types include logicians, experts in
public works, persons who deem themselves authorities in
standard mathematics, individuals desiring to attain honor
who are proficient in promoting newfangled theories,
and those who have mastered books by celebrated jyotiñés
written for students. Among them, some follow only the
chapter of Bhäskaräcärya’s Siddhänta-çiromaëi that discusses
mathematical calculations. Some have received from their
gurus a few formulas of the Western astronomers obtained as
translations, and on that basis seek honor as astronomers while
thinking themselves genuine disciples of their gurus. Others,
although ignorant even of solstice calculation, prefer to follow
a particular independent-minded Western astronomer. I hope
that by reading this original version they become submissive
to their own gurus, to the predecessor gurus of Bhäskara and
others, and to him who gave intelligence to them all, the
åñi who is the author of Çré Sürya-siddhänta, and thus their
internal burning pride may be extinguished. I have more to
say about this, which will come in another essay.
Some consider themselves experts in the mathematical
calculations of Sürya-siddhänta, and from time to time exhibit
that by publishing their calculations and claiming that on
the basis of their genuine abilities and 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 are comparable to a Muslim magistrate’s
impudently criticizing the Ärya system of charity, thus