Subject: Re: [HM] Indian astronomy and mathematics
From: Don Cook (tdctdc@surfsouth.com)
Date: Thu Feb 03 2000 - 14:40:49 EST
Dear Dinesh,
I have enjoyed the discussion on the list serve on Vedic astronomy.
I am fascinated by your statement:
"As a side note, I wonder if Aryabhata's [476-550AD] astronomy
text Siddhanta (not Aryabhatitya) which deals with a heliocentric
model of the solar system, the notion of earth rotation, the
causes of solar/lunar eclipses and the notion of elliptical
planetary orbits were ever translated to Arabic/Persian."
Is there any information, in English, on Aryabhata's system. I would be
most interested in why a heliocentric model was chosen over other models.
Copernicus was a Platonist and was able to ignore the sense perception of
an unmovable earth. In some non European cultures, time is a more important
factor than place in understanding the universe, thus the heliocentric
question does not arise. What are the issues in Vedic astronomy?
Peace,
Don Cook
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