Bharatiya Jyotihshastra (History of Indian Astronomy), translated by R. V. Vaidya v1.c5.11

v1.c5.11

The question as to what subjects have been or ought to have been dealt with in this book seems to have evoked quite a variety of beliefs that this work contains tables for computing *almanacs*, that it contains different methods of calculating planet’s places on the basis of any *Siddhānta* work, that it explains the theory underlying all these methods, that it also gives a method for independently computing an accurate almanac like the one computed with the help of the Nautical Almanac, that it also includes choice *Jātaka* works which would enable one to cast correct horoscopes. In short, some people seemed to believe that this work contained the very quintessence of *Jyotiṣa śāstra*—both astronomy and astrology. It is needless to say that it is impossible to incorporate all these subjects in this work. But I am glad to note that such beliefs clearly reflect a strong desire for knowledge on the part of our people.