Bharatiya Jyotihshastra (History of Indian Astronomy), translated by R. V. Vaidya v1.c5.37

v1.c5.37

The human mind is naturally attracted to such normal phenomena and the wonders of the sky being far more gorgeous and captivating than those of the earth, they attract one's attention to them all the more powerfully. People, who are somewhat indifferent to their worldly affairs for some reason or other, are more likely to be attracted by the wonders of the sky. Leave alone those who habitually and naturally take interest in such heavenly things, but a class of people may be found even among the common mass who can claim a fair knowledge of the stars, such as the cowherds who keep all night vigil in the open for protecting their cattle, or the peasants who get up early morning and attend to their work in open fields, or our sea-faring fishermen who seek guidance from the stars while navigating at night. Others too have a nodding acquaintance with the stars. In fact very few people would be found in our country who do not possess any elementary knowledge of the sky.