Bharatiya Jyotihshastra (History of Indian Astronomy), translated by R. V. Vaidya v1.c5.5

v1.c5.5

Our people have not even a faint idea at present about the wealth of astronomical knowledge and astronomical literature in our country. The knowledge of the ordinary man is confined to the names of an astronomer or two like Bhāskarācārya and at the most the titles of a few works on astronomy. This work, however, contains an account of a host of astronomers and their works; even the mere enumeration of their names covers two long lists at the beginning of the indices. The reader cannot but be astounded to see this marvellous wealth of knowledge, and as he reads the history of the growth of astronomy he will come to realize the great calibre of our ancestors from their extra-ordinary efforts, researches and curiosity and his heart will be overwhelmed with delight.