Bharatiya Jyotihshastra (History of Indian Astronomy), translated by R. V. Vaidya v1.c6.1

v1.c6.1

According to our astronomical works the earth is at the centre of the Universe; the moon and other bodies revolve around it; their order is, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and the starry belt; the Zodiac revolves round the axis joining the two fixed poles. The earth is round, it stands supportless and is enveloped by air which is called *bhūvāyu* or earthly-air, Above this is the sky, where blows the wind called *pravaha* by the force of which the moon and other heavenly bodies are kept in motion, and they revolve round the earth. This description is found in all *Siddhānta* works and *Tantras*, but not in *Karaṇa*-works. It is also found in the *Pañca-Siddhāntikā*. In no man-made or written works on astronomy do we find an expression of views more ancient than those found in the *Pañca-Siddhāntikā* and hence the lines presenting the above ideas are quoted below :