Both Translated and Commented by Bimala Prasada Siddhänta Sarasvaté.
The Siddhanta-siromani of Sri Bhaskara can be said to be an elaborate commentary on Surya-siddhanta and thus these two books are considered the stalwarts of ancient Hindu mathematical astronomy.
The fact that Sri Bimala Prasada Siddhanta Saraswati, also known as Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, was not only a great Gaudiya Vaisnava spiritual master but also one of history’s foremost astronomers, makes this book exceptionally pertinent for our understanding.
Edited by His Holiness Danavir Goswami. 835 pages, 8 color pages of illustrations, hardbound stitched binding, Bengali script of Sanksrit, Roman transliteration, English translations and glossaries.
Few notes about Surya Siddhanta
The first part of the Surya Siddhanta gives a rather lengthy description of how to calculate the Hindu day count. Given a particular date the Hindu day count is the number of days elapsed between the end of creation and the particular date given. Creation ended 1,955,880,000 years before midnight February 18, 3102 B.C. at Ujjayni, India. The Hindu day count is very similar to the Julian Day used by modern astronomers; the Julian Day is the number of days elapsed since noon January 1, 4713 B.C. at Greenwich, England. The Hindu calculation is overly complicated because it is based on a lunar calendar system and in order to determine the number of days one must first determine the number of lunar months.
HH Bhakti Vikas Swami –
These translations of Sri Siddhanta Sarasvati’s renditions of Suryasiddhanta and Siddhanta-Siromani have been prepared under the guidance of His Holiness Danavira Goswami, as part of his research into the nature and form of the universe as described in Vedic texts. Although not easily intelligible, this publication importantly presents to the English-speaking world authoritative modern insights on an ancient but neglected discipline whose study has the potential to revolutionize man’s perspective on the universe and his role within it.
SOUMYA P MUKHERJEE –
If you are looking for a genuine, authentic, authorized translation and commentary on Surya Siddhanta, then buy this and ONLY THIS! because the author of this book (Sri Bimal Prasad Siddhanta saraswati) is a genuine authentic spiritual personality with the authorized knowledge of vedic knowledge and Vedic astronomy. He was the most prominent astronomer from India in 20th century and an authority in the study sun movements. His work on Surya Siddhanta has earned him the title of siddhanta saraswati from the spiritual community because he has presented the original spirit of the book without adulteration. HH Danavir Goswami, who has received the authentic vedic tradition and knowledge from the same spiritual source has done a true justice in editing and re-publishing this edition for the benefit of the intellectual class.
Goordyal Sharvan –
Very good transliterations and meaningful information about astronomy. Highly recommended book to read.
Ozge Cetin –
thank you
P. Touchard –
This is one of the rare translations of the main ganita (mathematical) book for astrology of India, the Surya Siddhanta. It gives the traditional theory and practical calculations for doing horoscope as per the tradition. This tradition is considered obsolete by modern science but they have not really considered it in its context and philosophical standpoint, which is Puranic, Vedic. Modern science is based on a material viewpoint and cannot accept a spiritual foundation for mathematics.This work presents an english version of the bengali version of the original sanskrit. The bengali text was prepared by Bimala Prasada S. the guru of Swami Prabhupada Bhaktivedanta, founder of the Hare Krishna movement. He was a famous and erudite astrologer and astronomer, and one of the few experts in siddhantic texts. He clearly advocated use of siddhanta for ganita, that is, divine planets and not material planets! These experts are even fewer nowadays (he wrote it in the late 19th early 20th century. An extremely precious work.The English text is not easy to understand for non specialists, and it is not certain to me how well the english translator was versed in siddhantic theory and philosophy. For bengali readers it will be easier as there are extensive notes , especially to the 2nd larger book, Siddhanta Siromani, although these sets of calculations were not done for astrology per se. The author of S S was Bhaskara, a 11th century astronomer, and considered his work an addition to the Surya S, not a contradiction, because it gives different positions. The Surya Siddhanta itself was for astrology and religious purposes.
Kishor Dutt –
This book contains the original information translated into easy reading and understanding English.