Hindu Atlantis
Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2026 2:03 am
1823 BOOK
I received the following from Academia.edu a few days ago. I spent a number of hours editing it to correct a lot of copy errors. I left most of the author's apparent spelling errors, because I think it's possibly valuable to see how some words were spelled back in 1823. I'm surprised by how advanced the author's ideas still are. I'm also surprised by how much knowledge historians of India possessed of the world map. They seem to have known about the Americas as well as Atlantis. And they may have described the polar Saturn Configuration, or at least Mount Meru, on which the configuration perched. I'll post the whole book here now and maybe take excerpts from it later to comment on. I think it's actually a 3-part book, so there may be more to mess with later, if it seems worthwhile. It usually spells Atlantis as Atala or Atalanta or Atalantis. If you search for Atal, you should find all of those. I think Meru is always Meru. There's a similar word, Menu, which might have derived from the Rings of Saturn, when Saturn was perched on Mt. Meru. I'm not greatly confident of that as yet.
The Mythological Astronomy of the Ancients
https://www.academia.edu/127174668
The Mythological Astronomy of the Ancients or the Key to Urania – The Wards of Which Will Unlock All the Mysteries of Antiquity - S. A. Mackey - Exploring the Hidden Astral Codes in Mythology, Secrets of Ancient Star Lore, Cosmic Sacred Temples, Legacy of Celestial Worship + Rare Deep Cosmology -
The New Alexandria library of Texas
1823, The New Alexandria library of Texas + Norwich: Printed by R. Walker, near the Duke’s Palace
Ancient Egyptian Religion,
Greek literature,
Philosophical Theology,
Theoretical astrophysics,
Rare Books and Manuscripts
This book just like it's previous edition I just uploaded before was also buried in rubble and trash and was almost completely gone from existence!! This rare original edition dives deep into the ancient understanding of astronomy as expressed through mythology and symbolic narratives. Mackey attempts to decode celestial lore by interpreting the mythologies of antiquity through an astronomical lens. He postulates that myths across different cultures—Greek, Egyptian, Babylonian, and others—encode astronomical phenomena, calendrical systems, and cosmic principles. Key Themes: Astronomical Symbolism in Mythology: Mackey identifies celestial events and astronomical cycles (e.g., the precession of the equinoxes) embedded within ancient myths. He argues that mythological figures often symbolize planets, stars, and constellations. Key of Urania: Urania, the muse of astronomy in Greek mythology, symbolizes the "key" to understanding these encoded messages. The "wards" refer to specific interpretative tools or frameworks Mackey proposes to unlock ancient wisdom. Mysteries of Antiquity: The text explores how ancient civilizations encoded their advanced astronomical knowledge into allegorical stories to preserve it across generations. The mysteries include explanations of cosmic order, seasonal cycles, and the spiritual connection between humanity and the cosmos. Philosophical and Theological Implications: Mackey connects these astronomical interpretations to broader philosophical and theological ideas, exploring how cosmological beliefs shaped ancient religions. Critique of Modern Interpretations: He challenges contemporary (19th-century) understandings of mythology and history, suggesting that scholars often overlook the astronomical underpinnings of ancient narratives. Methodology: Mackey employs comparative analysis of myths, ancient texts, and historical artifacts. His approach intertwines astronomy, philology, and mythology to create a unified theory of ancient knowledge systems. Impact and Legacy: While not widely recognized in mainstream academia, Mackey's work is a cornerstone for those interested in esoteric interpretations of mythology and astro-theology. It reflects a broader 19th-century fascination with uncovering hidden meanings in ancient texts and aligning them with scientific discoveries of the era.
THE MYTHOLOGICAL ASTRONOMY OF THE ANCIENTS; PART THE SECOND: OR THE KEY OF URANIA, THE WARDS OF WHICH WILL UNLOCK ALL THE MYSTERIES OF ANTIQUITY.
I have entered the venerable courts of science; and, from the department of ancient historians (who wrote the History of the Earth among the Stars, and that of the heavenly motions upon the Earth) have brought a fund of information, which I shall so blend with Astronomy, as to be able to raise the sacred head of truth above the lumber of two thousand years, and prop her throne with learning’s proud remains. NORWICH: Printed by R. Walker, near the Duke’s Palace.
J. DAWSON, NORWICH.
PREFACE TO 2nd Part of Mythological Astronomy. Since writing the two sheets on the Missionary Papers, in the first part of my work, I have had access to the libraries of several gentlemen in this city; some of whom directed me to read the Asiatic Researches: others pointed out the necessity of my reading Bryant’s Mythology: whilst others, struck with the manner in which I had accounted for the ravages committed on the earth by "the havoc of waters", in the story of Phaeton, thought it highly proper that I should read Parkerson’s Organic Remains. Volney’s New Researches have also added to the list of authors which I have lately read. This author, though he has given us Mr. Dupuis’ Analization of the Mystical Numbers of the Hindus, is still unsatisfied; as we may judge from the following passage in Vol. lst. page 191.
"If at some future period, some one endowed with talent unites to Astronomical Science the erudition of antiquity too much separated from it, that man will instruct his age in many things, which the vanity of ours has no notion of."
I am not surprised that Mr. J. Bently has written with such virulence against the antiquity of the Hindu Chronology, nor, that he continued to write in the same illiberal strain after he became J. Bently, Esqr. Nor that Francis Wilford wrote as a negative friend to Truth both before and after his being Captain. But, that Mr. Dupuis should have displayed such a want of Science as he has done, in what is called his Analisis of the Mystical Numbers of the Hindus, is, to me very surprising. But, that I may not be thought too severe upon so learned a gentleman, I'll transcribe a few lines from the authority of M. Volney's New Researches.
"Astronomically speaking, there exists no period of 12,000 years; that is to say, this number does not agree with any of the simple or compound revolutions of the Stars or Planets. Why then is it employed in that sense by the ancients? This is another astrological enigma, whose solution can only be found with the adepts in the secret science."
V. This solution is given as by the ingenious and learned Dupuis, in his Memoirs on the great Cycles or periods of restitution.
"When we attentively compare the several periods of the Indians and Chaldeans," says he, "in purport we discover that their composition is owing to an increasing or decreasing addition or subtraction of a first elementary number following the direct arithmetical order of 1, 2, 3, 4, or the inverted one of 4, 3, 2, 1; as is demonstrated by analysis.
"SPECIMEN.
1st age 4,000 years
2nd do. 3,000 do.
3rd do. 2,000 do.
4th do. 1,000 do.
"It clearly results," says he "if you take away the noughts, that there will remain 4, 3, 2, 1."
O! Dupuis, Dupuis! if ever the learned men in India read this, thy pretended Analysis of their sacred numbers, how will they pity the ignorance of Europeans! Will they not exclaim, "What! art these men of Europe eminent in nothing but those qualifications, from which, in our holy books, their country was justly denominated Frankinstan?
The wrankling and illiberal attacks on their antiquity. by J Bently, Esq. and by lieu. Francis Wilford, they could easily account for — they were in the service of that power by whom their country was surrounded, and filled with cannon and bayonets; these men, therefore might have had an interest in endeavouring to pervert the meaning, and depreciate the merits of their holy books; but when they read the unmeaning analysis of the ingenious and learned Mon. Dupuis, will they not lament that there is not one franc in our whole Stan with a mind sufficiently enlarged to receive the great truths contained in their Vedas, &c.
O! ye slandered sons of venerable sires! who have preserved, thro’ myriads of years, the sacred numbers of more northern climes; while I, your Maha-Yugas analize, I'll write your Panegyric; — ’tho' Bentley rave, I'll prove your ancient numbers arose not from visionary dreams,* nor ideal systems; nor yet from vanity, ignorance, or credulity; nor from any petty fiction or pious fraud,! which the above irritable gentleman asserts to have been committed by the crafty sons of Brahma; but from real periods of Time, which your sires observed and registered: and [though your Cali-yug continued through the regions of eighteen original Shastras of astronomy, which amounted to 432,000 years; it will be seen that it did not arise from the childish combination of a decreasing substraction of a first elementary number following the inverted arithmetical order of 4, 3, 2 with the increasing addition of three cyphers, nor did it arise from multiplying the next age or yuga of 210,000 by 2. Nor was their divine age of 4, 320,000 formed by adding a cypher to 432,000; but by multiplying 1,080,000? which is their Maha-yug, by 4, because the poles had been four times inverted since the commencement of their observations.
But, as these great truths have been long obscured by the people of the west, it is my duty to place them in such light that men of science may perceive they are (See Asiatic Researches, Vol. 6, P. 573. + Ditto, Vol. 8, P. 195. V 111.) the true periods of time which have been described in the pericyclosical motion of the pole.
I shall not, however, reply to all the extravagant absurdities which I have seen in ten or a dozen large quarto volumes of four or five hundred pages each; I shall take the shortest road to the delightful object of my eyes, and prop her throne with learning's proud remains.
And as I proceed, I shall draw such auxiliaries from our holy books into the service of Urania. that shall be found to perform each manoeuvre and go through all her complex evolutions with such celestial order, that every General will declare that they are all deserters from her ancient service, though they have long been disguised in new regimentals.
Digressive Introduction
In consequence of the imprudence of Captain Wilford and some other writers in the Asiatic Researches in endeavouring to blend the ancient symbols and symbolical phrases, of the Hindu Astronomers, with the sacred person of Jesus Christ, I feel myself called on to deviate a little from the path first laid down.
Whether the above gentlemen had any sinister design in blending the sacred names of Jesus Christ with the mythology of the Pagans I do not determine: but as they are at present so closely connected by various writers, it seems almost impossible to defend the antiquity of the one, without offending the votaries of the other. I have no desire to offend any man, or society of men; but I will defend the ancient astronomy of the Hindus; and prove that their divine child born of a virgin, who was impregnated by a carpenter, (according to the translation of Captain W.), had no allusion to the Child born of the Virgin which Isaiah speaks of. Why Captain Wilford has translated the word Tacshaca by the course epithet of Carpenter, appears to me a greater mystery than their Hindu numbers, or their Yudhistirs; their Sacas, their Menus, their Rishis, &c., present. Did he think, that, by tacking the mutilated numbers and names of ancient astronomy, to the modern religion of the Christians, men would be deterred from explaining them? Few men, I believe, would call the great Fabricater of the Universe — the Divine Architect, by the degrading name of Carpenter. It is not an appellation so respectful as the deity ought to have conferred on him, in consequence of his being the builder of the universe. But, as the Hindu prophecies of the birth of the Orb of day in the celestial constellation of Virgo, has been fulfilled more than 200,000 years ago; it is evident they could not have had any allusion to the great promulgator of Christian Morality, which the Prophet Isaiah is supposed to have foretold, when he said "Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son." It is evident to all, that this virgin was not a Constellation; nor has Isaiah conveyed any idea of astronomy. His expression, it is true, is figurative; and as more human blood has been spilled about the true meaning of this short passage, than any other of the same length, it may not be amiss to enquire, what was the Virgin of Isaiah?
If I can divest Jesus, the Christian Moralist, of his Pagan vestments, and shew him in his original purity; Christians then might become unanimous, and meet and worship God in one temple; and astronomers would then be at liberty to trace back the path of the Pole through all the various mazes of the labyrinth. But before we can become acquainted with the true spirit of ancient authors, it is absolutely necessary for us to become familiar with their customs and manner of speaking.
The Bible, like all the writings of the ancients, was originally written in poetry; it almost every where abounds with sublime phraseology, bold metaphors, and lofty flights of the imagination. But, though this mode of writing is one of the chief ornaments of poetry, yet it is this alone that has produced so much strife. Dull men will seldom see beyond the oil anil lamp-black, or, what is generally termed the literal sense of a passage; and though that be impossible, yet, such is their veneration for the sacred book, that, though they do not perceive the drift of the author, they are positive that, that alone is the true meaning which they have imbibed, although it is contrary to all the known laws of God.
Isaiah in his 14th c. v. 8th. makes the fir trees and cedars of Lebanon rejoice at the death of the King of Babylon, saying, "Since thou art laid down, no Feller is come up against us." This song of the fir trees and cedars, is, no doubt, beautiful in the original: its charms are distinctly seen through its English dress: but surely no tyrant, not even those in the ninth verse ever thought of punishing a man for not believing that the trees did really sing the above strain!
It is a poetical embellishment; and none but those of the most depraved understandings would contend for its literal meaning.
Countries and cities were frequently represented by women; surrounded by attributes expressing their condition, or situation; thus Britannia is seated on the waves, to shew the insular situation of England. Her olive-branch, spear, and shield, bespeak her desirous of peace, yet, ever ready for war, &c.
The Virgin Andromeda, the daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia was the representative of Palestina; a long, narrow, rocky strip of land; figuratively called the daughter of Rocks and Mountains; because it is a country abounding with rocks and stones. And the Greeks, really supposing Cepha, a rock or stone, to have been the young ladies father, added their sign of the masculine gender to it, and it became Cepheus. And mount Cassius being its southern boundary was called Cassiobi; from its being also the boundary of the overflowed Nile, called Obi, which the Greeks softened into Cassiopeia, and supposed it to have been her mother; of whom there is, in Ovid’s Met. a long story.— But I have never read that either the Greeks or Romans ever made it "Part and parcel" of their laws to put a man into prison for not believing that mount Cassius was the mother of the virgin Andromeda.
* See Note fourteen, part first.
B XIV. Every body knows that Mount Zion stands like a father in the midst of Jerusalem; Jerusalem was, therefore, called the daughter of Zion.
The Prophet Ezekiel calls Babylon, the daughter of Babel; and when those daughters were spoken of, or, to, in terms of friendship they were frequently called virgins; thus we find Jerusalem is called the virgin daughter of Zion 5 and Babylon is called the virgin daughter of Babel, &c.
It is well known that the Jews lived in Palestine, which is a small country situated on the confines of three powerful empires; the governors of which were frequently changing their boundaries: this was not done without fighting battles; the Jews were therefore, being but a petty state, always included in the conquest of the victor.
If Babylon fought with Egypt, or Persia with either, Palestine was sure to be the prize-fighting stage. The Jews being thus involved in war, were always swallowed up by one or other of the surrounding Monarchs, who constantly placed a King in Jerusalem according to his own choice: thus being tributaries to various nations, the Jews often despaired of being sovereigns of the world; but were as often assured by their Priests that the time would come when a King born in Jerusalem would make them masters of the world; thus as we find Isaiah comforting the Jews in the days of Ahaz, telling them that a child would be born in Jerusalem, upon whose shoulders the government should be, and in whose reign they would have peace. Jerusalem was, at that time, threatened with war by the King of Israel and the King of Syria— Ahab, King of Jerusalem, was terrified at their united forces.—Isaiah, in his 7th c. v. 4th bids Ahaz "fear not, neither be faint-hearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands: for behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son." --- and "before the Child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrent shall be forsaken of both the Kings."
In this seeming digression from the astronomy of the ancients, the reader will observe, that, it is not the history of the Jews, to which his attention is directed, but to the flowery style of its writers: particularly in those passages just quoted. "Behold the virgin shall conceive," &c. is an expression, which, in its literal sense, is so contrary to all the operations of nature-so repugnant to all the known laws of God, that, we are certain that the writer had a figurative meaning in it as well as in that, where he calls the King of Israel and the King of Syria the TWO SMOKING FIRE BRANDS.
I know that many authors, to shew their learning in the Hebrew Language, have said that the word which is translated virgin, means also a young unmarried woman. Such disputants amuse the crowd without adding much to their stock of knowledge. — so do stage fighters.
It is a fact known to all, that ancient writers, whether of prose or poetry, in reciting the speeches of kings and emperors, constantly put into their mouths a lofty phraseology very unlike that of the plebeians, whilst the language of their gods and goddesses is frequently given in the style of sublime incomprehensibility! The Jehovah of the Hebrew poets never speaks to his people but in metaphors and parables; and as this passage in Isaiah is a speech of the Lord’s, it must be metaphorical.
XVII. We have seen by what figure of speech Jerusalem is called the daughter of Zion, and very often the virgin. In fact, we need but read a few of the passages where such phrases occur, to know that they can have no other meaning. I will quote one or two.
When Sennacherib, King of Assyria, threatened Jerusalem with destruction; Isaiah was ordered to inform the bombastic, blaspheming King, that they were not afraid of him. But as Isaiah spake the words of the Lord on the occasion, them I shall give as they stand in the 21st v. 19th c. ii. book of Kings and in he 22nd v. 37th c. of Isaiah, "The Virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn." — Here we find that the Lord calleth Jerusalem the virgin, the daughter of Zion.
There is a passage in Amos, wherein the city of Bethel is called the Virgin of Isreal. Amos 5.2. — The Lord purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion, Ezek. In short, the phrases occur so frequently in the sacred writings, and are so pointed, that every body, who is but a little acquainted with them, are certain, that by 'the Virgin daughter of Zion' Jerusalem is understood. And if we carry the figurative sense to the 14th v. of the 7th c. of Isaiah, we shall find that, that passage might have been figuratively true; and all that was intended by it was to inform the people of Jerusalem, who were so oppressed by Kings which were imposed upon them by surrounding tyrants, that the time should come, when the Virgin, i. e. the City of Jerusalem should bear a son, upon whose shoulders the government should be; and in whose reign they should have peace!
This is another poetical beauty, which is no more literally true, than the singing of the fir trees and cedars of Lebanon.
This sublime poet of the Hebrews, in his 30th c. makes the dreadful effects of the south wind to be the burden of his song.
Verse 6. "The burden of the beasts of the south into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence cometh the young and the old lion, the viper, and,c fiery-flying-serpent."
XIX. A man must be very unacquainted with natural history, if he believes this passage to be literally true: since, although we have read of flying dragons, and luminous worms, we have never read, in natural history, that blazing snakes were ever seen to fly about; And he must have the heart of a fiend, who would persecute a man of genius for asserting it to be a poetical epithet for a thunder cloud; which the ancients used to call the GIANT EPHIALTES.
The polite conversation in this country abounds with figurative expressions, and yet we do not find any confusion arising from their use. How frequently do we call the lovers of Music "The Sons of Harmony’ and yet we do not understand Harmony to be a woman, who was their mother ?,---Soldiers are called the Sons of Mars---Theologians, the Sons of God,---and, Astronomers, the Sons of Heaven. But yet we cannot be indulgent to the Chinese, who call their Emperor the "Son of Heaven," in quality of his being the first Astronomer, or the head of Astronomers in his country.
But the female symbols, that represented the various cities, were sometimes spoken of, and to, in terms of reproach. The Prophet Ezek. calls Jerusalem the Whore Aholibah, and the City of Damascus, he calls the Whore Aholah, and loads them with every opprobious epithet, as if the two cities had been two women of the most licencious characters; but for decencv sake I forbear to mention either chapter or verse. Jeremiah 46th c. 20th v. calls Egypt a very Fair Heifer; but after Egypt had been destroyed by the Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans, we find the Jew, John, who wrote the Revelations, calling Egypt "The scat of the Beast."
These symbols of cities must have been distinguished by a difference of dress or attributes: and as Babylon was the seat of a large empire, it must have been represented by a symbol dressed in a profusion of splendour, to shew her superiority over her tributary cities; and ’tho’ Ezekiel called her the virgin, daughter of Babel, when the Jews were slaves of Babylon; yet, when Persia had destroyed the Babylonian Monarchy, the Jews, being then the slaves of Persia, rent their throats with roaring BABYLON the great Scarlet Whore IS FALLEN, IS FALLEN!!!
xxi. If the French had ever conquered England, and had they been as unpolished as the Jews, they would have exulted over her fallen state; and rent their throats with roaring Britannia, the great briny Whore is fallen, is fallen. But she still remains the VIRGIN, SOVEREIGN OV THE SEA.
Enough has been said to prove, that, the virgin of Isaiah, whom the Christians supposed to have been the mother of Christ has nothing to do with the virgin of heaven, i. e. the Constellation of Virgo; whom the Hindus assert was the mother of Chrisna, i.e. the Sun: of whom so many strange stories are told in the Hindu books; the recital of which would swell a book to the size of the Earth itself. In his infancy, however, it is said, he led a very humble life; in his matured age, he is represented as leading a life of gaiety; dancing and carousing with lady after lady to the amount of a dozen. That he overcame all the demons of darkness, serpents and dragons: but died at last between two thieves. All this is purely astronomical: and alludes to the reappearance of the Sun in the sign of Virgo; to his passage through the twelve signs of the Zodiac in a milder age: when the twelve months were represented by twelve gopis or houris, or ladies of yielding, which the Irish call cropies, and the English Whores: and to his disappearing in winter between Mars and Mercury.
As I have now drawn a proper line of distinction between what is considered religion, and science; I assure the religionist that I shall not molest him in his department; and I hope, if he enters mine, it will be in the way of friendship.
The judicious reader will see the propriety of the above digression; as it will enable me to defend the sacred province of Urania with more vigour; because I can now draw more powerful auxiliaries from the sacred writings of the Jews, without interfereing with those that belong to the sacred person of the great PROMULGATER of Christian Morality; whose life and character has been too much blended with rhapsodies on Astronomical Symbols. But it is now time, note, when "the fiery passions" are beginning to yield to the bridle of reason — when all seems disposed to go in search of long lost TRUTH, to unclose the mouth of her "well," that she may ascend therefrom and harmonize mankind.
The Mythological Astronomy OF THE ANCIENTS: or the KEY OF URANIA.
When men of learning prostitute their talents before the world as the defenders of truth; for the sole purpose of serving falsehood more effectually, they may deceive the ignorant: but how contemptible are such men in the estimation of her more learned votaries.
Christian Theologians think it their duty to write against the long periods of Hindu Chronology; and in them it may be pardonable: but when a man of learning crucify the names and the numbers, of the ancients; and wring and twist them into a form, which means something quite foreign to the intentions of the ancient authors; but which, so mutilated, fits in with the birth of some maggot pre-existing in his own brain with so much exactness, that he pretends to be amazed at the discovery, I cannot think him quite so pardonable.
To cut down the Hindu divine age of 4,320,000 years, with the cleaver of "probability:" to 4,320 years, is, at best, but a clownish way to make things fit. And then, to make his 4,320 years to have commenced 4,320 years before a certain event took place, and then to seem amazed at the coincidence, is no better than an insult to any man of plain sense. Did Captain W. think that all the disinterested part of his countrymen would seem blind, as well as those that have an interest in seeming so?
But the advocates for falsehood gain their point if men do but lose time in replying to all the idle suggestions of their a "humble opinions" — their probabilities and extravagant inferences.
By supposing Prithu to be Noah at one time; and Satyavrata, to be Noah at another: and Dhruva, to be Enos; and Iswara, is made to be Assur, &c. it is astonishing to see what wonderful things Captain W. can prove. It is like saying, that, black is white; for by supposing black to be white; and white to be black; it is very obvious, that there can be no difference.
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And after this manner have books been written volume upon volume; pretending to light men in the road to truth: but which like a will o' whisp, have guided men now here, now there; until they have sunk into their graves without having once seen a single ray of her beaming radiance.
However, notwithstanding all that has been said by lieutenant, afterwards Captain Wilford, and Mr. J. Bently, afterwards J. Bently, Esq. and some others, respecting the mythology of the Hindus, and their sacred numbers; it is very evident that the major part of the Honourable Society, of which they are members, are not satisfied. For in the 7th vol. of the Asiatic Researches, page 8, there is the following desideratum.
"Whether the historical periods of the four ages and manwantaras, mentioned in the Purans, did not depend on ancient astronomical systems; and if so, what were the duration and times of commencement of such periods?"
Satisfactory answers to the above questions cannot fail of being of the utmost importance to men of science, and I am possitive that I shall answer them with such precision, That all the learn’d in Europe will approve; And every Braman hail a new Racha.
Time, has been variously divided by different nations; and by many, in an arbitrary manner; it has been divided into three ages by some; and into four ages by others.
All the nations, from Tibet, Tibud, or Budtan, as it is sometimes called, to the extremity of the Hindustan peninsula; and in the same latitude from China to the extremity of the west, have divided time into four ages. These, by some authors, were the four seasons of the tropical year: but as they are nearly of a uniform length, they by no means agree with the four ages of the Purans, as the length of the Hindu ages are so very different. But, if we consider them as portions of the great cyclic year; which the Hindus call the Maha-yuga or great age, they will be found to agree in all their parts. This Maha-yuga contained 1,080,000 tropical years; which contained the four ages so celebrated in the books of the Hindus called the Puranas.
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In the Astatic Res. the four ages are given in the following quantities.
1st, age 108,000 years
2 216,000
3 324,000
4 or Kali 432,000
_______________________________
1,080,000
The Prajanatha Yuga contained 2,160,003
And the Divine Yuga contained 4,320,000
These are the numbers, about which so much folly and weakness have been displayed. And as they are numbers which may be formed various ways, their true construction may be thereby kept secret; thus, the 2nd age of 216,000, is made to be derived from a cycle of 5 by 12=60 X by 60=3600 X by 60=216,000, which is the Prajanatha-yug (see Asiatic. Res. vol 8. page 491).
What satisfaction can the mind of man receive from such an unmeaning play of numbers.
I hope the learned reader will pay proper attention to the order or arrangement of the seven numbers or ages: as I have condensed them into a narrow compass they are always easy of access.
I shall now proceed to shew how the first four were formed according to the present known, pericyclosical motion of the earth’s axis.
We have seen in the first part of this work, how there would be formed a spiral of 22½ volves from the pole to the equator: which must be doubled when the pole became inverted. There would then' be, 'from pole to pole, 45 of those rounds. Now, as the ancient Astronomers of upper India reckoned 24,000 years to each round, the whole number of years, then, that the pole of the earth would take in passing from one pole of heaven to the other would be 45 times 24,000 years: which every school boy knows would be 1,080,000, what a remarkable coincidence and that, too, without chopping off any of the cyphers!!! During this Maha-yuga, or great age, the inhabitants of the earth must have felt all the various seasons that can possibly happen under every angle of the two poles; and while the N. pole was returning to its original place among the stars, the same seasons must again, be repeated. This whole round of the axis of the earth, from north to south, and back again to the north, was called the prajanatha-yuga, or great age of the earth; which must have taken a time double the former, viz. 2,160,000. And as their Deva-yuga, or divine age is 4,320,000, it shews that the axis of the earth has made two such rounds since the commencement of their astronomical observations; besides 8, or 9,000 years of a new reckoning.
But the ancient Brahmins divided their Maha-yuga into four component parts of unequal lengths: as if its first part was the remains of the whole yuga, after the first joint of its tail had been cut off: thus the l,080,00|0, would become 1,080,00; which is down right nonsense; therefore the cutting and maiming gentry range the figures thus 108,000 for the first age: which they multiply by two for the second age, and by three for the third age, and by four for the fourth age. The numbers thus obtained would fit, it is true; and may satisfy the Captain and the Esq. But let me point out the way that will satisfy men of learning.
It is asserted in many parts of the Asiatic Researches, that, the Brahmins are not the aborigines of the hindustan peninsula; but that they came from a higher latitude. Mr. J. Bently informs us in the 6th vol. of the Asiatic Researches, page 575, that the numbers were handed down to the present men by "Sages who were supposed to have lived in the remotest periods of antiquity, to the number of eighteen altogether. These eighteen are now called, by way of distinction, the eighteen original-shastrars of astronomy." What a pity that Mr. J. Bentley did not obtain some of the names of these eighteen very ancient sages! In the lat. of Delhi they talk of fourteen sages, called Menus who presided over fourteen Manwantaras, or periods of time.
In vol. 8, p. 289, Asiatic Res. we are told that, "seven was formerly a favourite and fortunate number among the Hindus: eight among the Baudhists; and nine formerly in the west, and in the north of Assia!!! Nine was held a sacred and mystical number in the north parts of the old continent, from China to the extremity of the west." And in the 3rd vol. p. 382, we are told that the Chaldeans, and that the Turdulians, an ancient and learned nation in Spain, had preserved the same long periods of time.
From the above data, we shall be able to draw the most positive assurances that the numbers before mentioned are astronomical. But how has it happened that the above nations preserved the same numbers. Let us begin with Spain. The ancient province of Turdulia or Turdetania, (which is the ancient and learned nation spoken of) had its capital city, called Mundae, in the 36th degree of north lat. — Babylon, the Capital of Chaldea, had existed but 470,000 years, in the days of Alexander; and being built by the Assyrians, whose capital city was Ninevah; the learned men, therefore, when they established themselves at Babylon, preserved the ancient numbers of NINEVAH, their mother country; which, like Mundae, stood also in the 36th degree of north lat. And if we trace, upon a map or globe from Mundae to Ninevah, onwards to the east, till we arrive at China, we shall find the line pass through Bactriania and Tibet, Tibud, or Budtan, i. e. the country of Budh; and the famous Vale of Cassimere, so celebrated by the ancient Bramins.
These places; "From China to the extremity of the west, had the same mystical numbers." And, why? because the people there lived under the same elevation of the pole!!!—They all saw the great DIAL-OF-THE-DEITY from the same point of view,—they all saw Meru from the 9th stage of the world, i. e. the 9th climate; from which, Meru would be seen as a Pyramid with NINE steps: while from the lat. of 32, — the eighth stage of the world, or 8th climate, Meru would be seen as a cone or pyramid with eight steps. At Delhi, in 28 degs, which is in the 7th stage, or climate, of the world, they represented the pole, or meru, by a cone of seven steps. Hence, we find the cause which induced the ancients, in the above latitude, to venerate the nos. 7, 8, 9, was astro-geographical: and hence also we see the impossibility of making the astronomical numbers of a large empire agree with one capital. Consequently the numbers of 36 degs. cannot agree with the numbers of Delhi in 28th deg. nor with those of Benares, in 25 degs. nor with those in any other part more southward.
But let us see why the astronomers in the 36 deg. divided the great age of 1,080,000 years into four parts of such unequal lengths.--Rectify the plate Cyclob'thiad in part 1st, to the given lat. by putting the pole to 36 above the north horizon. Very well.
THE FOUR AGES.
We will begin with the Cali-yug or fourth age because that is the most celebrated. At the setting in of the Cali-age, in the lat. of 36 degs. the tropics must be 54 degs. from the equator. (*See Tower of Babel, Part first.)
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The summer tropic would coincide with the north horizon, and extend up to the 72 deg. of north altitude {latitude?}; and the winter tropic would coincide with the south horizon, and describe a circle round the south pole, to the 72nd, deg. below the south horizon. By inspecting the plate you will perceive, between the horizontal thread and the poles, that there are 9 divisions of 4 degs. each. And as the tropics, at this time, are receding from the equator, we know, that in 24,000 years, according to the testimony of very ancient observers, the summer tropic, would be 4 deg?, nearer to the north pole; and as there are nine such steps for the tropic to ascend before it would coincide with the north pole, there would be nine times 24,000 years before the middle of their cali-yug: and of course there would be nine more such periods before the end or close of their Cali-yug.
These then are the eighteen original shastrars of astronomy! which being multiplied by 24,000 will produce the celebrated number of 432,000 without having recourse to the childish whim of Mons. Dupuis of "Arranging a few figures in arithmetical progression in a decreasing subtraction of a first elementary number."
Now let us proceed to the first age. We have seen, at the end of the Kalee or Cali-yuga, that the tropics would be 36 degs. from the poles. The northern tropic would, therefore, extend from the north horizon to the 72nd degree, or to within eighteen degrees of their zenith; which is another remarkable point in the starry canopy; and which would be the boundary of the next yuga. The tropic, then, in this age had to pass over only a space of 18 deg. or four divisions and a half, out of the 45. But 24,000 multiplied by four and a half, is 108,000, which is precisely the number of years in the first age in the lat. of 36 degrees. The next remarkable point in the meridian is that which is intersected by the equator; let it be the boundary of the SECOND AGE. From the zenith to the equator we find 36 degs. or nine divisions of 24,000 years each, which amount to 216,000; the exact number given us by the "crafty sons of Brama" in their ancient second age; in the lat, of 36 degs.
The next point on the meridian below the equator, is the south horizon: this forms the boundary of the THIRD AGE, which continues whilst the tropic passes through the 54 degrees, or 13 divisions and a half: and 24,000 multiplied by 13 and a half, will give 324,000, the number of years in the third age.
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We have now seen that the ancient Hindus did not form their sacred numbers from visionary dreams, or childish whims: but from real astronomical observations, through a series of 4,320,000 of tropical years. Before the commencement of which time, astronomy must have long occupied their attention. I am aware that Mr. John Bently* has given the component parts of the Divine Age in a seemingly different way.
His numbers are, for the
"Satya-yug 1,728,000 — or 4th age
Treta do, 1,296,000 — 3rd age
Dwaper do. 864,000 — 2nd age
Cali do. 432,000 — 1st age
Divine 4,320,000 Age
Why Mr. Bently has compounded the divine age in the way he has; rather than by multiplying the maha-yug of 1,O8O,000 by four, I cannot guess? nor has he assigned any reason for it. He has also placed one age twice over, to different numbers. Does he not know that the Cali-yug is the age of the annual Floods, and, that the
(* vol. 5, page 16.)
Satya-yug means the same age? For though Cali-yug means the age of extreme heat; the extreme heat can only happen in that age, when the Sun is on the Saty, i. e. the monument of Budha — the S. pole. But let us rescue the above numbers from that confusion into which the above pretended advocate for truth has thrown them. As the great age of 1,080,000 years has been repeated four times; its four component parts must also have been repeated as often.
Thus 4 times 432,000 are 1,728,000
324,000 — 1,296,000
216,000 — 864,000
108,000 — 432,000
1,080,000 — 4,320,000
I wish Mon. Dupuis could see with what harmony I have arranged all these numbers without casting away any of the noughts!!!
We have now seen that all the mystical numbers — these grand divisions of time, have been measured out to man by the Pole — that great INDEX of TIME upon the DIAL OF THE DEITY.
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And we shall see a further corroboration of the Fact, as we examine the hindu subdivisions of time. But to avoid confusion, we must take our station in one fixed latitude; let it be at Delhi, in the latitude, of 2S degrees. Here, of course, we find the numbers different; here we no longer find the veneration for the nine, nor the eighteen original Shastras: but the number seven, and the fourteen Manwautaras: and it is very likely, that here they might reckon each Manwantara, or round of the equinoctial points, at 25,000 tropical years. For we are not to suppose that, because the ancients reckoned 24,000 years only, to each round, that was the precise quantity; that was the nearest even number that could be divided by two and by four without remainders; and hence the ancients have furnished us with a period of 6,000, and one of 12,000 years; for in 6000 years the Solstitial Colures would come to the equator; and in 12,000 years they would have gone backwards six signs; and the summer constellations would be changed into wintry ones; which in 12,000 years more would be reinstated in their former splendour; and be once more considered as "glorious angels of light."
But we are quite certain, that there were more than 24,000 in each round or manwantara; because in the 2nd vol. of the A. R. p. 131, we are informed that the last round of the brazen age contained 27,000 years. From which, we find, that, the hindus had a way of putting in a few more years, at certain intervals of time, to keep their reckonings free from confusion; just as we do with our five hours and forty nine minutes of time, over 365 days, into every fourth year we put 366 days. What a difference in the scale!
But the hindus have expressed this circumstance in a manner highly poetical, and therefore, I am willing to allow men that are blest with dull organs, to be a little waspish when they read the following hindu account of the fact.
"The great ancestor of Yudhis’tir reigned 27,000 years, at the end of the brazen age." — That a man should reign 27,000 years seems incredible; but as I am not favoured with his name, we will make some enquiry about his son Yudhis’tir or Judhis’tir. We are informed that "Yudhis’tir, was the first of the six Sacas; he was born on the Sabe-Sringa, or mountain with 100 peaks, at the extremity of the world; beyond which nobody can go." And "that Yudhis'tir or Judhis'tir, began his "reign immediately after the Flood." and vol. 9, p, 364 we read, The beginning of the Cali-yuga in the reign of Yudhis’tir." Though these two last statements seemed to disagree, yet they are proved to he true, from this fact, that the reign of Yudhis’tir began when the tropic touched the north horizon; which it must have done both at the beginning and ending of the Cali-yug.
This Judhistir was the first of the six Sacas: which shews the origin of the history to have been in or about the latitude of 24 degrees, from whence the pole, amongst the ancients, was represented as a cone with sixsteps, or a six coiled snake; where, also, by dividing the 432,000 — the Cali-yug of 36 degrees, by 12, the divisions in the Cali-yug of 24 degrees, they make each round of the equinoctial points to be 36,000 years, instead of 25,000; but this error is easily accounted for, when we consider, by how many truth-destroying monsters their country has been overrun.
Very fortunately, for Astronomers, we are furnished with five names out of the six Sacas; and these are enow to prove that they are the six pericyclosical volves round the north pole. The first is Yudhis'tir, the second is Vicrama-ditya, the third Salavahana, 4th Vijaya’dhi-Nandana, and the sixth and last was Bali, or Bala. Yudhis'tir or Judhis’tir, means the outer circle of the six; from ieda or yudah — the extreme end. — His reign was at the extreme end of the yuga, i. e. the first end — the beginning; and as there are six in all, the last must ascend to the pole: but the name of the sixth saca who is the last, is Bali, now Bala, is the temple of Budha; i. e. the north pole! This hindu word bala, the mountain of Budha, is closely allied to the latia bollum, a mound of earth, or bank.
It is impossible for scepticism itself to desire stronger proofs of astronomical antiquity, than those which are every where found among the various tribes or casts of the Hindus; if but a few of their numbers and names have been preserved.
But these people have not only registered a knowledge of heaven; but they have also given us a knowledge of the earth. They have given us the latitude and longitude of that island of splendour, (mentioned by Plato, and some others in Europe and Africa, by the appellation of Atalantis) which they call Atala: and in vol. 8, p. 286, A. R. it is called Atlantis. The following passage is, therein, said to be taken from the Puranics.
"This Atlantis was overwhelmed by a flood" — Plato says it was swallowed by an earthquake in one night, about nine thousand years ago. But as this island was on the 7th stage of the world, or in the 7th climate, I shall notice it more fully when I go back to Delhi. This Yudhis’tir, the first Saca, was born at "The extremity of the world" Vicrama'dilya, the second Saca, was born at Tramba, or Tam-ra-vati-nagari, a town, abounding with copper. These gentlemen are clothed with mystery; but the sun of science will dispel the fog.
Elevate the pole of a Ter. Globe 24 degrees above the artificial horizon; and then turn the Globe about until 70 degrees east longitude from London be under the meridian. The town of Radimpour will then occupy the zenith; and, a little to the east of which, at the mouth of the river Paddar, is the town of Cacha; and between the Paddar and the mouth of the Indus is Jaganat; which stands near the centre between the two rivers. To the northwest of Jaganat is a desert of rugged mountains, called the mountains of the household gods. These mountains, the sea, and two rivers, are boundaries to a country, of which, Jaganat is the centre, and Cacha at the extremity, by the sea, in the latitude of twenty four degrees north.
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From all these considerations, I suppose that the history of the six Sacas originated in this part of the vast empire of Hindostan. Jaganat'hi is allowed to mean the Lord of the universe, and Cacha approximates in sound to Sacer, holy; whence the six Sacas, or six holy personages, were invested with dignities, &c. We are quite certain, however, that in the 24th deg. of north latitude, the inhabitants could see but 24 degrees between their horizon and the pole: in which space the pole of the ecliptic would seem to describe six rounds, by the present rate of its motion. The hindus of Cacha in giving names to the six divisions of the polar space, and in speaking of the ravages of the elements as the summer tropic slowly passed up to the pole and returned again to the horizon, as of the conquering deeds of great monarchs, have not only made a surprising display of astronomical and geographical knowledge, but have greatly embarrassed the Europeans who are disposed to read their histories. The Europeans can easily believe, that the personified Decans were real human beings.
I received the following from Academia.edu a few days ago. I spent a number of hours editing it to correct a lot of copy errors. I left most of the author's apparent spelling errors, because I think it's possibly valuable to see how some words were spelled back in 1823. I'm surprised by how advanced the author's ideas still are. I'm also surprised by how much knowledge historians of India possessed of the world map. They seem to have known about the Americas as well as Atlantis. And they may have described the polar Saturn Configuration, or at least Mount Meru, on which the configuration perched. I'll post the whole book here now and maybe take excerpts from it later to comment on. I think it's actually a 3-part book, so there may be more to mess with later, if it seems worthwhile. It usually spells Atlantis as Atala or Atalanta or Atalantis. If you search for Atal, you should find all of those. I think Meru is always Meru. There's a similar word, Menu, which might have derived from the Rings of Saturn, when Saturn was perched on Mt. Meru. I'm not greatly confident of that as yet.
The Mythological Astronomy of the Ancients
https://www.academia.edu/127174668
The Mythological Astronomy of the Ancients or the Key to Urania – The Wards of Which Will Unlock All the Mysteries of Antiquity - S. A. Mackey - Exploring the Hidden Astral Codes in Mythology, Secrets of Ancient Star Lore, Cosmic Sacred Temples, Legacy of Celestial Worship + Rare Deep Cosmology -
The New Alexandria library of Texas
1823, The New Alexandria library of Texas + Norwich: Printed by R. Walker, near the Duke’s Palace
Ancient Egyptian Religion,
Greek literature,
Philosophical Theology,
Theoretical astrophysics,
Rare Books and Manuscripts
This book just like it's previous edition I just uploaded before was also buried in rubble and trash and was almost completely gone from existence!! This rare original edition dives deep into the ancient understanding of astronomy as expressed through mythology and symbolic narratives. Mackey attempts to decode celestial lore by interpreting the mythologies of antiquity through an astronomical lens. He postulates that myths across different cultures—Greek, Egyptian, Babylonian, and others—encode astronomical phenomena, calendrical systems, and cosmic principles. Key Themes: Astronomical Symbolism in Mythology: Mackey identifies celestial events and astronomical cycles (e.g., the precession of the equinoxes) embedded within ancient myths. He argues that mythological figures often symbolize planets, stars, and constellations. Key of Urania: Urania, the muse of astronomy in Greek mythology, symbolizes the "key" to understanding these encoded messages. The "wards" refer to specific interpretative tools or frameworks Mackey proposes to unlock ancient wisdom. Mysteries of Antiquity: The text explores how ancient civilizations encoded their advanced astronomical knowledge into allegorical stories to preserve it across generations. The mysteries include explanations of cosmic order, seasonal cycles, and the spiritual connection between humanity and the cosmos. Philosophical and Theological Implications: Mackey connects these astronomical interpretations to broader philosophical and theological ideas, exploring how cosmological beliefs shaped ancient religions. Critique of Modern Interpretations: He challenges contemporary (19th-century) understandings of mythology and history, suggesting that scholars often overlook the astronomical underpinnings of ancient narratives. Methodology: Mackey employs comparative analysis of myths, ancient texts, and historical artifacts. His approach intertwines astronomy, philology, and mythology to create a unified theory of ancient knowledge systems. Impact and Legacy: While not widely recognized in mainstream academia, Mackey's work is a cornerstone for those interested in esoteric interpretations of mythology and astro-theology. It reflects a broader 19th-century fascination with uncovering hidden meanings in ancient texts and aligning them with scientific discoveries of the era.
THE MYTHOLOGICAL ASTRONOMY OF THE ANCIENTS; PART THE SECOND: OR THE KEY OF URANIA, THE WARDS OF WHICH WILL UNLOCK ALL THE MYSTERIES OF ANTIQUITY.
I have entered the venerable courts of science; and, from the department of ancient historians (who wrote the History of the Earth among the Stars, and that of the heavenly motions upon the Earth) have brought a fund of information, which I shall so blend with Astronomy, as to be able to raise the sacred head of truth above the lumber of two thousand years, and prop her throne with learning’s proud remains. NORWICH: Printed by R. Walker, near the Duke’s Palace.
J. DAWSON, NORWICH.
PREFACE TO 2nd Part of Mythological Astronomy. Since writing the two sheets on the Missionary Papers, in the first part of my work, I have had access to the libraries of several gentlemen in this city; some of whom directed me to read the Asiatic Researches: others pointed out the necessity of my reading Bryant’s Mythology: whilst others, struck with the manner in which I had accounted for the ravages committed on the earth by "the havoc of waters", in the story of Phaeton, thought it highly proper that I should read Parkerson’s Organic Remains. Volney’s New Researches have also added to the list of authors which I have lately read. This author, though he has given us Mr. Dupuis’ Analization of the Mystical Numbers of the Hindus, is still unsatisfied; as we may judge from the following passage in Vol. lst. page 191.
"If at some future period, some one endowed with talent unites to Astronomical Science the erudition of antiquity too much separated from it, that man will instruct his age in many things, which the vanity of ours has no notion of."
I am not surprised that Mr. J. Bently has written with such virulence against the antiquity of the Hindu Chronology, nor, that he continued to write in the same illiberal strain after he became J. Bently, Esqr. Nor that Francis Wilford wrote as a negative friend to Truth both before and after his being Captain. But, that Mr. Dupuis should have displayed such a want of Science as he has done, in what is called his Analisis of the Mystical Numbers of the Hindus, is, to me very surprising. But, that I may not be thought too severe upon so learned a gentleman, I'll transcribe a few lines from the authority of M. Volney's New Researches.
"Astronomically speaking, there exists no period of 12,000 years; that is to say, this number does not agree with any of the simple or compound revolutions of the Stars or Planets. Why then is it employed in that sense by the ancients? This is another astrological enigma, whose solution can only be found with the adepts in the secret science."
V. This solution is given as by the ingenious and learned Dupuis, in his Memoirs on the great Cycles or periods of restitution.
"When we attentively compare the several periods of the Indians and Chaldeans," says he, "in purport we discover that their composition is owing to an increasing or decreasing addition or subtraction of a first elementary number following the direct arithmetical order of 1, 2, 3, 4, or the inverted one of 4, 3, 2, 1; as is demonstrated by analysis.
"SPECIMEN.
1st age 4,000 years
2nd do. 3,000 do.
3rd do. 2,000 do.
4th do. 1,000 do.
"It clearly results," says he "if you take away the noughts, that there will remain 4, 3, 2, 1."
O! Dupuis, Dupuis! if ever the learned men in India read this, thy pretended Analysis of their sacred numbers, how will they pity the ignorance of Europeans! Will they not exclaim, "What! art these men of Europe eminent in nothing but those qualifications, from which, in our holy books, their country was justly denominated Frankinstan?
The wrankling and illiberal attacks on their antiquity. by J Bently, Esq. and by lieu. Francis Wilford, they could easily account for — they were in the service of that power by whom their country was surrounded, and filled with cannon and bayonets; these men, therefore might have had an interest in endeavouring to pervert the meaning, and depreciate the merits of their holy books; but when they read the unmeaning analysis of the ingenious and learned Mon. Dupuis, will they not lament that there is not one franc in our whole Stan with a mind sufficiently enlarged to receive the great truths contained in their Vedas, &c.
O! ye slandered sons of venerable sires! who have preserved, thro’ myriads of years, the sacred numbers of more northern climes; while I, your Maha-Yugas analize, I'll write your Panegyric; — ’tho' Bentley rave, I'll prove your ancient numbers arose not from visionary dreams,* nor ideal systems; nor yet from vanity, ignorance, or credulity; nor from any petty fiction or pious fraud,! which the above irritable gentleman asserts to have been committed by the crafty sons of Brahma; but from real periods of Time, which your sires observed and registered: and [though your Cali-yug continued through the regions of eighteen original Shastras of astronomy, which amounted to 432,000 years; it will be seen that it did not arise from the childish combination of a decreasing substraction of a first elementary number following the inverted arithmetical order of 4, 3, 2 with the increasing addition of three cyphers, nor did it arise from multiplying the next age or yuga of 210,000 by 2. Nor was their divine age of 4, 320,000 formed by adding a cypher to 432,000; but by multiplying 1,080,000? which is their Maha-yug, by 4, because the poles had been four times inverted since the commencement of their observations.
But, as these great truths have been long obscured by the people of the west, it is my duty to place them in such light that men of science may perceive they are (See Asiatic Researches, Vol. 6, P. 573. + Ditto, Vol. 8, P. 195. V 111.) the true periods of time which have been described in the pericyclosical motion of the pole.
I shall not, however, reply to all the extravagant absurdities which I have seen in ten or a dozen large quarto volumes of four or five hundred pages each; I shall take the shortest road to the delightful object of my eyes, and prop her throne with learning's proud remains.
And as I proceed, I shall draw such auxiliaries from our holy books into the service of Urania. that shall be found to perform each manoeuvre and go through all her complex evolutions with such celestial order, that every General will declare that they are all deserters from her ancient service, though they have long been disguised in new regimentals.
Digressive Introduction
In consequence of the imprudence of Captain Wilford and some other writers in the Asiatic Researches in endeavouring to blend the ancient symbols and symbolical phrases, of the Hindu Astronomers, with the sacred person of Jesus Christ, I feel myself called on to deviate a little from the path first laid down.
Whether the above gentlemen had any sinister design in blending the sacred names of Jesus Christ with the mythology of the Pagans I do not determine: but as they are at present so closely connected by various writers, it seems almost impossible to defend the antiquity of the one, without offending the votaries of the other. I have no desire to offend any man, or society of men; but I will defend the ancient astronomy of the Hindus; and prove that their divine child born of a virgin, who was impregnated by a carpenter, (according to the translation of Captain W.), had no allusion to the Child born of the Virgin which Isaiah speaks of. Why Captain Wilford has translated the word Tacshaca by the course epithet of Carpenter, appears to me a greater mystery than their Hindu numbers, or their Yudhistirs; their Sacas, their Menus, their Rishis, &c., present. Did he think, that, by tacking the mutilated numbers and names of ancient astronomy, to the modern religion of the Christians, men would be deterred from explaining them? Few men, I believe, would call the great Fabricater of the Universe — the Divine Architect, by the degrading name of Carpenter. It is not an appellation so respectful as the deity ought to have conferred on him, in consequence of his being the builder of the universe. But, as the Hindu prophecies of the birth of the Orb of day in the celestial constellation of Virgo, has been fulfilled more than 200,000 years ago; it is evident they could not have had any allusion to the great promulgator of Christian Morality, which the Prophet Isaiah is supposed to have foretold, when he said "Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son." It is evident to all, that this virgin was not a Constellation; nor has Isaiah conveyed any idea of astronomy. His expression, it is true, is figurative; and as more human blood has been spilled about the true meaning of this short passage, than any other of the same length, it may not be amiss to enquire, what was the Virgin of Isaiah?
If I can divest Jesus, the Christian Moralist, of his Pagan vestments, and shew him in his original purity; Christians then might become unanimous, and meet and worship God in one temple; and astronomers would then be at liberty to trace back the path of the Pole through all the various mazes of the labyrinth. But before we can become acquainted with the true spirit of ancient authors, it is absolutely necessary for us to become familiar with their customs and manner of speaking.
The Bible, like all the writings of the ancients, was originally written in poetry; it almost every where abounds with sublime phraseology, bold metaphors, and lofty flights of the imagination. But, though this mode of writing is one of the chief ornaments of poetry, yet it is this alone that has produced so much strife. Dull men will seldom see beyond the oil anil lamp-black, or, what is generally termed the literal sense of a passage; and though that be impossible, yet, such is their veneration for the sacred book, that, though they do not perceive the drift of the author, they are positive that, that alone is the true meaning which they have imbibed, although it is contrary to all the known laws of God.
Isaiah in his 14th c. v. 8th. makes the fir trees and cedars of Lebanon rejoice at the death of the King of Babylon, saying, "Since thou art laid down, no Feller is come up against us." This song of the fir trees and cedars, is, no doubt, beautiful in the original: its charms are distinctly seen through its English dress: but surely no tyrant, not even those in the ninth verse ever thought of punishing a man for not believing that the trees did really sing the above strain!
It is a poetical embellishment; and none but those of the most depraved understandings would contend for its literal meaning.
Countries and cities were frequently represented by women; surrounded by attributes expressing their condition, or situation; thus Britannia is seated on the waves, to shew the insular situation of England. Her olive-branch, spear, and shield, bespeak her desirous of peace, yet, ever ready for war, &c.
The Virgin Andromeda, the daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia was the representative of Palestina; a long, narrow, rocky strip of land; figuratively called the daughter of Rocks and Mountains; because it is a country abounding with rocks and stones. And the Greeks, really supposing Cepha, a rock or stone, to have been the young ladies father, added their sign of the masculine gender to it, and it became Cepheus. And mount Cassius being its southern boundary was called Cassiobi; from its being also the boundary of the overflowed Nile, called Obi, which the Greeks softened into Cassiopeia, and supposed it to have been her mother; of whom there is, in Ovid’s Met. a long story.— But I have never read that either the Greeks or Romans ever made it "Part and parcel" of their laws to put a man into prison for not believing that mount Cassius was the mother of the virgin Andromeda.
* See Note fourteen, part first.
B XIV. Every body knows that Mount Zion stands like a father in the midst of Jerusalem; Jerusalem was, therefore, called the daughter of Zion.
The Prophet Ezekiel calls Babylon, the daughter of Babel; and when those daughters were spoken of, or, to, in terms of friendship they were frequently called virgins; thus we find Jerusalem is called the virgin daughter of Zion 5 and Babylon is called the virgin daughter of Babel, &c.
It is well known that the Jews lived in Palestine, which is a small country situated on the confines of three powerful empires; the governors of which were frequently changing their boundaries: this was not done without fighting battles; the Jews were therefore, being but a petty state, always included in the conquest of the victor.
If Babylon fought with Egypt, or Persia with either, Palestine was sure to be the prize-fighting stage. The Jews being thus involved in war, were always swallowed up by one or other of the surrounding Monarchs, who constantly placed a King in Jerusalem according to his own choice: thus being tributaries to various nations, the Jews often despaired of being sovereigns of the world; but were as often assured by their Priests that the time would come when a King born in Jerusalem would make them masters of the world; thus as we find Isaiah comforting the Jews in the days of Ahaz, telling them that a child would be born in Jerusalem, upon whose shoulders the government should be, and in whose reign they would have peace. Jerusalem was, at that time, threatened with war by the King of Israel and the King of Syria— Ahab, King of Jerusalem, was terrified at their united forces.—Isaiah, in his 7th c. v. 4th bids Ahaz "fear not, neither be faint-hearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands: for behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son." --- and "before the Child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrent shall be forsaken of both the Kings."
In this seeming digression from the astronomy of the ancients, the reader will observe, that, it is not the history of the Jews, to which his attention is directed, but to the flowery style of its writers: particularly in those passages just quoted. "Behold the virgin shall conceive," &c. is an expression, which, in its literal sense, is so contrary to all the operations of nature-so repugnant to all the known laws of God, that, we are certain that the writer had a figurative meaning in it as well as in that, where he calls the King of Israel and the King of Syria the TWO SMOKING FIRE BRANDS.
I know that many authors, to shew their learning in the Hebrew Language, have said that the word which is translated virgin, means also a young unmarried woman. Such disputants amuse the crowd without adding much to their stock of knowledge. — so do stage fighters.
It is a fact known to all, that ancient writers, whether of prose or poetry, in reciting the speeches of kings and emperors, constantly put into their mouths a lofty phraseology very unlike that of the plebeians, whilst the language of their gods and goddesses is frequently given in the style of sublime incomprehensibility! The Jehovah of the Hebrew poets never speaks to his people but in metaphors and parables; and as this passage in Isaiah is a speech of the Lord’s, it must be metaphorical.
XVII. We have seen by what figure of speech Jerusalem is called the daughter of Zion, and very often the virgin. In fact, we need but read a few of the passages where such phrases occur, to know that they can have no other meaning. I will quote one or two.
When Sennacherib, King of Assyria, threatened Jerusalem with destruction; Isaiah was ordered to inform the bombastic, blaspheming King, that they were not afraid of him. But as Isaiah spake the words of the Lord on the occasion, them I shall give as they stand in the 21st v. 19th c. ii. book of Kings and in he 22nd v. 37th c. of Isaiah, "The Virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn." — Here we find that the Lord calleth Jerusalem the virgin, the daughter of Zion.
There is a passage in Amos, wherein the city of Bethel is called the Virgin of Isreal. Amos 5.2. — The Lord purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion, Ezek. In short, the phrases occur so frequently in the sacred writings, and are so pointed, that every body, who is but a little acquainted with them, are certain, that by 'the Virgin daughter of Zion' Jerusalem is understood. And if we carry the figurative sense to the 14th v. of the 7th c. of Isaiah, we shall find that, that passage might have been figuratively true; and all that was intended by it was to inform the people of Jerusalem, who were so oppressed by Kings which were imposed upon them by surrounding tyrants, that the time should come, when the Virgin, i. e. the City of Jerusalem should bear a son, upon whose shoulders the government should be; and in whose reign they should have peace!
This is another poetical beauty, which is no more literally true, than the singing of the fir trees and cedars of Lebanon.
This sublime poet of the Hebrews, in his 30th c. makes the dreadful effects of the south wind to be the burden of his song.
Verse 6. "The burden of the beasts of the south into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence cometh the young and the old lion, the viper, and,c fiery-flying-serpent."
XIX. A man must be very unacquainted with natural history, if he believes this passage to be literally true: since, although we have read of flying dragons, and luminous worms, we have never read, in natural history, that blazing snakes were ever seen to fly about; And he must have the heart of a fiend, who would persecute a man of genius for asserting it to be a poetical epithet for a thunder cloud; which the ancients used to call the GIANT EPHIALTES.
The polite conversation in this country abounds with figurative expressions, and yet we do not find any confusion arising from their use. How frequently do we call the lovers of Music "The Sons of Harmony’ and yet we do not understand Harmony to be a woman, who was their mother ?,---Soldiers are called the Sons of Mars---Theologians, the Sons of God,---and, Astronomers, the Sons of Heaven. But yet we cannot be indulgent to the Chinese, who call their Emperor the "Son of Heaven," in quality of his being the first Astronomer, or the head of Astronomers in his country.
But the female symbols, that represented the various cities, were sometimes spoken of, and to, in terms of reproach. The Prophet Ezek. calls Jerusalem the Whore Aholibah, and the City of Damascus, he calls the Whore Aholah, and loads them with every opprobious epithet, as if the two cities had been two women of the most licencious characters; but for decencv sake I forbear to mention either chapter or verse. Jeremiah 46th c. 20th v. calls Egypt a very Fair Heifer; but after Egypt had been destroyed by the Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans, we find the Jew, John, who wrote the Revelations, calling Egypt "The scat of the Beast."
These symbols of cities must have been distinguished by a difference of dress or attributes: and as Babylon was the seat of a large empire, it must have been represented by a symbol dressed in a profusion of splendour, to shew her superiority over her tributary cities; and ’tho’ Ezekiel called her the virgin, daughter of Babel, when the Jews were slaves of Babylon; yet, when Persia had destroyed the Babylonian Monarchy, the Jews, being then the slaves of Persia, rent their throats with roaring BABYLON the great Scarlet Whore IS FALLEN, IS FALLEN!!!
xxi. If the French had ever conquered England, and had they been as unpolished as the Jews, they would have exulted over her fallen state; and rent their throats with roaring Britannia, the great briny Whore is fallen, is fallen. But she still remains the VIRGIN, SOVEREIGN OV THE SEA.
Enough has been said to prove, that, the virgin of Isaiah, whom the Christians supposed to have been the mother of Christ has nothing to do with the virgin of heaven, i. e. the Constellation of Virgo; whom the Hindus assert was the mother of Chrisna, i.e. the Sun: of whom so many strange stories are told in the Hindu books; the recital of which would swell a book to the size of the Earth itself. In his infancy, however, it is said, he led a very humble life; in his matured age, he is represented as leading a life of gaiety; dancing and carousing with lady after lady to the amount of a dozen. That he overcame all the demons of darkness, serpents and dragons: but died at last between two thieves. All this is purely astronomical: and alludes to the reappearance of the Sun in the sign of Virgo; to his passage through the twelve signs of the Zodiac in a milder age: when the twelve months were represented by twelve gopis or houris, or ladies of yielding, which the Irish call cropies, and the English Whores: and to his disappearing in winter between Mars and Mercury.
As I have now drawn a proper line of distinction between what is considered religion, and science; I assure the religionist that I shall not molest him in his department; and I hope, if he enters mine, it will be in the way of friendship.
The judicious reader will see the propriety of the above digression; as it will enable me to defend the sacred province of Urania with more vigour; because I can now draw more powerful auxiliaries from the sacred writings of the Jews, without interfereing with those that belong to the sacred person of the great PROMULGATER of Christian Morality; whose life and character has been too much blended with rhapsodies on Astronomical Symbols. But it is now time, note, when "the fiery passions" are beginning to yield to the bridle of reason — when all seems disposed to go in search of long lost TRUTH, to unclose the mouth of her "well," that she may ascend therefrom and harmonize mankind.
The Mythological Astronomy OF THE ANCIENTS: or the KEY OF URANIA.
When men of learning prostitute their talents before the world as the defenders of truth; for the sole purpose of serving falsehood more effectually, they may deceive the ignorant: but how contemptible are such men in the estimation of her more learned votaries.
Christian Theologians think it their duty to write against the long periods of Hindu Chronology; and in them it may be pardonable: but when a man of learning crucify the names and the numbers, of the ancients; and wring and twist them into a form, which means something quite foreign to the intentions of the ancient authors; but which, so mutilated, fits in with the birth of some maggot pre-existing in his own brain with so much exactness, that he pretends to be amazed at the discovery, I cannot think him quite so pardonable.
To cut down the Hindu divine age of 4,320,000 years, with the cleaver of "probability:" to 4,320 years, is, at best, but a clownish way to make things fit. And then, to make his 4,320 years to have commenced 4,320 years before a certain event took place, and then to seem amazed at the coincidence, is no better than an insult to any man of plain sense. Did Captain W. think that all the disinterested part of his countrymen would seem blind, as well as those that have an interest in seeming so?
But the advocates for falsehood gain their point if men do but lose time in replying to all the idle suggestions of their a "humble opinions" — their probabilities and extravagant inferences.
By supposing Prithu to be Noah at one time; and Satyavrata, to be Noah at another: and Dhruva, to be Enos; and Iswara, is made to be Assur, &c. it is astonishing to see what wonderful things Captain W. can prove. It is like saying, that, black is white; for by supposing black to be white; and white to be black; it is very obvious, that there can be no difference.
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And after this manner have books been written volume upon volume; pretending to light men in the road to truth: but which like a will o' whisp, have guided men now here, now there; until they have sunk into their graves without having once seen a single ray of her beaming radiance.
However, notwithstanding all that has been said by lieutenant, afterwards Captain Wilford, and Mr. J. Bently, afterwards J. Bently, Esq. and some others, respecting the mythology of the Hindus, and their sacred numbers; it is very evident that the major part of the Honourable Society, of which they are members, are not satisfied. For in the 7th vol. of the Asiatic Researches, page 8, there is the following desideratum.
"Whether the historical periods of the four ages and manwantaras, mentioned in the Purans, did not depend on ancient astronomical systems; and if so, what were the duration and times of commencement of such periods?"
Satisfactory answers to the above questions cannot fail of being of the utmost importance to men of science, and I am possitive that I shall answer them with such precision, That all the learn’d in Europe will approve; And every Braman hail a new Racha.
Time, has been variously divided by different nations; and by many, in an arbitrary manner; it has been divided into three ages by some; and into four ages by others.
All the nations, from Tibet, Tibud, or Budtan, as it is sometimes called, to the extremity of the Hindustan peninsula; and in the same latitude from China to the extremity of the west, have divided time into four ages. These, by some authors, were the four seasons of the tropical year: but as they are nearly of a uniform length, they by no means agree with the four ages of the Purans, as the length of the Hindu ages are so very different. But, if we consider them as portions of the great cyclic year; which the Hindus call the Maha-yuga or great age, they will be found to agree in all their parts. This Maha-yuga contained 1,080,000 tropical years; which contained the four ages so celebrated in the books of the Hindus called the Puranas.
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In the Astatic Res. the four ages are given in the following quantities.
1st, age 108,000 years
2 216,000
3 324,000
4 or Kali 432,000
_______________________________
1,080,000
The Prajanatha Yuga contained 2,160,003
And the Divine Yuga contained 4,320,000
These are the numbers, about which so much folly and weakness have been displayed. And as they are numbers which may be formed various ways, their true construction may be thereby kept secret; thus, the 2nd age of 216,000, is made to be derived from a cycle of 5 by 12=60 X by 60=3600 X by 60=216,000, which is the Prajanatha-yug (see Asiatic. Res. vol 8. page 491).
What satisfaction can the mind of man receive from such an unmeaning play of numbers.
I hope the learned reader will pay proper attention to the order or arrangement of the seven numbers or ages: as I have condensed them into a narrow compass they are always easy of access.
I shall now proceed to shew how the first four were formed according to the present known, pericyclosical motion of the earth’s axis.
We have seen in the first part of this work, how there would be formed a spiral of 22½ volves from the pole to the equator: which must be doubled when the pole became inverted. There would then' be, 'from pole to pole, 45 of those rounds. Now, as the ancient Astronomers of upper India reckoned 24,000 years to each round, the whole number of years, then, that the pole of the earth would take in passing from one pole of heaven to the other would be 45 times 24,000 years: which every school boy knows would be 1,080,000, what a remarkable coincidence and that, too, without chopping off any of the cyphers!!! During this Maha-yuga, or great age, the inhabitants of the earth must have felt all the various seasons that can possibly happen under every angle of the two poles; and while the N. pole was returning to its original place among the stars, the same seasons must again, be repeated. This whole round of the axis of the earth, from north to south, and back again to the north, was called the prajanatha-yuga, or great age of the earth; which must have taken a time double the former, viz. 2,160,000. And as their Deva-yuga, or divine age is 4,320,000, it shews that the axis of the earth has made two such rounds since the commencement of their astronomical observations; besides 8, or 9,000 years of a new reckoning.
But the ancient Brahmins divided their Maha-yuga into four component parts of unequal lengths: as if its first part was the remains of the whole yuga, after the first joint of its tail had been cut off: thus the l,080,00|0, would become 1,080,00; which is down right nonsense; therefore the cutting and maiming gentry range the figures thus 108,000 for the first age: which they multiply by two for the second age, and by three for the third age, and by four for the fourth age. The numbers thus obtained would fit, it is true; and may satisfy the Captain and the Esq. But let me point out the way that will satisfy men of learning.
It is asserted in many parts of the Asiatic Researches, that, the Brahmins are not the aborigines of the hindustan peninsula; but that they came from a higher latitude. Mr. J. Bently informs us in the 6th vol. of the Asiatic Researches, page 575, that the numbers were handed down to the present men by "Sages who were supposed to have lived in the remotest periods of antiquity, to the number of eighteen altogether. These eighteen are now called, by way of distinction, the eighteen original-shastrars of astronomy." What a pity that Mr. J. Bentley did not obtain some of the names of these eighteen very ancient sages! In the lat. of Delhi they talk of fourteen sages, called Menus who presided over fourteen Manwantaras, or periods of time.
In vol. 8, p. 289, Asiatic Res. we are told that, "seven was formerly a favourite and fortunate number among the Hindus: eight among the Baudhists; and nine formerly in the west, and in the north of Assia!!! Nine was held a sacred and mystical number in the north parts of the old continent, from China to the extremity of the west." And in the 3rd vol. p. 382, we are told that the Chaldeans, and that the Turdulians, an ancient and learned nation in Spain, had preserved the same long periods of time.
From the above data, we shall be able to draw the most positive assurances that the numbers before mentioned are astronomical. But how has it happened that the above nations preserved the same numbers. Let us begin with Spain. The ancient province of Turdulia or Turdetania, (which is the ancient and learned nation spoken of) had its capital city, called Mundae, in the 36th degree of north lat. — Babylon, the Capital of Chaldea, had existed but 470,000 years, in the days of Alexander; and being built by the Assyrians, whose capital city was Ninevah; the learned men, therefore, when they established themselves at Babylon, preserved the ancient numbers of NINEVAH, their mother country; which, like Mundae, stood also in the 36th degree of north lat. And if we trace, upon a map or globe from Mundae to Ninevah, onwards to the east, till we arrive at China, we shall find the line pass through Bactriania and Tibet, Tibud, or Budtan, i. e. the country of Budh; and the famous Vale of Cassimere, so celebrated by the ancient Bramins.
These places; "From China to the extremity of the west, had the same mystical numbers." And, why? because the people there lived under the same elevation of the pole!!!—They all saw the great DIAL-OF-THE-DEITY from the same point of view,—they all saw Meru from the 9th stage of the world, i. e. the 9th climate; from which, Meru would be seen as a Pyramid with NINE steps: while from the lat. of 32, — the eighth stage of the world, or 8th climate, Meru would be seen as a cone or pyramid with eight steps. At Delhi, in 28 degs, which is in the 7th stage, or climate, of the world, they represented the pole, or meru, by a cone of seven steps. Hence, we find the cause which induced the ancients, in the above latitude, to venerate the nos. 7, 8, 9, was astro-geographical: and hence also we see the impossibility of making the astronomical numbers of a large empire agree with one capital. Consequently the numbers of 36 degs. cannot agree with the numbers of Delhi in 28th deg. nor with those of Benares, in 25 degs. nor with those in any other part more southward.
But let us see why the astronomers in the 36 deg. divided the great age of 1,080,000 years into four parts of such unequal lengths.--Rectify the plate Cyclob'thiad in part 1st, to the given lat. by putting the pole to 36 above the north horizon. Very well.
THE FOUR AGES.
We will begin with the Cali-yug or fourth age because that is the most celebrated. At the setting in of the Cali-age, in the lat. of 36 degs. the tropics must be 54 degs. from the equator. (*See Tower of Babel, Part first.)
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The summer tropic would coincide with the north horizon, and extend up to the 72 deg. of north altitude {latitude?}; and the winter tropic would coincide with the south horizon, and describe a circle round the south pole, to the 72nd, deg. below the south horizon. By inspecting the plate you will perceive, between the horizontal thread and the poles, that there are 9 divisions of 4 degs. each. And as the tropics, at this time, are receding from the equator, we know, that in 24,000 years, according to the testimony of very ancient observers, the summer tropic, would be 4 deg?, nearer to the north pole; and as there are nine such steps for the tropic to ascend before it would coincide with the north pole, there would be nine times 24,000 years before the middle of their cali-yug: and of course there would be nine more such periods before the end or close of their Cali-yug.
These then are the eighteen original shastrars of astronomy! which being multiplied by 24,000 will produce the celebrated number of 432,000 without having recourse to the childish whim of Mons. Dupuis of "Arranging a few figures in arithmetical progression in a decreasing subtraction of a first elementary number."
Now let us proceed to the first age. We have seen, at the end of the Kalee or Cali-yuga, that the tropics would be 36 degs. from the poles. The northern tropic would, therefore, extend from the north horizon to the 72nd degree, or to within eighteen degrees of their zenith; which is another remarkable point in the starry canopy; and which would be the boundary of the next yuga. The tropic, then, in this age had to pass over only a space of 18 deg. or four divisions and a half, out of the 45. But 24,000 multiplied by four and a half, is 108,000, which is precisely the number of years in the first age in the lat. of 36 degrees. The next remarkable point in the meridian is that which is intersected by the equator; let it be the boundary of the SECOND AGE. From the zenith to the equator we find 36 degs. or nine divisions of 24,000 years each, which amount to 216,000; the exact number given us by the "crafty sons of Brama" in their ancient second age; in the lat, of 36 degs.
The next point on the meridian below the equator, is the south horizon: this forms the boundary of the THIRD AGE, which continues whilst the tropic passes through the 54 degrees, or 13 divisions and a half: and 24,000 multiplied by 13 and a half, will give 324,000, the number of years in the third age.
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We have now seen that the ancient Hindus did not form their sacred numbers from visionary dreams, or childish whims: but from real astronomical observations, through a series of 4,320,000 of tropical years. Before the commencement of which time, astronomy must have long occupied their attention. I am aware that Mr. John Bently* has given the component parts of the Divine Age in a seemingly different way.
His numbers are, for the
"Satya-yug 1,728,000 — or 4th age
Treta do, 1,296,000 — 3rd age
Dwaper do. 864,000 — 2nd age
Cali do. 432,000 — 1st age
Divine 4,320,000 Age
Why Mr. Bently has compounded the divine age in the way he has; rather than by multiplying the maha-yug of 1,O8O,000 by four, I cannot guess? nor has he assigned any reason for it. He has also placed one age twice over, to different numbers. Does he not know that the Cali-yug is the age of the annual Floods, and, that the
(* vol. 5, page 16.)
Satya-yug means the same age? For though Cali-yug means the age of extreme heat; the extreme heat can only happen in that age, when the Sun is on the Saty, i. e. the monument of Budha — the S. pole. But let us rescue the above numbers from that confusion into which the above pretended advocate for truth has thrown them. As the great age of 1,080,000 years has been repeated four times; its four component parts must also have been repeated as often.
Thus 4 times 432,000 are 1,728,000
324,000 — 1,296,000
216,000 — 864,000
108,000 — 432,000
1,080,000 — 4,320,000
I wish Mon. Dupuis could see with what harmony I have arranged all these numbers without casting away any of the noughts!!!
We have now seen that all the mystical numbers — these grand divisions of time, have been measured out to man by the Pole — that great INDEX of TIME upon the DIAL OF THE DEITY.
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And we shall see a further corroboration of the Fact, as we examine the hindu subdivisions of time. But to avoid confusion, we must take our station in one fixed latitude; let it be at Delhi, in the latitude, of 2S degrees. Here, of course, we find the numbers different; here we no longer find the veneration for the nine, nor the eighteen original Shastras: but the number seven, and the fourteen Manwautaras: and it is very likely, that here they might reckon each Manwantara, or round of the equinoctial points, at 25,000 tropical years. For we are not to suppose that, because the ancients reckoned 24,000 years only, to each round, that was the precise quantity; that was the nearest even number that could be divided by two and by four without remainders; and hence the ancients have furnished us with a period of 6,000, and one of 12,000 years; for in 6000 years the Solstitial Colures would come to the equator; and in 12,000 years they would have gone backwards six signs; and the summer constellations would be changed into wintry ones; which in 12,000 years more would be reinstated in their former splendour; and be once more considered as "glorious angels of light."
But we are quite certain, that there were more than 24,000 in each round or manwantara; because in the 2nd vol. of the A. R. p. 131, we are informed that the last round of the brazen age contained 27,000 years. From which, we find, that, the hindus had a way of putting in a few more years, at certain intervals of time, to keep their reckonings free from confusion; just as we do with our five hours and forty nine minutes of time, over 365 days, into every fourth year we put 366 days. What a difference in the scale!
But the hindus have expressed this circumstance in a manner highly poetical, and therefore, I am willing to allow men that are blest with dull organs, to be a little waspish when they read the following hindu account of the fact.
"The great ancestor of Yudhis’tir reigned 27,000 years, at the end of the brazen age." — That a man should reign 27,000 years seems incredible; but as I am not favoured with his name, we will make some enquiry about his son Yudhis’tir or Judhis’tir. We are informed that "Yudhis’tir, was the first of the six Sacas; he was born on the Sabe-Sringa, or mountain with 100 peaks, at the extremity of the world; beyond which nobody can go." And "that Yudhis'tir or Judhis'tir, began his "reign immediately after the Flood." and vol. 9, p, 364 we read, The beginning of the Cali-yuga in the reign of Yudhis’tir." Though these two last statements seemed to disagree, yet they are proved to he true, from this fact, that the reign of Yudhis’tir began when the tropic touched the north horizon; which it must have done both at the beginning and ending of the Cali-yug.
This Judhistir was the first of the six Sacas: which shews the origin of the history to have been in or about the latitude of 24 degrees, from whence the pole, amongst the ancients, was represented as a cone with sixsteps, or a six coiled snake; where, also, by dividing the 432,000 — the Cali-yug of 36 degrees, by 12, the divisions in the Cali-yug of 24 degrees, they make each round of the equinoctial points to be 36,000 years, instead of 25,000; but this error is easily accounted for, when we consider, by how many truth-destroying monsters their country has been overrun.
Very fortunately, for Astronomers, we are furnished with five names out of the six Sacas; and these are enow to prove that they are the six pericyclosical volves round the north pole. The first is Yudhis'tir, the second is Vicrama-ditya, the third Salavahana, 4th Vijaya’dhi-Nandana, and the sixth and last was Bali, or Bala. Yudhis'tir or Judhis’tir, means the outer circle of the six; from ieda or yudah — the extreme end. — His reign was at the extreme end of the yuga, i. e. the first end — the beginning; and as there are six in all, the last must ascend to the pole: but the name of the sixth saca who is the last, is Bali, now Bala, is the temple of Budha; i. e. the north pole! This hindu word bala, the mountain of Budha, is closely allied to the latia bollum, a mound of earth, or bank.
It is impossible for scepticism itself to desire stronger proofs of astronomical antiquity, than those which are every where found among the various tribes or casts of the Hindus; if but a few of their numbers and names have been preserved.
But these people have not only registered a knowledge of heaven; but they have also given us a knowledge of the earth. They have given us the latitude and longitude of that island of splendour, (mentioned by Plato, and some others in Europe and Africa, by the appellation of Atalantis) which they call Atala: and in vol. 8, p. 286, A. R. it is called Atlantis. The following passage is, therein, said to be taken from the Puranics.
"This Atlantis was overwhelmed by a flood" — Plato says it was swallowed by an earthquake in one night, about nine thousand years ago. But as this island was on the 7th stage of the world, or in the 7th climate, I shall notice it more fully when I go back to Delhi. This Yudhis’tir, the first Saca, was born at "The extremity of the world" Vicrama'dilya, the second Saca, was born at Tramba, or Tam-ra-vati-nagari, a town, abounding with copper. These gentlemen are clothed with mystery; but the sun of science will dispel the fog.
Elevate the pole of a Ter. Globe 24 degrees above the artificial horizon; and then turn the Globe about until 70 degrees east longitude from London be under the meridian. The town of Radimpour will then occupy the zenith; and, a little to the east of which, at the mouth of the river Paddar, is the town of Cacha; and between the Paddar and the mouth of the Indus is Jaganat; which stands near the centre between the two rivers. To the northwest of Jaganat is a desert of rugged mountains, called the mountains of the household gods. These mountains, the sea, and two rivers, are boundaries to a country, of which, Jaganat is the centre, and Cacha at the extremity, by the sea, in the latitude of twenty four degrees north.
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From all these considerations, I suppose that the history of the six Sacas originated in this part of the vast empire of Hindostan. Jaganat'hi is allowed to mean the Lord of the universe, and Cacha approximates in sound to Sacer, holy; whence the six Sacas, or six holy personages, were invested with dignities, &c. We are quite certain, however, that in the 24th deg. of north latitude, the inhabitants could see but 24 degrees between their horizon and the pole: in which space the pole of the ecliptic would seem to describe six rounds, by the present rate of its motion. The hindus of Cacha in giving names to the six divisions of the polar space, and in speaking of the ravages of the elements as the summer tropic slowly passed up to the pole and returned again to the horizon, as of the conquering deeds of great monarchs, have not only made a surprising display of astronomical and geographical knowledge, but have greatly embarrassed the Europeans who are disposed to read their histories. The Europeans can easily believe, that the personified Decans were real human beings.