Bhagavatpāda Śrī Śaṅkarāchārya by C. SivaramamurtiReview by: Ludo RocherJournal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 95, No. 1 (Jan. - Mar., 1975), p. 142Published by: American Oriental SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/599273 .

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Journal of the American Oriental Society 95.1 (1975) Journal of the American Oriental Society 95.1 (1975) Journal of the American Oriental Society 95.1 (1975) Journal of the American Oriental Society 95.1 (1975)

saying 'assets are to be pursued unto whatever hands' (as Colebrooke puts it), or by saying 'debts follow the assets into whosesoever hands they come' (as Strange puts it)" (p. 88). Assuredly, this kind of attitude is

responsible for the interpretation and the singular evolu- tion which "the pious obligation" underwent in the

Anglo-Hindu lawcourts. However, no Hindu text tells us that the son is liable to pay his father's debts because he receives his assets. In reality there were two interrelated

phenomena: paying one's father's debts, and inheriting his property. One of them might be called legal-in the Western sense-; the other should not. Perhaps there was

just one phenomenon: the son's obligations toward his father. These obligations were definitely not legal. The author is not unaware of these problems. My sug- gestion is to go one step further, and refuse to subject so- called ancient Hindu "law" to Western legal concepts, categories, and maxims, to the extent of speaking about "Debt in Ancient India," rather than "The Law of Debt in Ancient India."

LUDO ROCHER

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Das heliozentrische System in der griechischen, persischen und indischen Astronomie. By B. L. VAN DER WAER- DEN. Pp. 55. (NEUJAHRSBLATT, NATURFORSCHENDE GESELLSCHAFT IN ZURICH, 1970, 172. Stuck.) Zurich: LEEMAN. 1970.

Three astronomers have formulated the thesis that the earth rotates on its axis in one day and revolves around the sun in one year: Aristarchus (280 B.C.), Aryabhata (A.D. 500), and Copernicus (A.D. 1543). We know that

Copernicus refers to Aristarchus. The question examined in this monograph is: did Aryabhata know about Aris-

tarchus, and, if so, what were the connecting links ? The

connecting links are examined in four chapters: "das heliozentrische System in der griechischen Astronomie," "das Grosse Jahr und die ewige Wiederkehr," "Persische und indische Astronomie," and "die Konjunktion des Jahres- 3101." The last chapter concludes with a sum-

mary (p. 51), in which the historical development from

Pythagoras to Aryabhata is laid out in thirteen successive

stages. Although the problem of connecting links is too complex

to be discussed here, I do have the impression that the author applies the working hypothesis in the history of science: "Jede grosse Entdeckung wird nur einmal

gemacht" (p. 5), too readily to areas in which originality is not necessarily restricted to a single inventor. After

quoting the Mahabharata on the length of the Kaliyuga: 432,000 years, he continues: "Der Leser wird sich erinnern, dass im Grossen Jahr des BERossos die gesamte Re-

saying 'assets are to be pursued unto whatever hands' (as Colebrooke puts it), or by saying 'debts follow the assets into whosesoever hands they come' (as Strange puts it)" (p. 88). Assuredly, this kind of attitude is

responsible for the interpretation and the singular evolu- tion which "the pious obligation" underwent in the

Anglo-Hindu lawcourts. However, no Hindu text tells us that the son is liable to pay his father's debts because he receives his assets. In reality there were two interrelated

phenomena: paying one's father's debts, and inheriting his property. One of them might be called legal-in the Western sense-; the other should not. Perhaps there was

just one phenomenon: the son's obligations toward his father. These obligations were definitely not legal. The author is not unaware of these problems. My sug- gestion is to go one step further, and refuse to subject so- called ancient Hindu "law" to Western legal concepts, categories, and maxims, to the extent of speaking about "Debt in Ancient India," rather than "The Law of Debt in Ancient India."

LUDO ROCHER

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Das heliozentrische System in der griechischen, persischen und indischen Astronomie. By B. L. VAN DER WAER- DEN. Pp. 55. (NEUJAHRSBLATT, NATURFORSCHENDE GESELLSCHAFT IN ZURICH, 1970, 172. Stuck.) Zurich: LEEMAN. 1970.

Three astronomers have formulated the thesis that the earth rotates on its axis in one day and revolves around the sun in one year: Aristarchus (280 B.C.), Aryabhata (A.D. 500), and Copernicus (A.D. 1543). We know that

Copernicus refers to Aristarchus. The question examined in this monograph is: did Aryabhata know about Aris-

tarchus, and, if so, what were the connecting links ? The

connecting links are examined in four chapters: "das heliozentrische System in der griechischen Astronomie," "das Grosse Jahr und die ewige Wiederkehr," "Persische und indische Astronomie," and "die Konjunktion des Jahres- 3101." The last chapter concludes with a sum-

mary (p. 51), in which the historical development from

Pythagoras to Aryabhata is laid out in thirteen successive

stages. Although the problem of connecting links is too complex

to be discussed here, I do have the impression that the author applies the working hypothesis in the history of science: "Jede grosse Entdeckung wird nur einmal

gemacht" (p. 5), too readily to areas in which originality is not necessarily restricted to a single inventor. After

quoting the Mahabharata on the length of the Kaliyuga: 432,000 years, he continues: "Der Leser wird sich erinnern, dass im Grossen Jahr des BERossos die gesamte Re-

saying 'assets are to be pursued unto whatever hands' (as Colebrooke puts it), or by saying 'debts follow the assets into whosesoever hands they come' (as Strange puts it)" (p. 88). Assuredly, this kind of attitude is

responsible for the interpretation and the singular evolu- tion which "the pious obligation" underwent in the

Anglo-Hindu lawcourts. However, no Hindu text tells us that the son is liable to pay his father's debts because he receives his assets. In reality there were two interrelated

phenomena: paying one's father's debts, and inheriting his property. One of them might be called legal-in the Western sense-; the other should not. Perhaps there was

just one phenomenon: the son's obligations toward his father. These obligations were definitely not legal. The author is not unaware of these problems. My sug- gestion is to go one step further, and refuse to subject so- called ancient Hindu "law" to Western legal concepts, categories, and maxims, to the extent of speaking about "Debt in Ancient India," rather than "The Law of Debt in Ancient India."

LUDO ROCHER

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Das heliozentrische System in der griechischen, persischen und indischen Astronomie. By B. L. VAN DER WAER- DEN. Pp. 55. (NEUJAHRSBLATT, NATURFORSCHENDE GESELLSCHAFT IN ZURICH, 1970, 172. Stuck.) Zurich: LEEMAN. 1970.

Three astronomers have formulated the thesis that the earth rotates on its axis in one day and revolves around the sun in one year: Aristarchus (280 B.C.), Aryabhata (A.D. 500), and Copernicus (A.D. 1543). We know that

Copernicus refers to Aristarchus. The question examined in this monograph is: did Aryabhata know about Aris-

tarchus, and, if so, what were the connecting links ? The

connecting links are examined in four chapters: "das heliozentrische System in der griechischen Astronomie," "das Grosse Jahr und die ewige Wiederkehr," "Persische und indische Astronomie," and "die Konjunktion des Jahres- 3101." The last chapter concludes with a sum-

mary (p. 51), in which the historical development from

Pythagoras to Aryabhata is laid out in thirteen successive

stages. Although the problem of connecting links is too complex

to be discussed here, I do have the impression that the author applies the working hypothesis in the history of science: "Jede grosse Entdeckung wird nur einmal

gemacht" (p. 5), too readily to areas in which originality is not necessarily restricted to a single inventor. After

quoting the Mahabharata on the length of the Kaliyuga: 432,000 years, he continues: "Der Leser wird sich erinnern, dass im Grossen Jahr des BERossos die gesamte Re-

saying 'assets are to be pursued unto whatever hands' (as Colebrooke puts it), or by saying 'debts follow the assets into whosesoever hands they come' (as Strange puts it)" (p. 88). Assuredly, this kind of attitude is

responsible for the interpretation and the singular evolu- tion which "the pious obligation" underwent in the

Anglo-Hindu lawcourts. However, no Hindu text tells us that the son is liable to pay his father's debts because he receives his assets. In reality there were two interrelated

phenomena: paying one's father's debts, and inheriting his property. One of them might be called legal-in the Western sense-; the other should not. Perhaps there was

just one phenomenon: the son's obligations toward his father. These obligations were definitely not legal. The author is not unaware of these problems. My sug- gestion is to go one step further, and refuse to subject so- called ancient Hindu "law" to Western legal concepts, categories, and maxims, to the extent of speaking about "Debt in Ancient India," rather than "The Law of Debt in Ancient India."

LUDO ROCHER

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Das heliozentrische System in der griechischen, persischen und indischen Astronomie. By B. L. VAN DER WAER- DEN. Pp. 55. (NEUJAHRSBLATT, NATURFORSCHENDE GESELLSCHAFT IN ZURICH, 1970, 172. Stuck.) Zurich: LEEMAN. 1970.

Three astronomers have formulated the thesis that the earth rotates on its axis in one day and revolves around the sun in one year: Aristarchus (280 B.C.), Aryabhata (A.D. 500), and Copernicus (A.D. 1543). We know that

Copernicus refers to Aristarchus. The question examined in this monograph is: did Aryabhata know about Aris-

tarchus, and, if so, what were the connecting links ? The

connecting links are examined in four chapters: "das heliozentrische System in der griechischen Astronomie," "das Grosse Jahr und die ewige Wiederkehr," "Persische und indische Astronomie," and "die Konjunktion des Jahres- 3101." The last chapter concludes with a sum-

mary (p. 51), in which the historical development from

Pythagoras to Aryabhata is laid out in thirteen successive

stages. Although the problem of connecting links is too complex

to be discussed here, I do have the impression that the author applies the working hypothesis in the history of science: "Jede grosse Entdeckung wird nur einmal

gemacht" (p. 5), too readily to areas in which originality is not necessarily restricted to a single inventor. After

quoting the Mahabharata on the length of the Kaliyuga: 432,000 years, he continues: "Der Leser wird sich erinnern, dass im Grossen Jahr des BERossos die gesamte Re-

gierungszeit der KSnige vor der Flut ebenfalls 432,000 Jahre betrug. Das indische Yugasystem ist also mit der

Chronologie des Berossos verwandt" (p. 27; italics mine). This conclusion disregards the fact that the figure 432,000 is reached in two different ways:

-Berossus: 3,600 x 120, -Kaliyuga: 36,000 + 360,000 + 36,000.

On the other hand, I fully agree with the author's conclu- sion: "Das 'System der Perser' wurde auch in Indien bekannt und dem indischen Yuga-System angepasst" (p. 51; italics mine). There is no doubt that the yuga system-including mahayuga and kalpa-is old in India; "aber ihre astronomische Verwendung laisst sich erst bei ARYABHATA und BRAHMAGUPTA nachweisen" (p. 43).

LUDO ROCHER UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Bhagauatpdda gri gankardchdrya. By C. SIVARAMAMURTI. Pp. 42, 19 plates. New Delhi: SANKARA ACADEMY OF SANSKRIT CULTURE AND CLASSICAL ARTS. 1972. Rs. 10.00.

This nicely published pamphlet contains the text of a lecture presented by the author on the day of gankara- jayanti "four years ago." The text is based on a wide range of materials, but it is clear that these have been chosen and discussed with one goal in mind: sing the greatness of gafikaracarya. This is appropriate for a lecture on gaakara's jayanti, sponsored by the Sankara Academy. Sivaramamurti stresses gafkara's unifying role at a time when "sects and creeds raised their ugly heads and caused quarrel and turmoil in what was earlier a calm and unruffled atmosphere." In his opinion there is no reason to doubt "that gankara, the author of the erudite Bhdshyas, could not have written such simple verses, as compose his minor hymns." Finally, he elabo- rates on "a special blessing," which allowed him to identify a sculpture of the Airavatanegvara shrine at Kaficipuram as an 8th century portrait of Saikaracarya.

LUDO ROCHER UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Uttarameruir. L4gendes, histoire, monuments. By FRAN- COIS GROS and R. NAGASWAMY. With the Panca-

varadaksetramdhatmya, edited by K. SRINIVASACHA- RYA. (PUBLICATIONS DE L'INSTITUT FRANCAIS D'IN- DOLOGIE, 39). Pp. 136 + 72 + vii; 16 plates; 2 maps. Pondicherry: INSTITUT FRANCAIS D'INDOLOGIE. 1970.

This book seems to have been written by accident. The original purpose was the publication of the Pan-

cavaradaksetramahatmya, a sthalapurana of the temple of

gierungszeit der KSnige vor der Flut ebenfalls 432,000 Jahre betrug. Das indische Yugasystem ist also mit der

Chronologie des Berossos verwandt" (p. 27; italics mine). This conclusion disregards the fact that the figure 432,000 is reached in two different ways:

-Berossus: 3,600 x 120, -Kaliyuga: 36,000 + 360,000 + 36,000.

On the other hand, I fully agree with the author's conclu- sion: "Das 'System der Perser' wurde auch in Indien bekannt und dem indischen Yuga-System angepasst" (p. 51; italics mine). There is no doubt that the yuga system-including mahayuga and kalpa-is old in India; "aber ihre astronomische Verwendung laisst sich erst bei ARYABHATA und BRAHMAGUPTA nachweisen" (p. 43).

LUDO ROCHER UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Bhagauatpdda gri gankardchdrya. By C. SIVARAMAMURTI. Pp. 42, 19 plates. New Delhi: SANKARA ACADEMY OF SANSKRIT CULTURE AND CLASSICAL ARTS. 1972. Rs. 10.00.

This nicely published pamphlet contains the text of a lecture presented by the author on the day of gankara- jayanti "four years ago." The text is based on a wide range of materials, but it is clear that these have been chosen and discussed with one goal in mind: sing the greatness of gafikaracarya. This is appropriate for a lecture on gaakara's jayanti, sponsored by the Sankara Academy. Sivaramamurti stresses gafkara's unifying role at a time when "sects and creeds raised their ugly heads and caused quarrel and turmoil in what was earlier a calm and unruffled atmosphere." In his opinion there is no reason to doubt "that gankara, the author of the erudite Bhdshyas, could not have written such simple verses, as compose his minor hymns." Finally, he elabo- rates on "a special blessing," which allowed him to identify a sculpture of the Airavatanegvara shrine at Kaficipuram as an 8th century portrait of Saikaracarya.

LUDO ROCHER UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Uttarameruir. L4gendes, histoire, monuments. By FRAN- COIS GROS and R. NAGASWAMY. With the Panca-

varadaksetramdhatmya, edited by K. SRINIVASACHA- RYA. (PUBLICATIONS DE L'INSTITUT FRANCAIS D'IN- DOLOGIE, 39). Pp. 136 + 72 + vii; 16 plates; 2 maps. Pondicherry: INSTITUT FRANCAIS D'INDOLOGIE. 1970.

This book seems to have been written by accident. The original purpose was the publication of the Pan-

cavaradaksetramahatmya, a sthalapurana of the temple of

gierungszeit der KSnige vor der Flut ebenfalls 432,000 Jahre betrug. Das indische Yugasystem ist also mit der

Chronologie des Berossos verwandt" (p. 27; italics mine). This conclusion disregards the fact that the figure 432,000 is reached in two different ways:

-Berossus: 3,600 x 120, -Kaliyuga: 36,000 + 360,000 + 36,000.

On the other hand, I fully agree with the author's conclu- sion: "Das 'System der Perser' wurde auch in Indien bekannt und dem indischen Yuga-System angepasst" (p. 51; italics mine). There is no doubt that the yuga system-including mahayuga and kalpa-is old in India; "aber ihre astronomische Verwendung laisst sich erst bei ARYABHATA und BRAHMAGUPTA nachweisen" (p. 43).

LUDO ROCHER UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Bhagauatpdda gri gankardchdrya. By C. SIVARAMAMURTI. Pp. 42, 19 plates. New Delhi: SANKARA ACADEMY OF SANSKRIT CULTURE AND CLASSICAL ARTS. 1972. Rs. 10.00.

This nicely published pamphlet contains the text of a lecture presented by the author on the day of gankara- jayanti "four years ago." The text is based on a wide range of materials, but it is clear that these have been chosen and discussed with one goal in mind: sing the greatness of gafikaracarya. This is appropriate for a lecture on gaakara's jayanti, sponsored by the Sankara Academy. Sivaramamurti stresses gafkara's unifying role at a time when "sects and creeds raised their ugly heads and caused quarrel and turmoil in what was earlier a calm and unruffled atmosphere." In his opinion there is no reason to doubt "that gankara, the author of the erudite Bhdshyas, could not have written such simple verses, as compose his minor hymns." Finally, he elabo- rates on "a special blessing," which allowed him to identify a sculpture of the Airavatanegvara shrine at Kaficipuram as an 8th century portrait of Saikaracarya.

LUDO ROCHER UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Uttarameruir. L4gendes, histoire, monuments. By FRAN- COIS GROS and R. NAGASWAMY. With the Panca-

varadaksetramdhatmya, edited by K. SRINIVASACHA- RYA. (PUBLICATIONS DE L'INSTITUT FRANCAIS D'IN- DOLOGIE, 39). Pp. 136 + 72 + vii; 16 plates; 2 maps. Pondicherry: INSTITUT FRANCAIS D'INDOLOGIE. 1970.

This book seems to have been written by accident. The original purpose was the publication of the Pan-

cavaradaksetramahatmya, a sthalapurana of the temple of

gierungszeit der KSnige vor der Flut ebenfalls 432,000 Jahre betrug. Das indische Yugasystem ist also mit der

Chronologie des Berossos verwandt" (p. 27; italics mine). This conclusion disregards the fact that the figure 432,000 is reached in two different ways:

-Berossus: 3,600 x 120, -Kaliyuga: 36,000 + 360,000 + 36,000.

On the other hand, I fully agree with the author's conclu- sion: "Das 'System der Perser' wurde auch in Indien bekannt und dem indischen Yuga-System angepasst" (p. 51; italics mine). There is no doubt that the yuga system-including mahayuga and kalpa-is old in India; "aber ihre astronomische Verwendung laisst sich erst bei ARYABHATA und BRAHMAGUPTA nachweisen" (p. 43).

LUDO ROCHER UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Bhagauatpdda gri gankardchdrya. By C. SIVARAMAMURTI. Pp. 42, 19 plates. New Delhi: SANKARA ACADEMY OF SANSKRIT CULTURE AND CLASSICAL ARTS. 1972. Rs. 10.00.

This nicely published pamphlet contains the text of a lecture presented by the author on the day of gankara- jayanti "four years ago." The text is based on a wide range of materials, but it is clear that these have been chosen and discussed with one goal in mind: sing the greatness of gafikaracarya. This is appropriate for a lecture on gaakara's jayanti, sponsored by the Sankara Academy. Sivaramamurti stresses gafkara's unifying role at a time when "sects and creeds raised their ugly heads and caused quarrel and turmoil in what was earlier a calm and unruffled atmosphere." In his opinion there is no reason to doubt "that gankara, the author of the erudite Bhdshyas, could not have written such simple verses, as compose his minor hymns." Finally, he elabo- rates on "a special blessing," which allowed him to identify a sculpture of the Airavatanegvara shrine at Kaficipuram as an 8th century portrait of Saikaracarya.

LUDO ROCHER UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Uttarameruir. L4gendes, histoire, monuments. By FRAN- COIS GROS and R. NAGASWAMY. With the Panca-

varadaksetramdhatmya, edited by K. SRINIVASACHA- RYA. (PUBLICATIONS DE L'INSTITUT FRANCAIS D'IN- DOLOGIE, 39). Pp. 136 + 72 + vii; 16 plates; 2 maps. Pondicherry: INSTITUT FRANCAIS D'INDOLOGIE. 1970.

This book seems to have been written by accident. The original purpose was the publication of the Pan-

cavaradaksetramahatmya, a sthalapurana of the temple of

142 142 142 142

This content downloaded from 185.2.32.113 on Wed, 18 Jun 2014 06:10:16 AMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions