Overview

From the PREFACE. Some elaborate treatises on Chronology have appeared in the Encyclopedia Metropolitana, in the Penny Cyclopaedia, in the fifth volume of Lardner's Museum of Science and Art, in Sir Harris Nicholas's Chronology of History, and other publications. Every method is explained except that used by the Hindus. Warren alone (see page 27) has mastered the subject, in his Kala Sankalita -- a ponderous volume of five hundred pages, published at Madras in 1825. He begins at AD. 1600, and gives the titles. Though written in English, this requires an interpreter; a compendium of it is given by the learned Prinsep in his Useful Tables, published at Calcutta. He, like Warren, begins at 1600, but he suppresses the titles, on which the whole system turns. No one of all these books gives any historical Occurrences. Sir William Jones, Beschi, Colebrooke, Prinsep, Mill, Wilson, and other eminent Sanskrit scholars, knew the Hindu method, but have not explained it: they have examined many points of history, but have left us in want of a key to their statements. Some English authors, more visionary than exact, have tried to make up in daring theories what they wanted in precise knowledge. The Hindus themselves, laboriously exact in astronomical observations and calculations, have neglected history. We find lists of years alone, and lists of rajas alone; if the two are connected it is so mysteriously that few can see the truth. The Musulman historians of India are voluminous, but tell us little beyond the deeds of their own Sultans. They are precise in their dates, but not always veracious. Those who have had occasion to transact business with Hindus, or to translate documents written by them, often feel the want of a key to the various dates in use. For instance: a letter is dated On new moon in (the month) Vaisakha in (the your hearing the title) Chitrabhan. This is in English the 20th of May, 1822. Or, the 13th of the bright fortnight in (the month) Sravana in (the year) Saumya. This is equivalent to the lst August, 1849. The Madras newspaper, printed in the Telugu language, on the 10th April, 1850, is dated Year Sadharana, 13th of the wane, in the month Chaitra... ..

Full Product Details

9781986661379

Table of Contents

Reviews

Author Information

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available