India, as can be expected from an ancient culture, has a long astronomical tradition. The oldest astronomical text in India is the Vedāñga Jyotiña (astronomy as part of the Vedas), one part of which is attributed to Lagadha. It is dated about 1400 BC on the basis of the statement in the book that the winter solstice took place at the star group śrāviśṭha (Alpha Delphini).
A later astronomer of the same school is Garga who is placed at about 450 BC on the basis of his observation that ‘the sun is found turning [north] without reaching the śrāviśṭhas’. The earliest interest in astronomy was in observing equinoxes and solstices for ritualistic purposes, in making rather inexact soli-lunar calendars, and in observing starts (nakṣatras) as a guide to the motion of the moon and the sun.
 Vedic Astronomy and house division |
