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LAW, ASTRONOMY, AND LEARNING
grasps the heated hatchet, he is not burnt, and he is delivered." Murder, theft, drunkenness, and adultery were considered the most heinous offences.
We will now turn to astronomy. The first elementary knowledge of the astronomical science is discern-
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THE ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY, YANTRA SAMANTRA, AT DELHI.
ible in the Rig-Veda itself. The year was divided into twelve lunar months, and a thirteenth, or intercalary, month was added to adjust the lunar with the solar year. The six seasons of the year were named Madhu, Madhava, Sukra, Suchi, Nabha, and Nabhasya, and each was sacred to an individual god. The different phases of the moon were observed and were personified as deities. The position of the moon with regard to the Nakshat-
