(     213     )
 

CHAPTER XIX.

ON THE NAMES OF THE PLANETS, THE SIGNS OF THE
ZODIAC, TIIE LUNAR STATIONS, AND RELATED SUB¬
JECTS.
 

We have already mentioned, near the beginning of the
book, that the language of the Hindus is extremely Page 104.
rich in nouns, both original and derivative, so that in
some instances they call one thing by a multitude of
different names. So I have heard them saying that
they have a thousand names all meaning sun ; and, no
doubt, each planet has quite as many, or nearly as
many names, since they could not do with less (for the
purposes of versification).

The  names  of the week-days  are  the  best known The names
names of the planets connected with the word hdra, of the week.
which follows after the planet's name, as in Persian the
word shamhih follows after the number of the week¬
day (dushambih, sihshamhih, &c.).    So the}^ say—
 

Aditya hdra, i.e. Sunday.
Soma hdra, i.e. Monday.
Mangala hdra, i.e. Tuesday.
Budha bdra, i.e. Wednesday.
 

Brihaspati hdra, i.e. Thursday.
S'ukra hdra, i.e. Friday.
S'anaiscara hdra, i.e. Saturday.
 

And thus they go on counting, beginning anew with
Sunday, Monday, &c.

Muslim astronomiCrs call the planets the lords of the Onthe
days, and, in counting the hours of the day, they begin dievum.
with the dominus of the day, and then count the planets
in the order from above to below.    For instance, the sun
is the dominus of the first day, and at the same time the