The Nakshatra Krittikā contains the group of stars known to us as the Pleiades. The most brilliant stars in the Nakshatra Aswinī are the two stars in the head of the constellation Aries (the Ram), known to astronomers as α and β Arietis. The vernal equinoctial point coincided about 2,000 B.C. with the constellation Krittikā. It is considered to be most probable that on account of this coincidence, at the early date when the hymns and list in question were composed, Krittikā was chosen as the leader of the Nakshatra series, and hence a similar reason for the later choice of Aswinī as leader relegates it to a date not much earlier than 570 A.D. These very briefly, as far as I have been able to gather them, are the chief arguments in favour of-- (1) The Grecian introduction of the twelve-fold Zodiac into India about 300 B.C. (2) The date of 570 A.D. for the fixation of the initial point of the Indian Zodiacs, and for the commencement of the history of Indian astronomy. These propositions are based on cogent reasonings, and are maintained by very high authorities. The opponents of the modern theory have brought and bring forward the following considerations:-- “The _Bráhmans_ were always too proud to borrow their science from the _Greeks_, _Arabs_, _Moguls_, or any nation of _Mléchch’has_, as they call those who are ignorant of the _Védas_, and have not studied the language of the Gods; they have often quoted to me (Sir William Jones) the fragment of an old verse, which they now use proverbially (_na níchò yavanátparah_), or, ‘_no base creature can be lower than a Yavan_,’ by which name they formerly meant an _Ionian_ or _Greek_, and now mean a _Mogul_.”[46] [46] Sir William Jones, _The Antiquity of the Indian Zodiack, Complete Works_, vol. i. p. 345. Again the same writer points out that the resemblance between the Indian and the Greek Zodiac is-- “not more extraordinary than that, which has often been observed between our _Gothick_ days of the week and those of the _Hindus_, which are dedicated to the same luminaries, and (what is yet more singular) revolve in the same order: _Ravi_, the Sun; _Sóma_, the Moon; _Mangala_, Tuisco; _Budha_, Woden; _Vrihaspati_, Thor; _Sucra_, Freya; _Sani_, Sater; yet no man ever imagined that the _Indians_ borrowed so remarkable an arrangement from the _Goths_ or _Germans_.” These considerations put forward by Sir William Jones are further emphasized by the reflection that not only does the Grecian theory entail the improbability of the proud and jealous Brahmins adopting into their science and their mythology the teachings of foreigners; but that it also entails the greater improbability of the two rival Hindu sects, Brahmins and Buddhists, having at the same date and with equal enthusiasm adopted into their science and religious symbolism and calendars the same innovations.