Rediscovery of Vedic Precession of Earth's Axis and Equinoxes In Vedic Mantras

 

Note:  All copy rights to present research are solely reserved with author, howeber, the content of the paper can be can be reproduced  by anybody, anywhere, with prior approval of the author.

  

 

 By

Lalit Mishra, email: mishra.lalit@gmail.com

First release, Date - 14 April 2014

Last release, Date - 12 May 2014 
 The article is best viewed in browser, Microsoft Internet Explorer 10.0 and higher versions

 

  

Abstract

 

Vedic civilization has been indeed the global civilization spread across all seven continents and it was  built on advanced scientific grounds by visionary Rishis, who Manu regarded as "Pitras",  Despite ups and downs as we know to have occured in couple of thousands years of history, Vedic civilization is still continued in India where it's originated.







During the Mahabharata war, unprecedented loss of lives and thereby loss to Vedic science and technology, economy and cultural idealism happened that led to the beginning of Kali Yuga or the era of quarrels and darkness.







Foreseeing the degeneration of intellect, scenario of futile quarrels to rise in the upcoming Age of Kali, perhaps, The Atharvaaingirash Rishi who made the Atharva Veda left insightful clear message for future generations of vedic aryans that is the imperative  for Aryans to refine intellect by self-recital, by self-hearing, by self-meditation on the vedic mantras emanated by Rishis and when their intellect get's ready to grasp the knowledge infused in the mantras and when they understand the mantras well, then it's said that they should go on to spreading teaching of such a remarkable treasure of knowledge, handed over to coming generations. Vedas' call is a call for self-study, lack of self-study, obstructs people having ability to examine what an scholar is really presenting.  
 

यज्ञस्य चक्षुः प्रभृतिमुखं च वाचा श्रोत्रेण मनसा जुहोमि

इमं यज्ञं विततं विश्वकर्मणा देवा यंतु सृमनस्यमानाः
 

In the long run, the audience or readers are pushed to believe unqualified scholar's unexamined views circulating incorrect interpretations, and this all leads to creation of myths mostly in circle of elite readers such that in the Vedic Age, Vedic people were not aware of precession of equinoxes since, the Vedic Age astronomy was quite rudimentary and Vedic Astronomy was based on merely bare eye based unorganized observations of the sky and so many other things keep on building up,  I find the facts are opposite to such myth created by modern age elite indologists, historians and other scholars as mentioned above, the Vedic mantras exihibit far advanced knowledge of Astro physics, Astronomy and other sciences in them, In this paper, I shall remain close to rediscovery of precession of equinoxes in Vedic mantras and the foundational truth of Vedic Samvarsar.

Along with addressing precession of equinoxes in Vedic corpus of literature, in this thesis, I will show specific vedic mantras as listed below, obviously in Pre Hipparchus Era –

a) Vedic Mantras showing Earth's axis

b) Vedic Mantras on Earth's spin along the axis

c) Vedic Mantras on Earth's obliquity

d) Vedic Mantras on Gravitational Force of Earth, Sun and other cosmic bodies

e) Vedic Mantras on Precession of Earth's axis

f) Vedic Mantras on Precession of equinoxes

g) Historical record of Precession of Earth's axis

h) Making of Vedic Sidereal or Nirayan Samvatsar

i) Vedic Aryans resolution to civilize world and to become a globaly spread civilization

 

 

Objective
 

 Vedas are the body of knowledge that great rishis of Vedic age have left for the future generations to make the world better place to live in, In one of the mantra (Rigveda, 9.63.5 ) Vedic rishis express commitment to civilize the entire world as much as they made it for themselves, Making the entire world the Arya world  was the socio-cultural objective of the Vedic Aryan civilization, Herein the context, I refer to an article made by S Talageri and advocated by Koenraad Eist etc, wherein, they said that by the "Arya" they mean only the speaker of Indo Europian (IE) language never the culture collectively known as "Arya", that's  the ultimate wrong conclusion, So as to make it clear to Talageri and Koenraad and to all, I urge to refer to a mantra (Rigveda, 9.63.5). The mantra categorically defines the purpose and objective conveyed by the term "Arya", by studying this mantra one can understand that Vedic Aryans were pretty much clear on their vision of becoming a global civilization by helping other tribes of their times in becoming civilized, Evidences are available to us showing that  some offshoots of Vedic Aryans civilized Europe as well as gifted the knowledge of writing to Europian tribes even before 1500 BCE.

The archaeological imprint of Vedic Aryans like the Swastika are found across the earth.  I repeat, Such a globaly spread Vedic civilization, was built on strong foundation of advanced science, The Sanskrit equivalent of the English word “Science” is “Vigyaan” , that’s written in Devanagri script as “ विज्ञान ”. is found in Rigvedic mantras. In the contemporary world,  no good amount of serious researches are carried out in Vedas, with a view to bring forth the scientific knowledge treasured in Vedic hymns, Some of the discoveries, that I prefer to call "re-discovery" supported with  evidences, that are put across in this article, shall compel right minded historians, Indologists to rewrite the history of science acknowledging the Vedic age science.


 

Among the vedic Rishis, there has been an exclusive class of Rishis called "Kavi" that's referred to in all four vedas including the rigveda, who were exclusively engaged in study of cosmic bodies, astronomy, astrophysics etc, As said reference to Kavi class of Rishis is found at many places across Vedas, especially, the Rigvedic mantra (3.54.5 , 3.54.5) wherein contributions of Kavis, is made explicit.

 

Many scholars have been making efforts to interpret Vedic mantras. A couple of interpretations are available over cyber web sites, however, at many places, those interpretations are not correct, the interpretation made by Ralph T.H. Griffith is full of errors and poses a great deal of challenge for contemporary age scholars and for all those who are not connected to traditional Vedic schools of India, therefore, author suggests readers to not to rely much on Ralph T.H. Griffith and Max Muller, instead, should go on to study RIiveda Pratishakhya, Nirukta, Rik Tantra, Aitereya, Sankhyayan, Shatpath brahmanas, Mahabharata and Purans and then the commentaries made by Indian Vedic scholars of past thousand years, to name a few -  commentary made by Acharya Sayana, Acharya Shamashrami, Yogi Aurobindo, Acharya Satvelkar, Pt Madhusudan Ojha and English interpretation of HH Wilson to develop qualified insight into Vedic hymns, consultations with traditional Indian schools of Vedas shall help further.

 

 

Overview of The Problem and Solution
                 

 

Before I begin the thesis on Vedic invention of Precession of equinoxes, I think it's important to communicate that in the recent time of ours, the accpeted value for the complete 360 degrees cycle of precession of equinoxes is the value that a canadian/american scientist Simon Newcomb (March, 1835 - July1909) suggested, however, as the research continued, differences among scientists of leading institutions and universities have risen and at the time while making this article, there is no concurrence among scientists asto what's the accurate vprecessional value of equinoxrs, what scientists offer to us, is the best approximation that keeps changing over period.

Precession of equinoxes is a human observable event, a consequence that occurs due to continuous precessional shift in orientation of spinning Earth’s axis when noticed against the base position of a referenced pole star, whereon, the line of axis when stretched beyond, points to in the outer space.

Astronomically, this phenomena of successive shifts in Axial orientation is called Precession of earth’s axis that completes one cycle in around 25,700 (Approx) years.

It’s important to know that In the Vedas, mighty god Indra is said to be identical with Earth’s axis ( “भुवः प्रतिमानं” in Rigveda, 1.52.13 ), It’s the Indra who holds the earth along it's axis.

In the Vedic age, the phenomena of precession of equinoxes is observed by Rishis in successive shift of 27 Nakshatras along the ecliptic, As per the modern astronomy, two equinoxes and two solstices, put together, makes four cardinals in the heavens , that are used to denote the phenomena of precession, Since, for most part, the Vedic new year or Samvatsar begins at Spring equinoxes, the phenomena was expressed with respect to spring equinox in two ways –

Firstly, through the citations, where a particular constellation (Ashvini) as well as the entire belt of nakshtras is shown making round of Sun, moving on from the point of equinoxes , As it is found in Rigveda's mantra (4.45.1) attributed to twin god Ashvins, who are the personified nakshtra or constellation too.

एषस्य भानुर्दियर्ति युज्यते रथः परिज्मा दिवो अस्य सानवि

पृक्षासो अस्मिन्मिथुना त्रयोद्रितिस्तुरीयो मधुनो विरप्शते (Rigveda, 4.45.1)

Another endorsing citation is found in the very opening verse of well-known Nakshtra sukta of Atharva Veda, The verse is though quoted by all eminent scholars of Vedic Astronomy but significance of opening line of verse is missed out. Our scholars missed out to note the significance made out in the verse for Nakshtras to slip like amphibians do

चित्राणि साकं दिवि रोचनानि सरीसृपाणि भुवने जवानि (Atharva Veda, 19.7.1)

Secondly, We have another testimony available to us on Vedic rishi's knolwedg of precession of equinoxes from the Atharva Veda ( 20.28.3) that’s discussed below, towards the end of the thesis, wherein, Indra is shown as a cause who fixed the constellations, made them immovable and infallible, We have demonstrated that Indra, among many other things, also is the Earth's Axis and herein the mantra what we see is, Rishi Gosukti is making efforts to co-relate the phenomena of equinoxes with phenomena of axial precession of Earth, This could be again the first scientific endeavor recorded in human history, and the mantra qualifies to say that this is the best available reference among all other resources in all ancient civilizations in era prior to 1000 BCE, wherein, it’s categorically said that the stars are fixed along the ecliptic.


 

इन्द्रेण रोचना दिवो दृढानि दृंहितानि च । स्थिराणि न पराणुदे (Atharva Veda, 20.28.3)
 

 

In all, we have ample clarity available such that the differential yield of precessional shift or Ayana Chalan is getting added to longitudes such that the resultant position of constellations or stars are always found in ecliptic ancored on to longitudes that was devised during the conceptualization of first Vedic Samvatsar as cited in Yajurveda and this is the same system that NC Lahiri rediesigned for Indians, NC Lahiri and true Vedic Samvatsar System are almost similar, I w'd take you to an exclusive citation, where the entire belt of all constellations is shown making a successive precessional round of 360 degrees along ecliptic
 

An Added Significance
 
The mantra (Rigveda, 4.45.1) is very critical on another aspect of it as well, We find that it categorically conveys us the message that the Ashvins are those who bring madhu ( honey)  to us, What's notable is, madhu is the very first month of the Vedic Samvatsar as well as the honey, We w'd pick the month for this thesis as that looks appropriate, so, the month of madhu is said to have been brought in by Ashvins, and therefore, in the light of this mantra, we find perhaps, for the first time, the clear astronomical reference in Rigveda that helps us knowing that Vedic month madhu used to begin at constellation (nakshatra) of Ashvins, We already know that Vedic Samvatsar begins at day of equinox ( in one of the systems), so, that does mean, During the time Vedic Rishis sought this mantra the equinox occurred at constellation (nakshatra) of Ashvini and thereby, Vedic Rishis institutionalized that Vedic nakshatras shall always begin with Ashvins, whataever it may be, this is the system that's still in continuity in India even today.

The significance of the mantra goes even further and relates Vedic Astronomy to Vedic Astrology  by conveying that Sun too gets exalted or at summit (“तुरीय”) in same breath in same mantra.


We know that a vedic day has been divided into 12 lagnas or ascendants, roughly, allocating two hours for each lagna, and during the summers, when Sun moves on Ashvini nakshatra, it eaches at it's highest position, the  summit (“तुरीय”) around mid of the day while fourth lagna progresses.

एषस्य भानुर्दियर्ति युज्यते रथः परिज्मा दिवो अस्य सानवि

 

पृक्षासो अस्मिन्मिथुना त्रयोद्रितिस्तुरीयो मधुनो वि रप्शते ( Rigveda, 4.45.1 )

It's a historical matter of fact that the exaltations and debilitation of Planets is unique to Vedang Jyotish, however, majority of indologists and historians alleged that the idea of exaltation and debilitation of planets is imported from hellenistic Greeks, However, with the fiding of Rigvedic mantra with term “तुरीय”, referring to Ashvinis and Madhu, wherein, Sun get's exalted, rejects all such alleged claims and goes on even further to establish that Vedic Indians are the real inventer of idea of exaltation and debilitation of a planet.

This could be undoubtedly, the first ever recorded evidence to application of predictive astrology, in so much antiquity in human history, The yet another signifiance of this mantra is seen in the antiquity of Rigveda, If counted backwards from Ashvini to Ashvini that is the complete circle of 360 degrees, The antiquity of Rigveda when this particualr mantra was invisioned by Rishi comes to more than the 25,700 years (Approx) in terms of english years of our time, We multiply 360 degrees with the 72 years factoring the precessional yield of 01 degree of precession at current known rate of precession of equinoxes.

 

Absence of Historical records of Axial and Equinoctial precession in Babylonian, Egyptian and Other Ancient Civilizations

 

In the pages of history of ancient human civilizations, other than the Vedic civilization, phenomena of precession Earth’s Axis or consequential precession of equinoxes, is not reasonably recorded, this is primarily, for the reason that, no ancient civilization other than the Vedic civilization was so much rooted in realms of science and had insight into scientific prerequisites wherein Vedic rishis had developed expertise post discovery of such prerequisites, and also notably, there is a secondary reason that none of non-Vedic civilization could persist with stability for such a long period of thousands of years, whereby, people can observe, identify and understand the phenomena of precession.

The Mahabharata and Shift in Earth’s Axial Orientation, The Precessional Fall of Pole Star Vega

 

The precession of Earth’s axis has a number of noticeable consequences, for instance, change of pole stars in sequence, Mahabharata the threat epic of war, has preserved the memory of fall of star Abhijit or Vega that might have happened in remote antiquity i.e. from 20000 BCE to 12000 BCE . The memoir comes from rishi Markandeya who is said to have been blessed to live for ages, Mahabharata, in it’s verses 8-9 and 11, chapter 230, Vana Parva, the passage reads as star Abhijit (Vega), who is the younger to Rohini (Aldeberan) , in order to retain it’s supremacy, went to have penance, that created a vacuum, Indra found a solution to the issue in discussion with Skanda or Kartikeya by letting Kritika (Pleiades) ascend to heat up the summer, apparently, the story implies at Kritika’s ascension to spring equinox , as well as, existence of celestial equatorial system like it is in fashion in contemporary world of ours, hence, the talk of fall of Vega the pole star and Kritika the spring equinox star is in synchronization.

The diagram given below, provides a simulated view of the phenomena of successive changes in Pole star, Dr Padmakar Vartak argued at length on fall of Vega as a consequence of Precession of Earth's Axis.
 

Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/Precession_animation_small_new.gif

Celestial equatorial navigation system is based on two co-ordinates, one is the declination measured at north pole of earth and the other right ascension analogous to longitudes and is measured at spring equinox, in other words, it’s a system of projecting earth's own lines of latitude and longitude to the sky.

 

Testimony of Patanjali's Yogsutra
 

The great philosopher of Yoga Sutra, The Patanjali has provided us the testimony in it's Yogsutras (3.27) to Vedic tradition of knowing and noting precession of equinoxes, Patanjali's conjecture is that  knowing the rate of speed Dhruva moves  ( ध्रुव गति ) or the Earth's axial precession is an accomplishment equal to a siddhi in Yoga, He considers it as a perfection of Yoga,  With putting sutra on Eart's axial precessino, In fact, Patanjali provides strong historical evidence  to higher status of astronomical practices remained in continuity in his time.  In two othre sutras ( 3.25 and 3.26), he recommends to concentrate on Sun and Moon to know about the Solar system ( भुवन ) and asterisms (ताराव्यूह) respectively, these are also considered equivalent to having Siddhi in Yoga,  such a consideration by Patanjali adds another flavor to definition of Yoga as well, We can infer that Patanjali's yoga was not at all limited to breathing in, breathing out excercise, Coming back to point of discussion, I w'd say that to conclude that during the time of Patanjali's time science was still in advanced state in India, is a pretty sincere statement in the backgrop tof today's status when science labs are equipped with sophsticated tools, claiming precison edge accuracy, there is no concurrence on what's the most accurate value of earth's axial precession.

 

           भुवनज्ञानं सूर्ये संयमात्  ( 3.25)

           चन्द्रे ताराव्यूह ज्ञानं  ( 3.26) 

           ध्रुवे तदगति ज्ञानं  ( 3.27)

 

Shatpath Brahman Institutionalizes Inculcation of Precession of Equinoxes into Samvatsar (‘Year’) System

Shatpath Brahman provides testimony for religiously institutionalized process for incorporating  precession of equinoxes into Samvatsar ( ‘Year’) through the Vedic Yagya, wherein the verse ( 8.2.1.7)  Ashvinis are made Adhvaryu (अध्वर्यु)  for the Yagya, then in subsequent stanzas ( 8.2.1.11, 12 and 14 ) the issue of Prajapati or Samvatsar’s getting weary and thereby going disarray (प्रजापतिं विसस्त्रं) is dealt with.



It’s said that Prajapati in weary state and going disarray is a state wherein Samvatsar’s pratistha or the very basis of Samvatsar, the constellation of Ashvins  move away from their designated place and then Prajapati the personified Samvatsar requests Ashvins to give back the portion of Samvatsar that they held while the yagya in discussion was being performed and the Ashvins were made Adhvaryu (अध्वर्यु), Ashvins readily agrees to Prajapati’s request and religious system is made by adding up Ashvins portion to Vedic Samvatsar and in the return , Ashvins were made the presiding god of the month i.e., the very first month of the Samvatsar System being modified, thus inculcation of precession of equinox is Institutionalized this is the first and oldest reference in remote antiquity of human civilization world over.

There are a few straightway takeaways of the Shatpath Brahaman’s explanation

1.      Constellation of Ashvins is the marker of Vedic Samvatsar ( “Year” )

2.     The amount of precession of equinoxes was well computed during the time verses ( Shatpath Brahman 8.2.1.11, 12 and 14 ) were created that means knowledge of precession of equinoxes existed even before the time verse was created.

3.     In the subsequent stanza (8.2.1.16) it’s said that when the whole system was institutionalized it was the season of summer i.e when the Sun was moving on constellation of Asvhvins.

4.     This is the exactly same system that’s still followed in Vikram Samvat based panchanga as well as in Vedic astrology for making horoscopes.

 

Scientific reasoning and mechanics of Precession of Axis and Equinoxes in Vedas

 

Axial precession is caused by gravitational pull applied on spinning Earth, majorly by Sun and Moon and minutely by other planets. It happens for the reason that earth is not a perfect globe, it’s expanded by 43 kilometers like having a bulge on equator and relatively flat on the poles, The external gravitational pull on the spinning Earth’s equatorial bulge tend to pull it back towards the plane of the ecliptic, since, the Earth spins and its axis precesses, the resultant phenomena traces out a circle on north celestial pole, that’s the crown or Opasha (ओपश) in Vedic Sanskrit, as the Rigvedic mantra reveals–

यज्ञ इन्द्रमवर्ध्यद्दभूमिं व्यवर्तत । चक्राण ओपशं दिवि   (Rigveda 8.14.5)

 

For clarity, a diagram is given below that explains the Rigvedic mantra’s meaning -

 

 

As said, precession of equinox is a consequence of precession of Earth’s Axis, since, Earth’s spinning axis is precessing in space and as a consequence, the orientation of the celestial equator also precesses westwards and thereby the point wherein ecliptic intersects the celestial equator, that is, where the Earth's axis is perpendicular to the line connecting the centers of the Sun and Earth. It should be noted that the term "equinox" here refers to a point on the celestial sphere so defined, rather than the moment in time when the Sun is overhead at the Equator, though the two meanings are related.

 

When earth’s axis precesses from one orientation to another, causes the intersection at two points as explained above, known to students of astronomy as

• Spring equinox (बसंत सम्पात)
• Autumnal equinox (शरद सम्पात)

 

Thus, it can be easily inferred that the position of the equinoxes is changing in same scale as earth axis precesses with respect to the stars in the background in view of the Vedic

 

The diagram given below illustrates this mechanics in lucid manner

   
                                           Diagram Source : http://essayweb.net/astronomy/coordinates.shtml

 

Prerequisites for knowledge of Axial and Equinoxes precession in Vedas

 

Vedic account of phenomena of precession of Earth’s axis and equinox is not a chance incidence that is mentioned in Vedas, Going into Vedas, we find top 5 essential prerequisites that shows Vedic rishis has sound knowledge base enabling the discovery as it’s needed in any scientific discovery.

 

 

1 Earth’s Axis

 

Rigvedic mantras provide astonishing scientific details of precession of earth’s axis, the wonder begins with underlining that Earth’s Axis is a property of Indra, the terms प्रतिमान and अक्ष are technical terms of Vedic Geometry, The term Pratiman (प्रतिमान)is the measure of an object and english “ Axis” is called Akhsa (अक्ष) in Vedic sanskrit, etymologically, English “Axis” is a loan word taken from Vedic Sanskrit. In the two Rigvedic mantras cited below mighty Indra is prayed.

In the first mantra 10.89.2 of the two mantras given below, it's said that Indra spins the earth like a wheel and in second mantra 10.89.4, Indra is projected like a shaft that holds earth-

A) स सूर्यः पर्युरू वरांस्येंद्रो वावृत्याद्र्थ्येव चक्रा | ( Rigveda, 1.89.2)

B) यो अक्षेणेव चक्रियौ शचीभिर्विश्वक्तस्तंभ प्रिथिवीमुतद्दाम | ( Rigveda, 10.89.2)

C) त्वं भुवः प्रतिमानं पृथिव्या ऋष्ववीरस्य बृहतः पतिर्भूः | (Rigveda, 1.52.13)

 

1. Precession of Earth’s Axis
 

The precession of Earth’s axis has a number of noticeable consequences, for instance, change of pole stars in sequence, precession of equinoxes and many other effects. Earth spins in counter-clockwiseor westward direction and therefore, when watched from the earth, Pole star too appears moving. 
 

2 Tilt of Earth’s Axis

In the rigveda we find a peculiar mantra ( 6.51.8) that suggests that the motivation to inculcate tradition of doing Namskaar could have been prevailed for the reason that Earth’s tilted axis holds ecliptic and keeps earth in stability.

Earth’s obliquity ( tilt) is the angle between the plane of the celestial equator and the plane of the ecliptic , Obliquity of earth is the cause for the seasons on the earth, We find a few mantras in the Vedas that shows that Vedic rishis have discovered tilt of Earth’s axis as rigvedic mantra underlines in words like द्दावा चिदस्मै पृथिवी नमेते and knowing the tilt was no secret, Vedic rishi in the below mantra says that spinning Earth along with mountains, is tilted on Dyu.

 

द्दावा चिदस्मै पृथिवी नमेते शुष्माच्चिदस्य पर्वता भयन्ते  ( Rigveda, 1.12.13 )

In another mantra cited below, Vipra or knowledgeable are shown imploring Indra using the term Nemi (नेमिं), that’s still in continuity denoting a wheel’s axis.

 

नेमिं नमन्ति चक्षसामेषं विप्रा अभिश्वरा ( Rigveda 8.97.12)

 

3. Counter clockwise motion of earth

 

The counter-clockwise spin of earth is realized in the time gap occurring in the time of day break in various parts of the world belonging to different time zones, starting with the eastern countries such as Japan that faces the sunrays at day break, before the countries that fall behind such as Singapore, India and Egypt in sequence. There are two mantras that complement each other makes complete sense, mantra A ( Rigveda 10.189.2) states that the earth spins, mantra B, explicitly says that Usha the twilight moves (from east) to west or clockwise and thereby implies at Earth moving counter-clockwise, Mantra c ( Rigveda 1.123.9) talks about speed of spinning Earth, the speed that is noted for point of receding twilight ( Usha) making the day break in Vedic time zones of 30 Yojanas across the earth.

A) आयं गौः पृश्निरक्रमीद् आसदन मातरं पुरः (Rigveda, 10.189.2)

B) एषा प्रतीची दुहिता दिवो ( Rigveda, 5.80.6)

C) अनवाद्दास्त्रिंशतं योजनान्येकैका क्रतुं परियन्ति सद्द: (Rigveda, 1.123.9)

 

4. Gravitation force

Scientists and science inclined communities of contemporary world may get amazed, knowing the peculiar scientific facts recorded in Rig-Veda that Rishis had already discovered gravitation force of earth, sun and moon as well as of other heavenly bodies.

 

The mantra A, implies that in the world of their, every heavenly body attracts the other heavenly body, whereas, the mantra B, underlines Gravitation pull of Sun attached to planets, the term (कृष्णेन) denotes the gravitation force that attracts earth and other planets.

 

A) एको अन्यसच्चकृषे विश्वम् आनुषक्

B) आ कृष्णेन रजसा वर्तमानो निवेशयन्न्मृतं मर्त्यं च

हिरण्ययेन सविता रथेना देवो याति भुवनानि पश्यन ( Rigveda, 1.35.9 )

5. Equatorial Bulge

Rishi Godhriti Kanvayan says in a hymn ( sukta) that the celestial system of Yagya, giving power to Indra who spins the earth like a wheel, expands it like bulge is expanded, we can undrstand that the Vedic Rishis has indicated the centrifugal force generated by Earth's axial motion in Vedic terms such that mighty Indra's power and thereby with , creates divine crown (Opasha) as stated in preceding paragraphs

 

 

यज्ञ इन्द्रमवर्ध्यद्दभूमिं व्यवर्तत । चक्राण ओपशं दिवि | ( Rigveda, 8.14.5)

 

 

As said that these mantras are not properly interpreted by TH Griffith and Max Muller, as they had no adequate astronomical visualization that’s the context these mantras are used. Griffith in a state of confusion uses term “unroll” for spinning earth, pls read on -

[

The sacrifice made Indra strong when he unrolled the earth, and made Himself a diadem in heaven (Rigveda 8.14.5)

]

6 . Vedic Niryaan (Sidereal ) year and precession of Equinox

The English equivalent of sanskrit term “Nirayana” is "sidereal", that is derived from the Latin "Sidus" meaning "star".
 

In the sidereal system, length of complete year is measured against a referenced fixed star where the Earth apparently returns to complete the year while making a round of the Sun, however, due to precession of Axis, Earth has to move 20 more minutes against tropical year’s duration and to cover the Earth’s precession of 50.27 arc seconds in the celestial wheel of 360 degrees, this extra movement of 20 minutes per year takes 25672 years to completely cover celestial wheel of 360 degrees, NC Lahiri proposed a reference point based on the period when tropical and sidereal years were just coinciding that happened in around 285 AD. now we shall examine Vedic Rishis too opine that a sidereal year’s duration is longer than the tropical year like modern astronomy says.

 

Atharva Veda’s Shaunak samhita’s hymn 13.2 is dedicated to Aditya or Sun, it’s 27’th mantra says that single footed Aditya (maker of a year) moves more (distance) than the two footed (Aditya’s) moves ( making two halves or ayanas of year) , two footed Aditya motion of Aditya covers more distance than the six footed motion ( making two halves of year) and then three footed Aditya/’s motion and same way the six footed motion of same Aditya and finally, Single footed verse is not that complex, Ekpad or single footed Sun, the adverb (in english sense) "वि" denotes Ekpad Sun moving more in below given mantra.

एकपाद द्विपदो भूयो वि चक्रमे द्विपात् त्रिपादमभ्येति पश्चात

द्विपाद्ध षट्पदो भूयो वि चक्रमे त एकपदस्तन्वं समासते ( Atharva Veda, 13.2.27)

For reference and for fun as well, TH Griffith’s interpretation is produced below with that readers can pretty well realize that they don’t make out anything reading his interpretation–

[

The single-footed hath outstepped the biped, the biped overtakes the triple-footed, The biped hath out stridden the six-footed, these sit around the single-footed's body

]

The phenomena discussed so far, indicates that in the tropical year system there is computational error of 20 minutes every year and hence tropical year is astronomically erroneous as far as of Vedas and Vedic science is concerned, The followers of Hellenistic astronomy uses tropical year system with the error in it’s design.

 

Decoding Adjusted Precessional Value of Equinoxes in Atharva Vedic Mantra

 

Some of the vedic hymns and mantras keep critical information in cryptic manner, We find that Atharva Veda quotes a pre-computed number for adjusted Ayana Chalana the same method that we find bhaskaracharya 2^nd has used attributing to Munjala of 9 CE.

The revelation that Atharva Veda provides us the value of Kalpa, although in it’s typical mystic indirect manner, could still take the world’s best scholars in great surprise, particularly, those who work for academic institutions like Harvard, Oxford and in some institutions of Germany, Same way the revelation may also surprise to Indian brand of scholars who think beyond the faulty Surya Siddhanta ,there is no astronomy in Vedic scriptures, To burst such flawed yet strong opinions, I w’d draw attention of readers to Atharva Vedic mantra (8.2.21) wherein the duration of Kalpa is provided, with a small elucidation one can see it, let’s understand the series of numerals used to arrive at number of years constituting "Kalpa".

The Mantra

शतं ते अयुतं हायनान् द्वि युगे त्रीणि चत्वारि कृण्मः Atharva Veda (8.2.21)

In the above verse the resultant number showing 4320,000000 or 4320 Millions of years is formed by adding two strings of numerals, those who are into computer science and engineering can understand forming of numbers by adding strings, it goes like this –

String A -> चत्वारि ( 4) , त्रीणि (3 ), द्वि ( 2)

String B -> शतं (100)  ते अयुतं (10000 )

Following the order of writing numerals that goes from right to left ( अंकानाम वामतो गतिः), we need to put first, numerals of String A and then the numerals of String B.

Before, Proceeding further, let’s have an overview of dictum (अंकानाम वामतो गतिः), Many scholars have been trying to locate the original Sanskrit verse that endorses the practice of dictum अंकानाम वामतो गतिः but not succeeded, do a google search and no results will hit your search, Seeing the void, I hereby provide one of the original Sanskrit verses, In fact, these findings are quite common among mainstream traditional vedic astronomers and mathematicians but, difficult for Indologists who live on reading papers published by western universities to know about India, So, this is a gift to such Indologists

अंकेषु शून्यविन्यासाद् वृद्धिः स्यात् तु दशाधिका

तस्माद् ज्ञेया विशेषेण अंकानां वामतो गतिः

The verse says that in writing, numerals move from right to left and each numeral is inherently 10 times higher in magnitude to the previous numeral in sequence and hence when we combine string A and string B to make the whole number indicated, The numeral द्वि (2) becomes विंशति (20) , since, द्वि (2) is the connecting numerals to String B and it has to comply with dictum to have 10 times higher multitude to previous number shown by numerals  in string B with शतं ते अयुतं (10,00,000) or One million and hence the formation of resultant number combining String A and String B goes like below -

 

String A {चत्वारि ( 4) + त्रीणि (3 ) + द्वाविंशति (20)} + String B { शतं ते अयुतं (10,00,000) } or 4320,00,000 or 4320 Millions

 

  

This is the numeric value of the Kalpa years, A Kalpa is equal to one thousand chaturyugas or 1000 unit of four yugas equal to 4320,00,000 years.

In the Kuntap sukta ( 20.127.1) of Atharva Veda, we find another mystic mantra that gives us a mystic number of 60090 or sixty thousand ninety, the context is the praise of gods or the Narashansa gathas, I have identified that the number indicates at subtotal number of adjusted Ayana chalan in the unit of Chaturyugas, We need to divide this mystic number by 360 to know how many complete rounds of the Ayana has happened, this is illustrated as below –

Total rounds of Ayana = 60090/360 = 169.917, It’s to be multiplied by 1000, since, there are 1000 units of chaturyugas in a kalpa = 169.917*1000 = 169917

Now, divide Kalpa years by just obtained adjusted number that is 169917, Let’s go for it

Kalpa years = 4320000,000/169917 = 25424 years, This is the precessional value of equinoxes, which is almost same as the modern range of values 25600 to 25,700 this modern range of precessional value is not scientifically confirmed accurate value but only the best chosen approximation as worked out by modern scientists of IAU and other leading instructions.


We also get similar indication of Kalpa years in Rigved's mantras as well, however, in normal cryptic manner, let's  analyze the first mantra wherein Brahma is shown as a  (cosmic) bull having four horns.


उप ब्रह्मा श्रृण्व्छस्यमानं चतुः श्रृङ्गोवमीद्गौर एतत् ( ऋग्वेद, 5.48. 3b)


And in the mantra subsequent to above in same hymn, the same cosmic bull is said to have four horns, three legs and two heads and seven hands, let's arrange numbers indicated in below mantra, what we get is 4327 and if we interpret seven as seven as seven zeros, we get the duration of Kalpa.


 Kalpa = 4320000,000 years.


चत्वरि श्रिङ्गा त्रयो अस्य पादा द्वे शीर्षे सप्त हस्तासो अस्य ( ऋग्वेद, 4.59.3a)


So, there are many indications for intelligent readers  to understand the stable standard view of Vedic Rishis on what is Kalpa and  Pngree has been terrifically wrong attributing Sumerians to have idea of Kalpa and exporting it to India.

Pls refer to below urls to know how leading research institutions and universities differ with one other on the point of accuracy in computing precession of equinoxes
 

 1.   http://iopscience.iop.org/1538-3881/126/1/494/fulltext/201486.text.html

2.    www.asu.cas.cz/~borovic/anotace/2011/Vondrak1.pdf

3.    www.tcnj.edu/~pfeiffer/AST261/AST261Chap4,Preces.pdf‎

4.    www.iausofa.org

 

 

8. Vedic Nirayan or Sidereal Day
 

Nirayan or Sidereal system cascades down the precession of equinoxes at daily sidereal days while keeping Ashvins as reference point, the historical significance of these mantras is enormous, The first of these two mantras shows how Vedic Rishis divide a day into five parts, this is an advaced state of civilization and such a practice is not known to have existed in Babylonian and Egyptian civilizations.

E) उता यातं संगवे प्रातरह्नो माध्यन्दिन मध्यन्दिन उदिता सूर्यस्य

F)  दिवा नक्तमवसा शंतमेन नेदानीं पीतिरश्विना ततान( Rigveda 5.76.3 )

In the following section we shall look at design of Vedic Samvatsar system, we get a mantra that states that Vedic Samvatsar is established on the basis of Nakshtras and therefore counting is from Nakshatra to nakshatra.

We find other supporting information in other Vedic scriptures, In the Vedic ritual that’s still in continuity, Ardhya is offered to Surya ( Sun) every morning, Rishis make it categorically clear for the ritual stating that Sun's position should be determined on the basis of location of Nakshatra appearing in twilight ( Usha), Vedas have a few year long rituals and Yagyas, So, to ascertain the completion of the year, the 360 degrees cycle is very very important hence the position of specific Nakshatra was carefully determined, Taitireeya Brahman’s verse is produced here -

यत पुण्यं नक्षत्रं तदवटकुर्वीतोपव्युषम् । यदा वै सुर्य उदेत अथ नक्षत्रं नैति । यावती तत्र सूर्यो गच्छेति यत्र जघन्यं पश्येत्

9. Vedic Nirayan or Sidereal Samvatsar ( 'Year')



The Mantras cited below conveys, self explanatory aphorism wherein the Prajapati was personified as Samvatsar and since the time of Vedic Age, The Chitra nakshtra was made the very foundation, the basic reference point for factoring in Ayanamsa or precession of equinox to arrive at correct time length of Samvatsar or Year, it's said that Chitra like the head of Prajapati and Prajapati is the Samvatsar.

प्रजापति वै संवत्सरः (Shatpath Brahman)

नक्षत्राणि संवत्सरस्य प्रतिस्ठा( Taitiriya Brahman, 3.1.1.13)

Vedas have also standardized the axis of Ashvini and Chitra Nakshtra as starting and ending point for celestial equator’s external projection, this is noted in Taitireeya Brahman. What is to be noted exclusive and what is the connecting point here in the context is , constellation of Chitra’s diety is same Vedic god Indra.

चित्रा शिरः…………. एष वै नक्षत्रियः प्रजापतिः (Taitiriya Brahman)

Ashvini nakshtra as a god has been prayed more than 300 times in Rigveda, He said to be harbinger of new crop that happens at the beginning of the year and therefore it proves that NC Lahiri has not discovered Ashvini-Chitra axis to determine beginning and ending of circle of nakhatras on his own but he followed the continued tradition that he might have understood well while working for the calendar reform committee.

 

 

To be continued ....

 

Disclaimer : The subject of Precession of equinox has been a contentious issue among scholars working on Vedic age history with one section opposing the very idea without adequate enquiry into Vedas, mostly relying on the work SB Dixit and other scholars whereas, there is another section of scholars who has been supporting the idea, however, they too are using SB Dixit and other scholar’s work and in lack of sufficient direct evidences from the Vedas, the subject has been impending without a decisive conclusion, The author has taken a fresh endeavor to find out solution, author conducted thorough studies of Vedas for six years to settle various intriguing matters including the matter of precession of equinoxes, in light of rediscovery of many new evidences for the first time in the last 150 yrs. Author has analyzed and rediscovered artifacts in highest degree of fairness in the paper.

Author belongs to a family of traditional brahmins of Samved’s Kauthumiya shakha.