--- In
IndiaArchaeology@ yahoogroups. com,
"kishore_future"
<kishore_future@ ...> wrote:
--- In
vedic_research_ institute@ yahoogroups. com,
"kishore_future"
<kishore_future@ i...> wrote:
>
> Astronomical Evidence: In the Mahabharata references to
sequential
> solar and lunar eclipses as also references to some
celestial
> observations have been made. Dr RN Iyengar, the
great scientist of
> Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore,
examined relevant
references
> and searched for the
compatible dates by making use of planetarium
> software (PVIS
and EZC). He concluded that most of these references
> were
internally consistent and that the eclipses and celestial
>
observations of Mahabharata belong to the period 1493 BC-1443 BC
of
> Indian History, (refer Indian Journal of History of
>
Science/38.2/ 2003/77-115) .
>
> In the Mahabharata,
there are references to three sequential solar
> eclipses and
some other planetary positions. Reference to the first
> solar
eclipse comes in the Sabha Parva (79.29), graphically
>
described by Vidur when Pandavas start their journey to the
forest
> on being banished for 12 years of life in exile and one
year of
life
> incognito after they had lost everything in
the game of dice. After
> 13 years of exile and incognito life,
the Pandavas returned to
> Hastinapur and demanded their kingdom
back, but Duryodhana refused.
> Several efforts to prevent war
failed and war became imminent.
>
> There is a reference
to the second solar eclipse in the Bhisma
Parva
> (3.29),
following a lunar eclipse occurring within the same
> fortnight
a few days before the actual war of Mahabharata. These
>
eclipses occurred after 14-15 years of the first solar eclipse
The
> epic also refers to some unfavourable planetary positions
between
> the second solar eclipse and the beginning of the war
on Kartika
> Purnima (Bhisma Parva 3.14 to 3.19). On Kartika
Krishna Ashtami,
> Saturn was near Rohini and Mars was between
Jayestha and Anuradha.
> Twenty two days later, on Kartika
Purnima, Saturn was near Rohini,
> Mars was near Jayestha
(probably Uranus) was between Citra and
Swati.
>
>
Another white planet (possibly Jupiter) had moved from
Purva-bhadra
> to Uttar-bhadra. Reference to the third solar
eclipse comes in the
> Mausala Parva (2.19 to 2.20) occurring in
the 36th year of the
> Mahabharata War. This was visible from
the city of Dwarka, which is
> stated to have been subsequently
submerged under the sea. For these
> observations to be
internally consistent, there should have been
> three solar
eclipses within 50 years. The first one and the second
> one
after a gap of 14-15 years should have been visible from
>
Kurukshetra whereas the third solar eclipse should have been
visible
> from Dwarka after 35 years of the second
one.
http://www.indianes t.com/astro/
00325.htm (gist given here)
ï The epic states that a singularly
ominous pair of eclipses
occurred in "Thirteen days" some time
before the war. Using modern
astronomical software, our article
shows that a number of "Thirteen
day" eclipse pairs were visible
in Kurukshethra. Article suggests
some candidate dates for
Mahabharata war.
ï Aryabhata, is a famous early astronomer with
contributions
to science, whose estimate of p, and the time of
moon revolution
around the earth are so accurate, that his works
are being
extensively researched. Aryabhata (476-550 AD) stated
that Kaliyuga
started 3600 years before, when he was 23 years old,
making the
start as 3102 BC [Aryabhateeya ref-1]). It would date
Mahabharata
war to around circa 3130-3140 BCJ.
ï Surya
Siddhanta [Ref 2], a document evolved from roughly
same period,
states that sun was 54 degrees away from vernal equinox
when
Kaliyuga started on a new moon day, corresponding to February
17/18, 3102 BCJ, at Ujjain (75deg47minE 23deg 15min N).
ï
Varaha Mihira (circa 560 AD), another famous astronomer,
stated
that 2526 years before start of Saka count (either
Shalivahana
saka starting in 79 AD or Vikrama Saka starting in 57
BC) [Brihat
Samhita Ref-3] as per the sloka meaning :" When
Saptarishis (ursa
major) was near Magha Yudhistira was king 2526
years before Saka
time"
ï The Bhishma Parva and Udyoga Parva (specific chapters
of
Mahabharata) provide considerable astronomical/ astrological
descriptions and omens as the Mahabharata war was approaching. It
describes a period of draught, with many planetary positions. Then
there is clear reference to pair of eclipses occurring on 13th
day
ï Mahabharata text also refers to retrograde motions of
planets prior to war and provides their location with reference to
27/28 Vedic star locations. Mahabharata Drona Parva also refers to
Jayadhratha' s killing during a dark episode on 13th day of the
war,
which some consider as another short solar eclipse.
ï
This document is basically concerned with analysis of all
eclipses
visible at Kurukshethra (Location where Mahabharata war
took
place, north of New Delhi, Longitude 76 deg 49 min East,
Latitude
29 deg 59 Min North) from 3300 BC to about
Buddha-Mahavira-
Parshvanaatha time of about 700BC. Analysis of the
time between
successive eclipses, specifically time between end of
one and
beginning of other has been made, with a view to look at
astronomical feasibility of back-to-back eclipses in 13 days,
using
modern astronomical computer software
ï During the
period of our interest, 3500BC to 700 BC, nearly
4350 Lunar
Eclipses and 6960 solar eclipses have occurred on earth.
Of these
nearly 673 solar and lunar eclipses occurred in pairs of
time gap
of about nominal 15 days corresponding to roughly half
lunar
month. We need to search amongst these 673 for eclipse pairs
visible in Kurukshethra, which occurred in "Thirteen"
days.
ï After serious analysis of all the eclipses, six eclipse
pairs from 3129 BCJ, 2599 BCJ, 2056 BCJ, 1853 BCJ, 1708 BCJ and
1397
BCJ clearly are the best candidates for Mahabharata war year
from "thirteen day" eclipse pairs view point. There are others
that
have low obscurity for solar eclipse, or have dominant
penumbral
lunar eclipse content and hence do not constitute strong
candidates
for the Mahabharata war.
ï The first and oldest
eclipse pair from 3129 BC is unique.
Aryabhata estimated that
Kaliyuga started in 3102 BC. So does Surya
Siddhanta. These fit
the Puranic description that Sri Krishna passed
away in 3102 BCJ,
which is 27 years after the war. Our study
confirms that Kaliyuga
could have started in 3102 BCJ
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