Historicity Of Krishna & Mbh

HISTORICITY OF THE MAHABHARATA 4TH LECTURE IN THE SERIES SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION IN SANSKRIT LITERATURE

R. N. IYENGAR BANGALORE

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED IN THIS TALK *ARE THE VARIOUS CELESTIAL EVENTS MENTIONED IN MAHABHARATA REASONABLY CONSISTENT TO BE BELIEVED AS HISTORICAL ?

**ARE THE CELESTIAL EVENTS OF MAHABHARATA CONSISTENT WITH THOSE IN OTHER KRISHNA RELATED PURANAS ?

WHAT IS CONSISTENCY QUALITATIVE DOES MB REFLECT A METHOD FOR MAKING CELESTIAL OBSERVATIONS? DOES MB HANDLE TIME, MONTH, YEAR…?

QUANTITATIVE ARE THE ECLIPSES CREDIBLE AND COMPATIBLE WITH THE TIME PERIODS OF THE STORY LINE ? ARE THE PLANETARY POSITIONS MEANINGFUL ? ARE THEY COMPATIBLE WITH THE ECLIPSE INTERVALS ? IS THE MOVEMENT OF SHUKRA (VENUS) AS MENTIONED REASONABLE ?

VEDA VYASA

MAHABHARATA & HARIVAMSHA PANDAVAS- KAURAVAS-VRISHNIS AbhimanyuÆParikshit JANAMEJAYA Takshashila WEST SOUTH

VAISHAMPAYANA

UGRASHRAVAS SAUNAKA Naimisharanya

NORTHEAST

JAYA 8800 BHARATA 24000 MAHABHARATA 100,000 1.BHANDARKAR O.R.I PUNE, (WEB EDITION, KYOTO UNIV):SANSKRIT in ROMAN SCRIPT 2. Pt. HAYAGRIVA SASTRI (SANSKRIT in TELUGU SCRIPT) 1840-1850 3. GITA PRESS, GORAKHPUR TEXT + NILAKANTHA’S COMMENTARY 4. CALCUTTA EDITION , P.C.ROY (1888) 5.BHARATA DARSHANA,

KANNADA SCRIPT+Translation,

6. ENGLISH TRANSLATION, BY

K.M.GANGULY (1880-96)

when the young Pandavas were coaxed to go to Varanavata Astame ahani rohinyam prayata phalgunasya te

(adi.p.145.34)

They traveled on the eighth day of Phalguna month, under star Rohini.

Vyasa advises Yudhisthira regarding his marriage adya pausyam yogam upaiti candramah (adi.p. 198.5) today moon will attain the yoga of star Pushya.

Very specific details are given some times, like when Bhima fights Jarasandha. It is said that the fight started on the first day of the Kartika month and ended on the fourteenth day (sab.p. 24.28-30).

Krsna describes the onset of the cool season to Karna Saumyoyam vartate masah suprapah yavasendhanah Pakvosadhi vanasphitah phalavan alpamaksikah Nispanko rasavattoyo natyusna-sisirah sukhah Saptamacchapi divasat amavasya bhavisyati Sangramam yojayet tatra tamahuh sakradevatam (udy.p.140.16-18)

This month is mild, with easily procured cereals and fuel. Forests are with ripe fruits and medicinal plants and with not too many flies. Water is tasty without dirt. This season is not too hot but pleasant. Seventh day from today is the new moon, important for god Indra. Let the battle be planned for that day.

Eclipses (bhi.p. 12.47) Parimandalo maharaja svarbhanuh sruyate grahah Yojanaanaam sahasrani viskambho dwadasasya vai Parimanena sattrimsat vipulatvenachanagha Sasthimahuh satanyasya budhah pauranikastatha Candramastu sahasrani rajan ekadasah smrtah Viskambhena kurusrestha trayastrimsattu mandalam Ekonasasthivaipulyat sitarasmeh mahatmanah Suryasyatu astau sahasrani dvecanye kurunandana Viskambhena tato rajan mandalam trimsatam samam Astapancasatau rajan vipulatvena canagha Sruyate paramodarah patngosau vibhavasuh Etat pramanam arkasya nirdistam iha bharata Sarahuh chadayatyetau yatha kalam mahatyaya Candradityau maharaja samksepoyam udahrtah

Diameter of Rahu =12,000 Circumference=36,000 Diameter of Moon = 11,000 Circumference=33,000 Diameter of Sun=10,000 Circumference= 30,000

Yojanas Yojanas Yojanas Yojanas Yojanas Yojanas

Hence, MAHAGRAHA Rahu at appropriate times covers (chadayati) Moon and Sun. Indirectly value of Pi = 3 in the text. SOLAR ECLIPSES ARE MENTIONED AT EIGHT PLACES IN THE TEXT

The first is in sabha parvan after Pandavas are banished to the forest. In answer to a question on how Pandavas started their journey, Vidura gives a graphic description of the various events and incidentally mentions Anabhre vidyutascasan bhumisca samakampata Rahuragrasadadityam aparvani visampate (sab.p. 79.29) In the cloudless sky there were lightnings; the earth shook and Rahu caught the Sun, but, not on the fifteenth day. . Dhrtarastra confirms this eclipse much later as he broods over the sad happenings, in the last chapter of sabha Parvan. Diva ulkah patantyasca rahuscarkam upagrasat Aparvani mahaghoram prajanam sanjanayan bhayam (sab.p.80.23) Meteorites are falling in daytime and Rahu covered Sun on an odd day causing great fear among people.

The third mention is in udyoga parvan chapter 182 describing an old battle between Bhisma and his teacher Parasu Rama. Bhisma himself says that on the 4th day of their 23-day battle at Kuruksetra

Arkam ca sahasadiptam svarbhanuh abhisamvrnot (udy.p.183.22).

Svarbhanu (Rahu) suddenly approached the brightened Sun.

The language of the text is realistic in that the eclipse was unexpected. This should have been some 50 or 60 years before the MB war, when Bhisma was in his youth.

The fourth solar eclipse is in bhisma parvan chapter 3 when Vyasa tells Dhrtarastra Abhiksnam kampate bhumih arkam rahuh tathagrasat (bhi.p. 3.11) The earth shakes often, similarly Rahu caught up Sun (often?). This statement is in past tense. The alternate reading is Abhiksnam vartate bhumih arkam rahuh upaitica (bhi.p. 3.11) The meaning is essentially same, except the eclipse occurrence is in present tense. After three sentences all versions have another reference to mahagrahah, that is Rahu. Senayoh asivam ghoram karisyati mahagrahah (bhi.p. 3.13) Rahu does bad to both the armies.

Thus some time before the war all versions indicate occurrence of a solar eclipse.

But a difficulty arises due to the mention of another eclipse a few verses later in the same chapter. This fifth solar eclipse in the text is Candra-suryavubhau grastau eka mase trayodsim

(bhi.p. 3.29)

Moon and Sun were eclipsed in the same month at thirteen days (interval).

THIS INDICATES OCCURRENCE OF A SOLAR AND A LUNAR ECLIPSE IN EITHER ORDER IN A MONTH THIS WILL BE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL

The sixth mention of an eclipse appears in salya Parvan, on the last day of the war, before the dual between Bhima and Duryodhana. Among the several bad omens an eclipse finds mention as Rahusca agrasadadityam aparvani visampate Cakampe ca mahakampam prithivi savanadruma (sal.p. 56.10) Rahu caught up Sun at an odd time. The earth shook along with trees and forests.

All the editions carry this verse. However this event is not credible as an eclipse. This follows from the previous statements in bhisma parvan, that the eighteen-day war started the day next to a kartika full moon

The seventh solar eclipse, which is again not reliable, is in asvamedhika parvan, during a fight between Arjuna and the Saindhavas.

Rahuh agrasat adityam yugapat somam eva ca Tatah khat tu vinirbhidya mandalam sasino-patat (ash.p. 77.15, 77.18)

This means Rahu caught both sun and moon together. The imagery would look quite interesting in that sun and moon are together anyway on a new moon day. But in the next verse it is said that a part from moon fell out breaking the sky, which would mean moon was visible. Thus this event is not reliable.

The eighth and final solar eclipse is in mausala parvan, in the thirtysixth year after the war, observed at Dwaraka Caturdasi pancadasi krteyam rahuna punah Mene praptam sa-sat-trimsam varsamvai kesisudanah (mau.p. 2.19, 2.20)

The fourteenth day has been made into the fifteenth day again by Rahu. Krsna understood that the 36th year (as said by Gandhari at the end of the MB war) had arrived.

This eclipse is mentioned in all the editions of the text. Also this event finds prominent mention, in the Prabhasa Khanda of Skanda Purana, while describing the last days of Krishna

ALL VERSIONS AGREE ON THREE RELIABLE ECLIPSES

sabha parvan (SE1)

13-15 years

bhisma parvan (SE2) mausala parvan (SE3)

36th year from war

satisfying a time sequence. The first or the second or both could have been succeeded or preceded by a lunar eclipse in the same month. While the first two should have been observable at Kuruksetra, the third one should have been observed at Dwaraka

Planetary Positions Positions of planets are described in the text with reference to their nearness to fixed stars The first statement about planetary positions occurs in udyoga parvan, when Karna and Krishna are conversing. Prajapatyam hi naksatram grahahstiksno mahadyutih Sanaiscarah pidayati pidayan praninodhikam Krtva ca angarako vakram jyesthayam madhusudana Anuradham prarthayate maitram samsamayanniva Nunam mahadbhayam Krsna kurunam samupastitham Visesenahi varsneya citram pidayate grahah

(udy.p.142.8-10)

Saturn is with star rohini. Mars in retrograde motion is approaching anuradha from jyestha. There is a planet near citra. (p.p.1)

IN BHISMA PARVAN A SERIES OF PLANETARY POSITIONS ARE MENTIONED, SOME OF WHICH ARE APPARENTLY INCOMPATIBLE.

In chapter 2, Vyasa in conversation with Dhritarastra tells, first, Rohinim pidayannesa sthitoh raja sanaiscarah Saturn is staying near rohini

(bhi.p.2.32) (p.p.2)

IN THE NEXT CHAPTER, AGAIN IT IS SAID

SVETO GRAHAH TATHA CITRAM SAMATIKRAMYA TISTHATI (BHI.P.3.11) A WHITE PLANET RESIDES, HAVING CROSSED CITRA. (P.P.3)

After three lines not connected with planetary positions, Vyasa is supposed to say again, Maghasvangarako vakrah sravaneca brhaspatih Bhagam naksatram akramya suryaputrena pidyate Sukrah prosthapade purve samaruhya visampate Uttare tu parikramya sahitah pratyudiksate Syamo grahah prajvalitah sadhumah saha pavakah Aindram tejasvi naksatram jyestham akramya tisthati Dhruvah prajvalito ghoram apasavyam pravartate Citra svati antarecaiva dhisthitah paruso grahah Vakranuvakram krtva ca sravane pavakaprabhah Brahma-rasim samavrtya lohitango vyavasthitah

(bhi.p.3.14-3.19)

Mars in retrograde is in magha and Jupiter is in sravana. Suryaputra (Saturn?) is afflicting Purva-Phalguni. Sukra (literally one who is white, Venus) previously getting up in star Purvabhadra and having circled in north (or uttara or uttarabhadra) is looking up, with a company. The dark planet blazing with smoke and fire is with jyestha. A rough planet is in between citra and svati. Red-planet having gone retrograde again and again through Sravana is in brahma-rashi (near Rohini ?) (p.p.4)

In the above itself it is seen that the previous position of Saturn remains contradicted. About Mars also it is ambiguous. Some editions read ‘Bhagam’ in the second line above as ‘Bhagyam’. Similarly, in the fifth line, ‘syamo grahah’ is read as ‘sveto grahah’. An extra observation ‘rohinim pidayatyevam ubhauca sasi-bhaskarau’ is also available as per the commentary of Nilakantha

In all editions, after another six verses a few more positions are stated. Grahau tamraruna-sikhau prajvalntaviva sthitau Saptarsinam udaranam samavacchadya vai prabham Samvatsara-sthayinauca grahau prajvalitavubhau Visakhayoh samipasthau brhaspati-sanaiscarau Krttikasu grahahstivrah naksatre prathame jvalan Vapumsi apaharan bhasa dhumaketuriva sthitah Trisu purvesu sarvesu naksatresu visampate Budhah sampatate abhiksnam janayan su-mahadbhayam Caturdasim pancadasim bhutapurvanca sodasim Imamtu nabhijanami amavasyam trayodasim Candra-suryavubhau grastau eka-mase trayodasim

(bhi.p. 3.23-3.29)

Two blazing planets have reduced the brightness of saptarsis. Jupiter and Saturn being stationary for a year are near (the double stars) visakha. There is a sharp planet with the first star of krttikas, like a comet. In the three stars preceding this, Mercury is seen often. I know instances of amavasya falling on the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth day of the fortnight, but not on the thirteenth day like now. Moon and Sun both got eclipsed in the same month, oddly at thirteen days (interval). (p.p.5) In this position also, there are variant readings. The Gita Press edition gives an extra eclipse statement after the fourth line Candradityau ubhau grastau ekahna hi trayodasim Nilakantha explains this as a solar eclipse on the thirteenth day, highlighting the occurrence of a fortnight short by two days. Another glaring difference in this version is the substitution of budhah (Mercury) by grdhrah (eagle) in the eighth line.

The variant readings indicate some of the stated planetary positions are not reliable. The traditional rendering of svetograhah to mean ketu, as by Nilakantha in his commentary adds to the confusion. His interpretation of the text at p.p.3 above and the eclipse mention a line before that is, Kartikyah param hi sangramarambhah, tatra tulastham arkam rahurupaiti. Tadeva sveto grhaha ketuh citram atikramati svatyadau vartate. Nityam sama-saptakasthau rahu-ketu idanim eka-rasi-gatau maha-anistha sucakau iti bhavah. (bhi.p. 3.11-12) After Kartika (month) is the start of the war. There Rahu approaches Sun in Tula (Libra). That white planet Ketu crosses Citra and resides in the beginning of Svati. Rahu and Ketu, who always

stay diametrically opposite at the seventh places, being now in the same sign, are indicative of great calamity; is the meaning.

Ganguly in his translation adopts this interpretation.

This means that the ascending and descending nodes of Moon were together during the MB war, which is absurd.

Instead the white planet should have been a visible unnamed planet, not requiring any convoluted interpretations. Not withstanding some such difficulties, there are no reasons to ignore the above citations of eclipses and planetary positions as being fictitious. They could be approximate and even erroneous due to recording errors, but from the context and style of the text on the whole, they have to be accepted as genuine observations.

The textual planetary positions p.p.4; p.p.5; p.p.6 and p.p.7 cannot be taken on their face value BUT ALL VERSIONS AGREE ON PP1, PP2 AND PP3

THIS ESSENTIALLY MEANS RELIABLY 1. SATURN WAS SEEN TO BE NEAR STAR ROHINI SOMETIME BEFORE THE WAR 2. ON A KARTIKA-KRISHNA-ASTAMI NIGHT BEFORE THE WAR MARS WAS SEEN TO BE BETWEEN STARS JYESTHA AND ANURADHA 3. A PLANET WAS SEEN NEAR STAR CHITRA

PROBLEM FIND A SEQUENCE OF THREE SOLAR ECLIPSES (SE1, SE2,SE3) AT THE REQUIRED TIME INTERVALS SUCH THAT PP1, PP2, PP3 ARE ALSO SATISFIED. APPROACH: SHANAISHCARA=SLOWLY MOVING SATURN TAKES 30 YEARS FOR A CYCLE HENCE DURING THE ECLIPSE SE2 ALSO IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN NEAR ROHINI.

SE2 WAS A DOUBLE ECLIPSE (DSE2) IN THE WAR YEAR. THAT IS TWO ECLIPSES IN A MONTH

AT THIS STAGE IT IS WORTHWHILE TO HAVE A LIST OF DOUBLE ECLIPSES (DSE2) WITH SATURN NEAR ROHINI Planet Visibility Software PVIS, is user friendly for eclipse search. For finding planetary positions, EZC,can be easily handled. Period of search has been restricted to the interval 501 BC–3250 BC. Kuruksetra 76049’E and 29059’N

During the above period 267 double eclipses were possible

DOUBLE ECLIPSES OBSERVABLE AT KURUKSETRA DURING 501-3000 BC ROHINI SERIES (POSSIBLE SE2 SOLUTIONS)

No.

Year BC

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

505 624 679 711 768 798 830 974 1122 1154 1181 1183 1328 1478 1710 1711

Lunar eclipse

Solar eclipse

31 Jan 16 Feb 23 Jun 8 July 1 June 17 June 27 Feb 14 March 21 Sept 7 Sept 23 Nov 7 Nov 14 Jan 829 30 Dec 19 Oct 4 Oct 5 Oct 21 Sept 3 July 18 June 1 June 16 June 27 Jan 12 Jan 1 Nov 17 Oct 16 May 1 June 26 Oct 10 Nov 11 June 27 May

Saturn

S.E at Dwaraka after 35 years

Bharani Bharani Mrgasira Bha-Krttika Rohi-Mrga Rohini Asvini Rohini Rohini Asvini Rohini Asvini Roh-Mrga Bhar-Krtt Ardra Rohini

1.9.469; 20.3.470 N.P N.P 15.4.676 N.P 15.6.763 6.9.795; 24.3.796 N.P N.P N.P N.P N.P N.P 7.1.1443, 18.1.1444 N.P N.P

DOUBLE ECLIPSES OBSERVABLE AT KURUKSETRA DURING 501-3000 BC ROHINI SERIES (POSSIBLE DSE2 SOLUTIONS CONTD.)

No.

Year BC

Lunar eclipse

Solar eclipse

Saturn

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

1713 1832 1861 1917 2213 2215 2567 2594 2682 2624 2743 2744 2774 2889

8 Jan 29 May 24Dec’62 7 July 5 Nov 6 Jan 19 Nov 18 Nov 8 Feb 30Dec 15 Nov 1 June 1 August 10 Sept

22 Jan 13 June 9 Jan 23 June 20 Nov 22 Jan 4 Dec 3 Nov 24 Feb 13 Jan 31 Oct 16 June 18 July 26 Sept

Asvini Asvi-Bhar Rev-Asvi Mrgasira Krttika Rev-Asvi Krttika Mrgasira Mrgasira Krttika Krttika Krttika Bhar-Krtt Mrga-Ardra

31

2950

28 June

13 July

Krttika

S.E at Dwaraka after 35 years 8.8.1677; 23.2.1678 N.P 10.2.1826 N.P N.P 23.2.2180 N.P N.P 28.3.2647 4.2.2588; 11.8.2589 8.7.2708 24.1.2709 N.P N.P 19.2.2915; 15.8.2915; 4.8.2914.

COMPATIBLE ECLIPSE SE1 FROM SE2 AND SE3 OF ROHINI SERIES (N.P = NOT POSSIBLE) N o.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Y ear B C 505 518 519 520 711 724 725 726 798 811 812 813 830 843 844 845 1478 1491 1492 1493 1713 1726 1727 1728 1861 1874 1875 1876

Lunar e c lip s e

S o la r e c lip s e

S a tu r n

J u p ite r

3 1 .1 --8 .1 1 2 7 .2 N .P --2 3 .1 1 N .P --1 4 .1 .8 2 9 N .P --1 6 .5 ;1 0 .1 1 1 1 .2 -4 .3 8 .1 ---2 4 .1 2 .’ 6 2 ---------

1 6 .2 N .P N .P 2 3 .1 1 1 4 .3 6 .5 N .P N .P 7 .1 1 3 0 .1 2 N .P N .P 3 0 .1 2 2 .5 ,2 6 .9 N .P N .P 1 .6 2 3 .7 N .P 1 9 .3 2 2 .1 N .P N .P N .P 9 .1 N .P N .P N .P

B h aran i --A n u rad h a B h a r-K rttik a M u la --R o h in i P u rv a sa d h a --A s v in i A n u rad h a --R o h in i A n u -V is -V is a k h a R o h in i ---R e v a -A sv i ----------

P u rv a b h a d ra --U tta ra s a d h a A n u ra d h a S v a ti --M agha P u n a rv a su --J y e s th a C itra --R e v a ti D h a n is th a -M u la K rttik a ---J y e s th a -------------

COMPATIBLE ECLIPSE SE1 FROM SE2 AND SE3 OF ROHINI SERIES (N.P = NOT POSSIBLE) N o.

8

9

10

11

12

13

Y ea r B C 2215 2228 2229 2230 2624 2637 2638 2639 2682 2695 2696 2697 2743 2756 2757 2758 2744 2757 2758 2759 2950 2963 2964 2965

Lunar eclip se

S o la r eclip se

S a tu rn

J u p iter

6 .1 ---3 0 .1 2 .’2 5 ---N .P ---8 .2 ---1 5 .1 1 N .P 2 2 .8 1 0 .3 1 .6 2 2 .8 1 0 .3 -2 8 .6 ----

2 2 .1 N .P N .P N .P 1 3 .1 N .P 1 9 .3 N .P 2 4 .2 N .P N .P N .P 31.1 0 2 8 .7 8 .8 2 5 .3 1 6 .6 8 .8 2 5 .3 5 .4 1 3 .7 N .P N .P N .P

A svini ---K rttik a ---M ula ---R o h in i ---R o h in i Jy esth a Jy esth a A n u rad h a R o h in i Jy esth a A n u rad h a V isak ha R o h in i ----

S rav ana ---P usy a ----R o h i-M rg a ---C itra ---M ag h a P u n arv asu A rdra A sv in i P usy a A rdra A sv in i U .b h ad ra D h an isth a ----

A detailed search and analysis of 2750 years of data produces ELEVEN possible sequences of three eclipses as being compatible with SATURN NEAR ROHINI FOR THE WAR YEAR in the text of Mahabharata.

These triplets (SE1,SE2,SE3) in chronological order are (520,505,470/69) (811,798,763)

(724,711,676) (843,830,795)

(1493/91,1478,1443/44) (2638,2624,2588/89) (2759/58/57, 2744, 2709) (3168, 3154, 3119)

(2758/57/56, 2743, 2708) (3021, 3008, 2973) (3200/3198, 3185, 3151)

Planetary positions as per EZC software on Kartika-KrishnaAshtami of possible war years. (Udyoga Parvan P.P.1. Slide 33)

Date-BC

Saturn

Jupiter

Venus

Mars

1.10.505

Krittika

Revati

Svati

Bharani

29.9.711

Krittika

Anuradha

Vishakha

Chitra

1.10.798

Rohini

Magha

Hasta

Magha

26.9.830

Krittika

Anuradha

Uttara

Magha

20.9.1478

Purva bhadra Purva

Jyestha

JyesthaAnuradha

31.8.2624

BharaniKrittika Mrigasira

Jyestha

Uttara

27.8.2743 6.9.2744

Krittika Krittika

Magha Pushya

Chi-Svati Jyestha

Ardra Chi-Svati

Sky Chart for 20.9.1478BC 19 hrs.(LT)

Sky Chart for 20.9.1478BC 5.30 AM (LT)

Sky Chart for 12.10.1478BC 5.55 PM (LT)

Sky Chart for 12.10.1478BC 5.30 AM (LT)

WHAT ABOUT OTHER PLANETARY POSITIONS ALSO IN BHISHMA PARVAN. OBVIOUSLY SATURN COULD NOT HAVE BEEN NEAR BOTH ROHINI AND VISHAKHA IN A SPAN OF A FEW DAYS OR WEEKS. COULD THE STATEMENTS BE SPURIOUS?

PERHAPS NOT ! BECAUSE FOR (1493/91,1478,1443)

SE1 OCCURRED WITH SATURN NEAR VISHAKHA. See sky chart for 19.3.1493 B.C.

HYPOTHESIS P.P.4 & P.P.5 in Bhishma Parvan refer to the Eclipse SE1 of Sabha Parvan. This stands verified since a sequence of three eclipses can be found with constraints on type, time interval and position of Saturn such that when the most reliable planetary position P.P.1 is satisfied, the other positions pp.4, pp.5,… turn out to be true automatically.

Sky Chart for 19.3.1493BC 5.30 AM (LT)

Sky Chart for 19.3.1493 BC 9.30 PM (LT)

Fig. 4c Retrograde motion of Venus and Mars during 19.12.1494 BC-19.3.1493 BC.

SENSITIVITY STUDY WHAT IF ECLIPSE SE1 OF SABHA PARVAN WAS A DOUBLE ECLIPSE BUT SE2 WAS NOT ?

WILL THE PREVIOUS SOLUTIONS CHANGE ?

TO VERIFY THIS WE NEED ALL DOUBLE ECLIPSES OF 501-3250BC WHEN SATURN+JUPITER WAS NEAR VISHAKHA

Double eclipses observable at Kuruksetra during 501-3000 BC Visakha Series (DSE1) N o.

Y ear B C

Lunar e c lip se

S o la r e c lip se

S a tu r n

J u p ite r

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

664 758 782 876 1198 1375 1436 1493 1849 1932 2051 2053 2171 2289 2406 2407 2433 2492 2527 2703 2704 2762

13 A ug 1 Sept 3 0 Ju n e 1 8 Ju ly 4 N ov 18 M ay 2 8 A u g u st 4 M a rc h 1 N ov 2 6 A p ril 16 Sept 1 3 A p ril 28 Feb 5 D ec 11 O ct 2 7 A p ril 9 Sept 5 Ju n e 29 Sept 24 Sept 1 1 A p ril 22 M ay

28 A ug 17 Sept 1 5 Ju n e 4 Ju ly 21 O ct 3 M ay 1 3 A u g u st 1 9 M a rc h 17 N ov 1 1 A p ril 2 Sept 2 9 A p ril 14 Feb 20 D ec 26 Sept 13 M ay 24 Sept 22 M ay 14 O ct 10 Sept 2 6 A p ril 6 Ju n e

M u la S v a ti M u la C itra A n u ra d h a V isa k h a C itra -S v a ti V isa k h a S v a -V is Jy e sth a A n u ra d h a V isa k h a V isa k h a V isa k h a V isa k h a S v a ti Jy e sth a Jy e sth a S v a ti C itr-S v a ti H a sta S v a ti

V isa k h a Jy e sth a A n u ra d h a M u la A n u ra d h a A n u ra d h a C itra -S v a ti M u la Jy e -M u la Jy e sth a Jy e sth a H a sta -C itra S v a -V is Jy e sth a M u la A n u ra d h a C itr-S v a ti H a sta V isa k h a Jy e sth a V isa k h a M u la

Compatible eclipse SE2 from SE1 of VISHAKHA SERIES N o. 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Y ear B C

L unar e c lip s e

S o la r e c lip s e

6 6 6 6

6 5 5 4

4 1 0 9

1 3 .8 ---

2 8 .8 7 .6 N .P N .P

7 7 7 7

8 6 6 6

2 9 8 7

3 0 .6 -2 1 .9 --

1 5 .6 N .P 7 .9 N .P

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

1 1 1 1 4 4 4 4 7 7 7 7 9 9 9 9 2 2 2 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

9 8 8 8 9 8 7 7 2 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 8 7 7 7 3 2 1 1 9 7 7 7

8 5 4 3 3 0 9 8 9 6 5 4 2 9 8 7 9 6 5 4 3 0 9 8 2 9 8 7

4 .1 1 1 8 .2 -2 7 .1 4 .3 -N .P 1 6 .5 ;1 0 .1 1 3 1 .5 --N .P 2 6 .4 2 9 .7 -7 .7 5 .1 2 --2 7 .2 9 .9 N .P 2 .1 2 -5 .6 -4 .3 --

2 1 .1 0 2 8 .8 N .P 1 2 .1 1 9 .3 N .P 1 1 .6 1 .6 1 6 .5 N .P N .P 2 9 .7 1 1 .4 1 8 .2 N .P 2 3 .6 2 0 .1 2 N .P N .P 1 5 .3 2 4 .9 4 .7 2 3 .6 N .P 2 2 .5 N .P 1 4 .8 N .P

S a tu r n

J u p ite r

M u la R o h in i --M u la -R o h iM rg a -A n u rad h a R e v a ti -R o h in i V is a k h a -A s v in i K rttik a S v a -V is --R o h in i J y e s th a B h a ra n i -R o h in i V is a k h a --B h a ra n i J y e s th a K rttik a R o h in i -J y e s th a -R o h in i --

V is a k h a J y e s th a ---

S .E 3 a t D w a r a k a 3 5 y e a r s a fte r w a r -N .P ---

A n u rad h a -U ’a sa d h a --

--N .P --

A n u rad h a J y e s th a -S ra v a n a M u la -S ra v a n a R e v a ti S ra v a n a --K rttik a J y e s th a S ra v a n a -S ra v a n a J y e s th a --D h a n is th a C it-S v a ti C it-S v a ti A n u rad h a -H a s ta -J y e s th a --

-7 .4 .1 1 5 0 -N .P --1 8 .1 .1 4 4 4 7 .1 .1 4 4 3 ---N .P -1 5 .9 .1 8 8 4 -N .P ---N .P -N .P N .P ---N .P --

THREE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS EMERGE IF SE1 IS TAKEN AS A DOUBLE ECLIPSE WITH SATURN+JUPITER NEAR VISHAKHA (1198,1185,1150)

(1493, 1479/78, 1444/43) (1932,1919,1884)

YEARS 1185,1479, 1919 BC GET ELIMINATED AS WAR YEARS REFERRING TO P.P.1 ON KARTIKA-KRISHNA-ASTAMI ON 20.9.1185 MARS WAS NEAR HASTA ON 30.9.1479 MARS WAS NEAR PUSHYA ON 6.9.1919 MARS WAS NEAR PUNARVASU-PUSHYA

FIRST QUESTION ANSWERED:

THE TRIPLET(1493,1478,1443BC) SATISFIES THE ECLIPSE SEQUENCE AND ALMOST ALL PLANETARY POSITIONS OF MAHABHARATA.

SECOND QUESTION: WHAT ABOUT OTHER CELESTIAL OBSERVATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH KRISHNA-LORE ? WE HAVE TO CHECK WHETHER THE PURANIC STATEMENTS ARE COMPATIBLE WITH THOSE IN MB

HARI-VAMŚA (HV) CHECK WHETHER THE PURANIC STATEMENTS ARE COMPATIBLE WITH THE MB DATE OF 1493-1443 BC As in the previous investigations with MB, the planetarium software, PVIS has been used to search for solar eclipses observable at Mathura. A solar eclipse was possible to have been observed on 4th April 1523 BC. A few days later Mars could have been seen in the stated position. WHAT ABOUT THE COMET OBSERVATION?

Saturn

Mars

Sky Chart as per EZC Software for 25.6.1523 BC. 22 Hr. (L.T).

NEXT TO MAHABHARATA, PRABHASA-KHANDA OF SKANDA PURANA CONTAINS MORE CELESTIAL OBSERVATIONS CONNECTED WITH THE LIFE OF KRISHNA. VISHNU PURANA AND BHAGAVATA CONSIDERED MORE IMPORTANT CONTAIN NO VERIFIABLE CELESTIAL OBSERVATIONS.

DURING 1522-1500 BC SEVEN SOLAR ECLIPSES WERE POSSIBLE

LUNAR ECLIPSE WHEN PANDAVAS WERE IN COGNITO IN THE 13TH YEAR OF THEIR EXILE

This eclipse introduces a severe constraint on the original MB story. Previously it has been found that the compatible year for the war is 1478 BC. Also there is internal evidence in MB text, to the effect that the war took place about an year after the thirteen year exile was completed. Hence, for SKANDA PURANA to be in conformity with MB, the above lunar eclipse should have been in 1480 BC. Indeed there was a lunar eclipse on 24thApril 1480 BC, as can be verified from PVIS software, visible over Kurukshetra and near by regions

SOLAR ECLIPSE IN THE 36TH YEAR AFTER THE WAR CURSE OF GAANDHARI ON KRISHNA

COMET SIGHTING SOMETIME BEFORE KRISHNA’S DEMISE IN 1443-1444 BC

MB (Aadi-parvan) yatra.te.puruSa.vyaaghraah shastra.sparza.sahaa.yudhi| brahma.daNDa.viniSpiSTaah samiipe.lavaNa.ambhasah|| This verse refers to the last days of Yadavas, who fought among themselves near the salt sea. But it also mentions they were squeezed by the ‘brahma danda’. In the puranas this is explained as a ‘musala’ or pestle (long wooden contraption to pound paddy)born miraculously. Still the comet metaphor of musala is clear! As per Brihat samhita and other scientific texts, Brahmadanda is a comet.

VISHNU PURANA INDICATES THAT KRISHNA LIVED FOR NEARLY 100 YEARS. IN THE ABOVE ANALYSIS WE MAY TAKE THAT HE WAS ABOUT 16 YEARS WHEN HE FIRST VISITED MATHURA. HARIVAMSHA SAYS HE WAS IN-BETWEEN A BOY AND A YOUTH. HARIVAMSHA MENTIONS ABOUT A COMET AROUND THAT TIME (~1523 BC) THERE IS A COMET OBSERVATION IN SKANDA PURANA BEFORE KRISHNA’S FINAL DEPARTURE (1443-44 BC). MB’s Musala could be an euphemism for a comet!! THIS TIME PERIOD COULD BE ABOUT 75-80 YEARS. WE CAN QUESTION WHETHER A COMET WHICH REPEATS AT NEARLY 75-80 YEARS COULD HAVE BEEN MENTIONED BY THE SANSKRIT TEXTS. SUCH A COMET IS HALLEY’S COMET. ITS ORBIT IN ANCIENT PERIODS HAS BEEN COMPUTED BY ASTRONOMERS.

HALLEY’S COMET: 1986 AD to 2647 BC, J.L.BRADY, J. BRITISH ASTRO. ASSOCIATION, 1982

Excavations at Mahabharata sites (B.B.Lal) Hastinapura and Ahichhatra. Pottery belonging to 1100-1200 BC.

The fortunate find in the seventies, at a tomb in Mawangdui, China, of a Han dynasty (168 BC) silk comet atlas sheds considerable light on earlier enigmatic motifs. Most interesting is the SWASTIKA, a sacred symbol in Indian culture. Trishula, Vel could also be metaphors for comets.

BHAGAVATHA PURANA, 12TH BOOK PARIKSHIT TO MAHANANDA: 1115 YEARS NAVA-NANDAS:

100 YEARS

CHANDRAGUPTA AND MAURYAS : 137 YEARS

THIS GIVES 1350-1450 BC FOR M-B PERIOD VISHNUPURANA 4TH BOOK GIVES SIMILAR RESULTS

ARCHAEOLOGICAL DATING OF ARTEFACTS AT EXCAVATED MB SITES IS 1300-1400 B.C. (REF: S.P.GUPTA: M-B MYTH AND REALITY)

CONCLUSIONS 1. THE CELESTIAL OBSERVATIONS MENTIONED IN MAHABHARATA ARE COMPATIBLE AMONG THEMSELVES. THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN OBSERVED DURING 1493-1443 BC. 2.THE CELESTIAL OBSERVATIONS GIVEN IN OTHER PURANAS LINKED WITH KRISHNA ARE HARMONIOUS WITH THE ABOVE PERIOD. KRISHNA IN ALL LIKELIHOOD LIVED DURING 1543-1443 BC