HISTORICITY OF THE HISTORICITY OF THE MAHABHARATAMAHABHARATA

44THTH LECTURE IN THE SERIESLECTURE IN THE SERIES

SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION IN SANSKRIT SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION IN SANSKRIT LITERATURELITERATURE

R. N. IYENGAR

BANGALORE

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED IN THIS TALKQUESTIONS 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 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

Abhimanyu Parikshit

JANAMEJAYATakshashila

VAISHAMPAYANA

UGRASHRAVAS

SAUNAKANaimisharanya

WEST

NORTH-EASTSOUTH

JAYA 8800BHARATA 24000MAHABHARATA 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, GORAKHPURTEXT + 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 VaranavataAstame 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 yavasendhanahPakvosadhi vanasphitah phalavan alpamaksikahNispanko rasavattoyo natyusna-sisirah sukhahSaptamacchapi divasat amavasya bhavisyatiSangramam 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 YojanasCircumference=36,000 Yojanas Diameter of Moon = 11,000 YojanasCircumference=33,000 YojanasDiameter of Sun=10,000 Yojanas Circumference= 30,000 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 samakampataRahuragrasadadityam 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 upagrasatAparvani 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 oThus some time before the war all versions indicate occurrence of a f a solar eclipse. 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

MONTHTHIS 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 asvamedhikaparvan, 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 thirty-sixth 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)

bhisma parvan (SE2)

mausala parvan (SE3)

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

13-15 years

36th year from war

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 (bhi.p.2.32)

Saturn is staying near rohini (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. Surya-putra (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, ‘syamograhah’ 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 editiongives 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 arkamrahurupaiti. Tadeva sveto grhaha ketuh citram atikramati svatyadauvartate. Nityam sama-saptakasthau rahu-ketu idanim eka-rasi-gataumaha-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 This means that the ascending and descending nodes of Moon were together during the MB war, which is absurd.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

PROBLEMFIND 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

Lunar eclipse

Solar eclipse Saturn S.E at Dwaraka

after 35 years

1 505 31 Jan 16 Feb Bharani 1.9.469; 20.3.470 2 624 23 Jun 8 July Bharani N.P 3 679 1 June 17 June Mrgasira N.P 4 711 27 Feb 14 March Bha-Krttika 15.4.676 5 768 21 Sept 7 Sept Rohi-Mrga N.P 6 798 23 Nov 7 Nov Rohini 15.6.763 7 830 14 Jan 829 30 Dec Asvini 6.9.795; 24.3.796 8 974 19 Oct 4 Oct Rohini N.P 9 1122 5 Oct 21 Sept Rohini N.P 10 1154 3 July 18 June Asvini N.P 11 1181 1 June 16 June Rohini N.P 12 1183 27 Jan 12 Jan Asvini N.P 13 1328 1 Nov 17 Oct Roh-Mrga N.P 14 1478 16 May 1 June Bhar-Krtt 7.1.1443, 18.1.1444 15 1710 26 Oct 10 Nov Ardra N.P 16 1711 11 June 27 May Rohini 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 S.E at Dwaraka

after 35 years

17 1713 8 Jan 22 Jan Asvini 8.8.1677; 23.2.1678 18 1832 29 May 13 June Asvi-Bhar N.P 19 1861 24Dec’62 9 Jan Rev-Asvi 10.2.1826 20 1917 7 July 23 June Mrgasira N.P 21 2213 5 Nov 20 Nov Krttika N.P 22 2215 6 Jan 22 Jan Rev-Asvi 23.2.2180 23 2567 19 Nov 4 Dec Krttika N.P 24 2594 18 Nov 3 Nov Mrgasira N.P 25 2682 8 Feb 24 Feb Mrgasira 28.3.2647 26 2624 30Dec 13 Jan Krttika 4.2.2588; 11.8.2589 27 2743 15 Nov 31 Oct Krttika 8.7.2708 28 2744 1 June 16 June Krttika 24.1.2709 29 2774 1 August 18 July Bhar-Krtt N.P 30 2889 10 Sept 26 Sept Mrga-Ardra N.P

31 2950 28 June 13 July Krttika 19.2.2915; 15.8.2915; 4.8.2914.

N o . Y e a r B C L u n a r e c l i p s e

S o l a r e c l i p s e S a t u r n J u p i t e r

1

5 0 5 5 1 8 5 1 9 5 2 0

3 1 .1 - - - -

8 . 1 1

1 6 .2 N .P N .P

2 3 .1 1

B h a r a n i - - - -

A n u r a d h a

P u r v a b h a d r a - - - -

U t t a r a s a d h a

2

7 1 1 7 2 4 7 2 5 7 2 6

2 7 .2 N .P

- - - -

1 4 .3 6 .5 N .P N .P

B h a r - K r t t i k a M u l a

- - - -

A n u r a d h a S v a t i

- - - -

3

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

2 3 .1 1 N .P

- - - -

7 . 1 1 3 0 .1 2

N .P N .P

R o h i n i P u r v a s a d h a

- - - -

M a g h a P u n a r v a s u

- - - -

4

8 3 0 8 4 3 8 4 4 8 4 5

1 4 .1 .8 2 9 N .P

- - - -

3 0 .1 2 2 .5 ,2 6 .9

N .P N .P

A s v i n i A n u r a d h a

- - - -

J y e s t h a C i t r a

- - - -

5

1 4 7 8 1 4 9 1 1 4 9 2 1 4 9 3

1 6 .5 ; 1 0 .1 1 1 1 .2

- - 4 . 3

1 .6 2 3 .7 N .P 1 9 .3

R o h i n i A n u - V i s

- - V i s a k h a

R e v a t i D h a n i s t h a

- - M u l a

6

1 7 1 3 1 7 2 6 1 7 2 7 1 7 2 8

8 .1 - - - - - -

2 2 .1 N .P N .P N .P

R o h i n i - - - - - -

K r t t i k a - - - - - -

7

1 8 6 1 1 8 7 4 1 8 7 5 1 8 7 6

2 4 .1 2 . ’ 6 2 - - - - - - - - - - -

9 . 1 N .P N .P N .P

R e v a - A s v i - - - - - - - - - - - -

J y e s t h a - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

COMPATIBLE ECLIPSE SE1 FROM SE2 AND SE3 OF ROHINI SERIES

(N.P = NOT POSSIBLE)

N o. Y ear B C

L unar eclipse

Solar eclipse Saturn Jupiter

8

2215 2228 2229 2230

6.1 -- -- --

22.1 N .P N .P N .P

A svini -- -- --

Sravana -- -- --

9

2624 2637 2638 2639

30.12.’25 ---- N .P ----

13.1 N .P 19.3 N .P

K rttika ----

M ula ----

Pusya -----

R ohi-M rga ----

10

2682 2695 2696 2697

8.2 -- -- --

24.2 N .P N .P N .P

R ohini -- -- --

C itra -- -- --

11

2743 2756 2757 2758

15.11 N .P 22.8 10.3

31.10 28.7 8 .8

25.3

R ohini Jyestha Jyestha

A nuradha

M agha Punarvasu

A rdra A svini

12

2744 2757 2758 2759

1.6 22.8 10.3

--

16.6 8 .8

25.3 5 .4

R ohini Jyestha

A nuradha V isakha

Pusya A rdra A svini

U .bhadra

13

2950 2963 2964 2965

28.6 -- -- --

13.7 N .P N .P N .P

R ohini -- -- --

D hanistha -- -- --

COMPATIBLE ECLIPSE SE1 FROM SE2 AND SE3 OF ROHINI SERIES

(N.P = NOT POSSIBLE)

A detailed search and analysis of 2750 years of data produces

ELEVEN

possible sequences of three eclipses as being compatible with

SATURN NEAR ROHINISATURN NEAR ROHINI

FOR THE WAR YEARFOR THE WAR YEAR

in the text of Mahabharata.

These triplets (SE1,SE2,SE3) in chronological order are

(520,505,470/69) (724,711,676)

(811,798,763) (843,830,795)

(1493/91,1478,1443/44)

(2638,2624,2588/89) (2758/57/56, 2743, 2708)

(2759/58/57, 2744, 2709) (3021, 3008, 2973)

(3168, 3154, 3119) (3200/3198, 3185, 3151)

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

Chi-SvatiJyesthaPushyaKrittika6.9.2744ArdraChi-SvatiMaghaKrittika27.8.2743

UttaraJyesthaPurvaMrigasira31.8.2624

Jyestha-Anuradha

JyesthaPurvabhadra

Bharani-Krittika

20.9.1478

MaghaUttaraAnuradhaKrittika26.9.830

MaghaHastaMaghaRohini1.10.798

ChitraVishakhaAnuradhaKrittika29.9.711

BharaniSvatiRevatiKrittika1.10.505

MarsVenusJupiterSaturnDate-BC

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 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 ea r B C L u n a r ec lip se

S o la r ec lip se S a tu rn J u p iter

1 6 6 4 1 3 A u g 2 8 A u g M u la V isak h a 2 7 5 8 1 S ep t 1 7 S ep t S v a ti Jy esth a 3 7 8 2 3 0 Ju n e 1 5 Ju n e M u la A n u rad h a 4 8 7 6 1 8 Ju ly 4 Ju ly C itra M u la

5 1 1 9 8 4 N o v 2 1 O ct A n u rad h a A n u rad h a 6 1 3 7 5 1 8 M ay 3 M ay V isak h a A n u rad h a 7 1 4 3 6 2 8 A u g u st 1 3 A u g u st C itra -S v a ti C itra -S v a ti 8 1 4 9 3 4 M arch 1 9 M arch V isak h a M u la 9 1 8 4 9 1 N o v 1 7 N o v S v a-V is Jy e-M u la

1 0 1 9 3 2 2 6 A p ril 1 1 A p ril Jy esth a Jy esth a 1 1 2 0 5 1 1 6 S ep t 2 S ep t A n u rad h a Jy esth a 1 2 2 0 5 3 1 3 A p ril 2 9 A p ril V isak h a H asta -C itra 1 3 2 1 7 1 2 8 F eb 1 4 F eb V isak h a S v a-V is 1 4 2 2 8 9 5 D ec 2 0 D ec V isak h a Jy esth a 1 5 2 4 0 6 1 1 O ct 2 6 S ep t V isak h a M u la 1 6 2 4 0 7 2 7 A p ril 1 3 M ay S v a ti A n u rad h a 1 7 2 4 3 3 9 S ep t 2 4 S ep t Jy esth a C itr-S v a ti 1 8 2 4 9 2 5 Ju n e 2 2 M ay Jy esth a H asta 1 9 2 5 2 7 2 9 S ep t 1 4 O ct S v a ti V isak h a 2 0 2 7 0 3 2 4 S ep t 1 0 S ep t C itr-S v a ti Jy esth a 2 1 2 7 0 4 1 1 A p ril 2 6 A p ril H asta V isak h a 2 2 2 7 6 2 2 2 M ay 6 Ju n e S v a ti M u la

N o . Y e a r B C

L u n a r e c l i p s e

S o l a r e c l i p s e S a t u r n J u p i t e r S . E 3 a t D w a r a k a 3 5

y e a r s a f t e r w a r

1

6 6 4 6 5 1 6 5 0 6 4 9

1 3 . 8

- - - -

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

M u l a R o h i n i

- - - -

V i s a k h a J y e s t h a

- - - -

- - N . P

- - - -

2

7 8 2 7 6 9 7 6 8 7 6 7

3 0 . 6 - -

2 1 . 9 - -

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

M u l a - -

R o h i -M r g a

- -

A n u r a d h a - -

U ’ a s a d h a - -

- - - -

N . P - -

3

1 1 9 8 1 1 8 5 1 1 8 4 1 1 8 3

4 . 1 1 1 8 . 2

- - 2 7 . 1

2 1 . 1 0 2 8 . 8 N . P 1 2 . 1

A n u r a d h a R e v a t i

- - R o h i n i

A n u r a d h a J y e s t h a

- - S r a v a n a

- - 7 . 4 . 1 1 5 0

- - N . P

4

1 4 9 3 1 4 8 0 1 4 7 9 1 4 7 8

4 . 3 - -

N . P 1 6 . 5 ; 1 0 . 1 1

1 9 . 3 N . P 1 1 . 6 1 . 6

V i s a k h a - -

A s v i n i K r t t i k a

M u l a - -

S r a v a n a R e v a t i

- - - -

1 8 . 1 . 1 4 4 4 7 . 1 . 1 4 4 3

5

1 7 2 9 1 7 1 6 1 7 1 5 1 7 1 4

3 1 . 5 - - - -

N . P

1 6 . 5 N . P N . P 2 9 . 7

S v a - V i s - - - -

R o h i n i

S r a v a n a - - - -

K r t t i k a

- - - - - -

N . P

6

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

2 6 . 4 2 9 . 7

- - 7 . 7

1 1 . 4 1 8 . 2 N . P 2 3 . 6

J y e s t h a B h a r a n i

- - R o h i n i

J y e s t h a S r a v a n a

- - S r a v a n a

- - 1 5 . 9 . 1 8 8 4

- - N . P

7

2 2 8 9 2 2 7 6 2 2 7 5 2 2 7 4

5 . 1 2 - - - -

2 7 . 2

2 0 . 1 2 N . P N . P 1 5 . 3

V i s a k h a - - - -

B h a r a n i

J y e s t h a - - - -

D h a n i s t h a

- - - - - -

N . P

8

2 4 3 3 2 4 2 0 2 4 1 9 2 4 1 8

9 . 9 N . P 2 . 1 2

- -

2 4 . 9 4 . 7

2 3 . 6 N . P

J y e s t h a K r t t i k a R o h i n i

- -

C i t - S v a t i C i t - S v a t i

A n u r a d h a - -

- - N . P N . P

- -

9

2 4 9 2 2 4 7 9 2 4 7 8 2 4 7 7

5 . 6 - -

4 . 3 - -

2 2 . 5 N . P 1 4 . 8 N . P

J y e s t h a - -

R o h i n i - -

H a s t a - -

J y e s t h a - -

- - - -

N . P - -

Compatible eclipse SE2 from SE1 of VISHAKHA SERIES

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:FIRST QUESTION ANSWERED:

THE TRIPLET(1493,1478,1443BC)

SATISFIES THE ECLIPSE SEQUENCE AND ALMOST ALL PLANETARY POSITIONS OF

MAHABHARATA.

SECOND QUESTION: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

HARIHARI--VAMVAMŚŚA (HV)A (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?

MarsSaturn

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

2424ththApril 1480 BC, April 1480 BC,

as can be verified from PVIS software, visible over Kurukshetra and near by regions

SOLAR ECLIPSE IN THE 36SOLAR ECLIPSE IN THE 36THTH YEAR AFTER THE WARYEAR AFTER THE WAR

CURSE OF GAANDHARI ON KRISHNACURSE OF GAANDHARI ON KRISHNA

COMET SIGHTING SOMETIME BEFORE KRISHNA’S DEMISE

IN 1443-1444 BC

MB (Aadi-parvan)yatra.te.puruSa.vyaaghraahshastra.sparza.sahaa.yudhi|

brahma.daNDa.viniSpiSTaahsamiipe.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 ‘brahmadanda’. In the puranas this is explained as a ‘musala’ or pestle (long wooden contraption to pound paddy)bornmiraculously. Still the comet metaphor of musalamusala is clear!As per Brihat samhita and other scientific texts, Brahma-danda is a comet.

VISHNU PURANA INDICATES THAT KRISHNA LIVED FOR NEARLYNEARLY 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 PERIODVISHNUPURANA 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

14931493--1443 BC.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