[Prev][Next][Index]
Mahabharat War 5561 B.C : By Dr. P.V. Vartak (3/5)
*******************************************
THE SCIENTIFIC DATING OF THE MAHABHARAT WAR
(16th October 5561 B.C.)
by
Dr. Padmakar Vishnu Vartak
(Part-3/5)
*******************************************
THE EXACT DATE OF MAHABHARAT WAR
--------------------------------
Harivansh (Vishnu Purana A. 5) states that when Nanda carried
Krishna to Gokul on Shravan Vadya Navami day, there was dry cow-dung
spread all over the ground and trees were cut down. The presence of
Dry Cowdung all over in Gokul indicates the presence of Summer in the
month of Shravan. Trees are usually cut down in Summer to be used as
fuel in the rainy season. The seasons move one month backwards in two
thousand years. Today the rainy season starts in Jeshtha but two
thousand years ago, at the time of KaIidas, rainy season used to start
in Ashadha. At the time of Krishna's birth the Summer was in the month
of Shravan while today it is in Vaishakha. Thus the summer is shifted
by four months, hence Krishna's period comes to 4x2000 = 8000 years
ago approximately. This means about 6000 years B.C., the same period
we have seen above.
At the time of Mahabharat, the Vernal Equinox was at Punarvasu. Next
to Punarvasu is Pushya Nakshtra. Vyas used "Pushyadi Ganana" for his
Sayan method, and called Nirayan Pushya as Sayan Ashvini. He shifted
the names of further Sayan Nakshtras accordingly. At that time Winter
Solstice was on Revati, so Vyas gave the next Nakshatra Ashvini the
first palee in the Nirayan list of Nakshatras. Thus he used Ashvinyadi
Ganana for the Nirayan method. Using at times Sayan names and at
times Nirayan names of the Nakshatras, Vyas prepared the riddles. By
the clue that Nirayan Pushya means Sayan Ashvini, it is seen that
Nirayan names of Nakshatras are eight Nakshatras ahead of the Sayan
names Thus the Saturn in Nirayan Purva, and Sayan Rohini, Jupiter
was in Nirayan Shravan, and Sayan Swati (near Vishakha), while the
Mars was in Nirayan Anuradha, and Sayan Magha, Rahu was between Chitra
and Swati, by Sayan way means it was in Nirayana. Uttara Ashadha (8
Nakshtras ahead). From these positions of the major planets we can
calculated the exact date. My procedure is as follows:
I found out that on 5th May 1950, the Saturn was in Purva Phalguni.
>From 1950 I deducted 29.45 years to get the year 1920 when the Saturn
was again in Purva. In this way I prepared a vertical column of the
years when the Saturn was in Purva. Similarly, I prepared vertical
columns of the years when the Jupiter was in Shravan and Rahu in
Uttara Ashadha. Then I searched in horizontally to find out the year
common in all the three columns. It was 5561-62 B.C. when all the
three great planets were at the required places. Then I proceded for
the detailed calculations.
Bhisma expired at the onset of Uttarayan i.e. on 22nd December. This
is a fixed point according to the modern Scientific Calendar. He was
on the arrow-bed for 58 nights and he had fought for ten days. Hence
68 days earlier than 22nd December the War had started. This shows
that the War started on 16th October. We have to calculate the plane-
tary positions of 16th October 5561 B.C.
SATURN
------
Encyclopedia of Astronomy by Larousse states that one rotation of
Saturn takes 26 years and 166 days. One year means 365.25 days. So
the Saturn's round takes 29.4544832 years.
5th May 1950, Saturn conjugated with Purva. We have to see its posi-
tion in 5561 years B.C. 5561+1950 = 7511 years. 7511 divided by
29.4544832 gives 255.00362 rounds. This means that Saturn completed
255 rounds and has gone ahead by 0.00362 or 1.3 degrees. Hence Saturn
was in conjugation with Purva on 5th May 5561 B.C. On 16th October'
5562nd B.C. i.e. 164 days later it must have travelled (0.0334597
degrees (daily pace) multiplied by 164 days =) 5.487 degrees. So
Saturn was at 141 degrees or in Purva Nakshatra.
In October 1962, Saturn was at 281 dgrs. 1962 + 5561 = 7523 years.
7523 devided by 29.4544832 gives 255.41103 turns. After completing
255 full turns, Saturn has gone back by 0.411003 turn i.e. 148 dgrs.
281-148= 133 degrs. This was the position of Saturn in Purva.
Calculating from 1931 or 1989 also Saturn appears at 141 dgrs. in
Purva. Thus on 16th of October 5562nd B.C. Saturn was in Purva as
told by Vyas in Mahabharat.
RAHU
----
Rahu takes 18.5992 years per rotation. It was at 132 dgrs. on 16th
Oct. 1979. 1979 + 5561 = 7540, divided by 18.5992 gives 405.39378
turns. 0.39378 turns means 141.7 dgrs. Rahu always goes in reverse
direction. We have to go in the past, so adding 141.7 to orginal 132
we get 273 dgrs. This is Uttarashadha where Rahu was situated (by
Nirayan method).
Calculations from 1989, 1962 and 1893 confirm Rahu in Uttara Ashadha.
JUPITER
-------
Jupiter takes 11.863013 years per rotation. On 16th October 1979, it
was at 129 dgrs. 1979+5561 = 7540. 7540 divided by 1.863013 gives
635.58892 turns. 0.58892 turn means 212 dgrs. So Jupiter was
212 dgrs behind the orginal position. 129 - 212 = -83. -83 means
360 - 83 = 277 degree 277 dgrs is the position of the star of Shravan.
So Jupiter was in conjugation with Shravan. The span of Shravan is
280 deg. to 293 deg.
Calculations from 1989, 1932 and 1977 show Jupiter in 285 and 281
degrees or in the zone of Shravan. This confirms the position told by
Vyas.
MARS
----
Mars takes 1.88089 years per rotation. On 16th October 1979, Mars was
at 108 dgrs. 1979 + 5561 = 7540 yrs. 7540 divided by 1.88089
gives 4008.7405 turns. 0.7405 turns means 266 dgrs., Mars was 266 dgrs
behind the original position of 108 deg. 108 - 266 = 158. 360 - 158 =
202 deg. This is just beyond the star of Vishakha which is at 200
dgrs. Though in Vishakha-zone Mars has crossed the Star of Vishakha
and intends to go in Anuradha, so the description of Vyas as "Anurad-
ham Prarthayate" that it requests or appeals Anuradha, appears to be
correct.
Calculations from 1962 and 1900 show Mars at 206 and' 208 dgrs and
therefore though in Vishakha, it can be called as appealing Anuradha
"Anuradham Prarthayate". Thus it is seen that Vyas has used tricky but
correct terms. He has not written any false statement because he was
the Truth-abiding Sage.
HELIOCENTRIC AND GEOCENTRIC
---------------------------
Here an expert may raise a question whether I have used Heliocentric
method or Geocentric method. I make it clear here that I have used
the Heliocentric method that means I have considered the rotations of
planets around the Sun. But after fixing the position of the planet
around the Sun I have also seen where that planet will be seen from
the earth.
I would like the scholars to consider one more point here. When I say
that an insect is sitting near one o' clock position on your watch or
clock, one may think that the insect is between 12 and 1 while other
may think that it is between 1 and 2. So the span to find that insect
is from 12 to 2. Similarly Vyas has mentioned the Nakshatra in the
vicinity of the planet and therefore we have a scope of one Nakshatra
on either side to find out the planet. Thus if our answer is between
+13 deg. and -13 deg. from the given position we are successful. In
my calculations I have achieved the perfect positions, but by chance,
somebody gets a different position he is requested to consider a span
of -,+ 13 degrees. The positions given by other scholars are far away
than the positions recorded by Vyas, so they are not acceptable.
I request the scholars, to be careful while doing calculations not to
take a retrograde position of the present planet, because that may
give a false position. Please note that all the planets become retro-
grade only apparently when our earth is approaching them. We need not
consider their retrograde motion each year because their rotational
periods around the Sun are fixed and in that they are seen retrograde
from the earth apparently. We have to see if the last position of the
planet is retrograde. This can be done easily by considering the
position of the Sun and planet. Any external planet becomes retrograde
when it is in the house from 5th to 9th from the Sun.
LEAP YEAR
---------
Please note that i have taken 365.25 days for a solar year. It covers
the general leap years, but it does not take into account the leap
years abandoned at centuries. At the interval of 400 years leap years
are taken according to the modern scientific calendar. If these cen-
tury years are considered, there may be an error of 50 days in 7500
years duration. As for dates these 50 days are automatically accounted
for because we have taken the winter solstice as fixed on 22nd
December, and it is referred by Vyas, while describing Bhishma's
death. As far as the planets like Saturn, Rahu and Jupiter are con-
cerned 50 days are immaterial because in 50 days the Saturn will move
only 1.6 deg. while Jupiter 4.1 deg. as an average. Hence their error
is negligible.
Now, we have seen that all the four important planets satisfy their
positions as told by Vyas on 16th October 5562nd B.C. Hence we have
no other way but to accept this date as the exact date of Mahabharat
War.
Please note that, so far, not a single Scholar has shown a
date with the planetary positions satisfying the description by Vyas
in Mahabharat. Late Mr. C. V. Vaidya and Prof. Apte show 3102
B.C., but their Mars is in Ashadha, Jupiter is in Revati, Saturn in
Shatataraka and Rahu in Jeshtha. Prof. K. Shrinivasraghavan, Mr. Sam-
pat Ayangar and Sheshagiri show 3067 B.C. but they put Jupiter and
Saturn in Rohini and Sun, Rahu, Mars in Jeshtha. Garga, Varahmihir
and Tarangini show 2526 Before Shaka i.e. 2449 B.C. But their Mars
comes in Dhanishtha, Jupiter and Saturn in Bharani and Rahu in Hasta.
P.C. Sengupta gives 2448 with Saturn 356 deg., Jupiter 8 deg., Mars
157 deg., Venus 200 deg., Sun 200 deg., (Ancient Indian chronology"
Calcutta University). The Western scholars as well as Romeshchandra
Datta and S. B. Roy show 1424 B.C. but their Saturn is in Shata-
taraka, Jupiter in Chitra, Rahu in Purva and Sun in Anuradha with no
eclipse. Billandi Ayer shows 1193 years B.C. but his Mars comes in
Mula, Jupiter in Purva Bhadrapada, Saturn in Purva Ashadha and Rahu
in Punarvasu. At 900 B.C. as is proposed by many other scholars,
Jupiter comes in Mula, Rahu in Vishakha and Saturn in Jeshtha. Thus
not a single scholar could coroborate his date with the facts written
by Vyas.Hence, their dates have to be dismissed. (C. V.
Vaidya's Upasamhar page 94." Age of Mahabharat War").
I have shown all the planetary positions correct to the description of
Mahabharat. In addition I have shown that the seasons tally with my
date, and the seasons never tally with other dates. I have solved all
the planetary riddles from Mahabharat which nobody could dare. So
16th October 5562nd BC. is the exact date of the first day of the
Mahabharat War. At the beginning of the War, Vyas promised
Dhrutarashtra that he will write history of the Kauravas; so most
probably Vyas must have written the Astronomical data immediately.
URANUS (known to Vyas in 5561 B.C)
----------------------------------
All the planets, viz., Sun, Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn and
Rahu show correct positions mentioned in the Mahabharat on 16th
December 5561 B.C. This must be the exact date of the Mahabharat War.
After pin-pointing the exact date, it struck to me that the three
additional planets mentioned with positions by Vyas, may be Uranus,
Neptune and Pluto. Vyas has named them as Shveta, Shyama and Teevra.
Let us see if the conjecture is correct. We have to prove this with
the help of Mathematics, because we have to go scientifically.
Vishesheena hi Vaarshneya Chitraam Pidayate Grahah....[10-Udyog.143]
Shevtograhastatha Chitraam Samitikryamya Tishthati....[12-Bheeshma.3]
In these two stanzas, Vyas states that some greenish white (Shveta)
planet has crossed Chitra. This means that the planet was in Swati (or
Vishakha, because Chitra and Swati are close together). This is the
Sayan position hence Nirayan position is eight Nakshatras ahead in
Shravan (or Dhanishtha). Neelakantha calls this "Mahapata" which means
having greater orbit. Greater orbit indicates a planet beyond Saturn.
Hence I assumed Shveta to be Uranus. Let us calculate and see if this
true.
In October 1979, Uranus was at 206 degrees. Uranus takes 84.01 years
per rotation. 1979 + 5561 = 7540. 7540/84.01 = 89.75122 turns. 0.75122
rotation means 270.4392 degrees. 206-270 = -64 = 296 degrees. This
comes in the zone of Dhanishtha, but the star of Dhanishtha is at 297
degrees, so the position given by Vyas is confirmed. Hence Shveta must
be Uranus.
In October 1883, Uranus was at 151 degrees. 1883 + 5561 = 7444 years.
7444/84.01 = 86.608498 rotations. 0.608498 turn means 219 degrees.
151-219 = 292 degrees. This is Shravan Nakshatra. So Uranus was in
Shravan during Mahabharat War as stated by Vyas under the name of
"Shveta".
1930 calculations show Uranus to be at 292.54 degrees or Shravan. Thus
our mathematics proves that Vyas has given correct position of Uranus
under the name of Shveta. This proves that Vyas had the knowledge of
Uranus under the name of Shveta, supposed to have recently discovered
by Herschel in 1781. Shveta means greenish white. Uranus is actually
greenish white in colour. So Vyas must have seen Uranus with this own
eyes. Uranus is of 6th magnitude and is visible to the naked eye
according to the modern science.
Neelakantha of 17th century also had the knowledge of Uranus or
Shveta. He writes in his commentary on Mahabharat (Udyog 143) that
Shveta, or Mahapata was a famous planet in the Astronomical science of
India. Neelakantha was about 100 years before Herschel, who sup-
posedly discovered Uranus. So we can conclude that one hundred before
Herschel, Uranus was known to the Indian Astronomers and Vyas had
discovered it at or before 5561 year B.C.
..... to be continued.
=====================================================================
Prasad Gokhale
University of New Brunswick, f0g1@jupiter.sun.csd.unb.ca
Fredericton, N.B. CANADA. f0g1@unbmvs1, f0g1@unb.ca
"Truth can wait, it is used to it". - Anonymous.
=====================================================================
