Vedic Astronomy

The sidereal basis of the Hindu Zodiac brings to relative significance, the importance the great Rishies have assigned to Suns, apart from ours, while being aware that our immediateoverlord is our own magnificent Sun. They were far more aware than the modern astronomers about the shifting character of the Vernal Equinoctial Point and furthur calculations that were deducible therefrom.

While Western Astrology is solar and tropical, based on the Tropical Zodiac, the Indian is sidereal. The word sidereal derives from the Latin sidereus, meaning the constellation of fixed stars, from 0 degree Aswini to the 360th degree of Revathi

The story of Trisanku, Alpha Centaurus

We will explain the mythological allegory of Trisanku. Trisanku wanted to reach Heaven with his body, much against the wishes of his Guru Vasishta and family. He was hurled back in space and he appealed to Vishwamitra for help. Vishwamitra with his yogic power created a Trisanku Swarga for him.

Although this is a mythological allegory, astro information is contained in this story. The nearest star to our Solar System is Proxima Centuari, a member of the Alpha Centauri system. The two bright components of Alpha Centauri are only slightly farther away, some 4.3 light years away from us. It is logical that Trisanku or Alpha Centaurus is just half way to the nearest bright star Sirius, which is 8.7 light years away. In between, in space, we do not have any other star, save Barnard's star, Wolf 359 and Lalande' s star, which are closer to Sirius, from where the real Heavens can be deemed to commence. Doesnt this story explain what Trisanku or Alpha Centaurus is ?

Bacon, in his De Sapientia Vaterum ( Of the Wisdom of the Ancients ) opined that scientific truths are contained in Greek and Indian Myths !

Saturday, March 3, 2012

The Ursa Major Cycle, Sapta Rishie Yuga

The constellation of Ursa Major, known as the Big Dipper, or the Big Bear and known as the Seven Rishies in Indian Astronomy. Atri, Angiras, Mareechi, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kritu, Vasishta.

In his ' Asiatic Researches", Prof Drayson says that ' the Hindus thought proper to connect their Mythology with an astronomical period of a strange nature. It is that of the Seven Rishies, moving along the Zodiac in a retrograde motion of 100 years in a constellation. As the Ecliptic is tenanted by 27 constellations, they take 2700 years to make a circuit of the Zodiac. This 2700 years is known as an Ursa Major Cycle or Sapta Rishi Yuga.

The first astronomical calender was erected by the Hindu Emperor, Vaivaswata Manu ( circa 8736 BCE ). It was based on the Ursa Major Cycle or Sapta Rishi Yuga.

The Galacic Center, the Vishnu Nabhi

The Center of our Galaxy, the Milky Way, which lies in Sagittarius. Is it by chance that the Rishies called her the Navel of the Preserver, Vishnu Nabhi ?

The Pleiades, a fiery constellation ?

The Sun's transit of the Pleiades, Karthika Njattuvela, is a season of extreme heat. Does not the birth of Subramanya, have something to say about the Pleiades as a heat generating group of stars, now confirmed by modern discoveries ?

Thursday, March 1, 2012

The Occultation of Rohini

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The Occultation of Rohini. Aldebaran coming out of the occultation. Sanskrit poets called Moon Rohinipriya, as he shines bright and brilliant in Taurus and occults Rohini.

Rohineesa sudhamoorthim Sudha gatra sudhasana Vishama Sthana sambhootam peedam harathu me vidhuh

Vega or Abhijith

The size comparison of Vega with our Sun. Vega was the Pole Star
around 12000 BCE and now it is Polaris or Dhruva

I forgot to add that Vega is called Abhijith in Indian
Astronomy. Sanskrit for the Conqueror.