Climate Change and Astro Meteorology

Successive draughts, intense cold climate and floods have ravaged Bolivia. Let us hope that Kerala will not go the way of Bolivia !

That Bolivia is going towards a major Food Crisis has been highlighted by the Food and Agricultural Organisation of UN.

16000 cattle, 24000 hectares of wheat, corn fields etc will perish in Bolivia. Bolivia will not be able to absorb this crisis of a high magnitude. One fifth of Bolivia is stll reeling under the impact of Climate Change. FAO warns that all natural calamities except cyclones will have to be faced by Bolivia.

The agriculturists are always affected by Climate Change. Traditional agriculture gets destroyed by intense rains or drastic draughts. The agriculturist lives in debt and dies in debt. He is forced to stop his agriculture or fall into the debt trap !

That which is happening in Bolivia may happen in India and Kerala.

Normally Libra rains start in the evening, drizzle at night and before dawn stops raining. Now the climate patterns have changed and intense rains destroyed 5000 acres of paddy fields this season ! All seeds were destroyed and Keralites had to go to Madras to get the seeds. If the earlier patterns were followed - bright sunny days after the intense downpour - then the water would have drained itself from the paddy fields.

Heat also has changed its patterns. It is now 40 degrees at Palghat and the lowest temperature recorded is 22 degrees. In Nilgiriis, rising heat has created red spiders . 8% crop has been destroyed as a result. Red spiders attack the tea plantations which are devoid of huge trees.

There are many paddy fields in Kerala which does not produce, despite the intense work done by the agriculturists.

In Alleppey Dist, when temperature rose 1.8 degrees, there was a reduction in weight of the produce. The rising temperature during the months of January, February and March was the villain. The rice fields of Trichur and Palghat were also considerably affected.

Pepper cultivation is also affected. Weight also comes down. Also cocoa, tea etc in the highlands. In 2004, cocoa produce came down by 39%. Rubber produce declined by 3.8%. . In Kottyam, the highest temperature recorded was 33.3% and now it is 35% ! Because of intense heat and cold, more funguses made their way into rubber. Cashew has also been affected adversely by Climate Change. There is a drop in the produce by 30%. Kerala, which was first in cashewnut production, is now only fourth !

Palghat Dist, bordering Tamil Nadu, looks like the hot TN !. 41 degrees have been reported as the highest temperature. If you go to Chittoor in Palghat, you will come to know how different Palghat looks than the rest of Kerala. Paddy cultivation has come down in Palghat. Palghat gets more North East Monsoon than South West Monsoon !

Global Warming and Astro Meteorology

Climatologists are of the opinion that the quantity of rains have not come down in Kerala. On the other hand, rainy days have declined. Now there are fierce downpours and sunny interludes. Fierce rains are defined as rains which give 20 cms of rain in one hour. Such fierce rains have increased and sunny days have also increased. This Climate Change is caused by Global Warming.

In 2008, in Kuttanad, such rains created havoc, destroying crops. Such rains continued this year, during both the Monsoons, the North East and the South West. Depressions caused these rains. The snowfall in Idukki caused destruction in cardamom crops. Climatologist view these happenings as unnatural phenomena. During some years, the intensity of the South West Monsoon becomes less. Not only Kerala, but Jharkhand, Chattisghand are also adversely affected.

It is said the dogs need not check the Astro Calender to know which is the sidereal month of Virgo or Kanya. It is also proof that time for procreation and Climate are interlinked. Kanya or the sidereal month of Virgo is the interlude between the two major monsoons and is devoid of rains. Less daylight and more the duration of night characterise this sidereal month. This is the month dogs find it easy to mate. This month stimulates the procreational urge in dogs and they instinctively that this is the month for mating. The cause is attributed to the Bio Clock mechanism in dogs. Female dogs give birth only after 60/70 days. By that time the Kala Varsha or the Sourth West Monsoon will be over. The young ones will get the right atmosphere for growing. That is why Nature gave dogs such a benign month.

This year the Kala Varsha continued during the month of Kanya with the result the procreational cycle of dogs is adversely affected. The dogs ran here and thereby their mating declined ! The physiological processes of dogs is affected by Climate Change. Now dogs that are born have less weight and this phenomenon has been observed in Alsation dogs particularly.

The intensity of the rains have increased with the result fierce rains wreaked havoc on Agriculture. The rainwater does not seep through the earth and hence there are less wells and water reservoirs. Floods have increased considerably.

Another phenomenon is the retreat of the monsoons. In July/ August of 2002, less rains caused draught. It used to be 21% rainfall during June, 33% in July, 28% in August and 18% in Sep.

Now Climate Change has changed all that. More sunny interludes have been reported in July. This phenomenon has increased by 30% due to the the wind waves of the South West Monsoon going to the bottom of the Himalayas.

For the last 15 years, oreographic precipiation or rains in the hilly areas, have declined by 20%. Lesser and lesser amount of rains are reported every year.

Deforestation is the cause for less rains in Peerumedu and Nerumangalam. The mountains do block the cold wind waves coming from the Indian Ocean and cause precipitation.

In short, Global Warming's repercussions on Climate can be drastic. We hope furthur negative reports do not come from the Climatologists !

The Sun's transits causeth rains !

Meteorology may say it is a depression in the Bay of Bengal called La Nina which is responsible for the rains, but to those well versed in Astro Meteorology, it is the Sun's transit of Scorpio and the constellation of Delta Scorpi, which is the cause, as heavy rains lashed Trichur. From 0500 PM it was raining till 1100 PM, when I went to sleep.

According to Meteorology, La Nina is a coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon of El Nino, as a part of the El Nino Southern Oscillation Climate pattern. La Nina is defined as the dialectial opposite of El Nina !

These depressions happen only during the Monsoon season, when the Sun transits the constellations from Eta Tauri to Alpha Scorpi ! So Astro Meteorology is right !

Why do these depression not happen during the summer season?

Climate Change, triggered by Global Warming, is creating havoc throughout the world. Sea levels rose by 1.8 mms from 1961 to 2003. All snowy mountains are melting. Co2 levels are increasing. Forest fires increased. When hot air creates lightning, forest fires are more. More cyclones and thunderstorms. Extreme climatic patterns are produced. More floods and more draughts than usual.

Climate Change good for Kerala

A Study Committee has reported that Climate Change in Kerala will improve coconut prouction by 30%. Also there will be more sardines and mackarels.

The name sardine is derived from the word " Sardina " which is an island. Sardines are inexpensive protein. Now ghee sardines or oily sardines are sardines full of oil. You dont need oil to fry them, as they have enough oil. Now there will be more oily sardines on the Western Coast due to Climate Change (which is triggered by Global Warming ).

Due to ocean water becoming hot and favourable sea breezes, oily sardines will be more. Indian mackarels will be more, as the surface ocean becomes hot.

While the entire world is worried about Global Warming and Climate Change, this is good news for Kerala. This report was released by the Environment Committee. Within 20 years, there will be a marked climate change and these are the fresh changes which will be triggered. Kerala coconut production will increase by 30% and sardines will be more during the South West Monsoon season and mackarels will be more during the months in between October and March !

Vishakha Njattuvela strikes Kerala !

Fierce rains, accompanied by thunder and lightning, was the characteristic of Vishakha Jnattuvela or the Sun's transit of Beta Librae.

This is Thula Varsha or the North East Retreating Monsoon. Great thunder and lightning at Trichur and I couldnt work on my PC or watch Tv at night.

In Cherpu of Trichur, more than 400 acres of agriculture was destroyed by the rains, the rains of Life and Death.

The Monsoon season in Kerala is about to end and will end with Thrikketa Jnattuvela or the end of the sidereal month of Scorpio. From Sagittarius onwards, it is the hot season and farmers will have to water their lands till the 15th of Edava or Taurus, which heralds the South West Monsoon.

When the Retreating Monsoon ( N E Monsoon ) ends, there is no sigh of relief in this Tropical Zone or Torrid Zone, situated at 10.30 degrees north latitude, as nobody likes the blistering hot season. More than 100 people died due to sunstroke last summer !

Sidereal Libra transit means rains galore !

The Sun entered the first degree of Sidereal Libra, thus heralding the North East Monsoon or Thula Varsham, as per Astro Meteorology.

This is the Retreating Monsoon. Coming as a depression from the Bay of Bengal, it takes the moisture laden winds and then sweep down on the Himalayas and Indo Gangetic plains, and then pours over peninsular India ! Mainly caused by the heat generated by the overhead Sun on the Tropic of Capricorn. The places of the Indian Ocean becomes hot and the northern parts of India become cool. Cool winds from the Bay of Bengal cause this and the result is Thula Varsham !

Expected to rain till the end of the sidereal month of Vrischika or Scorpio, NEM is a boon to states like Tamil Nadu. Kerala gets both SWM and NEM !

Kepler's Physical Astronomy

No study of Astronomy is complete without Kepler ! Did he not bequeth the Laws of Planetary Motion to the world ?

Astronomy is nothing but Mathematical Astrology and Kepler gave the world the three laws of Motion.

1) The planets move in elliptical orbits.

20 Planets move fastest at perihelion ( nearest point to Helios, the Sun ) and slowest at Aphelion ( the farthest point from the Sun ).

3)The squares of their sidereal periods ( orbital periods ) is equal to the cubes of their semi major axes.

The base of Western Astronomy is Kepler. First we study Kepler and then we study Laplace !

Previousy astronomers ( Hipparchus, Ptolemy, Brahe, Copernicus ) have used many geomertical models to give a mathematical account of the movement of the luminaries. Astronomy is a branch of Physics, declared Kepler. In this great book, Kepler's Physical Astronomy, Bruce Stephenson demonstrates the importance of Kepler's physical principles of planetary motion. A must book for students of Astronomy and Mathematical Astrology.

The Sun's transit of Delta Corvi proves destructive !

Southern Kerala has been devastated by the solar transit of Delta Corvi ( Hasta Njattuvela ). When I woke up today it was raining cats and dogs and even now at 0900 AM, it is still raining.

This D Corvi transit has brought destruction in its wake. In Quilon, one guy died in the pond.

462 houses were destroyed in Trivandrum. The low lying areas of the District are under water now. Agriculture has been destroyed in Karamanayar, Vamanaypuram and. 493 people were moved to rehabilitation camps. The beach is votatile but no destruction has been reported.

The low lying areas of Quilon have been isolated. The rivers of Kallada, Achan Kovil and Ithikara are overflowing.

In Quilon alone 148 houses have been destroyed. 750 partially. The loss has been reported to be 2.15 Cr. 1215 people were moved to rehabilitation camps.

Rains will be there for four more days.

This signals the end of the South West Monsoon. On Oct 18th, Thula Varsham or the North East Monsoon takes over, when the Sun enters the first degree of Sidereal Libra.

Chitra ( Sun's transit of Alpha Virginis ) and Chothi Njattuvelas are known for good rains.

This seems to be Kanni Thula Varsham, as rains are accompanied by lightning, which is the characteristic of Thula Varsham ( the North East Monsoon .

Dane Rudhyar

Did you know that the 360 degrees of the Zodiac has 360 different symbols? These Sabian symbols (a set of astrological notations representing each degree of the zodiac ) can be used for divination. Discusses origins of the symbols. Learn from the great Dane Rudhyar, a Titan in the field of Astrology.

Rudhyar integrated Jungian Psychology with Astrology and called it Harmonic Astrology. He postulated that the stars do not cause the effects ( like Dante who said planets impel and they do not compel ) and that but were pictures synchronistically aligned to human beings. Detailing psychological forces working in individuals. He did not override human freedom in responding to these forces. His magnum opus "The Astrology of Personality" was published in Lucis Publishing.

Astronomy is Siddhanta or Ganitha

If you want to calculate the longitudes of planets and create an Astro Software, then the best book for you is Laplace's CelestialMechanics. You can find out the mean longitudes of the planets, calculate the perturbations, the epicycles and then calculate the Heliocentric Longitudes of planets. You can use Laplacian equations to then reduce it to the Ecliptic Coordinates and then reduce them to Geocentric Coordinates, thus computing the true longitudes of the planets. A must for Astro software developers.


Kepler's Formulae

Kepler represents Old Astronomy. If you want to creat an Astro Software, you have to solve the Kepler problem. The Kepler Equation, M = E - e Sin E, may sound easy, but it is a transcendental equation and the most difficult amongst Kepler's equations. We can find out the True Anomaly of the planet, that is the angle between the planet and perihelion. The next step is to find the Argument of Perihelion, which is the angle between the Node and perihelion.


Laplace - Advanced Astronomy

Laplace's Celestial Mechanics is one of the best books ever written. If you read this magnificent book, you can handle Astronomy and Maths easily. 

A superb book !

Vedic Astrology, a guide to the fundamentals of Jyothish, is a great book by Ronnie Dreyer, for those hungering for the knowledge of Jyothish. Ronnie Dreyer has made the tough subject light by explaining in simple terms the mighty science of Astrology. Dreyer is well versed in Western Astrology, despite having profound knowledge of Jyothish. She can fathom the complexities, the pitfalls and the perplexities that veteran Western astrologer encounter while they deal with Jyothish. Throughout the book, there are warnings and hints that guide astrologers in the proper path, saving them from the interpretative calamities experienced by many astro savants.

Vedic Astrology is explained in simple terms to the student, without much technical jargon. Vedic Astrology is similar to Western Astrology and differs only by 23.5 degrees, which is the difference between the Zodiacs now.

Foreword is by James Braha, another veteran Vedic Astrologer.

This book is a must for the novitiate, as it contains immense information to the students of Evolutionary Astrology.

Eccentric and Epicyclic Theories in Indian Astronomy

The great Kepler bequethed the Three Laws of Motion to the world and became immortal. That the planets move in elliptical orbits, that a planet moves fastest at perihelion and that the squares of their sidereal periods equal the cube roots of their semi-major axes.

The Hindu astronomers never talked about ellipses. The Indian astronomic books say that the planets go in an epicycle, whose center moves along the mean circular orbit from west to east. This the Epicyclic Theory.

Another theory called the Eccentric Theory says that the planet goes in a circle whose center is not the Earth, but a different point other than the Earth. The distance of this point from the Earth, is said to be equal to the Epicycle's radius. Bhaskara says " The Celestial Sphere's center coincides with the Earth's center. The circle in which a planet goes does not coincide with the Earth's center ". To obtain the true longitudes from the mean, Indian astronomers prescribed bhujaphalam, ( called Equation of Center in the case of Mandaphala, and in the case of the inferior and superior planets, this bhujaphalam also indicates the reduction to geocentric longitudes from the heliocentric ).

From this explanation from Bhaskara, it is clear that the Indian Theory is Heliocentric.

Antares, the rival of Mars !

What is Mars called in Indian Astronomy? He is Angaraka, the fiery planet. He has two moons, Phobos and Deimos, Dhooma and Mrityu. He is the Defence Minister in the Government of the Almighty and represents Administration. If he be badly placed in the horoscope, the native will lack administrative ability. If he be dominant on the Meridien, the horoscope becomes powerful. ( Dasame Angarako Nasthi Jathake kim prayojanam ? ) Galactic Center in Sag is known in Indian Astronomy as Vishnu Nabhi.

Have you heard about Anti- Mars ? He is called Antares, the rival of Mars. Ancient astronomers were struck by the reddish hue of this star as it reminded them of the Red planet ! Antares is the brightest star in the constellation Scorpius and is a great sight to behold.

There is a photo of these two red giants at Planet Antares. Lovely to behold, Mars appears about 25 degrees above the horizon for north latitudes with Antares just below and to the left.

Antares is a star and is 700 times large, 9000 times more luminous and about 15 times more massive than the Sun. This close approach of Antares and Mars is a tremedous opportunity for star gazers, the twinkling star and non twinkling planet !

You can also watch Mars and Spica, with Spica twinkling and Mars not twinkling at Planet Antares Inc.

Actually, stars do not twinkle. Seen from Earth, they appear as twinkling. The beam of starlight is disturbed by the tiny irregularities in temperature and pressure in the air above us and this is what makes stars " twinkle". Scorpius and Sagittarius can be seen in these photographs. The pearly white glow of the Milky Way can be observed. Also our Galactic Center in Sagittarius

Regarding the colours of the planets, Hora says

Sun is of golden, reddish hue
Luna is the planet fair !
Dark reddish is Mars
Greenish is Mercury
Jupiter is of golden hue
Venus is white
And black is Saturn !

Raktha Shyama Bhaskaro Gaura Indu
Nathyulchango Raktha gorascha Vakra
Durve Shyame Jne, Guru Gauragatra
Shyama Shukro, Bhaskari Krishna Dehi

Calculation of Kali Days

Ahargana is defined as the no of days elapsed after the start of the Iron Age, the Kali Yuga, which began on 3102 BC.

Kali Era = English Era +3102

The no of days elapsed from Kali Start was 1822903 on 01/01/1890.

Hence

Ahargana, d = ( xdate - 01/01/1980 ) + 1822903
where xdate is the date of birth.

This Ahargana is printed on every V A Horoscope. All calculations in Indian Astronomy is based on Ahargana. Ahas means day in Sanskrit and gana means calculation.

The present Kali Era is therefore
3102 + 2010 = 5112

The difference between the Malayalam & English eras are 825. Malayalam Era is 1185 now and if you add 825 to Malayalam Era, you get English Era.

The Julian Calender used the value 365.25 d ( days ) for year and was proved erroneous. There were 10 days difference and the Gregorian Calender, the present day Calender, came into being. Gregorian uses 365.2425 d for year. The Gregorian is also not perfect, as the Tropical Zodiac is moving, and may be subject to correction after some years. The actual value of the year is

year = 365.256362424815 d

with twelve decimals. In my early days of progam development, I used two decimals and there were many days of difference. This value is given by Sir Simon Newcombe, according to Western Learning and Aryabhata, according to Indian learning.

The Equation of Bhuja

Bhujamsa is the degrees traversed by the planet in the Zodiac. In the mighty 360 degree Circle, the planet may be anywhere and its position is the mean longitude of the planet. The planet actually is in the ellipse and its position is the true longitude of the planet.

If the planet is say at 42 degrees, then the Equation of Bhuja states that its Bhujamsa is 42 degrees. That is in the first Oja Pada, in the first quarter of 0-90 degrees, the Bhujamsa is the same.

If the planet is say at 110 degrees, then the Equation of Bhuja states that its Bhujamsa is 70 degrees. That is in the first Yugma Pada, in the second quarter of 90-180 degrees, the Bhujamsa is 180 - bhuja.

If the planet is say at 200 degrees, then the Equation of Bhuja states that its Bhujamsa is 20 degrees. That is in the second Oja Pada, in the third quarter of 180-270 degrees, the Bhujamsa is bhuja - 180.

If the planet is say at 300 degrees, then the Equation of Bhuja states that its Bhujamsa is 60 degrees. That is in the second Yugma Pada, in the fourth quarter of 270-360 degrees, the Bhujamsa is 360 - bhuja.

Bhuja Jya is Sin ( M ) and is the sine value of the Kendra. Bhuja Jya is used in the calculation of Epicycles, in calculating the Equation of Center for Moon, Jupiter and Saturn.

The Manda Phala, the Equation of Center is given by the formula

Equation of Center, Mandaphala =Circumference of the Epicycle ( Parama Phala ) * Manda Kendra Jya ( Sin M ).

This is the equation used in calculating the 14 perturbations of the Moon, the five of Jupiter and the six of Saturn.

The four systems of Astronomy

There are four major methods of calculation in Astronomy

They are

Longitudes calculated along the Zodiac or Ecliptic - The Ecliptic System
Longitudes calculated along the Celestial Equator - The Equatorial System
Longitudes calculated along the Celestial Horizon - The Horizontal System
Longitudes calculated along the Celestial Meridian - The Meridian System


Longitude measured along the Kranti Vritta, the Ecliptic or Bha Chakra , the Zodiac is known as Kranti Vritteeya Sphuta, the true longitude of the planet.
Longitudes measured along the Vishuvat Vritta, the Celestial Equator is known as Vishuvat Vritteeya Sphuta, Right Ascension. Udaya Lagna, the Ascendent and Astha Lagna, the Descendent are measured along the Celestial Horizon, the Kshitija and the Madhya Lagna, the MC and the Patala Lagna, the IC are measured along the Celestial Meridian, the Nadi Vritta.

The Auxiliary Circle, the Vikshepa Vritta

In order to compute the celestial longitudes of planets, first the Graha Madhyam, the mean longitude of the planet is computed.

We have to understand that the planets traverse in elliptical orbits. If their orbits are circular, then there is no need for jya samskaras ( trignometric corrections ).

Once the mean longitudes of the planets are ascertained, then we first start with the First Jya Samskara, the first trignometric correction. Manda Jya means Sin M in Western Astronomy.

The Kepler Equation is M = E - e Sin E, where e is eccentricity and E is the Eccentric Anomaly, an auxilary angle in Kepler's equations.

Like Kepler who brought in an auxiliary angle, E, the Eccentric Anomaly, Indian Astronomy uses Vikshepa Vritta, an auxiliary circle. The mean longitude of a planet reduced by Manda Kriya is the Vikshepa Vritteeya Sphuta, the once corrected longitude of the planet.

While Western astronomers compute the celestial longitudes using the formula Theta = v + w ( Celestial Longitude = True Anomaly + the Argument of Perihelion ), Indian astronomers use the Triune Trignometric Method. Longitudes are corrected thrice using Manda Kriya, Parinathi Kriya and Sheegra Kriya.

The perturbations of planets

All planets have perturbations. Moon has 300 perturbations, of which 14 are major. Hence for 14 perturbations, 14 jya samskaras have to be done ( Chatur Dasa Jya Samskara). The largest of them is the Evection. There are others like the Variation, the Annual Equation and the Parallactic Equation. When 14 trignometric corrections are done, we get the Reduced Longitude of the Moon, the Samskritha Chandra Madhyamam.

Jupiter has five major perturbations and Saturn has six. So five jya samskaras and six jya samskaras have to be done for Jupiter and Saturn, before commencing the Triune Trignometric Method.

About Sine, Cosine and Reverse Sine

Jya ( Sine ), Kotijya ( Cosine ) and Utkram Jya ( Versine ) are the three trignometric functions introduced by the Indian astronomers and mathematicians.

In order to compute the celestial longitudes of planets, these functions were used by the trinity of Indian Astronomy, Bhaskara, Brahnmagupta and Aryabhata.

Thrijya, the Radius or R

If 360 = 2 Pi r
then, r = 360/2Pi in degrees

One degree is 60 minutes and one minute is 60 seconds and hence one degree is 3600 seconds.

R in seconds will be ((360/2pi)* 3600 ) Vikalas or 206265 seconds. This figure 206265 is known as the Magic Figure of Astronomy.

Bhujajya = R Sin
Kotijya = R Cos

The arc sine of the angle is Bhujachapa
The arc cosine of the angle is Kotichapa
The arc tangent of the angle is Sparshachapa

By Jya, Bramhmagupta meant 5 degrees of a sign of 30 degrees. Hence a Zodiacal Sign consists of 6 Jyas ( 30 degrees ) . The Zodiac of 360 degrees was divided into 4 quarters of 90 degrees each. Three Jyas of 30 degrees each becomes a quadrant of the Zodiac and was called Thrijya. Thrijya is also the Radius, the Vyasardha.

His magnum opus, the Brahmasphuta Siddhanta was translated by the Arabs as As Sind Hind. Jya became jiba and Kotijya became kojiba in Arabic. It was translated into Latin as sinus ( meaning " bosom " ). So Sinus and Co-sinus when translated into English became Sine and Cosine !

The Aryabhateeyam of Aryabhata was translated by the Arabs as Al Arjabhat. Trignometry is derived from the Sanskrit Thrikonamithi and Geometry from Jyamithi !

The Celestial Meridian, the Nadi Vritta

All celestial bodies appear to rise in the east, travel westward and set in the west, because of this relative diurnal motion. When the axis of the earth's rotation is extended, it meets the Celestial Sphere on two diametrically opposite points called Celestial Poles. The one in the direction of the Earth's north pole is called the North Celestial Pole and the one in the opposite direction is called the South Celestial Pole.

The Celestial Horizon, the Kshitija

To the observer standing at a place on the surface of the earth and looking around describing a full circle, the earth appears to meet the Heavens along a circle. From the observers' frame of reference, this circle is called the Celestial Horizon, the Khshitija.

The Celestial Meridian, the Nadi Vritta

Almost 90 degrees to the Celestial Horizon, you will find another circle ( the line perpendicular to the plane of the horizon ). This Circle is the Celestial Meridian. The highest point on this Celestial Meridian is called Zenith, the MC and the lowest, the Nadir or IC.

The 18 Siddhantas !

Astronomical Knowledge is known in Sanskrit as Siddhanta. Transcendental Knowledge is Vedanta.

There are 18 astronomical treatises compiled by 18 Seers. Each Siddhanta is named after its author. They deal exhaustively with Astronomy.

They are

Surya Siddhanta
Pitamaha Siddhanta
Vyasa Siddhanta
Vasishta Siddhanta
Atri Siddanta
Parasara Siddhanta
Kashyapa Siddhanta
Narada Siddhanta
Garga Siddhanta
Marichi Siddhanta
Manu Siddhanta
Angira Siddhanta
Lomasa Siddhanta
Paulasa Siddhanta
Yvana Siddhanta
Chyavana Siddhanta
Bhrigu Siddhanta


These are the main astronomical treatises. There are others like Arya Siddhanta by Aryabhata II, Brahma Sphuta Siddanta by Brahmagupta and Maha Bhaskareeya by Bhaskara.

The Celestial Sphere, the Khagola !

When we look up at the heavens on a clear night, we find a multitude of celestial bodies, illuminating the sky with their radiance. It looks like a large hollow hemisphere, with the observer at the center. The planets and the luminaries seem to be scattered thorough the heavens at large distances.

This picture of the observer, the sky as a large crystalline hemisphere , is a very convenient model for the study of the Heavens.

This hemispherical model of the heavens is called Khagola, the Celestial Sphere. Another geocentric model, the Khagola is an imaginary sphere of large radius.

Astronomy, Maths and Astrology ( Siddhanta, Samhita and Hora ) are considered to be Apaurusheya, divine in origin. They were revealed to the Rishies in higher states of Consciousness and hence are revealed sciences. Descendit e Caelo, they cometh from Heaven !

Their date of compilation is believed to be 12th century BCE

Rotation, Revolution & Diurnal Motion

The earth rotates about its own axis, from west to east in the course of a day. Due to this rotation, the observer is carried eastward. But the observer is unaware of his motion in space. To the observer, the Celestial Sphere with all the heavenly bodies, is seen as rotating from east to west. This apparent westward motion of the heavenly objects is known as the diurnal motion.

Vishu, the planting Season of Kerala

We have said that Vishu 8 or the Sun's entry into the eighth degree of sidereal Aries, is the time for the farmers to sow.

Vishu or the solar ingress into Aries, is celebrated all over Kerala. This is the dawn of a new Agricultural Year, as it marks the end of the hot seasons of Kumbha ( Aquarius ) and Meena ( Pisces ). Temperature touching 43 degrees is disconcerting. Vishu is the heralder of the two monsoons, the South West and the North East.

The Vedic Calender is astro-meteorological and the farmers know when to sow and when to reap. So the best time to sow is in Medam or Mesha or Aries. Anything planted after this date will fructify, as the Edava Pathi or the South West Moon takes over in June and the Thula Varsham or the North East Monsoon takes over in Oct-Nov.

In traditional farming, plants and trees need watering on alternative days. Now both monsoons ensure that plants and trees will be watered by Nature !. Hence the green landscape engineering done by Nature makes Kerala beauteous !

When the Sun reaches its maximum declination at 23 degrees 27 mins South, at the Tropic of Capricorn, ( the end of Dakshinayana ), the Indian Ocean becomes hot & the northern places of the Indian subcontinent become cool. Then we find the phenomenon of cool winds condensing to form clouds, picking up moisture laden winds from the Bay of Bengal, sweeping down on the Himalayas and the Indo Gangetic plains and pouring over peninsular India. Kerala also gets these rains and hence the South West Monsoon which ends in September is replaced by the North East Monsoon and this rainy season or watering by Nature continues till Dhanus, the 15th of December ! Hence the tourists find Kerala enchanting, because of the green landscape architecture effectuated by Mother Nature !

India is an agrarian economy, dependent heavily on the monsoons. In 1895, the rains never came and India experienced drought and famine. The monsoons can also be destructive. Trees are uprooted, cables smashed, houses destroyed as a result of poor infrastructure. In 2008, our paddy fields were flooded due to heavy rains and the nearby inhabitants had to be evacuated. Despite its potential for destruction, monsoons are generally welcomed, as it liberate the natives from the blistering heat of Kumbha (Aquarius ) and Meena ( Pisces ).

Vishu marks the beginning of Vasanta Rithu, the first of the six seasons.

Farmers in Kerala say that

the seeds sown on Aswathi Jnattuvela ( the Sun's transit of the first 13 degrees of Aries )
and mango seeds sown on Bharani Jnattuvela ( the Suns's transit of the constellation of Bharani )

will fructify.

The best time for planting cocounut trees is on Patham Udayam, the Tenth Rising of the Sun, when Sun enters the tenth degree of Aries.

So Vishu is an agricultural festival, based on the Wisdom of the Heavens and not a religious festival !

The Jnattuvelas are the contribution of Kerala Astrology. Another contribution of K A is Gulika, the son of Saturn and Trisphuta, the Triune Longitude. Kerala Horary Astrology is supposed to be the best.

More info about Kerala at Kerala Heritages.



a dollar sign is the cheesiest

Makiryam Njattuvela strikes Kerala !

Fierce rains lash Kerala. It is now raining heavily, here in Trichur. Rains started at 1130 AM and are now continuing at 0400 PM. (110610)

We had indicated in our columns that rains will accelerate after Makiryam, Thiruvathira, Punartham and Pooyam Njattuvelas . These four Njattuvelas are considered to be fierce, compared to other Njattuvelas. Markiryam Njattuvela started on the 8th of June.

Kerala receives almost 2500 mm rainfall from the South West Monsoon and almost 500 mm from the North East Monsoon.

Average monthly rainfall in Kerala in mm

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
14 16 36 110 252 653 687 404 252 270 158 45

The Ancient Seers prayed for rains, rains which will liberate us from the blistering heat, rains which will water our plants and trees, rains which will give us the much needed water.

May the rulers be just
May the world be happy
May there be plenty of rains
May the earth become fertile
May the good be fearless
May people become angerless !

Swasthi prajabhyam paripalayantham
Nyayena Margena Maheem Maheesa
Go brahmanebhya shubhamasthu nithyam
Loka samastha sukhino bhavanthu
Kale Varshe thu parjanya
Prithvee sasya salinee
Lokoyam kshobha rahitha
Sajjana santhu nirbhaya



Now at 0730 PM on 120610, it is still raining. We have had 30 hours of incessant rain. The water levels in the reservoirs were abysmally low and Kerala Electricity Board was worried two days before. There was only water to generate 8 millions units. ( Kerala's power is 99% hydroelectric ). The discharge from the heavens was providential. Now this glorious rain must have boosted the water levels. Thank God, no power cuts !

We are still watching the climate. Just to see whether Global Warming has effected a change. We got only 1000 mm rainfall last year. This year we are bound to get more. The 825 km Malabar Coast, from Mumbai to Cape Comorin, gets maximum rainfall and will Global Warming affect this bounty adversely? Let us watch and see !

Nature Divine is homeostatic, Nature is liberal, giving us everything at the correct time. Does She not give us watery fruits like cucumber and water melons during the hot summer season? She knows what is best for us. Natural Philosophy ( Sankhya ) postulates that the main efficient cause is Nature ( pradhanam prakritim prahuh ). Goethe, Paracelsus, Companella, Kapila, Bruno etc were all natural philosophers.

Nature is the Main Cause
For the Causal Equation !
Purusha ( Self ) is He who enjoys
Dejection and Elation.

Karya Karana Karthruthve
Hetu Prakriti uchyathe
Purusha Sukha Dukhanam
Bhoktritvam Hetur uchyathe ( The Holy Geetha )

"To the philosopher, Nature and the Divine are one Being, acting by necessity and by inexorable Law " averred Spinoza.

What Alexander Pope said about Providence

(Who finds not Providence all good and wise
Alike in what it gives and what denies ?)

should be said about Nature.

Who finds not Nature all good and wise
Alike in what it gives and what denies?

And Wordsworth confirmed Her fidelity

"Nature never did betray the heart that loved Her."

GDP growth to be more than 8.5 % this fiscal

What has the nation's GDP growth got to do with the monsoon ? Everything !

The India Meterological Dept is considering declaring the monsoon to be a " good monsoon ", in sharp contrast with the 2009 monsoon, which was more or less a failure.

A good monsoon means rising water levels in the reservoirs and dams. More power. It will raise farm output, control inflation ( particularly food inflation, which was 17.6% ) and spur economic growth.

60% of arable land is rain-fed. Hence monsoon showers are critical to soya bean, edible oil, sugarcane, rice etc. In India, the Monsoon is the real Finance Minister !

Because of the bad monsoon of 2009, Indian agri growth rose only .2%. On the other hand, this year's monsoon will trigger 2.5 % agri growth and 8.5 % GDP growth. If India has sufficient infrastructure, the GDP growth will be more than 10%. A 4% agri growth forecast, many feel, will be too ambitious. Also a double digit GDP growth forecast !

Astro Meteorology is right again. The South West Monsoon hit Kerala on May 19th, from Karthika Njattuvela ( Sun's transit of Eta Tauri ) onwards, slightly ahead of schedule. Sporadic rains characterised both Karthika and Rohini Njattuvelas ( Sun's transit of Alpha Tauri ). Rains accelerated after Makiryam Njattuvela ( Sun's transit of Lamda Orionis ). From 11th, 1130 AM onwards it has been raining incessantly. It is raining heavily now ( 13062010, 0300 PM ). There were non stop rains for 30 hours.

Tamil Nadu never used to get the South West Monsoon. But this time she got it ! There were rains in Bangalore and Surat.

As Thiruvathira Njattuvela ( Sun's transit of Alpha Orionis ) will take over from 22nd June onwards, we expect the IMD to declare this monsoon as an " excellent monsoon".

Farmers use Thiruvathira Njattuvela for planting seeds, particularly beans and pepper.

Timely onset of monsoon has raised hopes of better production. The sugar output will be around 18.5 million tonnes this year.

As the Summer Season can be destructive ( more than 100 people died due to sunstroke ) monsoons can also be destructive. Fishermen are warned not to venture into the sea. The sea has attacked some 50 houses in Chavakkad Beach. Seven fishing boats were devoured by the sea. Winds at 60 km per hour are lashing Kerala. Those who are living on the low lying areas of Kerala are warned. On the positive side, rivers are overflowing, paddy fields are overflowing and wells, ponds, and lakes are full of water.

Edava Pathi & Its Two Branches

As the Sun enters the 15th degree of Taurus or Edava Pathi, the Arabian Sea Branch of the South West Monsoon first lash the Western Ghats, the rainforests of India, normally around May 29. The Western Ghats of coastal Kerala becomes the first place to receive it. This branch moves northwards along the Western Ghats, with precipitation on the coastal areas. ( coastal Kerala, coastal Karnataka and coastal Maharashtra . Bombay, on coastal Maharashtra, receives it on June 10th ). As the winds do not cross the Western Ghats, the eastern areas of the Ghats do not receive this precipitation.

At around the same time, the Bay of Bengal Branch of the S W Monsoon, picks up moisture laden particles from the Bay of Bengal and moves towards North East India, flowing over the Bay of Bengal. Immense rain mark the entry of these winds at the Eastern Himalayas. Shillong, on the southern slopes of the mighty Himalayas, is one of the most moist places in India. The winds then turn west, travelling over the Indo Gangetic plains at a rate of 7/14 days per state, showering its benign precipitation all along its way.

In the heavens, Venus, the water planet, moved to watery Cancer on 09 June. Jupiter in watery Pisces also augurs well for rains. Last year, Jupiter was in the Saturnine ( hence airy ) sign of Capricorn, which never indicated rains !

Sun enters Alpha Orionis ( Thiruvathira ) today at 0943 AM

Thiruvathira Njattuvela, the most famous of all Njattuvelas, begins today.

Amongst all solar transits, Thiruvathira is most favoured, as it gives equal proportion of rains and sunny days. The ancients used to preserve the water during this solar transit of 14 days. This water was used to prepare medicinal concoctions. It was believed that it was Ambrosia that rained during Thiruvathira.

The India Meteorological Dept says that Monsoon is 28% more than normal in the South and it is less 8% than the average in the North and East. Only after observation of the Monsoon in the East and North, will they declare it as a good monsoon.

The ancients believed that anything sown during this Sun's transit of Alpha Orionis ( Aridra ) will fructify.

There is an interesting story about this phase. One Kerala King gave pepper seeds to the East India Company. One of his ministers said " If we give them the seeds, they will stop buying from us ". To which the King replied " They can take away pepper seeds, but not Thiruvathira " !

I was woken up at 0100 AM today by the sound of lightning. It was raining heavily at that time.

In Malayalam, there are many sayings about this golden phase. " Thirimuriyathe peythu nirayum Thiruvathira" ( It will be raining golden water all the time ) and " Kairviral vare odichu nattal mulakkum" ( Even the fingers cut and sown will fructify ).

This is the maximum rain yielding Njattuvela. The ancients believed that the rainwater of Thiruvathira can cure diseases and this water was used to make marunnu kanji or medicinal rice soup ! They believed that rains used to pour according to the raga " Thiru Thiru Thakritheya " !

Kerala farmers love this solar transit because rains will not be there all the time but with sunny interludes, in balanced proportion of 50:50. Unlike the devastating Makiryam and Pooyam Njattuvelas, which are characterised by fierce downpours.

We do not know what Physical Science says about these transits. But to Keralites, weather cycles are inextricably linked to the Sun's transits !

Makiryam exited with a bang. Torrential rains from 0730 to 0830 PM characterised its exit. When Thiruvathira dawned it was mild rains and sunshine.

The solar transit of a constellation or asterism is 14 days, as the arc of the asterism is 13 degrees and 20 minutes. The solar transit of a Zodiac Sign is 30 days, as a sign is 30 degrees. Solar transit of the Zodiac, 365.25 days, is an year, as everybody knows. Since the precession is 72 years per degree, an Age Cycle is 2160 years( 30*72) and twelve such Age Cycles constitute a Precessional Cycle which is 25920 years !

All these solar transits of asterisms, signs, Age Cycles and Precessional Cycles have been precisely calculated by the Great Geometrician of the Universe and all terrestrial events obey the divine order of the celestial bodies and this is beautifully expressed in the prayer " Thy Will be done, as in Heaven, so on earth " !

The Farmer's Song, a revealed Science ( the Krishi Geetha )

The International Astronomical Union had standardised all the constellations of the Sidereal Zodiac and the exact boundaries fixed in 1930. . But none of the Indian names figure in the list of the IAU, despite the fact that India had one of the earliest astronomical cultures.

That the ancient Babylonians, the Hindus and the Egyptians had deep and independent knowlege of the Heavens is an undisputed fact. The names of fabled heroes, animals and deities were assigned to the constellations. Those who followed the " Star of Bethlehem" had come from these pagan cultures. The ascendency of Sirius marked the resuscitation of the Nile, after a long dry spell. Edava Pathi transformed the hot, parched landscape of Kerala into a lush green Paradise, a tropical wet system, as per the German climatologist Koppen !

The Indian system is far more comprehensive. It deals with the Sidereal Zodiac, which begins from 0 degrees of Beta Arietis ( Aswini ) and ends at the 360th degree of Zeta Piscium ( Revathi ). As the Sun moves roughly one degree per day, the solar transit of a 30 degree Sign is 30 days and a constellation is 13.33 days ( as the constellation is 13 degrees and 20 minutes ). A Njattuvela is a solar transit of a constellation of 13 degrees 20 minutes and hence the duration is 13.33 days.

The Malayalam Era is known as Kolla Varsham and it was compiled by a man from Kollam. It is derived from the Ursa Major Cycle ( The Saptharshi Yuga ). Staying in a constellation for 100 years, the Ursa Major makes a retrograde circuit of the Zodiac, known as the Ursa Major Cycle. Hence the Ursa Major Cycle is 2700 years ( 27*100).

All other calenders deal only with the 12 signs of the Tropical Zodiac and hence is superficial.

The book "The Farmer's Song' , Krishi Geetha deals with the effects of the solar transits of constellatons. Legend has it that Parasurama, one of the ten incarnations of the Lord, after destroying the tyrants, was seized with remorse. In order to expiate for his sins, he distributed the lands he had conquered to spiritual people. In higher states of Consciousness, he received higher instructions how to make the land fertile, how to plant, when to plant and when to reap, according to the solar transits. The result of his great pyshic research was ' The Farmer's Song" , the Krishi Geetha. This is a revealed science, like all Vedic sciences.


The Fivefold Ephemeris, the Panchanga

The Ephemeris is fivefold

Vaara, Day of the Week, named after the Seven Revolving Heavens
Thaara, the Star, the lunar transit of a constellation
Thidhi, the Lunation, 12 degrees
Karana, 6 degrees or Half Lunation
Nithya Yoga, longitude of Sun + longitude of Moon

Those who follow Astrology follow the Panchanga, which gives all astro information. For corporate mergers, weddings and other auspicious events, the Panchanga is used. The Panchangas use the Indian calculation of Nazhikas ( 24 minutes ) and Vinazhikas ( 24 seconds ). The Zodiac Software converts these Nazhikas into hours and minutes.

Thaara is the Lunar transit of a constellation while Njattuvela is the solar. The Panchanga and the Astro Calender gives all info about these transits.


The six Seasons of the Astro Calender are Vasanta ( Aries, Taurus), Greeshma ( Gemini, Cancer ), Varsha ( Leo, Virgo ), Sharat ( Libra, Scorpio ), Hemanta ( Sagittarius, Capricorn) and Sisira ( Aquarius, Pisces ). Thau Dau Rithu - Two months make a Rithu or a season.

During Makam Njattuvela, Sesame can be planted ( Maghathinte mukhathu ellu erinjal kutathinte mukhathu enna kaanaam )

Never plant anything during Pooyam Njattuvela ( Pooyathil nattal puzhuthu pokum ).
For planting all , Aswathi Njattuvela is good.
For mango trees, Bharani Njattuvela is best.

Thiruvathira Njattuvela is the most famous. It is known for vegetative propagation.
Rohini Njattuvela is good for trees.
Atham Njattuvela is good for bananas.

The Eighteen Astronomical Treatises !

Of all the eighteen astronomical treatises
Aryabhateeyam is extolled
Also Mahabhaskareeyam
These treatises deal with computation
Of planet's longitudes !
Longitude corrected thrice
To get the true longitudes
Mahabhaskareeya talks about
The eight motions of planets
Direct or retrograde
Retrogression is Vakra
Ativakra is maximum Retrogression
End of Retrogression is Kutila
Slow motion is Manda
Slower motion is Mandatara
Mean motion is Sama
Fast motion is Sheegra
And faster motion is Sheegratara !

Eighteen Seers wrote
Eighteen treatises astronomical
Surya wrote Surya Siddhanta
Pitamaha wrote Pitamaha Siddhanta
Vyasa Siddhanta was done by Vyasa
Vasishta wrote Vasishta Siddhanta
Atri wrote Atri Siddhanta
Parasara Siddhanta was written by Parasara
Lomasa, Paulasa, Chyavana
Yavana, Bhrigu all wrote about the Heavens !

The Rise of the Jewish Civilization !

We find that the Precession of the Equinoxes is 70 years per degree. The Signs of the Zodiac are 30 degrees each and one decanate is 10 degrees. In other words, 10 degrees is 700 years and is one Sub Cycle, out of an Astrological Cycle of 2100 years.

The first sub cycle at 700 ACE marked the Rise of the Islamic Civilization. Another Sub Cycle at 1400 ACE marked the Rise of the Western Civilization. And 2100 ACE will mark the rise of the Judiac Civilization. The Jews will rise high in the scientific, economic, military sectors and Israel will be a tiny Superpower !

Other constants in the Maha Bhaskareeya

The degrees of the celestial latitudes are as follows

Venus 2
Mercury 2
Saturn 2
Mars 1.5
Jupiter 1

Longitudes of Ascending Nodes

Mars 40
Jupiter 80
Venus 60
Mercury 20
Saturn 100

Longitudes of Apogees

Mars 118
Venus 90
Mercury 210
Saturn 236
Sun 78

The Ursa Major Cycle ( Sapta Rishi Yuga )

The Ursa Major is a constellation called the Great Bear. They are known in Indian Astronomy as the Seven Seers or Sapta Rishies - Atri, Angiras, Mareechi, Pulasthya, Pulaha, Krithu, Vasishta.

They stay in a constellation for 100 years. Since the Sidereal Zodiac is made up of 27 constellations, they take 27*100 = 2700 years to make a circuit of the Zodiac. Their motion is retrograde.

Their wives are Pleiades, the Seven Sisters, known as Karthika !

Prof Drayson writes in " Asiatic Researches " " that the ancient Indians thought proper to connect their Mythology with an astronomical cycle of a strange nature. It is that of the Seven Rishies ( Ursa Major ), moving along the Zodiac in a retrograde motion of 2700 years."

So by tracking their movements Time can be calculated. In fact the first astronomical calender was erected by the Indian emperor, Vaivaswatha Manu in circa 3700 BC. It was based on the Ursa Major cycle.

The Ursa Major, Sapta Rishies, were in Regulus at the start of the Mahabharatha war.

Time can be measured, not only by Solar cycles or lunar cycles, but also by the Ursa Major Cycle.

Astronomy & Astrology originated from India !

" I am convinced that everything comes to us from the banks of the Ganges " said Voltaire. " Astronony, Astrology, Metempsychosis etc "

The first astronomical and mathematical treatise, the Brahma Sphuta Siddhanta, was translated by the Arabs as As Sind Hind. Later the works of the astronomer-mathematician, Aryabhata, was translated as Al Arjabhat. The Arabs gained insight into Maths and Astronomy, after these treatises were known to them.

The Calculation of the Longitudes of the planets was done by Aryabhata ( Aryabhato Graha Ganitham ). The trignometric functions, Sin was called by him as Bhuja Jya, Cos as Koti Jya and Tan Sparsa Jya. Asin was Bhuaja chapa, Acos was Koti chapa and Atan was Sparas Chapa.

It was these astronomers who first computed the Zodiac, long before Flamsteed. By Jya they meant 5 degrees of a Circle.

The first 90 degrees of the Zodiac, the Circle of the Heavens eight degree away from the Ecliptic was Oja, Odd and the degrees traversed by a planet was Bhuja, the traversed degree. The rest was Koti, the untraversed degree. The 90 to 180 degrees belt was Yugma, Even and the traversed degree of the planet was Koti. ( oja yatra gunaira kotir apara meshdi jookadhikau )

The Northern Celestial Hemisphere stretches from Aries to Libra and the Southern from Libra to Aries. ( Gola Uthara Dakshinau Nigadhidhou ).

The Rev Ebenezor Burgess opined that early Indians were the pioneers and teachers of Astronomy. Indian Astronomy was lauded by the Western astronomers.

Metempsychosis or the Doctrine of Reincarnation was adopted by the Greek philosophers Plato and Philo. The East India Company took this doctrine from India and from this doctrine Dr Erasmus Darwin and his grandson Charles Darwin developed the Law of Evolution, that Life originated from the sea and that our primordial ancestors were aquatic ! This was symbolically depicted in Vedic Symbolism as the first Incarnation as Fish ( origination from the sea ) and the last Incarnation as Buddha ( the Enlightened Self Actualised Sage ) !

The great Gnostics, Hegel and the Rishies, defined Freedom as the Goal of life. The world was the progress of Divine ( Matter, Energy, Being Universal ), through the intellectual evolution of Man. Man attains Freedom, when he realizes that he is God. Man in perfection himself is God !

More info about Indian Astronomy can be had at
Indian Astronomy

The Anti Christ of Eschatology !

Link

The Theory of Global Oneness !

Link

Overpopulation, a big problem !

Link