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