ASTRONOMY IN ANCIENT INDIA: AN INTROSPECTIVE STUDY PDF

Preview

Summary

International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology (IJARET) Volume 11, Issue 11, November 2020, pp. 2293-2300, Article ID: IJARET_11_11_228 Available online at https://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJARET?Volume=11&Issue=11 ISSN Print: 0976-6480 and ISSN Online: 0976-6499 DOI: 10.34...

Description

International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology (IJARET) Volume 11, Issue 11, November 2020, pp. 2293-2300, Article ID: IJARET_11_11_228 Available online at https://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJARET?Volume=11&Issue=11 ISSN Print: 0976-6480 and ISSN Online: 0976-6499 DOI: 10.34218/IJARET.11.11.2020.228 © IAEME Publication

Scopus Indexed

ASTRONOMY IN ANCIENT INDIA: AN INTROSPECTIVE STUDY Avinandan Krishna Mandal Department of Mechanical Engineering, 3rd Year Students, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India ABSTRACT The intellectual achievements of ancient India lay scattered across several fields of study texts ranging from the Vedas and the Upanishads to a whole range of scriptural scientific and artistic sources. In ancient India, the development of knowledge in scientific disciplines like Astronomy, arithmetic, algebra, medicine, chemistry, biology were the results of meticulously accurate observations of natural phenomena. The contribution of ancient India in this field was not well documented but it is known to many prominent astronomers and physicists in the world. India stood in the highest position in the Vedic period. The objective of the study is to search the enrichment in Astronomy in ancient India. This study is a descriptive type of research based on secondary data gathered from ancient books, epics like Upanishad, Srimad Bhagavad Gita, articles, websites and web-based journals. Key words: Intellectual achievements, Vedas, Upanishads, Vedic period, Natural phenomena. Cite this Article: Avinandan Krishna Mandal, Astronomy in Ancient India: An Introspective Study, International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering and Technology, 11(11), 2020, pp. 2293-2300. https://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJARET?Volume=11&Issue=11

1. INTRODUCTION The knowledge of Astronomy is found mostly in Sanskrit in the shape of Shloka in Vedas, Vishnu Purana, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Srimad Bhagavad Gita, and so many epics. In India, all scientific information is imbibed in routine life by explaining them through mythological Stories. Through tradition or custom, all scientific truths are brought to the stage of implementation in day-to-day life. During the period 2500 BCE and 500 CE, the Astronomy of ancient India formed several treatises in India. The different applications of Astronomy are observed in Rig Veda written in 2000 BCE in India. Astronomy was linked with Astrology in ancient India in the forecasting of horoscopes. It is still continuing today. The Astronomy and the Astrology of India were based upon sidereal calculations. Astronomical principles were applied (i) to calculate the occurrences of eclipses, (ii) to determine the Earth's circumference, (iii) to explain the sun as a star, and the number of planets in the solar system. In the ancient

https://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJARET

2293

[email protected]

Astronomy in Ancient India: An Introspective Study

Indian language, the Astronomy was called Khagola Shastra. The word Khagola perhaps was derived from the famous astronomical observatory of the Nalanda University at Khagola, where the famous Indian astronomer, Aryabhatta studied and extended the subject in the 6th century. [6]

Objective: The objective of the study is to search the enrichment of ancient India in Astronomy.

2. METHOD AND MATERIALS This study is a descriptive type in nature based on secondary sources of ancient astronomical works in ancient India. Sources of Data: The data of secondary sources are collected from ancient books, epics like Upanishad, Srimad Bhagavad Gita, articles, websites, and web-based journals published at different times. Analysis: The different materials collected from the different sources have been scrutinized, verified and set up systematically under appropriate heading to hold requisite presentation and conclusion.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 1. The Universe: Lord Krishna showed the solar system, galaxy, and the whole universe (Virat Roop) while bestowing Srimad Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna (3rd brother of Panch Pandava) and also said about the existence of the universe where there are countless numbers of galaxies. He gave Divya Drishti (Super eyes) and power to Arjuna because he with limited capabilities of the material body could not see or hear or feel Lord Krishna’s teachings. It is one kind of subatomic particle’s trajectory. This is because they are trying to observe something that is of the same scale as the photons they are using to observe it. In the 1920′s Werner Heisenberg (1901-1976) formulated his famous uncertainty principle, which states when a physicist attempts to observe a subatomic particle, the experimental apparatus inevitably alters the subatomic particle’s trajectory. Many mysterious functions of the universe and planets in the solar system were discussed in our Srimad Bhagavad Gita before 5500 years. Again many inexplicable things in the universe were explained in Veda also. [7] The ancient Indian Vedic philosophy propounded the life-cycles of the universe. It stated that the universe undergoes an infinite number of deaths and rebirths. According to Sagan, [1] one cycle runs from our ordinary day and night to a day and night of the Brahma. One day and night of the Brahma is equal to 8.64 billion human years age of the Earth or the Sun. Aryabhata in the 6th century came up with this awesome achievement, apparently, there was a mythological angle to this as well. It becomes clear from the Srimad Bhagavad Gita (Part VIII lines 16 and 17), where Lord Krishna said, "All the planets of the universe, from the most evolved to the most base, are places of suffering, where birth and death takes place. But for the soul that reaches my Kingdom, O son of Kunti, there is no more reincarnation. One day of Brahma is worth a thousand of the ages (yuga) known to humankind; same as-is for each night". In other words, the four ages (yuga) of the maha yuga must be repeated a thousand times to make a "day of Brahma", a unit of time that is the equivalent of 4.32 billion human years, doubling which one gets 8.64 billion years for a day and night of Brahma. This was later theorized (possibly independently) by Aryabhata in the 6th century. This is also supported by Einstein’s Time Dilation Theory. The formula of Time dilation of Einstein is shown here.

https://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJARET

2294

[email protected]

Avinandan Krishna Mandal

Where: t′ = Time duration in space t = Time duration on the earth V = Speed with which the universe is expanding C = Speed of light The cyclic of nature of this analysis suggests a universe that is expanding to be followed by contraction, a cosmos without end. This, according to modern physicists, is not impossibility. [8] The same theory of the universe said by Lord Krishna in Srimad Bhagavad Gita 5500 years ago has been shown by Einstein with a sophisticated formula. 2. The Nine Planets (Navagrahas): The Indians were worshiping the ‘Navagrahas’ (Nine planets) of the solar system, when the rest of the world did not know about planet. Worshipping the ‘Navagrahas’ by the Indians in 5500 BCE remains an inherent aspect of our tradition. The influences of the stars, planets and other celestial bodies of the cosmos on our existence are undeniable. It is believed that the ‘Navagrahas’ have a profound impact throughout our life time. Planetary positions and conjunctions at a given point in time can create, support and disrupt harmony in nature. Jyotisha-shastram, an important branch of Vedic studies also known as a Vedanga is a comprehensive study of how the various elements of the cosmos and their interplay affect our lives, individually and collectively. Seven of the nine planets are linked to the seven days of the week as per the Indian calendar and are also worshipped individually on these days. Stories and descriptions about the Navagrahas as well as their impact are found throughout our epics such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata and Puranas. In situations where particular planet is found to have negative influences, suitable remedial measures are suggested including worship of the planet on the corresponding day of the week.[9] The ancient Indian discovered the shape of Earth as spherical and the Earth moves/revolves round the Sun while others were busy claiming earth is flat. But now, the people of the rest of the world who laughed at Indians are agreeing that ancient India was the hub of knowledge. 3. Age of Earth: Our ancient Srimad Bhagavad Gita estimated the age of earth as 4,320 million (4.32 billion) years. Carbon-dating undertaken some decades ago put the age of the earth at 5,000 million years. There is a little variation in computation of Srimad Bhagavad Gita before 5540 years.[10] Manusmriti, a sacred book of ancient India says that the earth is more than 4 billion human years. Science says, it is 4.54 billion human years approximately. Geologist Holmes said, “Long before it became a scientific aspiration to estimate the age of the earth, many elaborate systems of the world chronology had been devised by the sages of antiquity. The most remarkable of these occult time-scales is that of the ancient Hindus, whose astonishing concept of the Earth’s age has been traced back to Manusmriti, a sacred book”. [7] 4. Duration of Year: According to the Rig Veda, the year was divided into 12 months and again, each month was divided into 30 days, i.e., the year was divided into 360 days. For every 5 years, two intercalary periods were added to bring the calendar back in line with the solar year so as to ensure a year of 366 days. Again, four days were deducted in every five years, and thus, the Indian astronomers constantly tweaked and adjusted their calendars over the millennia. Some other astronomers also enumerated the sidereal year through their own mathematical techniques and astronomical equipment. This is discussed below. [11] (i) Yajnavalkya calculated the average length of the tropical year as 365.24675 days based on his heliocentric model in the 9th–8th century BCE. He mentioned it in his astronomical text titled, ‘Shatapatha Brahmana’. His calculated value is only 6 minutes and 33.98 seconds more

https://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJARET 2295

[email protected]

Astronomy in Ancient India: An Introspective Study

than the modern value of 365.24219 days. His estimated value remained the most accurate anywhere in the world over a thousand years. [11] (ii) As per Surya Siddhanta written in 800 CE, the duration of sidereal time in regard of Earth’s revolution around the Sun is 365.2563789 days. It is only 1.4 seconds longer than the modern value of 365.2563627 days. This was the most accurate calculation of duration of sidereal time anywhere in the world over a thousand years. (iii) Rishi Bhaskaracharya was born in 1114 CE. He was the head of the astronomical observatory at Ujjain till his death in 1185 CE. He wrote a text titled ‘Siddhanta Siromani’ in 1150 CE at the age of 36 years on planetary positions, eclipses, cosmography, mathematical techniques and astronomical equipments. His astronomical equipments were divided into two parts: Goladhyaya (sphere) and Grahaganita (Mathematics of the planets). He calculated the time taken by the Earth to orbit the sun up to 9 decimal places before hundreds of years of the modern astronomers. It was 365.258756484 days. [6] [12] Now the above values are compared with the modern values in Table-1 shown below. Table 1 Time of the Earth to orbit the Sun as per Shatapatha Brahmana, Surya Siddhanta and

Siddhanta–Siromani Old Computation Modern Computation Variation Yajnavalkya’s ‘Shatapatha Brahmana’ in 9th–8th century BC 365.24675 days for a tropical 365.24219* days for a tropical 0.00456 day i.e., 6 minutes 33.98 year year Seconds more in ‘Shatapatha Brahmana’ Lata’s ‘Surya Siddhanta’ in 800 CE 365.2563789 days 365.2563627 days 0.0000162 days i.e. 1.40 seconds more in ‘Surya Siddhanta’ Rishi Bhaskaracharya’s ‘Siddhanta–Siromani’ in 1150 CE 365.258756484 days 365.2563627 days (0.002393784) day i.e., 3 minutes (365 days 6 hours 9 minutes 26.82 seconds more in ‘Siddhanta– 9.73728 seconds) Siromani’

Source: Shatapatha Brahmana, Surya Siddhanta and Siddhanta–Siromani and Modern Computation.[13] Findings of Table-1: In the three ancient and oldest astronomical treatises on the duration of the earth to orbit the sun, it is observed that in ancient time the measurement of year by the three astronomers were near about correct. In Yajnavalkya’s ‘Shatapatha Brahmana’ in 9th–8th century BC, 6 minutes 33.98 seconds are more than that of modern measurement in a year. In Lata’s ‘Surya Siddhanta’ in 800 CE, only 1.40 seconds were more in a year. In Rishi Bhaskaracharya’s ‘Siddhanta–Siromani’ in 1150 CE, 3 minutes 26.82 seconds were more in a year. The duration of a year in ‘Surya Siddhanta’ is more accurate. 5. Eclipses of the Sun and the Moon: Brahmagupta was born in 598 CE. He was the head of the astronomical observatory at Ujjain. He wrote a text on Astronomy titled ‘Brahmasphuta Siddhanta’ in 628. He was the first to use algebra to solve astronomical problems. He died in 668 CE. During his life time, he developed the methods of calculation of motions of various planets, their locations, their rising and setting, their conjunctions and the time of eclipses of the Sun and the Moon. [6] 6. Distance of Sun and Moon from the Earth: (i) Yajnavalkya (9th–8th century BC) recognized that the Earth is spherical in shape and the Sun is situated at the centre of the solar system as it had been described in the Vedas and Srimad Bhagavad Gita. He wrote a book on Astronomy titled ‘Shatapatha Brahmana’, where he stated, “The sun strings these worlds – the earth, the planets, the atmosphere to himself on a thread ” (8.7.3.10). He accurately measured

https://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJARET

2296

[email protected]

Avinandan Krishna Mandal

the relative distances of the Sun and the Moon from the Earth as 108 times the diameters of these heavenly bodies, almost close to the modern measurements of 107.6 for the Sun and 110.6 for the Moon. [11] Yajnavalkya’s Measurements of the distance of the Sun and the Moon from the Earth compared with modern measurements are shown in Table-2 below. Table-2 Comparison between Yajnavalkya’s Measurement and Modern Measurement for the Distance of Sun and Moon from the Earth Heavenly Body Sun Moon

Diameter

Distance from Earth as per Distance from the Yajnavalkya’s measurement Earth as per modern instrument = Diameter × 108 1392680 km 150409440 km 1392680 km× 107.6 = 149852368 km 3474.2 km 375213.6 km 3474.2 km × 110.6 = 384246.52 km

Difference in Yajnavalkya’s measurement 557072 more 9032.92 less

Source: Yajnavalkya’s Treatise ‘Shatapatha Brahmana’ (8.7.3.10) and Modern Measurement

Findings of Table-2: Yajnavalkya calculated the distance of the Sun and of the Moon from the Earth in (9th - 8th century) BC. It is unbelievable to the rest of the world when there was no modern instrument. His calculation is accurate to the modern measurement with slightly more in the distance of the Sun and slightly less in the distance of the Moon from the Earth. It shows how the ancient Indians developed the knowledge of Astronomy. (ii) Hanuman Challisa: As per Hanuman Challisa (Prayer of Hindus) the distance between the Earth and the Sun is shown below. Hanuman challisa was written by Goswami Tulasidas (born 15th century). Two lines of the Hindu prayer Hanuman Chalisa compute this distance with great simplicity. जुगसहस्त्रयोजनपरभानु, लील्योताहहमधुरफलजानू This means that the Sun (भानु) is at a distance of yuga sahastra yojanas (जुगसहस्त्रयोजन–Unit of distance in Sanskrit/Hindi). According to the following conversion practices that are in use as per Hindu Vedic literature: 1 yuga = 12000 celestial years 1 sahastra = 1000 1 yojana = 8 Miles Total Distance = yuga × sahastra × yojana = parabhanu miles from the Earth to Sun. Total Distance = 12,000 × 1000 × 8 miles = 96,000,000 miles from the Earth to Sun Or, Total Distance in kms = (96,000,000 miles × 1.6) kms = 153,600,000 kms from the Earth to the Sun (as 1 mile = 1.6 kms). The earth moves in an elliptical orbit around the sun, so there will be slight variation depending on the season. The distance between the Sun and earth had been calculated much more accurately than the 17th century scientists even before 2 centuries. The Question here is how Tulsidas calculated this distance or how he is able to know about this distance. We also have to observe that the people of that age had more knowledge, capabilities and much more advanced technology that is beyond the imagination of our present day technologies. [14] 7. Diameter and Duration of Revolution of Planets around the Sun: The Surya Siddhanta, a Sanskrit treatise is one of the several astronomical studies in ancient India composed or revised in 8th century CE from an earlier text. According to al-Biruni, the Persian scholar and polymath in the 11th Century, a text named the Surya Siddhanta was written by Lata. It was a palm-leaf manuscript. The text described the methods how to compute the motion of planets

https://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJARET 2297

[email protected]

Astronomy in Ancient India: An Introspective Study

and the Moon in respect of various constellations, and how to calculate the diameter and the orbit of various celestial bodies. The treatise predicted reasonably accurate. Some contributions of this text in astronomical field are shown below in Table-3. Table 3 Astronomical calculations: Computation of diameter and Duration of revolution of Planet around the Sun as per Surya Siddhanta Computation

Surya Siddhanta

Modern

Variation

Computation of Diameter Computation of the Earth's diameter

7,840 miles

7,927.7 miles

87.7 miles less in Surya Siddhanta

Computation of the Moon’s diameter

2,400 miles

2,160 miles

240 miles more in Surya Siddhanta

Computation the distance between the moon and the earth

253,000 miles

252, 710 miles (Vary: 221,500–252,710 miles)

290 miles more in Surya Siddhanta

Duration of Revolution of Planet around the Sun (Orbit) Budha (Mercury)

87 days, 23 hours, 16 mins, 22.3 secs

87 days, 23 hours, 15 mins, 43.9 secs

38.4 seconds more in Surya Siddhanta

Shukra (Venus)

224 days, 16 hours, 45 mins, 56.2 secs

224 days, 16 hours, 49 mins, 8.0 secs

3 minutes 12.80 Sec. less in Surya Siddhanta

Mangala (Mars)

686 days, 23 hours, 56 mins, 23.5 secs

686 days, 23 hours, 30 mins, 41.4 secs

25 minutes 42.10 Sec. more in Surya Siddhanta

Bṛhaspati (Jupiter)

4,332 days, 7 hours, 4,332 days, 14 hours, 2 41 mins, 44.4 secs mins, 8.6 secs

6 hours 20 mins 24.20 sec. less in Surya Siddhanta

Shani (Saturn)

10,765 days, 18 10,759 days, 5 hours, 16 hours, 33 mins, 13.6 mins, 32.2 secs secs

13 hours16 mins 41.40 sec. more in Surya Siddhanta

Source: Astronomical treatise ‘Surya Siddhanta’ in the 8th century.[2] [3] [5] [15] [16]

Findings of Table-3: The oldest astronomical treatises ‘Surya Siddhanta’ computed the diameters of the earth, moon and the distance between the moon and the earth in the 8th century CE without the use of modern instruments, which vary a slightly in comparison to modern computation. The computations of duration of revolution of Planets around the Sun were also correct with slightly variation. The treatises ‘Surya Siddhanta’ has been taken now as guidance in astronomical filed. 8. Division of Day: Brihath Sathaka lived at Ujjain of Madhya Pradesh in the 6th century. He divided the time of a day into 60 kalas. Each kala was equal to 24 ...