Astronomia Vedica - Part II

Cosmological Time Cycles in Indian Astronomy

Long before Copernicus, Galileo & Ptolemy, Aryabhata propounded the Heliocentric Theory of Gravitation, that all planets revolve around the Sun due to celestial gravity. The term given to Celestial Gravity was Guru-tva-Akarshana, which also has a philosophic meaning. Guru represents the Master, the Inner Sun, symbolic of the Self and the planets that revolve represent the students who are on their way to Self_Actualisation !

In Sanskrit Astronomy is known as Khagola Sasthra and Aryabhata worked at an astronomical observatory called Khagola. He studied at the University of Nalanda which housed more than 9 million books.

The Sexagesimal Division of a Day ( Sixtieth Division )

The Life span of Breath is 4 seconds, called as an Asu or a Pranakala in Sanskrit. 6 such Asus constitute a Vinadi and 60 such Vinadis constitute a Nadi. 60 Nadis is one day. In other words, a day is 86400 seconds and 21600 Asus. This sexagesimal division of a day is the base of Indian Astronomy. 15 such days constitute a Fortnight. There are two types of Fortnights - Dark Fortnight ( Krishna Paksha ) & Bright Fortnight ( Shukla Paksha ). These 2 fortnights constitute a month. Two months together is one Rithu and there are six seasons ( Rithus ). Aries & Taurus together is Vasantha, Gemini & Cancer Greeshma, Leo & Virgo Varsha , Libra & Scorpio Sharath, Sagittarius & Capricorn Hemantha and Aquarius & Pisces Sisira. Six months is one Ayana and there are 2 types of Ayanas - Dakshinayana ( the southern progress of the Sun, his declination South ) & Uttarayana ( the northern progress of the Sun, his declination north ). 12 such months or 6 Rithus or 2 Ayanas constitute a solar year. Since precession is 72 years per degree, one Age Cycle is 72*30 = 2160 years and 2 million Age Cycles is one Cosmological Cycle.
One Cosmological Cycle is 4.32 Billion years, known as a Brahma day. The Life span of Brahma is 100 sidereal years or 2*4.32*360*100 = 3.1104*10^14 years ! Indian Astronomy is graced by such gigantic calculations starting from 1/21600th of a day to 3.1104*10^14 years !
The Ursa Major Cycle
The constellation of Ursa Major ( The Saptha Rishies ) move backwards along the Zodiac, staying in a constellation for 100 years. To make a circuit of the Zodiac, they take 27*100 = 2700 years. This is known as an Ursa Major Cycle. Remarks Prof Drayson in "Asiatic Researches ", " The Indians thought proper to connect their mythology with an astronomical period of a strange nature. It is that of the Seven Rishies, moving along the Zodiac in a retrograde motion of 2700 years." Ursa Major was in Regulus at the start of the Mahabharatha War. The first astronomical calender was erected by the Indian emperor Vaivaswatha Manu ( circa 8736 BC ) and it was based on the Ursa Major Cycle.
D or Lunar Day ( Thidhi )
When we deduct the longitude of the Sun from the longitude of the Moon, we get the Thidhi or Lunation
D ( Lunar Day ) = Lm ( Longitude of Moon ) - Ls ( Longitude of Sun )
The First Lunar Day is called Prathama ( Moon within 12 degrees of the Sun ) , the Second is called Dwitheeya ( Moon within 12 and 24 degrees of the Sun ) and we have 14 lunar days before Full Moon. The 15th Lunar Day is Full Moon ( Pournami ). When the Moon is conjunct at 0 degrees from the Sun, it is New Moon ( Amavasya ). All Indian religious festivals are based on the position of the heavens.

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