nava-grahaAs

[Guest guest]

Dear Sri.V.Chandrasekaharan,

 

Thank you for your interesting questions viz.

 

"We know that solar-centric theory was established only around

14th century (by Copernicus, totally disproving Ptolemy's geo-centric

theory which was till then held correct for over 10 centuries).

My questions in this regard are,

o Around what time did 'navagraha deity worship and the associated

navagraha Agamas' get defined in Hinduism? Is this earlier than the

solar-centric theory?

o Are there any mentionings of navagraha deities in our literatures?

Does Hindu jOthisham have any recordings of how the planets

were located by our ancestors without aid of any equipments?

o Are there any significant descriptions about Earth and other

grahams going around Sun in our ancient literatures?"

**************************************

 

Here are a few references I have come across and which perhaps answer the

above:

 

Prof.A.L.Basham writes in his "The Wonder that was India" as follows:

 

"For the purposes of calculation the planetary system was taken as

geo-centric, though Aryabhata in the 5th century suggested that the earth

revolved round the sun and rotated on its axis; this theory was also known

to later astronomers (in India).... The precession of the equinoxes was

known and claculated with some accuracy by medieval astronomers, as were

the lengths of the year, the lunar month and other astronomical constants.

These calculations were reliable for most practical purposes and in many

cases more exact than those of the Graeco-Roman world. Eclipses were

forecast with accuracy and their true cause understood."

 

It is clear that long before Copernicus (16th centuryAD), Indian

astronomers like Aryabhata and VarAhamihira had spoken of the heliocentric

system. Nobody was burned at the stake for this!

 

Aryabhata, it is said, suppported his heliocentric theory through a special

mode of "nyAya" (logical reasoning) called,"lAghava-gaurava nyAya".

"laghu", they say, means light, small-built etc. and "lAghava" is an

adjectival form of "laghu". The antonym of "laghu" is "guru" whose

derivative is "gaurava"; and "guru" we know means "big" man, a great

"AchArya" or "weighty" personage. If an "AchAryA" is "guru" the "sishya"

must then surely be "laghu", isn't it? The disciple in terms of knowledge

and stature is certainly "light-weight" as compared to the "guru"! So he

circumambulates the Master as a mark of humility. Thus that which is

"laghu" invariably revolves around that which is "guru". This is stated to

be the "lAghava-gaurava nyAya", according to which the "laghava" earth

circumambulates the "gaurava" sun! Aryabhata here combined, they say,

science with "sAstrA-ic" belief.

 

In ancient Vedic learning, "jyotisha" is said to be one of the 6 "vedangAs"

or "sadangA-s" --- the other five being, as you may already know, "siksa,

vyakarana, chandas, kalpa and nirukta".

 

"jyotisha" -- vedic astronomy -- is considered to be the science of the

celestial bodies. It is hailed as the "nayana-anga" of the Vedapurusha ie.

that "by which the blind are enabled to feel their way around" or that by

"which very distant objects that elude the "eyes" can be nevertheless be

seen". "pratyaksham jyotisham sAstram". Just as we need eyes to be able to

discern objects in "distant space", we need "jyotisha" to perceive objects

in "distant time" (the configurations of constellations several years ago

in the past or into the future).

 

The vedic seers used the science of "jyotisha" to determine the time for

performance of various rituals.

 

"jyotisha" is said to consist of three parts and hence it is known as

"skandha-trayAtmakam" viz. "siddhanta", "hOra" and "samhitA". Sages like

Garga, Narada and ParAsara are said to have written treatises (samhitAs) on

this matters.

 

The "siddhAnta-skanda", it is said, deals with arithmetic, trigonometry,

geometry and algebra.

 

Arithmetic is known in "jyotisha" as "vyakta-ganita".

"Avyakta-ganita" is algebra.

"jya" in Sanskrit means "the earth" and "miti" means "to measure". Thus the

word "jyamiti" in "jyotisha" which means "measurement of earthly space for

sacrificial purposes". Thus, linguists also say, did the word "geometry"

evolve from the Sanksrit "jyamiti"!

 

All the above are parts of the science of "jyotisha" --- vedic astronomy!!

 

One of the greatest "vedicjyotisha" exponents was BhAskarAchArya who

lived 800 years ago and who wrote "LilAvati" --- which deals with complex

algebraic equations in a unique way. The problems and answers are stated in

the form of stories and verses!! (How I wish there is an English

translation of this!). He also wrote about the positions and movements of

heavenly bodies using complex mathematical modelling in another book

called, "siddhAnta-siromani".

 

Varahamihira lived 1500 years ago. He wrote a book called "brhajjAtaka"

which is all about scientific astrology.

 

Aryabhatta who is famous today as the author of "aryabhatta-siddhanta" also

lived 1500 years ago and dealt with many aspects of astronomy and

astrology.

 

All the above "siddhanta-s" are based on Vedic "jyotisha" sciences which

clearly stated that there are 7 'grhA-s' or planets ( 5 planets, the moon

and the sun). Rahu and Ketu were known as "chAya-grhAs"(shadow planets)

since their orbits are the opposite of the sun and the moon.

 

The vedic texts clearly d to the heliocentric model of the

planetary system. It is said that a passage in the "aitareya brAhmaNa"

declares,"THe sun remains still and it is the earth that goes round it. It

is only because the earth revolves round the sun that it seems to us that

the sun rises in the east every day and sets in the west. The sun neither

rises nor sets."

 

Now the "hOra-skanda" part of "jyOtisha" deals with the relationship

between the positions and movements of the planets and the destiny of man.

The vedic seers through empirical evidence, mathematical calculations and

the power of spiritual instinct (siddhi) were able to prove that the

condition of man and human society corresponds to the changes in the

position of the nine "grahA-s". A human being does not enjoy happiness all

the time; nor sorrow all the time. This is attributed in part to the

planetary movements by "jyotishA=sAstra". The course of the planets

governing our life is in accordance with our karma. So says the

"hOra-skanda" of the "jyotishaanga" of the vedas.

 

I am not able to tell you how and when the worship of the "nava-grahA-s"

originated in Vedic tradition.I have to do a bit more personal research

into that question. However if anyone else on the list can shed light on it

we will all be grateful.

 

But I do know that the following is the table of "graha" benefits that the

truly faithful believe in:

 

surya --- health brahaspati

---- begetting noble son

chandra --- fame sukra

---- obtaining a noble wife

angAraka --- wealth sanaiscara

-- removal of afflictions and misery

budha --- intellect rahu

--- strength

ketu

--- association with noble souls

 

The above is beautifully described in a little Sanskrit Poem which is a

favourite of mine :

 

ArOgyam prada-dAthu may dinakaraha chandrO yashO nirmalam

Bhumim Bhumi-sutha-ha suDhAm-shu-tanaya-ha pragnyAm gurur-gOravam

kAnya-ha kOmala-vAg vilAsamatulam mandhO mudam sarvadA

rAhur-bAhu-balam virODha-shamanam kEthu-hu kulassyOn-nathim II

 

dAsanu-dAsan,

 

sudarshan