Astronomical Dating of the Ramayan

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!! Sri Rama Jayam !!

 

Astronomical Dating of the Ramayan

By Dr.P.V.Vartak

 

Introduction

It has been believed that there is no evidence to determine the dates of events

in the Ramayanic era. Some historians of the past even refuse to acknowledge

that Rama and other characters from the Ramayana even existed. However, Sage

Valmiki has recorded the dates if events in detail, albeit by describing the

positions of stars and planets. To decipher the astronomical encodings has not

been a trivial task, and not many have attempted to do so. It should be noted

that the ancient Indians had a prefect method of time measurement. They recorded

the 'tithis', days according to the nakshatra on which the moon prevailed, the

months, the seasons and even the different Solstices. By therefore noting a

particular arrangement of the astronomical bodies, which occur once in many

thousand years, the dates of the events can be calculated. Dr. P.V. Vartak has

thus attempted to calculate the dates of important incidents that occured during

the Ramayanic Era. The correct astronomical records goes to show that Valmiki's

has chronicled an account of a true story and also, that the an advanced time

measurement system was known to the Hindus (Indians) atleast 9000 years ago.

Please refer to Dr. Vartak's celebrated book " Vastav Ramayan " for further

reading.

Before coming to the astronomical method, it should be noted that the Mahabharat

has recorded a number of facts about Ramayan (and not otherwise). The precedence

of the Ramayanic era to that of the Mahabharat can therefore be inferred. An

attempt to fix the dates of the events in the Mahabharat era, mainly based on

internal astronomical records. The Mahabharat Era has already been dated by Dr.

Vartak to 5561 B.C. [Reference: Dr. Vartak's book " Swayambhu " ].

Genealogical links available from the Mahabharat and Puranas, Yuga calculations

and some archaelogical findings also provide clues to the dating of the

Ramayanic era. Also, literary references to the characters from the Ramayanic

Era provide limits after which the Ramayan could not have occured. For example,

Guru Valmiki (the author of Ramayana) is refered to in the Taittiriya Brahmana

(dated to 4600 B.C) and therefore Ramayana must have before the Brahmana was

composed. However, archaeological and literary methods can only provide

approximate datelines and for determining the precise time of the Ramayanic

events, astronomical calculations may alone be useful.

 

Astronomical Dating

 

Mahabharat states that Sage Vishwamitra started counting nakshatras from

Shravana (Aadiparva A.71 and Ashwamedha A.44) and a new reference to time

measurement thus initiated. According to the old tradition, the first place was

assigned to the nakshatra prevelant on the Vernal Equinox. Vishwamitra modified

this and started measuring from the nakshatra at the Autumnal Equinox. Sharvan

was at this juncture at about 7500 B.C, which is therefore the probable period

when Vishwamitra existed and also that of the Ramayanic Era.

Formerly, the year initiated with the Varsha-Rutu (season) and therefore was

termed " Varsha " . Ramayan shows that the flag was being hoisted to celebrate the

new year on Ashwin Paurnima (Kishkindha 16/37, Ayodhya 74/36). Ayodhya 77

mentions that the flags were defaced and damaged due to heat and showers. These

descriptions point to the fact that their new year started on the Summer

Solstice when heat and rain simultaneously exist. The Summer Solstice fell on

Ashwin Full Moon, so the Sun was diagonally opposite at Swati nakshatra. This

astral configuration can be calculated to have occured around 7400 B.C.

Kishkindha 26-13 describes the commencement of the rainy season. In shloka 14,

refers to Shravan as " Varshika Poorva Masa " . Kishkindha 28/2 clearly shows that

the rainy season began in Bhadrapada Masa. Further description " Heated by the

Sun and showered by new waters, the earth is expelling vapours " (Kish.26/7)

points to Bhadrapada as premonsoon. Kish.28/17 tells that there was alternate

sun-shine and shadowing by the clouds. Kish.28/14 describes the on-coming rainy

season. Thus Bhadrapada was the month of pre-monsoon, that is before 21st June

or Summer Solstice. Naturally, months of Ashwin and Kartika formed the rainy

season. It is therefore concluded that Ashwin Full Moon coincided with Summer

Solstice, that year being 7400 B.C.

Rama started forest-exile in Chaitra and ended it in Chaitra. He was coronated

in the same month and one month later, proceeded to Ashokavan with Seeta (Uttar

41/18) when the Shishira Rutu terminated. So it seems that Vaishakha Masa

coincided with Shishira. So the Winter Solstice was at Vaishakha with the Sun at

Ashwini. At present, the Winter Solstice takes place at Moola. Thus a shift of

10 nakshatras has occured since the Ramayanic Era. Precession has a rate of 960

years per nakshatra. Therefore, Ramayan must have occured 9600 years ago, which

is 7600 B.C approximately.

 

Shri Rama's Date of Birth

 

Now we shall proceed with the astral route. Valmiki records the birth of Rama as

Chaitra Shuddha Navami (9th), on Punarvasu Nakshatra and five plants were

exalted then; Sun in Mesha upto 10 deg., Mars in Capricorn at 28 deg., Jupiter

in Cancer at 5 deg., Venus in Pisces at 27 deg. and Saturn in Libra at 20 deg.

(Bala Kanda.18/Shloka 8,9).

Ayodhya 4/18 states that Sun, Mars and Rahu were at Dasharatha's nakshatra. It

was the month of Chaitra, so the Sun was in Revati, Ashwini or Bharani.

Naturally, either Rahu and Ketu was in any one of these nakshatra (Rahu and Ketu

are diagonally opposite).

The planetary positions on 16th October 5561 B.C., the date of commencement of

the Mahabharat War, have been calculated and known [Dating of the Mahabharat, by

Dr. P.V. Vartak]. Therefore, calculating further backwards for the astral

combination noted above, the date concludes to be 4th December 7323 B.C. On this

date, Saturn was at 205 deg., Jupiter at 94 deg., Mars between 283 and 298 deg.,

Rahu at 179 deg. and Sun at 2 degrees. 4th Dec. 7323 therefore is the date of

birth of Rama, when the aforementioned 4 planets exalted. Venus is always within

47 degrees from the Sun, and might be in Pisces in an exalted state. Thus Rama's

date is confirmed.

 

The Date of Exile

 

Rama completed 17 years of age (Ayodhya 20/45) and his coronation was fixed on

Chaitra Shuddha 9th on Pushya day. However, he had to proceed to the forest on

the same day, at the behest of Kaikeyi. At this time, Dasharatha states that

Rahu, Mars and Sun were disturbing his nakshatra (Ayodhya 4/18). Calculating 17

years from Rama's birth date, the location of Mars can be determined at 303

degrees in Dhanishta nakshatra. From here, Mars casts its fourth-sight on

Krittika. Rahu, after 17 years had been at 211 degrees in Vishakha, and so was

in opposition to Krittika. Being Chaitra masa, the Sun was at Mesha and so it

could be at Krittika. This the planetary positions agree with Valmiki's

statement. Dasharatha's nakshatra appears to be Krittika.

Valmiki has beautifully described the sky (Ayodhya 41/10), when Rama left for

forest exile. He states, " Crux (Trishankhu), Mars, Jupiter and Mercury have

cornered the Moon. Vaishakha and Milky Way are shining in the sky " . Crux is on

line with Hasta (Corvus) on the southern side. On the eastern side of Hasta,

there are Chitra, Swati and Vishakha. As seen earlier, Mars was at 303 deg. in

Dhanishta. Calculations show that Jupiter was in Poorvashadha at 251 deg. Pushya

was at the western horizon with the setting Moon. On the southern side, from the

west to the east, all the other planets were situated. So poetically Valmiki

describes the sketch as if the Moon was cornered by the planets. The description

of the sky, 17 years after the birth-date of Rama, is perfect astronomically.

After 14 years of Rama's stay in the forest, Valmiki tells that Rohini was

imprisoned (6-24-7, 6-93-60, 6-92-60), Mars marched on Rohini (6- 93-46 or

6-92-45) and mars was torturing Rohini (5-17-24 or 5-15-22, 5-19-9, 6-113 or

116-2). The bracketed seven statements show the vicinity of Mars with Rohini.

Calculations reveal that 14 years later, Mars was at Ardra and was retrograde.

Mars therefore moved in the reverse direction (from Ardra) to Rohini, resided at

the " gate " of Rohini, thus in a way imprisoning the latter. It is to be noted

that the constellation of Rohini is V-shaped. The apex of the angle points to

the west and the two limbs towards east, and therefore appears like a " gate " .

Mars was situated in between the two limbs (or two doors) of the gate and

appeared like a guard. Thus can the simile be explained.

Amavasya (No Moon Day)comes 10.883 days earlier each successive year. 25th

November 7323 B.C., 9 days before Rama's birth, was a Amavasya. In 17 years, the

Amavasya shifted by 185.011 days backwards. It means that 6 Amavasyas (each

29.53 days) were completed and a shift of 7.8 deg. was noticed. The original

Amavasya before Rama's birth took place at 353 deg. Deducting 7.8 deg. from it,

we obtain 345 deg. as the position of this Amavasya which falls in the Uttara

Bhadrapada nakshatra. Naturally, the next month was Chaitra, when the coronation

was arranged on Pushya day at 104 degrees. One 'tithi' contains 12 degrees. So

the moon was in Pushya on 29th November 7306 B.C., when Rama proceeded to the

forest. Calculations show that this day was a Thursday, so said by Seeta as

well(Ayodhya 26/9).

Rama left for the forest on a Thursday, the 29th Nov. 7306 B.C. He completed the

required 14 year period in the forest and returned on 5th Shuddha 9th was over,

and the 5th tithi refered to must have been Chaitra Krishna 5th. Amavasya

recedes by 10.883 days each successive year. So in 14 years it must have receded

by 152.3 days. Deducting 5 Amavasya periods (29.53 days each), 4.7 days remain

which implies that Amavasya came 4 days days earlier on 15th November 7292 B.C.

Calculating backwards for 14 years from 29th November 7306 B.C, when the

Amavasya was at 345 deg., the Amavasya falls at 340 deg. (receded by 4.7 days in

14 years). This is Uttara Bhadrapada, the month being Phalguna. Since the next

month was Chaitra, Krishna 5th tithi happens to be 5th December 7292 B.C. when

Rama entered Bharadwaja Ashram.

 

Hanuman's visit to Lanka

 

Hanuman set out to Lanka in the hopes and mission to search for the kidnapped

Seeta. He reached this destination at night, roamed around a little until he

located Seeta the next morning. While describing Hanuman's return in Sunder

Kanda (S.56 or 57 /1/2), Valmiki states using a simile of sea to the sky:

" The Moon was attractive like a lotus, Sun like a good crane and a span from

Pushya to Shravana was seen. Punarvasu appeared like a big fish, Mars like a

crocodile, Airavata like an island and Swati like a swan. "

Even though a poetic simile, Valmiki provides a plot of the nakshatras from the

west to the east. When Hanuman started from Lanka it was early morning, because

Seeta tells him to rest for a day in some hiding place (Sunder 56/3,11; 57/18).

Since it was morning, the Sun was rising and appeared like a crane and the moon

like a lotus. As both the moon and the sun were present simultaneously in the

sky, it probably was a Paurnima (Full Moon Day) with the moon on the western

horizon and sun on the eastern. The span of nakshatras streched from Pushya to

Shravan, that is from 104 deg. to 281 deg. Punarvasu was also seen. Aairavat

connotes an elephant, and it is possible that Scorpio was seen like an elephant

showing its trunk. The span of nakshatra's from Punarvasu to Sharavan is seen

early in the morning of Krishna paksha of Pushya Lunar month. Sun-rise could

also be seen. Hence, most probably, Hanuman returned from Lanka of Pushya

Paurnima or Pushya Vadya paksha.

Hanuman had set out for Seeta's search after Ashwin masa as he himself says in

Kishkindha 53/21,22. So he must have started the campaign in Kartika masa. One

month, that of Margashirsha was spent in the cave of Swayamprabha. Some more

time was spent in the search upto the South sea, after which Hanuman entered

Lanka, possibly on Pushya Shuddha 14th. Thus it highly probably that he returned

on Pushya Paurnima or Pushya Krishna 1st.

Ravana had abducted Seeta in the season of Hemant (Aranya 16/1) and had given a

period of 1 year, that is upto the next Hemant to consider marrying Ravana

(Aranya 56/24, Yudh 12/19). Had Seeta not accepted this offer, Ravana would have

killed her in Hemant. Hemant is composed of 2 months. Sunder 58/106 or 108 state

that Seeta told Hanuman that only 2 months of her life remain, after which she

will die. Seeta therefore must have conveyed this to Hanuman before Hemant

began, that is, in the season of Sharad. Thus Pushya lunar month coincided with

the season of Sharad.

According to the above description, Mars was near Punarvasu and Pushya. It was

noted that during the (Lanka) war, Mars was at 102 deg. in Pushya. Naturally,

since Mars many a time becomes stagnant, Mars would have been near Punarvasu and

Pushya two months earlier.

The distance from Kishkindha (Vijayanagar to Hospet) to the centre of Lanka is

about 600 miles. An army can travel about 20 miles a day, therefore accordingly,

Rama's army would have taken a month to reach Lanka. Even assuming a pessimistic

speed of 30 miles per day, Hanuman may have covered the distance in 20 days.

Also, it is known that the army of Vaanar tribe were searching for Seeta in many

directions, and therefore, may have taken 2 months to reach Lanka. This army had

started searching for Seeta in mid-Kartika, and would have reached Lanka in

mid-Pausha. The assumption that Hanuman returned from Lanka in the month of

Pausha therefore appears to be reasonable. The Vanar army hurriedly returned to

Kishkindha and could have spent 20 days in the interim and the date falls at

Maagha Shuddha 5th. Rama marched to Lanka in one month and reached there on

Phalguna Shuddha 5th (22nd Oct. 7292 B.C). Rama observes, " Today is Uttara

Phalguni. Tommorrow when the moon will rise on Hasta, we will proceed to Lanka "

(Yudh s.4). Probably on Magha Krishna 1st (2nd Oct. 7292 B.C), Rama commenced

his journey and reached the shores of Lanka on Phalguna Shuddha 5th. Subsequent

three days were spent before Rama could cross the sea. Phalguna Shuddha 8th

ended. Thereafter, starting on the 9th, Nala built a temporary bridge (Seetu)

within 5 days. On Phalgun Shuddha 14th (31st Oct. 7292 B.C), Rama's army crossed

over to Lanka. On Phalgun Shuddha 15th, a full moon day, Rama positioned his

army at strategic points and surveilled the territory from Mount Suvela (Yudh

38/18). Ravan also observed the approaching army from a tower, held a meeting

with his ministers and deployed his army for defence. On Phalgun Krishna 1st

(2nd November 7292 B.C.), Ravana arranged his troops at strategic points.

 

The Great War started

 

On Phalgun Krishna 2nd, Rama's army seiged the gates of Lanka. Angada proceeded

as Rama emmisary on a peace mission to Ravana's court. However, any peace

proposal was rejected by Ravana and the next day (Phal.Kr. 3rd), Rama-Ravana war

commenced. The great war spanned 13 days and concluded on Phalgun Krishna

Amavasya, with the death of Ravana. The very next day, Chaitra Shuddha 1st was

celebrated as a Victory Day. This tradition still continues to be a New-Years's

Day and is marked by hoisting flags.

 

End of Rama-Ravana War. Ravana killed.

 

15th November 7292 B.C was then Phalguna Amavasya. Valmiki states that Ravan

came out for the last battle on the Amavasya day (Yudh. 93/66) and was killed.

In the description of the battle, Sage Valmiki writes, " Kosala's nakshatra

Vishakha is aspected by Mars " (Yudh. 103/37). The annual motion of Mars is

191.405 degrees. In 14 years, it will progress by 159.58 degrees. At the time of

Rama's exile, Mars was at 303 deg. 159 deg. added to this provides Mars at 102

deg. in Pushya. From Pushya Mars could cast its fourth-sight on Vishakha. So,

the calculations presented so far seem to be correct. It also shows Valimiki's

minute observations and time recording capabilities. Thus the date of the last

battle of the War is 15th November 7292 B.C.

 

Following are the dates of few events from the Ramayana:

 

 

Rama's Birth Date 4th December 7323 B.C

 

 

Rama-Seeta Married 7th April 7307 B.C

 

 

Rama Exiled 29th November 7306 B.C.

 

 

Hanuman enters Lanka 1st September 7292 B.C

 

 

Hanuman meets Seeta 2nd September 7292 B.C.

 

 

Seetu (Bridge) built 26-30th Oct. 7292 B.C

on the ocean

 

 

The War begins 3rd November 7292 B.C

 

 

Kumbhakarna is killed 7th November 7292 B.C.

 

 

Ravana is killed by Rama 15th November 7292 B.C.

 

 

Rama returns to Ayodhya 6th December 7272 B.C.

 

 

 

References

 

* Dr.P.V.Vartak, Vastav Ramayan in Marathi, Vedvidnyana Mandal, Pune