Astronomy During the Vedic and Vedang Periods
Everyone would have looked up in the sky with awe and wonder at the glory of the heavenly bodies, the Sun, the Moon and the stars. An inquisitive observer would have noticed their movement across the sky and that such a movement was periodic.
The observer utilised their rhythmic movement to reckon time. Thus began the study of astronomy by mankind. This observation happened at several places on the Earth, independently of each other and at different times. Authentic records of such observations are difficult to obtain as of now.
India, one of the oldest civilisations, has evidence of such observations in the verses of Rig Vedas, the antiquity of which is assumed to be around 4000-4500 BCE.
Mr Shankar Balkrishna Dikshit, a Professor in Sanskrit and keen astronomer wrote a treatise on the "भारतीय ज्योतिषशास्त्राचा प्राचीन आणि अर्वाचीन इतिहास – भाग -१– २, History of Astronomy during the Vedic and Vedang periods", in 1896.
The book was written in Marathi. The book was later translated into English and published in 1968 by India Metrological Department. Mr LS Mathur, then director IMD states that this is the only book recording the history of Indian Astronomy from Ancient to Modern times.
The translation was done by Prof, RV Vaidya, MA, BT, Superintendent of Jiwaji Observatory Ujjain. The translation was checked and edited by Prof PC Sen Gupta, Prof of Hindu Astronomy, Kolkatta University. along with Sh NC Lahiri.
This treatise was used by the calendar reforms committee.
The book is voluminous and technical in nature. My effort is to give out some extracts of the book to highlight the level of expertise ancient Hindus had in the field of astronomy.
Greeks, Egyptians, Iranians, and Chinese are considered pioneers in astronomical knowledge.
It is surprising to know that, with the advent of Vedang Jyotish, around 1300-1400 BCE, Hindus developed a lunisolar calendar, which was in use till 3 CE.
My posts will give out interesting facts, along with the original Vedic verses.
Author bringing to notice the astronomy during vedic and vedang period is very much appreciated ,again proving Sanatan Sanscrity dealt exploration of nature and ब्रम्हांड is a guide to space scientists for ever
ReplyDeleteThanks to the author of the blog for sensitising on the stupendous work in marathi language by a marathi sanscrit professor cum astronomer Mr. Dikshit on the subject decoding vedas and vedang on astronomy and jotish shastra which is 6th limb of Vedanag. I would and many will be certainly eager to get many blogs on this complex work in understandable language to a layman like us and space science students.
ReplyDeleteYes more facts will follow
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