The ORION
Or research onto
The Antiquity of the
Vedas
Conclusion
Tilak
summarises the logical conclusions, regarding the antiquity of the Vedic
literature and hence the Aryans, arrived at by analysing the history /
beginning of traditions and legends. He considers these legends across all of
Aryans, Greeks and Iranians. The legends and traditions, of all these were
similar and conveyed the same phenomena.
He claims
that the best measurement of time for determining periods of antiquity is
through reliable records of position of heavenly bodies in those days. Such
records, when Hellenic, Iranians and Aryans lived together, were preserved in
Rigveda. He states, as per passages in Taittiriya Samhita Brahmana’s there were
two traditional year beginnings, which point to the remotest period of
antiquity. Such a record is available, in very vague traditions, in Vedas.
However the Greeks and Parsis have not preserved these.
Tilak
explains that, as per sacrificial literature all sacrifices must commence and
end with Aditi (Sun) who is also ruling deity of the nakshatra, Punarvasu. He
explains the the nakshatra “Abhijit’ its importance and why it was dropped from
the list of 27 Nakshatra.
He derives
and suggests the following periods of Vedic literature, based on his analysis,
and considers only what has been recorded in Vedic works, including, but not
limited to, the astronomical allusions, references, facts and legends
1. Aditi or Pre-Orion Period- 6000-4000 BCE.
The Greeks and Parsis have not retained any traditions of this period because
they carried with them the calendar of the time when they left /migrated away
from Aryans. Therefore you will not find any oldest Greek and Parsi traditions
during this Period.
2. Orion Period-4000-2500 BCE. The Greeks
and Parsis leave common home with Aryans and move away.
3. Krittika Period-2500-1400 BCE. It
appears that during this period the Chinese came in contact with Indians and
borrowed the Nakshatra system
4. Old Sanskrit Literature Period-1400-500 BCE. Pre -Buddhist period, or till birth and rise
of Buddhism.
He comments
that, the position of equinoxes which can safely be made the nuclei of
different periods of antiquity, based on the Vedic records, as shown earlier.
The literary/linguist method can now be used to supplement to determine the
duration of each period. See results of comparative Philology / Mythology and
notes by Max Muller.
He shows
that the rate of precession of equinoxes (50”) was correctly determined by
Hindus, by keeping a continuous record of different positions of equinoxes.
Prof Whitney claims it was a lucky hit, and doubts the capability of Hindus.
He
summarises the traditions recorded in the respective periods. He highlights how
the year beginning was changed from time to time, due to receding Vernal
equinox and the seasons accordingly. For example, recession of rainy season
from Bhadrapada (Aug/ Sept) to Jyeshta (May/ June) months.
His
conclusions are consistent with traditions regarding the antiquity of Zoraster
and the Vedas
Please refer
to the diagram given on top to understand recession of solstice/ equinoxes.
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