INTERESTING COSMOS

    Astronomy During the  Vedic Period-2 Time Units KALPA and YUGA are common terms and, are understood as some unit of time denoting a specific period. However, KALPA is not used as a unit of time in Vedas, though it is used extensively during the post-Vedic period. YUGA as a unit of time, finds a mention in the Vedas in several places. These references in the Vedas suggest that the word yuga does denote a certain period of time. This period is not quantified but is a smaller period of  5 to 10 years.  For example as given in the following verses  युगे ुगे विदध्यं मृणद्भ्योगनेरथि यशसं धेहि नव्यसीं ॥                                                                     | ऋ. स. ६. द. ५. " Oh! God of fire, give riches and success to us who offer new words of praise to thee for the ...

 Astronomy During the  Vedic Period-1 The Vedas contain astronomical information but are not exclusively focused on it. Vedic literature deals with a whole lot of topics. A general inference can be drawn from the astronomical mentions in the Vedas. It also shows that the astronomical ideas developed in stages, starting from the Vedic era. A glance at the Vedas will show, that there exist sufficient references(1) of the description of the sky, Sun, Moon and the stars. The mentions include but are not limited to, the Origin of the Universe and its infinities, Description of the Sun and how it affects the Earth and its inhabitants, description of Earth, Moon and units of time and how it was used, etc. The knowledge of astronomy gradually developed over the ages and each generation contributed to the texts and upgrading it.  The astronomical references during the Vedic period were in poetic form and, at times, indirect. One has to understand the etymology to know t...

Interpreting the Universe-2 Branches of Astronomy The three branches of Astronomy, namely Ganit, Samhita and Hora/Jatak deal with separate subjects, though some portions may be common to some branches. With the progress of time and the updating of knowledge, some branches got merged. The Ganit branch has three sections   i.  Siddhant  सिद्धांत    ii, Tantra  तंत्र  iii, Karana  करण Of the Siddhant and Tantra sections, one deals with the calculation of planets' places  and the other primarily describes the structure of the Universe to include, knowledge of the celestial sphere, construction of instruments and units of measurement of time and other connected subjects. The Karana deals with planetary calculations only. Different definitions of these sections are also found in the ancient texts. The subject matter has been intermingled in it. The Samhita branch consists of two parts. One deals with the movement of planets and their mu...