150120 - ANCIENT BHARATHEEYA KNOWLEDGE IN GEOGRAPHY (
ANCIENT BHARATHEEYA KNOWLEDGE IN GEOGRAPHY
Dr T P Sasikumar
(Scientist, ADRIN, Department of Space)
G-1, Godavari Towers, Vishnupuri Colony,
Malkajgiri, Secunderabad – 500 047.
ABSTRACT
It
is not true that Bahratham had every knowledge and it is also not true that
Bahratham had no knowledge. It is true with many subjects including Geography.
Geography cannot be dealt without the knowledge of Astronomy. Thus the ancient
knowledge in Geography has a wider spectrum including the astronomy. A few
quotations from texts like karaNa paddhathi, aaryabhaTiiyam, laghu
bhaaskariiyam, Sishyadhiivr^ddhidathanthram, panjchasiddhaanthika are explained
in this paper to illustrate the ancient Bharatheeya Knowledge in Geography.
INTRODUCTION
Many
distorted views are given on the knowledge that Bharat had. The scientific
analysis of the slokas from the Vedas is not required. The saint-scientists
like Varaahamihiran, Bhaskaracharyan, Aryabhatan, et. al are essential to get
into the vedic heritage of India. I recall Hardy’s comments on Srinivasa
Ramanujam. He said that Ramanujam used to make six new theorems per day and no
proofs. Hardy never thought Ramanujam will leave so fast otherwise he could
have asked the proofs. The ways and means of creating knowledge by the Indians are
different. They look like comes from intuitions. The proofs are the job of
science. The truth is much bigger and science is only a small portion in that
what is seen. Some example slokas are given with short commentaries / meanings
to introduce into the topic of ancient geographical knowledge from Bahrat.
POSITION OF PLANETS
On
1772786 the day of kali yuga (Kali Yuga started on BC 3102 February 18th
sunrise) the position of planets are given in kadappayadi number system defined
in minute (kala), second (vikala), tenth of second (thalpara) and hundredth of
a second (prathalpara).
thEjO-surasthham sakr^duktha khaNDE
ganaal sumErau na sumaruu niithiH
lOkE kr^Saamgyaa nijakaamapunjja
nirbhaasa-bhaanOH kathhnEkshipaalaH
liinaavibhaavE bhavabuddhanaarii
thayaa-priyOsau rasabhidvaanasthhaH
hEmaadri-nEthaa giriSO ninaadaiH
(AD 1438 karaNa paddhathi 1-23)
Sun (Soorya) is
at 6th raasi equivalent to 20o 57’ 2’’ 57’’’ 3’’’’
Moon (SaSi) is
at 8th raasi equivalent to 150o 18’ 1’’ 51’’’ 13’’’’
Mars (Kuja) is
at 5th raasi equivalent to 250o 6’ 10’’ 53’’’ 0’’’’
Mercury
(Bhudha) is at 3rd raasi equivalent to 160o 7’ 10’’ 47’’’
40’’’’
Jupiter (Guru)
is at 2nd raasi equivalent to 90o 34’ 44’’ 44’’’ 3’’’’
Venus (Sukra)
is at 7th raasi equivalent to 40o 47’ 27’’ 12’’’ 16’’’’
Saturn
(Sani) is at 8th raasi
equivalent to 0o 52’ 36’’ 2’’’ 58’’’’
ANGULAR VELOCITY OF PLANETS
In
the kadapayaadi number system the velocity of planets defined in minute (kala),
second (vikala), tenth of second (thalpara) and hundredth of a second (prathalpara).
gopaa jnjayaadinadhaamaa
chaNDikESO-bharggasnigmasau
prabhurdharaa chakrapaalaH
raagiithum buraarNESvaraH
prajnjaasannO dharmmavaan
kaaSiisaambasanna chOLa
prabalaH praajnjO naraH
(AD
1438 karaNapaddhathi vyaakhyaanam 1-22)
Sun
(Soorya) 59’ 8’’ 10’’’ 13’’’’
Moon
(SaSi) 790’ 34’’ 51’’’ 36’’’’
Mars
(Kuja) 31’
26’’ 29’’’ 42’’’’
Mercury
(Bhudha) 245’ 32’’ 36’’’ 32’’’’
Jupiter
(Guru) 4’
59’’ 7’’’ 2’’’’
Venus
(Sukra) 96’ 7’’ 37’’’ 51’’’’
Saturn
(Sani) 3’
10’’ 44’’’ 41’’’’
ORBITS ARE NOT CIRCULAR
The
elliptical orbit is higher than the felt circular path. The center of the orbit
is not the center of the earth and it is far from earth.
kakshyaa-maNDala-thulyam
svam svam
prathimaNDalam
bhavathyEshaam
prathimaNDalasya
madhyam ghana
bhuumaNDalaa-dathikraantham
(AD 499 aaryabhaTiiyam 3.18)
This
indicates the knowledge that the orbit is elliptical and the planets do not
rotate around earth.
PRIME MERIDIAN
langkaa vathsya puraavanthii
sthhaanESvara suraalayaan
avagaahyasthhithaa rEkhaa dESaanthara
vidhaayinii
(AD
522 laghu bhaaskariiyam 1-23)
Explains
that the prime meridian is the imaginary line connecting
lanka-vathsyapuram-avanthi-sthaneswaram-suralayam (north pole).
Another
definition says that the thread from lanka to meru (kailas) is the prime
meridian.
langkaayaam Ekam Sangku-kiilam
prathishThaapyathEnaikam suuthram
badhvaa punar mErOruparithadagramanyath
badhvaa yathhaa yathhaa dr^SyathE
thad rEkhaa dESaanthara vidhaayinii
(AD 866
laghu bhaaskariiyam SangkaranaaraayaNa vyaakhyaanam 1-23)
TIME & PRIME MERIDIAN
paSchhaath paSchhaadarka praak praakcha
yathO bhyudEthi rEkhayaaH
yad dESaanthara jaatham
thEna svamr^Nam grahE kriyathE
(AD
748 Sishyadhiivr^ddhidathanthram 16-6)
When
sun rises on east or west of the prime meridian, according to the longitudinal
position the time must be computed by adding or subtracting.
ASCENDING
NODES OF PLANETS
On the day
the aryabhateeyam was written during AD 499 March the planetary positions at
the ascending nodes (udaya raasi) are given
budha - bhr^gu - kuja - Sani - na - va
raa - sha - ha - gathvaamSakaan
prathhama paathaa
(AD
499 aaryabhaTiiyam 1.9)
A
comparative table is shown below with the modern measurements on the same day
in March, meda sankranthi day
|
Planet |
Mercury
(Bhudha) |
Venus
(Sukra) |
Mars
(Kuja) |
Jupiter
(Guru) |
Saturn
(Sani) |
|
Aryabhateeyam |
20o |
60o |
40o |
80o |
100o |
|
Modern
Measure |
30o
55’ |
63o
16’ |
37o
49’ |
85o
13’ |
100o
32’ |
PARALLAX PHENOMENON
kuvaSaath kshithijE svaa dr^kchhaayaa
bhuu vyaasaardham nabhO madhyaath
(AD
499 aaryabhaTiiyam 4.34)
Because
of the curvature of earth, an object in the space will have varying parallax on
view from straight above to the distant vanishing sky. They vary from 0 o
to equivalent angle to the half of earth’s diameter.
OBLIQUITY OF ECLIPTIC & INCLINATION OF PLANET’S ORBIT
The
obliquity of earth and other planets are given as
bhaapakramO grahaamSaaH
SaSii vikshEpOpamaNDalaath
thsadhamSani guru kuja kha ka gaardham
bhr^gu budha kha schaamgulO ghahasthO
naraH
(AD 499 aaryabhaTiiyam 1.8)
The
table shows the figures as per the old text (96 angulam = 4 hastham = 1 nara)
and the modern value
|
Planet |
Earth
(bhoomi) |
Moon
(SaSi) |
Saturn
(Sani) |
Jupiter
(Guru) |
Mars
(Kuja) |
Mercury
(Bhudha) |
Venus
(Sukra) |
|
Aryabhateeyam |
24
o |
4.5
o |
2o |
1o |
1.5o |
2o |
2o |
|
Modern
Measure |
23.5
o |
5
o |
2.5o |
1o
18’ |
1o
51’ |
7o |
3o
23’ |
ECLIPTIC & EQUATOR
mEshathulaabhau lagnam naaDi
vr^ththO pamaNDalam thadudak
jina bhaagaiH karkyaadau
yaamyai-sthairEva makaraadau
(AD
748 Sishyadhiivr^ddhidathanthram 15.7)
The
equator and the ecliptic rotation path of earth has a 24 o angle.
They coincide at medam and thulam raasees. From medam to thulam it is in the
north and from thulam to medam it is in the south. At north it is karkitaka
raasi and at south it is makara raasi.
ROTATION OF PLANETS
kakshyaa prathimaNDalagaa-bhramanthi
sarvEgrahaaH
svachaarENa mandOchchaadanu-lOmam
prathilOmam chaiva SiighrOchchaath
(AD 499 aaryabhaTiiyam 3.17)
All
planets rotate on an elliptical path. The speed varies from one to other
direction.
REVOLUTION OF PLANETS & SIDERAL DAYS
yugara-vibhagaNaH khyu ghr^,
SaSi chaya giyinguSu-chhr^lya,
kunjiSibuNNashr^khya praak
Sani Dhungivighava, guru
rikhichyubhakuja bhadilithDunu
khr^, bhr^gu budha sauraaH
(AD
499 aaryabhaTiiyam 1.3)
In
a yuga the sun moves 4320000, moon 57753336, earth 1582237500, Saturn 146564,
guru 364224, kujan 2296824, mercury and venus have that of equal to sun.
Accordingly the days are decided. The values in old text and the modern value
are tabulated below.
|
Planet |
Earth
(bhoomi) |
Moon
(SaSi) |
Saturn
(Sani) |
Jupiter
(Guru) |
Mars
(Kuja) |
|
Aryabhateeyam |
365.25 |
27.32 |
10766.06 |
4332.27 |
686.999 |
|
Modern
Measure |
365.25 |
27.32 |
10759.20 |
4332.59 |
686.979 |
EPICYCLES OF SLOWER & FASTER VELOCITY OF PLANETS
thDaardhaani mandavr^ththam SaSinaSchha,
ga chha gha Dha chh thDa yathhOkthEbhyaH
(AD
499 aaryabhaTiiyam 1.10)
As
the planets takes the orbit as it goes far from the sun the speed reduces. The
angle subtended as the planets moves slower than the average speed and are for
moon 31.5o, sun 13.5o, Mercury 13.5o, Venus 18o,
Mars 63o, Jupiter 31.5o, Saturn 40.5o. It is
given as the results of multiplying 7,3,7,4,14,7,9 with 4.5.
thDaa - gaDha - gala - radha - daDa -
thathhaa
Sani guru kuja bhr^gu budha
uchchaSiighrEbhyaH
(AD 499 aaryabhaTiiyam 1.10 cd)
The
angle subtended as the planets moves slower than the average speed and are for
Saturn 40.5o, Jupiter 72o, Mars 238.5o, Venus
265.5o, Mercury 139.5o It is given as the results of
multiplying 9,16,53,59,31 with 4.5.
ROTATION OF EARTH: WEST TO EAST
anulOma gathirnausthha
pasyathyachalam vilOmagam
yaddhath achalaanibhaani
thaddhath samapaSchimagaani langkaayaam
(AD
499 aaryabhaTiiyam 1.10)
Repeated
again at
...... anulOma-gathir
nausthhapaSyathyachalam
vilOmagam yaddhath achalaani bhaani
thaddhath sama paSchimagaani langkayaam
(AD
499 aaryabhaTiiyam 4.9)
One
who goes in a boat feels the objects on the shore as moving backward; as a
person at lanka or at the equator feels the other astral bodies moves towards
west. This illustrates the knowledge of earth’s movement from west to east.
PROOF FOR ROTATION OF EARTH
........... ku ngi Si bu NNa shr^ khr^
praak .....
(AD
499 aaryabhaTiiyam 1.3)
In
a maha yuga the earth rotates 82237500 times.
...........praaNEnaithi kalaam bhuu
.........
(AD
499 aaryabhaTiiyam 1.6)
In
a prana time (4 seconds) the earth rotates one kala (minute).
...............ku aavarththaaSchaapi
naakshathraa
(AD
499 aaryabhaTiiyam 3.5)
Because
of the revolution earth the day occurs.
CIVIL DAYS IN A YUGA
danthaabdayO yuthahathaa yugavathsaraa
syuH
vyOmaabara baaNa thuraga kshithi nanda
Saila
kashamaa bhr^chchhilii mukhabhuvaH
kshithivaasaraaH syuH
(AD
748 Sishyadhiivr^ddhidathanthram 1.3,8a)
The
mahayuga with number of years obtained by 432 multiplied by 10000 have
1577917500 days.
bhuudinaanithu vyOmaSuunya-
Saraadriindu-ranDraadryaadri-SarEndavaH
(AD 522 laghu bhaaskariiyam 1-23)
In
a mahayuga there are 1577917500 days.
GLOBE
samavr^ththa pr^shThamaanam suukshmam
gOLam prasaadhya daarumayam
sthhaagitharkka samaangkitha
kaalabhOga rEkhaa dvayE paridhau
(AD
505 panjchasiddhaanthika 14.23)
Globe
is a wooden sphere shaped one with markings with respect to sun as kaala
reeghaa (longitudes) and the bhoogha reeghaa (latitudes).
CIRCUMFRANCE OF ATMOSPHERE
The
earth with its atmosphere together has the circumfrence 3375 yojana (1 yojana =
12.11 Km). And the diameter is 1074 yojana. This is given in
Saraadri-raamaanala
yOjanaani
kuvaayu
kashyaaparithaH samudra
sailaambara-SiibhasasthadiiyaH
vishkambha-muSanthi
pr^thhivyaam
(AD
748 Sishyadhiivr^ddhidathanthram 18.2)
A slight varying measurement of diameter
is given as 1050 yojana in
njilaa
bhuuvyaasaH giyingaSa kuvaayu-kakshyaanthyaa
(AD
499 aaryabhaTiiyam 1.7,11)
GRAVITY
aakr^shTi
Sakthisthu mahii thayaa yath
khasthham guru
svaabhimukham sva Sakthyaa
aakr^shyathE
thath pathathiiva bhaathi
samE
samanthaath kva pathathyayam khEH
(AD 866 siddhaantha SirOmaNi
gOLadhyaayam bhuvanakOSam 6)
The
earth itself is the gravity. It attracts towards it. Same is the case with all
other planets and other such universal objects. Then where it can fall.
COBER ABOVE EARTH
aavaha pravaha
udvaha-sthathhaa
samvahaH
suparipuurvakau vahau
sapthamasthu
pavanaH paramahaH
kiirththithaH
kumaru-daavahO:f:paraiH
(AD
748 Sishyadhiivr^ddhidathanthram 18.1)
There
are seven layers around earth as avaham, pravaham, udvaham, samvaham, suvaham,
parivaham, paraavaham. Atmosphere is the avaham. The respective layers are the
troposphere, stratosphere, ionosphere, exosphere etc.
DEFINITION OF APOGEE & PERIGEE
svOchchaath
shDbhaagaadyadhikO
yathhaa-thathhaa
bhavathi svaniichasyaH
duurENOchchaga
urvyaaHkarNa
vaSaannOchchagO
nikaTE
(AD
748 Sishyadhiivr^ddhidathanthram 14.10)
When the planet orbits are not circular.
They are far then it is apogee and close it is perigee. They differ by six
saarees equal to 180 o. It is clear from this that the sun is not at
center and the orbits are not circles.
APOGEE
savithuramiishaam
cha thathhaa dvaa - njakhi
saa - hr^daa -
halaya - khich.ya – manthOchcham
(AD
499 aaryabhaTiiyam 1.9cd)
In AD 499 when the earth was at apogee,
the following are the angles measured. The aryabhateeya (as in the sloka) and
the modern values are given below.
|
Planet |
Sun
(sooryan) |
Mercury
(Bhudha) |
Venus
(Sukra) |
Mars
(Kuja) |
Jupiter
(Guru) |
Saturn
(Sani) |
|
Aryabhateeyam |
78
o |
210o |
90o |
118o |
180o |
236o |
|
Modern
Measure |
77o
15’ |
234o
11’ |
290o
4’ |
128o
28’ |
170o
22’ |
234o
40’ |
VERTICAL QUADRANTS OF EARTH
langkaa-praag
yamakOTi panjchaadrOmakamadhaScha siddhapuram
mEruHsthhitha
uththarathO dakshiNathO daithya nilayaH syaath
EthE
jalasthhalasthhaa mEruH sthhalagO::suraalayO
jalagaHku
paridhi paadaantharagaa manyanthE thiryaganyOnyam
(AD
748 Sishyadhiivr^ddhidathanthram 17.3,4)
To the east of lanka yamakoti. West is
romaka desa. Siddhapuram on the otherside of earth opposite to lanka. Meru at
north pole. Batava-mugham at south pole.
All these places falls around 90 o and it is only quarter part of earth.
SUN IN FOUR QUADRANTS OF EARTH
udayO yO
langkaayaam
so::sthamayaH
savithurEva
madhyaah.nO
yava kOTyaam
rOmaka
vishayE::rdharaathram syaath
(AD
499 aaryabhaTiiyam 4.13)
When it is sun rise in lanka the sun sets
at siddhapuram. At yavakoti it is noon and at the same time it is mid night at
romakadesam.
BEGINNING OF RETROGRADE MOTION
guNanr^pathibhir-baaNaabdhyEkaiH
SaraakshiniSaakaraiH
Sararasa-kubhir-viSvaakshamaabhir
lavaiSchana
kEndrajaiH
(AD 748 Sishyadhiivr^ddhidathanthram
3.20)
The circular motion starts when kuja
reaches at 163 o, bhudha at 145 o, guru at 125 o, sukra at 165 o and sani at 113 o.
PERIOD OF RETROGRADE MOTION
When seen from earth the planets look
like reducing speed and going backwards. The figures are given according to
bhaskareeya number system.
rasarasaH
kramaSaH SaSibaahavO
yama niSaakara
Siitha mariichayaH
yamaSaraayuga
paavaka bhuumayO::nr^ju-
gathEr-divasaaH
kathhithaaH kujaatha
(AD
748 Sishyadhiivr^ddhidathanthram 3.21)
The days that are required for the
circular movement for kuja is 66, bhuda is 21, guru is 112, sukra is 52 and
sani is 134.
CAUSE OF ECLIPSE
chhaadayathi
SaSiisuuryam, SaSinam mahathi cha
bhuuchchhaayaa
spuTaSaSimaasaanthE::rkam
paathaasannO
yadaa praviSathiinduH bhuuchchhaayaam
pakshaanthE
thadaadhikOnam grahaNa madhyam
(AD
499 aaryabhaTiiyam 4.37,38)
Moon hides Sun. The Earth’s shadow covers
moon. On starting of the moon-month the moon starts to hide sun. When it is
complete it is eclipse.
RAHU & ECLIPSE SUPERSTITION
yadi kaayayuthO
thha maNDalii bhavichaarii khacharaH
SirO thhavaa
niyathaam gathimudvahan kathham
bhagaNaar-dhaantharithO
grasathagu
(AD
748 Sishyadhiivr^ddhidathanthram 20.21)
If rahu has got a body and if it is like
a plate, if it has only head, if it is a planet how does it falls between moon
and sun at a distance of 6 raasees (180 o)?
ECLIPSE NOT BY RAHU
savithuScha
yadanyaathhaa nyathhaa
prathidESam
sakalam samiikshyathE
na cha
kuthrachidithya vEthyakaH
kuruthE raahu
kr^thE grahE graham
(AD 748 Sishyadhiivr^ddhidathanthram
20.26)
During the solar eclipse, the different
part of sun gets the shadow. Some part of earth it is not visible too. Hence
who can say that rahu is the cause.
NON VISIBILITY OF PARTIAL ECLIPSE
dvaadaSaH
savithyamaNDalaamSakaH
paaTavEna
mahasO na dr^SyathE
(AD 748 Sishyadhiivr^ddhidathanthram
6.17)
If one twelth of sun only gets hidden
then the eclipse will not be seen.
suuryEndu
paridhi yOgEshTa-
mabhaagO
bhavathya-naadESyaH
bhaanOr-bhaasura
bhaavaath
svachchhathanuthvaachcha
SaSiparidhEH
(AD
499 aaryabhaTiiyam 4.47)
During eclipse if the sun-moon
intersection is less than one of eigth, do not predict eclipse. Due to the
rasie of sun the moon boarder will not be seen.
LENGTH OF EARTH’S SHADOW
bhuuravivivaram
vibhajEth bhuu
guNitham
thuravibhuuviSEshENa
bhuuchhaayaa
diirghathvam labdham
bhuu gOLa
vishkambhaath
(AD
499 aaryabhaTiiyam 4.39)
To get the length of earth’s shadow;
multiply the distance from earth to sun with diameter of earth and then divide
by the difference in the diameters of earth and sun.
CONCLUSION
The
ancient bharatheeya sastram did not distinguish astronomy, mathematics and
geography. The mixed knowledge was substantially used for the well being of the
living being. The compartmentalization of the modern knowledge makes it
handicapped and non-consistent and shorter in life. May be we need to learn
more lessons from the heritage.
REFERENCES
Encyclopaedia
of Ancient Indian Geography/edited,
Subodh Kapoor. Cosmo, New Delhi.
Indian
Scientific Heritage, Dr.
N Gopalakrishnan, IISH Publication. Thiruvananthapuram.
Andhra Pradesh Geographical Society (APGEOS)
INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP-2005
ON DIGITAL GEOGRAPHY AND MAPPING
20-21 January, 2005
Survey of India, Uppal Hyderabad-500 039
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