The Year of the Mahabharata

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The Year of the Mahabharata

http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?

main_variable=oped&file_name=opd1%2Etxt&counter_img=1

 

NEW DELHI, February 26, 2004: For years, Hindus have believed in the

divinity of Shri

Krishna. But scholars question whether Krishna was a historical or

mythical character and whether the Mahabharata was actually fought.

According to Dr. R. N. Iyengar, of the Indian Institute of Science,

Bangalore, we now have an answer. Using modern scientific tools and

techniques like computers with planetarium softwares, the latest

archaeological and marine archaeological techniques, earth-sensing

satellite photography and thermo-luminescence dating methods,

scientists have come to the conclusion that Mahabharata War was

actually fought in 1478 bce and Shri Krishna's Dwarka City got

submerged under the sea in 1443 bce. Details of the fascinating study

can be found at "source."

[Guest guest]

> scientists have come to the conclusion that Mahabharata War was

actually fought in 1478 bce and Shri Krishna's Dwarka City got

submerged under the sea in 1443 bce

 

Traditionally, the Mahabharat has occured about 5000 years ago.

 

But this is a difficult question, since the dates are based on

interpretations of what has been said in mahabharat, rather than

external texts.

 

In his dating of Mahabharat,a PhD winning thesis, Dr Veda Vyasa has

concluded that the traditional dates are correct.

 

How ever, I am giving a gist of a URL i found on web, which gives six

possible dates for mahabharat. The best possible dates are 5000 years

ago and again, around 1400 bce. (The second date is in more line with

Dr S R Rao and others)For his findings, you may please refer:

(http://www.hindunet.org/saraswati/colloquium/srrao01.htm)

 

AryaBhatta has opined that Mahabharat has occured about 5000

years .But then, It is possible that he must have followed the same

procedure and concluded the best possible date is 3102 BCE and it is

now taken as the traditional date.

 

May the Truth win...

 

 

http://www.indianest.com/astro/00325.htm (gist given here)

 

 

..The epic states that a singularly ominous pair of eclipses

occurred in "Thirteen days" some time before the war. Using modern

astronomical software, our article shows that a number of "Thirteen

day" eclipse pairs were visible in Kurukshethra. Article suggests

some candidate dates for Mahabharata war.

 

· Aryabhata, is a famous early astronomer with contributions

to science, whose estimate of p, and the time of moon revolution

around the earth are so accurate, that his works are being

extensively researched. Aryabhata (476-550 AD) stated that Kaliyuga

started 3600 years before, when he was 23 years old, making the

start as 3102 BC [Aryabhateeya ref-1]). It would date Mahabharata

war to around circa 3130-3140 BCJ.

· Surya Siddhanta [Ref 2], a document evolved from roughly

same period, states that sun was 54 degrees away from vernal equinox

when Kaliyuga started on a new moon day, corresponding to February

17/18, 3102 BCJ, at Ujjain (75deg47minE 23deg 15min N).

 

· Varaha Mihira (circa 560 AD), another famous astronomer,

stated that 2526 years before start of Saka count (either

Shalivahana saka starting in 79 AD or Vikrama Saka starting in 57

BC) [brihat Samhita Ref-3] as per the sloka meaning :" When

Saptarishis (ursa major) was near Magha Yudhistira was king 2526

years before Saka time"

 

· The Bhishma Parva and Udyoga Parva (specific chapters of

Mahabharata) provide considerable astronomical/astrological

descriptions and omens as the Mahabharata war was approaching. It

describes a period of draught, with many planetary positions. Then

there is clear reference to pair of eclipses occurring on 13th day

 

· Mahabharata text also refers to retrograde motions of

planets prior to war and provides their location with reference to

27/28 Vedic star locations. Mahabharata Drona Parva also refers to

Jayadhratha's killing during a dark episode on 13th day of the war,

which some consider as another short solar eclipse.

 

· This document is basically concerned with analysis of all

eclipses visible at Kurukshethra (Location where Mahabharata war

took place, north of New Delhi, Longitude 76 deg 49 min East,

Latitude 29 deg 59 Min North) from 3300 BC to about Buddha-Mahavira-

Parshvanaatha time of about 700BC. Analysis of the time between

successive eclipses, specifically time between end of one and

beginning of other has been made, with a view to look at

astronomical feasibility of back-to-back eclipses in 13 days, using

modern astronomical computer software

 

· During the period of our interest, 3500BC to 700 BC, nearly

4350 Lunar Eclipses and 6960 solar eclipses have occurred on earth.

Of these nearly 673 solar and lunar eclipses occurred in pairs of

time gap of about nominal 15 days corresponding to roughly half

lunar month. We need to search amongst these 673 for eclipse pairs

visible in Kurukshethra, which occurred in "Thirteen" days.

 

· After serious analysis of all the eclipses, six eclipse

pairs from 3129 BCJ, 2599 BCJ, 2056 BCJ, 1853 BCJ, 1708 BCJ and 1397

BCJ clearly are the best candidates for Mahabharata war year

from "thirteen day" eclipse pairs view point. There are others that

have low obscurity for solar eclipse, or have dominant penumbral

lunar eclipse content and hence do not constitute strong candidates

for the Mahabharata war.

 

· The first and oldest eclipse pair from 3129 BC is unique.

Aryabhata estimated that Kaliyuga started in 3102 BC. So does Surya

Siddhanta. These fit the Puranic description that Sri Krishna passed

away in 3102 BCJ, which is 27 years after the war. Our study

confirms that Kaliyuga could have started in 3102 BCJ

 

· The last candidate of eclipse pair occurs in 1397 in the month of

Bhadrapada. It is a reasonably good candidate for Mahabharata war.

Again, there was no solar eclipse during the period prior to Uttara

Ayana.

 

 

Btw, dear parkar, I think you have invited me to join VFA_family,,,

but i am yet to receive the invitation from the group....since it is

a restricted group...

 

kishore