Guest guest Posted March 16, 2005 Report Share Posted March 16, 2005 IndianCivilization, "S.Kalyanaraman" <kalyan97@g...> wrote: Click on files. Click on file: AcharMBhastronomy.pdf Consistency of astronomical ref. in MBh. In the following paper, Prof. Narahari Achar provides an explanation on the consistency of astronomical references in Mahabharata, without having to take recourse to special pleadings such as different time periods of compilation of the texts. He notes that some references to `graha' are NOT to planets, but to comets (grahaputra). Consistency of Astronomical References the Bhishmaparvan of Mahabharata (BORI vol LXXXXIV, pp.13-22 (2004).) It is clearly demonstrated by Prof. Narahari Achar that the description is very systematic and that the references to astronomical phenomena are quite consistent in the context of ill omens within the parvan and that the only true references to planetary positions are consistent with those in the udyogaparvan also. slokas (20-23) and sloka (32) in chapter 2, and s'lokas (11-17) and s'lokas (24-29) in chapter 3. The tradition of recognizing astronomical ill omens can be traced to Atharvaveda and its Paris'is.t.as and the ill omens described in the epic are consistent with the tradition. MB(VI. 2. 32) "Oh King, Saturn is harassing Aldeberan and the spot on the Moon has shifted from its position. Something terrible will happen." MB(VI. 3. 11) "The Earth is experiencing tremors intermittently and Rahu has seized the Sun. s'vetagraha has transgressed citragraha here refers to a comet and not to planet Mercury as is generally translated. MB (VI. 3. 24) `the two grahas blazing with coppery and red hair'. It may be noted that the word comet itself derives from the Greek word for hair. The word graha with red hair in the context here can only refer to a comet. Vyasa names specifically twelve comets, s'veta, dhumaketu, mahagraha, parus.a, pa_vaka, dhu_ma, lohita_nga, ti_vra, pa_vakaprabha, s'ya_ma, ghora, and dhruvaketu. All these names can be found in the list given by Varahamihira Br.hat Samhita_, in `ketuca_ra' ,Ch. XI] I hope this paper will induce scholars to rethink their positions on consistency and integrity of MBh. astronomical references without making assumptions about dates of compilation of the texts. Kalyanaraman --- End forwarded message --- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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