Guest guest Posted November 17, 2009 Report Share Posted November 17, 2009 hinducivilization , " Michel Danino " <micheld wrote: Dear Prof. Iyengar, Brij Bhusan Vij's paper on Harappan mathematics & astronomy (turning the Great Bath an astronomical observatory and asserting that the Harappans knew the value of Pi, among other extravagant claims), published in the 1984 _Frontiers of Indus Civilization_, was wholly fanciful and rested on no evidence whatsoever. From his homepage www.brijvij.com I just downloaded a note (rationalisedPi-Value.doc) on the value of Pi and read: " By definition, the value for Pi (p) is the ratio between the circumferences of the circle to its diameter; it must be represent-able in the form a/b.... " -- which shows that he doesn't understand the most basic mathematical principles. So it's no surprise that his note on the Harappan calendar is thoroughly confused and contains no demonstration. It is true that Fairservis did make a study of some of those ivory rods listed by Mackay (unfortunately I haven't been able to get Fairservis's paper on this). Someone competent and rigourous, like yourself, Subhash Kak, or the TIFR friends, should study Fairservis's paper with a fresh eye. For the Harappans to have had some kind of calendar is quite likely; for them to have used a precise concept of tithi is quite another matter and cannot be accepted without solid evidence. There is another study (which I also do not have) of Harappan astronomy by Erkka Maula based on the ring stones: " The Calendar Stones from Mohenjo-daro " in _Interim Reports on fieldwork carried out at Mohenjo-daro, Pakistan 1982-83_ eds. M. Jansen & G. Urban, Aachen: German Research Project Mohenjo-daro, Roma: Istituto Italiano Per Il Medio Ed Estremo Oriente pp. 159-170. In the same (?) volume, see Holger Wanzke's " Axis systems and orientation at Mohenjo-daro " makes a case for the alignment of Mohenjo-daro's streets to have been based on the Pleiades, which rose due east at the vernal point when the city was founded. I also come across this reference: Syed Mohammad Ashfaque (1977) " Astronomy in the Indus Valley Civilization: A Survey of the Problems and Possibilities of the Ancient Indian Astronomy and Cosmology in the Light of Indus Script Decipherment by the Finnish Scholars " , Centaurus 21 (2) , 149–193, see: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1600-0498.1977.tb00351.x (unfortunately there is no such thing as a decipherment by the Finnish team, so...) All these leads should be explored by people competent in archaeoastronomy. Regards, Michel ******************************************************************* 12. harappan calendar? Posted by: " aareni " aareni aareni Tue Mar 11, 2008 12:54 am ((PDT)) At the link below, a Harappan tithi calendar is claimed with a figure. Can some one take a look and comment on the authenticity? If it is authentic where is it available for scrutiny? www.brijvij.com/bbv_Lnr-Tithi_HarrCal..pdf thanks RN Iyengar --- End forwarded message --- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2009 Report Share Posted November 17, 2009 Dear All, Can someone tell me something about the picture of ivory rods present in the following documents and about ideas presented in the files attached? Site of reference: www.brijvij.com Love and regards, Sreenadh--- On Tue, 11/17/09, sreesog <sreesog wrote:sreesog <sreesog Fwd: harappan calendar? Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 2:01 PMhinducivilization , "Michel Danino" <micheld wrote:Dear Prof. Iyengar,Brij Bhusan Vij's paper on Harappan mathematics & astronomy (turning theGreat Bath an astronomical observatory and asserting that the Harappans knewthe value of Pi, among other extravagant claims), published in the 1984_Frontiers of Indus Civilization_, was wholly fanciful and rested on noevidence whatsoever. From his homepage www.brijvij.com I just downloaded anote (rationalisedPi-Value.doc) on the value of Pi and read: "By definition,the value for Pi (p) is the ratio between the circumferences of the circleto its diameter; it must be represent-able in the form a/b...." -- whichshows that he doesn't understand the most basic mathematical principles.So it's no surprise that his note on the Harappan calendar is thoroughlyconfused and contains no demonstration. It is true that Fairservis did makea study of some of those ivory rods listed by Mackay (unfortunately Ihaven't been able to get Fairservis's paper on this). Someone competent andrigourous, like yourself, Subhash Kak, or the TIFR friends, should studyFairservis's paper with a fresh eye. For the Harappans to have had some kindof calendar is quite likely; for them to have used a precise concept oftithi is quite another matter and cannot be accepted without solid evidence.There is another study (which I also do not have) of Harappan astronomy byErkka Maula based on the ring stones: "The Calendar Stones fromMohenjo-daro" in _Interim Reports on fieldwork carried out at Mohenjo-daro,Pakistan 1982-83_ eds. M. Jansen & G. Urban, Aachen: German Research ProjectMohenjo-daro, Roma: Istituto Italiano Per Il Medio Ed Estremo Oriente pp.159-170.In the same (?) volume, see Holger Wanzke's "Axis systems and orientation atMohenjo-daro" makes a case for the alignment of Mohenjo-daro's streets tohave been based on the Pleiades, which rose due east at the vernal pointwhen the city was founded.I also come across this reference: Syed Mohammad Ashfaque (1977) "Astronomyin the Indus Valley Civilization: A Survey of the Problems and Possibilitiesof the Ancient Indian Astronomy and Cosmology in the Light of Indus ScriptDecipherment by the Finnish Scholars", Centaurus 21 (2) , 149–193, see:http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1600-0498.1977.tb00351.x(unfortunately there is no such thing as a decipherment by the Finnish team,so...)All these leads should be explored by people competent in archaeoastronomy.Regards,Michel*******************************************************************12. harappan calendar? Posted by: "aareni" aareni aareni Tue Mar 11, 2008 12:54 am ((PDT))At the link below, a Harappan tithi calendar is claimed with a figure.Can some one take a look and comment on the authenticity? If it isauthentic where is it available for scrutiny?www.brijvij.com/bbv_Lnr-Tithi_HarrCal..pdfthanksRN Iyengar--- End forwarded message ------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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