Astronomy is
one area which has fascinated all mankind from the beginning of history. In
India the first references to astronomy
are to be found in the Rig Veda which is dated around 2000
B.C. Vedic Aryans in fact deified the Sun, Stars and Comets. Astronomy was then
interwoven with astrology and since ancient times Indians have involved the
planets (called Grahas) with the determination of human fortunes. The planets
Shani, i.e. Saturn and Mangal i.e. Mars were considered inauspicious.
The
astronomer, Aryabhatta was the first to advocate
the earth’s spherical shape in the 5th century. Brahmagupta, an
astronomer, was able to make an estimate of the circumference of the earth in the 7th century. He estimated it at
about 5000 yojanas (Where one yojana is equivalent to 7.2kms). We calculate the
earth’s circumference at 36,000kms, which is remarkably close to the estimate
given by Brahmagupta.
Their
writings, were later translated in the 13th century into Latin, westerners were
able to make advances in their astronomy studies. Unfortunately, the credit
only dates to Copernicus and Galileo however “let it be known that the ancient Indians were the predecessors of
ancient astronomy”.
Most of the
writing comes from Vedas, which are Sanskrit sacred books. Written sometime
around 2000 B.C. the Veda speaks of astronomy in a text called the Rig Veda. “Indians believed the earth to be a shell
supported by elephants to represent strength and believed a tortoise was
supporting them, representing infinite slowness”.
The Indians
today call the science of astronomy, Khagola- shastra due to the famous 5th
century astronomer, Aryabhatta, who studied at the observatory, Khagola at the
University of Nalanda. It is believed that his findings noted calculations of
the areas of triangles, the volumes of spheres, ideas about eclipses, as well
as the sun being the source of moonlight.
Aryabhatta
thought up the facts 1000 years before Copernicus and Galileo. He used his
findings to create the Panchanga (the Hindu calendar). It is believed that the
Indians knew that the Sun was just another star, but that it was much closer
than the other distant stars.
An old
Sanskrit Sloka, which says: "Sarva Dishanaam, Suryaha, Suryaha, Suryah"
"The early Hindu astrologers are said to have
used the magnet, in fixing the North and East, in laying foundations, and other
religious ceremonies. The Hindu compass was an iron fish that floated in a
vessel of oil and pointed to the North. The fact of this older Hindu compass
seems placed beyond doubt by the Sanskrit word Maccha Yantra, or fish machine,
which Moles - worth gives as a name for the mariner's compass".
Also read more on Indian Astronomy:
Part1:
During next 2500 years, by 500 AD, ancient Indian astronomy has emerged as an important part of Indian studies and its affect is also seen in several treatises of that period. In some instances, astronomical principles were borrowed to explain matters, pertaining to astrology, like casting of a horoscope.
Read Here...
Part 2:
There are astronomical references of chronological significance in the Vedas. Some Vedic notices mark the beginning of the year and that of the vernal equinox in Orion; this was the case around 4500 BC.
Read Here...
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