Ancient updates to Sūrya-siddhānta
by
Nilesh N Oak & Rupa Bhaty
Abstract
Indian astronomy is original in its conception and is ancient. Indian astronomy book such as Sūrya-siddhānta is well known, most referred and most esteemed. While no one knows for sure how old Sūrya-siddhānta is, opinions abound. The popular view for the timing of Sūrya-siddhānta, range from 6th century BCE to 8th century CE. This is consistent with the latest event of Sūrya-siddhānta update of about 580 CE.
While the longitude data for the Nakṣatra is consistent with this update around 580 CE, there are numerous other measurements and descriptions of Nakṣatra, Sun, Obliquity or Star positions that cannot be reconciled for 580 CE.
We wondered if there were additional instances of updates preserved in the text of Sūrya-siddhānta and if it was at all possible to decipher them with the help of modern astronomy.
This paper presents original research carried out by the authors that identifies instance of another update, long before 580 CE, added to the text of Sūrya-siddhānta. The claim is to be tested using multiple evidence from the Sūrya-siddhānta text by employing sophisticated data of modern astronomy. And while this update is fascinating because of its empirically verifiable nature and due to its sheer antiquity, it is not the only update besides the update of 580 CE. We will share multiple updates validated by other researchers and point out few sections of Sūrya-siddhānta that we think are pregnant with evidence of additional updates. We discuss broader consequences of these findings.
Key words : Sūrya-siddhānta- SS, NCP- Northern celestial pole, SCP-Southern celestial pole
1.1.1. Introduction
Indian astronomy is original in its conception and is ancient. Indian astronomy book such as Sūrya-siddhānta is well known, most referred and most esteemed. The details of Sūrya-siddhānta are narrated in a poetic form, not unlike numerous ancient Indian narratives, in the Sanskrit language. It has 14 chapters and 500 verses and covers cosmology, planetary motions, eclipses, conjunctions, star positions, risings/settings, mathematics, geography, instrumentation and model-making. Sūrya-siddhānta is not a conventional textbook in the sense that it is too succinct and somewhat cryptic for a rank beginner. It is meant as a concise aid to instruction. While no one knows for sure how old Sūrya-siddhānta is, opinions abound. The timing of SS, estimated by these opinion makers, range from 6th century BCE to 8th century CE.
There are several indications in the text of SS that provide us with the clues that it has undergone several updates and modifications. This is a clue to the ancient nature of the text. In fact, the evidence for the updates is provided in the text itself.
SS 1:9
शास्त्रमाद्यं तदेवेदं यत्पुर्वं प्राह भास्करः।
युगानां परिवर्तेन कालभेदोऽत्र केवलम्॥९॥
(This is the very same original text that the Sun promulgated. Only, due to the revolution of the Ages, the differences of time are detected).
The revolution of the Ages is in reference to the underlying phenomenon of the precession of the Earth’s axis. On the other hand, the text is emphatic on the point that the fundamentals of the text itself has been relatively untouched.
Some of the Sūrya-siddhānta script contains Bijopanayanādhyāya after Maānādhyaya at the end of Sūrya-siddhānta which also suggests similar imagery and shows that Māyāsur had authority to do changes in text to reconcile between change of time and imagery.
चक्रानुपातजोमध्यो मध्यवृतांशजः स्फुटः।
कालेन दृक्समो न स्यात् ततो बीजक्रियोच्यते॥५॥
(Due to progression of cycle of time when compared between chosen degrees evidently the imagery doesn’t remain same, therefore operation of analysis and solution is called upon.)
Let’s begin with the latest update to Sūrya-siddhānta that can be easily detected.
2. 580 CE
Specific verses of Sūrya-siddhānta and their astronomy interpretations lead us to an approximate period of about 200 CE through 400 CE. For example,
SS 1:25-27
पश्चाद्व्रजन्तोऽतिजवान्न्क्ष्त्रैस्सततं ग्रहाः।
नीयमानाश्च लम्बन्ते तुल्यमेव स्वमार्गगाः॥२५॥
प्राग्गतित्वमतस्तेषां भगणैः प्रत्यहं गतिः।
परिणाहवशाद्भिन्नाः तद्वशाद्भानि भुञ्जते॥२६॥
शीघ्रगस्स्वर्क्षमल्पेन कालेन महताऽल्पगः।
तेषां तु परिवर्तेन पौष्णान्ते भगणास्स्मृतः॥२७॥
(The cycle that ends with nakṣatra Revati is called ‘Bhagana’).
or
SS 12:45 states; In the half revolution beginning with Aries, the sun being in northern hemisphere of the Deva-gods, is visible to gods : but while in that beginning with Libra, he is visible to Asura-demons, moving in their hemisphere.
मेषादौ देवभागस्थे देवानां याति दर्शनम्।
असुराणां तुलादौ तु सुर्यतद्भागसञ्चरः॥४५॥
(Vernal equinox begins just before Aries & Autumnal equinox begins just before Libra).
Vernal equinox is considered the point of zero celestial longitude in Indian astronomy. The celestial longitudes can also be described as ‘Right ascension’, while the celestial latitude can be described as ‘Declination’. See fig 1.
Fig:1
Narayanan (2010) compared longitudinal values from SS for various nakṣatra with current values (i.e. 2000 CE) and showed that the last longitudinal update occurred in about 580 CE. Narayanan showed, with decisive evidence, that this longitudinal update was not done using actual observational date but simply by adding a fixed increment to all nakṣatra longitudes.
3. Two Pole Stars
While we were researching on Ancient Indian narratives of Agastya (Canopus) and Valmiki Ramayana, we came across this interesting reference from Sūrya-siddhānta.
SS 12:43-44
merorubhayato madhye dhruvatāre nabhahsthite.
nirakṣadeśasaṃsthānāmubhaye kṣitijāśriye..12:43..
ato nākṣīcchrayastāsu dhruvayo: kṣitijāsthayo:.
navatirlambakāṃśāstu merāvakṣāṃśakāstathā..12:44..
मेरोरुभयतो मध्ये ध्रुवतारे नभ:स्थिते।
निरक्षदेशसंस्थानामुभये क्षितिजाश्रिये॥१२:४३॥
अतो नाक्षीच्छ्रयस्तासु ध्रुवयो: क्षितिजास्थयो:।
नवतिर्लम्बकांशास्तु मेरावक्षांशकास्तथा॥१२:४४॥
(There are two pole stars, one each, near Northern celestial point (NCP) and near Southern celestial point (SCP). From equatorial locations, these stars are seen along the horizon. The pole stars are seen along the horizon, from these places, and thus the place latitude is close to zero, while the declination of NCP & SCP is 90 degrees.)
This is a fascinating reference/evidence. In our times (last 2000 years), Polaris is the North pole star and there is no distinct visible pole star near SCP. The Earth’s axis points to the space in the sky in the northern hemisphere (NCP) that is close to the position of Polaris, in our times. There is no distinct visible star near the point of SCP, in our times. The Earth’s axis rotates through a complete circle in about 26,000 years (precession of equinoxes or precession of the Earth’s axis) and this means as it rotates, it would point to different areas of the sky through this 26,000 year period. If a distinct visible star is close to the point of either NCP or SCP, then it would be designated as either North pole star or South pole star, respectively. See fig 3.
Fig:2
Naturally, this reference of Sūrya-siddhānta pointed to a time interval beyond last 2000 years.
3.1 Paired Pole Stars
We explored for recent and/or distinct combinations for the timing, going back in antiquity, when two distinct stars, one each near NCP & SCP, were present. We found multiple combinations. Two specific illustrations are shown in Figure 3.
Fig: 3
In the year 2000 CE, Polaris is the North pole star however there is no distinct visible star near SCP. In the year 2900 BCE, Thuban was the North pole star and Alpha Hydri or Alpha Eridani was the South pole star. In the year 12000 BCE, Vega (Brahmarashi or Abhijit in Indian astronomy) was the North pole star and Canopus (Agastya in Indian astronomy) was the South pole star. Many such pairs can be identified. This demands additional evidence to distinguish among these pairs to ascertain the event Sūrya-siddhānta would be referring to.
3.2 Obliquity of the Earth’s Axis
The current obliquity of the Earth’s axis is about 23.40. The obliquity of the Earth varies between slightly less than 22 through slightly more than 24 and follows a cycle of about 41,000 years.Sūrya-siddhānta states value of Earth’s obliquity to be equal to 240
SS 12:68
bhūmaṇḍalāt pañcadaśe bhāge daive tathāSSsure
upariṣṭād vrajatyarka: saumyayāmyāyanāntaga:. 12:68
भूमण्डलात् पञ्चदशे भागे दैवे तथाSSसुरे
उपरिष्टाद् व्रजत्यर्क: सौम्ययाम्यायनान्तग: ॥१२:६८॥
When we compared the obliquity of the Earth’s axis for years 2900 BCE and 12000 BCE, with the hope to distinguish between the two pairs in the context of the value of obliquity reported in the Sūrya-siddhānta, to our dismay, we realized that the Earth’s obliquity was indeed 240 in the year 2900 BCE and 12000 BCE!
Fig:4
We had to look elsewhere, i.e. additional evidence, to define the timing for Sūrya-siddhānta reference of two pole stars.
3.3 Location of Periapsis, Apoapsis and Speed of Planet-Graha
An ‘apsis’ is an extreme point in the orbit of an object. The barycenter is the center of mass of two or more bodies that orbit each other and is the point about which the bodies orbit. The barycenter is an important concept in astronomy. For an orbit around any barycenter, the terms periapsis and apoapsis are used. Since the mass of the Sun is a lot more that the Earth, the barycenter between the Earth and the Sun is very close to the sun and thus for all practical purposes we will assume the Sun itself to be the barycenter.
In our times, the points of apoapsis and periapsis between the Earth and the Sun are shown in Fig. 5. Do notice that we have approximated the cardinal points (solstices and equinoxes) to the 21st Cent of the appropriate months. Another important point to note is that the seasons are caused by the angle of Earth’s inclination towards the Sun and that the positions of periapsis or apoapsis have no to very little effect on the seasons, but it impacts on visualization of passing of “time”. At periapsis amount of time taken by earth to move in one month appears faster than that of alongside of apoapsis.
Fig:5
Sūrya-siddhānta provided us with an additional evidence that acted as a tiebreaker and decisively established the timing of ‘two pole stars’ reference of Sūrya-siddhānta. Immediately following the reference of ‘two pole stars’, Sūrya-siddhānta mentions:
SS 12:46
अत्यासन्नतया तेन ग्रीष्मे तीव्रकरा रवे:
देवभागे सुराणां तु हेमन्ते मन्दतान्यथा 12:46
(The sun is the closest to the Earth during Grishma which causes Sun’s rapidness when in Deva Bhaga i.e, Northern Hemisphere but farthest from the Earth during Hemanta which causes Sun’s slowness otherwise). Apsidal position of Earth w.r.t sun is almost opposite of todays time what is stated in 12:46.
In SS sun is swapped with the position of earth. From earth, sun would appear passing through periapsis and apoapsis on an imaginary orbit in relative sense. Its apogee, mean distances are greatly discussed in eclipse section of SS’s Chapter. Speed of grahas (graha; seizing of astro objects) planets are discussed in Chapter of SS 2;12,13.
वक्रानुवक्रा कुटिला मन्दा मन्दतरा समा।
तथा शीघ्रतरा शीघ्रा ग्रहाणामष्टधा गतिः॥१२॥
तत्रातिशीघ्रा शीघ्राख्या मन्दा मन्दतरा समा।
ऋज्वीति पञ्चधाज्ञेया या वक्रा सानुवक्रगा॥१३॥
Shri Shrivastava in his vigyān bhāshya of Sūrya-siddhānta writes that if earth is taken as geocentric object then these retrograde motions will remain unexplained. Since, in actual condition, all the planets are revolving around sun from west to east on their orbits, therefore, until earth also is not moving these different retrograde motions may then remain unexplained. Sun and earth are in relatively swapped positions thus do not experience any retrograde motion. But earth also being on elliptical orbit like other planets does show various directional speed (manda,shiighra) as mentioned. In effect, if we have to combine various references from the 12th chapter of Sūrya-siddhānta, in our quest to determine the timing of ‘two pole stars’ reference of SS, we are essentially looking for a scenario when there are two distinct pole stars, one each near NCP and SCP and the point of ‘apoapsis’ is close to the midpoint of Hemanta Ritu (autumn) and the point of ‘periapsis’ is close to the midpoint of Grishma Ritu (summer). And if we can indeed match the obliquity of the Earth’s axis to be equal to 240, then it would indeed be a bonus!
The predicted scenario can be visually shown as in Fig. 6
Fig:6
This prediction of a plausible scenario turned out to be our moment of ‘Eureka’! The two necessary conditions (two pole stars and points of apoapsis/periapsis during Hemanta/Grishma, respectively) and the optional yet desired third condition of the Earth’s obliquity (equal to 240) are all satisfied by the year 12000 BCE!
In the year 12000 BCE, Vega (Brahmarashi or Abhijit) was the North pole star and Canopus (Agastya) was the South pole star. See fig.7.
Fig:7
The Earth’s obliquity was at 240.
The point of Apoapsis was aligned with the peak of winter season (midpoint of Hemanta Ritu) while the point of Periapsis was aligned with the peak of summer season (midpoint of Grishma
 |
Fig: 8
Ritu). And thus time taken by earth to move rθ will be faster at Peak of grishma along Periapsis (grīṣme tivrakarā raveḥ) slow at Apoapsis side (hemante mandatānyathā)[1]. This explains that Kepler’s law was known and Sūrya-siddhānta carries this information. See Figure 8. & 9
Fig: 9
There is a direct evidence of placing Abhijit and Agastya in north of Northern and south of Southern hemisphere respectively as NCP and SCP from the armillary section in Chapter 13:8, 9[2] of Sūrya-siddhānta. This comes as one more evidence of Abhijit and Agastya to be in extreme north and south.
 |
4. Multiple updates to Sūrya-siddhānta
Sūrya-siddhānta reference of 1.8 alluded to multiple updates to the text of Sūrya-siddhānta. The analysis of two updates (580 CE &12000 BCE) indicated that every instance of update did not result in exhaustive updating of the entire text. This conjecture is validated by detection of additional updates to Sūrya-siddhānta,
Narayanan (2010) demonstrated that the current latitudinal data (Declination measurements) for in SS, for the nakṣatra was obtained in the timeframe of 7300-7800 BCE. Narayanan employed computer simulations of nakshatra latitudinal data by varying ecliptic obliquity, ecliptic node-location and ecliptic-sink together with proper motions to achieve this amazing feat. In this same paper, Narayanan made a case for another update around 2900 BCE. See Markers in Fig.11
Fig: 11
Narayanan (2011) showed that for determining the Sun’s longitude, the pulsating Indian epicycle is far more accurate than the Greek eccentric-epicycle model and that the pulsating Indian epicycle for the Sun becomes progressively more accurate as one goes back in time. Peak accuracy, of about 1 minute of arc, is reached around 5200 BCE. This led him to the timing of 5000-5500 BCE when the current values of the Sūrya-siddhānta’s pulsating epicycle parameters for the Sun appear to have been set.
Sūrya-siddhānta does indicate another instance of update when nakṣatra Abhijit (Vega or Brahmarashi) was removed from the list of functional nakṣatra, reducing the number of nakṣatra from 28 to 27. Oak (2011) demonstrated that the 8 distinct requirements for an astronomy phenomenon, described in the epic Mahabharata refers to this very removal of nakṣatra Abhijit from the list of nakṣatra and the only timing that corroborates all 8 requirements is that of ~14500 BCE.
5. Integration of Astronomy in Indic civilization
The fact star Vega (Brahmarshi or Abhijit) was a pole star during 12000 BCE is recorded in the epic Valmiki Ramayana. In fact, this reference was one of the four pivotal references that led Oak (2014) to define 12209 BCE as the year of Rama-Ravana yuddha. What this demonstrates is that the astronomy text of Sūrya-siddhānta and its updates were not taking place in isolation but were very much part of the integrated tradition of Indic civilization. Oak (2018) has demonstrated that unique features of an astronomy epochs were employed to time stamp historical events.
Fig :12
This is further validated by works of Bhaty (2017, 2018) where she demonstrated that Indic tradition employed creative devices of architecture, sculptures, dance and metaphors to preserve these instances of updates.
The subject is very interesting with far reaching consequences however it is beyond the purview of this paper.
References:
Bhaty, Rupa, “Cosmic Consciousness; Dance of Natarāja & Agastya's Influence on Shaiva Tradition: An astronomical case”, SI, IIT Chennai ( Dec 2017)
Bhaty, Rupa, “Cosmic Consciousness and Astronomical Association of Natarāja's Dance with Apasmāra and Agastya”, 13th International conference, WAVES, Brookhaven College, Dallas, TX USA (August 2018)
Bhaty, Rupa, “The Implication of Agastya Lore on The Antiquity of Indian Astronomy", NFSI, Chinmaya Vishvavidhyapeetha, Veliyanad, Kerala. [Dec 2018]
Bhaty, Rupa, “Kāla; Consciousness Of Cosmic Time: Via A Study Of Apasmāra In Iconography Of Natarāja", BIHS, Gainesville, Florida. [Jan 2019]
Bhaty, Rupa, "Astronomical Association of Natarāja's Dance with Apasmāra and Agastya", published in Indiafact.org, 12-09-2018, Indology
Narayanan, Anil, “Dating the Sūrya-siddhānta using computational simulation of proper
motions and ecliptic variations”, IJHS, 45.4(2010)455-476
Narayanan, Anil, “The Pulsating Indian Epicycle of the Sun”, IJHS, 46.3(2011)411-426
Oak, Nilesh N., “When did the Mahabharata War happen?: The Mystery of Arundhati”, Danphe Inc. (2011)
Oak, Nilesh N., “The Historic Rama – Indian civilization at the end of Pleistocene”, Bhima LLC (2014)
Oak, Nilesh N., “Bishma Nirvana – An Astronomy poison pill”, Bhima LLC (in works)
