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Mahbharata astrological phenomena

Written by Trka
Thursday, 16 September 2010 00:00 - Last Updated Saturday, 21 May 2011 12:22

Mahbharata, a work of r Vedavysa, is an Ithihasa, or account of former events, on the epic


battle which laid the foundation for the current era or Kali Yuga. Dating Mahbharata has been
attempted by several scholars in modern times. Attempts have been made using archaeology,
historical accounts, and most prominently Jyotish, i.e. astrology and astronomy. The dating of
the Mahbharata is an important exercise for astrologers as the event succeeded the births of
several celestial incarnations such as the five Pandavas, r Balarma and most prominently r
Ka himself.

The most convincing source for dating the Mahbharata are the numerous astronomical
phenomena explained in the same text. Most scholars have taken up this exercise as a mere
means of matching these astronomical events with possible dated occurrences, at times going
as far as bending the Sanskrit meanings to suit some astronomical combinations. Most
prominently is the Mars problem which all scholars have had difficulty with, and this problem
will also be highlighted in these writings.

This write up will examine various loka in the Mahbharata to understand the underlying
meanings of the loka, the astrological portents as well as map the astronomical occurrences.
This scribe would encourage everyones opinion on these loka to thoroughly investigate the
phenomena in the Mahbharata.The given loka employ mainly occurrences related the
Nakatra position of planets as well as the lunar phenomena.

Udyogaparva, chapter 141

This chapter is narrated by the archer r Kara to r Ka wherein Kara gives an exposition
on his view of the omens occurring in the heavens and on earth to indicate the outcome of the
ensuing battle. Peace talks have just ended at this event and both sides are expecting to
mobilize for battle. At this event, r Ka is trying to convince Kara, an incarnation of the
Sun God, to join forces with the Paava, arguing that his biological mother is the mother of the
same five Paava brothers, and leave his alliance with the Kauraravas and Duryodhana
aside, despite being raised in the care of their charioteer Atirtha. Kara then justifies his
alliance with the Kauraravas despite giving his clear understanding of the events that are to
follow, and understands that he may not survive the war. Herein this scribe has cited the lokas
related to the astronomical phenomena.

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Mahbharata astrological phenomena


Written by Trka
Thursday, 16 September 2010 00:00 - Last Updated Saturday, 21 May 2011 12:22

7prjpatya hi nakatra grahas tko mahdyuti


anaicara payati payan prino 'dhikam
prjpatya hi nakatra: the nakatra or prajapati, rohi; grahas: eclipse, graha; tko:
sharp, hot, pungent, fury; mahdyuti: great splendour, very bright and glorious; anaicara:
Saturn; payati: tormenting, afflicting; payan;
prino: breathing, living; 'dhikam: highest, eldest, most advanced;

Translation: The nakatra of Rohi is eclipsed by the splendorous and furious Saturn, who
whilst afflicting the same is also afflicting the lives of the beings on earth.

Commentary: Rohi Nakatra is governed by the divinity Prjapati, whose name literally
means
lord over all created beings. An affliction to the Nakatra indicates a
terror affecting many people. One such recent occurrence of Saturn in Rohi brought about the
World Trade Centre bombings. As we know the result of this offset two invasions of two
countries in the Middle East and battles in those countries even till today. Kara thus has good
reason to cite this phenomena as significant for the lives of many people.

8ktv cgrako vakra jyehy madhusdana


anurdh prrthayate maitra saamayann iva
ktv: acting, causing; ca: and; grako: Mars; vakra: retrograde; jyehy;
madhusdana;
anurdh; prrthayate: seeking, wishing, desiring; maitra: friends, the God Mitra;
saamayann: removing, destroying; iva: also;

Translation: Oh Madhusdana, Mars is retrograding in Jyeh Nakatra as it seeks Anurdha

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Mahbharata astrological phenomena


Written by Trka
Thursday, 16 September 2010 00:00 - Last Updated Saturday, 21 May 2011 12:22

to destroy all friendships.

Commentary: When Mars becomes retrograde a calamity or war is imminent. The indications
of a planet become significantly increased during its retrogression be they auspicious or
otherwise. This event is an extremely important criterion for the Mahbharata to have taken
place and cannot be ignored. Notably Mars must have been placed in Scorpio where the
Jyeh Nakatra resides. Particularly it was on its way towards Anurdh whose Devat is
Mitra. The name
Mitra refers to all friends and governs the agreements we make
with people, hence Kara was very specific in his mention of this where he had foreseen that all
earlier ties were going to break and the family bonds between the Paava and Kaurava were
at stake.

9nna maha bhaya ka kur samupasthitam


vieea hi vreya citr payate graha
nna: at present; maha bhaya: great fright, foremost fear; ka; kur; samupasthitam:
approaching, nearness, happening, occuring; vieea: various, special; hi; vreya; citr;
payate: tormentet; graha;

Translation: Oh Krishna, presently a great terror approaches the Kuru dynasy. Special grahas,
oh Vi are afflicting Chitr.

Commentary: Why Chitr has been highlighted is interesting. No prediction has been made
based on it other than listing the Kurus in the context. The Kurus at the time had domain over
Hastinapura and had taken Indraprashta (Delhi) from the Paava. Hastinapura lies to the east
of Indraprashta but as far as the division of Bharata (India) is concerned it is Kttika, Rohi and
Mgaira rule the central portion which includes the capitol namely Indraprashta as well as the
Kuru land with its capitol being Hastinapur. The problems arising therein have already been
taken into account by the affliction of Rohi Nakatra by Saturn and thus the mention of Chitr
isnt immediately clear in this context.

Also which special afflictions are coming to Chitr is not evident. Possibly the reference is to

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Mahbharata astrological phenomena


Written by Trka
Thursday, 16 September 2010 00:00 - Last Updated Saturday, 21 May 2011 12:22

meteors which are mentioned in the next loka.

10

10somasya lakma vyvtta rhur arkam upeyati


diva colk patanty et sanirght sakampan
somasya: that of the Moon; lakma: signs of characteristics; vyvtta: covering, screening,
hiding; rhur: arkam upeyati: approach, tend towards; diva: heaven, sky ; ca; ulk: meteors;
patanty: falling, coming down; et; sanirght: accompanied by a whirlwind; sakampan:
accompanied by earthquakes;

Translation: the marks (horns?) of the moon are being covered as Rhu approaches the Sun.
Meteors are falling from the sky accompanied by whirlwinds and earthquakes.

Commentary: A lunar eclipse seems to be described here, as well as the evil portends of
meteors and other phenomena which are deemed as inauspicious to view during a lunar
eclipse. Particular the type of lunar eclipse seems to be one in which the Moon is completely
devoid of light in this context, which is a phenomena repeated in the future chapters on the
topic.

It is worth mentioning that if all four events indicated above were simultaneous that the Sun
must be been in either of the signs of Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini or possible Cancer, as then
only could Mars be retrograde on this occasion. Further Rhu should be joined the Sun and
Ketu with the Moon, which is the criterion for a lunar eclipse.

It is possible that these events occurred on separate dates as all three serve as a means to
predict the future outcome of the earth, i.e. 1) Saturn Nakatra position, 2) Mars first Nakatra
of retrogression since it exited its combustion with the Sun and 3) the lunar and solar eclipses
which occur up to 6 months prior to the event.

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Mahbharata astrological phenomena


Written by Trka
Thursday, 16 September 2010 00:00 - Last Updated Saturday, 21 May 2011 12:22

Bhimaparva, chapter 2

In this chapter Vysa and Dhtarra discuss the future of the battle which is about to begin.
In this event Vysa blesses Sanjaya to be able to see the battlefield and narrate the event to
Dhtarra. In this debate between Vysa and Dhtarra, Vysa describes the positions of
the Grahas and omens through which he predicts the results of the war to be.


23
alakya prabhay hna paurams ca krttikm
candro'bhd agnivara ca samavare nabhastale 23
alakya: invisible; prabhay: splendour, lustre; hna: without/devoid; paurams: full
moon; ca: and; krttikm: the month of krtik; candro: the moon; 'bhd: became; agnivara:
having the complexion of fire; ca: and; samavare: being of the same colour; nabhastale: the
surface of the sky;

Translation: appearing invisible and without splendour during the full moon of the month of
krtika, the Moon became the complexion of fire with the hue being alike a lotus.

Commentary: This is known as an ghrta lunar eclipse (Rath, 2010) where it appears that the
Moon is covered with a thin red layer over it. Varhamihira treats this as a benign eclipse which
will cause prosperity for the nation. An ghrta eclipse is a total lunar eclipse.

An obvious problem occurs herein which has been the biggest problem for all scholars who
have attempted to date this event. If the lunar eclipse occurred during the full moon of Krtik
then the Sun was likely in the signs of either Libra or Scorpio. Therefore Mars could not be
retrograde in the Nakatra of Jyeh at the same time! We must therefore infer that the
retrogression referred to had occurred much before the eclipse which is mentioned.


31
y cai virut rjas trailokye sdhu samat

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Mahbharata astrological phenomena


Written by Trka
Thursday, 16 September 2010 00:00 - Last Updated Saturday, 21 May 2011 12:22

arundhat taypy ea vasiha phata kta 31

y: that one; ca: and; e: this; virut: celebrated; rjas trailokye sdhu samat
arundhat taypy ea vasiha phata kta

Translation: She, O king, who is celebrated over the three worlds and is applauded by the
righteous, even that (constellation)Arundhatkeepeth (her lord) Vasiha on her back.

Commentary: The seven sages are said to circle the pole-star (Polaris), also known as Dhruva
(the fixed one) and are the equivalent of the constellation;
The Big Dipper. Other
names for the constellation are
The Plough
,
Charles Wain
or
Karlsvognen
as its known in Scandinavia. This constellation forms part of
Ursa Major
also known as the
Great Bear
. Residing just above this constellation, right above Vasiha is the star Arundhat also known
as Alchor.

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Mahbharata astrological phenomena


Written by Trka
Thursday, 16 September 2010 00:00 - Last Updated Saturday, 21 May 2011 12:22

The
instance
carrying
horse.
rohi:
anaicara:
somasya:
bhayam:
Translation:
Commentary:
This
the
planet;

rohi
vyvtta
Moon
horns
image
is

confirmed
however
payann
rohi
Vasiha.
Arundhat
fear;
of
are
of
lakma
given

the
the
Saturn;
Rohi
split
nakatra;

Itmoon
moon,
we
appears
herewith
from

ea
asunder
somasya
appears
Notably
have
nakatra

vyvtta:
being
sthito
the
mgaira

payann:

already
that
is
earlier

portending
in

to
rja
not
split
bhaviyati

is
western
during
be
32
afflicted
an
turned
suggests
nakatra;
loka
been
underneath
anaicara
being
unlikely
the
a
context
informed
7away,
mahad
great
by
lunar
of
tormented;
that
bhaviyati:
Udyogaparva,
depiction
the
Vasiha
different,
terror
eclipse,
this
bhayam
the
placement
that
is
eclipse
in
ea:
depicted
this
ofthe
Saturn
future;
split
32
what
and
was
this;
chapter
future.
of
may
asunder;
thus
Saturn
isan
is
mahad:
as
sthito:
read
be
occupying
ghrta
ifcould
141.
afflicted
the
in
in
placement;
lakma:
great,
rider
it.
the
imply
Further
The
eclipse
loka.
Rohi
by
isenormous;
that
marks
carrying
sign,
some
a rja:
in
reference
At
she
Nakatra.
loka
mark;
this
other
(horns)
isthe
royal;
31.to
of

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