HISTORICITY OF THE

MAHABHARATA

4TH LECTURE IN THE SERIES

SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION IN SANSKRIT
LITERATURE

R. N. IYENGAR
BANGALORE
QUESTIONS ADDRESSED IN THIS TALK
*ARE THE VARIOUS CELESTIAL EVENTS
MENTIONED IN MAHABHARATA
REASONABLY CONSISTENT TO BE
BELIEVED AS HISTORICAL ?

**ARE THE CELESTIAL EVENTS OF

MAHABHARATA CONSISTENT WITH
THOSE IN OTHER KRISHNA RELATED
PURANAS ?
 WHAT IS CONSISTENCY
QUALITATIVE
DOES MB REFLECT A METHOD FOR MAKING CELESTIAL
OBSERVATIONS?
DOES MB HANDLE TIME, MONTH, YEAR…?

QUANTITATIVE
ARE THE ECLIPSES CREDIBLE AND COMPATIBLE WITH
THE TIME PERIODS OF THE STORY LINE ?
ARE THE PLANETARY POSITIONS MEANINGFUL ?
ARE THEY COMPATIBLE WITH THE ECLIPSE INTERVALS ?
IS THE MOVEMENT OF SHUKRA (VENUS) AS MENTIONED
REASONABLE ?
 VEDA VYASA

MAHABHARATA & HARIVAMSHA

PANDAVAS- KAURAVAS-VRISHNIS

AbhimanyuÆParikshit

JANAMEJAYA VAISHAMPAYANA
Takshashila

UGRASHRAVAS
WEST

SAUNAKA NORTH-
SOUTH Naimisharanya EAST
 JAYA 8800
BHARATA 24000
MAHABHARATA 100,000
1.BHANDARKAR O.R.I PUNE,
(WEB EDITION, KYOTO UNIV):SANSKRIT in ROMAN SCRIPT

2. Pt. HAYAGRIVA SASTRI (SANSKRIT in TELUGU SCRIPT)

1840-1850

3. GITA PRESS, GORAKHPUR

TEXT + NILAKANTHA’S COMMENTARY

4. CALCUTTA EDITION , P.C.ROY (1888)

5.BHARATA DARSHANA, KANNADA SCRIPT+Translation,

6. ENGLISH TRANSLATION, BY K.M.GANGULY (1880-96)

when the young Pandavas were coaxed to go to
Varanavata
Astame ahani rohinyam prayata phalgunasya te (adi.p.145.34)

They traveled on the eighth day of Phalguna month, under star

Rohini.

Vyasa advises Yudhisthira regarding his marriage

adya pausyam yogam upaiti candramah (adi.p. 198.5)

today moon will attain the yoga of star Pushya.

Very specific details are given some times, like when

Bhima fights Jarasandha. It is said that the fight
started on the first day of the Kartika month and ended
on the fourteenth day (sab.p. 24.28-30).
Krsna describes the onset of the cool season to Karna
Saumyoyam vartate masah suprapah yavasendhanah
Pakvosadhi vanasphitah phalavan alpamaksikah
Nispanko rasavattoyo natyusna-sisirah sukhah
Saptamacchapi divasat amavasya bhavisyati
Sangramam yojayet tatra tamahuh sakradevatam (udy.p.140.16-18)

This month is mild, with easily procured cereals and fuel.

Forests are with ripe fruits and medicinal plants and with
not too many flies. Water is tasty without dirt. This season is
not too hot but pleasant.
Seventh day from today is the new moon, important for god
Indra. Let the battle be planned for that day.
Eclipses (bhi.p. 12.47)
Parimandalo maharaja svarbhanuh sruyate grahah
Yojanaanaam sahasrani viskambho dwadasasya vai
Parimanena sattrimsat vipulatvenachanagha
Sasthimahuh satanyasya budhah pauranikastatha
Candramastu sahasrani rajan ekadasah smrtah
Viskambhena kurusrestha trayastrimsattu mandalam
Ekonasasthivaipulyat sitarasmeh mahatmanah
Suryasyatu astau sahasrani dvecanye kurunandana
Viskambhena tato rajan mandalam trimsatam samam
Astapancasatau rajan vipulatvena canagha
Sruyate paramodarah patngosau vibhavasuh
Etat pramanam arkasya nirdistam iha bharata
Sarahuh chadayatyetau yatha kalam mahatyaya
Candradityau maharaja samksepoyam udahrtah
 Diameter of Rahu =12,000 Yojanas
Circumference=36,000 Yojanas
Diameter of Moon = 11,000 Yojanas
Circumference=33,000 Yojanas
Diameter of Sun=10,000 Yojanas
Circumference= 30,000 Yojanas

Hence, MAHAGRAHA Rahu at appropriate times

covers (chadayati) Moon and Sun.
Indirectly value of Pi = 3 in the text.

SOLAR ECLIPSES ARE MENTIONED AT

EIGHT
PLACES IN THE TEXT
The first is in sabha parvan after Pandavas are banished to the forest. In
answer to a question on how Pandavas started their journey, Vidura gives
a graphic description of the various events and incidentally mentions

Anabhre vidyutascasan bhumisca samakampata

Rahuragrasadadityam aparvani visampate (sab.p. 79.29)

In the cloudless sky there were lightnings; the earth shook and Rahu
caught the Sun, but, not on the fifteenth day. .

Dhrtarastra confirms this eclipse much later as he broods over the sad
happenings, in the last chapter of sabha Parvan.

Diva ulkah patantyasca rahuscarkam upagrasat

Aparvani mahaghoram prajanam sanjanayan bhayam (sab.p.80.23)

Meteorites are falling in daytime and Rahu covered Sun on an odd day
causing great fear among people.
The third mention is in udyoga parvan chapter 182 describing an old
battle between Bhisma and his teacher Parasu Rama. Bhisma himself
says that on the 4th day of their 23-day battle at Kuruksetra

Arkam ca sahasadiptam svarbhanuh abhisamvrnot (udy.p.183.22).

Svarbhanu (Rahu) suddenly approached the brightened

Sun.

The language of the text is realistic in that the eclipse

was unexpected.
This should have been some 50 or 60 years before the
MB war, when Bhisma was in his youth.
The fourth solar eclipse is in bhisma parvan chapter 3 when Vyasa tells
Dhrtarastra
Abhiksnam kampate bhumih arkam rahuh tathagrasat (bhi.p. 3.11)
The earth shakes often, similarly Rahu caught up Sun (often?).
This statement is in past tense. The alternate reading is
Abhiksnam vartate bhumih arkam rahuh upaitica (bhi.p. 3.11)
The meaning is essentially same, except the eclipse occurrence is in
present tense.
After three sentences all versions have another reference to
mahagrahah, that is Rahu.
Senayoh asivam ghoram karisyati mahagrahah (bhi.p. 3.13)
Rahu does bad to both the armies.
Thus some time before the war all versions indicate occurrence of a
solar eclipse.

But a difficulty arises due to the mention of another eclipse a few verses
later in the same chapter. This fifth solar eclipse in the text is
Candra-suryavubhau grastau eka mase trayodsim (bhi.p. 3.29)

Moon and Sun were eclipsed in the same month at thirteen

days (interval).

THIS INDICATES OCCURRENCE OF A SOLAR

AND A LUNAR ECLIPSE IN EITHER ORDER IN A
MONTH
THIS WILL BE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL
The sixth mention of an eclipse appears in salya Parvan, on the last
day of the war, before the dual between Bhima and Duryodhana.
Among the several bad omens an eclipse finds mention as
Rahusca agrasadadityam aparvani visampate
Cakampe ca mahakampam prithivi savanadruma (sal.p. 56.10)
Rahu caught up Sun at an odd time. The earth shook along with trees
and forests.

All the editions carry this verse. However this event is

not credible as an eclipse. This follows from the
previous statements in bhisma parvan, that the
eighteen-day war started the day next to a
kartika full moon
The seventh solar eclipse, which is again not reliable, is in asvamedhika
parvan, during a fight between Arjuna and the Saindhavas.

Rahuh agrasat adityam yugapat somam eva ca

Tatah khat tu vinirbhidya mandalam sasino-patat (ash.p. 77.15, 77.18)

This means Rahu caught both sun and moon together.

The imagery would look quite interesting in that sun
and moon are together anyway on a new moon day.
But in the next verse it is said that a part from moon
fell out breaking the sky, which would mean moon
was visible. Thus this event is not reliable.
The eighth and final solar eclipse is in mausala parvan, in the thirty-
sixth year after the war, observed at Dwaraka
Caturdasi pancadasi krteyam rahuna punah
Mene praptam sa-sat-trimsam varsamvai kesisudanah
(mau.p. 2.19, 2.20)

The fourteenth day has been made into the fifteenth day
again by Rahu. Krsna understood that the 36th year (as said
by Gandhari at the end of the MB war) had arrived.

This eclipse is mentioned in all the editions of the text. Also

this event finds prominent mention, in the Prabhasa Khanda of
Skanda Purana, while describing the last days of Krishna
 ALL VERSIONS AGREE ON THREE RELIABLE
ECLIPSES

sabha parvan (SE1)

13-15 years
bhisma parvan (SE2)
36th year
from war
mausala parvan (SE3)
satisfying a time sequence.
The first or the second or both could have been
succeeded or preceded by a lunar eclipse in the same
month. While the first two should have been
observable at Kuruksetra, the third one should have
been observed at Dwaraka
Planetary Positions
Positions of planets are described in the text with reference to their
nearness to fixed stars The first statement about planetary positions
occurs in udyoga parvan, when Karna and Krishna are conversing.
Prajapatyam hi naksatram grahahstiksno mahadyutih
Sanaiscarah pidayati pidayan praninodhikam
Krtva ca angarako vakram jyesthayam madhusudana
Anuradham prarthayate maitram samsamayanniva
Nunam mahadbhayam Krsna kurunam samupastitham
Visesenahi varsneya citram pidayate grahah (udy.p.142.8-10)

Saturn is with star rohini. Mars in retrograde motion is

approaching anuradha from jyestha. There is a planet near
citra. (p.p.1)
IN BHISMA PARVAN A SERIES OF PLANETARY POSITIONS
ARE MENTIONED, SOME OF WHICH ARE APPARENTLY
INCOMPATIBLE.

In chapter 2, Vyasa in conversation with Dhritarastra tells, first,

Rohinim pidayannesa sthitoh raja sanaiscarah (bhi.p.2.32)
Saturn is staying near rohini (p.p.2)

IN THE NEXT CHAPTER, AGAIN IT IS SAID

SVETO GRAHAH TATHA CITRAM SAMATIKRAMYA TISTHATI

(BHI.P.3.11)
A WHITE PLANET RESIDES, HAVING CROSSED CITRA. (P.P.3)
After three lines not connected with planetary positions, Vyasa is
supposed to say again,
Maghasvangarako vakrah sravaneca brhaspatih
Bhagam naksatram akramya suryaputrena pidyate
Sukrah prosthapade purve samaruhya visampate
Uttare tu parikramya sahitah pratyudiksate
Syamo grahah prajvalitah sadhumah saha pavakah
Aindram tejasvi naksatram jyestham akramya tisthati
Dhruvah prajvalito ghoram apasavyam pravartate
Citra svati antarecaiva dhisthitah paruso grahah
Vakranuvakram krtva ca sravane pavakaprabhah
Brahma-rasim samavrtya lohitango vyavasthitah (bhi.p.3.14-3.19)
Mars in retrograde is in magha and Jupiter is in sravana. Surya-
putra (Saturn?) is afflicting Purva-Phalguni. Sukra (literally one
who is white, Venus) previously getting up in star Purvabhadra and
having circled in north (or uttara or uttarabhadra) is looking up, with
a company. The dark planet blazing with smoke and fire is with
jyestha. A rough planet is in between citra and svati. Red-planet
having gone retrograde again and again through Sravana is in
brahma-rashi (near Rohini ?) (p.p.4)

In the above itself it is seen that the previous position of

Saturn remains contradicted. About Mars also it is
ambiguous. Some editions read ‘Bhagam’ in the second line
above as ‘Bhagyam’. Similarly, in the fifth line, ‘syamo
grahah’ is read as ‘sveto grahah’. An extra observation
‘rohinim pidayatyevam ubhauca sasi-bhaskarau’ is also
available as per the commentary of Nilakantha
In all editions, after another six verses a few more positions are stated.
Grahau tamraruna-sikhau prajvalntaviva sthitau
Saptarsinam udaranam samavacchadya vai prabham
Samvatsara-sthayinauca grahau prajvalitavubhau
Visakhayoh samipasthau brhaspati-sanaiscarau
Krttikasu grahahstivrah naksatre prathame jvalan
Vapumsi apaharan bhasa dhumaketuriva sthitah
Trisu purvesu sarvesu naksatresu visampate
Budhah sampatate abhiksnam janayan su-mahadbhayam
Caturdasim pancadasim bhutapurvanca sodasim
Imamtu nabhijanami amavasyam trayodasim
Candra-suryavubhau grastau eka-mase trayodasim (bhi.p. 3.23-3.29)
Two blazing planets have reduced the brightness of saptarsis. Jupiter
and Saturn being stationary for a year are near (the double stars)
visakha. There is a sharp planet with the first star of krttikas, like a
comet. In the three stars preceding this, Mercury is seen often. I know
instances of amavasya falling on the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth
day of the fortnight, but not on the thirteenth day like now. Moon and
Sun both got eclipsed in the same month, oddly at thirteen days
(interval). (p.p.5)
In this position also, there are variant readings. The Gita Press edition
gives an extra eclipse statement after the fourth line
Candradityau ubhau grastau ekahna hi trayodasim
Nilakantha explains this as a solar eclipse on the thirteenth day,
highlighting the occurrence of a fortnight short by two days. Another
glaring difference in this version is the substitution of budhah (Mercury)
by grdhrah (eagle) in the eighth line.
The variant readings indicate some of the stated planetary positions are
not reliable. The traditional rendering of svetograhah to mean ketu,
as by Nilakantha in his commentary adds to the confusion.
His interpretation of the text at p.p.3 above and the eclipse mention a line
before that is,
Kartikyah param hi sangramarambhah, tatra tulastham arkam
rahurupaiti. Tadeva sveto grhaha ketuh citram atikramati svatyadau
vartate. Nityam sama-saptakasthau rahu-ketu idanim eka-rasi-gatau
maha-anistha sucakau iti bhavah. (bhi.p. 3.11-12)
After Kartika (month) is the start of the war. There Rahu approaches
Sun in Tula (Libra). That white planet Ketu crosses Citra and
resides in the beginning of Svati. Rahu and Ketu, who always
stay diametrically opposite at the seventh places, being now
in the same sign, are indicative of great calamity; is the
meaning.
 Ganguly in his translation adopts this interpretation.

This means that the ascending and descending nodes of

Moon were together during the MB war, which is absurd.

Instead the white planet should have been a visible

unnamed planet, not requiring any convoluted
interpretations.
Not withstanding some such difficulties, there are
no reasons to ignore the above citations of eclipses
and planetary positions as being fictitious. They
could be approximate and even erroneous due to
recording errors, but from the context and style of
the text on the whole, they have to be accepted as
genuine observations.
 The textual planetary positions
p.p.4; p.p.5; p.p.6 and p.p.7
cannot be taken on their face value

BUT ALL VERSIONS AGREE ON

PP1, PP2 AND PP3
THIS ESSENTIALLY MEANS RELIABLY
1. SATURN WAS SEEN TO BE NEAR
STAR ROHINI SOMETIME BEFORE
THE WAR
2. ON A KARTIKA-KRISHNA-ASTAMI
NIGHT BEFORE THE WAR MARS
WAS SEEN TO BE BETWEEN STARS
JYESTHA AND ANURADHA
3. A PLANET WAS SEEN NEAR STAR
CHITRA
 PROBLEM
FIND A SEQUENCE OF THREE SOLAR
ECLIPSES (SE1, SE2,SE3) AT THE REQUIRED
TIME INTERVALS SUCH THAT PP1, PP2, PP3
ARE ALSO SATISFIED.
APPROACH: SHANAISHCARA=SLOWLY MOVING
SATURN TAKES 30 YEARS FOR A CYCLE
HENCE DURING THE ECLIPSE SE2 ALSO IT
SHOULD HAVE BEEN NEAR ROHINI.

SE2 WAS A DOUBLE ECLIPSE (DSE2) IN THE

WAR YEAR. THAT IS TWO ECLIPSES IN A
MONTH
 AT THIS STAGE IT IS WORTHWHILE TO HAVE A
LIST OF DOUBLE ECLIPSES (DSE2) WITH
SATURN NEAR ROHINI

Planet Visibility Software PVIS, is user friendly for eclipse search.

For finding planetary positions, EZC,can be easily handled.
Period of search has been restricted to the interval 501 BC–3250 BC.
Kuruksetra 76049’E and 29059’N

During the above period 267 double eclipses were possible

 DOUBLE ECLIPSES OBSERVABLE AT KURUKSETRA DURING 501-3000 BC
ROHINI SERIES (POSSIBLE SE2 SOLUTIONS)

Year Lunar Solar S.E at Dwaraka

No. Saturn
BC eclipse eclipse after 35 years
1 505 31 Jan 16 Feb Bharani 1.9.469; 20.3.470
2 624 23 Jun 8 July Bharani N.P
3 679 1 June 17 June Mrgasira N.P
4 711 27 Feb 14 March Bha-Krttika 15.4.676
5 768 21 Sept 7 Sept Rohi-Mrga N.P
6 798 23 Nov 7 Nov Rohini 15.6.763
7 830 14 Jan 829 30 Dec Asvini 6.9.795; 24.3.796
8 974 19 Oct 4 Oct Rohini N.P
9 1122 5 Oct 21 Sept Rohini N.P
10 1154 3 July 18 June Asvini N.P
11 1181 1 June 16 June Rohini N.P
12 1183 27 Jan 12 Jan Asvini N.P
13 1328 1 Nov 17 Oct Roh-Mrga N.P
14 1478 16 May 1 June Bhar-Krtt 7.1.1443, 18.1.1444
15 1710 26 Oct 10 Nov Ardra N.P
16 1711 11 June 27 May Rohini N.P
 DOUBLE ECLIPSES OBSERVABLE AT KURUKSETRA DURING 501-3000 BC
ROHINI SERIES (POSSIBLE DSE2 SOLUTIONS CONTD.)

Lunar Solar S.E at Dwaraka

No. Year BC Saturn
eclipse eclipse after 35 years
17 1713 8 Jan 22 Jan Asvini 8.8.1677; 23.2.1678
18 1832 29 May 13 June Asvi-Bhar N.P
19 1861 24Dec’62 9 Jan Rev-Asvi 10.2.1826
20 1917 7 July 23 June Mrgasira N.P
21 2213 5 Nov 20 Nov Krttika N.P
22 2215 6 Jan 22 Jan Rev-Asvi 23.2.2180
23 2567 19 Nov 4 Dec Krttika N.P
24 2594 18 Nov 3 Nov Mrgasira N.P
25 2682 8 Feb 24 Feb Mrgasira 28.3.2647
26 2624 30Dec 13 Jan Krttika 4.2.2588; 11.8.2589
27 2743 15 Nov 31 Oct Krttika 8.7.2708
28 2744 1 June 16 June Krttika 24.1.2709
29 2774 1 August 18 July Bhar-Krtt N.P
30 2889 10 Sept 26 Sept Mrga-Ardra N.P
19.2.2915; 15.8.2915;
31 2950 28 June 13 July Krttika
4.8.2914.
 COMPATIBLE ECLIPSE SE1 FROM SE2 AND SE3 OF ROHINI SERIES
(N.P = NOT POSSIBLE)
Lunar S o la r
N o. Y ear B C S a tu r n J u p ite r
e c lip s e e c lip s e
505 3 1 .1 1 6 .2 B h aran i P u rv a b h a d ra
518 -- N .P -- --
1
519 -- N .P -- --
520 8 .1 1 2 3 .1 1 A n u rad h a U tta ra s a d h a
711 2 7 .2 1 4 .3 B h a r-K rttik a A n u ra d h a
724 N .P 6 .5 M u la S v a ti
2
725 -- N .P -- --
726 -- N .P -- --
798 2 3 .1 1 7 .1 1 R o h in i M agha
811 N .P 3 0 .1 2 P u rv a sa d h a P u n a rv a su
3
812 -- N .P -- --
813 -- N .P -- --
830 1 4 .1 .8 2 9 3 0 .1 2 A s v in i J y e s th a
843 N .P 2 .5 ,2 6 .9 A n u rad h a C itra
4
844 -- N .P -- --
845 -- N .P -- --
1478 1 6 .5 ;1 0 .1 1 1 .6 R o h in i R e v a ti
1491 1 1 .2 2 3 .7 A n u -V is D h a n is th a
5
1492 -- N .P -- --
1493 4 .3 1 9 .3 V is a k h a M u la
1713 8 .1 2 2 .1 R o h in i K rttik a
1726 -- N .P -- --
6
1727 -- N .P -- --
1728 -- N .P -- --
1861 2 4 .1 2 .’ 6 2 9 .1 R e v a -A sv i J y e s th a
1874 ---- N .P ---- -----
7
1875 ---- N .P ---- -----
1876 --- N .P ---- -----
 COMPATIBLE ECLIPSE SE1 FROM SE2 AND SE3 OF ROHINI SERIES
(N.P = NOT POSSIBLE)
Lunar S o la r
N o. S a tu rn J u p iter
Y ea r B C eclip se eclip se
2215 6 .1 2 2 .1 A svini S rav ana
2228 -- N .P -- --
8
2229 -- N .P -- --
2230 -- N .P -- --
2624 3 0 .1 2 .’2 5 1 3 .1 K rttik a P usy a
2637 ---- N .P ---- -----
9
2638 N .P 1 9 .3 M ula R o h i-M rg a
2639 ---- N .P ---- ----
2682 8 .2 2 4 .2 R o h in i C itra
2695 -- N .P -- --
10
2696 -- N .P -- --
2697 -- N .P -- --
2743 1 5 .1 1 31.1 0 R o h in i M ag h a
2756 N .P 2 8 .7 Jy esth a P u n arv asu
11
2757 2 2 .8 8 .8 Jy esth a A rdra
2758 1 0 .3 2 5 .3 A n u rad h a A sv in i
2744 1 .6 1 6 .6 R o h in i P usy a
2757 2 2 .8 8 .8 Jy esth a A rdra
12
2758 1 0 .3 2 5 .3 A n u rad h a A sv in i
2759 -- 5 .4 V isak ha U .b h ad ra
2950 2 8 .6 1 3 .7 R o h in i D h an isth a
2963 -- N .P -- --
13
2964 -- N .P -- --
2965 -- N .P -- --
A detailed search and analysis of 2750
years of data produces
ELEVEN
possible sequences of three eclipses as
being compatible with
SATURN NEAR ROHINI
FOR THE WAR YEAR
in the text of Mahabharata.
 These triplets (SE1,SE2,SE3) in chronological
order are

(520,505,470/69) (724,711,676)
(811,798,763) (843,830,795)
(1493/91,1478,1443/44)
(2638,2624,2588/89) (2758/57/56, 2743, 2708)
(2759/58/57, 2744, 2709) (3021, 3008, 2973)
(3168, 3154, 3119) (3200/3198, 3185, 3151)
Planetary positions as per EZC software on Kartika-Krishna-
Ashtami of possible war years. (Udyoga Parvan P.P.1. Slide 33)
Date-BC Saturn Jupiter Venus Mars
1.10.505 Krittika Revati Svati Bharani
29.9.711 Krittika Anuradha Vishakha Chitra
1.10.798 Rohini Magha Hasta Magha
26.9.830 Krittika Anuradha Uttara Magha
20.9.1478 Bharani- Purva Jyestha Jyestha-
Krittika bhadra Anuradha
31.8.2624 Mrigasira Purva Jyestha Uttara
27.8.2743 Krittika Magha Chi-Svati Ardra
6.9.2744 Krittika Pushya Jyestha Chi-Svati
Sky Chart for 20.9.1478BC 19 hrs.(LT)
Sky Chart for 20.9.1478BC 5.30 AM (LT)
Sky Chart for 12.10.1478BC 5.55 PM (LT)
Sky Chart for 12.10.1478BC 5.30 AM (LT)
 WHAT ABOUT OTHER PLANETARY POSITIONS
ALSO IN BHISHMA PARVAN.
OBVIOUSLY SATURN COULD NOT HAVE BEEN
NEAR BOTH ROHINI AND VISHAKHA IN A SPAN OF
A FEW DAYS OR WEEKS.
COULD THE STATEMENTS BE SPURIOUS?

PERHAPS NOT ! BECAUSE FOR

(1493/91,1478,1443)

SE1 OCCURRED WITH SATURN NEAR

VISHAKHA.
See sky chart for 19.3.1493 B.C.
 HYPOTHESIS
P.P.4 & P.P.5 in Bhishma Parvan refer to the
Eclipse SE1 of Sabha Parvan.
This stands verified since a sequence of three
eclipses can be found
with constraints on type, time interval
and position of Saturn such that when the most
reliable planetary position P.P.1 is satisfied, the
other positions pp.4, pp.5,… turn out to be true
automatically.
Sky Chart for 19.3.1493BC 5.30 AM (LT)
Sky Chart for 19.3.1493 BC 9.30 PM (LT)
Fig. 4c Retrograde motion of Venus and Mars during 19.12.1494 BC-19.3.1493 BC.
SENSITIVITY STUDY
WHAT IF ECLIPSE SE1 OF SABHA PARVAN
WAS A DOUBLE ECLIPSE BUT SE2 WAS NOT ?

WILL THE PREVIOUS SOLUTIONS CHANGE ?

TO VERIFY THIS WE NEED ALL DOUBLE

ECLIPSES OF 501-3250BC WHEN
SATURN+JUPITER WAS NEAR VISHAKHA
 Double eclipses observable at Kuruksetra during 501-3000 BC
Visakha Series (DSE1)
Lunar S o la r
N o. Y ear B C S a tu r n J u p ite r
e c lip se e c lip se
1 664 13 A ug 28 A ug M u la V isa k h a
2 758 1 Sept 17 Sept S v a ti Jy e sth a
3 782 3 0 Ju n e 1 5 Ju n e M u la A n u ra d h a
4 876 1 8 Ju ly 4 Ju ly C itra M u la
5 1198 4 N ov 21 O ct A n u ra d h a A n u ra d h a
6 1375 18 M ay 3 M ay V isa k h a A n u ra d h a
7 1436 2 8 A u g u st 1 3 A u g u st C itra -S v a ti C itra -S v a ti
8 1493 4 M a rc h 1 9 M a rc h V isa k h a M u la
9 1849 1 N ov 17 N ov S v a -V is Jy e -M u la
10 1932 2 6 A p ril 1 1 A p ril Jy e sth a Jy e sth a
11 2051 16 Sept 2 Sept A n u ra d h a Jy e sth a
12 2053 1 3 A p ril 2 9 A p ril V isa k h a H a sta -C itra
13 2171 28 Feb 14 Feb V isa k h a S v a -V is
14 2289 5 D ec 20 D ec V isa k h a Jy e sth a
15 2406 11 O ct 26 Sept V isa k h a M u la
16 2407 2 7 A p ril 13 M ay S v a ti A n u ra d h a
17 2433 9 Sept 24 Sept Jy e sth a C itr-S v a ti
18 2492 5 Ju n e 22 M ay Jy e sth a H a sta
19 2527 29 Sept 14 O ct S v a ti V isa k h a
20 2703 24 Sept 10 Sept C itr-S v a ti Jy e sth a
21 2704 1 1 A p ril 2 6 A p ril H a sta V isa k h a
22 2762 22 M ay 6 Ju n e S v a ti M u la
 Compatible eclipse SE2 from SE1 of VISHAKHA SERIES
Y ear L unar S o la r S .E 3 a t D w a r a k a 3 5
N o. S a tu r n J u p ite r
B C e c lip s e e c lip s e y e a r s a fte r w a r
6 6 4 1 3 .8 2 8 .8 M u la V is a k h a --
6 5 1 7 .6 R o h in i J y e s th a N .P
1
6 5 0 -- N .P -- -- --
6 4 9 -- N .P -- -- --
M u la
7 8 2 3 0 .6 1 5 .6 A n u rad h a --
--
7 6 9 -- N .P -- --
2 R o h i-
7 6 8 2 1 .9 7 .9 U ’a sa d h a N .P
M rg a
7 6 7 -- N .P -- --
--
1 1 9 8 4 .1 1 2 1 .1 0 A n u rad h a A n u rad h a --
1 1 8 5 1 8 .2 2 8 .8 R e v a ti J y e s th a 7 .4 .1 1 5 0
3
1 1 8 4 -- N .P -- -- --
1 1 8 3 2 7 .1 1 2 .1 R o h in i S ra v a n a N .P
1 4 9 3 4 .3 1 9 .3 V is a k h a M u la --
1 4 8 0 -- N .P -- -- --
4
1 4 7 9 N .P 1 1 .6 A s v in i S ra v a n a 1 8 .1 .1 4 4 4
1 4 7 8 1 6 .5 ;1 0 .1 1 1 .6 K rttik a R e v a ti 7 .1 .1 4 4 3
1 7 2 9 3 1 .5 1 6 .5 S v a -V is S ra v a n a --
1 7 1 6 -- N .P -- -- --
5
1 7 1 5 -- N .P -- -- --
1 7 1 4 N .P 2 9 .7 R o h in i K rttik a N .P
1 9 3 2 2 6 .4 1 1 .4 J y e s th a J y e s th a --
1 9 1 9 2 9 .7 1 8 .2 B h a ra n i S ra v a n a 1 5 .9 .1 8 8 4
6
1 9 1 8 -- N .P -- -- --
1 9 1 7 7 .7 2 3 .6 R o h in i S ra v a n a N .P
2 2 8 9 5 .1 2 2 0 .1 2 V is a k h a J y e s th a --
2 2 7 6 -- N .P -- -- --
7
2 2 7 5 -- N .P -- -- --
2 2 7 4 2 7 .2 1 5 .3 B h a ra n i D h a n is th a N .P
2 4 3 3 9 .9 2 4 .9 J y e s th a C it-S v a ti --
2 4 2 0 N .P 4 .7 K rttik a C it-S v a ti N .P
8
2 4 1 9 2 .1 2 2 3 .6 R o h in i A n u rad h a N .P
2 4 1 8 -- N .P -- -- --
2 4 9 2 5 .6 2 2 .5 J y e s th a H a s ta --
2 4 7 9 -- N .P -- -- --
9
2 4 7 8 4 .3 1 4 .8 R o h in i J y e s th a N .P
2 4 7 7 -- N .P -- -- --
THREE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS EMERGE IF SE1 IS TAKEN AS
A DOUBLE ECLIPSE WITH SATURN+JUPITER NEAR
VISHAKHA
(1198,1185,1150)

(1493, 1479/78, 1444/43)

(1932,1919,1884)

YEARS 1185,1479, 1919 BC GET ELIMINATED AS WAR

YEARS
REFERRING TO P.P.1 ON KARTIKA-KRISHNA-ASTAMI
ON 20.9.1185 MARS WAS NEAR HASTA
ON 30.9.1479 MARS WAS NEAR PUSHYA
ON 6.9.1919 MARS WAS NEAR PUNARVASU-PUSHYA
FIRST QUESTION ANSWERED:

THE TRIPLET(1493,1478,1443BC)
SATISFIES THE ECLIPSE SEQUENCE AND
ALMOST ALL PLANETARY POSITIONS OF
MAHABHARATA.

SECOND QUESTION:
WHAT ABOUT OTHER CELESTIAL OBSERVATIONS
ASSOCIATED WITH KRISHNA-LORE ?
WE HAVE TO CHECK WHETHER THE PURANIC
STATEMENTS ARE COMPATIBLE WITH THOSE IN MB
 HARI-VAMŚA (HV)
CHECK WHETHER THE PURANIC STATEMENTS
ARE COMPATIBLE WITH THE MB DATE OF
1493-1443 BC
As in the previous investigations with MB, the planetarium
software, PVIS has been used to search for solar eclipses
observable at Mathura. A solar eclipse was possible to have
been observed on
4th April 1523 BC.
A few days later Mars could have been seen in the stated
position.
WHAT ABOUT THE COMET OBSERVATION?
 Mars
Saturn

Sky Chart as per EZC Software for 25.6.1523 BC. 22 Hr. (L.T).
 NEXT TO MAHABHARATA,
PRABHASA-KHANDA OF SKANDA
PURANA CONTAINS MORE
CELESTIAL OBSERVATIONS
CONNECTED WITH THE LIFE OF
KRISHNA.
VISHNU PURANA AND BHAGAVATA
CONSIDERED MORE IMPORTANT
CONTAIN NO VERIFIABLE
CELESTIAL OBSERVATIONS.
DURING 1522-1500 BC SEVEN SOLAR ECLIPSES WERE POSSIBLE
LUNAR ECLIPSE WHEN PANDAVAS WERE IN COGNITO IN THE
13TH YEAR OF THEIR EXILE
This eclipse introduces a severe constraint on the
original MB story. Previously it has been found that
the compatible year for the war is 1478 BC. Also there
is internal evidence in MB text, to the effect that the
war took place about an year after the thirteen year
exile was completed. Hence, for SKANDA PURANA
to be in conformity with MB, the above lunar eclipse
should have been in 1480 BC.
Indeed there was a lunar eclipse on
24thApril 1480 BC,
as can be verified from PVIS software, visible over
Kurukshetra and near by regions
SOLAR ECLIPSE IN THE 36TH YEAR AFTER THE WAR
CURSE OF GAANDHARI ON KRISHNA
COMET SIGHTING SOMETIME BEFORE KRISHNA’S DEMISE
IN 1443-1444 BC
 MB (Aadi-parvan)
yatra.te.puruSa.vyaaghraah
shastra.sparza.sahaa.yudhi|
brahma.daNDa.viniSpiSTaah
samiipe.lavaNa.ambhasah||
This verse refers to the last days of Yadavas, who
fought among themselves near the salt sea. But it
also mentions they were squeezed by the ‘brahma
danda’.
In the puranas this is explained as a ‘musala’ or pestle
(long wooden contraption to pound paddy)born
miraculously. Still the comet metaphor of musala is clear!
As per Brihat samhita and other scientific texts, Brahma-
danda is a comet.
VISHNU PURANA INDICATES THAT KRISHNA LIVED FOR
NEARLY 100 YEARS.
IN THE ABOVE ANALYSIS WE MAY TAKE THAT HE WAS
ABOUT 16 YEARS WHEN HE FIRST VISITED MATHURA.
HARIVAMSHA SAYS HE WAS IN-BETWEEN A BOY AND A
YOUTH. HARIVAMSHA MENTIONS ABOUT A COMET
AROUND THAT TIME (~1523 BC)
THERE IS A COMET OBSERVATION IN SKANDA PURANA
BEFORE KRISHNA’S FINAL DEPARTURE (1443-44 BC).
MB’s Musala could be an euphemism for a comet!!
THIS TIME PERIOD COULD BE ABOUT 75-80 YEARS. WE
CAN QUESTION WHETHER A COMET WHICH REPEATS AT
NEARLY 75-80 YEARS COULD HAVE BEEN MENTIONED BY
THE SANSKRIT TEXTS. SUCH A COMET IS HALLEY’S
COMET. ITS ORBIT IN ANCIENT PERIODS HAS BEEN
COMPUTED BY ASTRONOMERS.
HALLEY’S COMET: 1986 AD to 2647 BC, J.L.BRADY,
J. BRITISH ASTRO. ASSOCIATION, 1982
Excavations at
Mahabharata sites
(B.B.Lal)
Hastinapura and
Ahichhatra.
Pottery belonging to
1100-1200 BC.
The fortunate find
in the seventies, at a
tomb in
Mawangdui, China,
of a Han dynasty
(168 BC) silk comet
atlas sheds
considerable light
on earlier enigmatic
motifs. Most
interesting is the
SWASTIKA, a
sacred symbol in
Indian culture.
Trishula, Vel could
also be metaphors
for comets.
 BHAGAVATHA PURANA, 12TH BOOK
PARIKSHIT TO MAHANANDA: 1115 YEARS
NAVA-NANDAS: 100 YEARS
CHANDRAGUPTA AND MAURYAS : 137 YEARS

THIS GIVES 1350-1450 BC FOR M-B PERIOD

VISHNUPURANA 4TH BOOK GIVES SIMILAR RESULTS

ARCHAEOLOGICAL DATING OF ARTEFACTS AT

EXCAVATED MB SITES IS 1300-1400 B.C.
(REF: S.P.GUPTA: M-B MYTH AND REALITY)
 CONCLUSIONS
1. THE CELESTIAL OBSERVATIONS
MENTIONED IN MAHABHARATA ARE
COMPATIBLE AMONG THEMSELVES. THEY
SHOULD HAVE BEEN OBSERVED DURING
1493-1443 BC.
2.THE CELESTIAL OBSERVATIONS GIVEN IN
OTHER PURANAS LINKED WITH KRISHNA
ARE HARMONIOUS WITH THE ABOVE
PERIOD. KRISHNA IN ALL LIKELIHOOD
LIVED DURING
1543-1443 BC