Scientific Dating of Vedic and Ramayan Era

Ecological perspective

History of the Holocene (post last ice age) deserves to be rewritten based on multi-disciplinary scientific evidences. Aryan invasion theory was propagated based on linguistic guesswork, religious hearsay and old outdated archaeological reports. Christianity has long back discarded its 18th century beliefs that world got created on 23rd October, 4004 BC, Biblical flood occurred in 2400 B.C. and that civilizations started expanding and migrating in around 1500 B.C. It is almost unanimously accepted by the scholars and scientists that there have been several cycles of civilizations and that last ice age ended around 10000 B.C., ushering in the beginnings of Holocene i.e. Nutan Yug.

The melting of ice caps naturally got started near the Equator, resulting in discharge of huge quantities of water which first flowed in the form of rivers in South India. The civilizations developed, populations multiplied over hundreds of years resulting in water scarcity. More adventurous started migrating northwards - initially towards central India and later on towards the Himalayan rivers in the North. Thousands of years of water security provided by Saraswati, Indus and Ganga river systems and world's most fertile planes cultivated around them naturally facilitated the extra-ordinary development of culture and civilization from around 8000 B.C. After thousands of years water supply from ice-caps started depleting, tectonic movements resulted in drying up of rivers like Saraswati, trade relations flourished and more adventurous people started moving towards Central Asia and Europe. Thus there was neither any end of Vedic civilisation due to imaginary Aryan invasion theory nor were Dravidians 'aboriginal savages' of North India. The rise and fall of Vedic Civilisation is thus attributable to ecological cycle post last ice age and not to any 'Aryan invasion'.
           

Sky views in Rigveda

There are 53 references in Rigveda as prayers offered to Aswinis at dawn. The description clearly points to the observation of the pair of stars in the Aries constellation (referred to as Aashvin or Asvini) just before sunrise as a ritual to mark the year beginning. Using Planetarium software, we find that the Winter Solstice occurred on 19 December, 7000 BC at 0735 hrs as shown in Figure 1. This is the earliest reference to Vedic calendar with year beginning at Winter Solstice, found in Rigveda (5-77-1/2; 1-46-14; 7-69-3/2). Heliacal rising of Ashwini Nakshatra (Aries) can be seen to occur on 5th January, 7000 BC, marking the year beginning (Fig. 1).

Fig. 2: Sky on Jan 05, 7000 BC, 0649 hrs shows heliacal rising of Asvini Nakshatra after Winter Solstice, marking the year beginning (RgVeda  5-77-1/2; 1-46-14; 7-69-3/2). 

A thousand years later, Winter Solstice no longer occurred near Aries (Asvini) due to precession. As a result, Ashwinis were no longer rising heliacally as before. They were still below the horizon at sunrise around Winter Solstice time. The Winter Solstice had moved to Revati by 6000 BC. Thus the precession of Equinoxes and Solistices was being observed by Rigvedic Scholars.

The Sky of 19^th December, 6000 BC at sunrise on the Winter Solstice day shows that Ashvini gave way to bright star Chitra (α Vir) on opposite side (Western horizon). A full Moon in Chitra Nakshatra provided a new time marker in the sky and heralded the lunar month naming system-Chaitra, Vaisakha etc. (Rigveda: 5-74-1,2 and Tait Samh. 7-4-8). See Fig. 2 -

Winter Solstice opposite Citra - Sky of 19 Dec 6000 BC at sunrise shows that Asvini gave way to bright star Citra on opposite side (western horizon). It began to be used for determining the year beginning. A full Moon occurring in Citra heralded the lunar month naming system-Caitra, Vaisakha etc (Tait.  Samh. 7-4-8).

Most amazing is the fact that reference to Agastya Muni (who composed some Slokas of Rigveda) first observing star Canopus (star Agastya) from Vindhyas refers to the sky view of 18th Dcember, 5100 BC. Lord Ram also visits Agastya Muni's Agnishala and sequential astronomical dates of important events in Shri Ram's life also are of around 5100 BC!

Recommended Readings:

1. Saroj Bala and Kulbhushan Mishra. 2012. Historicity of Vedic and Ramayan Eras: Scientific Evidences from the Depths of Oceans to the Heights of Skies. Institute of Scientific Research on Vedas. Abridged editions also available in English and Hindi.

2. Subramanian Swamy. 2008. Rama Setu: Symbol of National Unity. 

3. Srimad Valmiki Ramayana (Hindi).

4. Srimad Valmiki Ramayana (English).

5.  Sita Ram, Rai Bahadur. 1932. Ayodhya Ka Itihas (in Hindi). New Delhi: Arya Book Depot, Karol Bagh.

National Seminar - 2011

A two days' national seminar on the subject, "Scientific Dating of Ancient Events before 2000 BC" was held on 30th and 31st July, 2011 in the auditorium of IIMC at Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New JNU Campus, New Delhi. The Seminar was attended by Sanskrit scholars and astronomers, archaeologists and anthropologists, geologists and ecologists, oceanographers and space scientists, bureaucrats and professionals, professors and academicians as well as other persons from the public and media, who were interested in this subject.

His Excellency Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (Former President of India) blessed the occasion with his venerated presence as the chief guest and delivered the inaugural address on 30th July. 

(The text of this address is also available at www.abdulkalam.com.)

Hon'ble Justice Sh. Ashoke Bhan, Chairman of NCDRC and Sh. J. Sircar, Secretary (Culture) were the guests of Honor Sh. K.V. Krishnamurthy, Chairman of I-SERVE delivered the welcome address and Mrs. Saroj Bala, Research Project Coordinator gave a brief introduction of the subject of the Seminar.

H.E. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam endorsed the scientific methods of dating of ancient events and emphasized that a mechanism needs to be built to disseminate the knowledge and information generated during the seminar amongst school and college children to generate a shared pride in our rich and ancient most heritage. His speech acted as a big motivating factor and as a morale booster for the research team of I-SERVE. He made many important recommendations, which included:

(i) Launching research on India's Epics with at least 100 Ph.Ds with highly talented historical, geological, astronomical and space scientists to ascertain the veracity of history and dates of events in our epics.

(ii) The scientific dating of our epics has also to be related to Genealogy and with human genome sequences.

(iii) The evolution of human origin put forth by Prof. Tobias should be related to events of Indian epics. After all, every Indian epic deals with human history, their conflicts and their civilization.

(iv) The spoken language period as per Prof. Tobias is around 10000 years old and the birth of Rama based on the 9th tithi of Chaitra month and sky view of planetary configurations at the time of birth dates to 10th January in 5114 BC, that is 7125 years back. We need to establish the relationship between the birth of spoken language and the evolution of Valmiki Ramayana.

OUTCOMES OF PRESENTATIONS AT THE NATIONAL SEMINAR

Scientific evidences from different sources and research studies have revealed that indigenous civilisation has been developing in India for last 10000 years and many of the events mentioned in Vedas and Epics appear to be true and are capable of being scientifically dated.

This National Seminar also proposed to bridge the gap between the information contained in research reports of our eminent modern scientists, available with the Ministry of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences on one hand and the contents of our School and college books on the other. The history has to be looked at as history of events which occurred sequentially on our land during last thousands of years. This only can lead to shared national pride amongst all Indians in our ancient most cultural heritage and scientific achievements of dim distant past -

i. The astronomical dates of planetary references in ancient books calculated by the eminent astronomers by making use of planetarium software, indicate the development of an indigenous civilization in India from dates even prior to 7000 BC. Astronomical references in Rigveda represent the sky view of dates belonging to the period from 8000 BC to 4000 BC and those mentioned in Ramayan refer to sky views seen sequentially on dates around 5000 BC. These dates are exclusive and match sequentially.

ii. Remote Sensing pictures taken by ISRO, corroborated by geological reports, have revealed that a mighty river system, referred to in Vedas and Epics as Saraswati, was flowing with full majesty around 6000 BC. The river slowly dried up and almost disappeared around 3000 BC. These conclusions have been supported by sedimentology, hydrogeology and drilling data. These conclusions not only support the astronomical dates of Vedas and Epics but also support such references in ancient books.

iii. The paleobotanical research reports have revealed that certain cultivated varieties of plants, trees and herbs, which are mentioned in Vedas and Epics, have existed in India continuously for more than 8000-10000 years. Remains of cultivated rice, wheat and barley have been found belonging to 7000 BC; melon seeds, lemon leaf, pomegranate, coconut and date palm etc relating to 4000 BC; lentils, millets and peas etc from 3000 BC; use of reetha, amla and shikakai for making shampoo since 2500 BC. These plants remained in use continuously indicating that there was not any abrupt end of ancient Indian civilisation as is normally being taught in schools and colleges.

iv. The latest archaeological excavations have revealed large volume of new data which has proved the indigenous origin and development of civilisation in the Indian Subcontinent since 7000 BC. Some examples are: Lahuradeva, Jhusi, Tokwa and Hetapatti in Ganga Valley in the east; Mehrgarh, Kot Diji and Nausharo in Indus valley in the northwest; Lothal and Dholavira in the west. The material testimonies of these excavations have shown gradual cultural developments from the 7th-6th millennium BC in the entire region of Indus-Saraswati-Ganga system for a period of almost eight thousand years. 

v. The anthropological research reports have established that DNA dating for Paleolithic continuity starts from 60000 BC. The Genome studies during the Holocene have revealed that the genetic profile of humans settled in north, south, east and west of India is the same and has remained the same for the last more than 11000 years. It is also significant to note that the inhabitants of the Harappan civilisation were not a mysterious people of unknown biological origins, or migrants from western/central Asia, but they were the indigenous people identified with the pre/early Harappan cultures of northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Therefore, contrary to the popular belief, the Dravidians as well as north Indians have common ancestors and both are originals of India, have common genetic profile and thus had common ancestors.

THE SARASWATI RIVER

                                 Mystery of Sarasvati River

In Rig Veda, the name of Sarasvati appears 72 times. It is described as a mighty river flowing from the mountain to the sea. In Mandalas I to IV of Rigveda, there are graphic details of release of huge water volumes from serpantine glaciers, which made the rivers flow with the blessings of Lord Indra. It is described as the Ambitame, Naditame and Devitame that is best of mother, best of river and best of goddess. It was the life stream of the people of ancient India, mostly in the Vedic and Puranic ages. Satellite imagery combined with geological studies and discovery of sites of Harappan civilization on the banks of Saraswati also indicate that it was flowing as a mighty river around 8000 years ago.

However till the middle of 19th century the river was lost. From mid 19th century onwards several geologists and archaeologists traced the palaeochannels of different phases of ancient Sarasvati River System. During last more than 150 years geological, archaeological, hydrological, ecological research reports and remote sensing images taken by LANDSAT (USA), IRS-1C (India), French SPOT Satellites (France) and ERSS (Europe), have provided scientific and credible evidence about the flow, migration and decay of Sarasvati River during its different phases.

These evidences remarkably corroborate the references to the origin, changing courses and disappearance of Sarasvati river system in Rigveda, Yajurveda, Ramayana and Mahabharata. Astonishingly these also match the astronomical dating of events in Vedas and Epics done by us, which relate to the period 7000 BC to 2000 BC.

Let us look at some very interesting instances -

           

In Rigveda, the Vedic Saraswati, is described as the mightiest river – “Seven sistered, sprung from three-fold sources” [6:61:12].  Again it is described as “Saptathi Sindhumata” i.e., mother of seven rivers strongly flowing and swelling in volumes (7:36:6).

Prayers are again offered to ten rivers including Sarasvati in Nadi Stuti sukta as under -“Ganga, Yamuna, Sarasvati, Shutudri (Sutlej), Purushni (Ravi), Asikni (Chenab), Marudvridha, Vitasta (Jhelam), Arijikya and Sushoma (10:75:5)”. (Imagine the knowledge of the geograghy of the scholars composing the hymns!

Mahabharata gives a clear geographical account of Sarasvati becoming a non-perennial river vanishing and re-appearing in the deserts [3:80:118 & 9:36:1], surviving in the form of a number of lakes e.g. Brahmasar, jyotisar, Kaleswar (in Haryana), Katasar, Pandusar & Ravisar (in Rajasthan).  Kurukshetra is described as located in the south of Sarasvati and north of Drishadvati [Mbh. 3:81:115]

Now let us compare these descriptions of Sarasvati River System in Vedas and Epics with the data collected from satellite pictures, geological studies and archaeological reports -

Three fold sources have been identified as -

1.  Lake Mansrovar in Mount kailash from where Sutlej originates.

2.  Sirmaur region of Siwalik from where Sarasvati originated and Bandarpunch             glaciers from where Drishadvati originated and entered the plains at Adi Badri           (Yamunanagar) in Haryana.

3.  Yamnotri Glacier of Garhwal Himalayas from where Yamuna originated.

More than 8000 years back Sarasvati was the mightiest river, having Yamuna & Sutlej as its tributaries and was flowing along the Aravalli Hills.  Due to northward movement of the plate of Indian subcontinent, tectonic upheaval of the Aravallis, a major earthquake around 3000 BC and climatic changes, Yamuna and Sutlej, migrated in opposite directions – Yamuna moved eastward to join the Ganges later-on. Sutlej moved westward and was flowing as an independent river upto the sea for hundreds of years and thereafter joined Beas, a tributary of Sind (Indus) River. Presently, Sutlej and Yamuna are the two perennial rivers whereas Sarasvati is ephemeral, visible in the form of paleochannels, trapped underground waters and ponds/lakes. Modern day Ghaggar rises in Morni Hills of Shivalik and meets Sarasvati at Rasula in Patiala Distt. Combined river now known as Ghaggar flows through Sirsa, hanumangarh, Ganganagar and Bhawalpur state of Pakistan.

Rejuvenation of Sub-surface Drainage after Bhuj and Haryana Earthquakes -

As discussed in the previous section, Saraswati drainages in Thar Desert area have disappeared due to climatic changes in 3000 BC. It has been observed that the sub-surface drainages (palaeochannels) in the Rann area rejuvenated after the Bhuj earthquake of 26^th January, 2001, which might have been caused due to increase in hydrostatic pressure at the sub-surface aquifer condition.

Similar phenomena like sudden spurt of sub-surface water oozing at Kalayat village in Jind district of Haryana had been observed in December, 2005 (Bhadra et al., 2006) after earthquakes in the area.

The satellite picture shown also clarifies that as described in Vedas, Sarasvati river system was surrounded on one side by Ganga and its tributaries and on the other side by Indus River System (Courtesy: J R Sharma and B k Bhadra).

(courtesy: Bhadra B K and J R Sharma)

Discovery of large number of Vedic Harappan archaeological sites-

Out of more than 2800 sites excavated along Indus and Sarasvati river systems, more than 55% are in Sarasvati basin, but we still continue to call our ancient civilization as Indus civilization instead of calling it as Indus-Sarasvati Civilization! These sites include world famous excavations of Banawali (famous for world's first Acropolis), Kalibangan (known for its layout and designed floor tiles, Lothal (having world's oldest dockyard) and Dholavira (world's oldest huge Rock cut Reservoir and largest inscription etc. From these sites has been found evidence of cultivation of wheat and rice 7000 years back, copper arrow heads, terracotta, items of jewellery made of beeds, stones & gold, boats and anchors, drainage systems and warehouses, inscriptions and seals etc. 

In fact Indus Saravati Civilisation flourished in more than 1 lac sq. km. area, covering Uttrakhand, UP, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Pakistan. It extended from Makrana in the West to Alamgirpur (UP) in the east, from Afghanistan in northwest and Manda (J & K) in North to Bhagatrao in Gujarat.

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It is thus more than clear that world's greatest and oldest civilisation flourished around Sarasvati and Vedas, Epics, Smritis, Shrutis were composed long its  banks. Therefore even after its wane, the people kept on worshipping as Goddess of Learning and Ganga emerged as the new holy river.

Sarasvati in a sense is like modern India, having forgotten its heritage of Himalayan proportions, it has lost itself in a featureless desert! Nevertheless, it is still hidden and is capable of restoring the past glory. 

Reverence for this glorious past is a necessary element of patriotism.  Allowing propagation of a false view of one’s own cultural heritage is not tolerance but self-betrayal!

Suggested Reading for more details-

1. Saroj Bala and Kulbhushan Mishra. 2012. Historicity of Vedic and Ramayan Eras: Scientific Evidences from the Depths of Oceans to the Heights of Skies. Institute of Scientific Research on Vedas. Abridged editions also available in English and Hindi.

2. Bhadra, B.K., A.K. Gupta, and J.R. Sharma. 2009. Saraswati Nadi in Haryana and its linkage  with  the  Vedic  Saraswati  River–Integrated  study  based  on  satellite images and ground based  information.  Journal of Geological Society of India, Bangalore, Vol.73: 273-288.

3. Michael Denino. 2010. The Lost River - On the Trail of the Sarasvati. Penguine Books

4. Kalyanraman, S.,Vedic River Sarasvati and Hindu Civilization, Aryan Books International,2008.

5. Valdiya, K.S. 2002. Saraswati –The River That Disappeared. Hyderabad: University Press (India):116.