Ancient Hindu text Rig Veda mentions solar eclipse that took place 6,000 years ago, find astronomers
The mention of total solar eclipse was found in Rig Veda, making it the oldest known depiction of an eclipse.There are various mentions of eclipse in Rig Veda.There are various mentions of eclipse in Rig Veda.
Astronomers recently stumbled across what might be the oldest mention of a solar eclipse. In the ancient Hindu text Rig Veda, they discovered mention of an eclipse that occurred approximately 6,000 years ago.
Compiled around 1500 B.C, the Rig Veda is a collection of sayings and hymns spanning various religious and philosophical schools along with records of historical events. While most of these events are from when the text was written, some of them date back even further.
In the Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, astronomers Mayank Vahia from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and Mitsuru Soma from the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan reported that they found mentions of an ancient eclipse.
Astronomers recently stumbled across what might be the oldest mention of a solar eclipse. In the ancient Hindu text Rig Veda, they discovered mention of an eclipse that occurred approximately 6,000 years ago.
Compiled around 1500 B.C, the Rig Veda is a collection of sayings and hymns spanning various religious and philosophical schools along with records of historical events. While most of these events are from when the text was written, some of them date back even further.
In the Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, astronomers Mayank Vahia from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and Mitsuru Soma from the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan reported that they found mentions of an ancient eclipse.
Various passages in the Rig Veda have mentioned the location of the rising sun during the vernal equinox, with one reference describing that the event occured in Orion while another one says it happened in the Pleiades.
With the Earth spinning on its axis, the relative position of these important astronomical events change as well. Currently, the vernal equinox is in Pisces, but it was on Orion somewhere around 4500 B.C and the Pleiades around 2230 B.C. This makes it possible for astronomers to find the time period when the event occurred.
With the Earth spinning on its axis, the relative position of these important astronomical events change as well. Currently, the vernal equinox is in Pisces, but it was on Orion somewhere around 4500 B.C and the Pleiades around 2230 B.C. This makes it possible for astronomers to find the time period when the event occurred.
While the passages that describe the eclipse do not mention the phenomena, they do talk about the sun being “pierced” with darkness and gloom and that the evil beings had caused the sun’s “magic arts to vanish”. For those wondering, these descriptions have nothing to do with the story of Rahu and Ketu as they are more modern myths.
Passages following these mentions also helped astronomers narrow the time frame of the total solar eclipse, suggesting that the event occurred three days before the autumnal equinox and that it must have taken place where the writers of the Rig Veda lived.
Passages following these mentions also helped astronomers narrow the time frame of the total solar eclipse, suggesting that the event occurred three days before the autumnal equinox and that it must have taken place where the writers of the Rig Veda lived.
According to the astronomers, there are only two possible dates when the event must have taken place – October 22, 4202 B.C. and October 19, 3811 B.C. Both of these dates are far more older than the mentions of the oldest known record of solar eclipses.
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