Subject: Re: [HM] Indian astronomy and mathematics
From: K. Subramaniam (subra@hbcse.tifr.res.in)
Date: Mon Feb 21 2000 - 00:50:29 EST
Dear Dinesh,
Thank you for your clarification on the issue of interpreting Vedic hymns,
and pointing the need to go beyond literal translation.
However, your recent post only establishes that the hymn in the Rgveda is
about a solar eclipse, a point that Kim granted right away at the
beginning of her post.
What is the basis for saying that it is an annular eclipse and a specific
one which occurred at a specific date?
If the eclipse is merely a total eclipse and not an annular one, then does
that have an influence on the dating?
I'm sorry if I have missed some reference you might have mentioned. If
there is one, please do mention it again and I'll look it up.
I must add that I have no expertise in Sanskrit, astronomy, etc. But I am
very much interested in the issues involved and live in India. (I can of
course attest to the importance of astronomical events for religious
rituals that people all over India follow even today and were mentioned
by Dinesh.)
Excerpt from Dinesh's earlier post:
> An interesting chronological marker is the solar-eclipse described in RgVeda
> 5:40:5-9. It is described as a central, non-total eclipse which took place
> on the afternoon on the Kurukshetra meridian on a given day after summer
> solstice. The interesting thing about this event, vis-a-vis an argument, is
> that it does not involve measuring angles, there is no scope of error, and
> it involves the Sun, the identification of which can not be questioned for
> any reason at all by the "conservative school" . There is only one day that
> satisfies that condition described - 26th July 3928BC.
>
- Subramaniam
K.Subramaniam,
Fellow SD,
Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education,
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research,
V.N. Purav marg, Mankhurd, Mumbai - 400 088,
INDIA
e-mail: subra@hbcse.tifr.res.in
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