How do heavenly bodies remain in the skies? How is it that they do not fall? Everybody thinks that it was Newton who found the answer to such questions. The very first stanza in the Suryasiddhanta, which is a very ancient treatise, states that it is the force of attraction that keeps the earth from falling.
In Sankara's commentary on the Upanisads there is a reference to the earth's force of attraction. If we throw up an object it falls to the ground. This is not due to the nature of object but due to the earth's force of attraction. "Akarsana-sakti" is force of attraction, the power of drawing or pulling something. The breath called "prana" goes up, "apana" pulls it down. So the force that pulls something downward is apana. The Acarya says the earth has apana-sakti. The Prasnopanisad (3. 8) states:
"The deity of the earth inspires the human body with apana".
In his commentary on this, Sankara observes that, just as an object thrown up is attracted by the earth, so prana that goes up is pulled down by apana. This means that our Upanisads contain a reference to the law of gravitation. There are many such precious truths embedded in our ancient sastras. Because of our ignorance of them we show inordinate respect for ideas propounded by foreigners, ideas known to us many centuries before their discovery by them. Our Jyotisa is also some thousands of years old. Even so it foresaw the mathematical systems prevalent in the world today.
At the beginning of the kalpa, all grahas were in alignment. But over the ages they have changed their courses. When another kalpa commences, they will again remain in alignment. The "samkalpa" we make before the performance of any ritual contains a description of the cosmos, a reference to the time cycle, and so on.
Vedas - the ancient treasures of India, are researched through out the world these days. Not only because of the rich spiritual concepts but also for the astonishing scientific facts hidden in them. It is generally said that Vedas need to be interpreted properly to get a better understandng. Reason being, one cannot get the in depth meaning by just reading the verse or hymn. Only a spiritual master, guru or a sanskrit pundit can pass the knowledge of light along with the wisdom. Remember, knowledge without wisdom will aid only in destruction rather than construction. Our ancestors understood this completely and that's the reason why they had maintained these resources with great care and passed the knowledge only to those who truly deserve and have obtained enough mind maturity to use the ideas for constructive purposes only. We are here to discuss one such hymn of the Rig Veda which talks about the speed of light. Astonishing, isn't it??? After reading this article, you will realize the above fact that Vedas need to be interpreted correctly in order to obtain the detailed hidden meaning. Let us proceed now....
A sample page from the Rig Veda
See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Sayanacharya (1315-1387) , was a minister who flourished under king Bukka I and his successor Harihara II, in the court of Vijayanagar Empire in South India. He was an important commentator of the Vedas. More than 100 works are attributed to him including these commentaries. In his commentary about the Rig Veda verse 1;50-4 (given above) , he mentions the following phrase.
"Tatha cha smaryate yojananam. sahasre dve dve sate dve cha yojane
Ekena nimishardhena kramaman namostuthe"
which means.....
"Accordingly, it is remembered/declared here that it (sunlight) traverses 2202 yojanas in half a nimisha (in half a twinkling of eyes). Oh Sun, I bow to you."
Calculations :
Vishnu purana describes units of time as follows :
1 Nimesha = 1 blink of an eye (0.213 seconds approx)
1 Kastha = 15 nimesha (3.19 seconds)
1 Kala = 30 kastha (95.85 seconds)
1 Muhurtha = 30 kala (2875.5 seconds = 47.92 minutes)
Yojana - the unit of distance as described in Vishnu purana :
8 Yava = 1 angula
12 Angulas = 1 vitasti
2 Vitastis = 1 aratni
4 Aratnis = 1 danda/danu
2000 Danus = 1 Krosha
4 Kroshas = 1 Yojana (approximately 9 miles)
SPEED OF LIGHT :
According to Syana, light traverses at 2202 yojanas in half a nimesha. Which is calculated as follows:
2202 * 9 (miles) -------------------- = 186084 miles per second 0.1065 (seconds)
Also take a look at this video. Details about Sayana comes in the end...
Speed of Light in Modern Astronomy :
Ole Romer, in 1676, first demonstrated that light travels at a finite speed by studying the apparant motion of Jupiter's moon. He estimated the speed as 220000 kilometers per second (136701 miles) which is about 26% lower than the true value. The estimated speed of light according to modern astronomy now is 186000 miles per second.
So modern astronomy states the speed of light as 186000 miles per second while Syana's calculations come to 186084 miles per second (roughly). Isn't it astonishing to see how close the values are? Can it be just a coincidence? or is it true knowledge which we are slowly losing? It is time to think, realize and take steps to protect our ancient treasures and pass the knowledge to the future generations. As already told in the introduction, this knowledge sharing has to be done with proper care, along with teaching moral and ethical values, so that they are judiciously used. It is sad to note that we no more value our scriptures, traditions and rituals and started adapting western practices. On the other hand, please take a look at what they (westerners) feel and say about our knowledge and wisdom.....
I conclude this post by stating............
"IT IS TIME TO REALIZE AND VALUE THE VISION OF OUR ANCIENT SEERS"
Thank you all for reading. Please share your thoughts.
Goddess Saraswati, the consort of Brahma, is an important deity in Sanathan Dharma. She is the authority of academics and arts (கலைமகள்). She herself carries a veena in her hands to symbolize this. Anyone who wants to learn a new art does so by offering the first prayer to Saraswati in sanathan dharma traditions. Let us learn a quick mantra, the Saraswati Vandhana mantra and its meaning today, which invokes her to seek her blessings and guidance for knowledge and wisdom.
See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The Mantra :
Yaa Kundendu tushaara haara-dhavalaa
Yaa shubhra vastraa vrithaa
Yaa veenaa varadanda mandithakara
Yaa swetha padmaasana
Yaa bramachyutha shankara prabhritibhir
Devai sadaa vandhitha
Saa maam paatu saraswati bhagavathi
Nihsesha jaadyaa pahaa
Hear the mantra in this video :
Meaning :
I pray to Goddess Saraswati, who is as fair as the jasmine flower, whose beautiful white garland is like frosty dew drops, who is embellished with pretty white attire, whose hands carry the veena and who has the pure white lotus as her throne.
I pray to Goddess Saraswati, who is praised by Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and who is always worshiped by the Devas. I offer my prayers to you, mother Saraswati. Please remove my mental dullness, sluggishness and ignorance completely.
