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Adbhuta Samhita and the Period of Some Sages- Written by Sreenadh OG

I was going through the ancient text Adbhuta Samhita written by the Jain kingBallala sena of 13th century AD. Some quotes that mention the position of winterand summer solstice at various periods as quoted by many sages is present in

the book and this unique info attracted my attention. The following write-up isbased on the info provided by this book alone.BC 1500-1400 (Vedanga Jyotisha of Sage Lagatha)The Uttarayana starts from beginning of Dhanishta and the Dakshinayana from the middleof Aslesha. [Vedanga Jyotisha].As per this winter solstice is at the beginning of Dhanishta and the summersolstice at the middle of Aslesha. This is a fact of BC 1500-1400 and thus thebook Vedanga Jyotisha and the sage Lagatha dates back to BC 1500-1400period.The mention of middle point of Dhanishta and the starting point of Asleshaclarifies that the sage is speaking about the fixed Nakshatra divisions and NOTabout a particular star. (i.e. the fixed Nakshatra divisions and the Nakshatra

chakra of 27 Nakshatras were in place at that time itself)Parasara I (BC 1500-1400)The Sishira Ritu is the period when Sun stays within the starting point of Dhanishta

Nakshatra and the end point of Revati Nakshatra. During Vasanta Ritu sun stays within theend point of Revati Nakshatra and the end point of Rohini Nakshatra. Sun stays between -

starting point of Mrigasira Nakshatra and the middle of Aslesha Nakshatra during GreeshmaRitu; middle point of Aslesha and end point of Hasta during Varsha Ritu. From the startingpoint of Chitra to the middle of Jyeshta it is Sarat Ritu and from the middle of Jyeshta to theend of Sravana it is Hemanta Ritu. [Parasara I]This quotes also tells us that the winter solstice is at the beginning ofDhanishta and the summer solstice at the middle of Aslesha. As told earlier,this is a fact of BC 1500-1400 and thus the period of Sage Parasara I dates

back to BC 1500-1400 period.Garga I (Near BC 1100)

If the Uttarayana starts and Sun returns after touching the Nakshatra near Dhanishta (i.e.after touching Sravana), and if Dakkshinayana starts before sun touches Aslesha Nakshatrathen great fear could arise. [Garga I]This quote indicates that during the period of this Garga winter solstice was inSravana Nakshatra and summer solstice was in Aslesha Nakshatra. If we assumethat Summer solstice was at the beginning of Aslesha Nakshatra then this is afact around BC 1100.Garga feels great fear and uncertainty due the fact that ancient sastras areviolated. As per the ancient text he read, (could be texts like Vedanga Jyotisha)the Uttarayana should start when Sun is at the beginning of Dhanishta andDakshinayana should start when sun is at the middle of Aslesha, but alas thiswas not happening during his period. He was worried because as evident fromthis quote, he was unaware about the phenomenon called precession of equinoxand thus the fear. Garga was a Jain sage, and the Jain religion originated andwas present even before this period.Parasara II (Near BC 1100)

If Uttarayana starts before Sun touches the Sravana Nakshatra and if Dakshinayana startsbefore the sun touches Aslesha star then great fear could happen. [Parasara II]This quote indicates that during the period of this parasara winter solstice wasin Sravana Nakshatra and summer solstice was in Aslesha Nakshatra. If weassume that Summer solstice was at the beginning of Aslesha Nakshatra then

this is a fact around BC 1100.Garga feels uncertain, but Parasara feels certain about his observation and hisquote is on affirmative. He is saying that one should fear not if Uttarayana

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starts in Dhanishta, but if it does not starts in Sravana; because (as per hisobservation and as a natural rule of that period) Uttarayana should start inSravana and NOT in Dhanishta. Here we get the feeling that Parasara II wasaware of the phenomenon of precession of equinox. Actually being the quotesprovided by the sages of the same period, his quote seems to be answer to the

quote provided by Garga I.Kasyapa (After BC 1400-1100; period uncertain)At some ancient period in the past Dakshinayana started at the middle of Aslesha andDakshinayana at the beginning of Dhanishta. This was NOT due to any uncertainty involved,but happened as per rule (of planetary movements) [Kasyapa]From the words At some ancient period, it is certain that at the period ofKasyapa it was not the case. Thus it is clear that Kasyapa lived much after theancient period BC 1400. It is evident that Kasyapa knew well about thephenomenon of precession of equinox and also well aware that this happens asper the rule of planetary movements. There is no need that we should fear,since it is NOT an Utpata, (a fear injecting omen indicating a dreadful futureevent) but only a natural phenomenon. Kasyapa was a sage who lived in Kashmir.

Possibly this Kasyapa lived after the period of Parasara II of BC 1100.Parasara III (Around BC 626)Know that the Uttarayana starts at the end of Uttarashadha [Parasara III]From this it is evident that during his period winter solstice was at the end ofUttarashadha and summer solstice at the 3rd pada of Pushya Nakshatra. This isa fact around BC 626. From the bold statement of guidance such as Know thatit can be assumed that he too knew well about the phenomenon of precession ofequinox.Important ObservationFrom the above quoted literary historical evidence from BC 1500 to BC 600, theimportant point to note is that During that period a fixed stellar zodiac wasin use, as a fixed reference frame work to note the movement of equinoxes,

solstices, as well the movements of planets. The movement of solstices werealways notated by referring to their position in relation to this fixed frameworki.e. Nakshatra Chakra. In other words, till BC 600 India was using NakshatraChakra as the reference frame work and NOT the Rasi Chakra. The origin ofRasi chakra could be from sources outside India, or at least outside Vedicliterature/culture.Around BC 300 Alexander attached India; a mix-up of western and easternknowledge happened. As far as DATABLE texts are concerned, the sign namessuch as Mesha, Vrishabha etc gets popularity in Indian literature after thisonly. (I am NOT denying the antiquity of these words or their use in ancientIndian literature. But such ancient texts like Skanda hora, Kausika hora etcDOES NOT provide any info which can used to date such texts).The first datable quote that connects Signs with solsticesIn Pancha Siddhantika by Varaha Mihira we find the first quote that connects/correlates Rasis with the movement of solstices.Uttarayana and Sisira Ritu stats when Sun is at the beginning of Makara Rasi (Capricorn).

Each Ritu is of 2 months. Dakshinayana starts when Sun is at beginning of Karkataka(Cancer) [Pancha Siddhantika AD 505]Around AD 505 period summer solstice is near the middle of Pushya. This iscertainly NOT the beginning of Cancer sign. Still Mihira tells us thatDakshinayana starts from the beginning of Cancer! Certainly the Zodiacreferred/used by Mihira both in Pancha Siddhantica and Brihat Samhita is NOTNirayana Zodiac but Sayana Zodiac. i.e. The Zodiac (with moving signs) that

stats counting signs from Vernal equinox, the system that was used by Greekscholars like Ptolemy, the western astronomical system of zodiac! The fact thatMihira in at least 2 of his books mentions and uses Sayana Zodiac and NOT the

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Nirayana concept of Zodiac is a well evident and certain fact. This is absurd!Certainly this is NOT the original system of Indian Astrology/Astronomy. Evenlater day texts like Brahma Siddhnta follows this wrong path Indian astrologyhad already lost its correct path!Two signs each from Capricorn indicates seasons like Sisira, Vasanta, Greeshma, Varsha ,Sarat and Hemanta. [Brahma Siddhanta]Since the association with Nakshatra Chakra was already lost, since the abovequote refers to the Sayana Zodiac, the above quote is NOT AT ALL useful fordetermining the period of the text or quote. As per Sayana System the abovequote would be true always! We could clearly understand the reason for thispath lost situation, since we know that the author of Brahma Siddhanta was thefollower of Varaha Mihira.Back to the right trackNothing else is required to correct this mistake but only a look back at theconcept of Aswinyadi and Meshadi presented in ancient Agama (ancient non-vedic Indian texts) texts such as Skanda hora. We just have to look back atthis ancient stream of knowledge preserved and saved by the Saiva sages as

well as the Jains. There Rasi Chakra is NOT Sayana, but Nirayana. ThereAswinyadi and Meshadi are not different by the same, and refer to the samestarting point and to the same fixed frame work! This is a going back to theancient fixed Nakshatra chakra, to the Vedic and non-vedic past, to the clearand logical reference frame. The Jain king Ballala Sena who knows this ancienttruth, concludes the discussion by providing us with the clear Nirayana positionof the solstices at his period of time (i.e AD 1269).Starting at the end minute of 20 degree in Dhanu (Sagittarius), the Ritus such as Sisira stats(in my period of Saka 1190) [Adbhuta Jataka]Position of Winter solstice (at that period) = 20 degree in SagittariusPosition of Summer solstice (at that period) = 20 degree in GeminiThe Jain king Bellala Sena started writing his excellent book Adbhuta Sagara

during the saka year 1190 (AD 1269) as he himself clearly tells us in his book.On back calculation, we get that the Ayanamsa used by Ballala Sena is approx 22degree for that period. This is a valuable clue! Those who are interested cancalculate and find the Ballalasenas answer to the riddle of Ayanamsa and thestarting point of Aries from this info! I request those who are interested inastronomical mathematics to arrive at the exact value and the Ayanamsa usedby Ballala sena by following this clue, and analyze which Ayanamsa system (CH orCP or whatever) followed by us followed by us today is in tune with theAyanamsa used by the ancient master Ballala Sena. Wish you all happycalculation! :)

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