List of all Articles About the author Ask the author
     


Dating the "Mahabharatha" - Two eclipses in thirteen days

Analysis of eclipse tables


This document has demonstrated that two eclipses can occur within about 332 hours, which is less than 14 days. Hence the Mahabharata statement that such eclipse did occur ominously before the war is clearly possible. Such events did occur in 3229 BCJ, 2559 BCJ and few other dates. These were clearly visible through sunset and sunrise making the use of modern clocks irrelevant. Any observer could make out that the eclipses occurred in less than 14 days and hence two eclipses in "thirteen days" had happened. While these occurred, two major planets Shani and Brihaspati were in retrograde motion. Retrograde motion of planets occurs frequently enough, but these occurring, when 13-day eclipses are also occurring is unique. It tends to support the Mahabharata story.

The first and oldest eclipse pair from 3229 BC is unique. Aryabhata estimated that Kaliyuga started in 3102 BC. So does Surya Siddhanta. These fit the Puranic description that Sri Krishna passed away in 3102 BCJ, which is 27 years after the war. Our study confirms that Kaliyuga could have started in 3102 BCJ. Unlike the 2559 pair, there is no visible solar eclipse during the Mahabharata time frame, which would occur. Still this date is a very good date for Mahabharata war.

The second date 2559 BCJ is also unique in that Varaha mihira stated that 2526 before start of saka, Yudhishtira was the ruling king. There is some confusion about saka, whether it was Vikrama (57 BC) or Shalivahana(79 AD). If it was Vikrama it would make Yudhistira as king in 2583 BCJ which is before Mahabharata War. Yudhistira was also king for a short time before war, before he lost it in a game of dice to Sakuni/Duryodhana. This date is also an excellent candidate for Mahabharata war.

The third candidate is eclipse pair from 2056 BCJ. It occurs in Margashira/pushya months, the lunar eclipse occurring when moon is between Punarvasu/pushya nakshathra, and would be right in the middle of war. Hence is not a very serious candidate for Mahabharata war.

The fourth candidate is eclipse pair from 1853 BCJ. It occurs in month of Magha very near the winter solstice or Uttara Ayana. It is not a very good candidate for Mahabharata War

The fifth candidate of eclipse pairs occurred in 1708 BCJ. This eclipse pair occurs in month of Phalguna, just after Uttara Ayana and is a bad candidate.

The last candidate of eclipse pair occurs in 1397 in the month of Bhadrapada. It is a reasonably good candidate for Mahabharata war. Again, there was no solar eclipse during the period prior to Uttara Ayana.


 

 
Copyright 2005-2006 . All rights reserved.
Site designed by SV3 designs