Originally Posted by
ravichaudhary
The puranas have to reexamined, from an astronomical lens
The purpose of Astronomy in the ancient days would have been to develop a calendar to govern day to day life including agriculture. When to expect rain, when to expect warm weather, when to sow the crops, when to travel by ship to other lands, for the right season, when the winds would be favourable etc.
The world view of the puranas with Mount Meru, and the seven worlds, the four rivers, going East, West, North, South, may just be geographical description of the world.
The four solstices, winter, to herald the start of the new year, Spring/Vernal- to herald the start of sowing season, , Summer- to mark the beginning towards Winter, and autumn, to mark the end f the harvest season, were very important.
Calendar would be lunar or solar. The lunar calendar would have to be adjusted regularly to synchronize with the solar calendar.
The puranic calendar was based around the sun travelling to the land of the Pitris from June to December, and in the land of the ‘Devas, from December to June. Calendars could also start from the vernal or autumnal equinoxes.
The other allegory in it’s the perpetual war between the Devas and the Asuras, for light against Darkness, or spring summer against autumn and winter.
India the slayer of demons, slayer of Vritta, releases the waters of heavens. This could mean also that the spring rains were released.
The yagyas or Yagnas were continuous events; designed to propigate the deified god Indra, who would upon having accepted the offerings of the yagya, would grant the Yajmans wishes.
The Nakshatras had the same use, to help develop and maintain a calendar.
In time superstition took over, and the actual meaning became clouded.
Coming back to Astronomy and its usefulness for determining the chronology.
There and many many references in the Rig Veda, the other Vedas, the Mahabharata, the Ramayana, which give us useful data.
One focus should be to see if these references can help us get a better fix of chronology.
Ravi Chaudhary