Vedic astronomers

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to show that natural origin of Hindu astronomy in remote antiquity is the Indian environment of six seasons of monsoon climate. The deities and demons described in the Rigveda are either astronomical points or celestial constellations in the definite divisions of the zodiac as observed from the line of tropic of cancer in India.Hindus conducted researches in fundamental topics of astronomy i.e. art of inserting an intercalary month in a year: by Shunashshep, identification of the day of summer solstices by Ashvinikumars alias Nasatyas, identifying the four days pertaining to the solstices and equinoxes and fixing the corresponding celestial points of helical rising of four asterisms for this purpose by Ribhu Brothers.

The identification of the summer solstice by Ashvinikumars is proposed to be done by looking at the solar image in a well somewhere around the line of tropic of cancer in Central India. The chief Rigvedic deity Indra is proposed to be a celestial point at 180 degree away from the Sun, the enemies of Indra i.e. Vritra, shushna Ahi etc., are also identified as constellations and asterisms. The hypothesis for these identifications is discussed in depth. The origin of Indian astronomy is traced back to the Rigvedic hymns leading to its independent development based on Indian sky observations