34 Lights, 34 Ribs, 33 Devatā, 32 Divinities of Vāstupuruśa Maṇḍala,30, 28 and Final 27 Nakṣatra System… (Part 1)

Did Ecliptic had more than 28 constellation divisions in the past?

Persian Map of 28 Constellation 

Many prominent writers may have touched upon a few of the Sūktas, Anuvāks from Vedas, Brāhmanas and Samhitās which I have also deliberated here in this blog to touch upon like those of mathematical numbers for e.g. 34  associated with primitive light etc present in Ṛgveda to understand further how the ancients perceived the celestial globe. In the process of reading them and the commentaries of new researchers of past 200 years, I found, it is usually presumed that, all the knowledge in Indic scriptures are without any evolution and appears to be of a very recent origin. Different epochs of the eventual existence are mingled into one epoch or time duration, and even little pain has not been taken to segregate them as they are actually in original. I have tried here to understand what Ṛgveda has to say from the mathematical number’s point of view. 

We know that Indian astronomy has preserved 27 Nakṣatras on the ecliptic for the Luni- Solar yearly calculation of time.  But we also knew 28 Nakṣatra system which has also prevailed during Vedic times.  The ecliptic is 360 degree circular path around the earth on celestial globe deviated by at an angle of 23.5 deg (varies from 22.1 till 24.5 deg and takes to return on same axial tilt angle in 41,000 year) from celestial equator on the backdrop of which hangs all the Nakśatras. Although, we also know, or if you do not know, then one can read it and comprehend from Surya Siddhanta that some of the yoga tārā (observation of yoking of stars at particular celestial longitude ) of particular nakśatras did shuffle and got swapped into different asterism’s zones ( read Nakśatragrahayutiadhikāra Chapter of SS ). For nocturnal visual astronomy and observation for reckoning of time sages did require a star in each of the ecliptic division as a reference point. These stars served as a visual clock and nothing else.

1. The Ṛgveda 1.162.18 mentions 34 ribs* and 10.55.3* mentions 34 lights. 21600/34=10800/17=635.294117647 min arc division.[ elaboration will be done by me in the upcoming blogs which will elaborate how Ṛgvedic seers visualized celestial longitudes in the ribs of Ashva, and what functions Ashva and Go/Gau did as the part of primordial lights]

2. Śatapatha 4.5.7.2 mentions 33 devatā** in which 8 Vasus, 11 Rudras, 12 Adityas and Dhyāvāprithivi are mentioned.

3. Other variance with Nāsatya/Ashwini Kumāra, the twins are also found from different scriptures. [elaboration to be done by the author in the upcoming blogs- How 12 Adityas demarcated 12 months, what was Aditi path, how Aditya’s Ashva patha are different from Go’s path and yet at the same time are same.] Interesting inferences to 33 godesses, Daughters of Prajaapati given in marriage to Moon, are being made in Taittirīya Saṃhita 2.3.5.1-3. These indeed show that the Vedas and Vedic texts have memory of more than 27-28 Nakṣatras.

4. Also, Śatapatha 2.5.8 mentions three types of light-Jyotish, i.e., Agni, Vāyu and Aditya [elaboration to be done by me in the upcoming blogs], and how these were produced. It is interesting to note that Maruts and Rudras are placed and categorized as similar devas/asuras. From Nirukta and Pauranic stories we get the hint that Maruts are drutgaami, i.e., related to speed. Does it speak of proper motion of the stars? Do Marutganas depict those stars which has highest proper motion compared to others. It appears that Shatapatha 2.5.8 also is suggesting the same with the name Vāyu for one kind of jyotish- i.e, light.

Thus, after having 34 light’s divisions in Ṛgveda, which is the most archaic information about division on ecliptic, it eventually got reduced to 33. i.e, 21600/33=10800/16.5=14400/22=654.545454545 min arc division. Making equal division on an armillary of huge semicircular in wood or cane was not an issue with Indian sages. See Armillary section of Surya Siddhanta [which is dated back to at least 12000 BCE.].

3. It also got reduced to 32 on ecliptic and we find this evidence in Vāstupuruśamaṇdala, which is still relevant today in temple and house construction. The outer periphery has archaic names of nakśatras devatas in 32 divisions. Vāstupuruśamaṇdala also contains an ancient information of Mārtāṇḍ-Vivasvān who was disowned by Aditi out of eight Adityas. These were the divisions observed when star studded nights were not followed by moon but only stars with heliacal rising  were observed.

These 32 divisions were also governed by the female deities of the Somamaṇḍala of the Khecarīcakra which consists of four maṇḍalas (the khecarī goddesses are seated in the first three):

A. The sūryamaṇḍala (which contains twenty-four khecarīs), of this is used as propitiation of Velā or Horā in the context of time division in a day. 

B. The somamaṇḍala (which contains thirty-two khecarīs), of this is used as propitiation of ancient 32 parts of the day. somamaṇḍala is the Lunar mansion. 

C. The vahnimaṇḍala (which contains eight khecarīs), of this is used for the propitiation of 8 parts of the day known as Yama , it also governs the lord of eight direction-dikpaalas

D. The ādimaṇḍala (which contains the ādiyoni, the primeval source of creation). This is the Bindu which is the origins of the universe.

The archaic names consists of few of the nakśatras names still in vogue, for eg. the eight Kaula consorts (dūtyaṣṭaka) are- Revatī, Bhagavatī, Rāmā, Rohiṇī, Kṛttikā, Khecarī, Khaṇḍinī, Kṣānti. The initial ruler deities of eight parts of the day. 

4. Shatapatha Brāhmaṇa 10.4.4.2 speaks of number of stars in the sky being equal to number of muhurtas in a unique proverbial way, it can be assumed for a day also, if assumed for a day; 1 day= 30 Muhurtas, each muhurta can be designated for each nakśatras division. This means that once number of yoga tārā of ecliptic divisions were equal to number of Muhurtas. It also shows that once upon a time 30 star division must have been very handy for calculation, i.e., 360*60/30=720 min. 720 min is a whole number and would have been easy for calculation with respect to the muhurtas.  Then what made sages to reduce the numbers to 27. In the contemporary times Chinese constellation system still carry 28 division.

5. Atharva veda Shaunakiya recension, hymn 19.7 mentions 28 constellation system (read more)*** i.e., 21600/28=10800/14=771.428571428571429 min. Apart from Atharva 28 constellation is present in Maitrāyaṇī Saṁhitā**** 2.13.20  and Kāṭhaka Saṁhitā 8.1.17 also. 

6. Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa prapāthaka 5 and 1 1.5.1  although mentions 27 nakśatras beginning with Kritikkās. Here T.B with 27 constellation is from previous cycle and has not yet reached to 2900 BCE of Kritikā, the list is not beginning with Kritika. Reason, to undergoing process of reduction from 28 constellation system, lies in 1.1.2.10 where first night of the year, Saṃvatsara, is mentioned to have appeared in Uttarā phālgunī which means vernal equinox was then happening in Uttarā phālgunī during 10000 BCE. Before Uttarā phālgunī epoch also Agni was once invoked under Chitrā (12000BCE) and this too is recorded as the history in Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa. Interestingly, many of the constellation names are very archaic and different, like Jyeshthā is called Rohiṇī which is diametrically opposite to Rohiṇī near Kṛtikā herself. I have a theory of twin nakshatras either together or in oppositions. Like eight Vasus, or Vāsavas (deity of Dhaniśthās) must have been near Dhaniśthās opposite of Punarvasu. Another example is Agha which I believe is not a synonym to Maghā since in the month of Aghā cows in Vedas were slain and thus was not auspicious for marriage. In the process of reduction of longitudinal divisions, which may have appeared due to loss of stars at those junctions due to either proper motion or the precessions impacts on star positions.  . So we have some lost sets like {Aghā,Maghā}, {Tishya,Pushya}; Tishya means heavenly archer/Gandharva while Pushya means blossom, {Shravishthā, Dhanishthā}; Shravishthā meaning swift while Dhanishthā meaning very rich, {Vasu, Punarvasu} {Jyeshthā-Rohini, Rohini}, etc. Eventually, Shravishthā became synonym to Dhanishthā of the latest cycle as the role changed. Aghā is now remembered and used as synonym for Maghā (erstwhile Maghā was remembered as Anaghā in Veda). 

These are some of the internal evidence from the scriptures apart from the actual references to 27 nakśatras of the later scriptures which ensures that numbers of nakśatras reduced with lapse of time and with understanding of computation of time. Why 27 or 28? why not 30 (720 min arc cover per nakśatras) 0r 36 (600 min arc cover per nakśatras). Let us understand. Since the Moon must move Eastward among the constellations enough to go completely around the sky (360 degrees) in 27.3 days, it must move Eastward by 800 min each day thus 27 constellation would serve better than 28 for easier observation and calculation. On the contrary they also lost many vāyu tatva- highest proper motion type Rudragana stars from ecliptic. Finally, sages found compatible number with compatible arc division on ecliptic for Lunar cycle and left over days calculations for Solar year. Both were equally important since lunar governed important aspect of tidal knowledge for navigation as well as menstruration, progenation cycle of women, breeding of cattle, whereas solar governed Seasons, ritu-rituals, agriculture and farming. It was not that the seconds or degrees of the divisions were cumbersome for calculation.

10800 min semi circular arc sets from east to west horizon which is visible half of 360 deg (21600 min). This arc could have been divided into any number of parts on the contrary there should have been some visible star to demarcate the zones. As and when the stars drifted from their zones due to astronomical conditions the divisions reduced. Thus we had 10800/17, 10800/16, 10800/16.5, 10800/15, 10800/14, 10800/13.5 divisions i.e, 34, 33, 32, 30, 28, 27 nakśatras system. The system reduced from prehistoric times/ Ṛgvedic times until it got clicked to humans and they synced it with lunar phases and this too was achieved due to diligent observation which appears to me from at least prior to one precession cycle.   

These internal evidence helps us to understand various questions which are raised  for the scripture itself. These are the smritis which were either left deliberately for the  historical records or they didn’t edit it due to metric arrangements of the Chandas. The former appears to me more convincing. I feel these are left deliberately so that the future reader understand that the star systems were never discrete and always fell prey to change due to proper motion, change of positional RA, Declination, and other astronomical factors like supernovae,  thus evolving into the philosophy of “Change is Inevitable“. 

Takeaway:

Yes, we had more than 28 nakśatras divisions on ecliptic and the information is stored in very cryptic form in Ṛgveda. Precisely, Jyotisham has evolved in thousands of years, probably 52000+ years and this information is available to us….[…to be contd.]

References:

*catu॑striṃśadvā॒jino॑ de॒vaba॑ndho॒rvaṅkrī॒ raśva॑sya॒ svadhi॑tiḥ॒ same॑ti ।
acchi॑drā॒ gātrā॑ va॒yunā॑ kṛṇota॒ paru॑ṣparuranu॒ghuṣyā॒ vi śa॑sta ॥1.62. 18 ॥

ā roda॑sī apṛṇā॒dota madhyaṃ॒ pañca॑ de॒vām̐ ṛ॑tu॒śaḥ sa॒pta-sa॑pta ।
catu॑striṃśatā puru॒dhā vi ca॑ṣṭe॒ sarū॑peṇa॒ jyoti॑ṣā॒ vivra॑tena ॥ 10.55. 3 ॥

**”aSTau vásavah- | ékaadasha rudraa dvaádashaadityaá imé eva dyaávaapRthivií trayastriMshyau& tráyastriMshadvaí devaáh- prajaápatishcatustriMshastádenam prajaápatiM karotyetadvaá astyetaddhya&mRtaM yaddhya&mR!taM taddhyástyetádu tadyanmártyaM sá eSá prajaápatih- sárvaM vaí prajaápatistádenam prajaápatiM karoti tásmaadetaashcátustriMshadvyaa&hRtayo bhavanti praáyashcittayo naáma”

***AV 19.7 citrā́ṇi sākáṃ diví rocanā́ni sarīsr̥pā́ṇi bhúvane javā́ni | turmíśaṃ sumatím ichámāno áhāni gīrbhíḥ saparyāmi nā́kam suhávam agne kŕ̥ttikā róhiṇī cā́stu bhadráṃ mr̥gáśiraḥ śám ārdrā́ | púnarvasū sūnŕ̥tā cā́ru púṣyo bhānúr āśleṣā́ áyanaṃ maghā́ me púṇyaṃ pū́rvā phálgunyau cā́tra hástaścitrā́ivā́ svātí sukhó me astu | rā́dhe viśā́khe suhávānurādhā́ jyéṣṭhā sunákṣatram áriṣṭa mū́lam ánnaṃ pū́rvā rāsatāṃ me aṣādhā́rjaṃ devyúttarā vahantu | abhijín me rāsatāṃ púṇyam evá śrávaṇaḥ śráviṣṭhāḥ kurvatāṃ supuṣṭímā́ me mahác chatábhiṣag várīya ā́ me dvayā́próṣṭhapadā suśárma | ā́ revátī cāśvayújaubhágaṃ ma ā́ me rayíṃ bháraṇya vahantu

****kṛttikā nakṣatram agnir devatāgne rucaḥ stha prajāpateḥ somasya dhātur ṛce tvā ruce tvā bhāse tvā jyotiṣe tvā tena chandasā tena brahmaṇā tayā devatayāṅgirasvad dhruvā sīda rohiṇī nakṣatraṃ prajāpatir devatenvagā nakṣatraṃ maruto devatā bāhur nakṣatraṃ rudro devatā punarvasur nakṣatram aditir devatā tiṣyo nakṣatraṃ bṛhaspatir devatāśleṣā nakṣatraṃ sarpā devatā maghā nakṣatraṃ pitaro devatā phalgunīr nakṣatraṃ bhago devatā phalgunīr nakṣatram aryamā devatā hasto nakṣatraṃ savitā devatā citrā nakṣatraṃ tvaṣṭā devatā niṣṭyaṃ nakṣatraṃ vāyur devatā viśākhaṃ nakṣatram indrāgnī devatānūrādhā nakṣatraṃ mitro devatā jyeṣṭhā nakṣatraṃ varuṇo devatā mūlaṃ nakṣatraṃ nirṛtir devatāṣāḍhā nakṣatram āpo devatāṣāḍhā nakṣatraṃ viśve devā devatābhijin nakṣatraṃ brahmā devatā śroṇā nakṣatraṃ viṣṇur devatā śraviṣṭhā nakṣatraṃ vasavo devatā śatabhiṣaṃ nakṣatram indro devatā proṣṭhapadā nakṣatram ahir budhnyo devatā proṣṭhapadā nakṣatram aja ekapād devatā revatī nakṣatraṃ pūṣā devatāśvayujau nakṣatram aśvinau devatā bharaṇīr nakṣatraṃ yamo devatā brāhmaṇo nakṣatraṃ somo devatāgne rucaḥ stha prajāpateḥ somasya dhātur ṛce tvā ruce tvā bhāse tvā jyotiṣe tvā tena chandasā tena brahmaṇā tayā devatayāṅgirasvad dhruvā sīda //MS_2,13.20//