Identifying “Udagayana” with Sun’s course in “Northern Hemisphere”; An evidence from Āpastamba-Gṛhya-Sūtra

Astronomy 3 Minutes

Identifying Udagayana

It is crucial to grasp the gist of Sanskrit words, especially considering their polysemous nature. This has created great confusions in the academia whether the word udagayana would mean the sun rising in the northern hemispher, ie. equinox day or would it mean sun’s northern course from winter solstice point. A mistaken interpretation in an astronomical context could lead to significant shifts in epochs, necessitating careful attention and the gathering of as much textual evidence as possible. We will inquire into this problem of Identifying “Udagayana” with Sun’s course in “Northern Hemisphere”; An evidence from Āpastamba-Gṛhya-Sūtra.

Identifying the word Udagayana with the Sun in Northern hemisphere in Praśna 1, Section 1 and Praśna 1, Section 2 of Āpastamba-gṛhya-sūtra thus also become crucial like other words in polysemous nature ; 

Praśna 1, Section 1 अथ कर्माण्याचाराद्यानि गृह्यन्ते १; 

1. Now (follow) the ceremonies (the knowledge of) which is derived from practice (and not from the Śruti). 
2. उदगयनपूर्वपक्षाहःपुण्याहेषु कार्याणि २; They should be performed during the northern course of the sun, on days of the first fortnight (of the month), on auspicious days,
Praśna 1, Section 2; सर्वऋतवो विवाहस्य शैशिरौ मासौ परिहाप्योत्तमं च नैदाघम् १२; 

12. All seasons are fit for marriage with the exception of the two months of the śiśira season, and of the last summer month.
Praśna 1, Section 2; 16.[8] इन्वकाभिः प्रसृज्यन्ते ते वराः प्रतिनन्दिताः १६

Under the Invakās (Nakṣatra), (the wooers who go to the girl's father) are sent out: such wooers are welcome.

footnote says about the Nakṣatra Invakās, comp. Section 3, Sūtra 4. This Sūtra forms a Śloka-hemistich, on which Haradatta observes with apprehension, ‘This verse has not been made by the Sūtrakāra.’ Such editing, addition and alterations happen due to change in observation of sky due to precession of equinoxes which points to different nakṣatra at different epoch. Briefing here again that change of nakṣatra rising in the east changes or pressess into another nakṣatra in 960 year within the 27 constelllation system. In the Praśna 1, Section 3.1 it says that Under the Maghās (Nakṣatra) cows are provided. Praśna 1, Section 3.2 says Under the Phalgunī (Nakṣatra) marriage is celebrated. And these event does not take place with the tithi nakṣatra in a fortnight from wooing till marriage. The nakṣatra provided here would take months and seasons. This episode of marriage under Phalgunī is at par with the Hymns/mantras of Sūryā’s Bridal Sūkta of Ṛgveda in which Phalgunī was experiencing vernal equinox. Ofcourse by the time of sutra period these became mnenomics to remember the past revering Ṛgveda.

The above reading clears all the doubt about the word “Udagayana”. For the the auspicious ceremonies, like marriage, has to begin in Udagayana but explicitly notes marriages are to be observed with an exception of the śiśira season.

If Northern course is meant by the word Udagayana then it has to be from Wintersolstice in Āpastamba-gṛhya-sūtra then the exception of the śiśira season should not have been mentioned because Wintersolstice from where the uttarAyaNa begins occurs at the end of hemant and at the beginning of śiśira, its the mid point of Winters.

Udagayana if understood as Uttarāyaṇa i.e. “northern course of the sun, on days of the first fortnight (of the month), on auspicious days,”, i.e., then Āpastamba-Gṛhya-Sūtra would not have mentioned the first fortnight after śiśira since śiśira month begins with winter solstice, which is prohibited and first fortnight after śiśira would only mean beginnig of Vasanta. The two words become contradictory. We have a long tradition of reading about marriages, copulation time, Rati-Kāmadeva Mahotsava in the Vasanta season in Indic texts and poetries.

The takeaway of this study

Thus, if Northern course, i.e., Udagayana has to be from Wintersolstice in Āpastamba-gṛhya-sūtra then the exception of the śiśira season should not have been mentioned.

This also clears the fog from the words like Udagayana and Uttarāyana. Udagayana means Sun in “Northern Hemisphere” and not “the northern course of the sun”. The northern course of the sun is clearly stated as Uttarāyana in Jyotiṣa texts like Sūryasiddhānta. Sūryasiddhānta has differentiated between Deva-Ayana/Devayāna and Uttarāyana. All the Indic texts compliment each other.

This study will have implications on dating of Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa.

Published by rupabhaty4566

Loves exploring various possibilities of interpretations in original Sanskrit Indic Scriptures

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12 thoughts on “Identifying “Udagayana” with Sun’s course in “Northern Hemisphere”; An evidence from Āpastamba-Gṛhya-Sūtra”

  3. Hi Rupa ji – I was your fellow student in Professor Jha’s Nyaya Darshana Samskruta class early this year.

    are you aware of the Badami/Vatapi rock/cave temples of Karnataka. There is a story that goes to following effect “There were 2 rakshasas Vatapi and Gilvala. They used to bring people from around the area in the guise of treating them/feeding them. Vatapi used to take the form of goat. Gilvala used to cut the goat and prepare food and feed the people. Once the food has been consumed, Gilvala used to utter/order Vatapi to come out. Vatapi used to come out and the rakshasas would eat the people once they are dead due to Vatapi coming out of stomach. One day Maharshi Agastya was passing by and both Rakshasas offered him to be their guest and feed. Same trick of Vatapi Turing to goat, but before Gilvala could order Vatapi to come out, Mahamuni Agastya would say let Vatapi be digested”

    What astronomical event would this allegory mean? Also, the world famous 18 hand Nataraja is famous from this temple.

    Thought of sharing this that would bring some more remembrance or help solidify some of your hypothesis..

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    1. In other parts of India, It is Vatapi and Ilvala. Rest details are same. Rishi Agastya was going to South & did subdue Vindhya Parvat to allow Sun to cross Vindhya.

      Agastya is also a star and it may have been invisible from south part of India. I believe Dr. Jayasree Saranathan argued that the Vindhya episode indicates that tropic of Cancer shifted and crossed Vindhya Parvat during that time due to change in axial tilt of earth.

      But yes, Rupa-ji is probably in a position to provide a better explanation for that, especially regarding Vatapi & Ilvla which may indicate some stars or some cosmological observation that may have disappeared at that time.

      regards

      Chakraborty

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    2. Namaste Kiran ji,
      Sorry for the late reply. I had to go through chaotic times. Yes, I remember this version of story and if I am not wrong it happens to be in Mahabharata also apart from ethnographic memories of Southern India. I have recorded a little here…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVBdRx0sLTk&t=309s. I will take up this as one separate session. Time constraints are there so unable to hatch time to do so. I have identified Invaka and ilvalosur from Amarakosha also and have written in one of my blog. Kindly do read.
      Regards

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  4. Respected Rupa ji
    Such a subtle yet candid treatment to an age old confusion prevailing among Indic students. May I suggest a simple Peer Review of this analyses be got admitted. This will go a long way to resolve a II debate on social media along this misunderstanding @ beginning of year also.
    Kind regards
    Ashok Tyagi

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  5. Rupa-ji,

    I am a bit confused here. ‘Hope you can help.

    If an exception is made to Sisira ritu as well as to the last solar month (Bengali Chaitra maas ?) for marriages within Udagayana, that would mean that both these periods ordinarily fell within Udagayana. Otherwise, there is no point making an exception.

    Regarding the origin of that, it was mentioned as from Practice, not from a Sruti. AFAIK, there are similar restrictions about marriage timing even today. No marriage in few specific months like Paush, Bhadra & Chaitra (probably … I am not very sure about the specific month names) among Bengalis and possibly in other communities too.

    But if that is the case, then what are the months when Sun was not in Udagayana ?

    regards

    Chakraborty

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