Science in Hinduism-Motion of earth around sun
I have posted series of articles on science in Hinduism. Let me take one more step in talking about astronomy. In this article, we will see the verses which say about sun revolving around the earth. Note that these texts were written more than 10,000 years ago, later proved by science.
First, let us see the verses from the oldest text of human era. i.e Rigveda
Swami Dayanand quoted these verses briefly in his amazing work called Rigvedadibhashyabhumika, which literally means “Introduction to Vedas”. This work of swami dayanand was published 130 years ago. Note that science was unable to prove the movement of earth around sun till he was alive. Just realize the potential and intelligence of our ancestors and Indian spiritual gurus.
Let us directly jump to the topic and check out rigveda verse in context of motion of planets.
The first one is Verse 10.149.1.
Savita Yantraih Prithiveem Aramnaat Dyaam Andahat Atoorte Baddham Ashwam Iv Adhukshat (10.149.1)
Transaltion: “The sun has tied Earth and other planets through attraction and moves them around itself as if a trainer moves newly trained horses around itself holding their reins.”
In this mantra,
Savita = Sun
Yantraih = through reins
Prithiveem = Earth
Aramnaat = Ties
Dyaam Andahat = Other planets in sky as well
Atoorte = Unbreakable
Baddham = Holds
Ashwam Iv Adhukshat = Like horses
In simple terms, this verse says that sun is center of solar system and planets (including earth) move in a closed-loop path around it.
Sun deity riding on his seven horses
The second verse 8.12.28 gives details on this motion of planet
Yada Te Haryataa Hari Vaavridhate Divedive Vishwa Bhuvani Aditte Yemire-(Rigveda 8.12.28)
“All planets remain stable because as they come closer to sun due to attraction, their speed of coming closer increases proportionately.”
In this Mantra,
Yada Te = When they
Haryataa = Come closer through attraction
Hari = Closeness
Vaavridhate = Increases proportionately
Divedive = continuously
Vishwa Bhuvani = planets of the world
Aditte = eventually
Yemire = remain stable
This verse clearly states that:
1. Motion of planets around the sun is not circular, even though sun is the central force causing planets to move
2. The motion of planets is such that Velocity of planets is in inverse relation with the distance between planet and sun.
Rig-Veda further asserts that god has created sun and gave him the power of attracting other planets. Check the below verses
Sun attracting all planets
Rig Veda 1.6.5, Rig Veda 8.12.30
“O God, You have created this Sun. You possess infinite power. You are upholding the sun and other spheres and render them steadfast by your power of attraction.
Rig Veda 1.35.9
“The sun moves in its own orbit but holding earth and other heavenly bodies in a manner that they do not collide with each other through force of attraction.
Rig veda says sun is heavier of all planets and so, holds all other planets in his orbit.
Rig Veda 1.164.13
“Sun moves in its orbit which itself is moving. Earth and other bodies move around sun due to force of attraction, because sun is heavier than them.
Atharva Veda 4.11.1
“The sun has held the earth and other planets”
From above image, no need to say “sun is heavier of all planets”
Rig veda says moon does not have light of his own and moon light is gift of sun god to moon god.
Rig Veda 1.84.15
“The moving moon always receives a ray of light from sun”
Rig Veda 10.85.9
“Moon decided to marry. Day and Night attended its wedding. And sun gifted his daughter “Sun ray” to Moon.”
Rig Veda 5.40.5
“O Sun! When you are blocked by the one whom you gifted your own light (moon), and then earth gets scared by sudden darkness.”
Rig-veda verse “velocity of planets is inversely related to distance from sun”, is proved by science.
From Newton’s Second Law one can easily derive that
“For a planet having distance ‘r’ from sun and ‘θ’- the angle between any fixed axis and length ‘r’, revolving around sun in an elliptical orbit, at any point of time, following holds true.
Derivative of the product of square of distance between planet and sun and rate of change of angle θ, with respect to time, is zero.
The above relation is better known as conservation of angular momentum, usually studied in vehicular movement and in cases involving Central Forces. Now, if we replace angular velocity with linear velocity, then we will come to the assertion of the rig-veda verse 8.12.28 which says that “velocity of planets is inversely related to distance from sun”
But what is more exciting is that vedic verses perfectly matches Newton’s law of gravitation and Kepler’s laws of planetary motion. In fact, Kepler laws, newton laws and many other scientific laws are nothing but the derivation of ancient vedic verse.
This is the beauty of Vedas. Science and Vedas never contradicted each other. In fact, the basic essence of Hinduism is laid on the principle “True Religion and True Science can never contradict. “
Kepler law using conservation of angular momentum
Just having the knowledge of vedic verses is not enough because the Vedas themselves says that “without research and experiments in real-world, no truth can be realized”
So one should try to make a scientific discovery taking vedic verses as a guide as many scientists have done before. Ex: Aryabhatta
Since Vedas is believed to be the gift of god to human, nothing written in Vedas can contradict scientific discoveries. And After reading the Vedas in entirety, one is able to realize the supreme power and creation of ever-pervading god. Thus Vedas would not only enlightened your mind and heart but would also give you advanced exposure to science and astronomy
Let me conclude this topic with a very small poem
Let us pray to the almighty deity sun
Through ishvaku, sun dynasty he begun
May he grant us happiness and wisdom
May he give us knowledge in his ashram
Forefather of Surya race and lord rama
Father of greatest mighty warrior ‘Karna’
May he invoke the inner good within us
May he liberate from all sorrow and curse
May Sun god give us divine rays and light
May he enlighten our soul, mind and sight
May he protect us from scary dreamy night
May his blessings make us a good knight?
"A millennium before Europeans was willing to divest them of the Biblical idea that the world was a few thousand years old, the Mayans were thinking of millions and the Hindus in billions."
Dr. Carl Sagan, (1934-1996) famous astrophysicist
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