04-19-2004, 11:12 PM
Comparison of Vedic period star name identities from R. H. Allenâs Star names- Their lore & meaning of circa 1899 with S. Balakrishna's 'Names of Stars from period of Vedas' of 1999
Abstract
The article compares astronomical identities proposed by R.H.Allen in 1899 with authors proposals in the web article âNames of Stars from period of Vedas
Introduction
A number of stars in the sky were given proper names by people of India, i.e, Bharata, during the Vedic period (2000-4000 BC?). Amongst them the twenty-eight names were given to stars over 360 degrees of the moon path along the ecliptic. Among these, use of one these names, Abhijit as a daily star has been discontinued in modern times. Ancient astrology of this culture, called Jyotishya Shasthra, has its origins during that period and has been gradually modified. This astrological system uses a moon-pointer daily star definition, based on the 27 daily stars, with Sanskrit proper names, corresponding to 13.33-degree steps along the ecliptic in the moon path. Efforts have been made to associate and identify these Sanskrit proper names to explicit star or groups of stars along the ecliptic, and determine their modern astronomical names. A recent 1998 web article 'Names of Stars from period of Vedas' by the author was a study of these names conducted based on study of the Veda-period Sanskrit texts. It proposed astronomical identity of these ancient star proper names. Among other such efforts, Richard Hinckley Allenâs 'Star names-Their lore and meaning' is considered to be a classical book. This book was originally published in circa 1899 and has been recently reprinted. The book provides an exhaustive picture of the proper names of stars from many cultures and the folklore from the 1899 period. The present study compares the astronomical identity of the 27 Vedic daily stars proposed in 'Names of Stars from period of Vedas' by S. Balakrishna with the identity indicated for the same 27 daily stars in 'Star names-Their lore and meaning' by Richard Hinckley Allen.
R.H Allenâs work
Richard Hinckley Allenâs book 'Star names- Their lore and meaning' was originally published in 1899. It provides proper names of stars from many cultures over the period of recorded history. The book studies the names of stars, constellation by constellation in an alphabetical order. In each constellation, the proper names of stars from various cultures are discussed. It includes the then contemporary astronomical identity of stars as Flamsteed numbers and Bayer identities. The book covers all the constellations. The period of the book was before formalization of the constellation definitions to 88 by International Astronomical Union in 1930. The pattern followed in the book is to identify all visible stars in each constellation through their Bayer identities and then address their historical European names (Greek and other nationalistic cultures), followed by the Arabic names, the Chinese names and âHindu names`. This has been systematically carried out to cover all the constellations. In each case, anecdotal data is provided using local folklore, historical documents and other cultural documents. An analysis is provided with suggestions as to possible influence of one culture on the other, in arriving at the proper names for stars. The aim of this article is to compare R.H.Allenâs âHinduâ names of stars from his 1899 book, to the one proposed by the present author in his article 'Names of Stars from period of vedas' in 1998.
Ecliptic Longitude range of Vedic Stars
Indian astrology, as currently practiced, proposes that the Aeries-0 is 23 degrees 51 minutes (Ayanaamsha) in 2000 AD away from the Vernal Equinox. Every year this changes by a small amount due to Precession. The ecliptic 360 degrees have been divided in to 27 nakshathras, each spanning 13.333 degrees or 13 deg 20 minutes of angle. It corresponds to 53 .33 minutes of sun time in 24-hour system. The following table details vedic star ranges Circa 2000 Precession.
Time shows start of Nakshathra, and it ends at beginning of next
Nakshathra
Hour
Min
Deg
min
Ashwini
1
35
23
51
Bharani
2
28
37
11
Kritiika
3
21
50
31
Rohini
4
15
63
51
Mrigashira
5
8
77
11
Aardhra
6
1
90
31
Punarvasu
6
55
103
51
Pushya
7
48
117
11
Aaslesha
8
41
130
31
Maghaa
9
35
143
51
Poorva Phalguni
10
28
157
11
Uttara Phalguni
11
21
170
31
Hastaa
12
16
183
51
Chithra
13
9
197
11
Swaati
14
2
210
31
Vishaaka
14
56
223
51
Anooraadha
15
49
237
11
Jyeshta
16
42
250
31
Moola
17
36
263
51
Poorva Aashada
18
29
277
11
Uttara aashada
19
22
290
31
Shravana
20
16
303
51
Dhanishta
21
9
317
11
Shata Bhishaja
22
2
330
31
Poorva Bhadrapada
22
56
343
51
Uttara Bhadhrapada
23
49
357
11
Revathi
0
42
10
31
Abhijit ranging from 288 deg to 291 degrees is not shown...
Abstract
The article compares astronomical identities proposed by R.H.Allen in 1899 with authors proposals in the web article âNames of Stars from period of Vedas
Introduction
A number of stars in the sky were given proper names by people of India, i.e, Bharata, during the Vedic period (2000-4000 BC?). Amongst them the twenty-eight names were given to stars over 360 degrees of the moon path along the ecliptic. Among these, use of one these names, Abhijit as a daily star has been discontinued in modern times. Ancient astrology of this culture, called Jyotishya Shasthra, has its origins during that period and has been gradually modified. This astrological system uses a moon-pointer daily star definition, based on the 27 daily stars, with Sanskrit proper names, corresponding to 13.33-degree steps along the ecliptic in the moon path. Efforts have been made to associate and identify these Sanskrit proper names to explicit star or groups of stars along the ecliptic, and determine their modern astronomical names. A recent 1998 web article 'Names of Stars from period of Vedas' by the author was a study of these names conducted based on study of the Veda-period Sanskrit texts. It proposed astronomical identity of these ancient star proper names. Among other such efforts, Richard Hinckley Allenâs 'Star names-Their lore and meaning' is considered to be a classical book. This book was originally published in circa 1899 and has been recently reprinted. The book provides an exhaustive picture of the proper names of stars from many cultures and the folklore from the 1899 period. The present study compares the astronomical identity of the 27 Vedic daily stars proposed in 'Names of Stars from period of Vedas' by S. Balakrishna with the identity indicated for the same 27 daily stars in 'Star names-Their lore and meaning' by Richard Hinckley Allen.
R.H Allenâs work
Richard Hinckley Allenâs book 'Star names- Their lore and meaning' was originally published in 1899. It provides proper names of stars from many cultures over the period of recorded history. The book studies the names of stars, constellation by constellation in an alphabetical order. In each constellation, the proper names of stars from various cultures are discussed. It includes the then contemporary astronomical identity of stars as Flamsteed numbers and Bayer identities. The book covers all the constellations. The period of the book was before formalization of the constellation definitions to 88 by International Astronomical Union in 1930. The pattern followed in the book is to identify all visible stars in each constellation through their Bayer identities and then address their historical European names (Greek and other nationalistic cultures), followed by the Arabic names, the Chinese names and âHindu names`. This has been systematically carried out to cover all the constellations. In each case, anecdotal data is provided using local folklore, historical documents and other cultural documents. An analysis is provided with suggestions as to possible influence of one culture on the other, in arriving at the proper names for stars. The aim of this article is to compare R.H.Allenâs âHinduâ names of stars from his 1899 book, to the one proposed by the present author in his article 'Names of Stars from period of vedas' in 1998.
Ecliptic Longitude range of Vedic Stars
Indian astrology, as currently practiced, proposes that the Aeries-0 is 23 degrees 51 minutes (Ayanaamsha) in 2000 AD away from the Vernal Equinox. Every year this changes by a small amount due to Precession. The ecliptic 360 degrees have been divided in to 27 nakshathras, each spanning 13.333 degrees or 13 deg 20 minutes of angle. It corresponds to 53 .33 minutes of sun time in 24-hour system. The following table details vedic star ranges Circa 2000 Precession.
Time shows start of Nakshathra, and it ends at beginning of next
Nakshathra
Hour
Min
Deg
min
Ashwini
1
35
23
51
Bharani
2
28
37
11
Kritiika
3
21
50
31
Rohini
4
15
63
51
Mrigashira
5
8
77
11
Aardhra
6
1
90
31
Punarvasu
6
55
103
51
Pushya
7
48
117
11
Aaslesha
8
41
130
31
Maghaa
9
35
143
51
Poorva Phalguni
10
28
157
11
Uttara Phalguni
11
21
170
31
Hastaa
12
16
183
51
Chithra
13
9
197
11
Swaati
14
2
210
31
Vishaaka
14
56
223
51
Anooraadha
15
49
237
11
Jyeshta
16
42
250
31
Moola
17
36
263
51
Poorva Aashada
18
29
277
11
Uttara aashada
19
22
290
31
Shravana
20
16
303
51
Dhanishta
21
9
317
11
Shata Bhishaja
22
2
330
31
Poorva Bhadrapada
22
56
343
51
Uttara Bhadhrapada
23
49
357
11
Revathi
0
42
10
31
Abhijit ranging from 288 deg to 291 degrees is not shown...