Ramayana – 13: Lunar eclipse when Hanuman landed in Ashoka Vana

After getting rebuked by Lakshmana for the absence of any efforts to search for Sita, Sugreeva sprang into action. He sent the Vanaras in all the four directions with a strict deadline that they should find Sita within a month (VR: 4-40-70, 4-41-47 and 4-42-52). The Vanaras who went to east, north and west returned empty handed within a month (VR: 4-47-6). Only those who went southward could not return in time. This group headed by Hanuman and Angada were lost in the Riksha cave till the end of the month stipulated by Sugreeva.

Later they managed to come out but were worried about having exceeded the time limit of one month. In that context, Angada made a significant observation about the month they started the search. He said,

“वयम् आश्वयुजे मासि काल संख्या व्यवस्थिताः |”

“We were sent out scheduling time calculating from the month of Aswayuja” (VR: 4-53-9).

By 9^th July 5077 BCE, Aswayuja month was over. The description of the glowing moon in the 30^th sarga on autumn season by Rama, must have taken place after the Saama Upakarma in Bhadrapada month. The description must have been done on the Full moon day of the Aswayuja month. Sugreeva started the search immediately after that. The search parties must have spread before 9^th July 5077 BCE in the waning phase of Aswayuja.

The search parties to east, North and West must have returned by the Amavasya of Karthika, i.e., before the waning phase ended. But Angada and Hanuman did not even finish the search by the end of Karthika.

Proceeding towards the ocean

Margashira started on the day after the Amavasya of Karthika. The discussion about how to face Sugreeva must have taken place in Margashira.  

The meeting with Sampati must have taken place in Margashira.

After being told by Sampati that Sita was abducted by Ravana and imprisoned in Lanka, the Vanaras started off to the south. In that context it is said,

अभिजित् अभिमुखाम् दिशम् ययुः

जनक सुता परिमार्गण उन्मुखाः || ४-६३-१५

Meaning: “In search of Janaka’s daughter, they (the Vanaras) proceeded towards the direction opposite to Abhijit” (VR: 4-63-15)

Here it is given ‘Abhijit abhimukhaam disham’. The website valmikiramayan.net deciphers this as Abhijit lagna. But it is further said, Abhimukhaam disham by indicating the direction. It is not about the direction of Abhijit which is in the northern sky. Lanka was in the South, and they were proceeding towards the southern direction. Why then, the reference to Abhijit which is in the north? One reason could be they, who were supposed to be heading south, had gone to the Vindhyas, north of Kishkindha. So, they decided not to go towards north any longer and went in the opposite direction.

They had Abhijit as a marker for the direction and went opposite of it, which is what ‘Abhi’ means.  Abhimukha refers to the opposite face of Abhijit. That is the southern direction. The meaning taken from the Sanskrit dictionary is shown below:

In the month of Margashira, the Vanaras started moving towards the Southern Ocean. They could have started by the Full Moon of Margashira.

There is an opinion among some researchers that Hanuman jumped from where they met Sampati. That place was in the Vidhya Mountain. So, according to some, Hanuman jumped right away from the Mahendra Mountain in Orissa, near the Vindhyas. But the dates show that the Vanaras had walked for two months to reach the shore. The date is what we get from the description of the moon when Hanuman reached Lanka.

Lunar eclipse when Hanuman reached Ashoka Vana.

In the 5^th sarga of Sundara Kanda, there is a description of the moon seen by Hanuman. The sarga begins with stating that Hanuman saw the moon looking like a bull in the middle of the sky (VR: 5-5-1). The description continues with the 5^th verse indicating that it was a Full Moon.

रराज चन्द्रह् परिपूर्णशृङ्गः

The moon shone with ‘paripoorna shringa’. (VR: 5-5-5)

Shringa means horn. The tips of the moon are mentioned as horns in the olden texts that describe Vedic astronomy (like Surya Siddhanta and Siddhanta Shiromani). Only the crescent moon has horns (tips) known as Shringa. The Full Moon has no horns because the lunar disc is complete. Paripoorna shringa means the horns are complete, that is, they are close to form the disc.

The next verse is a description of eclipse and how the marks on the moon appeared after the eclipse.

विनष्टशीताम्बुतुषारपङ्को |

महाग्रहग्राहविनष्टपङ्कः |

प्रकाशलक्ष्म्याश्रयनिर्मलाङ्को |

रराज चन्द्रो भगवान् शशाङ्कः || ५-५-६

(Meaning: Bhagawan Chandra who lost the cool mark on being caught by Mahagraha started shining bright such that the mark (looking like the hare) shone brilliantly.) (VR: 5- 5-6).

The dark spots on the lunar disc are known as lakshma. The same expression appears in the Mahabharata too (“somasya lakṣma vyāvṛttaṃ” (MB: 5.141.10 and MB: 6.2.32).

They appear in the shape of a hare. The verse says the spots (hare) which were caught (eclipsed) by the Mahagraha, are now shining brilliantly. That means, the Mahagraha had left its grip on Bhagawan Chandra. The eclipse was over. The Mahagraha signifies the node (Rahu / Ketu) that was hiding the spotted region of the lunar disc. It was a partial eclipse with the spotted region eclipsed.

                                         The spots on the Full Moon look like a hare.

The expression “Mahagraha graaha vinashta pangka” indicates that the moon was eclipsed. But by the time Hanuman reached the city of Lanka the moon was shining bright in the middle of the sky indicating that the eclipse was over and nighttime had advanced.

So, our search is to locate the month after Margashira when the moon was eclipsed. Only in the month of Magha, moon came closer to Ketu within 13 degrees on the Full Moon day to get eclipsed.

     Lunar eclipse when Hanuman entered Lanka.

On the same night, he found Sita languishing in Ashoka Vana. On the same night, Ravana came to see Sita and gave a deadline of two more months for her to decide. Counted from Caitra in Subhanu when she was abducted, ten months were over. So, two more months were left in the total time of twelve months given by Ravana.

Sita was abducted on a Krishna Tritiya in Caitra. On the Pournami of Magha, ten months (short of two tithi-s) were over.

The simulation of the lunar eclipse matching with the description of the same in the Ramayana confirms that we are proceeding on the right lines.

It also shows that the Vanaras had taken two months to reach the shore. This rejects the version of some people that Hanuman jumped from the Mahendragiri hill in Orissa soon after meeting Sampati in the Vindhyas. The Mahendragiri from where Hanuman jumped was beyond Kavaatam, the capital of the 2^nd Tamil Sangam Age (VR: 4- 18 to 21). Both Kavaatam and the Mahendra Giri next to that were long gone. More about it will be written in my book.

Rama started the march of his army.

Hanuman met Sita:  October 20, 5077 BCE (Subhanu, Magha month, Pournami, Punarvasu, Monday)

Hanuman burnt Lanka on the next day: October 21, 5077 BCE (Subhanu, Magha month, Krishna Pratipat, Pushya, Tuesday)

Hanuman returned to Mahendragiri: Same day. October 21, 5077 BCE (Subhanu, Magha month, Krishna Pratipat, Pushya, Tuesday)

Hanuman met Rama: October 24, 5077 BCE (Subhanu, Magha month, Krishna Caturthi, Purva Phalguni, Friday)

Rama marched with the army of Vanaras: October 25, 5077 BCE (Subhanu, Magha month, Krishna Panchami, Uttara Phalguni, Saturday)

    Date of Rama starting from Kishkindha to Lanka

In the 4^th sarga of Yuddha Kanda, Rama, after hearing all the details from Hanuman decided to march on the day of Uttara Phalguni because the next day Uttara Phalguni joined with Hasta. (VR: 6-4-5) Uttara Phalguni was the 6^th star from his birth star making it an auspicious one. The mention about Uttara Phalguni joining Hasta the next day shows that Uttara Phalguni should have continued at sunrise making it the star of the day but was followed by Hasta soon after. Since Hasta remained for most part of the day, Rama didn’t prefer that day.

When this was checked in Jhora, it was found to be true. Uttara Phalguni was present until 7-07 am in the morning and Hasta started rising after that. The simulation is re-produced below to show how meticulously the details are matching with our derivations.

Uttara-Phalguni joined with Hasta the next day.

Nutshell:

Vanaras started the search: Aswayuja month in Subhanu.

Vanaras met Sampati: Margashira.

Time taken by the Vanaras to reach the shore: Two months.                

Hanuman reached Ashoka Vana: October 20, 5077 BCE (Subhanu, Magha month, Pournami, Punarvasu, Monday)

Lunar eclipse: October 20, 5077 BCE (Subhanu, Magha month, Pournami, Punarvasu, Monday)

Rama started from Kishkindha to Lanka: October 25, 5077 BCE (Subhanu, Magha month, Krishna Panchami, Uttara Phalguni, Saturday)

(Cont’d)

 

Ramayana - 12: Why Ramayana shows the same Month- Season as it is now?

After the death of Vaali, Rama retired to a cave in Mt. Prasavana and stayed there for four months when the rainy season was on. It was the month of Shravana when it rains even in the current times. Rama described the rainy season in the 28th sarga of Kishkindha Kanda and the Sharad season (autumn that followed the rainy season) in the 30th sarga of the same Kanda. 

The description of rainy season by Rama gives important revelations on the month-season of those times. Those who use western astronomy simulator for dating Ramayana have turned the zodiac halfway. According to them the month of Caitra occurred in Sharad season because the simulator shows so, but Ramayana says in many verses that Caitra was associated with spring (Vasanta) season only. Similarly, the rainy season started in Shravana only.

Rama, after killing Vaali did not start the search operation to find out Sita. He told Sugreeva,

पूर्वो अयम् वार्षिको मासः श्रावणः सलिल आगमः |

प्रवृत्ताः सौम्य चत्वारो मासा वार्षिक संज्ञिताः || ४-२६-१४

Meaning: “The four-month period specified for rainy season has commenced, oh gentle Sugreeva, and this is Shravana, the first month of rainy season that brings many showers.” (VR: 4-26-14)

He also asked him to wait till Karthika month when the rainy season would be over (VR: 4-26-17, 18a)

Saying this, Rama went to a cave on the mountain of Prasavana which was high on the west and slopy on north and east and thus avoided the entry of the monsoonal rains inside the cave! (VR: 4-27-12).

This will prevent rainfall entering the cave from the south west. Even today, the monsoon rains are realized from Southwest monsoon in Shravana in Karnataka where Kishkindha is situated.

The Catur Masya Vrata followed by the Vedic people is also mentioned by Rama. This vrata covers the period of rainy season starting from Ashadha Shukla Ekadasi and ending on Karthika Shukla Ekadasi. In this period, Bhagawan Vishnu is said to be sleeping (Yogic sleep). Vishnu is said to start His sleep on Ashadha Shukla Ekadasi which is recognized as “Vishnu Shayana Ekadasi” even today. Rama refers to this in his description of the rainy season.

निद्रा शनैः केशवम् अभ्युपैति

“These days sleep is slowly getting closer to Vishnu (Kesava), rivers are rapidly getting closer to oceans, cranes are gleefully getting closer to clouds, and women are passionately getting closer to their beloveds.”  (VR: 3-28-25)

In the month of Bhadrapada in the rainy season, Saama Vedic people perform upakrama even today. The same is said by Rama.

मासि प्रौष्ठपदे ब्रह्म ब्राह्मणानाम् विवक्षताम् |

अयम् अध्याय समयः सामगानाम् उपस्थितः || ३-२८-५४

Meaning: “The month of Bhaadrapada, is the time for learning the singing of Sama Veda, and this is the time that has come for those Brahmans who concern themselves for learning the singing of Sama Veda.” (VR: 3-28-54)

This verse enables us to date this event because Saama Upakarma is performed on Hasta nakshatra in the month of Bhadrapada.

              Date of Saama Upakarma in the 14^th year of exile

Rama was speaking about Saama Upakarma in the 14^th year of his exile (5077 BCE) while he was waiting for the rainy season to end. The year was Subhanu. Hasta nakshatra in that month occurred on 15^th May, when it was Shukla Panchami.

This occurs on Shukla Caturthi in some years when we celebrate Ganesh Caturthi. (Ganesh Caturthi was initiated during Krishna’s period after he was absolved of the blame for the loss of Syamanthaka gem.)

In the very next verse Rama mentioned that Bharata must have undertaken the Catur Masya Vrata on the Full Moon day of Ashadha (VR: 3-28-55)

Analysis of the verses of the 30th  chapter shows that sharad season (autumn) had started. This season has Aswayuja and Karthika months. The eulogy of the Sharad season by Rama must have taken place in Aswayuja month because later we find Angada stating that the Vanaras started the search for Sita in Aswayuja month. In this sarga Rama talked about the stoppage of rains and the bright moon illuminating the sky. His description of the shining moon rising at twilight confirms that it was the Full moon in Aswayuja month.  The date is decipherable as follows:

Rama’s talk on Aswayuja Full Moon

The date was 23^rd June, 5077 BCE, Subhanu, Aswayuja Pournami. 

Rama grew impatient as there was no sign of Sugreeva taking steps to search for Sita.

Lakshmana rebuked Sugreeva and Tara pacified Lakshmana.

Sugreeva apologized and started the search operations.

Though I planned to end this part here, I thought I need to do some explanation on the similarity of month-season in Rama’s time.

Vedic theory of to and fro oscillation of the equinoxes

Western science believes that the earth’s axis is precessing continuously. This is not so according to Vedic Thought which is expressed in many Siddhanta-s including Surya Siddhanta. Today, many  enthusiasts attempt to decipher the calculations given in Surya Siddhanta believing that they are applicable for all ages but conveniently ignore an important concept given in the Siddhanta-s that the equinox doesn’t precess forever; it moves forward and backward for a distance of 27° on each side of the midpoint of the zodiac which is the beginning of Aries.

It also says that the planetary positions are to be located with reference to the midpoint of the zodiac. Whenever the equinox moves backward as it does now – going to Pisces, the distance it travelled from the midpoint must be deducted from the current location of the equinoctial sun. Whenever the equinox is on the other side of the midpoint the difference from the midpoint must be added.

The difference known as ‘Ayanamsa’ is deducted even now for all utilities of planetary positions – be they for constructing horoscopes or fixing the ritual days. People easily call this deduction as ‘Nirayana’ and the western zodiac as ‘sayana’ (with ayanamsa because ayanamsa is not deducted) without realizing the implication of it or why we should do it. In a continuously precessing equinox, there is no need to deduct the difference (ayanamsa) because how long one will be deducting is a question. Western astronomy assumes that the equinox goes round for 360°; deducting the difference for all the period looks idiotic because at one time one will be deducting 360° !!

It is unfortunate that it is rare to come across an Indian to think why should we deduct the difference unless the movement is for limited duration.

The limited duration of 27° on either side of the midpoint of the zodiac results in less difference in the season. For example, the zodiac will appear as follows when the equinox is at the mid point.

                        The equinox at zero-degree Aries / midpoint (VE= Vernal equinox)

At this time, the month-seasons will be like this:

Caitra and Vaiśāka = Vasanta

Jyeṣṭha and Āṣāḍha = Grīṣma

Śrāvaṇa and Bhādrapada = Varṣa

Aśvina and Kārtika = Śarada

Mārgaśira and Puṣya = Hemanta

Māgha and Phālguna = Śiśira

 

When the equinox is at the western end as it is now:

                                              The equinox at 27° to the west of Aries

The month- season will be like this: There will be early spring starting in Pisces and cold season will be short such that there is no Shisira ritu

Phālguna and Caitra = Vasanta

Vaiśāka and Jyeṣṭha = Grīṣma

Āṣāḍha and Śrāvaṇa = Prāvṛiṣ

Bhādrapada and Aśvina = Varṣa

Kārtika and Mārgaśira = Śarada

Puṣya and Māgha = Hemanta

 

When the equinox is on the other side of the midpoint, the zodiac will look as follows:

                                            The equinox at 27° to the east of Aries

The month- season will be as follows then: Spring season will begin in Vaishakha and there will be extended winter with Hemanta and Shishira being cold months.

Vaiśāka and Jyeṣṭha = Vasanta

Āṣāḍha and Śrāvaṇa = Grīṣma

Bhādrapada and Aśvina = Varṣa

Kārtika and Mārgaśira = Śarada

Puṣya and Māgha = Hemanta

Phālguna and Caitra = Śiśira

 

So, the gradual change is from early spring as it is now to late spring in Vaishakha.

Of the three configurations, the middle illustration that is running now was also running in Rama’s time. It takes 3600 years for the equinoctial sun to reach from one end to another end. To come back to the same end it takes 7200 years.

7200 years ago Rama lived when the equinox was at the western most end of the equinoctial path.

Today we are in the same point as where Rama was. That is why we find the same seasonal months in the Ramayana.

We are seeing the same pole star as Rama saw.

Today we are seeing Polaris as the northern pole star.

Rama also had seen the same.

It was known as Dhruva nakshatra.

The three positions are shown in the following diagram.

Dhruva seen by us today was also seen by Rama which we will discuss in another part.

Meanwhile, request the readers to have clarity about the way equinoxes move and how the month-seasons do not change greatly. They did not change during Ramayana period because the sun and the earth were facing the same part of the sky then as they are now.

If anyone continues to say that Caitra was in Sharad season in the Ramayana, tell them the truth.

With this we are moving on to the next part in the search for Sita.

(Cont’d)

Ramayana – 11: Vaali Vadha and Sugreeva’s coronation

The abduction of Sita having taken place in the waning phase of Caitra in the 14^th year, we come across definite clues on time, only from the time of Sugreeva’s coronation. There is no direct reference to the date of Vaali’s death. It must be inferred from the coronation date of Sugreeva.

The time of coronation also is a little tricky because it throws up are two probabilities: one, immediately after cremating Vaali because the country could not go headless and two, after the 13-day ceremony for Vaali. It is simply said that the Vanara leaders surrounded Sugreeva whose clothes were still wet from having done the rituals for Vaali. And with him they approached Rama to permit them to go to the kingdom of Kishkindha, besides inviting Rama to the kingdom.  

The important information on time was given by Rama in his reply to the Vanara-s. He said that the four-month rainy season had just commenced, and it was the month of Shravana (VR: 4-26-14)

Rama continued to say that it was not right on his part to enter cities or villages due to his exile-status but asked Sugreeva to go ahead with the coronation ceremony (VR: 4-26-15).

Rama said further, “On the advent of Karthika month, say post-rainy season, you shall do your best in the cause of Ravana's elimination, and this is our covenant, and hence oh, gentle Sugreeva, for now enter your mansion, be enthroned in kingdom as well, and exhilarate your friends.” (4-26-17, 18a).  Then, Rama along with Lakshmana went to a cave on Mt. Prasavana to spend his time during the four-month long rainy season.

On reading these verses, we get an impression that Vaali was killed after the month of Shravana started. Three months have gone in between the abduction of Sita and the killing of Vaali.

Let us reconstruct the events of this period:

Rest of Caitra: Rama and Lakshmana were searching for Sita. In this period, they met Jatayu and cremated him on his death.

Encounter with Kabandha: in Vaishakha (probable time)

Meeting Shabari: in Vaishakha (probable time)

Meeting Sugreeva: in Jyeshta (probable time)

First encounter with Vaali: in late Ashadha

Second encounter with Vaali: Early Shravana

Killing of Vaali

In the case of Vaali also, his death time is indicated in an old Tamil song on Jupiter’s transit. We already pointed out that Jupiter was in the Janma rasi of Rama when he was exiled; it was in Sita’s Janma rasi when she was confined. In the same way, the verse says that Jupiter was in the 8^th house from Vaali’s Janma rasi (moon sign) when he was killed.

எட்டினில் வாலி பட்டமிழந்ததும்

This means from the location of Jupiter in the horoscopic re-construction of his death, we can find out his Janma rasi (moon-sign). From that we can check whether the planetary positions were indicative of death for him. So, I started checking the dates from the time Shravana month started in Subhanu year (5077 BCE). In that month, Jupiter was in Virgo (Kanya rasi). Virgo was the 8^th sign from Aquarius (Kumbha rasi). This means Aquarius was his moon sign.

From there, the 12^th sign (death related) had Rahu and Saturn together. They were casting a direct aspect on the 6^th house which signifies enmity, fear from enemies etc. The 7^th is the Maaraka sign (indicating death) which was occupied by the lords of 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th which also happened to be the lords of 8^th, 9^th and the 10^th. The 3^rd lord signifies longevity. It was owned by Mars. Mars was also the lord of the 8^th from the 3^rd house. Its position in the 7^th indicates mortal fear. Jupiter was the lord of another important Maaraka house, namely the 2^nd, and it was in the 8^th. So, the planetary positions were indicative of serious trouble to Vaali. Now positioning the moon will determine the most probable day of death.

     Vaali’s death

On 12^th April, the month of Shravana started. So, after that only, Vaali must have died. On 12^th April, the 8^th lord Mercury was in the process of transiting to Leo (7^th house). At that time the moon was in Gemini, the 5^th house. That was not an afflicted position. On 13^th and 14^th April, the moon was in the 6^th house, joining the 7^th lord, Sun. So, moon in Kataka was a probable time for death of Vaali. I picked out 14^th April when the moon was in Aslesha, in the star of Mercury, the lord of the 8^th house.  

Coronation of Sugreeva

Looking at the planetary positions, the ideal day for coronation would have been when the moon joined Jupiter. If the coronation lagna had Jupiter, that would make it an auspicious one. I zeroed in on 17^th April when Uttara Phalguni was running. 18^th April with Hasta was also probable day, but I picked out the very next day; Uttara Phalguni also scores over Hasta.

    Coronation of Sugreeva

The sequence goes like this:

Vaali’s death: 14^th April, 5077 BCE (Subhanu, Shravana, Shukla Tritiya, Aslesha, Monday)

Cremation: 14^th or 15^th April

Discussion with Rama: 16^th April

Coronation of Sugreeva: 17^th April, 5077 BCE (Subhanu, Shravana, Shukla Shashti, Uttara Phalguni, Thursday)

(Cont'd)

Ramayana – 10: Abduction of Sita

After Rama eliminated Khara, Dushana and Trishira along with 14,000 demons, the terrible news about this carnage was delivered to Ravana. Ravana approached Mareecha for advice, but Mareecha turned him back. Now Surpanakha on her part provoked Ravana to avenge Rama by bringing Sita and marrying her. Ravana thus provoked, went back to Mareecha again. Mareecha’s saner counsel fell into the deaf ears of Ravana. After Ravana threatened him, Mareecha agreed to go in disguise as a golden deer to lure Rama away from Sita so that Ravana could abduct her when she was alone.

Through all this, there is no clue available to find out when the abduction took place. However, the probable time can be deduced from the later dates. For example, after confining Sita to the Ashoka Vana, Ravana offered her a period of 12 months to make up her mind (VR: 3-56-24). Further information found in Sundara Kanda shows that Hanuman met Sita in Ashoka Vana at the expiry of 10 months of confinement of Sita.

Month of abduction deduced from the Lunar eclipse when Hanuman met Sita.

When Hanuman reached Ashoka Vana to meet Sita, Ravana also came there and tried to persuade Sita. In that context, Ravana said that two more months were left for her to take a decision (VR: 5-22-8 & 9). We must find out in which month she was abducted and when the 12-month period was going to end.

While looking for an answer, we can spot a verse in Sundara Kanda soon after Hanuman landed, stating that a lunar eclipse was just over at that time (VR: 5-5-6). The hare-like spots on the moon were eclipsed (partial eclipse) and they became visible when Hanuman reached the city of Lanka. He saw the moon in the middle of the sky (VR: 5-5-1) when he arrived at the city. When I checked the Jhora simulator, it did show a lunar eclipse in the month of Magha, in the year Subhanu which was the 14^th year of exile. In tune with adding a tithi to the simulated date, the date was 20^th October, 5077 BCE. We will discuss this eclipse in detail while writing about Hanuman’s flight to Lanka.

The major input for our current discussion is the month, Magha, by which time 10 months of Sita’s confinement were over. From this, we can deduce the month of abduction.

The remaining two months are counted from the day Ravana spoke about it to Sita. Hanuman was also present in the scene, hiding behind the trees. And we know that it was a Full Moon Day (because moon was eclipsed in the early part of the night). By Caitra 2 months would be completed. This helps us to derive the month of abduction as the previous Caitra. That is, Sita was abducted in Caitra of Subhanu year.

Time of abduction indicated by Jatayu.

The time of abduction was told by Jatayu to Rama. This appears in the 68^th sarga of Aranya Kanda when Rama found Jatayu badly injured when Jatayu tried to stop Ravana from taking away Sita. 

Jatayu said,

“येन याति मुहूर्तेन सीताम् आदाय रावणः |

विप्रनष्टम् धनम् क्षिप्रम् तत् स्वामि प्रतिपद्यते || ३-६८-१२

विन्दो नाम मुहूर्तो असौ स च काकुत्स्थ न अबुधत् |”

(Meaning: The Muhurta in which Ravana had taken away Sita, known as ‘Vinda’ will cause the lost property to return to the possessor (that is Rama). Ravana was not aware of it) (VR: 3-68-12 & 13a)

There is a discussion in valmikiraayan.net about this verse, giving the names of the 15 diurnal Muhurta-s without stating the source. A Muhurta contains 2 Naadi (Nazhigai), i.e. 48 minutes (1 naadi = 24 minutes). The daytime and the nighttime are divided into 15 equal parts each, such that there are 15 diurnal and 15 nocturnal Muhurta-s. Muhurta-s can be auspicious or inauspicious and the choice of a muhurta to do a particular work depends on the nature of the Muhurta. Jatayu said that Ravana abducted Sita in Vinda Muhurta which would not benefit him because whatever was stolen in that Muhurta would be ultimately recovered by the owner.

When we checked the list of 15 Muhurta-s given on that website, they appear different from what are in vogue today. The names of the Muhurta-s can be read in the book ‘Muhurta’ by Dr. B V Raman. Vinda is not present in the currently known list of Muhurta-s. When I compared the present list with the one given on the website, I found a few of them matching in the same order (order of sequence of Muhurta-s is very important). For example, Maitra Muhurta and Vishvadeva Muhurta appeared in the correct order as the 3^rd and the 7^th diurnal Muhurta. This gave me the confidence that I can rely on the order of sequence for Vinda given in the website. It was the 11^th Muhurta. The 11^th in the present list is known as ‘Vahini’.

Vahini, the 11^th Muhurta is an inauspicious Muhurta particularly on a Tuesday. (Certain Muhurta-s are considered bad on certain days. Even Abhijit Muhurta, which is considered very auspicious, is bad on a Wednesday).

This gives us the clue that Sita could have been abducted on a Tuesday when Vinda Muhurta was on. This Muhurta runs between 2 and 3 pm every day. So, we can say that Sita was abducted between 2 and 3 pm on a Tuesday in Subhanu year. Since the talk of the remaining two months was done by Ravana on Magha Full Moon, we can gauge the day of abduction around the Full moon of Caitra. It should be a Tuesday, close to the Full Moon in Caitra.

Such a date was searched for in Jhora and we got 31^st December, 5078 BCE, Krishna Tritiya in Caitra with Tuesday running then. The previous Tuesday was on 24^th December, when Shukla Dasami was running. Compared to that, 31^st December with Krishna Tritiya was closer to Caitra Full Moon. The planetary / horoscopic details of 31^st December appear more suitable for a bad event such as abduction, than on 24^th December. The horoscopic details are shown below.

Abduction date

In Caitra Shukla Paksha of Subhanu year, the 13th year ended (The software shows the previous year Chitrabanu by default until December. It shows Subhanu from 1^st January). Swati was the star of the day indicating that the 14th year of exile had started by then. This shows that the abduction took place in the beginning of the 14th year.

An important revelation from this horoscopic combination is that it helps us to decipher the birth star of Sita!

Sita’s birth star

The position of Jupiter in Sita’s Janma rasi (moon sign) at the time she was kept in confinement is part of ancient folklore / poetry.

"ஜென்ம ராமர் வனத்திலே சீதையை சிறை வைத்ததும்

It says that Rama went to the forest when Jupiter was transiting his Janma rasi; similarly, Jupiter was in Sita’s Janma rasi when she was kept under confinement at Ashoka Vana. We found it to be true in the case of Rama; so, it must be true for Sita too. Looking at the abduction time horoscopy, Jupiter was in Leo (Simha) indicating that one among Magha, Purva Phalguni or Uttara Phalguni must have been her birth star.

Before going into those details, let us examine the validity of the planetary combinations for abduction assuming that her moon-sign was Leo. The lord of the sign, Sun had gone to the 8^th house while the 8^th lord Jupiter had been transiting the sun’s house. Thus, there is parivartana between the 1^st and the 8^th lord with the 8^th lord positioned in the 1^st house (moon-sign) in retrogression. This is a sure sign of death-like calamity at that point of time. Moreover, the 8^th house and the Janmesa (Sun) are receiving cruel aspects from the enemy planets Saturn and Rahu.

12^th house indicates confinement. It was occupied by Ketu (though Ketu’s position cannot be true as written earlier, it would however continue to be in the 12^th house looking at its degrees). The 12^th house is aspected by Saturn (6^th and 7^th lord) joined with Rahu thus perpetuating confinement. The 12^th lord Moon is in Kemadruma Yoga (bereft of planets in the company of or both sides of the moon) and is receiving the 10^th aspect of Saturn. It causes a complete change in her status from being a princess to a prisoner (in this context).

With so many indicators in support of the trauma she underwent then, we are sure that the date is correct. When checked for next and the previous month, planetary combinations were not indicative of the trouble she faced.

Having established that the Moon sign was true (noted by the Janma Guru), we must deduce her birth star.

Throughout Ramayana, we find importance given to stars only, particularly to Tara Balam. The star of the marriage day has been clearly stated in Valmiki Ramayana. It was Uttara Phalguni which is one of the stars positioned in Leo. It could not be the birth star of Sita because marriage is not conducted in one’s birth star. Of the remaining two stars, namely, Magha and Purva Phalguni, Magha does not match with Rama’s Punarvasu. Only Purva Phalguni matches with Punarvasu as, Punarvasu is the 6^th star in the 3^rd paryaya of Purva Phalguni. In other words, Sita’s Purva Phalguni matches with Rama’s Punarvasu. Therefore, Purva Phalguni must have been Sita’s birth star.

At the time of exile, Saturn was transiting her moon sign, but at the time of abduction Jupiter was transiting her moon sign. Additionally, it was in retrogression (vakra).

Nutshell:

Abduction of Sita deduced from the lunar eclipse when Hanuman came to meet her in the Ashoka Vana.

Abduction date: 31^st December, 5078 BCE, Subhanu year, Caitra Krishna Tritiya, Tuesday.

The exile year during abduction: 14^th year of exile

The time of abduction: Vinda Muhurta (between 2 and 3 pm) as told by Jatayu.

Jupiter at the time of abduction: In Sita’s moon sign.

Sita’s birth star: Purva Phalguni

(Cont’d)