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Oppiliappan List Archive: Message 00061 Jan 2007

 
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SRIMATH E RAMANUJAYA NAMAHA.

Respected bhagavathas,

We are back into the discussion on the date of Raama.

The following are in addition to my earlier mails (in 2005) and also
as rejoinder to the recent mails by Srmaan Sadagpan Iyengar and
Srimaan Vasudevan Iyengar.

(1) First, how to reconcile the mention of years in 1000s in Ramayana.

The normal life span of human life is 100.
This is borne by
(1) the wish of "shathamaanam bhavathu",
(2) in the madhyaaniha sandhya vandanam,
(3) by Sita in sargam 34 of Sudhara khandam
and (4) the allottment of a total of 120 years to the 9 planets
together in Vedic astrology.

The life of a human being can not be more than a reasonale level of
120  + a few years.

But what constitues a year is a question when we talk about the 1000s
of years mentioned in Ramayana. I say this becasue we have in
astrology many types of years.
For instance there is a polar cycle which is about the axis of the
earth making a circle around the polar region. In other words it is
about the precession of equinoxes. By this we can say, that the Dhruva
nakshthram that Rama and sita would have seen in their vanavasam is
not the one we see now.

Coming to the topic,  I felt gratified  when, after writing my mails
on the date of Raama based on the assumption of a Polar cycle of
28,800 years with  ascending (uttarayan) and descending (dakshinayan)
years of 14,400 years each, with a cycle of mini chathur yuga in each
phase, I came to know about the existence of such cycle in an
astrology text (by V.K.V.Acharya, with a preface by Paramacharyal of
Kanchi in 1956).

This Polar cycle, known as Saptharishi kaala, has been mentioned in
Rajatharangini. Infact this cycle is the only mode of reckoning
adopted in Rajatharangini which tells about the history of Kashmir in
pre-Christian era. Polar cycle had been in vogue in Kashmir (Please
note that Kashmir derived its name from Rishi Kahyapa and
archeological findings reveal that this is the place of early vedic
period.). Varahamihira also has laid emphasis on this 28,000 year
cycle at many places in his Pancha siddhanthika. Please note this
master piece of his is based on Surya siddhantha and Vasishta
siddhanta besides 3 other ancient works which deal with astro theories
followed at very ancient times.

 I have attempted to answer the intrigue of Rama ruling over for
11,000 years based on this Polar cycle in my mails on " The date of
Raama - 4 & 5 ".

Apart from the Polar cycle, there have been in existence other modes
of calculation of years and cycles.
Like Soura maanam and chandra maanam based on Solar and Lunar
revolutions, Brahaspathiya maanam had been in vogue as per
astrological texts.
This is based on  Jupiter's movement which had been in popular use in
Himalayan regions and is still being used in Ladak and Tibet.
This again is of 2 types, the 60 year cycle and 12 year cycle.

Thus, it is highly probable that the mention of 1000s of years in
Ramayana could be about some now-forgotten calculation of years.



(2) Moving to other issues, "Dasa sapta cha varshaani tava jaatasya
Putraka!"  can be seen in different light.

The 'jaatasya' can be about the upanayanam of Raman. There is no exact
mention of time of upanayanam and it is all said in continuation of
his birth.

Since astrology has been very much part of life in those days, Rama's
upanayanam could not have taken place before 8 years.

8 year period is a crucial period because this constitutes
'baalarishta ' period. Baalaarishtam means death before 8 years.

The first 4 years including the period in the  womb is influenced by
the mother's destiny (according to astrology). The next 4 years by
father's destiny. The child's destiny starts to work on it only after
8 years, or after this baalaarishta period.

Upon upanayanam, the child physically leaves the mother (after maathru
bhojanam ceremony before the start of the upanayanam ceremony.)
>From then onwards, the child is an individual, taking care of himself.

It is possible to assume that Kausalya meant this. She waited for 17
years for Rama's coronation after Rama had his intiation at the age of
8. This means 8+17=25
This is the age we have arrived at by other calculations.


(3)  Now about what Dhasharatha says.

"Oona shodasa varsha: asou Ramo raajeeva lochana:

Na yuddha yogyataam asya pasyaami saha raakshasai:"


"My Rama is a mere infant-He has not even completed sixteen. How then could He
be equal to battling with terrible raakshasaas?" enquires the Emperor of
Visvaamitra.


Why the mention of 16?

Again as per astrology 16 is a crucial year.

The life span of man is divided into 3, alpaayusu (below 32),
madhyaayusu (between 32 and 72) and dheergayusu (between 72 and 100).

Half of Alpaayusu is 16 years.
By 16 years the child completes his education in Gurukulam and comes
back to the father. (The education  may extend upto 24 years)
Here Rama, though a kshathriya by birth, has had  vedic teaching
(refer Hanuman's description of Rama in sargam 35 of Sundhara khandam)
and could have followed the regular learning schedule of a Brahmin.

Dhasharatha might have meant this. Rama was still young not even had
crossed the 16 year mark of age which was alpa -alpa ayusu, not even
completed his formal education in astra vidya. How could he be
expected to battle with rakhshasas?

(4) By the time the couple returned to Ayodhya, Rama must have been 39
(25 + 14) and Sita 32 (18+ 14), as per this discussion.

 (Also  refer to Sri MGV's mail on this topic on message number 7633
in Olppiliappan archives)


Pranams,

jayasree saranathan


 
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