Scientists have recently uncovered significant secrets behind descriptions of “the sun pierced through,” “the magic disappearing” in an ancient Hindu text.
A study published in the scientific journal Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage has identified several passages describing strange phenomena occurring with the sun in the famous Hindu scripture Rig Veda (sometimes written as Rigveda), which may represent the first scientific descriptions of solar eclipses by humanity.
Two seemingly dark phenomena described in Hindu scriptures may refer to ancient total solar eclipses – (AI Illustration: Anh Thư).
According to Live Science, the language of the Rig Veda is highly symbolic and allegorical, making it challenging to distinguish between mythological tales and historical accounts.
However, two astronomers, Mayank Vahia from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (India) and Mitsuru Soma from the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, have “struck gold.”
The Rig Veda is a collection of hymns and verses from various religious and philosophical schools, compiled around 1500 BCE.
Like most religious texts, it references historical events, including several passages related to astronomy.
For instance, one passage describes the position of the sun at the time of the spring equinox, another mentions that the equinox occurs in the constellation of Libra, while another describes it happening in the Pleiades cluster (also known as the Seven Sisters).
What intrigued the Indian and Japanese scientists were the ornate passages describing the sun as being pierced by darkness and gloom, or how malevolent beings create “magic disappearing” concerning the sun.
They also noted that these passages do not reference the story of Rahu and Ketu, a more recent Hindu myth about eclipses, indicating that the ancient writings in the Rig Veda were composed earlier.
Subsequent passages helped the astronomers narrow down the timeframe of the eclipses.
One eclipse described occurred during the spring equinox in the constellation of Libra, while another occurred just three days before the autumn equinox.
The phenomena described correspond to total solar eclipses, which would have darkened the morning sky. The region witnessing the total eclipse must have been where the writers of the Rig Veda later resided.
This leaves only two suitable dates: October 22, 4202 BCE, and October 19, 3811 BCE.
This implies that the first description is of a solar eclipse from 6,200 years ago, while the second describes an eclipse from 5,800 years ago.
Both of these dates precede descriptions of eclipses found in other ancient texts, including a clay tablet in Syria recording an eclipse in 1375 or 1223 BCE and an inscription in Ireland that may describe an eclipse from 3340 BCE.
