CHANDRAHARI’S AYANAMSA by

Sreenadh Malayinkizh.

Introduction

Sri Chandrahari has written three books on Ayanamsa. 1) A

small book in English “True Ayanamsa” was published around

1994. 2) The book “Rasichakram” in Malayalam was published in

1996. 3) A detailed book “Hindu Zodiac and Ancient Astronomy”

in English was published in 2003. While in his ‘Rasichakram’,

he advocated the Zero Ayanamsa year as 238 A.D., with Ayanamsa

of 46 minutes more than that of Lahiri, he refined it in his

“Hindu Zodiac and Ancient Astronomy,” to the 231 A.D., as zero

Ayanamsa year with the value 44 minutes, more than that of the

Ayanamsa of Lahiri.

The aim of this article is to compile the ideas of Sri

Chandrahari as given in his Malayalam book ‘Rasichakram’ in a

systematic manner, keeping the continuity of his mathematical

concepts and thoughts. While describing the mathematical

models of Sri Chandrahari on the Ayanamsa, ingrained in Surya

Sidhantha, an attempt has been made in this article to

comprehend his insights into the Rasichakra division. In

‘Rasichakram,’ he proposes a Zero Ayanamsa Year 238 A.D., and

this places his Ayanamsa value at a level exceeding that of

Lahiri by 46 minutes.

Basic Rationale 1:

The zodiac was conceptualized considering the revolution of

the nodal points Rahu and Sikhi. Thus, the Rasichakra – is in

fact ‘Ra-Si chakra’ or Rahu-Sikhi Chakra. He holds that

rotation of these nodes is in rhythm with the movement of

equinox, if only we care to consider the duration required for

precession of 360 degrees. [25758 years means 1385 Nirayana

revolutions of Rahu-Sikhi. i.e. Nirayana revolution period of

Rahu = 6792.977 days]

Theoretically or by intuition, the author gives the following

mathematical concept. Rate of precession of equinox per year

= 360 degrees/25758 = 120 degrees/8586 = 50.31446541 seconds

of arc. He says that, the importance of these numbers can

also be proved, considering the modern values of Nirayana and

Sayana years. For example:

Nirayana Year = 365.2563625 (Modern value)

Sayana Year = 365.24219 (Modern value)

The difference between 8586 Sayana and Nirayana years will be

-121.684 days. i.e. precession of equinox in 8586 years will

be 119º56’ ≈ 120º [This also indicates that the year length used in the old

Suryasidhantha is slightly different. The year length

considered in old Suryasidhantha is 365.25875 days. For the

“why” of it refer Rationale 4]

Using the above method we can prove that, 25758 Nirayana years

are equal to 25759 Sayana years.

Basic Rationale 2:

The importance of Yuga numbers is that they can also be taken

as precessional seconds to form a pattern.

Kaliyuga = 432,000” = 120 x 3600” = 120º

We have already found that the time to traverse the arc of

120º would be 8586 Years

This holds good if and only if, this period contains the

complete revolutions of the 7 planets and the nodes Rahu-

Sikhi. To prove it, he gives the following table and

emphasizes the importance of the number 8586.

Complete-revolution & Nirayana-revolution Period--------------------------------------------------------------------Planet In Quarter Yuga In Mahayuga Kalpa Nirayana Rev Period (8586 years) 85860 years) (86546880 yrs) (Modern Value)--------------------------------------------------------------------Sun 8586 85860 86546880

365.2563624 365.2563624 365.2563624 365.2563624--------------------------------------------------------------------Moon 114784 1147840 1157023263

27.32167486 27.32167486 27.32166204 27.3216615 (27d07h43m11.6s) (27d07h43m11.55s)

--------------------------------------------------------------------Mars 4565 45650 46015614

686.9860082 686.9860082 686.9798274 686.97982--------------------------------------------------------------------Mercury 35649 356498 359350528

87.97136 87.969389 87.9692559 87.969256--------------------------------------------------------------------Jupiter 724 7238 7296284

4331.6175 4332.8144 4332.5888 4332.589--------------------------------------------------------------------Saturn 291 2915 2938110

10776.94546 10758.46013 10759.22908 10759.23--------------------------------------------------------------------Venus 13957 13567 140683961

224.6966488 224.7914787 224.7007998 224.70080--------------------------------------------------------------------Rahu 461.5 4616 4653263

6795.430 6793.9582 6793.46934 6793.469--------------------------------------------------------------------Vernal 120 deg 1200 degEquinox (0.333..) (3.333..) (3360)

432,000” 432,000,0” 432,000,0”x1008 Revolutions Revolutions Revolutions

--------------------------------------------------------------------

We see that Yuga numbers could actually mean precession

seconds. Therefore, we can say,

Kaliyuga = 432,000” = 120 x 3600” = 120º = 8586 Years

Dwaparayuga = 864,000” = 240º precessions = 17172 years

Tretayuga = 1,296,000” = 360º precessions = 25758 years

Kritayuga = 1,728,000” = 480º precessions = 34344 years

Mahayuga = 4,320,000” =1200ºprecessions = 85860 Nirayana years

Manvantara = 86400º precessions

Kalpa = 3360º precessions

Theoretically, this means that, each Yuga-pada (8586 years)

starts and ends on a new moon day and that at the start and

end of each Yuga-Pada, a solar eclipse occurs. (However, it

does not happen. The “why” of this is in rationale 4)

Basic Rationale 3:

Kaliyugadi Ayanamsa is 46º40’

[The author depends on the story that the birth of Brahma was

in Rohini Nakshatra. Rohini was also praised as Prajapathi,

i.e., Brahma, in Vedas]

Vernal equinox at the beginning of Kaliyugadi = 46º40’

Therefore, Zero Ayanamsa years (elapsed) = 46º40’x (8586/120º)

= 3339 years

Here a striking similarity attracts our attention. to which

the author draws our attention. 3339 is a Rigvedic number.

Rigveda (3.9.9) says of “3339 Devas who worship Agni.” If

Agni really means vernal equinox, then this could mean, “The

vernal equinox is 3339 years away from zero point.”

After 3339 Kali years the Sayana and Nirayana zodiacs conjoin.

Whether we depend on the above calculation or on the Rigvedic

statement, we arrive at the same conclusion.

Kaliyuga beginning + 3339 = Zero Ayanamsa Year

3102 BC = -3101 AD

i.e., - 3101 AD + 3339 = AD 238

i.e., Zero Ayanamsa Year = AD 238.

Thus, the definite formula for determining the Ayanamsa of any

year would be -

Ayanamsa for the year (Y) = (Y-238) x (120 deg/8586) Degrees.

= (Y-238)/71.55 degrees.

Here another striking similarity attracts our attention. The

Number of human heartbeat per minute is 71 or 72. It might be

possible that 71.55 is the actual value of the heartbeat for a

human being. If so, we could also prove that the rhythm of

the universe and the biological clock in humans are mutually

related. The biological clock, circadian rhythm etc., come

into consideration. Thus the author points out.

Example for calculating Ayanamsa for any year: -

Hari Ayanamsa for 1995 = (1995 - 238)/71.55 = 24.55625437

= 24 deg 33 min 22. 52 sec

Chaitrapaksha

Lahiri Ayanamsa for 1995 = 23 deg 47 min 30 sec

Difference = Hari Ayanamsa minus Lahiri Ayanamsa = 46 minutes.

i.e., Hari Ayanamsa is 46 minutes more than that of Lahiri.

If we subtract 46 minutes from the sputa arrived at by using

Lahiri ephemeris, we can get the sputa based on Hari Ayanamsa.

Sri Chandrahari does not stop here. He proves how the zodiac

was divided into Rasis or Signs and Nakshatras or Stars, based

on the fiducial star Moola (240º), 108 divisions of Nakshatras

(3º20’each) and the above-said actual position of vernal

equinox at Kaliyugadi (46º40’). For this, two new ideas are

introduced and the author dives deep into old Suryasidhantha

to prove them.

Basic Rationale 4:

(i) Zodiac is considered and presented as a mathematical model

in old Suryasidhantha, trying to comprehend the perfect rhythm

of the universe.

(ii) Even though the creator of Suryasidhantha (Mayan) knew

about the actual vernal equinox at Kaliyugadi (46º40’),

Kaliyugadi Ayanamsa was considered as 60º (in old

Suryasidhantha), for the perfection of this mathematical model.

According to the precession considered in old Suryasidhantha:

Precessional Cycle = 21600 years (instead of 25758 years)

If we relate this to Yuga years -

432000 (Kaliyuga) = 21600 x 20

4,320,000 (Mahayuga) = 21600 x 200

Mahayuga = 200 x 360 deg = 72000 years

120º precession=432000/600=7200 years (instead of 8586 Years)

If we divide the number of revolution of planets in a Mahayuga

by 600, we can get the number of revolutions of planets per

7200 years.

Thus we get -

Sun = 4,320,000/ 600 = 7200.00

Mars = 296824/600 = 3828.04

Jupiter = 364200/600 = 607.033

Venus = 7022388/600 = 11703.98

Mercury = 17937000/600 = 29895.00

Rahu = 232226/600 = 387.0433

The results are very near to whole numbers. That means in

7200 years the mean values for planets complete, whole number

of revolutions. If we consider little bigger period, for

example take, 7200 x 25 = 4320000/24 = 180000 years, we can

prove that it contains whole number of revolutions.

The author says, “As the old Surya Sidhantha takes all the

revolution numbers of planets in whole numbers and multiples

of 24, in 180000 years, the mean positions of planets conjunct

at zero-point. This is the basic concept of Vedic astronomy.

Suryasidhantha relates the imaginary mean positions of planets

at the start of Yuga to the actual planetary positions

occurring after 3600 years”

As Suryasidhantha takes 4320000 as a Mahayuga, the

precessional Cycle (for 360º) becomes 21600 years. Thus, it

necessitates vernal equinox to be at 60 deg in the beginning

of Kali-Yuga (Instead of at 46 deg 40 min). In other words

Kali-Yugadi Ayanamsa should be 60 deg (mathematically),

instead of (the real) 46 deg 40 min. If we compare with the

actual data, one may feel that it is an error. But in

reality, the Precessional Cycle is a mathematical model put

forward by the creator of Suryasidhantha. What was the need

for such a model? All these mathematical exercises were done

to relate the Yugadi Mesha-Sankranti with the new moon day.

For this, the Mesha Sankranti at the beginning of Yuga was

considered to happen, 9 days and 37 Ghatis ahead. (9º37’)

For that only Nirayana year with length 365.25875 was chosen.

It was not because that the author did not know the actual

Nirayana year length. The actual precession according to

Suryasidhantha was 50”.

How can we know that the year length used in Suryasidhantha

was 365.25875 days? According to Old Suryasidhantha the

average number of days in a Mahayuga was 1577917800 days.

One Mahayuga is 4,320,000 years.

Therefore Year Length = 1577917800/4320000 = 365.25875 days

[Really I am not able to figure out how he got that “the actual

precession considered by Suryasidhantha as 50 sec.” There

might be a sufficient reason.]

This goes to clinch the first stellar division (first star) to

Jyeshta that falls between the line joining the hypothetical

Equinox line of old Suryasidhantha (the line joining 60 deg

Vernal equinox and 240 deg fiducial star Moola) and the line

joining the actual Equinox line at Yugadi (line joining 46 deg

40 min and 226 deg 40 min). The first rasi division (sign -

Cancer) falls between the line joining the hypothetical Sayana

Rahu-Sikhi (line joining 300º Sayana-Sikhi / planetary

conjunction point and 120º Sayana Rahu) and the hypothetical

Ecliptic (line joining 330º and 150º) of Old Suryasidhantha.

Thus, comes the Zodiac with stars 13º20’ each and Signs with

30 degrees each.

It appears as if these facts led Sri Chandrahari to formulate

the concepts such as Mooladhara Rahu-Sikhi-chakram and rhythm

of the universe. (music of the stars or biological clock -

whatever be the name) Some other striking similarities also

have been found by him. Some of them are:

(i) Moola is the base of zodiac division - Mooladhara is the

base point from where yoga starts.

(ii) Horoscope is also called Kundalini - In yoga Kundalini

(serpent power) is important.

(iii) Rahu-Sikhi (Serpents-Kalasarpa) is the underlying factor

of Rasichakra - Kundalini in yoga is also symbolized as

serpent.

(iv) Kalapurusha is a concept in astrology - Sankhya and Yoga

also speak about Purusha.

(v) The universe is Rhythmic - The human body also functions

in rhythm with the universe. [This needs further

clarification. Prana means 4 seconds. According to Yoga and

Upanishads, one day of a human means 21600 prana. 360º x 60 =

21600’ We have to consider the importance of the number 71.55]

All these similarities must have prompted him to delve deep

into the concepts such as Tantra/Yoga and Circadian-

rhythm/Biological-clock etc. We have to appreciate the

efforts of Sri Chandrahari even though his concepts may be

proved correct or not.

Conclusion:

In the view of Chandrahari -

(i) The Yuga concept is nothing but an innate theory of

Ayanamsa. That is why it was given this much importance by

Old Suryasidhantha (Includes in Panchasidhanthika of

Varahamihira). The yuga concept is included in the

Panchasiddhantika of Varaahamihira, New Suryasidhantha of

Aryabhatta I, the Epics and Puranas, and Dharma sasthras like

Manusmrithi.

(ii) Rasichakram (Zodiac) is a mathematical model, put

forward by Rishis, which postulates the existence of a

Sidereal (Nirayana) Zero-point (Meshadi or Aswinyadi), as well

as the conjunction of 8 planets at this zero-point in the

beginning of every Yuga.

(iii) The Sayana-Nirayana division is deep seated in Hindu

mythology and the Vedas have ample proof of this. Both the

Sayana and Nirayana systems existed in Vedic period. (Mayan

the creator of Suryasidhantha was only a genius compiler of

the then prevailing knowledge)

At the end, let me mention one more point taken form the book

Rasichakram. In the first hymn of purushasuktha, “sahasra

seersha purusha sahasraksha sahasra path.....”, a purusha

with 1000 heads, 1000 eyes and 1000 legs gets a mention. As

everybody knows, 1000 heads may need 2000 eyes and 2000 legs

for a superhuman form. It is evident that the meaning of the

word Sahasra as 1000, does not fit well. (One may escape the

confusion by saying that Sahasra means ‘many’) Based on

sathapatha Brahmana, some scholars say that Sahasra means

‘circle’. This is noteworthy. Many astronomical terms are

used in this hymn. The following elaboration can clarify the

point.

Seersha Circle (Sahasra seersha purusha) = Prime meridian

Aksha Circle (Sahasraksha) = Celestial Equator

Patha Circle (Sahasrapath) = Nodal Circle

Bhoomi Circle (Sa-Bhoomim) = Horizon

Viswa Circle (Viswatho vrithva) = Ecliptic

Now, if the interpretation of Sri Chandrahari is right, we may

get ample proof for the fact that Vedic Knowledge is really

amazing.

Note: Sri Chandrahari, with true dedication towards

astrological research, argues vigorously about the concepts he

believes in. His ideas are stunning and are capable of

capturing the attention of those who are sincerely searching

the truth of astrology. The aim of this dissertation is not

to advocate the views of Chandra-Hari. It is an appreciation

of his mathematical concepts.

Sreenadh

sreesog@yahoo.com