Mahakumbh of 144 Years and Astronomical Dating of Samudra Manthan
The relative Vedic chronology indicates that Daksha Prajapati performed a Yajna in Kankhal, Haridwar, prior to the event of Samudra Manthan. Later traditions surrounding the Kumbh suggest that the spilling of Amrit during the Samudra Manthan is associated with the Kumbh Mela; however, this narrative is not found in the original legend of Samudra Manthan, either in Vedic texts or in the Puranas.
Kumbh Rashi is linked to Daksha’s Yajna (dated 29 November 11217 BCE, Phalguna Paurnamasi) as well as to the event of Samudra Manthan. Daksha Prajapati flourished during the Rigvedic era. His daughter, Sati, was married to Mahadeva Shiva. He conducted the significant Yajna in Kankhal Kshetra, Haridwar. According to the Mahabharata, Daksha performed the Hayamedha Yajna but did not extend an invitation to Shiva. Disheartened, Sati immolated herself during the Yajna. In his fury, Shiva dispatched his Ganas, Virabhadra and Bhadrakali, to punish Daksha.
Notably, the Parashara Tantra references a comet, ‘Kaliketu,’ that became visible just prior to Daksha’s Yajna, first appearing in the Anuradha, Jyeshtha, and Mula Nakshatras. Among the Rudra group comets, Kaliketu emerges 300 years and 9 months after Maniketu. From the east, along the ecliptic, with a head resembling the tip of a spear or trident, it traverses one-third of the sky to become visible on the horizon.
Indian astronomers designated comets based on their appearance. As a result, Halley’s Comet was referred to as Kaliketu, Maniketu, or Dhumaketu. This Kaliketu is indeed Halley’s Comet, which was observable in Anuradha, Jyeshtha, and Mula Nakshatras around August 11218 BCE (as simulated by Stellarium software version 19.2) and corresponds to the orbital description provided in the Parashara Tantra. It is also noteworthy that a comet, “Maniketu,” was visible in the same Nakshatras 300 years and 9 months prior.
Halley’s Comet was observable earlier in Anuradha, Jyeshtha, and Mula Nakshatras in December 11520 BCE. Thus, we can accurately ascertain that Daksha Prajapati’s Yajna took place in the year 11217 BCE, marking the Samvatsara, the first year of the five-year Yuga cycle. The full moon of the Phalguna month occurred on 29 November 11217 BCE, when the Sun and Jupiter were positioned in Kumbha Rashi (Aquarius).
The Yuga calendar of the Vedic era commenced in 13322 BCE, coinciding with the autumnal equinox occurring at Ashvini Nakshatra and the Sun being in Mesha Rashi (Aries). This is why the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar is celebrated when Jupiter enters Kumbh Rashi and the Sun enters Mesha Rashi. Consequently, the Kumbh Mela of Haridwar has its origins in the Yajna performed by Daksha Prajapati on 29 November 11217 BCE. This explains why all Melas are referred to as Kumbh, although the Prayag Kumbh is celebrated when Jupiter enters Vrishabh Rashi (Taurus) according to the Paitamaha Siddhanta and the Nashik Kumbh is celebrated when Jupiter enters Simha Rashi (Leo) according to the Brahma Siddhanta.
When Maharshi Dhanvantari arrived with a pot of Amrit, the Asuras seized the pot. Mohini (Vishnu) deceived the Asuras and distributed Amrit exclusively to the Devas. However, Asura Svarbhanu disguised himself as one of the Devas and consumed Amrita. Surya and Chandra (the Sun and Moon) witnessed Svarbhanu’s deceit and promptly informed Mohini. In response, Mohini beheaded Svarbhanu, but since he had already consumed the Amrita of immortality, his severed head (Rahu) continues to live alongside his empty body (Ketu) and perpetually chases the Sun and Moon for revenge to this day. The Maha Kumbh Mela tradition also indicates that four celestial bodies—the Sun, Moon, Jupiter, and Saturn—will align on Pushya Amavasya.
The Svarbhanu legend and the conjunction of the Sun and Moon clearly suggest the occurrence of a Total Solar Eclipse on Pausha Amavasya during the Samudra Manthan. Additionally, the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn took place on the same day. Subsequently, Jupiter moved into Kumbh Rashi.
Taking all these astronomical factors into account, software simulations indicate that, in the 12thyear following the date of Daksha’s Yajna (29 November 11217 BCE), a Total Solar Eclipse occurred on 13 October 11206 BCE (Pausha Amavasya), coinciding with a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in Makara Rashi on the same day. Jupiter transitioned to Kumbh Rashi two months later. Therefore, we can determine both the absolute date of the Samudra Manthan event and the date associated with Dhanvantari, a descendant of Kashi King Divodasa.
Prior to 6777 BCE, ancient Indians adhered to a five-year Yuga calendar. The calendar year commenced on Magha Shukla Pratipada and concluded on Pausha Amavasya, with Ashadha and Pausha serving as intercalary months at intervals of two and a half years. The Yuga calendar was essentially lunisolar.
The Surya Siddhanta, composed by Mayasura on 22 February 6778 BCE, revolutionized ancient Indian astronomy by introducing the 12-year Jupiter cycle, which began when Jupiter was in Aries. The traditional Paitamaha Siddhanta adopted this Jovian cycle of 12 years alongside a 60-year cycle commencing on 3 December 6777 BCE, when Jupiter entered Taurus. This extension of the Yuga duration from five years to 1200 years (12 x 100) significantly enhanced the accuracy of calendrical calculations and planetary motions, marking the first time that planetary calculations became an integral aspect of Indian astronomy. Additionally, the Ashvinyadi list of nakshatras was introduced in place of the Krittikādi list, as the winter solstice had shifted to the Ashvini nakshatra around 7322 BCE. Thus, the epoch of 6777 BCE represents a major turning point in the history of ancient Indian astronomy.
With the extension of the Yuga duration from five years to 1200 years, it became essential to maintain a record of the elapsed 100 years from the epoch of 6777 BCE. A Saptarshi cycle of 2700 years was established, with each 100-year period named after one nakshatra, starting from Ashvini nakshatra. This innovative approach effectively facilitated the record-keeping of elapsed years from the epoch of 6777 BCE. It was subsequently hypothesized that the Saptarshis resided for 100 years in each nakshatra. The Puranas unanimously indicate that the Saptarshis were situated in Magha Nakshatra during the reign of Yudhishthira, suggesting that 3600 years had elapsed from 6777 BCE to the Mahabharata era.
Thus, the epoch of the Saptarshi calendar, 3 December 6777 BCE, plays a crucial role in establishing the chronology of ancient India. It also marks the beginning of the first cycles of 12 years and 60 years. The Maha Kumbh Mela of Prayag coincides with the epoch of the first 12-year cycle, specifically on 3 December 6777 BCE, when Jupiter was in Taurus and the Sun was in Capricorn.
The first Kumbh was celebrated at Prayag in 6777 BCE, and the great cycle of 144 years (12 x 12-year cycles) also began in 6777 BCE. Twenty-five cycles of 144 years (3600 years) had elapsed around the commencement of the Kaliyuga. It appears that the cycles of 12 years and 144 years were reset in the Yudhishthira era (3161 BCE). The first Kumbh was celebrated in 3159 BCE when Jupiter entered Taurus. Starting from 3159 BCE, 36 cycles of 144 years had elapsed by 2025. The 36th cycle of 144 years will conclude on 13 January 2025. Thus, the tradition of Kumbh Mela at Prayag is over 8800 years old.
Vedveer Arya is a civil servant and an officer of 1997 batch of Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS). A postgraduate in Sanskrit from University of Delhi, he is author of 'The Chronology of India'.