Study of Comets and Related Celestial Phenomena as depicted in Ancient Sanskrit Texts

Abstract

A study of the history of Indian astral science shows a significant lack of attention to transient phenomena such as comets and meteoric showers. Since the knowledge of the movements of celestial bodies was needed for the measurement of time, attention was given more to the phases of moon, solstices, equinoxes and later to the positions of planets and prediction of eclipses. While the literature in the common era exhibits such a scant attention to comets, we however find mentions of comets in more ancient literature. The Vedic texts have numerous newlinementions of comets and related celestial events along with destruction on the earth due to extraterrestrial objects. Such an understanding becomes apparent when the texts are studied using Yand#257;ska s adhidaivata or celestial point of view. The epics and purand#257;and#7751;a-s describe comet sightings and describe in detail ancient natural disasters as a result of impact events. They seem newlineto have infused and sustained in our culture the memories of civilization s destructions and restorations. The Jyotiand#7779;a text on natural sciences from the Pre-Siddhantic period, Parand#257;and#347;aratantra, elaborately describes a list of comets as if from an ancient memory. newline