20 March 402 CE at Udayagiri:

Candra Gupta-Vikramāditya Epoch of Indian Astronomy

K. Chandra Hariƒ
Astronomical alignment of the Udayagiri passageway to the precise eastern sunrise of azimuth
900 on 29 May 402 CE suggested a well developed system of astronomy during the reign of
Candragupta-II. Further studies on the astronomical phenomena with reference to the cardinal
points of sun has yielded critical information which tend to establish that the date 20 March 402
CE which coincided vernal equinox, true Aries ingress and Caitra-śukla (1) had been the epoch
of genesis of Indian siddhāntic astronomy which in later times got identified in terms of the
Brahmapaksa and Saurapaksa. Paper presents illustration of the umbilical connection that the
revolution numbers of Mars, Mercury, Jupiter and Venus had with the epoch of Kali 3503
elapsed (mean Aries ingress of 22 March 402 CE). Remarkable phenomenal signature of 402
CE which were critical inputs to the development of siddhāntic computational model have been
discussed. Rare apogee and node conjunctions of moon on 18 May 402 CE and the observations
that may have helped checking and fixing the positions of Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and
Moon leading to the integral number of revolutions have been discussed. Light is cast onto a
hitherto obscure phase of Indian astronomy, the precursor to Brahma and Saura siddhāntas that
we see in 6th century CE, originating in Ujjayinī at the beginning of the 5th century CE under the
patronage of Candragupta Vikramāditya.
Precise alignment that we see of the Udayagiri passageway is thus shown to yield a detailed
commentary on the development of siddhāntic astronomy in India at the beginning of the 5th
century CE.

Introduction
Astronomical alignment of the Udayagiri structure and presence of astronomical motifs like
Naksatra Cakra had bee the subject of many studies in recent past. Solstice observations during
the prime phase of Gupta Era, in the year 82 which corresponds to 402 CE had been under
discussion in relation to the astronomical alignment of Udayagiri structure1,2,3,4. But little has
come to know of the state of astronomy and development of astronomy during the Gupta age
due to lack of records and surviving astronomical treatises of the 4th and early 5th century CE.
The Sanakanika inscription in cave 6 at Udayagiri has been dated to 29 May 402 CE 4 and in
continuation of the same, an effort is made here to examine the astronomical features of the
ƒ
Institute of Reservoir Studies, ONGC, Ahmedabad-5

1
epoch 402 CE in contrast to basic siddhantic elements like revolution numbers. Āryabhata
appeared at the close of the 5th century CE and Varāhamihira nearly at the middle of 6th century
and when we look for earlier Indian planetary models in Pancasiddhāntikā, Pauliśa siddhānta
strikes our attention as resembling the later day works like Āryabhatīya and the modern
Sūryasiddhānta. Siddhantic computational models in all these works are similar in respect of the
derivation of mean longitudes using the concept of mean longitudinal conjunction at Yugādi
(17/18 February -3101CE, 00:00 or 06:00 ZT, JD(ZT):588465.75, Kalidina:0) and revolution
numbers in a Yuga of 4320000 years which comprise little more or less of 1577917800 days5.
Resemblance of the Pauliśa with Saura and other siddhāntas that Dikshit6 has brought out in his
discussion is suggestive of the possibility that the Siddhāntic model that we see in Āryabhata in
500 AD or in Varāhamihira’s compilation of Sūryasiddhānta may have a common precursor at
some point of time in the past. Udayagiri epoch that we see in Sanakanika inscription 29 May
402 CE against the background of astronomical motifs that could be seen in Udayagiri suggests
that 29 May 402 CE may have been a festival day when Candragupta Vikramāditya paid a visit
to the site of the observatory and the epoch of 402 CE or the time around may be of some
umbilical connection to the later Siddhāntic models.
Effort here is therefore to have a look primarily at the cardinal points of sun in 402 CE to
explore the possibility of a precursor epoch of Kali 3600 (Āryabhata, Śaka 421) or Kali 3605
(Varāhamihira in Pancasiddhāntikā has taken Śaka 426 as epoch) in 402 CE. Contrasting the
features of the vernal equinox and the planetary phenomena around with the basic
computational model of Siddhāntic astronomy leads us to far more interesting facts which point
towards serious observations and derivation of many parameters of the Siddhāntic
computational model at the epoch viz., vernal equinox of 402CE, 20 March 402 CE which we
may quite appropriately designate as the Candra Gupta-Vikramāditya epoch. .

Critical Observations of 20 March 402 CE

1. Sunrise observation
Table-1: Azimuth at sunrise
Date
Azimuth Altitude Remarks
20 March 402 CE
06:04 89°37 -00°54'
06:05 89°43' -00°41'
06:06 89°49' -00°27'
06:07 89°55' -00°13'
06:08 90°01' 00°01' 900 Azimuth: 00 Altitude
06:09 90°07' 00°15'

2
With this observation of the azimuth of the rising sun, equinox could have been identified by
making use of the precise cardinal orientation of an observing platform. Precise north could
have been fixed either by observing the simultaneous meridian transit of 2 stars or by making
use of the midpoint of the ‘Pointer’ in Seven Sages (Saptarsis) i.e. midpoint of Dubhe (α-Ursae
Majoris) and Merak (β-Ursage Majoris) which had been very popular in Indian astronomy7 in
connection with the alleged motion of the Sages. In 400 CE the midpoint of the pointer had its
orientation to precise north and the fact that the pointer had been a topic of discussion in Indian
treatises abundantly reveal the observation of stellar phenomena and the comparative ease with
which they may have fixed the north (azimuth 0). Observations and geometry together may
have enabled the ancient astronomers to fix the cardinal directions and the cardinal points of sun
with remarkable accuracy.

Siddhāntic Epoch

20 March 402 CE, vernal equinox corresponded to 02:00 UT or 07:03 ZTƒ at Ujjayinī and
JD(ZT):1867966.5830 and the mean sunrise of Lanka 06:00 ZT corresponded to JD (ZT):
1867966.75 and Kalidina was 1279501. Mean longitude of sun corresponding to the Kalidina of
1279501, according to modern algorithms is 358003’ and if we consider the midnight system,
we get the same mean λ at 00:00 ZT on 20 March 402 CE. Equation of centre will be ≈ 20 and
therefore the epoch of 1279501days shall correspond to true Aries ingress. .
Mean Aries ingress shall be corresponding to 22 March 402CE, 06:00 ZT, JD (ZT): 1867968.75
days (sunrise system) and JD(TT) = 1867968.60317 with mean sun = 001’ i.e. precisely zero at
06:00 ZT. Kalidina of 1279503 days for the expiry of 3503 Kali years gives the solar year as of
length 365.2592 days (anomalistic) which may have been a precursor to the value of 365.25875
days we seen in Ardharātrika system of Āryabhata and in the Sūryasiddhānta compiled by
Varāhamihira. Difference with the value of 365.25875 days in 3503 years accumulates to nearly
1.5 days and this could have been adjusted by adopting Yugādi as Sunday midnight so that a
decrement of 1.5 days is achieved or by suitably defining a mean computation based on Kalpādi
if we are to assume that the solar year was the same i.e. 365.25875 days.
Epoch coinciding with vernal equinox for observational verification of the computations and
epochal reference point (00), we meet with on 20 March 402 CE and the main features of
computation are:

ƒ
ZT is used to mention Zonal Time i.e. Local Mean Time at Ujjayinī of Longitude 75E45. In all
computations the latitude adopted is 23N31 of Udayagiri unless otherwise specified.

3
Saturday, 402 CE, 22 March 06:00 ZT: JD (ZT): 1867968.75 days. JD (TT)ƒ = 1867968.60317
and mean λ of sun is 00001′. Kalidina =1279503 days
Thursday 20th March 402 CE, 06:00 ZT, JD (ZT): 1867966.75 and JD (TT) = 1867966.60317
and mean λ of sun = 358002′. Kalidina = 1279501 days.

Taking the Indian value of solar apogee 780, the equation of centre will be 128′* sin 780 =02005′
in contrast to what we see above 01059’ – difference is only 6′ and this surplus is the result of
variation amounting to 11′ getting added to sun’s equation of centre. With maximum equation
of centre as 117′ we get the equation of centre in the above case as 117′sin 780 =01054’ only.
Extreme precision of the epochs of mean Aries ingress and true Aries ingress with respect to the
meridian of Laňkā at Udayagiri and Kalidina of 1279503 and 1279501 days renders irrefutable
evidence for the fact that the Siddhāntic model of planetary computations extant since the days
of Āryabhata and Varāhamihira (epochs K3600 and K3605) had a precursor in the age of
Candragupta Vikramāditya viz., 20 March 402 CE.
In the following part, we shall look for additional evidences in support of the above contention
arrived at from the examination of the true Aries ingress and Siddhāntic mean Aries ingress.

2. Measurement of the Equinoctial Shadow at Noon

Table-2: Measuring the shadow at Noon
20 March 402 CE Azimuth Altitude Shadow Remarks
12:00 175.09 66.49 5.22
12:01 175.72 66.51 5.22
12:02 176.35 66.52 5.21
12:03 176.97 66.53 5.21
12:04 177.60 66.55 5.21
12:05 178.23 66.55 5.20
12:06 178.86 66.56 5.20
12:07 179.49 66.56 5.20 Noon: 1800 Azimuth
12:08 180.11 66.57 5.20
12:09 180.74 66.56 5.20

Equinoctial shadow conveyed the declination and given the errors possible in ancient
observations, noon of 20 March 402 CE may have been taken as the epoch of equinox and zero
longitude as well as declination of Sun.

ƒ
TT-UT = ∆T for the epoch is 3.5238 hours and makes a difference of nearly +9′ in mean λ of
sun.

4
It may be noted that 3503*365.25875 gives 1279501.4 days i.e. equinox may have been fixed as
at 24 ghatis from the mean sunrise at Laňkā against the modern determination of 07:03 LMT at
the meridian of Ujjayinī (75E45). Omitting the fraction, the ahargana of 1279501 days yielded
remarkably correct values for the mean longitudes.

3. New moon and Caitra-śukla pratipada coinciding Vernal Equinox

Vernal equinox of 402 CE on 20 March had been coincident with Kalidina of 1279501.40125
days equal to 3503 Kali years of 365.25875 days and with the 43328th new moon of Kaliyuga.
Aries solar ingress and Caitra-śukla pratipada coincided as we find recorded in Āryabhatīya8.

ªÉÖMɴɹÉǨÉɺÉÊnù´ÉºÉÉ& ºÉ¨ÉÆ |É´ÉÞkÉɺiÉÖ SÉèjɶÉÖC±ÉÉnäù&*

EòɱÉÉ䃪ɨÉxÉÉtxiÉÉä Oɽþ¦Éè®úxÉÖ¨ÉÒªÉiÉä IÉäjÉä ** (Kālakriya-11)

“Yuga, Varsa (year), Māsa (month) and Divasa (day) commenced simultaneously on the first
tithi of the light half of Caitra. Time devoid of beiginning and end is measured with reference to
the same making use of the stars and planets in the celestial sphere”
20 March 402 CE presents before us a replica of the Yugādi where the year, month and day
began with Caitra śukla (1) and thus served as an epoch for computing time. For this epoch a
hypothetical siddhāntic model can be worked out as shown in Table -3 below along with the
contrast of computations from Sūryasiddhānta and Āryabhatīya.

Table-3: Hypothetical Siddhāntic Model for 402 CE –

Contrasted with later Siddhāntas
1 2 3 4 5 6
Modern Hypothetical Siddhāntic Sūryasiddhānta Āryabhatīya
Graha
Mean λ Revlns Mean λ Revolns Mean λ Revolns Mean λ
Sun 358.2840 4320000 359.5821 4320000 359.5821 4320000 359.5821
Moon 0.9309 57753348 359.2508 57753336 355.7478 57753336 355.7478
Rahu 68.2235 232230 68.2150 232238 65.8796 232226 69.3826
Perigee-M 228.1101 488215 228.0482 488203 224.5452 488219 229.2159
Mars 159.0785 2296824 160.9838 2296832 163.3192 2296824 160.9838
Mercury 270.5055 17937008 269.8504 17937060 285.0300 17937020 273.3534
Jupiter 121.8841 364220 121.8531 364220 121.8531 364224 123.0208
Venus 111.3980 7022388 111.4178 7022376 107.9148 7022388 111.4178
Saturn 301.5642 146554 301.5410 146568 305.6278 146564 304.4602

Table-3, Col.2 gives the modern mean longitudes of Grahas for 20 March 402 CE, 06:00 ZT
while Col.4 gives the siddhantic mean longitudes derived from a set of hypothetical revolutions

5
numbers. Concordance between the mean λs and the almost identical revolution numbers in
Col.3 suggests that the epoch of 402CE may be of some umbilical connection to the siddhāntic
models that we see in later works of 6th century like Suryasiddhanta and Āryabhatīya. This
umbilical connection shall be explored further in a later section of the present work.
Table-4 below has furnished a contrast of the accuracy of mean longitudes for Aryabhata at the
K3600 and K3503 epochs:

Table-4: Āryabhatīya Contrasted for K3600 and K3503

Āryabhata Mean λ for Kali 3600 (Elapsed) Mean λ for K3503

Graha
Revolutions Āryabhata Modern Difference Āryabhata Modern Diff
Sun 4320000 0.00 0.15 0.15 0.00 358.58 1.42
Moon 57753336 280.80 285.93 5.13 1.33 4.86 3.52
Rahu 232226 352.20 351.99 -0.21 429.36 68.21 -1.15
Apogee-M 488219 215.70 215.48 -0.22 229.26 228.14 -1.12
Mars 2296824 7.20 7.12 -0.08 161.21 159.23 -1.97
Mercury 17937020 186.00 185.04 -0.96 275.09 271.73 -3.36
Jupiter 364224 187.20 187.19 -0.01 123.06 121.91 -1.15
Venus 7022388 356.40 356.86 0.46 112.10 111.88 -0.22
Saturn 146564 49.20 48.39 -0.81 304.47 301.57 -2.90

Āryabhata positions obviously show deviation as the computation is back in time by nearly 100
years. What is striking is the ease with which Mercury and Venus mean λs can be precisely
derived at K3503 by changing the Mercury revolution number to 17937008 as against the
Pauliśa value of 17937000 and no change required for Venus. It may be noted that Mercury and
Venus mean λs tend to deviate very fast in other Siddhāntic models and the deviations when
compared to modern values are larger.
Placed below is plot-1 of the mean longitudes of Mercury and Venus with revolution numbers
17937008 and 7022388 respectively for the epochs from Kali year elapsed 3303 to 3703 taken
at intervals of 100 years and contrasted with the corresponding mean values. Plot-1 gives the
year of zero deviation for Mercury as K3493ƒ and for Venus the year is K3509.5 and average
yields 3501 as the Kali year which is very close to epoch K3503 of Candra Gupta-II.

ƒ
Linear regression with R2 = 1 yielded deviation as y = 0.0258x - 90.122 for Mercury and y =0
gave x as 3493.1 and y = 0.0071x - 24.917 for Venus and y =0 gave x as 3509.43.

6
 Plot-1

Mean Long of Mercury and Venus K3303 to K3703

4
Deviation (Modern -Siddhantic Mean Long)

0
3300 3400 3500 3600 3700
-1

-2
Mercury
-3 Venus
Linear (Mercury)
-4
Linear (Venus)
-5

-6

Kali Epochs

We get almost similar conclusion with the mean longitudes of Mars and Jupiter as well (Plot-2)
even though the mean λs do not converge to a common epoch. Plot illustrates the deviation
from modern mean longitudes: Mean of zero deviation years 3462.2 and 3546.6 yield the
average value of 3504∞, again very close to the K3503 epoch deciphered from Udayagiri.
Saturn has shown a varied trend for the revolution number of 146564 and has yielded the zero
deviation epochϒ as K3649, ahead of Āryabhata by 50 years.
It is apparent from the above discussion that the siddhāntic computational elements of Sun,
Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter and Venus that we see in later times as that of Āryabhata and the
subsequent works of 6th century had carried in them the signatures of the epoch of 22 March
402 CE or Kali 3503 elapsed through the revolution numbers i.e. mean motions fixed in 402
CE, with which the siddhāntic model of Yuga and integral number of revolutions were
developed.
Plot 2 below shows that the revolution numbers of Saturn got refixed in 6th century CE or that
the observations of 402 CE for Saturn had been inaccurate.

∞
Deviation for Mars y = 0.0209x - 72.36 gives 3462.2 and for Jupiter y = 0.0242x - 85.828 gives
3546.6 to yield the average of 3504.
ϒ
Deviation for Saturn yielded y = 0.0212x - 77.354 and year of zero deviation as 3649.

7
 Plot-2
Mean Long of Mars, Jupiter & Saturn: Deviation K3303-K3703

6
Deviation ( Modern-Siddhantic Long)

0
3300 3400 3500 3600 3700

-2
Mars
Jupiter
-4 Saturn
Linear (Jupiter)
-6 Linear (Mars)
Linear (Saturn)

-8
Kali Epochs

4. Special Positions of Mercury and Venus at Candra Gupta-II Epoch

Placed below are the modern astronomical data of true planetary positions for 20 March 402 CE
at 06:00 LMT of Ujjayinī.

Table-5: Planetray Longitudes and Elongation -20 March 402 CE

20 March 402CE
True λ True β Declination Azimuth Altitude Elongation
06:00 Ujjayini LMT
Sun 359.9575 0 -0.02 89.23 -1.82 0
Moon 1.334469 -4.591 -3.67 91.38 -6.97 1.38
Mars 123.1042 3.164 22.71 318.39 -30.68 123.15
Mercury 333.9308 -2.345 -12.33 110.32 13.85 26.03
Jupiter 115.4178 1.007 22.23 325.58 -35.93 115.46
Venus 41.82913 1.813 17.24 54.25 -26.98 41.87
Saturn 301.4036 -0.702 -20.70 138.83 33.64 301.45

Mercury rose at 04:54 i.e. before sunrise with 26 degree elongation from sun and Venus set at
21:17 with 42 degree elongation from sun. Both could be easily observed and positions
ascertained with reference to the vernal equinox. Looking at other longitudes, Mars and Jupiter
lead us to the same conclusion as above despite the scatter in deviation. Saturn is showing
distinct trend with the revolution number 146564. It is possible that Saturn’s revolutions may
have undergone changes in the subsequent period and a value like 146556 instead of 146564

8
may have been in existence in the 5th century, before the advent of Āryabhata on the scene with
modifications to the Svayambhuva Siddhanta. When this behavior of the mean λs is correlated
to the visibility of the planets, it can be seen that Venus (setting at 21h18) and Mercury (rising
at 04h54m) could be viewed against horizon in the evening and morning respectively while
Jupiter (transit:19h56m) and Mars (20h31m) transited the meridian in the evening sky. Saturn
had the horizon phenomena, rising at 02h59m, at an odd hour and the meridian transit could not
have been viewed against the vernal equinox as reference.
Also, autumnal equinox on 22 September 402 CE at 19:36 had Mars on the horizon at an
altitude of 4.7 degrees and dipped below horizon at 20:00 Ujjayini time. By noting the time of
sunset and dip of Mars, the elongation of Mars could have been quite precisely fixed at this
epoch. Jupiter and Venus could be viewed against the morning horizon, rising at 03:20 (Jupiter)
and Venus (02:25) in close vicinity of the ecliptic star Regulus rising at 02:00 Ujjayini time.
Ancient Indian astronomical computations had been with reference to the horizon by making
use of the asus or rising times of the zodiacal signs and thus the epoch of 402 CE gave ample
opportunity to observe the planets against the horizon with reference to the equinoxes.

5. Rare Astronomical Observation during 18 – 25 May 402 CE

The argument discussed above that the siddhāntic astronomical elements like revolution
numbers in a Mahāyuga evolved in the year 402 CE receive additional support from the rare
astronomical observations of the year. It may be noted that –
(a) New moon of 18 May 402 CE, 09:58ZT, JD (ZT) =1868025.9151 nearly coincided with the
apogee conjunction of moon on 18 May, 04:17ZT, JD(ZT) = 1868025.67825 and
conjunction of moon with node at 01:29ZT, JD(ZT) = 1868026.5615. This is a very rare
astronomical event and may have been sensed by the astronomers of the time. Annular
eclipse was not visible at 23N31, 75E45.
(b) When we look at the sky in early morning before twilight (using the Planetarium software),
only Saturn is visible with its culmination at 04:41ZT. Astronomical twilight had its
beginning at 03:50ZT and therefore the upper transit of Saturn may have been hardly
visible.
(c) In contrast to the above, evening sky on the same date after twilight (19:57ZT), had a very
rare sighting of Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Mars after sunset along with moon. Relevant
planetary data is given in table-6. Moon approximated the apogee and the node. North node
of moon was precisely at 64036’ and apogee 54012’.

9
 Table-6: Rare Sighting that Explains the behavior of Revolutions Numbers
(of Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Mars)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Planet Azimuth Altitude Longitude Latitude RA Decln Sets
Sun 291.97 -0.79 57.32 0.00 55.00 19.73 18:33
Moon 290.84 2.12 61.20 -0.31 59.10 20.27 18:46
Mars 232.19 77.56 141.87 1.31 144.73 15.58 00:24
Mercury 288.60 23.10 81.38 1.83 80.47 25.18 20:25
Jupiter 272.01 60.05 120.10 0.93 122.54 21.21 23:04
Venus 284.48 41.64 100.23 2.64 101.37 25.88 21:50
Saturn 88.70 -63.32 303.73 -0.86 306.30 -20.32 10:05
It is apparent from Col.3 that at the time of sunset, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Mars had
sufficient altitude as to be visible after twilight in the western sky. Evening astronomical
twilight was over at 19:57 ZT while Mercury dipped below the horizon only at 20:25ZT.
(d) Watching moon for consecutive days till the first quarter on 26 May gave successive
conjunction with planets:
i. Moon & Mercury: 20 May 16:04 ZT
ii. Moon & Venus: 22 May 06:12 ZT
iii. Moon & Jupiter: 23 May 17:59 ZT
iv. Moon & Mars 25 May 16:06 ZT
As stated in Āryabhatīyam, these remarkable conjunctions may have been quite helpful in
checking and fixing the longitudes of Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Mars. Illustration given of
the accuracy of the siddhāntic revolution numbers may be noted against the background of these
planetary conjunctions. Evening skies at the end of astronomical twilight on 19 to 26 May gave
to an observer, the view of moon advancing upon Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Mars like an
automated scale of longitude and latitude.

Table-7: Altitude scale of Moon Mapping Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Mars

Date: May→ Altitude in Degrees for 18 May to 26 May at 20:00 ZT

Planet↓ 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Sun -19 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18 -18
Moon -15 -5 6 17 28 38 49 59 68
Mars 59 58 58 57 57 56 56 55 55
Mercury 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
Jupiter 40 39 39 38 37 36 36 35 34
Venus 23 22 22 22 22 21 21 21 20
Saturn -43 -42 -42 -41 -40 -39 -38 -37 -36

10
 Table-7 is illustrative of the operation of a lunar scale – advancing moon in successive
longitudinal conjunctions with Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Mars.

Table-8: Variation of Moon’s longitude and Latitude

Date Moon
May 402CE Longitude Latitude Motion/day
20 85.58 1.90 11.91
21 97.54 2.88 12.03
22 109.66 3.75 12.21
23 121.98 4.46 12.44
24 134.55 4.98 12.73
25 147.45 5.25 13.07
26 160.70 5.27 13.45

Table is illustrative as to how moon may have enabled the checking on latitude of Mars (1°.26),
Mercury (1°.59), Jupiter (0°.92) and Venus ( 2°.5) by drawing a contrast with the advancing
moon of increasing latitude.

It is apparent from the above discussion that the epoch discernible from the Sanakanika
inscription i.e. 402 CE had not only significance from the religious point view of Sayana
ekadasi celebrations on 29 May 402 CE but also the epoch 402 CE and the cardinal phenomena
of the Kali year 3503 was of great observational significance of the astronomers and the
precursors of revolution numbers that we seen 6th century CE had their genesis in those
observations.

(e) Solar Eclipse of 11 Nov 402 CE

In opposition to the apogee-north node conjunctions of moon on 18 May 402 CE which we
discussed above, we meet with a perigee-south node conjunction of moon coincident with the
new moon and partial solar eclipse observed at Udayagiri on 11 November.

New moon: 11 November 402 CE, 09:26 ZT, JD(ZT): 1868202.8931, moon λ =230009’ and
perigee moon on 12 November 05:35 ZT and JD (ZT): 1868203.7327, moon λ = 242°50' and
conjunction with south node at 18:02 ZT on 11 November 402 CE with moon λ = 235°34'. For
efforts to have a working computational model of moon 18 May and 11 November 402 CE may
have been of critical significance to ancient Indian astronomers.
Total solar eclipse had its maximum at 16:14 ZT on 11 November and at Udayagiri it was only
partially visible. Totally occurred at 9.6N and 47.2E for 03m39s. Path of the shadow as given
at the Fred Espenak site is as given below:

11
Eclipse times as such does not lead us to any additional evidences in the matter as we have not
computed the eclipse times with the siddhantic model. Without the original revolution numbers
of sun, moon, nodes and apogee of the precursor siddhanta, the eclipse elements cannot be
computed. Further studies are possible to derive the revolution numbers based on the luni-solar
phenomena and to cross check the same against the observational aspects of the eclipse.

6. Conclusions

Astronomical alignment of the passageway at Udayagiri to 900 azimuth of the rising sun on 29
May 402 CE and the various astronomical motifs obtained from the site like Naksatra Cakra had
inspired the present study to understand the astronomical phenomena of the above period in
contrast to the siddhantic model of planetary computations. Examination of the astronomical
phenomena around the cardinal points of sun and the time around the date of the Sanakanika
inscription (29 May 402 CE) has led to the following important conclusions:
1. Epochs of true Aries ingress on 20 March and mean Aries ingress of 22 March 402 CE
corresponding to Kalidina of 1279501 and 1279503 days precisely match with the
siddhantic model based on Yugādi day count (Kalidina) and the anomalistic solar year of
365.2592 days.
2. Planetary revolution numbers of the later siddhāntas for Mars, Mercury, Jupiter and Venus,
showed the scatter with reference to Kali year 3503 indicating that the revolution numbers
in Siddhāntas of 6th century had an umbilical connection to an astronomical epoch and
observations made around Kali 3503 or 402 CE.

12
3. Horizon phenomena of planets Mars, Mercury, Jupiter and Venus in the week following 18
May 402 CE is shown to have been the basis of precision in mean longitudes of these
planets with reference to Kali 3503 elapsed or 402CE.
4. Events significant to the derivation of computational model of moon like apogee and nodal
conjunctions coinciding with new moon is shown to have happened in the year 402 CE on
18 May 402 CE and 11 November 402 CE.

5. It becomes apparent that the golden age of India under Candragupta Vikramāditya had been
of great patronage to studies in astronomy and Indian astronomy had developed some of its
precise computational parameters based on observations made at Udayagiri in the period
around 402 CE.

7. References
1
Balasubramaniam, R. and Dass, M. I., On the astronomical significance of the Delhi Iron Pillar.
Curr. Sci., 2004, 86, 1134–1142.
2
Balasubramaniam, R., Delhi Iron Pillar: New Insights, Indian Institute of Advanced Study,
Shimla, 2002, pp.6-18
3
Sharan, M. Anand, Balasubramaniam, R., Date of Sanakanika Inscription and its astronomical
significance for archaeological structures at Udayagiri, Curr. Sci., 2004, 87, 1562-1566.
4
Hari, Chandra K., Astronomical Alignment of Iron Pillar and Passageway at Udayagiri and
Date of Sanakanika Inscription (under submission).
5
Kumar, Narendra, Sciences In Ancient India, Anmol Publications, New Delhi. p.194-196
presents a chronological account of Indian astronomy and quotes G. Thibaut: “…it appears
that the Pauliśasiddhānta was a work following the same general methods as the
Sūryasiddhānta, Āryabhatīya and all the later astronomers; at any rate it agreed with the great
majority of Hindu astronomical works in establishing a Mahāyuga which contains an integral
number of sāvana days etc and of revolutions of the planets”
6
Dikshit, SB, History of Indian Astronomy, Part-II, Control of publicatons, Civil Lines, New
Delhi. (1981), pp.14-20.
7
Visnupurāna IV.4.105-106: ºÉ{iɹÉÔhÉÉÆ iÉÖ ªÉÉè {ÉÚ´ÉÉê où¶ªÉäiÉä ÁÖÊnùiÉÉè ÊnùÊ´É* iɪÉÉäºiÉÖ ¨ÉvªÉä xÉIÉjÉÆ où¶ªÉiÉä
ªÉiºÉ¨ÉÆ ÊxÉʶÉ** iÉäxÉ ºÉ{iɹÉǪÉÉä ªÉÖHòÉκiɹ`öxiªÉ¤nù¶ÉiÉÆ xÉÞhÉÉÆ* iÉäiÉÖ {É®úÒÊIÉiÉä EòɱÉä ¨ÉPÉɺ´ÉɺÉÎx´nùVÉÉäkɨÉ&** -
which may be translated as: "Observe the Seven Sages on their rising and the first two in
front. The naksatram which appears in their middle at equal distance to both is termed as the
abode of the Sages for one hundred years".
8
Shukla, Kripa Shankar., Sharma, KV., Āryabhatīyam, Indian National Science Academy
(1976), New Delhi-2. p. 98-99.

13