Valmiki Ramayana Why Study the Antiquated Poem? Nilesh Nilkanth Oak Institute of Advanced Science, Dartmouth, MA, USA Three Points
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Valmiki Ramayana Why study the antiquated poem? Nilesh Nilkanth Oak Institute of Advanced Science, Dartmouth, MA, USA Three points • Why study Valmiki Ramayana – 12209 BCE (>14,000 years old story)? • 600+ internal astronomy evidence & 1000+ multidisciplinary evidence • Insights from Valmiki Ramayana Why Study Valmiki Ramayana? • Has passed the test of time ‐ Old is gold, only if we know how to mine it • A source for newer & deeper insights ‐ e.g. civilization, philosophy, Dharma‐shastra, science, medicine, technology • Is the ‘concern of ‘factual vs embellished’ real? ‐ Ancient Indian narrations are a mix of testable & metaphysical ‐ Proof is in the taste of the pudding ‐ Fearless and humble experiments are required ‐ What is false & not useful will fall off. 1 प्रमेय (conjecture) शद/उपमान (evidence) 2 logic of scientific method 4 3 अनुमान (inference/prediction) प्रयक्ष (objective testing) 5 आगम (background knowledge) Astronomy evidence‐ Epics Only discipline of science capable of estimating exact dates copyright by Nilesh N Oak 1995‐2019 Sushruta Samhita Mahabharata Publications/Lectures History of Dharmashastra Ramayana History of Indian astronomy Bhagavad Gita Yajurveda Rigveda Atharvaveda Joseph Campbell Surya Siddhanta Aryabhatiya Ekanath Srimad Bhgavata Vishnu Purana Philosophy of Science Samartha Ramadasa Vinoba Jnaneshwar (Popper, Hume, Kuhn) Nyaya‐Vaisheshika‐Samkhya‐ Yoga‐ Mimansa‐Vedanta Dharampal Hume‐Kant‐Poincare‐ Kepler‐Newton‐ Einstein‐Faraday‐ Maxwell‐Planck Alternate claims Alternate interpretations Sanskrit 2. पथक्करणृ Valmiki Ramayana (separation) ~24K shlok (7 Kanda) Astronomy references 600+ 12240 ‐CE‐ 12209 ‐CE Timeline of Hindu civilization (Rigveda, Ramayana, Mahabharata) RigVeda th Post Mahabharata Veda‐Shakha 22,000+ BCE through 6 millennium BCE (5000 BCE – 2000 BCE) ‐ 20K ‐ 15K ‐ 10K ‐ 5K 0 TODAY 12209 BCE 5561 BCE European enlightenment* Ramayana Mahabharata *estimated (1637‐1789 CE) 1000+ empirical, objectively testable evidence from 12+ disciplines of Hard sciences Who can scold who? 12240 BCE – 12209 BCE (>14,000 Years ago) Ayodhya 12:07 O woman of cruel and sinful nature, you are bent on destroying this family. What harm has been done to you by Rama or by me? Ayodhya 12:36 O Kaikeyi, I bow to you with folded palms. I touch your feet, too. Be a protector of Rama. Let no sin taint me here (in this life). Ayodhya 35:6‐7 King Dasharatha is invincible like Indra, unshakeable like a mountain and unperturbable like the ocean. By causing grief to him through your action I feel you are killing your husband (inch by inch). I think you are ultimately destroying your own race. Ayodhya 36:16 In your own dynasty king Sagara prevented his well‐known eldest son Asamanja (from enjoying the kingdom). Rama also should depart in the same manner. Ayodhya 36:20 Watching it, all the enraged citizens said to the king, 'O enhancer of the prosperity of the kingdom, either you choose Asamanj or us'. Ayodhya 36:23 That king (Sagara) heard the words of the citizens and with the intention of doing good to them, banished that malevolent son. Ayodhya 37:23‐24 You are devoid of good conduct, O Kaikeyi. Divine Sita need not go to the forest. Remaining here she should occupy the royal throne of Rama. For every householder, his wife is his Atma. Since Sita is the Atma of Rama, she can rule this earth. Science & Technology (Astronomy & Time) 12240 BCE – 12209 BCE (>14,000 Years ago) Astronomy observations/references in Valmiki Ramayana Total of 575+ Sun sets at Pushya Phases of the moon during Hemant(1) (10+) Seasons Planetary positions Sharad & Chaitra (225+) (9+) (8+) Eclipses & lunar nodes Vasant & Ashwin (10+) (1) Comet near Brahmarashi as nakshatra Mula Pole star (2) (1) Effects due to Effects due to ‘precession of equinoxes’ ‘near earth phenomena’ Polaris 2016 CE Polaris Cycle of 26000 years 2100 CE Kochab 2100 BCE Thuban 2800 BCE Prominent North Pole Stars Deneb 16000 BCE 12000 BCE Brahmarashi/Abhijit/Vega Yuddha Kand 4:48 (Great sages are making parikrama around fixed/settled Brahamrashi/Abhijit, the pole star) 26000 Yrs 10,000 BCE 12,048 BCE 14,000 BCE 17,500 BCE Aranya kand 16:12 15,500 BCE Pushya Pushya 13,500 BCE Winter Pushya Solstice Fall 11,500 BCE Equinox Pushya 11,500 BCE 13,500 BCE 15,500 BCE17,500 BCE Hemanta Ayodhya 3.4 Sharad 10500 BCE 13000 BCE 15000 BCE Fall Equinox Chitra Chitra Chitra Kishkindha 53.9 Ashwini Ashwini Ashwini Spring Equinox 11800 BCE 14200 BCE 16500 BCE Vasanta Patient Management 12240 BCE – 12209 BCE (>14,000 Years ago) KUMBHAKARNA (KLS syndrome) Kleine‐Levin syndrome • KLS is a rare disorder in which affected people experience episodes at least once per year during which they sleep for at least 11 hours out of every day (but often for days at a time), eat excessively (megaphagia), have abnormal thinking & behavior, and hypersexuality. • Between episodes, their alertness, behavior and thinking are normal Check out ‘Kumbhakarna & Kleine‐Levin syndrome @ Myind.net https://www.myind.net/Home/viewArticle/kumbhakarna‐kleine‐levin‐syndrome‐a‐new‐theory‐about‐the‐ramayana Comparison Kleine‐ Levin syndrome vs Kumbhakarna (Valmiki Ramayana) Symptoms/specifics KLS range Kumbhakarna Hypersomnia Excessive sleepiness Excellent match Hyperphagia Excessive, abnormal hunger Excellent match Eating without discrimination Hypersexuality 50% of them exhibit Excellent match Irritability/cognitive disturbance 100% of them exhibit Excellent match Episode duration Up to 12 months 6‐10 months Interval between episodes 0 to 72 months Excellent match Behavior when not in KLS Modern observations Excellent match Onset of KLS Age range(15‐44) Excellent match Causes of KLS Multiple unsatisfactory explanations Three mutually contradictory explanations KLS patient management Modern recommendations Excellent match Interpretations of quantum mechanics (Reverence + Intellect + Courage/heroic deeds = Truth) All relevant evidence Both (Logical) TRUE TRUE & FALSE (No) Evidence Testability (Yes) Metaphysical Scientific + Neither Arbitrary or Selective FALSE TRUE nor FALSE (Illogical) द्धावीयमर् ितसमािधप्रज्ञापृ ूवकर् इतरेषाम ् (पतजिल योगसूत्र, समािधपाद 20) BG 18:67 Tapa Bhakti (study, contemplation, observation) (reverence, conviction, trust) Prerequisites Shravana Buddhi (ardent desire for Vyapti‐Jnana) (non‐envious, non‐jealous) Gita does not discriminate: High vs Low (or Big vs Small) Gita does discriminate: ‘seeker of truth’ vs ‘dogmatic attachment to falsehood’ Evolution of the Consciousness Consenter Nourisher Observer BG 13:22 Enjoyer Pure Consciousness Shivoham Shivoham.