Ancient Tropic of Cancer and Sacred Alignment of Religious Structures to North Star
Study on earth’s axial precession, climatic changes and its influence in development of Human Culture and Religion
By : Arvind Bhagwath
Introduction:
Between 8000 BCE and 3000 BCE, the Sahara Desert had milder and moister climate. Climatologists identify this period as the “Green Sahara.” Similar logic is true for ancient Sumerian and Indus valley sites that had major water sources and later getting dry in areas like Mohenjo-Daro, an urban area of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization which led to people migration in search of newer water sources. Research is done to understand the changes in Earth’s climate caused due to Earth’s axial precession. Humans have migrated from these early settlements as climate turned dry or extreme cold. People from early Saraswati-Sindu culture have abandoned their ancient cities with almost no clue of ancient culture they practiced when Saraswati Basin turned dry and same goes with ancient Egyptians and Sumerians who have left no clues. No architectural plans have been found that give technical explanations demonstrating how the ancient Egyptians, Sumerians aligned any of their ziggurat or pyramids to perfect North. However sacred narrations that are carried from several generations from ancient Vedic and Hindu puranic texts are now giving valuable clues on this sacred alignment which I would like to cover in this research paper.
For Example: Śatapatha Brahmana of ancient Hindu scriptures mentions that their ancient settlement of Videha was on the river Saraswati (Avestan — Harahvaiti) earlier and later shifted to current Videha (Sadanira) near Ganges as tribes’ migration happened towards Ganges due to rivers getting dry in Saraswati Basin.
References: https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/sbr/sbe12/sbe1217.htm
Periodic Drift in Tropic of Cancer/Capricorn due to axial precession and climatic changes for areas falling under Tropics
The Tropic of Cancer, which is also referred to as the Northern Tropic, is the most northerly circle of latitude on Earth at which the Sun can be directly overhead. This occurs on the June solstice, when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun to its maximum extent. It also reaches 90 degrees below the horizon at solar midnight on the December Solstice.
The Tropic of Cancer’s position is not fixed, but constantly changes because of a slight wobble in the Earth’s longitudinal alignment relative to the ecliptic, the plane in which the Earth orbits around the Sun. Earth’s axial tilt varies over a 41,000-year period from 22.1 to 24.5 degrees, and as of 2000 is about 23.4 degrees, which will continue to remain valid for about a millennium. This wobble means that the Tropic of Cancer is currently drifting southward at a rate of almost half an arcsecond (0.468″) of latitude, or 15 m (49 ft), per year. The circle’s position was at exactly 23° 27′N in 1917 and will be at 23° 26'N in 2045.
The main long-term cycle causes the axial tilt to fluctuate between about 22.1° and 24.5° with a period of 41,000 years. Currently, the average value of the tilt is decreasing by about 0.468″ per year. As a result (approximately, and on average), the Tropical Circles are drifting towards the equator (and the Polar Circles towards the poles) by 15 m per year, and the area of the Tropics is decreasing by 1,100 km2 (420 sq mi) per year.
The Celestial North Pole or CNP (i.e., the projection of the Earth’s axis onto the northern sky) moves about 1° along this circle every 72 years (360x72 = 26,000) and with this we can also see drift of approximate in Tropic of cancer with approximate 1KM in 72 years.
Vega was the North Star 13,000 years (i.e., half a precession cycle) ago and will be again 13,000 years from now. Thuban was the North Star about 5,000 years ago and will be again in about 21,000 years from now. Earth’s climate may be affected by this precession, a phenomenon known as Milankovitch cycles.
Earth’s Axial Precession and Yuga Cycle:
Earth’s axial precession is a gravity-induced, slow, and continuous change in the orientation of an astronomical body’s rotational axis. It can refer to the gradual shift in the orientation of Earth’s axis of rotation in a cycle of approximately 25,772 years. This is like the precession of a spinning-top, with the axis tracing out a pair of cones joined at their apices. It was same calculation which ancient Vedic astrologers referred as Yugas with cycle of 26000 years that includes two Sandhis or Sandhyās (connecting periods) — Sandhyā (dawn) and Sandhyāṃśa or Sandhyānśa (dusk) — where each Sandhi lasts for 1/10th (10%) of the main period.
The precession of the Earth’s axis has several observable effects. First, the positions of the south and north celestial poles appear to move in circles against the space-fixed backdrop of stars, completing one circuit in approximately 26,000 years. Thus, while today the star Polaris lies approximately at the north celestial pole, this will change over time, and other stars will become the “north star”. Secondly, the position of the Earth in its orbit around the Sun at the solstices, equinoxes, or other time defined relative to the seasons, slowly changes.
Just as a reference, 10,000 years ago, the Great Sahara Desert was lush green with abundant water resources with large lakes. The changes and fluctuations that are caused by Earth’s wobbling and orbital axis in turn changed the angle at which solar radiation penetrates the atmosphere. As the Tropic of Cancer moved downwards, the African Sahara, Central Asian regions, Saraswathi Basin have transitioned from humid climate to dry and to desert. In 12000 years from now, Sahara would be green again and same goes all the ancient central Asian regions.
It was due to same transition and wobbling effect; extreme climatic change was experienced by ancient Saraswathi Valley civilization with river basin getting dried up and led mass migration of people from this region of Indus valley to new source of water near Gangetic belt. However, these civilizations have left no clue except aligning their sacred structures to prefect North or Pole star and hence study of circumpolar stars from ancient texts has huge importance to understand these cultures and origin of human religions correctly.
Importance of Circumpolar stars in Ancient Cultures
Almost all ancient religions are based on an astrological allegory, that is, allegories of the movement of the Sun, Moon and other visible planets and constellations as seen from the Earth. Examples include the cult of Horus/Isis of Egyptians.
Star mythology appears to be common in all ancient cultures that has given birth to current human religions. The Meteorological School holds that these star myths initially emerged as explanations for natural phenomena, such as the Sky, the Sun, the Moon, and the Dawn. The earth here was perceived as a vast, flat, and circular continent surrounded by waters (“the Ocean”). In this flat earth concept, geography of night sky relates to earth that has never-aging gods dwelling above in the skies, and the mortal humans living beneath on earth.
Circumpolar constellations here never seem to set, and they simply rotate around the pole star that basically supported concept of Heaven/God for people of ancient civilizations. It appeared for them as these circumpolar constellations was controlling the movement of all stars and planets around it. In Hindu mythology, these circumpolar constellations are referred as Shisumara planetary system (Location of Lord) and technically known as the Kuṇḍalini-cakra. In Egyptian ideology and early Indus Valley and Sumerian civilization, they were referred as “Indestructible”,” Afterlife”, “a perfect destination for the soul of the dead king”. This cosmology helped them to identify yearly flooding coordinated with the summer solstice, carry out religious rituals associated with respective Sun Gods that transits over Zodiac and support them as crucial event for growing crops.
Distinctive pattern of constellations along zodiac path doing circumpolar movements around pole star have supported in development of mythological stories as per astrological ages and you can find several such similar examples in Egyptian, Sumerian, Hindu, Greek, Roman and several other mythologies that has supported in birth of several human religions.
Comparative mythology is done by several scholars and have used the relationships between different myths to trace the development of religions and cultures, to propose common origins for myths from different cultures, and to support various psychological theories.
Circumambulation is now part of every human religion and origin of worship around Peepal tree can be traced in Indus Valley Civilization and below is Sacred Indus Valley Code for Pole Star and Peepal Tree. In Hinduism, Women circumambulate the Peepal tree to be blessed with children or any desired wishes. In Hindu mythology of Skanda Purana, Peepal is a symbol of Vishnu. Circumambulation concept is also present in other religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
The concept of tree of life is a fundamental widespread archetype in many of the world’s mythologies, religious and philosophical traditions. It is closely related to the concept of the Sacred tree/God in center and constellations or sometimes Sun Gods that form 12 months of Zodiac performing circum-ambulation around sacred tree or God.
Further, the river was the source of life for the ancient civilization or ancient Kingdoms and people believed that it descends from heaven, and we currently have various Hindu puranic references. In night sky, the visible Milky Way or Solstice axis was considered as heavenly river. Egyptians identified the river Nile with the Milky Way and in Hindu belief system, it is referred as Akash Ganga (Cosmic River) or localized river in respective kingdoms. If you observe carefully, you will find all the pyramids or temples found on the western side of the river that reflect Milky Way or Solstice axis. The Solstice axis or visible Milky Way (cosmic river) or Tirtha was identified as the Path of Souls that acted as cosmic river that flows all the way to Heaven near Circumpolar or afterlife location. In Hinduism, Tirtha refers divine river and means passage and Sthal means location. When cosmic sky is mimicked in temple plan, then localized river (Tirtha-sthal) act as path for souls to heaven. In Hinduism, people burn a dead body and put the ashes in the Ganga or a nearby river which is associated with this cosmology.
Due to this cosmology of visualizing Milky Way as Cosmic River, any river that is north flowing or changes the direction towards north or north-easterly direction becomes sacred or auspicious. It normally becomes a holy site and people make offerings for the souls of their ancestors. According to Hindu belief, the soul wanders after death until pindadan. Pindadan is traditionally offered on the banks of holy river that is North Flowing. It is mandatory for Hindu devotees offering pindadan to shave their heads and take a holy dip.
Milky Way (Solstice Axis) of the sky is the heavenly Soma as per Vedic views. It is also the nectar of immortality and the drink of the Gods or Yajna. I believe people of Indus valley civilization too were masters of astronomy based on location cities which hosted this grand civilization. In several Indus valley seals, we can find these references of star mythology and offering to Gods referring the same solstice axis (Milky Way) that directs towards seat of God. As shown below, in front of the unicorn is a ritual offering stand.
During winter solstice, the sun represented as “Soul of God or Divine Spirit” by ancient civilization rises to its lowest point in the northern hemisphere sky which symbolizes death and then after midwinter, the sun is reborn from the darkness, symbolizing rebirth, and the renewal of life. Many ancient civilizations, including the Sumerians, Egyptians, Indus Valley, Greeks, and Romans, made offerings to gods as a celebration of the sun’s return. We also have wild tales of slaughtered bulls, human sacrifice during this time of Solstice as offering to Sun God and it was believed that animal blood fertilized all vegetation and supported re-birth of red Sun God during Winter Solstice. Qhapaq hucha was the Inca practice of human sacrifice, mainly using children during event of famine.
Chawmos (Chitrimas from Cāturmāsyá) is a festival of the Kalash people of Pakistan during Winter Solstice (December 7–22). It involves much music, dancing, and the sacrifice of many goats to the god Balimain. Kalash people are Dardic Indo-Aryan indigenous people that follow religion that was close to ancient RigVedic tribes.
Sacrificial ceremonies continue even today in many cultures and religions based on these ancient star myths, however for economical purposes, the goats have replaced the bull or buffalo. In Hinduism, animal sacrifice is mostly associated with Vedic Śrauta rituals, Shaktism, and in currents of folk Hinduism strongly rooted in local popular or tribal traditions.
Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_sacrifice_in_Hinduism
In later days, animal sacrifices were banned in several branches of Hinduism as religious reforms taken by several ancient Hindu sages and replaced with coconut with 3 dark spots (assumed to be like animal head). Coconut breaking ritual in Hinduism is a form of bloodless sacrifice.
Considering earlier Geo-centric visualization, most of ancient scriptures describe Mount Meru/Lingam as the Central Pivot of the Universe and the entire cosmos revolves around it. 7 Sages (Big Dipper), Draco, the Sun, Moon and Stars paying obeisance while circumambulating the Holy Mountain Meru or around Shishumara Planetary system.
In Hindu mythology, these circumpolar constellations are referred as Shisumara planetary system and other stars are also fixed on different sides of the Śhiśumāra planetary system according to the calculations of ancient Vedic astronomers. Even in current world and to concentrate their minds, Vedic sages worship the Śhiśumāra planetary system, which is technically known as the Kuṇḍalini-cakra.
Egyptian pyramids are also precisely orientated to North Pole star (Thuban during 2800 till 2000 BCE) at end of 14-star Draco constellation (Heru/Hara God — Horus) and in Hinduism, ancient Ramayana verse on ‘Dhruvam sarve Pradakshinam’ refers Dhruvam as the pole star and these seven sages (Saptarishis) (Big Dipper) offer Pradakshinam or circumambulation.
Circumambulation is part of every human religion. It is also present in other religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
The Gandaberunda as shown in above below is also known as `Berunda’ or `Iruthalaipakshi’ is a mythical two-headed eagle. These imageries of two-headed eagles have been present for millennia in various civilizations of the world. It has been used by the ancient Indus Valley civilization, Mesopotamians, Egyptians, Hittites, Persians, Romans, Byzantine Empire, and several others. In Hindu mythology, the Gandaberunda is an incarnation of Narasimha (the Man-Lion form taken by Vishnu). If we study star astronomy using Hindu puranic reference, we can find the circumpolar star mythology as its origin.
Let me give example from one of the most ancient archaeological remains at Gobekli Tepe (Turkey) of around 11,500BCE. From the picture as shown above, you can clearly see proto-Vedic astrology carved on stone pillars as these ancient civilizations located circumpolar constellations (Draco/Shishumara and Cygnus) around pole star of Northern night sky. These circumpolar constellations never seem to set, and they simply rotate around the pole star that basically supported concept of Heaven/God for people of ancient civilizations. It appeared for them as these circumpolar constellations was controlling the movement of all stars and planets around it. In Hindu mythology, these circumpolar constellations are referred as Shisumara planetary system and other stars are also fixed on different sides of the Śhiśumāra planetary system according to the calculations of ancient Vedic astronomers. Even in current world and to concentrate their minds, Vedic sages worship the Śhiśumāra planetary system, which is technically known as the Kuṇḍalini-cakra. All these archaeological remains clearly show a proof that humans were aware of Astrology or Astronomy even 12000 years back that basically supported them to build culture, religion and deities based on constellations/cosmic formations in sky.
Ancient Vishnu Sahasranamam and commentary from Adi Shankara is very interesting which refers Dhruva (Pole star) at Shishumara’s tail end. This was possible only when Pole star was Thuban (3000–2400 BCE). Below is night sky of 2800 BCE visualized using Stellarium. Stellarium is a planetarium software that shows exactly what you see when you look up at the stars.
Reference: Viṣhṇu Purāṇa, Part 2, Chapter 9
The basis and support of this constellation of Śhiśhumāra is Mahā Viṣhṇu, who is the support of all light and effulgence. Dhruva, son of Uttānapāda came to be installed at the tail-end of Śhiśhumāra as he had worshiped Viṣhṇu. Śhiśhumāra is dependent upon Viṣhṇu, the Lord of all, and Dhruva is dependent upon Śhiśhumāra. Sūrya is dependent on Dhruva.
Reference link for SB 5.23.3: purport: https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/5/23/3/
ŚB 5.23.3
यथा मेढीस्तम्भ आक्रमणपशव: संयोजितास्त्रिभिस्त्रिभि: सवनैर्यथास्थानं मण्डलानि चरन्त्येवं भगणा ग्रहादय एतस्मिन्नन्तर्बहिर्योगेन कालचक्र आयोजिता ध्रुवमेवावलम्ब्य वायुनोदीर्यमाणा आकल्पान्तं परिचङ्क्रमन्ति नभसि यथा मेघा: श्येनादयो वायुवशा: कर्मसारथय: परिवर्तन्ते एवं ज्योतिर्गणा: प्रकृतिपुरुषसंयोगानुगृहीता: कर्मनिर्मितगतयो भुवि न पतन्ति ॥ ३ ॥
Translation:
When bulls are yoked together and tied to a central post to thresh rice, they tread around that pivot without deviating from their proper positions — one bull being closest to the post, another in the middle, and a third on the outside. Similarly, all the planets and all the hundreds and thousands of stars revolve around the polestar, the planet of Mahārāja Dhruva, in their respective orbits, some higher and some lower. Fastened by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to the machine of material nature according to the results of their fruitive acts, they are driven around the polestar by the wind and will continue to be so until the end of creation. These planets float in the air within the vast sky, just as clouds with hundreds of tons of water float in the air or as the great śyena eagles, due to the results of past activities, fly high in the sky and have no chance of falling to the ground.
Purport: Dhruvaloka (Pole Star), the abode of Lord Vishnu within this universe, is situated 1,300,000 yojanas from the seven stars (Big Dipper). In the planetary system of Dhruvaloka are the planets of the fire-God (Agni), Indra, Prajāpati, Kashyap and Dharma, all of whom are very respectful to the great devotee Dhruva, who lives on the polestar. Like bulls yoked to a central pivot, all the planetary systems revolve around Dhruvaloka, impelled by eternal time. Those who worship the virāṭ-puruṣa, the universal form of the Lord, conceive of this entire rotating system of planets as an animal known as śhiśhumāra. This imaginary śhiśhumāra is another form of the Lord. The head of the śhiśhumāra form is downward, and its body appears like that of a coiled snake. On the end of its tail is Dhruvaloka, on the body of the tail are Prajāpati, Agni, Indra, and Dharma, and on the root of the tail are Dhātā and Vidhātā. On its waist are the seven great sages. The entire body of the Shishumara faces toward its right and appears like a coil of stars. To concentrate their minds, yogis worship the Śhiśhumāra planetary system, which is technically known as the Kuṇḍalini-cakra.
Reference: https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/shishumara (Śhiśumāra (शिशुमार) refers to “Crocodiles”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.22)
We can also have reference to Shisumara type creature in most of Indus Valley seals and this cult findings relate them to crocodile cult in Gujarat, Bastar (Gondi Tribes) etc. who could have possible connection with this same ancient Indus valley tribes and migrations that took place during demise of this great civilization. All these cults were developed based on ancient astronomy of axis mundi as these ancient civilizations have observed the night sky towards North Pole star that have supported them the concept of circumpolar Central God who was controlling the cosmic order of all visible planets and constellations circumrotating the same pole star.
Shisumara being circumpolar, in Hinduism, crocodile is sacred animal: Apart from Lord Varuna, Ganga Devi rides on a crocodile, Durga Goddess, Akhilandeshvari rides her crocodile. We can find several of these crocodile cults in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and in some parts of Pakistan in which few of ethnic people still practice the old traditions.
Due to Earth’s precession cycle, location of Pole star (Dhruva) appears to have changed from earlier Puranic reference from tail of Shishumara (Draco) to tail of Ursa Minor (Current Polaris) and this supported Meru concept instead of Shishumara as hub of cosmos.
VārāhaMihira who was the most famous Indian astronomer from ancient times identified North Pole as the location of Holy Meru in his work Pancha-Siddhāntikā and same goes with the ancient Hindu astronomical text known as the Suryasiddhanta, locates Meru as the ‘Navel of the Earth’. Many famous Buddhist and as well as Hindu temples have been built as symbolic representations of this mountain and several myths have been associated with this holy mountain. If we refer Hindu Puranas in particular, it describes that Gods reside at north direction. In one of reference to Lord Brahma’s Day and night, it is mentioned that his one day is equivalent to one year for humans and this appears to be based on idea that North Pole has six months of sunlight and six months of darkness, which makes it day and night for one year. Below is reference and importance of Meru in Siddhanta Shiromani.
Most of post Vedic scriptures describe Mount Meru/Lingam as the Central Pivot of the Universe and the entire cosmos revolves around it. 7 Sages (Big Dipper), Draco, the Sun, Moon and Stars paying obeisance while circumambulating the Holy Mountain Meru.
Greeks referred the location of union from earth to Heaven (circumpolar constellation) with structure of omphalos, “the navel” of the earth and they localized Omphalos (Stone of Delphi) as the central point from which terrestrial life originated in ancient Greek temples of Delphi and for Hinduism, it is referred as Linga (Union between Purusha and Prakriti).
Reference: Axis mundi — Wikipedia
Almost every religion has the same philosophical concept, and the ideas looks identical. Above image shows very close similarities like milk offering rituals to Axis mundi/mandala stone structure in ancient Greek and current Hindu religion. Lingams has been found even in Indus Valley sites.
From image below, we can very clearly see the similarities of Hindu or Buddhist temple cosmogony or Shiva Lingam/Meru cosmology in later Indus Valley sites in form of citadel.
Importance on Alignment of Temples in Cardinal directions
The basic idea of ancient temples is a representation of the macrocosm (the universe) and ancient temples are aligned in cardinal directions, in the directions of solstices and other solar events. As we have learnt now from previous explanation, Solstice Axis represents Heaven Gates and Sun was represented as Soul of God/Divine spirit. The day of summer solstice or when the Sun is exactly over head is auspicious in every religion.
Further, in Hindu rituals, the symbol with arms pointing clockwise (卐) is called swastika. If you try to locate the ancient Ramayana verse on ‘Dhruvam sarve Pradakshinam’ it refers Dhruvam as the pole star and these seven sages (Saptarishis) (Big Dipper) offer Pradakshinam or circumambulation. The word swastika is derived from the Sanskrit root swasti, which is composed of — Su (सु) — good and Asti (अस्ति) — to be or there is
Most of Hindu rituals in which devotees doing Pradakshinam or circumambulation around God, holy hills, Pradakshinam around Agni God (Fire) during Hindu marriage rituals have been associated with this cosmology.
Even Valmiki Ramayana verse that mentions “Dhruvam Sarve Pradakshinam” with Thuban as Pole Star (Dhruva) which gives timeline that Ramayana should have been composed around 2800–2400 BCE and as the earth’s axial precession got changed, the location of Pole Star has changed to current Polaris.
In Greek myth, the Gate of Man corresponds with the crossing of the Milky Way and ecliptic at 5° Gemini/Taurus (sidereal zodiac) while the Gate of God corresponds with the crossing of the Milky Way and ecliptic in 5° Sagittarius/Capricorn (Makara). In Hindu belief system, on south side of temple representing Southern Night Sky cosmic plan, Lord Yama is represented from Orion constellation with his two dogs (Canis major and Minor on either side of Cosmic River). He was lord of Naraka (Underworld) and his vahana was Taurus (represented as Buffalo or Bull) and his duty was to direct the soul to a Swarga (heaven) or return it to Bhoomi (earth) based on human deeds (God or Bad Karma). If one’s soul were to rise to heaven after death to the Milky Way (path of soul) it had to pass through a gate (via constellations) and again we should note that the position of this gate(constellation) changes based on earth’s axial precession. In Greek myth, the Gate of Man corresponds with the crossing of the Milky Way and ecliptic at 5° Gemini/Taurus (sidereal zodiac) while the Gate of God corresponds with the crossing of the Milky Way and ecliptic in 5° Sagittarius/Capricorn (Makara). For ancient Egyptians, the soul had to make the Negative Confessions in front of Osiris (Orion Constellation) who was God of Underground, Anubis (as Canis major) to qualify afterlife location (Heaven).
Reference: (Astronomy in India, 1784–1876, Joydeep Sen)
The weighing of the heart, as typically pictured on papyrus in the Book of the Dead, or in tomb scenes, shows Anubis (Canis Major) overseeing the weighing and Ammit seated awaiting the results to consume those who failed. The image contains a balancing scale with an upright heart standing on one side and the Shu-feather standing on the other. Other traditions hold that Anubis brought the soul before the posthumous Osiris who performed the weighing. While the heart was weighed the deceased recited the 42 Negative Confessions as the Assessors of Maat looked on.
Egyptians were often entombed with funerary texts to be well equipped for the afterlife as mandated by ancient Egyptian funerary practices. These often served to guide the deceased through the afterlife, and the most famous one is the Book of the Dead or Papyrus of Ani (known to the ancient Egyptians as The Book of Coming Forth by Day). The doctrine of Maat is represented in the declarations to Rekhti-merti-f-ent-Maat and the 42 Negative Confessions listed in the Papyrus of Ani that are basically early Human Religious laws to reach Heaven/God/Afterlife.
In the Egyptian book of the Underworld called Amduat there are twelve divisions indicating the zones of the zodiac through which the soul, as sun, must journey on its way back to its sacred seat. Sun God with RAM head (Aries) is shown travelling in a boat. Sun God Ra travelling on Barque/Boat was considered by ancient Egyptians, since Sun God had to cross the band of solstice axis/Milky way which was visualized as Cosmic River.
In almost similar parallels, as per Vedic astrology, the 12 Adityas (Sun Gods) are the energies of the Sun placed in various zodiac signs that forms 12 months of a year and starts from Aries (Mesha) and below is reference of Rig Veda.
“Dhatar, the great Creator, then formed in due order Sun and Moon.
He formed in order Heaven and Earth, the regions of the air, and light.”
The Age of Aries commenced around 2000 B.C and it was during this time the Ram became sacred to Amon, the solar deity of Egypt and same goes with Hindu calendars too.
Earlier during Age of Taurus, bull worship/deities with Bull head was dominant in Indus valley, Sumerian cultures as you can easily capture in seals/artifacts from this civilization and after 2000 BCE, RAM(Aries/Mesha) became dominant like Lord/King Ram-ses of Egypt/central Asia etc. and later Piscean/Meena God/Goddess during 1AD onwards. You can clearly notice the change worship of Sun Gods/Goddess in astrological ages.
In Age of Aries, the Ram became a symbol for several deities in ancient past (2000BCE till 100BCE) including kingdoms of Egypt and several temples were designed in such a way that light falls on RAM idol exactly during Vernal Equinox to mark the birthday of SUN God in RAM.
Below is RA-AMUN (God with RAM head) — Ra is SUN God and below is its transit in Aries/Mesha). During Age of Aries, Ramesses I was first pharaoh of Egypt in 19th dynasty.
The current Abu Simbel temple of Egypt is 1968 relocated complex, however based on other RAM(RA-AMUN) temple alignment built by ancient Egyptians in Karnak, Luxor etc, the Abu Simbel temple of Egypt is designed in such a way that Sun light falls exactly on idol of RAM(RA-AMUN) idol — SUN GOD OF RAM HEAD to mark his birthday or Birth of Sun God during Vernal Equinox in RAM(Aries) which was the time during 2000 BCE till 100 BCE this is exactly like “Hindu Lord RAM” birthday of Hindu civilization falling in Aries Month (HINDU FESTIVAL RAM NAVAMI in Aries Month).
Valmiki Ramayana mentioning birth of Lord Ram when the Sun was in Aries
When Sun was in Mesha (Aries) Bhagavan Sri RAM (the Supreme Lord of Universe was born; then sweet-scented flowers rained profusely for one Muhurtham (duration of 12 minutes) from the sky on the castle where Sri Rama was born!! (Valmiki Ramayana).
The Karnak Temple complex of Egypt was constructed in the Middle Kingdom during Age of Aries (RAM). This was RAM temple (RA-AMUN) — the Sun God with RAM Head. This temple has its axis aligned along the sunrise azimuth on the winter solstice, however due to the motion of the Earth’s axis has changed the alignment of half a degree than it was during time of construction.
Sun Chariot festivals happening currently in Hindu temples are associated with Solstices. In Hindu calendar, two sidereal solstices are named Makara Sankranti which marks the start of Uttarayana and Karka Sankranti which marks the start of Dakshinayana. As per Hindu calendar (most of them emphasize the lunar cycle), Makara Sankranthi festival normally occurs during 14th January when zodiacal sign corresponds with Capricorn. Makara is the Capricorn zodiac. Sankranthi means change over, transit into. This day marks the Sun moving into Makara Constellation and is celebrated as Makara Sankranthi festival in India which is basically harvest festival. Ratha Saptami is celebrated in Hindu temples turning his Ratha (Chariot) drawn by seven horses (representing seven colors) towards the northern hemisphere, in a north-easterly direction. Rath yatras are held at various temples to mark the movement of sun towards north.
Energies of Sun over Zodiac in respective astrological ages has also supported Avatar concept. As per Hindu mythology, whenever evil prevails, Lord Vishnu is said to descend in form of an avatar to restore cosmic order as per astrological ages (Yugas). More information of Avatars can be found @ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dashavatara.
Great Indian Epic Ramayana simply means journey of Rama and according to R. Shamasastry, Lord Rama represents the sun and his brother Lakshmana represent the Jupiter Planet, Bharata the Venus, and Satrughna the Planet Mercury. When Sun is in Orion, he gives example of Rama’s pursuit after a deer implies the sun’s march to the asterism Mṛgaśira (Taurus) indicating the time of the urge of Sita (Earth Goddess) the Ploughshare. We see almost similar iconography in ancient Egyptian art too.
R. Shamasastry further explains the fight between Vali and Sugriva as a Grahayuddha (fight between Planets personified as humans). He mentions Vali as Saturn and we can see this iconography of Vali with gold chain round his neck.
Astrology counts 1 divine day as 1 human year due to Geo-centric model. 14 days of waxing or waning the moon and exile to forest for 14 years is beautifully captured in these astrological allegories. Scorpio constellation sometimes act as multiheaded demon who normally gets killed by Sun God during this part of transit and later followed by victorious celebration rituals.
Coming back to temples alignment, Earth’s orbital position around the Sun is shifting the solstice by about 20 minutes each year. It takes almost 72 years for the equinox to shift by a complete day. After 25,772 years, the seasons will be swapped, and the spring would start at the former fall equinox, and we can see this example in ancient Stonehenge in different parts of world.
Please note that some ancient structures like Pyramids of Giza are still not out of alignment with true north or even by less than one-fifteenth of a degree and scientists explain that this is because Pyramids of Giza sits at the north-east corner of the African tectonic plate, which has moved 30 meters north and spun anticlockwise by about one-sixtieth of a degree since the Great Pyramid was built, when its alignment with true north was even closer. A similar argument can be made for the alignment of ancient monoliths with the sun at equinox. In Pyramids of Chichen Itza on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula we can still watch the shadow of the 1,100-year-old great snake god Kukulkan slither down the pyramid steps during the vernal or autumnal equinox. Kukulkan is closely related to the deity Qʼuqʼumatz of the Kʼicheʼ people and to Quetzalcoatl of Aztec mythology. The Yucatec form of the name is formed from the word kuk “feather” with the adjectival suffix -ul, giving kukul “feathered”, combined with kan “snake” giving a literal meaning of “feathered snake”. The current shadow is exactly not the same what was during times of Maya’s peak, and this is because the date of each equinox has moved by more than two weeks due to precession.
Sri Vidyashankara temple of Sringeri, India is one such beautiful example on Mandala concept with perfect cosmic plan like any other ancient Hindu temples or Pyramids of Egypt. This temple was built in the year 1338 A.D. As shown in picture below, in the eastern half of the structure is a mandala with twelve pillars (popularly known as rashi stambhas), marked by the twelve signs of the zodiac. The rays of the sun fall on each of them in the order of the twelve solar months like any Stonehenge or like World’s First temple of Gobekli Tepe (current Turkey). Sringeri temple has a large circle in floor, marked with converging lines to indicate the direction of the shadows. Deities are placed in garbhagriha that rises with shikhara, Maha padma and Kalasha is placed in Top with alignment of Axis Mundi.
During the construction of temple around 1400AD, it was designed in such a way that energies of Sun (Sun light) will fall over pillars and are marked representing respective SUN God over Zodiac and Avatars of Sun God are carved outside. That Zodiac calendar month Sun light will fall exactly on that Zodiac pillar.
Due to earth’s axial precession, currently it is found that only two pillars are aligned with the direction of the rising sun on winter and summer solstice times, while we see some partial obstructions by other pillars.
If we are all alive for next few thousand years, we can notice Sun light falling on different Zodiac pillars in same temple than it was designed earlier! Thus, proves axial precession.
Reference for Sacred Texts for Vedas and Puranas: https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/
Credit for all Night Sky Planetarium images: (Stellarium — https://stellarium.org/ )
Ancient Star Mythology: https://ancientstarmyths.blogspot.com/
Details on Earth’s Axial Precession with supported links : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axial_precession
Circumpolar Astronomy — Reference link for SB 5.23.3: purport: https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/5/23/3/
