Mahabharat History
gira...@juno.com
Respected Scholars, Namaskar!
Meru Parvata and Gandhamaadana Parvata
Names of these two mountains appear often in the epic Mahabharata. Are these peaks of Himalayas. Himalaya has many peaks and Himalaya spreads from Eastern Burma to Afghanistan. Where exactly these peaks are. What is the position of Meru-east of Gandamaadan or west of Gandamaadan. What are the positions of Kraunca dweepa and Shaakala dweepa with respect to Meru parvata? Where is the Shalmali dweepa with respect to Indian subcontinent? Thanks. N.R.Joshi .
____________________________________________________________
Get Free Email with Video Mail & Video Chat!
http://www.juno.com/freeemail?refcd=JUTAGOUT1FREM0210
Arun
Basically this is meant to be rotation axis of earth. Its length is
100,000 yojanas ( 1 yojana = 1000 part of equatorial diameter = 12800
kms approx. here). The disc shaped zone around earth in plane of
ecliptic is called Jambu-dvipa of 50, 000 yojana radius in Bhagavata
purana, skandha 5, Vishnu purana 2/7-8 etc. That is exclusive
gravitational zone of earth in which a body will revolve round earth.
Moon is at about 61r distance, r = radius of earth.
Vishnu purana 2/8 tells about Shishumara-chakra which is perpendicular
to ecliptic plane around which earth’s axis rotates in 26000 years,
called precession of equinoxes (also explained by Al-Biruni). This has
been called Naka-svarga in Vedas (Madhusudan Ojha-Brahma-siddhanta
etc.). Axis of solar system and galaxy (Parameshthi mandala) have been
called Lingas in space in Shiva-purana.
Kutub-minar is model of Sumeru of earth in space. At Delhi, its semi-
vertical angle is equal to difference between true and mean latitude
there. That was not known after Mahabharata till 1850 AD. In 456 BC at
start of Sri-Harsha shaka (Al-Biruni, Abul Fazal), it was place of
northern most position of moon on earth surface (inclination of
earth’s axis 23.90 + inclination of moon’s orbit with ecliptic 5.020)-
Refer my commentary on Siddhanta-Darpana, chapter 16. So, ‘Chandra’
has been written on iron pillar there. A pillar of 12 units (called
Shiva-linga of 12 angula in Shiva purana) was used to measure time and
latitude of a place. It is called Shanku in surya-siddhanta etc.
Smallest shadow is at noon time and locus of shadow end around that
time is in shape of a ‘Kutup’ called kuppi (funnel, thistle-kip) in
Hindi. So, the muhurtta at noon time is called Kutupa-muhurtta. By
bisecting the shadow line equi-spaced from noon, say at 11 and 13 hrs-
we get north–south direction. This is explained as traversing in books
of astronomical survey for M.Tech (civil). The bisection is by common
part of two circles in shape of a ’Mina’ (fish), so the pillar is
called Kutup-Mina or Kutub-minar. Magnetic compass does almost same
work, so it is called Kutub-numa. In that also, needle floating on
mercury is called ‘Mina’. Local references of latitude also have been
given name of fish like Rohataka ( almost at longitude of Ujjain) and
Hilsa near Patna (100 east of Ujjain).
Mapping of earth surface of north (and south) hemisphere was in 4
sheets of 900 longitude width. It was centered round north pole called
Meru or Sumeru. Bharata-varsha (India) has been called one of the 4
petals of that lotus (earth surface) as it roughly extends 450 west
and 450 east of Ujjain. Thus, Meru has 4 faces and its linga (symbol)
has square base-called Svayambhu linga as in Kaaba of Arab at west end
of Bharata. Pyramids were constructed 450 and 1800 west of Ujjain in
Ezypt and at Mexico (called Siddhapura in Surya siddhanta)-Valmiki
Ramayana, Kishkindha kanda (40/54, 64).
South pole was called Kumeru (opposite to Sumeru in north).
Aryabhata (Kali 360 = 2742 BC) has stated that north pole is in water
and south pole on land mass. South pole is joint of 2 land masses-
called Yama-dvipa. Yama is lord of south and Yama also means twin or
double.Till 1985, it was not confirmed whether south pole is in water
channel between 2 land masses or on land itself. Only by echo-
sounding, in 1985, it was known that it is actually on land. Nearest
land mass is New Zealand which has again 2 islands. So it was called
Yama-koti-Dvipa (at end of Yama dvipa). Actually, Yama star (southern
Crux) has same southern latitude as this island. Its south western tip
has been called Yama-koti-pattana (port of Yama-koti)-stated to be 900
east of Ujjain in Surya-siddhanta etc. There should be a pyramid at
this point also-probably it is submerged in ocean now.
Largest land mass is Jambu-dvipa (Asia + Europe). Center of
mountain ranges is called Pran-Meru (Eastern Meru) or Pamir. Human
Brahma was here at Pushkara (120 west of Ujjain and 350 north where
maximum day length is of 16 hours). This is now called Bukhara on
north of ancient Persia, now in Uzbekistan. 4 highways went in 4
directions, so Brahma was called 4 faced. Till today convention of
script by him continues- north east part writes from up to down, south
west to left and south east (India) to right side. North west part
uses Sankhya script of 52 letters-see my article ‘Vedic origin and
classification of scripts’ on www.scribd.com/Arunupadhyay. Opposite to
that is Pushkara-dvipa (south America) having Apara-Meru (western
Meru) at Peru from where 4 highways emanated in 4 directions from
Kuzco as in Pran-meru.
In between is central Meru at equator in Kenya (mount Kilimanjaro).
Sri Vinay Jha used it for the first time for rain forecasting as it
starts from equator region only and reached India as rains after
Adhana (in womb) period of 6.5 months (193 days) as in Brihat-samhita
of Varahamihira. The places around it have still the name of Meru.
(see website of Sri Vinay Jha).
subrahmanyam korada
Is it 'kutapa' or 'kutupa' or both ? - both are there .
> --
> अथ चेत्त्वमिमं धर्म्यं संग्रामं न करिष्यसि।
> ततः स्वधर्मं कीर्तिं च हित्वा पापमवाप्स्यसि।।
> तस्मादुत्तिष्ठ कौन्तेय युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयः।
> निराशीर्निर्ममो भूत्वा युध्यस्व विगतज्वरः।। (भ.गी.)
>
--
Prof.Korada Subrahmanyam
Professor of Sanskrit,
CALTS,
University of Hyderabad 500046
Ph:09866110741(R),91-40-23010741,040-23133660(O)
S. Kalyanaraman
Pk. kuḍuā -- f. ʻ leather vessel ʼ ABORI xxi 108; Mth. kuruā ʻ leather bucket ʼ. -- Sh. (Lor.) kūto m. ʻ small leather bag ʼ, °ti ʻ leather case ʼ < *kuttū -- ? (CDIAL 3273)
kutapa [ ku-tapa ] m. n. goat's hair blanket. (Skt.)
kutupa m. n. the eighth Muhurta of the day (= %{ku-tapa} q.v.) the eighth Muhu1rta or portion of the day from the last Danda of the second watch to the first of the third or about noon (an eligible time for the performance of sacrifices to the Manes) MBh. xiii , 6040 MatsyaP.
k
subrahmanyam korada
sorry for the inconvenience
Is it 'kutapa' or 'kutupa' or both ? - both are there .
Jyotisam, DharmasAstram , Vyakaranam and Markandeyapuranam --
1.kutapah : Amarah(2-Brahmavargah) - amso'stamo'hnah kutapo'striyAm .
kum prthivIm (gotrA kuh prthivI prthvI - Amarah 2) sUryah tapati iti
kutapah - yogarUdhah .
When should one perform SrAddhakarma ?
Devide the daytime into fifteen parts and the eighth part is called
'kutapa' and it runs for two ghatikas .
Smrtih - raudrassvetasca maitrasca tathA sArabhatassmrtah I
sAvitro vijayascaiva gAndharvah kutapastatha II
rauhineyo virincasca somo'tha nirrtistathA I
mAhendro varunascaiva bhatah pancadasassmrtah II
kum yatra gopatirgobhih kartsnyena tapati ksane I
sa kalah kutapo nAma sraddham tatra pradIyate II
Manusmrtih (3-234,235) -
vratasthamapi dauhitram srAddhe yatnena bhojayet I
kutapamcAsane dadyAt tilaisca vikirenmahIm II
trIni srAddhe pavitrAni dauhitrah kutapastilAh I
trIni cAtra prasamsanti saucamakrodhamatvarAm II
KullUkabhatta comments - kutapa is naipAlI kambalah (Hindi commentator also) .
KamalAkarabhatta of Nirnayasindhu (Telugu script by VAvilla
RAmasvAmisAstrulu ,ChennapurI, 1906 , 1986) under (3rd AdhyAya) '
SrAddhe jalanirnaya' quotes from
MatsyapurAnam -
madhyAhnah khadgapAtram ca tathA nepAlakambalah I
raupyam tilA gAvo dauhitrascAstamah smrtah II
pApam kutsitamityAhuh tasya samtApakArinah I
astAvete yatastasmAt kutupA iti visrutAh II
BrahmapurAnam -
yatistridandah karunA rAjatam pAtrameva ca I
dauhitram kutupah kAlah chAgah krsnAjinam tathA II (sastAni iti sesah)
Smrtisamgrahe -
ucchistam sivanirmAlyam vAntam ca mrtakarpatam I
srAddhe sapta pavitrAni dauhitrah kutupastilAh II
2.kutupah (Amarah 2- Vaisyavargah) -
kutUh krttisnehapAtre saivAlpA kutupah pumAn - a leather container
for oil - the big one is
'kutUh' and small one is 'kutupah' .
Here , following Panini ( there is no any DhAtu such as 'tupa' ) and
Amarasimha , we can /
have to decide that - 'kutapa' is for kAla (etc) and 'kutupa' is for
small leather container for oil
(during ancient times ) .
The word ' kuh ' has got the meaning 'pApam' also - 'pApakutsesadarthe
ku' (Amara - 3- nAnArthAvyayavargah) .
Therefore , in the sense of 'kutapakAla' it is ' kum prthivIm tapati'
and for the rest it will be
'kum papam tapati' .
The wrong usage is due to lack of knowledge of VyAkaranam and / or Kosa .
In KullUkabhatta's commentary , in light of the available material
from PurAnas and Smrtis, the
term ' naipAlI kambalah' is upalaksanam ( etc.) .
For Telugu people -- in Manucaritra (SvArocisamanusambhavam)one of the
PancamahAkAvyas of Telugu , the author AllasAni PeddanArya (1500 AD)
use the term 'kutapakAla' in the context of PravarAkhya's journey
with PAdalepa offered by Siddha .
Here the commentators , it seems , got confused and did/could not
decide the meaning of the
term . The author of the PIthika , the famous scholar , Sree VemparAla
SUryanArAyanasAstrI,
also did not explain the term . In fact, it is there neither in
VyAsa's MArkandeyapurAna nor
in MArarana's Telugu Translation . The poet meant roughly midday -
between 11.30 and 12.30 .
dhanyo'smi
2010/10/25 subrahmanyam korada <kora...@gmail.com>
Arun
There are 2 structures at Kutub-minar site. The Minar proper has the
same foundation as that of 27 temples in circle around it-they may
correspond to 27 nakshatras. No ancient or modern architecture can use
ancient foundation for a new high Minar. For architecture purpose,the
load of temples around it formed stabilizing load for tilted Minar,
which is inclined at about 5 degree south and was meant to be
perpendicular on karka-rekha (Tropic of cancer in 456 BC-start of
SriHarsha Shaka-indicated by Al-Biruni and Abul fazal). The Minar
proper is at the sight which is northernmost position of moon on earth
surface-it was about 28.9 degree in 456 BC. The adjacent iron pillar
has inscription of 'Chandra' only which is related to moon's extreme
position. Too much meaning has been extracted from this single word-it
is assumed to be Chandragupta-2 as obvious conclusion. Even if Chandra
is assumed to be Chandragupta, it can mean at least 3 famous
Chandraguptas-one was founder of Maurya dynasty and 2 were in Gupta
dynasty. There could be a Chandragupta of lesser fame having capital
at Delhi. None of the famous 3 Chandraguptas was based at Delhi. Ibn-
Batuta also had written that Kutub Minar was constructed about 1500
years before him (or before Kutub-ud-Din Aibak in 1206-1210 AD). The
Minar whose foundation was laid in 1199 AD is adjacent to Kutub Minar
and is of about double dimeter and half constructed or partly
collapsed during construction. It is obviously on different
foundation.
In a way, even Megasthenes had written about it. He has stated that
Palibothri on banks of Yamuna was one of main towns of Hercules. It
has been assumed to be Patna without any basis. Hercules like Vishnu
has 2 meanings-Vishnu or Vaman and his incarnations, sun which holds
earth in its gravitation.
In sense of sun, town of Hercules means pillar for measuring latitude
etc or mark of a time zone. Pillars of Hercules were at 90 degree west
of Ujjain called Romaka-pattana in Surya-siddhanta. So, the town of
Hercules here may mean this pillar only like pillars near Rabat in
Morocco.
Jain Text Surya-prajnapti indicates dimensions of Meru of which it is
a model. Its semi-vertical angle indicates the difference between mean
and true latitude at Delhi. (See Jain Astronomy by sajjan Singh Lishk
or my commentary on Siddhanta-darpana, chapter 16). Surprisingly, no
other text after Mahabharata till 1850 AD anywhere in world talks
about true latitude-all have assumed perfect spherical shape of earth.
On basis of certain signs on it, Sir Saiyad Ahmed (founder of Aligarh
Muslim University) in 1911 wrote a book of 300 pages telling that
Kutub Minar is a much older Hindu structure and should not be called
an Islamic monument.
Sri Korada has given all references for Kutupa. It means a vessel in
conical shape for pouring oil in pointed flow. In Triprashnadhikara of
Surya-siddhanta and all other texts of astronomy, method has been
given for finding north-south direction. It is same as Method of
traversing described in text-books of surveying for M.Tech (civil).
Shadow end of any vertical pole (called Shanku) moves in shape of
Kutupa between 11 AM and 1 Pm or any interval equally spaced around
local noon. That is bisected by common part of two circles drawn from
two ends of that Kutupa. That part common to 2 circles in called Mina
(fish) due to its shape. The Kutupa shaped locus of shadow end is
bisected by Mina, so the device is Kutupa (b)-Minar. For same purpose
magnetic compass was used- which is called Kutub-numa, i.e doing work
similar to Kutub-minar-Arun Kumar Upadhyay, 09437034172
> Qutb-u'd-Din Aibak laid the foundation of Qutab Minar in AD 1199.
> Qutb, Qutub, Kutb, or Kutub (Arabic قطب), literally 'axis' or 'pole'.
> [1] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minar#cite_note-0> from
> Arabic<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_language>
> *manāra* (lighthouse) منارة, usually مئذنة) are distinctive architectural
> features of Islamic <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam>
> mosques<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosque>
> . This may explain the name associated with the brick minaret called Qutb
> Minar.
>
> kutū f. ʻ leather oil vessel ʼ Pāṇ., *kutupa* -- n. ʻ small do. ʼ Kāś.
> Pk. *kuḍuā* -- f. ʻ leather vessel ʼ ABORI xxi 108; Mth. *kuruā* ʻ leather
> bucket ʼ. -- Sh. (Lor.) *kūto* m. ʻ small leather bag ʼ, *°ti* ʻ leather
> case ʼ < **kuttū* -- ? (CDIAL 3273)
>
> *
> kutapa [ ku-tapa ] m. n. goat's hair blanket. (Skt.)
>
> kutupa m. n. the eighth Muhurta of the day (= %{ku-tapa} q.v.) the eighth
> Muhu1rta or portion of the day from the last Danda of the second watch to
> the first of the third or about noon (an eligible time for the performance
> of sacrifices to the Manes) MBh. xiii , 6040 MatsyaP.
> k
>
> 2010/10/25 subrahmanyam korada <korad...@gmail.com>
>
>
> > namo vidvadbhyah
>
> > Is it 'kutapa' or 'kutupa' or both ? - both are there .
>
>
> - Show quoted text -