15. Astronomy in the Gita
sadhaka
maha pralaya par yantam kala cakram prakirtitam
kala cakra vimo ksartham sri krishnam saranam vraja
Time plays an important role in astronomy. Lord Krsna has called time His manifestation by declaring, "of reckoners I am time" (10/30). The time is calculated by the sun. The sun has been called His manifestation - ‘of the luminaries, I am the radiant Sun’ (10/2I).
There are twenty seven stars. The Lord has described stars by declaring 'I am the moon among the stars' (10/21). Two and a quarter stars make a zodiac sign. Thus there are twelve zodiac signs of twenty seven stars. The sun revolves on those twelve zodiac signs viz the sun stays on one zodiac sign for a month.
The Lord has described the months by declaring, ‘of months I am Margashirsa" (a month of the Hindu calendar approximating November (10/35). Two months constitute a season which has been described by the declaration ‘of seasons I am the flowery spring’ (10/35). Three seasons constitute an 'Ayana' (solstice) (the path of the sun). Solstices are two in number - uttarayana (northern path of the sun) and daksinayana (southern path of the sun) which have been described in Gita 8/24 and 8/25. These two ayanas (solstices) constitute a year. Lacs of years constitute a yuga. (an Age) which has been described by the Lord by declaring, ‘I am born age after age’ (4/8). The time occupied by these four ages is called a Chatur yug!. A thousand 'Chaturyugis' constitute a day of Brahma which is known as 'Sarga' the period of creation. Similarly a thousand 'Chaturyugis' constitute a night of Brahma, known as dissolution (pralaya). They have been described in Gita 8/17- 8/19. A hundred such years constitute the span of Brahma's life. There is final Dissolution (Maha pralaya) at the expiry of the life time of Brahma in which everything merges in God. The Lord has described this Final Dissolution in the ninth chapter (9/7). At the Final Dissolution only God Who is eternal without beginning or end remains. The Lord has described it by the expression, 'I am the inexhaustible Time" (10/33).
It means that astronomy functions upto final dissolution in the domain of Nature only. It does not function in God Who transcends Nature. So a human being should take refuge in God (Who is in the form of inexhaustible time) in order to be free from the cycle of mundane time or existence.
Narayana ! Narayana ! Narayana !
From "Gita Darpan" in English, pg 138 by Swami Ramsukhdasji.