HistoriCity: India’s Ancient Role in Astronomy and Celestial Discoveries

HistoriCity: India’s Celestial Legacy and Ancient Astronomical Prowess

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s journey into space evokes memories of legendary figures like Aryabhata, the ancient Indian mathematician who precisely calculated the value of pi and laid the foundation for centuries of astronomical advancements.

India’s fascination with the cosmos dates back thousands of years. The Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa, written by Lagadha, is one of the earliest Indian astronomical texts and outlines a lunisolar calendar system. Similarly, the Nasadiya Sukta from the Rig Veda asks profound cosmological questions, such as: “What stirred? Where? In whose protection?”—reflections that show how ancient Indians grappled with the mysteries of existence long before the age of telescopes.

These early observations weren’t just philosophical. Ancient Indians noted celestial phenomena—eclipses, planetary paths, phases of the moon—and incorporated them into rituals, calendars, and mythology. By the start of the Common Era, they had already identified planets, mapped constellations, and developed the lunar zodiac (nakshatra) system, still used today to mark festivals and auspicious events.

Aryabhata: Pioneer of Indian Astronomy

The Common Era brought rapid developments. Aryabhata, one of the most brilliant minds of the 6th century CE, revolutionized Indian astronomy and mathematics with his text Aryabhatiya. He defined advanced time cycles such as yuga and kalpa, proposed that the Earth rotates on its axis, and calculated pi as 3.1416. His contributions influenced future scholars like Brahmagupta and Varāhamihira and were instrumental in shaping modern science. Aryabhata’s works were translated into Arabic in the 8th century, influencing scholars like Al-Khwarizmi and later, Al-Biruni.

Western academics have often attributed the numeral system to the Arabs, but as historian James Evans rightly noted, it would be more accurate to call them “Hindu-Arabic numerals,” acknowledging India’s foundational role.

India’s Ancient Astronomical Sites

India’s ancient sites further reveal its astronomical heritage. The Neolithic site of Burzahom near Srinagar, dating back to 8000 BCE, may contain records of a supernova. Similarly, Mudumal in Telangana is home to one of the world’s oldest observatories, featuring menhirs arranged to mirror the Ursa Major constellation—known in India as the Saptarishi or Seven Sages. These alignments also mark solstices, proving early Indians tracked the solar calendar.

In Odisha, the 13th-century Konark Sun Temple is a marvel of solar engineering. Built to honor the sun god Surya, it was designed so the first rays of sunlight strike the idol. Its 24 intricately carved wheels also function as sundials.

Other ancient observatories include the Jantar Mantar complexes in Delhi, Jaipur, and Varanasi, which used massive instruments to track celestial movements. In Maharashtra, the Junapani stone circles—dating from 1000 BCE to 300 CE—feature cup-marked stones, likely used for tracking the winter solstice sunrise and guiding rituals.

From philosophical hymns to engineering marvels, India’s ancient wisdom fused astronomy, mathematics, spirituality, and daily life. As astronauts like Shubhanshu Shukla step into space, they continue a legacy that began with sky-watchers gazing upward from stone observatories millennia ago.

HistoriCity is a column by Valay Singh that explores the layered history, mythology, and archaeology of cities and civilizations that are in the spotlight.