Mahabharata: 18 Day War: 5561 BC

Fantastic. Using Stellarium, I was able to corroborate the theory which says that the Mahabharata War took place in 5561 BC. The text states that the star Arundhati or Alcor was walking in front of the star Vashishta or Mizar. In this screen capture from Stellarium (on the day of 8/16/5561 BC), we see Arundhati ahead of Vashishta (The stars are moving in counter-clockwise fashion.).

Here is a screen capture from Stellarium for tonight (1/17/2016 AD). We are no longer in the Epoch of Arundhati (Alcor). Therefore Vashishta or Mizar is walking ahead of Arundhati or Alcor. The pole star Polaris is to the north & a bit to the west of this pair (Arundhati & Vashishta); i.e. the pair are at about 4 o'clock & moving counter-clockwise.

Nilesh Oak, who verified the Epoch of Arundhati (long ago, a time when the star Arundhati (Alcor) "walked ahead" of the star Vasishta (Mizar)), is quoted below. (In my previous posts, I said that the 1st day of the Mahabharata War was 8/16/5561 BC; actually, it started on 10/16/5561 BC--in October, not in August.)

"The emphasis of my corrboration was rather the timing and position of ‘Sun/moon’ (first day of War and at sunset) and also ‘Jupiter’ (17th day of the War and at sunset) afflicting nakshatra Rohini [the star Aldebaran].

"Jupiter was on the western horizon (immediately after sunset) on the 17th day of the War (1 November 5561 BCE), the timing of this reference, i.e. after Karna was killed in the battlefield. Nakshatra Rohini [Aldebaran] was on the eastern horizon, at this time and thus, I asserted, that Jupiter on western horizon was afflicting nakshatra Rohini (Rohini was on the eastern horizon).

...on the very 17th day of the War, sun was indeed afflicting Rohini (with Rohini rising on eastern horizon and sun setting on the western horizon) and the moon (near full moon) afflicting nakshtra Rohini, later in the night..."

Using Stellarium, I pretty much corroborated what Oak states above about the 17th day of the Mahabharata War, wherein the Kauravas' last great hope, the warrior Karna, is killed by Arjuna.

"I thank our reader for emphasizing ‘समानवर्णः, meaning probably bright or white’. This word (समानवर्ण) appears in critical edition (CE 68:49), while GP edition has slightly modified verse (GP 94:51).

"The reference occurs in the Mahabharata text (CE Karna 68:49, GP 94.51)

"The alternate reading (GP 94:51) reads…

"बृहस्पति: सम्परिवार्य रोहिणी
बभूव चंद्रार्कसमो विशाम्पते

"(and GP translation— Jupiter covered/enclosed nakshatra Rohini, and began shining (Jupiter) simliar to the Sun and the Moon.)

While our reader has positively contributed to correct meaning of ‘समानवर्ण’, that was not even the emphasis of my corrboration. The emphasis of my corrboration was rather the timing and position of ‘Sun/moon’ (first day of War and at sunset) and also ‘Jupiter’ (17th day of the War and at sunset) afflicting nakshatra Rohini [Aldebaran]."

Here's another screenshot of Jupiter and the sun, as the latter heads for the horizon (& Jupiter also). It is 2:55 PM on the 1st of November (a Tuesday) in the year 5561 BC.

While heading towards the western horizon, both the sun & Jupiter are "afflicting" Rohini (Aldebaran), as the latter is about to come up above the eastern horizon. Apparently, somebody was keeping track of the heavenly bodies for that late afternoon/evening--right after the Kauravas' champion (Karna) was slain by the Pandavas' champion (Arjuna).