Q: What about Lord Rama’s birthdate as calculated by Nilesh Oak?
A: Nilesh Oak is an Indian writer who has utilized the astronomical data presented in the Ramayana to estimate a date for Lord Rama’s birth and activities. He relies on information about the past trajectories of planets, calculated by NASA and published as JPL NASA ephemeris DE 441, which can accurately trace back to as early as 13,200 BC. Nilesh dates Lord Rama’s pastimes to around 12,000 BC.
There are two issues with his analysis:
- Repetition of Celestial Configurations Due to Precession of the Equinoxes: The precession of the equinoxes is a slow wobble of Earth’s axis that takes approximately 25,920 years to complete one full cycle. This movement causes the positions of stars and constellations to shift over time relative to the equinoxes and solstices. As a result, any specific arrangement of celestial bodies in the sky will repeat itself at least once every 25,920 years. This means that the astrological configuration described in the Ramayana for Lord Rama’s birth or the war could occur not only at 12,000 BC but also at 37,920 BC, 63,840 BC, and so on, into the past. Therefore, any set of statements regarding Lord Rama’s birth or the war cannot uniquely place him at 12,000 BC; it could equally apply to any of these earlier dates.
- Omission of Puranic Evidence: His analysis overlooks the information provided in the Puranas, which are among the most meticulously preserved sections of the Vedas. The Puranas have numerous commentaries and established schools of thought around them. They unanimously state that Lord Rama’s pastimes occurred in the 24th Caturyuga, specifically the 24th Tretayuga. The Padma Purāṇa confirms that Śrī Rāma, the son of Daśaratha, lived in the 24th Tretā Yuga of Vaivasvata Manvantara (Part 1, Chapter 14, Verses 66-72). Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī in Laghu Bhāgavatāmṛta concurs with this in verse 78 of chapter 3. Currently, we are in the Kaliyuga of the 24th Caturyuga.
In summary, we cannot accept Mr. Oak’s speculation regarding Lord Rama’s activities, as they contradict the statements of the shastras.
Additional Explanation on Precession of the Equinoxes
The precession of the equinoxes is caused by the gravitational forces of the Sun, Moon, and planets acting on Earth’s equatorial bulge, leading to a slow shift in the orientation of Earth’s axis. This shift results in a gradual change in the position of the equinoxes and solstices against the backdrop of the stars. Over the course of 25,920 years, the position of the North Celestial Pole traces a circle around the ecliptic pole, passing through different stars and constellations. For example, currently, the North Star is Polaris, but in about 12,000 years, it will be Vega.
This precession affects the apparent positions of all celestial bodies, including the zodiac constellations. As a result, the astrological signs associated with specific dates shift over time. For instance, the vernal equinox, which marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, currently occurs when the Sun is in the constellation of Pisces. However, due to precession, it will eventually move into Aquarius, giving rise to the term “Age of Aquarius.”
Understanding this phenomenon is crucial when attempting to date historical or mythological events based on celestial alignments, as the same configuration can recur multiple times over long periods.
For a visual explanation of the precession of the equinoxes, you can watch this video: Precession of the Equinoxes Explained.
