Ahargana - Episode 1: Introduction to the astronomy of the Hindu calendar

Описание: Subtitles: Hindi, Kannada, English

This channel explains the science behind the Hindu calendar.

This opening episode explains the background to this video series and introduces the viewer to the concept of a geocentric model of the solar system.

The Hindu calendar is our heritage but few Hindus really understand the astronomical basis of the various calendric elements. We are so used to using the Christian calendar that we oftentimes complains that our Hindu festivals never occur on the same date year after year. In reality, Hindu festivals do occur on the same date year after year, as per the Hindu calendar! This video series attempts to shed light on the astronomy behind the Hindu calendar.

The basis for the material in this video series is the Surya Siddhantha - a Hindu scientific treatise written no earlier than 400 AD. The authorship of this treatise is unknow. This treatise contains terse and cryptic definitions of various calendric elements that are in use even today.

This episode lays the ground for all others by explaining the geocentric model that underpins the Hindu calendar. The geocentric model posits that the Earth is the center of the solar system. While this appears to be wrong at first sight, this model does have a validity and utility since it is an observed model, i.e. this model accurately illustrates what we observe standing on the surface of the earth.

The Stellarium animation (always the crux of the videos in this series) introduces Stellarium to the audience and ends by showing a geocentric model of the solar system. This model will be used in all the subsequent videos in this series.

0:00 Introduction to the series
7:39 Geocentric model explanation
13:39 Stellarium animation
24:21 Closing