Time of Mahabharatha

The Mahabharatha war took place exactly on 22 November, 3067 BC. (Kaliyuga started at 3102 BC based on Aryabhata’s Surya Siddhanta theory). The Bhishma Parva and Udyoga Parva of Mahabharatha provides considerable astronomical/astrological descriptions and omens that the Mahabharata war was approaching.  It also describes during the period of war different planetary positions. The  planetary position during the war with Jayadhradha also reveals a day closer to this as per Researchers. 


Professor K. Srinivasa Raghavan has done extensive research on this subject based on which Shri Janamaddi Hanumanta Rao wrote an artiticle which provides accurate timings of the various events of Mahabharatha with astronomical facts. [Astronomical facts published by Tirumala Tirupathi Devastanam ] 

In 2003, a two day seminar was held on 5^th and 6^th January, in Bangalore, on "The Date of Mahabharata War: Based on Astronomical Data Using Planetarium Software", and a few of the eminent researchers who submitted papers were (1) Dr. S. Balakrishna of NASA, USA; (2) Dr. B. N. Narahari Achar, Department of Physics, Memphis University, USA; (3) Dr. R. N. Iyengar, Department of Civil Engineering, IISc, Bangalore; (4) Dr. S. Kalyanaraman, Saraswati River Research Centre, Chennai and so on. These scientists agree that there does not exist any contradiction between any two descriptions of planetary configurations given in the Mahabharata.

According to Dr. Kalyanaraman [saraswati research center], the eclipses occurred in 3067 B.C.- the lunar eclipse on 29^th September at the asterism Krittika and the solar eclipse on 14^th October at the asterism Jyestha.

Picture courtesy boloji.com

With a minor deviation researcher Dr. P. V. Holay examined 6 planetary configurations given in the Mahabharata and concluded that the War began on 13^th November, 3143 B.C. whereas Dr. K. Srinivasa. 

Raghavan and his coworker Dr. G. S. Sampath Iyengar, using the Planetarium software came to the conclusion that the Kurukshetra War began on 22^nd day of November, 3067 B.C. (according to the present Gregorian calendar). Professor Dr. Narahari Achar of the University of Memphis, USA, also arrived at the same conclusion using the said Planetarium software. Dr. S. Kalyanaraman of the Saraswati River Research Centre, Chennai, found the estimates of Dr. K. S. Raghavan and Dr. Narahari Achar correct and, on that basis, calculated the dates of some other important events of Mahabharata. 

For example: Lord Krishna, on His final peace mission, set out for Hastinapur on 26^th September, 3067 B.C. when the moon was at the asterism Revati. Lord Krishna arrived Hastinapur on 28^th September, 3067 B.C., when the moon was at the asterism Bharani. The full moon and lunar eclipse at Krittika occurred on 29^th September, 3067 B.C.
The solar eclipse at Jyestha occurred on 14^th October, 3067 B.C.
Lord Balarama set out for pilgrimage on 1^st November, 3067 B.C.
The War began on 22^nd November, 3067 B.C.
Lord Balarama concluded His pilgrimage on 12^th December, 3067 B.C.
The winter solstice occurred on 13^th January, 3066 B.C.
The comet Mahaghora appeared at the asterism Pushya in October, 3066 B.C.

Also Greek records pointing to the same approximate date of Mahabharatha. Greek travellers who came to India following Alexander’s invasion have left us references on this. For eg. Authors like Pliny referred to Krishna as Heracles, derived from Hari-Krishna. They record that the Indian Heracles — our Krishna — was held in special honour by the Sourseni tribe one of whose major cities was Methora. We can recognize them as Shuraseni and Mathura. (Shura was the father of Vasudeva and the grandfather of Krishna.) Indian Heracles (Krishna) is recorded by the Greeks as having lived 138 generations before the time of Alexander and Sandracottos which we may take to be c. 330 BC. Taking 20 years per generation, which is known to be a good average when ancient Indian dynasties are involved, we are led to the computation 2760 + 330 = 3090 BC which is remarkably close to the Kali date of 3102 BC. So a reckoning based on ancient Greek records takes us approximately to the traditional date of c. 3100 BC. [ Ref : http://www.veda.harekrsna.cz  ]