Janamejaya inscriptions of 3014 BC

Arun Kumar Upadhyay, IPS, M.Sc. (math), AIFC

B-9, CB-9, cantonment Road, Cuttack-753001,
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arunupadhyay30@yahoo.in
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Yudhişţhira was famous king in Mahābhārata period. He was son of Pāņɖu of
Chandra-vamśa (Lunar dynasty. Their capital was at Hastināpur, but garrison at
Paribhadra ( called Delhi with same meaning = walled city). This was place
indicating northernmost position of moon-so the kings of that area were called
Chandra-vamśī. Due to illness, Pāņɖu had to go to forest leaving kingdom to
elder brother Dhŗtarāşţra, who had originally been denied kingdom due to
blindness. Even after his son Yudhişţhira became adult, Dhŗtarāşţra was
reluctant to make him king and was given charge of a small part at Indraprastha
(Delhi) in 3176 BC when Saptarşis (group of 7 stars in north sky-Ursa major)
entered Maghā star in reverse motion-the line joining 2 eastern stars joined
initial point of this star division on ecliptic. He ruled up to 3151 BC and then was
banished to forest for 12 years and 1 year as incognito after betting duel with
Duryodhana, son of Dhŗtarāşţra. The period ended in 3139 BC, but Duryodhana
refused to give him kingdom resulting in great war of Mahābhārata which was a
world war in which 18 Akśauhiņĩ (each equal to 227 thousand men) army took
part. Pāņɖavas with only 7 Akśauhiņĩ won the war in 18 days. But it destroyed
the world civilization causing 165 lakh deaths including civilians. This is regarded
as deluge in most civilizations in their ancient stories. There are evidences of
increase in radio-active level by 3 times-as indicated by rings of that time in
Sequoia trees of California and some radio-active minerals in Sahara and
Australia. Mahābhārata war started on Kārttika Amāvāsyā, i.e. 1-10-3139 BC.
After 10 days of war, Bhīşma, grandfather and commander of Duryodhana army
fell and slept on bed of arrows for 58 days till Māgha śukla aşţamī when sun
started its northward motion on 24-12-3139 BC. 5 days before that, Yudhişţhira
was crowned on 17-12-3139 BC when Yudhişţhira-Śaka started. Just before that,
Parīkśita was born from womb of Uttarā, wife of Abhimanyu, son of Arjuna who
died in war at age of 16 years. Arjuna was younger brother of Yudhişţhira and
only his line remained. Even Parīkśita was born dead due to Brahmāstra used by
Aśvatthāmā, but was revived miraculously by Kŗşņa. After 36 years of rule over
Bhārata by Yudhişţhira, Kŗşņa, died on 17-2-3102 BC which also marked the start
of Kali era. Yādava empire was destroyed by internal war and the capital town
Dwārakā drowned. 6 months and 11 days (188 days by lunar month) later, when
Jaya-samvatsara (Sūrya-siddhānta system in north) started, Pāņɖavas went to
forest for Abhyudaya (enlightment), so the period counted from this date of 24-8-
3102 BC, is called Jayābhyudaya-Śaka. That was Pramāthī year as per Pitāmaha-
siddhānta followed in south. On that date Parīkśita was crowned as king and he
ruled for 60 years.
25 years after going to Himalayas (in Kashmir), Yudhişţhira died in 3076 BC
when Saptarşis left Maghā star when Laukika or Saptarşis era started in Kashmir.
In 3042 BC, Parīkśita was killed by Nāga king Takśaka of Takśa-śilā (now in west
Pakistan). Then his son Janamejaya was only 11 years old. After gaining strength,
he retaliated against and defeated them in Safidon of Jind district in Haryana.
Their towns were totally routed with near extinction. They were called Moin-jo-
daro (town of dead) and Harappa (pile of bones). On advice of sage Āstīka,
Janamejaya stopped genocide of and did repentance. Retaliation against was
called Sarpa-satra which ended in 3014 BC and Janamejaya granted many lands
on that occasion and on a solar eclipse on 27-11-3014 BC. All these were in 89 th
year of Jayābhyudaya-Śaka, i.e. 29th year of his own rule. These grant orders give
dates in all 5 ways followed in Indian calendar and also indicate solar or other
eclipses. It is not possible to forge dates and its 5 indicators for such an old time.
Even now, NASA ‘s calendar software (2005) gives error of up to 65 hours for
3100 BC. Even after correction, error can be up to 12 hours.
These have been published in ‘Indian Antiquary’ in June, 1901 by Richard
Temple. These have been quoted by Sri Kota Venkatachalam in his book ‘Age of
the Mahabharata War’ written in 1957-59 and published by his son in 1991.
These 2 inscriptions have been quoted by Sri E. Vedavyasa in his book
‘Astronomical Dating of the Mahabharata War’, 1986, chapter 17 and by Sripad
Kulkarni in his 18 volume book-‘The study of Indian History and Culture’ 1988 in
Vol.II-pages 334-335 and in Vol.IV pages 90-91. Venkatachalam and Vedavyasa
have given complete Sanskrit texts also and Sri Vedavyasa has given 3 more
inscriptions of Janamejaya published in same year of ‘Indian Antiquary’ and
manipulation of dates by Colebrooke with help of G.B. Airy who had been made
Royal Astronomer for such works. In time of Airy, it was not possible to estimate
old eclipses which was attempted for first time in west by Oppolzer in 1889 who
listed eclipses from 700 BC. In India, Hemangada Thakkur had written Grahaņa-
mālā in 1526 listing eclipses of 1200 years.
The grants of Janamejaya are-
(1) Grant at Muni Vrindāraka on Tungabhadrā bank-89 Kali year=3014 BC.
Svasti ! On this year of ‘Plavanga’ being the eighty-ninth of the Jayābhyudaya-
Yudhişţhira Śaka, in the ‘Sahasya’ month, on Amāvasyā, the Day being a
Monday, Śrī Mahārājādhiraja Parameśvara of Vyāghrapada Gotra Śrī Janamejaya
king, being seated (head) at this Kişkindhā Kśetra in his royal munificience, the
protector of the Dharma of the four varņas (grant) to this shrine of Lord Sītā-
Rāma, situated at the Vŗkodara Kśetra in the name of my great grand-father
Yudhişţhira, the following schedule lands of the Muni Vŗnda Kśetra located within
the four boundaries hereunder:
“ ... ... ... ...” (boundaries described)
“Granted at this auspicious time of the eclipse, along with gold, coins, with the
Dana water of Tungabhadra river for the purpose of permanent state in “Vişņu
Loka” of his forefathers for which the witnesses of Dharma, Sun, moon, sky,
quarters, heart, mind, day and night, fire, air, morning, evening, soul-all are
witness of a Dāna”
(Usual prayers follow) This corresponds to Kali year 89, Pauşa month, amāvāsyā
= 27-11-3014 BC.
(Original Text)-
शीकुरवंशावतंस शीजनमेजयभूपालाना दानशासनपतं ।
पानतु वो जलदशयामाः शाङरजयाघातककरशाः ॥ तैलोकयमणडपसतमभाशतवारो हिरबाहवः ॥
सविसतशी जयाभयुदये युिधिषरशके पलवङाखये एकोननवित (८९) वतसरे सहसयमािस अमावासयाया सोमवासरे
शीमनमहाराजािधराज परमेशरो वीरागणी वैयाघपादगोतजः शीजनमेजयभूपः िकिषकनधानगया िसंहासनसथः
सकलवणाशमधमरपितपालकः पिशमदेशसय सीतापुरः वृकोदरकेते तततय मुिनवृनदमठसय गरडवाहन शीमिचछषय
कैकयनाथैररािधत सीतारामसय पूजाथर ं कृत भूदान-शासनमसमतपिपतामह युिधिषरािधिषत मुिनवृनदकेतसय चतुःसीमा
पिरिमितकमः-पूवरभागे .. उतर वािहनयासतुंभदया पिशमे दिकणभागे अगसतयाशमसंगमादुतरे । पिशमे पाषाणनदाः पूवे ।
उतरभागे िचछन नदा दिकणे । ये (ए) तनमधयिसथत मुिनवृनदारक केतं भाविचछषयपरंपरा चनदाकर पयरनतं िनिध िनकेप जल
पाषाणािछनया (?) गािमिसद साधय तेजः सवामय सिहतं सवबुदधयाऽनुकूलयेनाऽसमत िपतृणा िवषणुलोक पापयथर ं हिरहर
सिनधावुपराग समये सिहरणयेन तुंगभदा जलधारा पूवरकं केतं यितहसते दतो (दतवान्, अ) समयहं । एतदमर साधनसय
सािकणः ॥
आिदतयचनदाविनलोऽनलश दौभूरिमरापो हृदयं यमश । अहश राितश उभे च सनधये धमरश जानाित नरसय वृतं ॥२॥
दानपालनयोमरधये दानाचछे योऽनुपालनं । दानातसवगरमवापोित पालनािदगुणंफलं ॥
सवदताद् िदगुणं पुणयं परदतानुपालने । परदतापहारेण सवदतं िनषफलं भवेत् ॥
मदता पुितका जेया िपतृदता सहोदरी । अनयदता तु जननी दतभूिमं पिरतयजेत् ॥
अनयैसतु छिदरतं छदे शिभश छिदरतं न तु । ततः कषो ततो नीचः सवदतापहारकः ॥
सवदता परदता वा बहवृितं हरेत यः । षिषवषरसहसािण िवषाया जायते कृिमः ॥
(2) Digvijaya in south
“Lord of Hastināpura, the brilliant son of Pāņɖava race, vanquisher of 4 quarters,
subduer of Konkaņa (after) defeating the Gajapatis and Aśvapatis, victorious with
his flying standard of gold Varāha (boar incarnation of Vişņu-Varāha kśetra is in
south India), his feet planted victorious on Crowns of all kings of the land, the
darling of the Soma vamśa namely King Parīkśita; is son Janamejaya Emperor
(now) reigning from Hastināpura in peace, hearing the holy discourses and
Purāņas, having marched to the south quarter on an expedition of Digvijaya
having conquered Kaţaka (of Utkala), Kongada, Koraput (Kacchapuţa) in the
Chaitra month, Kŗşņa Pakśa, Bharaņī nakśatra, Monday, Uttarāyaņa...., Karaņa...,
Vyatīpāta yoga, on day of partial solar eclipse, makes the Dāna of Śrotriam
villages mentioned within the boundaries scheduled below to the Brāhmaņas of
the Gotra and Śākhā specified hereunder on the occasion of the “Sarpa Yāga”, at
the time of Purņa-āhuti-Samaya.
This is on 11-12-3014 BC, Monday.
(Original Text)
जनमेजय िदिगवजय शासन-
शीशरङर मे गितः शुभमसतु—जयित अिवकृतं िवषणुवरराहं---
कोिभताणरव ं—दिकणोनत दंषटागे िवकानत भुवनं वपुः ॥
सविसत समसत भुवनाशय शीपृथवीधरवललभ महाराजािधराज राजपरमेशर परमभटारक हिसतनापुर वराधीर आरोहक मगदनत
िरपुरायकानवादानत वैिर-वैधवय पाणडव-कुल-कमल-मातरणड कदनपचणड किलंग-कोदणड मातरणड एकावीर रणरङधीर
अशपितराय िदकपित-राजपित-राय-संहारक नरपितराय िदकपित-गजपित-राय-संहारक मसतक तलत हिर सामनत मृग चामूर
कोङण चातुिदरग भय रचछपुट काचछपुट ई वरमुख कमल-िविनगरत-बहवीणािद भरतशासत पिसद अनेकासत पवीण कोरणड
वयािल नागाजुरनािद मनत-तय-शुद पिसद समुदाय निमत पादारिवनद अिरराय कुल-िवलय कालानल नीित आकार पराशङना-
पुत सुवणर-वराह-लाञछन धवज । शी सोमवंशोदव परीिकत चकवती ततपुत जनमेजय चकवती हिसतनापुरे सुखङदा िवनोदेन
दिकण िदगवलया िदिगवजय यातेय तुङभदा-हिरदा सङमे शी हिरहरदेव सिनधौ कटकं उतकिलत चैतमासे कृषणपक सोमिदने
भरणी महानकते संकािनत वयतीपात िनिमरत समये सपरयागं करोिम ।
This indicates Aśvapati of Utkala and Gajapati of Kalinga and 3 towns of present
Orissa-Kataka (Cuttack), Kongaņa (like Konkaņa on west coast), Kacchapuţa
Racchapuţa (towns in Koraput, Puţa = Prastha, table land on hill top). There was
an Aśvapati in Kekaya (Caucasus) also, but this is king of Utkala, north Orissa.
Āruņi Uddālaka had gone to him for learning. Story of indicates that he had lain
on water bandha of paddy field to stop water. That is possible only in rice
growing area of Orissa or east India. There was an Audala-kaţha branch of Kŗşņa-
Yajurveda whose place may be present Udala in Mayurbhanj district. Kalinga is
southern coast from Bhubaneswar to Rajamundhry. Till today, Its kings are called
Gajapati since Mahābhārata era when his army of elephants (Gaja) had fought on
side of Duryodhana. Origin of Aśvapati title is not clear. It may be a map of solar
wind zone called Aśva (horse) at 21 ahar-units in space or 210 north latitude,
called Bhadraka.
(3) Start of Sarpa yāga-Another inscription with identical Preamble, as to titles
etc. And name was issued in Chaitra month, Kŗşņa Pakśa, Monday, Bharaņī star
with sankrānti and Vyatīpāta both had occurred at commencement of Sarpa-
Yāga.
This corresponds to date 7-3-3014 BC as start of Sarpa-Yāga.
Another on Chaitra masa Kŗşņa Pakśa, soma vāra, tritīyā tithi, Viśākhā star after
expiry of sankrānti, Vyatīpāta yoga after commencement of Sarpa Yāga.
Lewis Rice, author of “Mysore Inscriptions” asked a local pandit Sri Subramanya
Sastry Siddhanti who gave the year as Kali 36 = 3066 BC as starting of Sarpa-
Yaga. Lewis found it to be consistent with all other records but termed it as
fabulous. To change the dates, he took help of Colebrooke who declared it
unauthentic along with William Jones who was actively studying Sanskrit for
destruction of Indian history. For corroboration, they sent it to Royal Astronomer
G.B. Airy who fixed a date 7-4-1521 AD at start of Moghal period for event just
after Mahabharata. Thus, these officers faithfully served British empire in
destruction of Indian history.
(3) सविसतशी जयाभयुदये युिधिषरशके पलवङाखये एकोननविततम (८९) वतसरे सहिसमािस अमावासयाया सोमवासरे
शीमनमहाराजािधराज परमेशर वैयाघपादगोतज शीजनमेजयभूपो इनदपसथनगरीिसंहासनसथः सकलवणाशमधमरपितपालको
उतरिहमालये शीकेदारकेतं तततय मुनयः उषामठसय शीगोसवािमआननदिलंगजंगमाय शीमिचछषयजानिलंगजंगमदारारािधत
शीकेदारनाथसय पूजाथर ं दतवनतः चतुःसीमा पिरिमित कमः॥ पूवरभागे दिकणवािहनी मनदािकनी । पिशम दिकणभागे कीरगङा
उतर पिशमे मधुगङा, पूवोतरभागे सवगरदारनदी, दिकणे सरसवती, मनदािकनयोः संगमः, एतनमधये शीकेदारकेतं
भविचछषयपरमपरया चनदाकरपयरनतं िनिध िनकेप जल पाषाणा गािम िसद साधय तेजः सवामय सिहतं सवबुदधयाऽनुकूलयेनाऽ
समनमातृिपतृणा िशवलोक पापयथर ं शीकेदार सिनधौ उपराग समये सिहरणय मनदािकनी जलधारा पूवरकं केतिमदं हसते
दतवानिसम । एतदमर साधनसय सािकणः ॥
शलो.- आिदतयचनदाविनलोऽनलश दौभूरिमरापो हृदयं यमश ।
अहश राितश उभे च सनधये धमरश जानाित नरसय वृतं ॥२॥
दानपालनयोमरधये दानाचछे योऽनुपालनं । दानातसवगरमवापोित पालनािदगुणंफलं ॥
सवदताद् िदगुणं पुणयं परदतानुपालने । परदतापहारेण सवदतं िनषफलं भवेत् ॥
मदता पुितका जेया िपतृदता सहोदरी । अनयदता तु जननी दतभूिमं पिरतयजेत् ॥
अनयैसतु छिदरतं छदे शिभश छिदरतं न तु । ततः कषो ततो नीचः सवदतापहारकः ॥
सवदता परदता वा बहवृितं हरेत यः । षिषवषरसहसािण िवषाया जायते कृिमः ॥
These have been analyzed in book -Astronomical Dating of Events & Select
Vignettes from Indian History, Volume I, Edited and compiled by Kosla Vepa,
Published by-
Indic Studies Foundation, 948 Happy Valley Rd., Pleasanton, Ca 94566, USA
Email: webmaster@indicstudies.us, http://www.indicstudies.us
Pages 62-67 of this book are quoted below-
Janamejaya’s Inscriptions
Several copper plate inscriptions declaring grants of land and other gifts made at
the time of
sarpa yāga of Janamejaya have been discovered. While there are questions
about the authenticity of these plates, it will be interesting to see if the
simulations based on planetarium software are consistent with the dates.
Inscription I
In one of the inscriptions, it is declared that in the 89th year of “jayābhudaya”
era, at the time of solar eclipse in the ‘sahasya’ month at the time of the ‘sarpa
yāga’ a certain gift is made. Considering that this date would refer to the 89th
year of Kaliyuga’ as explained by the scholar Dr. Vedavyas, it would be 3014
BCE, and ‘sahasya’ would be the second month in hemanta ŗtu. Figure 12 shows
the star map for November 27, 3014 BCE, which is a solar eclipse day and Figure
13 shows the full moon on December 11, 3014 BCE to occur near puşya, the
month corresponds to ‘sahasya’ just as required.
A note of caution has to be mentioned again at this stage. As has been discussed
earlier, the positions of the planets and the stars are computed in the
planetarium software using the
latest theories and information available and they are very reliable. However,
there are uncertainties when it comes to determining eclipses on dates
extrapolated to 3000 BCE. These uncertainties may amount to as much as 12
hours for the time of the occurrence of the eclipse. For example, the time of
occurrence is given as 3:00 a.m. for the eclipse on November 27, 3014 BCE with
the uncertainty of several hours. What is certain, however, is that a solar eclipse
did occur on November 27, 3014 BCE. Figure 13 corroborates to the month given
in the inscription. The same caution applies to the solar eclipse on September
14, 2451 BCE also. It may be noted that this inscription of Janamejaya was
rejected as not being authentic on the grounds that the astronomical data it
contained would not stand ‘the test of critical examination.’ However, the
planetarium software has shown that the eclipse, month and the year in the
Inscription are all reproduced thus establishing its veracity.
Inscription II
There is a second inscription, which refers to a ‘digvijaya’, an expedition of
conquest of the south by Janamejaya. According to the inscription, the Lord of
Hastināpura makes a certain grant on the occasion of vyatīpāta yoga in
uttarāyaņa caitra māsa kŗşņapakśa. According to the text of the Inscription
quoted by Dr. Vedavyas, it reads, “…Śrī harihara deva sannidhau kaţakam
utkalita caitramāse kŗşņapakśa somadine bharaņī mahānakśatre sankrānti
vyatīpāta nirmita samaye sarpayāgam karomi.” There is no mention of a partial
solar eclipse anywhere in the text. Dr. Vedavyasa has inferred ‘having
conquered Kataka (Orissa Cuttack?)’ from the words ‘kaţakam utkalita’.
However, in the context, this does not appear to be the meaning. The vyatīpāta
yoga refers to an amāvāsya on a Sunday, when the moon is in aśvini, ārdrā,
śravaņa, dhanişţhā, or in the first quarter of āsleşā. The text is really referring to
the next day, ‘somadine’. Since the nakśatra referred to is bharaŋī, the previous
day must have been aşvini, and the combination with amāvāsya and ravivāra
created the vyatīpāta yoga. The word ‘utkalita’ ‘blossoming’, qualifies
‘caitramāse kŗşņapakśe’, making the ‘somadina’ the first day of śuklapakśa. The
word ‘kaţakam’ really qualifies ‘sarpayāgam’ because of the ending, and means
well bounded or fortified in the context. The occasion is therefore, the well
protected ‘sarpa yāga’ being performed on Monday of bharaņī nakśatra following
the amāvāsya Sunday of aśvini nakśatra which created the vyatīpāta yoga, one
which has to be avoided in performing auspicious rites.
Figure 13 Star map of Dec 11, 3014 BCE
Inscription III
An inscription almost identical to the one above in the preamble and labelled III
by Vedavyasa was also issued at the time of the commencement of the sarpa
yāga. A second inscription under the same label III records the date as caitra
kŗşņa pakśa tritīya tithi, viśākha nakśatra, sankrānti and vyatīpāta yoga and
records the grants that were made on this occasion. Figure 14 shows the star
map for March 6, 3014 BCE at sunrise and shows the vyatīpāta yoga. Figure 15
shows the next day of bharaņī, the beginning of sarpayāga.
It appears that a large number of copper plates inscriptions attributed to
Janmejaya are available, but not all of them have enough independent
information for simulation and confirmation. Some of them refer to a partial solar
eclipse at the time of uttarāyana sankramaņa. In fact simulations show that
there was indeed a solar eclipse on January 5, 3104 BCE and the winter solstice
was on January 13, 3104 BCE. In any case there is consistency with the two
inscriptions selected above for the detailed information in them.
(47) This is recorded as one of kupparagadde plates in Indian Antiquary
of 1901.
Figure 14 star map for March 6, 3014 BCE

Figure 15 shows the next day of Bharani the beginning of sarpayaga. March 6,
3014 BCE