Being thousands of years old, the Rigveda is the eldest of the four Vedas and generally considered to be the most ancient of the sacred Hindu scriptures known today.
The Rigveda is divided into ten books and the first of the books includes many references that make sense when examined from a Jyotish point of view. In this connection I have found seven verses from hymn 164 to be of special interest.
Rg 1.164.10:
"Bearing three Mothers and three Fathers, single he stood erect: they never
make him weary. There on the pitch of heaven they speak together in speech all-knowing
but not all-impelling".
MY NOTES:
The single one, who stood erect and never weary, can be interpreted as the Sun.
The three Mothers and the three Fathers can be interpreted as the remaining
three female planets and three male planets counted in the order of the weekdays
like this:
1. Sun - male - the single one
2. Moon - female - mother
3. Mars - male - father
4. Mercury - female - mother
5. Jupiter - male - father
6. Venus - female - mother
7. Saturn - male - father
The dual principle of Mother and Father being mentioned may also hint at the two Ayanas. The two Ayanas means the appearent Southern and Northern course of the Sun:
1) Daksinayana (Southern course)
2) Uttarayana (Northern course)
"...they speak together in speech all-knowing but not all-impelling". The interpretation of this could be that these seven planets, when being asked, know everything, but what they are saying is not reaching everybody or should not be reaching everybody. This can be understood as predictive astrology, which was perhaps kept secret at that time.
Rg 1.164.11:
"Formed with twelve spokes, by length of time, unweakened, rolls round
the heaven this wheel of during order. Herein established, joined in pairs together,
seven hundred Sons and twenty stand, O Agni".
MY NOTES:
The twelve spokes can be interpreted as divisional lines between the twelve
solar months (signs). This wheel (circle) is further subdivided into 720 (shastiamsas).
This way we get 60 (shastiamsas) in each solar month (zodiacal sign).
Indirectly, however, what we are being informed here, can also be understood as the 360 degrees (trimsamsas) of the zodiac with each degree being divided into two pairs.
Rg 1.164.12:
"They call him in the farther half of heavens the Sire five-footed, of
twelve forms, wealthy in watery store. These others say that he, God with far-seeing
eyes, is mounted on the lower seven-wheeled, six-spoked car".
MY NOTES:
The five-footed Sire of twelve forms can be interpreted as the Brihaspati Samvata,
meaning the Jovian 60 years cycle (5 x 12) created by the five astronomical
12 year cycles of Jupiter.
The same Jupiter must be considered "wealthy in watery store" having both own sign (Pisces) and exaltation sign (Cancer) in the watery triplicity.
Jupiter is also located in "the farther half of heavens", as only Saturn is more distant. "God with far-seeing eyes" also fits the description of Jupiter.
Furthermore. the planet in question is referred to as Sire indicating a male planet. Also "mounted on the lower seven-wheeled six-spoked car" (Ritus and signs) seems to indicate NOT the single one (Sun), who is not moving, but rather one of the remaining three Mothers and three Fathers (planets) who are constantly moving.
Most likely "the lower seven-wheeled six-spoked car" indicates the six Ritus (seasons) and perhaps also the signs, since they are ruled by the seven planets (seven-wheeled).
Rg 1.164.13:
"Upon this five-spoked wheel revolving ever all living creatures rest and
are dependent. Its axle, heavy-laden, is not heated: the nave from ancient time
remains unbroken".
MY NOTES:
The "five-spoked wheel" can be interpreted as the Yuga. The 60 years
cycle as described above is also divided into 12 Yugas of five years each. The
Yugas have been described in many texts, e.g. Varahamihiras Brihat Samhita.
Rg 1.164.14:
"The wheel revolves, unwasting, with its felly: ten draw it, yoked to the
far-stretching car-pole. The Sun's eye moves encompassed by the region: on him
dependent rest all living creatures".
MY NOTES:
"...ten draw it". This probably means the ancient ten years cycle
which is still being used today by some hindu astrologers in Sri Lanka and some
parts of South India.
Each of the ten years have been given a planetary ruler. The first seven years correspond to the rulers of the seven weekdays, the 8th and the 9th years to Rahu and Ketu while the 10th year belongs to the Kala Purusha meaning the personification of the Wheel of Time.
According to some hindu astrologers there is a certain affinity between the first year of the Sun and the 10th year of the Kalapurusha. There is not much published material available about this ten years cycle except for some bits and pieces of information, but it runs like this:
1st year - Sun
2nd year - Moon
3rd year - Mars
4th year - Mercury
5th year - Jupiter
6th year - Venus
7th year - Saturn
8th year - Rahu
9th year - Ketu
10th year - Kala Purusha
"The Sun's eye moves encompassed by the region" probably means the apparent yearly movement of the Sun in the equinoctial circle towards the South (Winter Solstice), the East (Vernal equinox), the North (Summer Solstice) and the West (Autumnal equinox).
Rg 1.164.15:
"Of the co-born they call the seventh single-born; the six twin pairs are
called Rsis, Children of Gods. Their good gift sought of men are ranged in order
due, and various in their form move for the Lord who guides".
MY NOTES:
The three Mothers (the female planets) and the three Fathers (the male planets)
are considered to be the lords (parents) of the six Ritus (tropical seasons)
known as: Grisma, Varsa, Sarad, Hemata, Sisira and Vasanta.
"The single one" (the Sun) is not the lord of any particular Ritu, since he is considered the lord of all the six Ritus (the tropical year) as well as the two Ayanas.
"...the six twin pairs are called Rsis, Children of Gods". This means that each of the six Ritus can be divided into two solar-months or zodiacal signs of 30 degrees. The word Rsis is very similar to the word Rashis meaning the zodiacal signs.
"...and various in their form move for the Lord who guides" probably means that the guidance of the Lord can be read out of these twelve divisions.
Rg 1.164.16:
"They told me these were males, though truly females: he who hath eyes
sees this, the blind discerns not. The son who is a sage hath comprehended:
who knows this rightly is his father's father".
MY NOTES:
The six Ritus are ruled by the three Mothers (female planets) and the three
Fathers (male planets), but the fact that they are being divided into the twelve
solar months or zodiacal signs being either odd (male) or even (female) obviously
has an influence on their male or female gender.
"...he who hath eyes sees this, the blind discerns not" probably means that only he who knows Jyotish sees this, as Jyotish is considered the eye of the Veda, while others does not see it.
The son (child) who is a sage with his grandfathers knowledge would indicate someone of strong discrimination powers and without prejudices.
Rg 1.164.48:
"Twelve are the fellies, and the wheel is single; three are the naves.
What man hath understood it? Therein are set together spokes three hundred and
sixty, which in nowise can be loosened".
MY NOTES:
This looks like a description of the Kala Purusha meaning the personification
of the wheel of time. The single wheel of twelve fellies represents the twelve
signs or solar-months and the 360 spokes are the 360 zodiacal degrees.
The three naves can be interpreted as years, months and days and perhaps also as past, present and future. In any case the wheel of 12 signs and the 360 degrees will remain the same.
The number of books and hymns in the Rigveda
It seems to me there is a hidden meaning related to Jyotish connected to the numbers of books in the Rigveda and the number of hymns in each of these books. The following is the results of my research into this area:
1) The ten years cycle
There very fact that the Rigveda is divided into ten books can be interpreted as a hint about the ten year cycle as indicated in my notes to Rg 1.164.14:
Book no. 1 - 1st year - Sun (191 hymns)
Book no. 2 - 2nd year - Moon
Book no. 3 - 3rd year - Mars
Book no. 4 - 4th year - Mercury
Book no. 5 - 5th year - Jupiter
Book no. 6 - 6th year - Venus
Book no. 7 - 7th year - Saturn
Book no. 8 - 8th year - Rahu
Book no. 9 - 9th year - Ketu
Book no. 10 - 10th year - Kala Purusha (191 hymns)
Please observe that book number one and book number ten has got exactly the same number of hymns (191 hymns). Number ten can also be seen as the number zero by coming before number one, and it can therefore be described as the unborn number one. Perhaps this explains why the Creation hymn is given in book number ten and not in number one.
2) Two Yugas and two Pakshas
The ten books can also be interpreted as ten years divided into two Yugas as indicated in Rg 1.164.12 & 13 like this:
Book no. 1 - 1st Year
Book no. 2 - 2nd Year
Book no. 3 - 3rd Year 1st Yuga (Shukla Paksha)
Book no. 4 - 4th Year
Book no. 5 - 5th Year
Book no. 6 - 1st Year
Book no. 7 - 2nd Year
Book no. 8 - 3rd Year 2nd Yuga (Krishna Paksha)
Book no. 9 - 4th Year
Book no. 10 - 5th Year
Each Yuga indicates one Paksha of 15 Lunar-days if we add together the numbers of the years in each Yuga this way: 1+2+3+4+5=15. The two Yugas together therefore indicate one full lunar-months of 30 days (Tithis). The month of 30 days or 30 degrees is indicated in Rg 1.164.48.
3) Two Nakshatra systems
Please observe carefully whether the number of hymns of each of the ten books are having two or three digits:
Book no. 1 - 191 hymns
Book no. 2 - 43 hymns
Book no. 3 - 62 hymns
Book no. 4 - 58 hymns
Book no. 5 - 87 hymns
Book no. 6 - 75 hymns
Book no. 7 - 104 hymns
Book no. 8 - 92 hymns
Book no. 9 - 114 hymns
Book no. 10 - 191 hymns
First of all add up the four book-numbers having hymns of three digits each like this:
1+7+9+10=27 Now observe that 27 is the number of the "mathematical" Nakshatras according to Vedanga Jyotisha and later on in the Nakshatra-system used for Vimshottari Dasa, etc.
Next add up the six book-numbers having hymns of only two digits each like this:
2+3+4+5+6+8=28 Then observe that 28 is actually the number of the "sidereal" Nakshatras of the Moon including Abhijit.
4) Years, Ayanas, Ritus, Months, Nakshatras and weekdays
Now we reduce the numbers of the hymns in each book to one digit this way:
Book no. 1 - 191 hymns (1+9+1=11 1+1=2) 2
Book no. 2 - 43 hymns (4+3=7) 7
Book no. 3 - 62 hymns (6+2=8) 8
Book no. 4 - 58 hymns (5+8=13 1+3=4) 4
Book no. 5 - 87 hymns (8+7=15 1+5=6) 6
Book no. 6 - 75 hymns (7+5=12 1+2=3) 3
Book no. 7 - 104 hymns (1+0+4=5) 5
Book no. 8 - 92 hymns (9+2=11 1+1=2) 2
Book no. 9 - 114 hymns (1+1+4=6) 6
Book no. 10 - 191 hymns (1+9+1=11 1+1=2) 2
Which numbers from 1 to 9 are repeated two or three times?
Numbers 2 and 6 are repeated which indicates the division of the tropical year into the two Ayanas and six Ritus (seasons).
Number two is repeated three times and thereby once again indicating the six Ritus (2x3=6)
Number six is indicated two times and thereby indicating the 12 months and/or the twelve zodiacal signs (6x2=12)
Which numbers are NOT repeated?
Numbers 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 are not repeated. When added together they give 27 (3+4+5+7+8=27) indicating once again the 27 Nakshatras.
Now, which of the numbers from 1 to 9 are excluded here?
The numbers 1 and 9 are excluded leaving only seven numbers and thereby indicating the seven weekdays and/or the seven planets.
The excluded numbers 1 and 9 when added together indicate once again the important ten years cycle (1+9=10). The number ten also indicates the Kala Purusha, and further more the number ten if reduced to one single digit (1+0=1) indicate the Sun which is the number one.
(Finn Wandahl, 25.10.2002)