SOLAR SYSTEM, JUOITER
SATURN, MARS, VENUS
Post No. 14,941
Date uploaded in London – 4 September 2025
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One Thousand Interesting Facts about Ancient Tamils!
Prepared by London Swaminathan
1
A for Astronomy
Sangam Age Tamils were great experts in astronomy. 2000 years ago, they sang about stars, comets and planets.
Where is the proof?
In Pura Nanuru (pronounced puranaanuuru) 117, a poet refers to comet, Saturn and Venus. It shows they were keen observers of the sky.
2
Did they know all the planets?
No. they knew Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn. The references are in various books. They did not talk about distant planets like Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.
In the post Sangam literature we find references to millions of stars and galaxies.
Ref. Tiruvasagm of Manikkavasagar.
3
What did they say about Venus?
It is very interesting to find that they predicted rains and drought through the movement of Venus.
Where is the proof?
Some clever guy who arranged Purananuru, one of the 18 Sangam Period books, placed all verses about Venus in the last part of the book.
Look at Pura Nanuru verses 383, 384, 385, 386, 388, 390, 397, 398.
One must be a great genius in astronomy to place all poems together.
There are 20 more references to Venus in the 18 Books of Sangam Literature.
At least four poems say that Venus going towards south will cause drought –
Pattinappalai – line 1-2; (pronounced pattinappaalai ).
Pathitruppaththu – verse 24;
Puram.338
4.
What did they say about Saturn?
The wonder is even without telescope or binocular they named it a dark planet.
Where is the proof?
Puram.117; the word used was MAIMMEEN; meaning dark star.
Poet Kabilar says even if Saturn enters Leo, there will be rain in the country/region of Pari. The word Saturn PUKAIYINUM is interpreted that Saturn entering Simha Rasi (Leo) there will be less rain.
Other verses in Sangam books show that the Tamils knew zodiac signs. So the theory that knowledge of the zodiac signs came from foreign countries is exploded.
Ancient Tamils believed the movement of planets and the appearance of comet affects the rain fall.
Post Sangam literature
Gnana Sambandar who lived around 600 CE warns that there wont be any rains if Saturn enters Makara Rasi (Capricorn).
5
What did they know about Comets?
Appearance of a comets is not good for the ruler. This belief is found in many cultures around the world.
In Sangam books we find at least one direct reference.
First reference is given above (see No.4)
Other references are in commentaries only.
6
NEPTUNE, URANUS, SATURN
Did the know planet Mars ?
Yes. The called it red one. Even with normal eyes, one can see it red.
The reference is in Puram 60 .
7
Where can one find meteors in Sangam books ?
Puram verses 229, 35, 41.
Tamils believed that the falling meteors predicted disasters.
Seven days after a falling meteor, the Chera king died, says the verse 229.
8
Did the Tamils know zodiac and 27 stars
Yes; the knew it very well. Two verses give plenty of references to stats and zodiac signs.
Puram Verse 229 and Paripatal verse – (pronunciation- paripaatal)—11 give details of zodiac and 27 star system.
Tamils used Sanskrit word Mithuna and for others the same symbols used in Sanskrit
Verse 229 mentioned – mesha rasi/ aries, stars anusham, punarpusam, mirugaseersham , kaarthikai.
For all the stars and zodiac signs, Tamils used the same technical terms used in the north.
All the 12 months in Tamil are Tamilizsed Sanskrit words. Here in this poem Sanskrit word Panguni / falkuna is mentioned.
9
SOLAR SYSTEM
What do we get from Paripaatal—11
This verse helped to find out the time when it was composed. Tamil astronomers say Vaigai floods mentioned in the verse happened in 161 BCE.
The details in the poem are,
Venus was in Rishab/ taurus rasi;
Mars was in Mesha/Aries rasi;
Mercury was in Gemini/ Mithuna;
Saturn in Makara/ Capricorn
Canopus star/ Agastya star rose in the sky.
For stars , pure tamil names are used. That shows they very popular among public.
Technical names used for stars and planets show Tamils were experts in astronomy.
10
Did they know Ursa Major/Great Bear or Seven Stars constellation known as Sapta Rishi Mandalam?
Yes it is in at least two places. Narrinai.231; Paripatal.5-44;
They say that the Tamils worshipped Seven Stars . No wonder they did it. Throughout India Vasistha and his wife Arundhati were worshipped as stars. The two stars representing them is a double star. Astronomers say ,
“A double star system, more technically called a binary star system, is a pair of two stars that are gravitationally bound and orbit a common centre of mass”.
11
A for Arundhati?
Did Tamils mention Arundhati in Sangam poems?
Yes they did mention her name as Arundhati and Vada Meen in Tamil meaning Northern Star.
Ref.
Pari.5-43/45
Akam 16-17/8
Perum. 302/3
Ainkuru- 442-3/5
Puram.122-8
Kali.2-21
Pathirru. 31-27; 89-19;
Muruku – line 58 commentary
Akam .16,73 commentary
At least in eight places. She is the exemplary chaste woman, who is always with her husband Vasistha.
In the Sapta Rishi constellation (Ursa Major or Great Bear), Arundhati- Vasistha stars are part of a double star system.
Hindus used to take the newly married couple on the first night and ask them to look at the star. It served two purposes 1.Insisted chastity or conjugal fidelity; 2.Tested the eyesight of both the bride and bridegroom. It is part of Hindu Wedding Ceremony.
Agastya Star or Canopus & Rishi
Pari 11-1 to 15
Pothiyin munivan – line 11
13
Rohini Star or Aldebaran
In Tamil they called Sakatam/cart.
Akananuru verse 86 described the Tamil wedding ceremony. Commentators added it happened on Rohini star day. Verse 136 clearly says that the wedding ceremony happened under Saktam/ Rohini star. Sakatam is also a Sanskrit word like Rohini.
Akam .301-7; 136-5;kuru.165-3; narri.4-9;pari.10-17; puram.102-2; peru.50; in these poems Sanskrit Sakatam meant a cart.
14
Kartika or Pleiades or arumeen/six stars
Arumeen-Akam.141; Poet Nakkirar mentioned the Kartika Deepa Viza/ lap festival in this verse. This six star system is associated with Lord Murugan alias Skanda.
To be continued………………………
Tags- Ancient Tamil Encyclopaedia -Part 1, One Thousand ,Interesting Facts about Ancient Tamils! London Swaminathan, Stars, planets, comets, meteors
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