The Cosmic Balance: Exploring Ayanas and Equinox in Indian Tradition

Sep 29, 20244 min read

Updated: Oct 4, 2024

-Saurabh Patil, M. A. AIHC and Archaeology, Deccan College PGRI.

Introduction

On September 22nd, the world marks the autumnal equinox, a day when day and night stand in perfect balance. In Indian astronomy, this event is known as Sharada Vishuva (शारद विषुव), and it represents much more than a mere astronomical occurrence. It’s a moment that bridges ancient science, spirituality, and culture. It is the idea which reflects the cosmic balance between light and darkness.

This transition in the Sun’s path ties into a much larger concept in Indian cosmology, that of the ‘Ayanas’. The word ‘Ayan’(अयन) is rich in its meaning, with multiple interpretations depending on the context in which it's used. For this context, the word directs us to an astronomical concept, which means ‘The equinoctial and solstitial points’. It also means a path, a way. Simply, it's the Sun’s passage, north and south of the equator.

The Sun’s cyclical journey between the northern and southern hemispheres, is called as ‘Uttarāyaṅa’ and ‘Dakshiṅāyaṅa’.

‘Uttarāyaṅa’ and ‘Dakshiṅāyaṅa’: The Sun’s Two Great Journeys

In the Indian tradition, the year is split into two halves by the Sun’s movements. ‘Uttarāyaṅa’(उत्तरायण), or the ‘northward journey,’ begins after the winter solstice (around December 21), when the Sun starts its gradual ascent toward the northern hemisphere. This phase, from winter to summer, brings increasing daylight and is often seen as a time of renewal, energy, and growth. Ancient Indian literature, especially in the Mahābhārata, associates Uttarāyaṅa with auspiciousness. In the Bhīṣma Parvam, when the great warrior Devavrata Bhīṣma, called as “Pitāmaha”(Grand Father) by the protagonists and antagonists of the great epic; was on the bed of Arrows, mentioned about the significance of Uttarāyaṅa, emphasizing on how auspicious the period of Uttarāyaṅa is to leave the mortal body for the heavenly abode. For him, It’s considered a time aligned with spiritual liberation. According to the epic, he later waited there on that ‘Śaraśayyā’ for several days; as he was blessed with the power to choose when to die or not. This showcases the spiritual significance of these astronomical time periods to the people of ancient India.

On the flip side, Dakshiṅāyaṅa, or the “southward journey,” begins after the summer solstice (around June 21), when the Sun starts its descent toward the southern hemisphere, bringing longer nights and shorter days. This period, which lasts until the winter solstice, is seen as a time of reflection and introspection, mirroring nature’s own retreat as the days shorten and temperatures drop.

Shārada Viṣuva : The Day of Perfect Balance

Shārada Viṣuva, (शारद विषुव) also known as Jala Viṣuva (जल विषुव), the Autumnal Equinox, represents a unique moment of equilibrium between these two phases. As the Sun crosses the celestial equator, both hemispheres experience equal amounts of daylight and darkness.. In the Indian calendar, this marks the Sun’s transition from the northern journey of Uttarāyaṅa to the southern journey of Dakshiṅāyaṅa. It’s a day that celebrates balance. Similarly, when the Sun transits from Dakshiṅāyaṅa to Uttarāyaṅa, that particular day is called as Vasanta Viṣuva or Maha Viṣuva, known as Vernal Equinox in English. The word Viṣuva (विषुव) means The first point of Aries or Libra into which the Sun enters at the Vernal or the Autumnal Equinox. Meaning of it is described as ‘समरात्रिन्दिवकालः (samarātrindivakālaḥ) ’ in Sabdakalpadruma dictionary.

Earth's position whilst rotating around the Sun; which creates the phenomena of Equinox And Solstice. {PC- Encyclopedia Britannica}

The Ayanas in Ancient Indian Texts

Ancient Indian astronomers, including The Pañcasiddhāntikā of Varāhamihīra also discusses these cosmic shifts, revealing how essential they were for understanding time, seasons, and religious practices in ancient India. Ranganātha, author of the Sūrya Siddhānta, understood this moment well. The Sūrya Siddhānta, an early astronomical text dating back to the 5th century CE, details precise calculations of the equinoxes and solstices. In its 3rd Chapter, we can find mentions of it.

एवं विषुवती छाया स्वदेशे या दिनार्द्धजा।।१२।।

दक्षिणोत्तररेखायां सा तत्र विषुवत्प्रभा।

These movements of the Sun- Uttarāyaṅa, Dakshiṅāyaṅa, and the equinoxes are deeply woven into India’s spiritual and literary traditions. References can be found in the Ṛgveda and Atharvaveda, where hymns invoke the journey of the Sun across the sky. The Vedāṅga Jyotiṣha, an early Indian text on astronomy, also touches upon the importance of these shifts, especially for performing religious rituals in sync with the seasons.

The Mahābharata often uses the Ayanas as metaphors for life’s own cycles of activity and rest, birth and death. Indian astronomers likea Āryabhaṭṭa and Bhāskara-II further elaborated on the precise mathematical understanding of these solar movements, connecting them with the larger cosmic rhythms.

Festivals and the Spiritual Aspect of the Equinox

The autumnal equinox also holds significance in Indian festivals. As Shārada Viṣuva unfolds, it’s a precursor to Navrātri, a major festival celebrating the triumph of good over evil. Navarātri, which arrives shortly after the equinox, symbolizes the inner struggle and eventual victory of light over darkness—a perfect mirror to the Sun’s journey toward shorter days and longer nights during Dakshiṅāyaṅa.

Philosophically, this transition period is a time for balance and introspection. It’s an opportunity to align oneself with the rhythms of nature, as the ancient seers would have done. In fact, the concept of balance during the equinox extends beyond the physical, hinting at a deeper spiritual equilibrium where the forces of light and darkness-external and internal-are harmonized.

Conclusion

As we observe the autumnal equinox today, it’s a reminder of the intricate relationship between the cosmos and life on Earth. The ancient Indian concept of Ayanas- Uttarayana and Dakshinayana- captures the essence of these cosmic cycles, showing us that just as the Sun moves between north and south, light and dark, so do we move through cycles of activity, growth, and reflection. The Sharada Vishuva, the day of balance, offers a moment to pause and reflect on how we too can achieve harmony in our lives, knowing that, like the Sun, balance is key to navigating the changing seasons of existence.