SWASTIKA – THE COSMIC CHAKRA

While exploring the village Shiva temple, I found that on the inner walls of the temple there were drawing of the events which are explained in the story of in ancient Indian literature like Puranas. Usually in all the temples across India some important events mentioned in Puranas are drawn on inner walls of the temple.

Some of those important events are:

1)      Lord Vishnu saves Saptarishi in Matsya Avatara

2)      Churning of ocean by Devas and Asuras, Kurma Avatar

3)      Dhurva’s penance to get a permanent place

4)      Varaha Avatara of Lord Vishnu who saved Earth and lifted her above the cosmic ocean

5)      Vamana Avtara of Lord Vishnu who occupied Trailokya (three worlds) mentioned in Hindu Cosmology

I found that there is a deep connection of astronomical facts and mythological stories of Indian culture. When researched more, I found that Dhruva i.e. North Pole Star and Saptarishi Nakshatra i.e. Ursa minor constellation has deep connection with sacred symbols and tradition in Indian culture. While I was researching on the Kurma and Mount Meru description, I found that it was mentioned that the axial line passing through Mount Meru passed through Dhruva i.e. the North Pole Star.

I started researching more on Dhruva and Saptarshi Nakshatra. During the planetarium show it was shown that how the North Pole Star played an important role in the research of ancient astronomers. The North Pole Star is very unique heavenly object. As Earth is revolving around its own axis in anti-clockwise motion all the heavenly objects like the sun, the moon, stars and planets appear to rotate in clockwise direction in the sky. Sun appears to rise from the east in the equatorial region and appears to set in the west due Earth’s rotational motion from west to east. The North Pole Star is the only heavenly object in the sky which has a fixed position in the sky.

The North Pole Star is present nearly on the axis line connecting the North Pole and the South Pole of the Earth. The North Pole star can be spotted from any part of the Northern hemisphere but its not visible in most of the Southern Hemisphere. The fixed position of the North Pole Star or Dhruva helped sailors and travellers to find the North direction since ancient times. Ancient astronomers used the North Pole Star as center of the zodiacal circle in the sky.

Dhruva i.e. North Pole Star is considered as very sacred in Indian culture and it has a very important place in various concepts in Hindu cosmology. In hindu cosmology, it is considered that our world is divided in

Swastika as Cosmic Chakra with center at North Pole Star

three parts. These three worlds together are called as Trailokya or Triloka in Hindu cosmology. When I researched more on this concept, I found that the Dhruva (the North Pole Star), Saptarishi Nakshatra (Ursa Minor), the sun and the structure of Earth play very important role in development of this concept. The three worlds which are part of Trailokya are Swarga, Mrityu and Patala. Swarga is considered as upper most (Northernmost) part of Trailokya while Patala is considered as lower most (southernmost) part of the trailokya. The Mrityu loka is situated In the middle part between Swarga and Patala.

The spherical structure of Earth played important role in defining these three worlds in Hindu Cosmology. In equatorial regions we observe heavenly objects rise in the east and set in the west every approximately 12 hours. That why in equatorial region day is of 12 hours and night is of 12 hours. Ancient Indian astronomers considered this equatorial area where heavenly objects rise (birth) and set (death) daily as Mrityu Loka i.e. land of death. But this not case in every part of the earth. In Northern Polar region situation is very different. In Northern Polar region day and night are of approximately 6 months each. If we observe heavenly objects from Northern Polar region, they appear to rotate in circular motion keeping the North Pole Star i.e. Dhruva at the center. Un Northern Polar region, Sun appears to rise from South direction once in a year and it stays above the horizon for 6 months. Sun appears to rotate around the North Pole Star i.e Dhruva keeping Dhruva at the center. In Northern Polar region, Sun can never reach the top of observers head, while North Pole Star can be observed constantly on top of observers head. Ancient Indian astronomers considered this northernmost part of the sky where Sun can never reach as Swarga loka. They considered this part of the sky as very sacred as there a fixed star in this part of sky which constantly provides light and helps to identify North direction. All heavenly

Shishumara Chakra description Bhagwat Purana Skandha 5 Adhyaya 23 

objects appear to move in clockwise circular motion in this Northernmost part of Earth’s sphere. They considered this northernmost part of the sky as divine as heavenly objects have longer life than as observed from equatorial region.

The situation is exactly opposite in southernmost part of the Earth’s sphere when compared to northernmost part of the Earth’s sphere. There is no fixed South Pole Star. All heavenly objects appear to move in anticlockwise rotational motion and there is no fixed star at the center of this rotational motion. Sun appears to rise from North once a year and stays above horizon for 6 months. So, the day and night are of approximately 6 months each. Ancient Indian astronomers considered this southernmost part of the sky as patala region. They considered this part as submerged part of earth’s sphere in cosmic ocean as this part is exactly opposite to the Northernmost part and the motion of heavenly objects in the sky is exactly opposite to the northernmost part like a mirror image observed in the water. Ancient Indian astronomers considered northernmost part as devine and considered that it belongs to Devas. Similarly, they considered southernmost part as non devine and considered that it belongs to Daityas i.e. Demons.

Saptarshi Nakshatra i.e. Ursa Minor is present very close to the North Pole Star in northern most part of the sky. So, ancient Indian astronomers considered Saptarishi Nakshaktra to be present in Swarga region. Like other heavenly objects, Saptarishi Nakshatra also rotates around the Dhruva i.e. the North Pole Star. To represent this motion of Saptarishi Nakshtra in Swarga region, ancient Indian astronomers thought of symbols called Swastika which resembles this circular motion. Swastika represents circular motion i.e. Chakra in the Swarga region. This Swastika symbol is considered as very divine and sacred.

 Shishumara Chakra description Bhagwat Purana Skandha 5 Adhyaya 23

    Ancient indian astronomers also represented and explained this Swastika chakra similar to Shishumar Chakra. The description of Shishumar Chakra is provided in Bhagwat Purana as given below:

1.3 Million yojanas above Saptarishi Nakshtra (Ursa Minor constellation) where Dhruva (the North Pole Star) is present, one finds that supreme abode of Lord Vishnu. This is the fixed place of the great devotee Dhruva, the son of Uttanapada. It is the source of life of all living entities from now until the end of the kalpa, about which Agni, the fire god, Indra the king of heaven, the founding father who is the Prajapati, Kashyapa as also Dharmaraja (all planets and stars visible in the Northern sky) move in clockwise rotational motion from South of Dhruva. (2) For all the restless luminaries, the planets, the stars and the rest, that place (Dhruva i.e. the North Pole Star) constitutes the incandescent radiating pivot that is established by the Lord. The inconceivable, all-powerful force of Time is considered the cause of their revolving. (3) The luminaries keep their positions, just like three bulls that for threshing rice are yoked to a central pole. Moving in their orbits they have a fixed position relative to the inner and outer rims of the wheel of time, the same way the planets keep their positions around the North Pole Star (Dhruvaloka). Holding on to Dhruvaloka till the end of creation, they revolve in the sky as if they are driven by the wind, just like heavy clouds and big birds do, that controlled by the air, move their bodies around according to their respective positions (circular orbits as observed from surface of the earth). Thus the luminaries behave consequently, by the combined effort of material nature (Maya) and the Original Person (Purusha or Parabrahma). They always keep rotating around the Dhruva and never fall on the earth's surface due to the force of wind called Pravaha.

 Shishumara Chakra description Bhagwat Purana Skandha 5 Adhyaya 23

Some imagine this great army of luminaries (circles of stars with center at the North Pole Star as observed in the night sky of Northern Polar region) to be a Shishumara [a dolphin] and describe it, concentrated in yoga, as [that what can be seen of] the Supreme Lord Vishnu. (5) With its tail's end pointing at the end of the row of fixed stars in the sky [dhruva i.e. the North Pole Star] and with its head bent downwards, it has its body coiled. The [planets of] Prajapati, Agni, Indra and Dharma are found on the tail with [those of the demigods] Dhatâ and Vidhata at its base. The seven sages (Saptarishi Nakshatra i.e. the Ursa Minor constellation) are situated on its hip. With its body coiling to the right there are, as its separate body parts, at its northern side the constellations of the fourteen stars i.e. Nakshtras [from Abhijit to Punarvasu] that mark the northern course i.e. Uttarayana [of the sun] and to the south there are the same number of them [from Pushya to Uttarashadha] marking the southern course i.e. Dakshinayana [of the sun]. Together the both sides appear like the coiled body of a dolphin. On its back one sees the stars called Ajavithi and on the belly one sees the 'celestial Ganges'i.e. Akashganga. [the series of stars along the full body of the Shishumara we know as our Milky Way]. (6) Punarvasu and Pushya constitute the loins right and left. Ardrâ and Ashlesha also to the right and left, are his flippers. Abhijit and Uttarashadha are the left and right nostril with following next in due order Shravana and Purvashadha for its eyes left and right. Dhanishthha and Mula are the right and left ear and the eight stars such as Magha marking the southern course, are to be seen as the left ribs while the same number of stars like Mrigashirsha that mark the northern course, are there as the ribs positioned at the other side to the right. Shatabhisha and Jyeshthha should be seen as the position of the right and left shoulder. (7) On its upper chin there is Agasti

Swastika - The Cosmic Chakra

[Agastya] and on its lower one there is Yamaraja. As its mouth there is Mars, as its genitals there is Saturn, Jupiter is found at the back of the neck and the sun is found at the chest. In its heart Lord Narayana is found while the moon serves as its mind. As the navel there is Venus, the two sides of the breast is where the Ashvins reside, Mercury is there as the in and outward going breath, Rahu is the neck and the comets are found all over its body with the numerous stars as its pores.

(8) This [form of Shishumara] certainly is the form of the Supreme Lord, of Lord Vishnu who consists of all the demigods. With that form before one's eyes one should each morning, noon and evening in all modesty meditate on the following words: 'Our obeisances unto this resting place of all the luminous worlds, unto the master of the demigods, the Supreme Personality in the form of Time upon whom we meditate' [namo jyotih-lokâya kâlâyanâya animishâm pataye mahâ-purushâya abhidhîmahîti]. (9) Those who in respect of that leader of the demigods consisting of all the planets and stars, that destroyer of sin, practice the mantra as mentioned above by three times a day offering their respects this way or by three times a day meditating as such [in silence], will by that respect [for our sweet Lord in the form of] time very soon find all their sins annihilated.

The circular motion of stars around the North Pole Star as seen in the Northern Hemisphere attracted the attention of ancient astronomers a lot. They gave this circular motion of stars around the North Pole Star various names such as Swastika Chakra, Sudarshan Chakra, Shishumara, etc. Finally I got some convincing explanation of Swastika Chakra.