An outlook of several Yojanas & celestial

distances described in Indian texts

Dr. Shyam deo Mishra*

arious types of measuring units like Renu, Trasrenu, Lav, Leekshaka, Angushtha,
Balakhilya, Yojana etc are described and applied in Indian astronomical and
mathematical texts. Some of them have variable measures in terms of their values according to
various contexts. Unawareness of their different values according to several standards can
disguise the reader and land him in a jungle of intriguing polemics. As a result, his wrong
interpretation convolutes the text into an absurd. For an instance, a Yojana has different values
according to various standards. Bhaskarachrya II in his text Siddhanta-Shiromani cited the
circumference of earth on Equator is 4967 Yojanas whereas in his mathematical text Leelavati
he defined a Yojan as a length which is equivalent to 32000 hands.

^izksDrks ;kstula[;;k dqifjf/% lIrkuUnkC/;%*AA1

;oksnjSj~xqye"Vla[;S% gLrks~xqyS% "kM~xqf.krS'prqfHkZ%A
gLrS'prqfHkHkZorhg n.M% ks'k% lglzf}r;su rs"kke~AA
L;k|kstua ks'kprq"V;su --------------- AA2
If one compares both the values in terms of Kilometers (km) it gives the clear idea about
the difference in values of a Yojana according to various standards that was used by Bhaskar.
As per Siddhanta-Shiromani , 1 Yojana = 8 Kms
& as per Leelavati, 32,000 hands = 1 Yojana = 16 Kms
Here, in the first value, the standard is Earth whereas in the second value, Human is
considered as a standard. Hence the first Yojana can be called as Bhu-Yojana or Parthiv-Yojana
while the second one can be stated as Nar-Yojana.
Thus our peers determined several values of a unit like Yojana according to the standard
best suitable in a particular context. In other words, they tend to use several types of Yojanas
accordingly. This paper, deals with such Yojanas mentioned in ancient astronomical treatises and
other scriptures like Puranas & Vedas.

1
2

Sidhanta Shiromani, Ganitadhyaya

Leelawati, Paribhasha prakaran, Verse 5-6

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Parthiv-Yojana or Bhu-Yojana:
Since the value of a Yojana, as a unit, depends on the standard or scale, a Yojan which is
measured on the Bhu-scale termed as Parthiv-Yojana or Bhu-Yojana. One of the most prominent
and antique Indian astronomical text known as Surya-Siddhanta determines the value of
diameter of Earth on equatorial plane which is equivalent to 1600 Yojanas.

^;kstukfu 'krkU;"VkS Hkwd.kksZ f}xq.kkfu rq*A3

It is needless to say that the Yojanas mentioned here, are none other than Bhu or Parthiv
Yojanas. If we compare this Sura-Siddhantic value to the modern value of Earths diameter
which is 12756.28 Km we can find;
1 Parthiva-Yojana = 12756.28/1600 = 7.9727 Kms.
It is quite evident that Bhaskars Parthiv -Yojana is almost equal to Surya-Siddhantic
value of Parthiv -Yojana.

Planetary-Yojana or Graheeya-Yojana:
The terrestrial objects like Sun, Moon is also measured in Yojanas in Surya-Siddhanta. It
can be termed GraheeyaYojana or Planetary-Yojana. Here the measurement of each planet
does differ from another. For an example; the diameter of Sun is 6500 Yojanas according to
Surya-Siddhanta.

^lk/kZfu "kV~ lglzkf.k ;kstukfu fooLor%

fo"dEHk% e.MyL;-----------------AA4
If we compare this to the modern value of the diameter of Sun, we get the exact value of
Solar-Yojana:
1 Saura-Yojana = 13, 92, 000/6500 = 214.1538 Kms
The circumference of Suns orbit is 43,31,5000 Yojanas in Surya-Siddhanta.

rrksdZcq/'kqk.kka [k[kkFkSZdlqjk.kZok%AA5
In modern astronomy it is almost 940 million Kilometers. As seen that a Solar-Yojana is
equivalent to approximately 215 Kilometers, the Sura-Siddhantic value in Yojanas is equal to,
43315000 215 = 9312725000 Kilometers or 931 million Kilometers

Suryasidhant, Madhyamadhyaya, Verse - 59

Suryasidhant, Chandragrahanadhyaya, Verse - 1
5
Suryasidhanta, Bhugoladhyaya, Verse - 86
4

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Its clearly evident that the Surya-Siddhantic value is almost close to the modern value.
One must take the perturbed motion of any planet into consideration which causes the diversity
in the diameter, circumference etc of a planetary orbit or motion. Therefore any value regarding
these cannot be stated as a constant. But if we consider this value for the diameter of Moon it
nowhere stands near apparent value. Since the diameter of Moon is 480 Yojanas according to
Surya-Siddhanta.

fo"dEHk% e.MyL;sUnks% lgk'khR;k prq''kre~AA6

The true value in modern astronomy is 3474.8 Kms.
Here, 1 Lunar-Yojana = 3474.8/480 = 7.239 Kms.
Surya-Siddhanta mentions that the circumference of lunar-orbit is 324000 Yojanas.

[k=k;kfC/ f}nguk% d{kk rq fgenhf/rs%A7

If one measures this value in Kilometers, it appears close to the modern value, which is
2392547.5 Kilometers.
324000 7.239 = 2345436 Kilometers
Thus the Planetary Yojanas seem to be depended upon the size and distance of a
particular planet.
In Surya-Siddhanta, the circumference of Zodiacal orbit said to be 60 times bigger than
the solar orbit.

Hkosn~ Hkd{kk rh{.kka'kksHkZze.ka "kf"VrkfMre~A

lw;ksZifj"Vkn~Hkzefr ;kstuSLrSHkZe.Mye~AA8
Since the solar orbit is 43315000 Yojanas, the circumference of zodiacal orbit is
2598900000 Yojanas.

Other Celstial-Distances:
Apart from Astronomical treatises, Vedic literature also very profoundly explains the
measurement of other celestial distances. There are various units like Ahar, Vats, Dham
mentioned in various hymns in Vedas, Brahmanas, and Upanishads etc. In a hymn, Rishi says
that the area of Patanga (Sun) is called as Vak which is equivalent to 30 Dhams. Further this
mantra says that the field of Dyu or sky which is termed as Vast is measured in Ahar:

Suryasidhanta, Chandragarahanadhyaya, Verse - 1

Suryasidhanta, Bhugoladhyaya, Verse - 83
8
Suryasidhanta, Bhugoladhyaya, Verse - 80
7

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f=ka'kke fo jktfr okd~ irk; /hefgA izfr oLrksjg|qfHk%AA9

Brahman-Granthas very extensively describe the origin, position, states, motion etc of
universe and its object which is very magnificently elaborated by Pt. Madhusudan Ojha and his
able disciples like Pt. Motilal Shastri and others. Pt. Motilal Shastri in his commentary of
Shatpath-Brahman splendidly explicates that 33rd zone from the earth is termed as Vashtkaar
Mandal or Amritaagni which gives the ability to see any object in its ambit. 10 In general, an
Amritaagni is an ambit of a specific zone11. There are mainly 3 kinds of Amritaagni known as
Paarthivaagni or Gaayatraagni, Saavitraagni and Antarikshaagni 12 . The range of
Paarthivaagni is termed as Rathaantar-Saam13. The range of Saavitraagni is called as BrihatSaam or Samvatsar14. As the name suggest, Vashtakaar-Mandal has 6 main zones called as
Mandala or Stoma15;
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Trivritta- Stoma
Panchdash- Stoma
Ekvimsha- Stoma
TriNav- Stoma
Traystrimshat- Stoma
Vashtkaara- Stoma

Every Stoma or Mandala is further divided into sub-divisions known as Ahargana. First
Stoma has 3 Aharganas and next 5 Stomas have 6 Aharganas each16.
The initial Stoma which is called as Trivritta-Stoma has 3 Aharganas started from the
center of earth to the earth-surface. In other words, the limit of this Stoma is the circumference of
Earth.
Panchdash-Stoma that classifieds into 6 Aharganas begins from the Earth to the 17th
Ahargana and named as Varaaha zone. It is Equivalent to earth radius 212 = 2.6125
107Km. there is a set of 6 Aharganas that lie between Trivritta-Stoma and Panchadash-Stoma. It
begins from the earth and extends beyond the Moons surface.
Next Ekvimsha-Stoma exists till the 21st Ahargana. It is known as Rathaantar-Saam17
or Sahasraaksha in Vedic parlance. Here Rathaantara means the interval or the field that
covers by the Rath or chariot of Sun. Covering by Rath means reaching of Sun-rays to that
9

Rigveda, 10/189/3
Shatpath Brahman, Vigyan Bhashya (Hindi commentary by - Pt. Motilal Shastri), Adhwarkand, P. 42
11
Ibid
12
Ibid
13
Ibid, P. 43
14
Ibid
15
Ibid, P. 70
16
Ibid, P. 71
17
Ibid
10

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limit. Thus it refers the area that is covered or affected by the rays of Aksha or Sun which is
Sahasra or 1000 Yojans.

vlkS ;Lrkezks v#.k mr cHkzq% lqey%A

18

;s pSua #nzk vfHkrks fn{kq fJrk% lglzksoS"kka gsM bZegsAA

Therefore it is also called as Sahasraaksha. In other words, it is the limit of Solar System.
Here 1 Yojana is equal to the diameter of Sun. As we know that the diameter of Sun is 1392000
Kilometer in modern Astronomy, the orbital limit of Solar-system will be;
1392000 1000 = 1392000000 = 1392 108 Kilometers.
Next Stoma is Trinava-Stoma. Trinava means 39 = 27. So this Stoma finishes at the 27th
Ahargana. It is known as Brihat Saam in Vedic literature19. In Vishnu Purana it is termed as
Maitreya Mandal whose limit is 105 Yojanas where 1 Yojana is equal to the diameter of Sun. It is
equivalent to earth radius 224.
is 230

The last Stoma exists till the end of 33rd Ahargana. It is called as Vashtakaar mandal. It
times bigger than the earths radius.

Conclusion:
Actually the erudite Vedic hymns or Pauranic verses are in explicit form which ensconces
various meanings of same words in different perspectives. Any word that has a general meaning
can produce specific meanings depending upon the contexts and thus can be termed as a
technical word or term. For an instance, Ahargan which means the sum of Ahar or days but in
cosmological terminology it refers a peculiar division of celestial area. This is the main reason
behind the wrong interpretation of our ancient texts which leads the reader like Max Mullar to
term them as an absurd! Hence if one wants to learn Vedangas like Vyakaran, Jyotisha, Kalpa
etc he has to go through the Vedas and Vedic literature painstakingly. Only the diligent study can
reveal the exact meaning of these Shastras.

*Assistant Professor &

Co-ordinator (Jyotish)
MuktaSwadhyayaPeetham,
Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan,
Janakpuri, New Delhi-110 058

18
19

Yajurveda 16/6
Shatpath Brahman, Vigyan Bhashya (Hindi commentary by - Pt. Motilal Shastri), Adhwarkand, P. 43

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