Professor Mayank Vahia of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, while addressing the lecture organized on the topic of "Tribal Astronomy" today under the Museum popular Lecture Series by Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, Bhopal, said that These tribes, which are cut off from the mainstream, have more and important knowledge about astronomy than the common people.
This knowledge is passed on genetically through traditions from generation to generation. The Gond tribe people's knowledge of astronomy is much greater than that of other tribes. Even though the astronomical knowledge of these tribes is linked to spiritual beliefs and legends it also contains a meaningful scientific basis and there is a need to research on the astronomical knowledge of tribes living in other parts of the country as well.
The knowledge of all these tribes is basically centered on the positions of Saptarishi, Dhruvtara, Trishanku constellation, Mrigasira, Krittika, Poorva-Bhadrapada, Uttara-Bhadrapada constellations and the zodiac signs Taurus, Aries, Leo, Gemini, Scorpio in the sky. Each tribe has different but accurate concepts about all the celestial bodies Hence, the astronomical concepts of these tribes focus particularly on the constellations visible in the sky from November to April. Most tribes mention only Venus and Mars among the planets.
The people of the Gond tribe also have good knowledge about the Chitra constellation and the Leo zodiac.
They also have detailed knowledge about solar and lunar eclipses. In religious and mythical works, the rectangular shape formed by the four stars of the Saptarishi constellation is considered as a bed and the shape formed by the remaining three stars is considered as the path leading towards the galaxy. They believe that by lying on this cot, people go to Mokshadhama through that path.
All tribes regard the Milky Way as the path to salvation. There are many such legends prevalent regarding the constellations of every constellation and zodiac sign. The Banjara, Kolam and Korku tribes also have many stories associated with various gods and goddesses and celestial bodies.
