From The Research Article of Dr. P. V. Vartak on the Topic of Scientific Dating of Mahabharata War
PLUTO (was also known to Vyas in 5561 B.C):
Krittikaam Peedayan Teekshnaihi Nakshatram……[30-Bheeshma.3]
Vyas states that there was one Nakshatra, i.e, some immobile luminary troubling Krittika (Pleides) with its sharp rays. This “star” in Krit – tika must have been some “planet”. It must have been stationary for many years, that is why Vyas called it Nakshatra which means a thing that does not move according to Mahabharata itself [Na Ksharati Iti Makshatram].
Krittikasu Grahasteevro Nakshatre Prathame Jvalan…… [26- Bhishma.3]
Deepyamanascha Sampetuhu Divi Sapta Mahagrahah….[2-Bhishma.17]
This stanza states that the seven great planets were brilliant and shining; so Rahu and Ketu are out of question. Rahu and Ketu are described as Graha’ 23 meaning Nodal points. (Parus means a node). Evidently Rahu and Ketu are not included in these seven great planets.
The Moon also is not included, because it was not visible on that day of Amavasya with Solar Eclipse. From the positions discovered by me and given by Vyas it is seen that Mars, Sun, Mercury, Jupiter, Uranus, Venus and Neptune were the seven great planets accumulated in a small field extending from Anuradha to Purva Bhadrapada.
So they appeared to Ved-Vyas as colliding with each other, during total solar eclipse.
Nissaranto Vyadrushanta Suryaat Sapta Mahagrahah….[4-Karna 37]
This stanza clearly states that these seven great planets were ‘seen’ moving away from the Sun. As these are ‘seen’, Rahu and Ketu are out of question. This is the statement of sixteenth day of the War, naturally the Moon has moved away from the Sun. Hence, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Uranus, Venus and Neptune are the seven great planets mentioned by Vyas.
Praja Samharane Rajan Somam Sapta grahah Iva……[22-Drona 37]
Here again seven planets are mentioned, excluding the Moon.
Even if we do not consider the planetary positions, from the above three stanzas, it is clear that seven planets are mentioned which do not include the Sun, Moon, Rahu and Ketu. Naturally the conclusion is inevitable that Vyas did know Uranus (Shveta) and Neptune (Shyama) as planets.
If they were known from 5561 years B.C. then why they got forgotten ? The answer is simple, that these two planets, Uranus and Neptune were not useful in predicting the future of a person. So they lost importance and in the course of time they were totally forgotten. But, in any case, Neelakantha from 17th century knew these two planets very well.
Neelakantha is about a hundered years ancient than Herschel, and he writes that Mahapata (Uranus) is a famous planet in the Astronomical science of India. He also mentions the planet ‘Parigha’ i.e. Neptune. 22 So both were known in India, at least one Hundred years before Herschel. Vyas is 7343 years ancient than Herschel, but still he knew all the three planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.
Kshaya or Vishvaghasra Paksha
A fortnight of only thirteen days is told by Vyasa which occurred just before the great War. Such a fortnight comes at the interval of 22 years. Calculations show that at 5562nd B.C. Kshaya Paksha did occur. It had occured 1962 and 1940. 1962+5562 = 7524 is completely divisible by 22. Amavasya confirmed.
Krishna and Karna fixed the day of War on Amavasya (Udyog 142). Vyas also indicates in Bhishma 2 & 3 that the War started on the day second Amayasya, because two successive Amavasyas appeared then. Bhishma died on the day after 67 (58+9) nights from the onset of the War, on the occasion Uttarayan i.e. 22nd December.So the War must have commenced on 16th October. Let us see if Amavasya comes on this day.
In 1979, Amavasya was on 21st of October. Amavasyas repeat after the intervals of 29.53058 days. The Lunar year is of 354.367 days while the Solar year is 365.25 days.1979 + 5561 = 7540 multiplied by 365.25 and divided by 354.367 gives 7771.5616 Lunar years.
(0.5616) lunar year means 199.0125 days; 199.0125 / 29.53058 = 6.7392005. This indicates that 6 Amavasyas are completed and 0.7392005 lunar month or 22 days are left. These 22 days are left for 21st October and we have to go behind up to 16th October. So adding these 6 days to 22 we get 28 days. After 28 days Amavasya can occur. After 29 days it always occurs.Thus on 15th and 16th October 5562nd year B.C, there were two successive amavasyas as mentioned by Vyas.
Another method gives the same conclusion. At the interval of 19 years the Amavasya falls on the same date. 19×365.25 divided by 29.53058 gives 235.00215. So in 19 years 235 Amavasya are completed. It has been come to light that 17th October 1963, there was an Amavasya. 1963 + 5561 = 7524 divided by 19 gives 396. Thus it is established that Vyas has reported Amavasya correctly.
Vyas has mentioned that there was Solar as well as lunar eclipses in one month at the time of Mahabharata War. Calculations confirm that in October 5561 year B.C, both the Solar and Lunar eclipses did occur. Rahu and Ketu were in Uttara Ashadha at 273 deg. & 279 deg. so total eclipse of the Sun took place on the Margashirsha Amavasya day Only 13 days earlier, according to Vyasa, there was Pournirma with lunar eclipse, causing pallor of the Moon.
Thirteen days earlier the sun would have been 13 deg. behind at 279 – 13 = 266 in Purva Ashadha. It was Pournima so the Moon was diagonally opposite at 266 – 180 = 86 deg. in Punarvasu, just beyond Mruga, so it was Margashirsha Pournima though it is wrongly or enigmatically told to be Kartika Pournima. Rahu was at 273 deg; so Ketu was diagonally opposite in Punarvasu, so the ellipse of the moon was possible which was not total.
A Big comet:
Vyas has mentioned that at the time of Mahabharata War a big comet was seen just beyond Pushya Nakshtra. There are many comets. Indian Astronomical works refer to more than 500 comets, but big comets are very few. Haley’s comet is one of the big comets which come at the regular intervals of 77 years. It was seen in 1910 and 1987. If we add 1910+5561 = 7271; 7271 is divisible completely by 77. Evidently it seems that it was Haley’s comet was seen at the Mahabharata War.
All the twelve planets confirm their said positions on 16th October 5561 years B.C. along with two Amavasyas, two eclipses, Kshaya Paksha and a Comet. Thus, in all 18 mathematical positions fix the same date. Therefore, we have to accept this date of the Mahabharata War, if we want to be scientific. Please note that all the twelve planets will come in the same positions again only after 2229 crores of years. That means it will never happen again in the life of our earth, because life of the earth is only 400 crores of years. So the date of the Mahabharata War is pin – pointed as 16th October 5561 B.C.