The story of Abhijit (Vega)- former celestial northern pole star

Author: Dr. Raju Maliger

The earth has a 26,000 year wobble called axial precession. Due to this effect, different stars take turns to mark their position as true northern pole stars. The current northern pole star is Dhruva (Polaris). It assumed this position around 500–1000 AD. This was the period when many new Indian texts were written on astrology and astronomy, and in these scriptures there is ample description of Polaris (Dhruva) as the northern pole star. Around 2100 AD, Polaris (Dhruva)will slowly begin to drift away and cease to remain as the celestial pole star.

Indian astronomers, since time immemorial, have documented previous celestial pole stars. One of them is Abhijit (Vega), which served as the Earth’s northern pole star approximately between 12,000 BCE and 10,000 BCE. It peaked closest to the north celestial pole in around 12,000 BCE.

While current mainstream modern Vedic astrology typically counts 27 nakshatras (stars), Abhijit functions as an intercalary or hidden 28th star, spanning Capricorn. Historically, it is identified with the bright star Vega. There is plenty of literary evidence about the existence of Abhijit (Vega) in the ancient Indian scriptures. Let us examine some of them.

1) Atharva Veda (Book 19, hymn 7): With virtuous merit Abhijit endows me! Sravana and Sravishthas make me prosper.

2) Valmiki Ramayana (Kishkindha Kanda: 4.63.15): Then the foremost monkeys — valiant as the wind, their courage restored — set out towards the direction of Abhijit, intent on seeking Janaka’s daughter, Sita.

3) Mahabharata (Vana parva, Chap.230, Verses 8–11): Indra said to Skanda “Contesting against Abhijit (Vega), the constellation Krittika went to the Summer solstice, to heat the summer. Then the star Abhijit slipped down in the sky. At that time Dhanishta was given first place in the list of stars. Rohini was also the first some time ago. Now you decide what to do”. Modern astronomy has proven that in around 12,000 BC, Abhijit (Vega) had really come down to the horizon from the heights of the sky, to assume the position as the northern pole star.

4) Srimad Bhagavatam (5.22.11): There are twenty-eight important stars, headed by Abhijit (Vega).

5) Srimad Bhagavatam (11.16.27): Among the vigilant cycles of time I am the year, and among seasons I am spring. Among months I am Mārgaśīrṣa, and among lunar houses I am the auspicious Abhijit (Vega).

6) Devi Bhagavatam (Book 8, Chapter 16): By Her influence the asterisms travel over the three lakh Yoyanas. The God Himself has made the star Abhijit (Vega) to revolve around Meru, along with the other stars in the Zodiac; so this is reckoned as the twenty-eighth star.

7) It is estimated that in around 14,000 AD the star Abhijit (Vega) will return to earth’s horizon as the northern pole star.

Conclusion: Ancient Indian astronomers had documented the presence of the bright star, Abhijit (Vega), from its pre pole star position to the time when it became the celestial pole star in around 12,000 BC. This event is described in ancient Indian texts as the fall of Abhijit (Vega) from the heights of the sky to the horizon. During the time when it was a pole star there were in all 28 stars, which were used for astronomical calculations. The moment Abhijit (Vega) slipped away from its position as the celestial pole star, Indian astronomy underwent changes to exclude Abhijit (Vega), and it currently uses the remaining 27 stars for astronomical and astrological calculations. However, Abhijit (Vega) has always remained in the memory of past and present Indian astronomers as an intercalary or hidden 28th star.