The Vedas are the oldest religious works in recorded history. A great part of Vedic mythology and symbolism relates to astronomy. This article will prove that the same knowledge existed in ancient Egypt. From there, it influenced Judaism and Christianity.
There are other articles on this website that entertain the possibilities in which this cultural exchange might have happened. Here, we will deal only with the final results.
A quick note: Due to the astronomical phenomena of precession, the spring-equinox is traveling from one zodiac to another. The change comes every 2160 years. For the ancients, the spring festival marked the beginning of the New Year. The spring equinox was arguably the most important time of the year.
SPRING
The avatars of the astronomical ages
Hatmehit was an Egyptian “fish-goddess”. She was probably a representation of the zodiac sign of Pisces. However, she never became truly famous in Egypt, as this great civilization had already collapsed by the age of Pisces. The dawning of this age was marked by Christianity, which took over the symbolism. At the same time, in the East, instead of the Christ we have Krishna, (a god with a similar name), whose vehicle is also a fish.
However, before the ages of Pisces, there was an Age of Ram. Here, we can witness the unmistakable parallels between Amon Ra, Rama, and Jason, whose name is in fact just another rendering of the name Jesus. Jason was the avatar of a previous age.
Perseus – the true hero of the Age of Aries
It is important to note that Aries is a very small and insignificant constellation. For this reason, the ancients grouped it with the neighboring constellation of Perseus, and also Cetus. These three constellations together create the famous image of Saint George slaying the dragon. This mage marked the spring equinox to the horse-riding tribes of the steppes, who brought it to Europe during the last two millennia BC.
However, similar imagery existed in Egypt and India at the same time.
SUMMER
During the Age of Aries, the summer solstice happened in the sign of Cancer. The reason that this animal was chosen is that it goes backward. The same happens to the path of the Sun, as it reaches the peak during the solstice. The same logic lies behind the Egyptian scarab beetle. However, as this is also an insignificant constellation on the night sky, most of the Indo-European myths focus on the water-snake – a seven-headed Hydra instead.
In the following image, we see how Ra, in the form of a great cat (Leo constellation) slays the Hydra, thus allowing the Sun to proceed on its path.
AUTUMN
Hanuman and Babi – the older representations of the Virgo constellation
Here is another obvious example that the ancient Vedic society saw the exact same sky patterns as the Ancient Egyptians. Both, Hanuman and Babi clearly represent the Virgo constellation. In their original form, all of the zodiac signs were once half-animals, and that the animal of the Virgo was the monkey.
Kali and Virgin Mary – the new representations
However, with the arrival of the age of Pisces, Virgo became a more important seasonal marker (marking the autumn equinox). In Christianity, it became the Virgin Mary, Kali in India. In the old times, Kali was not too important as a goddess. Her importance grew significantly with the latest shift of the cross of the zodiac.
Libra, the autumn equinox of the previous age
During the Age of Aries, the autumn equinox was in Libra. This “balance” between day and night is, of course, the original meaning of the sign. In India, the Libra was represented by Sita, the beloved wife of Rama. The Egyptian and Christian symbols were the same as those of Dyonisus – Liber of ancient Greece.
WINTER
Scorpio – the gate to the underworld
After the autumn equinox, the days are becoming significantly shorter and colder. Therefore, the autumn equinox was the gateway to an underworld. The first sign after Libra is Scorpius. Like the old tale states, it is in the scorpion’s nature to bite. Therefore, this is the first blow to the Sun-hero, on its way to the underworld.
However, not all countries had scorpions, and therefore the language of the myth varies, although the main idea remains the same. Scorpio is sometimes a griffin, a three-headed dog, and consequently Toth for the Egyptians. Note how the Toth’s body posture mirrors the three start of Scorpio, positioned right after the Libra’s scales.
In India, Scorpio was seen as a Harpy or a griffin, as I explained in detail in the article on Ramayana.
The winter solstices, from Capricornus to Pisces
While the spring equinox was in Aries, and the autumn in Libra, the winter solstice was in Capricorn. In India, this constellation was a Makara – a crocodile-like (or a hippo-like) monster. The idea is that on the darkest day of the year, in the region of the sky known as the “water”, the Sun gets swallowed for a few days, only to come out stronger. Indeed, the outline of this constellation resembles open jaws.
This same idea lies behind the Egyptian Sobek and the monster of the judgment day from the Orthodox Christian paintings. Both Egypt and Christianity based their sky-lore on the idea that the path of the Sun represents the path of the human soul.
Aquarius – Kumbh Mela, Akhenaten, and the Pentecost
During the Age of Pisces, the winter solstice moved to Aquarius. In Christianity, the new symbol for this constellation became John the Baptist. Nonetheless, the old imagery of Capricorn is still in use as we just saw.
But the constellation of Aquarius is equally prominent during the summer months. Here, we see another meaning, also related to India and ancient Egypt, and as well adopted by Christianity.
How ancient is this cultural connection?
The star-lore of the Age of Pisces and the previous Age of Aries were blended, in India, as well as in Christianity. For example, as the Jesus narrative has the purpose to establish the new symbolic, the Christian church is still using an image of Saint George, or a symbol of Makara with the wide-open jaws.
However, it is indicative that all of these cultures had preserved an even more ancient idea. The star lore of the Age of Taurus (roughly 4500-2160BC!). It is quite clear that these particular seasonal markers were of great importance to all of these cultures. Compare for example the four-headed Vishnu – Vaikuntha Chaturmunti, the sphinx from Babel, and the four main apostles of Jesus.
But before the Age of Taurus, the golden calf, there was an Age of Gemini, the Adam and Eve. All of these myths fall in perfect sync all across the Northern hemisphere, once they are positioned in their appropriate time. The topic is too large to discuss in a single article, but there are other articles below that you can refer to.
