Refutation of Nilesh Oak’s dating of ancient texts
Refutation of Nilesh Oak’s Astronomical Dating of the Ramayana to 12209 BCE
Part 8 of 10 — Bluffing and the Game of Numbers, Appendix: Details of Error Elimination — Experiments
There are 71 “Error Elimination — Experiments” in the book “The Historic Rama”. Here are my comments on each one of them.
Error Elimination — Experiment 1: Caitra — month in which forests bloom (pp. 57–60)
This was refuted in Part 2 [2].
Error Elimination — Experiment 2: Setting Sun near Pushya (pp. 60–61)
This was refuted in Part 3 [3].
Error Elimination — Experiment 3: Brightly shining North Pole Star (pp. 61–63)
This was refuted in Part 5 [5].
Error Elimination — Experiment 4: Comet afflicting Moola (pp. 69–74)
This was refuted in Part 6 [6].
Error Elimination — Experiment 5: Scheduled coronation of Rama & Sarad season (pp. 76–77)
Not independent. Based on Error Elimination — Experiment 1
Error Elimination — Experiment 6A and 6B: Sun, Mars & Rahu encroaching birth nakshatra (pp. 77–79)
Software generated illusion. See Section 6, main article.
Error Elimination — Experiment 7: Rahu near Punarvasu (pp. 79–80)
Analogy. Absurd to count as astronomical observation.
Error Elimination — Experiment 8: Rama Janma and positions of Sun, Mars & Rahu (pp. 80–81)
Software generated illusion. See Section 6, main article.
Error Elimination — Experiment 8 (number repeated): Exalted Grahas @ the time of Rama Janma (pp. 81–82)
Software generated illusion. See Section 6, main article. Even invalid simulation does not match.
Error Elimination — Experiment 9: Exalted Grahas @ the time of scheduled coronation (p. 83)
Software generated illusion. See Section 6, main article.
Error Elimination — Experiment 10: Rama leaves for the forest (pp. 83–84)
According to Oak, it does not contradict his timeline and observations are generic. Inconsequential.
Error Elimination — Experiment 11: Return of Rama to Ayodhya (p. 84)
Unverifiable assertion. See Section 7, main article.
Error Elimination — Experiment 12: End of Putra-Kameshthi Yajna in Sharad season (p. 86)
Not independent. Based on Error Elimination — Experiment 1. Refuted in Part 2 [2].
Error Elimination — Experiment 13: Late moonrise (p. 89)
Describes daily events and calls them Error Elimination experiment.
Error Elimination — Experiment 13 (repeat number): Late moonrise (p. 91)
Describes statements and calls them Error Elimination experiment.
Error Elimination — Experiment 14: Late moonrise (p. 92)
Describes statements and calls them Error Elimination experiment.
Error Elimination — Experiment 15: Late moonrise (pp. 92–93)
Describes statements and calls them Error Elimination experiment.
Error Elimination — Experiment 16: When did Yajna begin and end (pp. 93–94)
Corroboration based on analogy. Absurd to count as astronomical observation. Refuted in Part 2 [2].
Error Elimination — Experiment 17: Late moonrise (p. 94)
Corroboration based on analogy. Absurd to count as astronomical observation.
Error Elimination — Experiment 18: Days of moonless nights (pp. 96–97)
Unverifiable assertion. See Section 7, main article.
Error Elimination — Experiment 19: Bharata leaves for Citrakuta (pp. 97–98)
Unverifiable assertions. See Section 7, main article.
Error Elimination — Experiment 20: Bharata meets Rama at Citrakuta (pp. 98–99)
Corroboration based on analogy. Absurd to count as astronomical observation.
Error Elimination — Experiment 21: Bharata meets Rama during Shishir season (pp. 99–100)
Corroboration based on speculation.
Error Elimination — Experiment 22: Bharata returns to Ayodhya (p. 100)
Unverifiable assertion.
Error Elimination — Experiment 23: The Solar Eclipse (p. 102)
Describes statements and calls them Error Elimination experiment.
Error Elimination — Experiment 24: Solar Eclipse in the evening (pp. 102–103)
Software generated illusion. See Section 6, main article.
Error Elimination — Experiment 25: The season of Khara-Rama fight (p. 103)
Unverifiable assertion.
Error Elimination — Experiment 26: Grahas attacking Sun & Moon (pp. 103–104)
Corroboration based on analogy. Absurd to count as astronomical observation.
Error Elimination — Experiment 27: Khara in the middle of the army (p. 104)
Corroboration based on analogy. Absurd to count as astronomical observation.
Error Elimination — Experiment 28: Sun becomes invisible (pp. 104–105)
Describes statements and calls them Error Elimination experiment.
Error Elimination — Experiment 29: Ravana and Marich in Panchavati (pp. 105–106)
Describes statements and calls them Error Elimination experiment.
Error Elimination — Experiment 30: Ravana and Marich in Panchavati (p. 106)
Describes statements and calls them Error Elimination experiment.
Error Elimination — Experiment 31: Ravana and Marich in Panchavati (pp. 106–107)
Describes statements and calls them Error Elimination experiment.
Error Elimination — Experiment 32: Ravana and Marich in Panchavati (p. 107)
Describes statements and calls them Error Elimination experiment.
Error Elimination — Experiment 33: Ravana and Marich in Panchavati (pp. 107–108)
Unverifiable assertions. See Section 7, main article.
Error Elimination — Experiment 34: Clash between Mercury and Mars (p. 110)
Corroboration based on analogy. Absurd to count as astronomical observation.
Error Elimination — Experiment 35: Sun along with galaxy of stars (p. 111)
Corroboration based on analogy. Absurd to count as astronomical observation.
Error Elimination — Experiment 36: Sun lost its splendour (p. 111)
Corroboration based on analogy. Absurd to count as astronomical observation.
Error Elimination — Experiment 37: Resembled Sun-Moon in the sky (pp. 111–112)
Corroboration based on analogy. Absurd to count as astronomical observation.
Error Elimination — Experiment 38: Moonless sky (p. 112)
Corroboration based on analogy. Absurd to count as astronomical observation.
Error Elimination — Experiment 39: Moon devoured by Rahu (pp. 112–113)
Corroboration based on analogy. Absurd to count as astronomical observation.
Error Elimination — Experiment 40: Season of Sharad/Hemanta (pp. 114–115)
Speculation. Nothing to do with error elimination.
Error Elimination — Experiment 41: Season of Shishir (p. 115)
Statements. Nothing to do with error elimination.
Error Elimination — Experiment 42: A considerable time elapsed (p. 115)
Statements. Nothing to do with error elimination.
Error Elimination — Experiment 43: A considerable time elapsed (p. 116)
Statements. Nothing to do with error elimination.
Error Elimination — Experiment 43 (number repeated): Time of early spring (p. 116)
Statements. Nothing to do with error elimination.
Error Elimination — Experiment 44: Season of spring (p. 117)
Statements. Nothing to do with error elimination.
Error Elimination — Experiment 45: Season of spring (pp. 117–118)
Statements. Nothing to do with error elimination.
Error Elimination — Experiment 46: Time limit has elapsed (p. 118)
Statements. Nothing to do with error elimination.
Error Elimination — Experiment 47: Time limit has elapsed (p. 118)
Statements. Nothing to do with error elimination.
Error Elimination — Experiment 48: Time of spring (p. 119)
Statements. Nothing to do with error elimination.
Error Elimination — Experiment 49: Time of spring (p. 119)
Statements. Nothing to do with error elimination.
Error Elimination — Experiment 50: Full month elapsed (pp. 119–120)
Statements. Nothing to do with error elimination.
Error Elimination — Experiment 51: Full month elapsed (pp. 120–122)
Refuted in Part 4 [3].
Error Elimination — Experiment 52: Vanara party headed south (p. 122)
Speculation about Abhijit being described as Pole star. Not corroborated by Kiṣkindhākāṇḍa 63.15.
Error Elimination — Experiment 53: Analogy of second month of spring (pp. 125–126)
Corroboration based on analogy. Absurd to count as astronomical observation.
Error Elimination — Experiment 54: Hanuman in Lanka (p. 126)
Inference of spring is consistent with standard seasons and months. Not a corroboration of Oak’s timeline.
Error Elimination — Experiment 55: Hanuman in Lanka (p. 126)
Description of full moon. Does not verify Oak’s timeline.
Error Elimination — Experiment 56: Hanuman in Lanka (p. 127)
Corroboration based on analogies. Absurd to count as astronomical observations.
Error Elimination — Experiment 57: Hanuman in Lanka (p. 127–128)
Corroboration based on analogies. Absurd to count as astronomical observations.
Error Elimination — Experiment 58: Hanuman returning from Lanka (p. 129–130)
Corroboration based on analogies. Absurd to count as astronomical observations.
Error Elimination — Experiment 59: Leaving Kishkindha (p. 131–132)
Unverifiable assertions. See Section 7, main article.
Error Elimination — Experiment 60: On the way to Lanka (p. 132–133)
Corroboration based on analogy. Absurd to count as astronomical observation.
Error Elimination — Experiment 61: On the way to Lanka (p. 133–138)
Refuted in Part 5 [5] and Part 6 [6].
Error Elimination — Experiment 62: Analogy of an eclipse (p. 147)
Corroboration based on analogies. Absurd to count as astronomical observations. Also, Software generated illusion. See Section 6, main article.
Error Elimination — Experiment 63: Mars assailing Vishakha (pp. 147–148)
Even software generated illusion does not match. Proposes absurd speculations as excuse.
Error Elimination — Experiment 64: Birth of Kusha and Lava (p. 151)
Fitting to proposed narrative. No error elimination.
Error Elimination — Experiment 65: Duration of Sita’s stay (pp. 154–156)
Statements. No bearing on 12209 BCE date.
Error Elimination — Experiment 66: Ages of Rama and Sita (pp. 157–158)
Statements. No bearing on 12209 BCE date.
Error Elimination — Experiment 67: Lunar months of rainy season (pp. 159–160)
Clear evidence contradicting Oak’s proposed combination of seasons and months.
Error Elimination — Experiment 68: Lunar months of rainy season (pp. 160–162)
Clear evidence contradicting Oak’s proposed combination of seasons and months.
Error Elimination — Experiment 69: Ravana’s limit of 12 months (pp. 163–164)
Unverifiable assertions. See Section 7, main article.
Error Elimination — Experiment 70: Translation of a passage (pp. 164–165)
Refuted in Part 4 [3]
Error Elimination — Experiment 71: Exalted grahas at the time of Rama-Janma (p. 169)
Call for action. No error elimination.
Examples:
