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Raajaa Vikramaaditya-2
[taken from Nepal's Astrological Magazine]
See also    Vikram and Vaitaal Stories,     Sinhaasan Batteesee,

King Vikramaaditya of Ujjain has been an extremely popular name in Indian fictions. Thousands of tales related to him are widely popular in different Indian languages. Various sagas of his Nava Ratna are also in vogue. However, what astonishes is that except the stories related to this world-renowned king, no other evidence has been found to back his existence. For foreign historians, he is no more than an imaginary king.

There has been no evidence found which could prove the existence of the King Vikramaaditya, in spite of his many stories popular around. Even a calendar is also in use on his name "Vikram Samvat". Samvat means year. Ujjain or Ujjayinee is considered his capital. Indian historians have been trying hard to prove him a great and historical man of Indian history and to prove their point. They have done a lot of archaeological research also, but unfortunately, all went in vain.

Ujjain is located on the Line of Cancer, where the Sun comes northward from the Line of Equator and again goes southward to the Line of Capricorn through the Line of Equator. Here is a famous temple of Mahakaal situated on the banks of Narmadaa River in Ujjain. This is the only Mahakaal temple present in India at present. Due to this unique distinctive temple, an obvious question comes in mind that who is this God called "Mahaakaal", whose only one temple is found throughout India. Generally, Mahaakaal is considered synonym for Lord Shiv.

It has been like a tradition in our country to devotedly accept the evidences produced by our holy Granth (books). Following this tradition, Mahaakaal (the Great Time) was considered as a God. Thus, a Mahaakaal Temple was founded at Ujjain. But, why at Ujjain only? When the same longitude passes through such a vast area of the country, then why only Ujjain was given this privilege? The reason is very simple - Ujjain is located on the Line of Cancer, where the Sun comes northward and again returns the southward up to the Line of Capricorn. So, due to being located on the Line of Cancer, Indian Astrology scholars accepted Ujjain as the appropriate place for the place of Mahaakaal.

The word Vikramaaditya has two parts - Vikram and Aaditya. In general terms, Vikram stands for "courage", while Aaditya stands for "Sun". Thus Vikramaditya means the bravery of the Sun. However, "Kram" is inherent in the word Vikram, which means movements. The word "Sankram", which is well-known regarding the speed of the Sun, has been formed from this word. And the Sun's Sankram, Sankraman and Sanskriti, all being formed from "Kram", are no unfamiliar words for the modern astrologers.

Then Who Was Vikramaaditya?

Having done a thorough study of these words, Vikramaaditya, Mahaakaal and Ujjayinee; we come to the conclusion that in reality there was no king named Vikramaaditya. It was an imaginary name of the southward Sun. He was just given a King's status. Since the King was considered a very kind King, he had to have a capital of his kingdom. As a result, Ujjayinee or Ujjainee or Ujjain was made his capital. Because it was his capital, the standard time of that place was accepted as the standard time for the whole country, and this is why it is called the Mahaakaal (which rules over the whole world). After all these discussions, the concept of Nav Ratn is also quite clear - they stand for the nine planets. Moving ahead to a definite place and then returning back to the original position is called the Sinh Vikraant. Lions tend to roam around in the jungle in search of food then they return back to their hideout.

From lion's nature, the words "Sinh Vikraant" and "Sinh Vikraman" have surfaced. The Sun is called "Sinh Vikramee" for the reason that it travels up to the Line of Cancer in the North, then returns southward. And this is where the Sun Sign Sinh (Leo) comes from. After staying in the Kark Sign (cancer) for 31 days, the Sun reaches the Sinh Sign (Leo) on the 32nd day. And this process is known as the Sinhaasan Batteesee. Sinh is known to be the owner of Sinh (Leo) house. After reaching the Kark Sign (cancer) it returns to its own Sign and stays there. After Sinh Sign, the Sun enters Kanyaa Sign (Virgo). Probably, the ancient Indian Sun Sign classification was based on the Earth and not the sky.

At every location of the Earth where the Sun rays fell straight, the Sun Sign was special. The term Raashi (Sign) has, most probably, the root in the word Rashmi's original form "Rasasiyaan" which is a re-Sanskritized form of "Rassee". (Central Chronicle)


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Created by Sushma Gupta on 3/15/06
Updated on 10/20/12