Ancient scriptures often carry wisdom that transcends time, and the Hanuman Chalisa is no exception. Saint Goswami Tulsidas composed this devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Hanuman in the 16th century, and people revere it for its spiritual significance.
However, one of its verses has drawn attention in recent years for something beyond its spiritual meaning—it seemingly calculated the distance between the Earth and the Sun centuries before modern science confirmed it.
READ MORE: Hollywood power agent mocks Justin Baldoni’s last name amid legal feud with Blake Lively
Hanuman Chalisa’s verse describes Hanuman’s flight to the sun with surprising precision
Tulsidas, who not only praises Lord Hanuman but also reveals elements of cosmic awareness, goes beyond ordinary devotional texts.
One of the most striking verses in the Hanuman Chalisa describes Hanuman’s ambitious attempt to consume the Sun, which he perceives as a sweet mango. The verse in question is:
“Yug-Sahastra-Jojan par Bhanu
leelyo tahi Madhur Phal Janu”
When translated, this verse speaks of Hanuman’s flight to the Sun, covering a distance described as “Yug-Sahastra-Jojan”, which can be broken down into a calculation.
A “Jojan” is an ancient unit of distance, and in the verse, “Yug-Sahastra” translates to thousands of Yugas (an epoch of time in Hindu cosmology).
By combining these units, a precise figure emerges that remarkably matches the distance from the Earth to the Sun.
Hanuman Chalisa reveals surprising accuracy of Earth-Sun distance calculation
Researchers have taken the phrase “Yug-Sahastra-Jojan” and translated it into modern units of measurement to uncover the Earth-Sun distance.
According to ancient Vedic texts, one “Jojan” is approximately 8 miles (13 kilometers). With “Yug-Sahastra” referring to a distance of 12,000 Yojanas, the calculation becomes:
12,000 Yojanas × 8,000 Yojanas = 96 million miles
Converting this into kilometers gives us 153.6 million kilometers.
This remarkable coincidence has sparked widespread interest, as it suggests a level of precision in ancient Vedic knowledge that is surprising, considering the lack of modern instruments at the time.
How Hanuman Chalisa embeds precise scientific knowledge beyond spiritual context?
Vivaan Prashant Karulkar, in his book ‘The Sanatan Dharam: True Source of All Science’, argues that many aspects of modern science have deep roots in ancient Vedic texts.
According to Karulkar, texts like the Hanuman Chalisa passed down this knowledge, which, although spiritual in nature, also carried accurate scientific principles that people did not recognize until centuries later.
The author challenges the conventional understanding of science, proposing that the Vedic sages possessed an intricate understanding of cosmic phenomena.
The Hanuman Chalisa’s accurate Earth-Sun distance calculation is just one example of how ancient texts contained knowledge that appears to have been ahead of its time.
“The Hanuman Chalisa contains wisdom and knowledge that spans beyond its religious and devotional context,” says Karulkar. “This verse is just one piece of evidence that demonstrates how ancient scriptures were not only spiritual in nature but embedded with precise scientific knowledge.”
Hanuman Chalisa’s Earth-Sun distance calculation sparks reflection on the deep connection
The connection between the Hanuman Chalisa and modern scientific measurements of the Earth-Sun distance highlights the incredible depth of ancient Vedic knowledge.
It also raises important questions about how we perceive the relationship between spirituality and science.
In Hanuman chalisa 18th sloka
— Vidyadhar/ವಿದ್ಯಾಧರ 🇮🇳 (@Vidyadarc) April 6, 2018
"Yug sahastra jojan par Bhanu
Leelyo tahi madhur phal janu"
Means distance between earth and sun which is confirmed by #NASA
Which Bal Hanuman jumped to pluck sun thinking it is fruit.
#BajrangiTwitter
The accuracy of such calculations embedded in sacred texts suggests that ancient cultures may have had a more sophisticated understanding of the cosmos than previously thought.
The accurate Earth-Sun distance calculation in the Hanuman Chalisa showcases the potential for ancient Vedic wisdom to provide valuable insights into the workings of the universe—insights that continue to inspire modern interpretations of both science and spirituality.
