THE LAND OF BIHAR—NAMED AFTER THE CALCULATION OF STARS

THE LAND OF BIHAR—NAMED AFTER THE CALCULATION OF STARS

22-MARCH-ENG 13

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA------------------------Taregna stands as a witness to a history dating back to the 6th century, when the great astronomer Aryabhata arrived at the University of Nalanda to conduct research. During that period, Aryabhata stayed at this very location.

Situated just a short distance from the capital city of Patna, the village of Taregna bears witness to a significant history reflected in its very name—a history rooted in mathematical formulas and the calculation of stars.

It is the history of the great astronomer and mathematician Aryabhata—the man who not only invented the concept of zero but also astonished the world by unraveling many mysteries of the universe. Bihar served as the primary field of endeavor for this legendary figure. Having resided in Bihar for many years, he established his observatory there, where he regularly engaged in the calculation of stars. The village where this observatory was located was subsequently named after his work—specifically, the "village of star calculation," or Taregna.

Taregna stands as a living testament to the era when, in the 6th century, the renowned astronomer Aryabhata arrived at the University of Nalanda to pursue his research. During his stay, Aryabhata resided at this site with his twenty-five disciples, conducting studies to measure the distances between stars and the velocities of planets. It was from this very spot that he revealed numerous astonishing cosmic mysteries to the nation and the world. References to these events can still be found today in his seminal work, the *Aryabhatiya*, as well as in the *Patna Gazetteer*.

Historians note that, in ancient times, the city of Patna was known by the name *Kusumpur*. Just a short distance from this city lay the village of Taregna, which featured a prominent mound or hillock. It was from the vantage point of this very mound that Aryabhata used to conduct his stellar calculations. Subsequently, as people across the nation and the world became aware of this historical significance, approximately 150 space scientists from around the globe converged upon this site on July 22, 2009, to witness a solar eclipse. From this location, the solar eclipse was visible with exceptional clarity and for an extended duration. On that occasion, the then Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, also visited the site to observe the solar eclipse. Nevertheless, several NASA scientists visited Taregna to conduct research and acknowledged that the site holds potential for numerous studies. Moreover, officials from the Department of Archaeology also visited Taregna to carry out an inspection. They examined the soil of the village as well as bricks unearthed during excavations, which dated back to the Gupta period. NASA scientist Amitabh Pandey stated that much research remains to be conducted in Taregna. He added, "I will coordinate with the government to undertake excavations in Taregna and conduct research on the site."