Astronomy and Religion

In India astronomy and religion was interelated even during the early times, beginning from the Vedic Period when the Vedas were composed.Sarma veda notes that the Vedas are compositions of religion, and not science.However, they  hold a enormous amount of astronomical information.The religious texts of India often contained astronomical observation for carrying out ritual associated with religion at a certain time.

Hindus kept a panchangam or calculations of ''tithi'' (lunar day), vara (weekday), nakshatram, and ''karan'' (half lunar day) for social and religious events.Klostermaier states that: "Indian astronomers calculated the duration of one ''Kalpa'' (a cycle of the universe during which all the heavenly bodies return to their original positions) to be 4,320,000,000 years.

This can be significantly noted in HINDU RITUALS when the mantras are recited , the exact position and time of occurrence of the ritual is mentioned.