The Hindu texts such as the Vedas and Upanishads have guided the Indian civilization for thousands of years. They are considered as the pillars of Hinduism. ‘Veda’ which basically denotes ‘Knowledge’, is a collection of observations and information that goes well beyond the comprehension of ordinary human beings. It consist of information that delves into various branches of science such as astronomy, physics, chemistry etc. One solid example is the calculation of the distance between the Sun and Earth mentioned in the Hanuman Chalisa.

The fact that the distance between the Sun and Earth was accurately measured 2 centuries before the modern scientist is probably one of the most astounding facts of Hinduism. The well renowned Hanuman Chalisa , authored by Goswami Tulasidas who was born in the 15th century. The Hanuman Chalisa is known to have accurately provide the distance between the Sun and our planet Earth. This fact basically means that, this scientific information was discovered 2 centuries before the 17th century scientists.

Based on scientific findings Earth is farthest away from the Sun around July 3rd when it is 94,555,000 miles (152,171,522 km) away. This point in the earth’s orbit is called Apoapsis (aphelion). The average distance from the earth to the sun is 92,955,807 miles (149,597,870.691 km).

The first time the modern scientists measured the distance between the Sun and Earth was in 1672 by Jean Richer and Giovanni Domenico Cassini. They measured the distance between the sun and earth as 22,000 times of the Earth’s radii.

Earth’s radius = 6371 kms
Distance : 220000 x 6371 = 140,162,000 kms

According to records, for the first time in 1672, Jean Richer and Giovanni Domenico Cassini measured the distance between the Earth and Sun as 22,000 times of Earth Radii. (Earth’s Radius is 6,371 Kms)
22,000 * 6,371 kms = 140,162,000 kms (140 million kms).

The verse in the Hanuman Chalisa prayer which refers to the distance between the Sun and Earth are as follows…

जुग सहस्त्र योजन पर भानु, लील्यो ताहिमधुर फल जानू
Juga sahastra Yojana Para Bhanu, Leelyo Thaahi Madhur Phala Jaanu

This basically means ‘the sun is 1000 Yuga years Yojans from earth’.

According to the Hindu vedic literature, the following conversion practices were followed…

1 yuga = 12000 celestial years

1 sahastra = 1000

1 yojana = 8 Miles

yuga x sahastra x yojana = para bhanu

12,000 x 1000 x 8 miles = 96,000,000 miles

1 mile = 1.6kms

96,000,000 x 1.6kms = 153,600,000 kms to the Sun.

And since the earth moves around the sun in an elliptical manner, there will be slight variations based on the season.

To learn the Hanuman Chalisa, click on the video below