Archive · 20 Jun 2025
600-Year-Old Inscription Reveals Halley's Comet Sightings in India
Imagine finding a really old message about a comet!
In India, a 600-year-old inscription talks about Halley's Comet.
The people back then thought comets brought bad luck.
The king gave a village to a priest to prevent trouble from the comet and the meteors that came with it.
Scientists know the comet came around that time because people all over the world saw it and were scared.
Halley's Comet comes back every 72-80 years and is a unique comet because it's so bright and easy to see.
A 600-year-old Sanskrit inscription in Andhra Pradesh references Halley's Comet.
The inscription, from 1456 CE, mentions the comet's appearance and associated meteor shower.
It records a donation by King Mallikarjuna to counteract the perceived misfortune.
The inscription is a record of a celestial event, and similar data from other cultures and NASA aligns with it.
Halley's Comet is visible every 72-80 years and was seen as a bad omen.
- Who
- King Mallikarjuna of the Vijayanagara kingdom and a Brahmin named Limganarya.
- What
- An Indian inscription referencing Halley's Comet and a related meteor shower.
- When
- The inscription was written in 1456 CE, during the reign of King Mallikarjuna.
- Where
- Andhra Pradesh, India.
- Why
- To record the comet's appearance and the king's actions to counteract the perceived misfortune it would bring.
Traditional Beliefs
Scientific Understanding
Perspective on Celestial Events
Traditional Beliefs
Comets and meteor showers are harbingers of misfortune and calamity.
Scientific Understanding
Celestial events are natural phenomena with scientific explanations.
- Inscription Age
- 600 years old
- Language
- Sanskrit
- Characters
- Devanagari
- King
- Mallikarjuna
- Comet Appearance Date
- June 28, 1456 CE
- Comet Frequency
- Every 72-80 years