📅 How Old Are the Nadi Texts?
The Nadi texts are believed to be between 2,000 to over 5,000 years old, dating back to the ancient spiritual era of the Vedic and post-Vedic periods in India. These palm leaf manuscripts were originally composed by highly enlightened sages (rishis) such as Agastya, Bhrigu, and Vasishtha, who used yogic vision to foresee the lives of future individuals.
While exact dating is difficult due to the organic nature of the palm leaves, most scholars and traditions estimate that the original dictations were made during or before the Sangam period of South India (roughly 500 BCE to 300 CE), with copies and commentaries maintained and recopied over time.
🧾 Timeline Overview
- Original dictation: Estimated between 3,000–5,000 years ago by sages through meditation and divine insight.
- Palm leaf inscriptions: Written down by scribes during later centuries using ancient Tamil script.
- Rediscovery: Many manuscripts were recompiled and preserved during the Chola dynasty and later surfaced again in the British colonial era.
🛡️ Preservation Challenges
The original palm leaves were biodegradable, so they had to be periodically recopied by scholars and temple priests. Despite weather damage, invasions, and time, thousands of leaves survived and are now preserved in astrology centers and private collections.
Though the physical manuscripts we see today may be centuries old, the content and wisdom they carry is considered timeless, rooted in the deep spiritual history of India.