Does Hanuman Chalisa mention the distance of the Sun from Earth?

Does Hanuman Chalisa mention the distance of the Sun from Earth? Yes. This is found in the 18th verse of the Hanuman Chalisa: “Yug sahastra yojan par Bhanu, leelyo taahi madhur phal jaanu” Translation: "You (Hanuman) flew towards the Sun, which is thousands of yojanas away, thinking it was a sweet fruit." In this verse, the poet Tulsidas refers to Hanuman's childhood tale, where he leapt towards the Sun, mistaking it for a fruit. The phrase "Yug sahastra yojan" is a measurement of distance: 1 yuga = 12,000 years (in the traditional understanding of time cycles) 1 sahastra = 1,000 1 yojana = a Vedic unit of distance, roughly equal to 8 miles or about 13 kilometers. Calculation: According to the verse, the Sun is "Yug sahastra yojan" away from Earth, which can be interpreted as: 1 yug = 12,000 1 sahastra = 1,000 1 yojana = 8 miles (or 13 km) So, Yug sahastra yojan = 12,000 * 1,000 * 8 miles = 96,000,000 miles or approximately 153,600,000 kilometers. Scientific Comparison: The average distance between the Earth and the Sun is approximately 149.6 million kilometers. While the Hanuman Chalisa gives a slightly higher estimate, it is surprisingly close to modern scientific measurements, especially considering that this text was composed centuries ago. The reference to the distance in the Hanuman Chalisa has been noted by scholars and enthusiasts for its striking similarity to the modern calculation of the Earth-Sun distance. However, this has not been officially "verified" by scientific institutions, as ancient texts are typically not used as scientific sources. Yet, many view this as an interesting coincidence or evidence of ancient Indian knowledge of astronomy. While the Hanuman Chalisa is primarily a devotional text, this particular verse is often highlighted as an example of how ancient wisdom might have had insights into the workings of the universe. However, it's important to note that this is largely anecdotal, and there is no formal scientific endorsement of the Chalisa as a source of astronomical knowledge.