European scholars even today believe that Aryans have emanated from Siberia and proceeded to India and Europe, not necessarily in that order. The conclusions of European historians are made in early 1900�s and they could not believe that India, a country which was cribbing in slavery could had a great heritage and could be the mother of culture which had spread worldwide. Even the fact of existence of Harappa and other sites, the sites pertaining to so called sindhu civilization were taken with a pinch of disbelief and wonder. They tried to fit these relatively novel findings into their already existing beliefs, rather than starting afresh into the History. Since they have already came to a conclusion favoring their bigotry, they are not able to bring themselves to change these conclusions. Hence, the story of Aryans in India had been written suiting their foregone conclusions. In contrast, the pointers indicate the story to be something else. Let us try to muse over the real history of Ancient India. The word � Aryans� does not denote a race. Even advocates of AIT and Aryan race theory could not find any archaeological or genetic proofs of their theories. �Aryans did not have a particular �culture� as meant by an archaeologist. There are no pots, tools or weapons which are recognized as peculiar to Aryans. Aryans have adopted the culture of local people wherever they went. Even the hereditary physical traits are not comparable amongst Aryans of different places�Any amount of research was undertaken upon the archaeological remains of Aryans., Papers were released but there were no proofs to establish this was how the skull of an Aryan to be. Measuring the nasal bones is a method in determining the race of the skull but so far as Aryans are concerned, application of this formula could not be made working. These measurements were different between generations and between people of different living standards in the same generation. In the same socieity, one class of people are different from another. � ( D D Kosambi, The culture and civilization of Ancient India ) However, since it a more popular term with a well known meaning , I use it here . Aryans are not foreign to this subcontinent. Also, there were several other tribes in India in those days such as Dasyas, Nagas, Gandharvas, Andhras (includes Vanaras) and not to delete Asuras. All these peoples have greatly aided and contributed to the growth of Indian culture. Further, it is believed that most of the ancient races in the world have their roots in Indian subcontinent. Most of the world�s great civilizations owe their roots to Indian culture or at the least they are greatly influenced by it. There was a great deluge at one point of time and it was a person called Matsya (matsya literally means fish) who has helped the King Manu to save the people and other creatures from this deluge. In an earlier incident, Matsya also killed a rakshasa (rakshasas were a tribe which was totally backward and illiterate at that time: they were originally attenders or mercenaries safeguarding the sources of water) by name Somaka to get back the books of Vedas. Vedas were in the custody of Devas, another tribe, literally meaning gods, at that time, Perhaps, it was the first attempt on the part of Rakshasas to obtain Vedas from devas.. The story of Matsya, whenever He has appeared is connected with deluges. The story of great deluge is told and retold in almost every culture. Some historians have concluded that there were not one but three known great deluges. The Matsya appears twice in Hindu mythology-once to save the great knowledge from demons and second time, to save the living beings from the deluge itself. It is the story of this second deluge which is reproduced in Bible. Of course, Bible did away with the avataric concepts with which the Matsya is associated and so, mentions just �fish� - the only creature left in the sea to survive the deluge was fish! Further, it is said that this Matsya will be seen every time there is a great deluge. One argument is that these stories were narrated based on what has been seen in skies- new constellations are seen at the time of these deluges. Thus, I feel that whenever a � Fish� constellation is seen, we can predict the danger of arrival of a deluge. Astronomy enthusiasts, especially dealing with Vedic astronomy should throw more light on this aspect. Also, it appears that certain clans are associated with �mina� or pscices. While in India, we have had a place � matsya desh� (literally, it means the country of fish and is located somewhere near Delhi) , the word � Mina�( means fish in Sanskrit) is more popular world wide. Thus, we have Minnonites as a great clan during 1500 BC (when lots of things are said to be happening as per western historians - such as invasions of Hittites and Aryans)and in Egypt, �un� stands for the word � fish� Thus, we can believe that it is India which has given the story of great deluge to other countries and spread the clan of pscicies to them. . There is a sect in Aryans who supported asuras and nay, worshipped them. They became Zohorashtrians, (Persians) They argue that they are the original Aryans and they do not like devas. They think devas are wicked in nature. Thus, the word �deva� gave rise to devil and the word asura to �ahura� as in ahura Mazda,(the god of Persians) Many verses of Rg Veda are reproduced in the holy book of Persians. Dr Sudarshan singh has mentioned way back in �60s thus: a) Yuda, the fore father of Jews was from the Yadu dynasty. b) Tatars are the descendents of Aya, the sons of Pururava, a great Indian king. c) Grand son of Yadu was called Hiya. He was the father of Chinese. d) King Sagar had developed the city of Palli what has become Palostine today. Further, the story that Maya, an Asura of Mahabharat times had been chased in southern direction collaborates with the fact that there was a great civilization called �Maya� in South America. The excavation of temples also supports this view point that Maya culture had some similarities with that of India. Similarly, the islands of Bali are said to be the worlds of �Sutal�, to which another asura king Bali was exiled by Vaman. The story of Varaha is greatly connected with Egypt. The Pharos are nobody but the descendants of the dark lady � mother earth� and the Varaha. The description of Saka Dwipa made in Vishnu purana and Bharatam tally with the geographical mentions made by Ptolemy. The Greeks and other such nationals, collectively called as Yavanas in Puranas , must be the descendants of � Sanakas� mentioned in Rg Veda. In any case, the influence of Hinduism on Greek civilization is evident in various aspects such as Idol worship. There are several tales of Greek and Roman mythology which have been adopted from the Indian mythology. The extent of influence of Indian philosophy is so great that it is clear that the upanishadism has also spread to other cultures as well. It was strongly ingrained into Judaism. Judaism took the worship of natural gods, especially of fire, the point of monistic theism , noniconoclastism and so on, all of them are no more than effects of Upanishadism. The description of God in old testament is borrowed from Kena upanishad . The western historians and theologists found satisfaction in comparing the biblical accounts of Jesus Christ with the life of Sri Krishna. They have concluded that the Christian anecodotes have influenced Bhagavatam and other Hindu texts, wrongly believing that former to be of earlier of the two cultures. However, it is now conclusively proved that the growth of Vaishnavism is prior to BCE, with Greeks of those period turning vaishnavas and Panini referring to Vasudevakas and Arjunakas. This has turned tables on these theologists to the right conclusions that the story of Jesus Christ is a rehash of the life story of Sri Krishna, prevalent worldwide even prior to the turning of the Era. Historically, India had trading contacts with Maesopataemia via Bahrain and Magan. India ( or part of India , as known to Maesopataemians) was called as Meluhah until 1750 bce. Magan in Iraq is the originating place of Maggis. Maggis, though trounced by Darrius, had rebounced to become the Gurus of Persians. The story of Maggis in Bible is a direct adoption of similar anecdotes taking place in the lives of Sri Krishna and Buddha. What ever be the truth of this story is, it is interesting to note that the person who has imagined it is aware of at the least three religions- he borrowed the concept from Vaishnavism and Buddhism and the characters from the Persians. The Biblical �Ophir� belonged to Abhirs , as per some historians. It is noteworthy that different stocks of people called themselves as Aryans independently. Darius I called himself as Aryan. The word used � Arya chitra � ( lineage of Aryans) makes one recall the tribes of Gandharvas in Maha Bharat. Every Gandharva mentioned in the epic of Mahabhrat has been associated with the name � chitra� Thus, we have Chitrangad, who has killed the brother of Bhisma, Chitra sena , the friend of Arjuna , Chitra radha, ( donor of the great bow of Gandiva to Arjuna) and Chitra Vahana who has given his daughter Chitrangada to Arjuna in marriage. Aryanism of Germans had its origins in their tribe �Ari� Afganistan , Iraq , Iran (Ariana) and the state of Haryana in India owe their names to the noble people and mean the same- the land of Aryans. Hitties share their origin with Aryans , as per the western historians. Their Biblical prince, Abraham has a name which literally means Non Brahmin. Similiarly, the name of biblical place �Goshen� has emanated from the Sanskrit syllable �Go� . The seals of bull with hump and the nude goddess of pristine Ushas have been found amongst those of Ciro Hittite seals (1000 bce) The bird driven chariots of Aswins have guided Ushas in Rg Veda and this concept has been symbolized by these seals by adding wings to Ushas. The inscriptions of Bhaogaz Koi of Turkey in western Asia mention the Aryan gods � Indra, Mithra, Varuna and Nasatya.(Aswins) In the same period, a book written in IE language has been found on charioteering. The clay tablets of L Amarna (Egypt) mentions Kings with Aryan names. The name of Shashank is oft repeated in the lineage of Egyptians, suggesting an Indian link Now coming to the nativity of the Aryans, it is argued that Aryans were not natives of this subcontinent. The Sindhu civilization, a civilization of cities has come to an abrupt end and the European historians have believed that this is due to the invasion of Aryans-� the conquerors of cities�. Another aspect that makes westerners and their followers to brand Aryans as invaders is that they had fought with the supposedly natives�dasyas� or �Dravidians� Aryans are said to have brought chariots and horses for the first time into this country and it is this invention that has given them advantage over the aborigines of India. However, the premise that chariots are brought from out side is incorrect. There are wars in which the Aryans have fought without chariots on this land. That is to say, there were Aryans here before the advent of chariots and hence, whoever has invented chariots have done so on this land of Bharat. Devi Bhagawatam does not mention chariots in the multi year wars between Vishnu and Asuras Puranjaya, an ancestor of Lord Rama fought his wars , mounted on the shoulders of a bull. Ironically, Puranjaya also means conqueror of cities- and he fought his enemies without chariots. Similarly, the dasa raja fight took place before the mahabharat war and by the time of mahabharat, Aryans have come to tolerate the dasyas. Bhisma had dared to abduct the daughters of a fellow Aryan king to marry them into his family. On the other hand, he wimpily agrees to all the conditions laid down by the king of dasa for the hand of his daughter for his father. And this agreement is much appreciated all around! Also, we are yet to excavate and find out the archaeological proofs of widespread city civilizations which have abruptly come to an end. Secondly, one school of historians have placed the timing of Mahabharat prior to the sindhu civilization. If this fact is accepted on the basis of textual proof and pending archaeological exercises, the very basis of premise Aryans� foreignness has to be stuck down. If Aryans are already native at the time of the Indus civilization and were having respectable conjugal relations with dasyas, where is the question that they being the �foreign� invaders into the harappa civilization? The basis of Aryan invasion is largely pointed out on the basis of Rg Vedic accounts. The battle lines , extended over a period of time, as per Rg Veda or the later puranas were clearly drawn- the wars were between Devas and Asuras, the former being aided in no small measure by the Indian warrior classes The Rg Veda also points to battles between Dasyus and �Aryans�, but as mentioned as above, this enemity does not seem to have extended over to later periods. Also, there were cold feuds going on between the Varnas, the natural sections of society - especially between the Brahmins and warrior class. This is largely due to the polarization of powers- the politically strong warrior class were intellectually inferior to the Brahmins. The physical weakness of Brhamins made them vulnerable to the attacks of the warrior class upon their properties and ladies. Soma, one of the ancestors of warriors, has abducted the wife of Brhspti, a brahmin and the patriarch Brahma had to stop the war between the Soma and Brhspti. It is an indication of the political prowess of kshatriayas it was Soma who was winning the war- the questions of dharma not withstanding. The great warrior Pururava who is much celebrated in Hindu mythology was always harassing Brahmins. Karta virya, king from the clan of Haihavas around the times of Ramayan, not only defeated Ravana, a brahmin but also had killed Jamadagni, another brahmin-sage. Jamadagni�s son , the Rama of the axe, not only killed Karta virya in revenge, but also subjugated the entire class of warriors, including Dasharath, the father of Lord Rama. In turn, Lord Rama suppressed the senior Rama and also, killed Ravana. An example of a more open feud between these two classes is the prominent one upman ship game between Viswamitra and Vasista. Viswamitra is a warrior turned Brahmin , while Vasista was a neo Brahmin. It should be observed neither Viswamitra nor Vasista are Brahmins by birth. The battle of Ten Kings is a direct result of the enemity between these two sages. Thus, while there were events of this feud right from vedic times, this fight has become more organized by the times just prior to and during Ramayan, clearly indicating the upper hand of warrior class over the Brahmins whenever they rebelled , inspite of the fact that the social hierarchy was left untouched and Brahmins ruled supreme. Perhaps this is the reason why Kshatriyas have encouraged the Upanishadism. Upanishadism has taken roots under the kings like Janaka, the wise father of Sita . While Upanishadism does not negate vedism and brahminsm, It advocates to look beyond the brahminic vedism and preaches that everyone is capable of attaining the spiritual loftiness, irrespective of the fact whether one is Brahmin or not. The warrior clan took a special interest in propagating this wisdom. The political reasons of propagation of Upanishadism is to undermine the Brahmins. Thus, it can be concluded that an undue importance was given to the fightings between Aryans and Dasyus when there are more important schisms that merit attention. In any case, it is wrong to equate the dasyus or Asuras with dravidians. Historians say that the word � dravid� has come from the word � trimili�- meaning tall in the Crete. Dravidians have emanated from western India and Afghanistan.. They have migrated to southern parts. It can be said that they have migrated to south much before the harappa civilization. The hilly tribe , led by one Vindhya, was rebellious in those days and Devas, rather than the Aryans, have sent the academic Agastya to put him down. Agastya not only succeeded in the effort but also had to remain in South India to maintain peace and order. Incidentally, he developed the language taught to him by Lord siva into full pledged language, Tamil. Though Tamil has been spread amongst the Dravidians and is no doubt dravidian language, it is by no means has come from south India. Bahaii�s of Baluchistan share the language and physical features of dravidians. Tamil could give rise to only language and it is called malayalam. It is not correct to say that telugu and kannada have emanated from tamil. Now, Tamil is the most important language of Dravidians and it is well spread in South India, Ceylone and singapore and several other parts of the world On the other hand, Asuras , a tribe different from Aryans and of course, Dravidians, have contributed to the perpetration of vedas and brahminsm. Ravana and Vrta are Asuric Brahmins , strong and well versed in vedas and prevailing sciences. They were held in great respect in those days. Indra , the king of devas, ( devas is another tribe belonging to Tibet), killed Vrtra and faced social banishment for years. Ravana was killed by Rama, who had to undergo ritualistic cleansing process to wash away this sin of killing a brahmin. Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakasiapa of this tribe were great kings as well as scientists. We see that Hiranya kasipu echoes the sentiments preached in Bhagavad gita, when his brother dies. ( Sri Mad Bhagavatam) Thus, we see that the attitudes preached in Bhagavad gita are not necessarily aryanic. It might be Asuric too . We also have Prahalada and Bali in this clan who were great kings. Bali could occupy even the Tibet, which was very difficult to conquer, though he was consequently exiled to the island of Bali. His original kingdom of Kerala celebrates his coming home as a new years day. Later, after several ups and downs , the Ravana could bring back the glory of Asuras. He ruled from Lanka. While several argue that Lanka is the today�s Ceylon (or Srilanka), many advocate the theory of an island called arctic island which was fare more south than today�s Ceylon. There is another theory that Lank is nothing but today�s Crete Lanka was a well known center of great wealth and pleasures. Vedas have been encouraged here and the vedic culture was wide spread in Lanka, till the death of Ravana. After that, perhaps Vaishnavism has taken roots in Lanka under the King Vibhishana, a well known devotee of Vishnu. As we have mentioned above, there are several other tribes which have greatly contributed to the growth of Indian culture. The other tribes like Nagas and Gandharvas were ruling the north eastern parts of today�s India. They have had small but affluent kingdoms. Another tribe which is noteworthy is that of Andhrites. Andhras include Vanaras, who have ruled the kingdom of Kishkinda during the times of Ramayana.. This kingdom is in the boarders of Andhra pradesh and Karnataka. This tribe boasts of producing a great mythological figure like Hanuman. Hanuman hails from Maharashtra, the original home of Andhras. He was not only instrumental in the growth of Indian music but also, was a great scholar. He has written the first commentary on Bhagavad gita in the language of Ancient Andhras ( called � paisachik�) Andhras also had a kingdom on the banks of Yamuna at the time of Kamsa. Its king, Chanura was a great wrestler and a vassal of Kamsa. *************** |
Introduction Vedas Vedangas Praathisakhas Anukramanikas Upavedas Agamas Nine names of Vedas. Rg Veda Yajur Veda Sama Veda Atharva Veda purusha suktam ancient india |
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| page is revised on 22nd May, 2004 |
| Musings on ancient India |
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| by m kishore mohan |