Ancient Indian history is mystic, not mythical as projected by Western media. There has always been attempt to explain existence. There has been belief too of existence of realities beyond intellect. Vedas are records of ancient spiritual teaching of humanity. History of India was written during colonial era which begins with Indus civilization. This is erroneous as it ignores preindus history documented in Puranas and Vedas.
Why hasn’t mythology been used as a narrative to form ancient Indian history? Reading Vedas, Puranas gives us deep insight how Indians lived in last 20000 years. Even worn-out structures tell us lot about past. Those who write history should always be aware of bias/prejudice in themselves and in other writers. A history written with particular set of mind is no history. There are writers like El Mansouri , Sir William jones , Paul Roberts , Adolf Eramn who say migrants from India crossed Suez and settled on banks of Nile. Egyptian records tell us they originally come from South, from a land called, PUNT, an Asian country. PUNT is believed to be Malabar coast of Deccan.
Facts unearthed by marine archeological explorations showed that a city existed which is 9500 years old , older than Sumerian civilization. In 2001 scientists discovered two ancient cities at gulf of Khambhat. Carbon dating showed it 9500-year-old. It means civilization lost at the end of ice age. It means we could be dealing with a civilization much older to flood myth of Christianity. Vedic civilization was started by survivors of previous civilization. At least some parts of Vedas must have been composed earlier than 6000 years. Sangam literature tells us submerging of East coast, 11000 years back. This is the time when sea levels rose. How long would it have taken a civilization that was there 9500 years ago to build cities of that scale? Around 12000 ago there was a cultured existence around coastal margins of India. What was before 12000 years[ice age] is not known? Valmiki mentioned in Taittriya Brahmana [4600BC], so Ramayana must be earlier. Dr PV Vartak , historian relying on planetary positions in Ramayana gives date of birth of Lord Rama Dec , 7323BC. According to him Ramayana dates 9300 ago. Dr Chaubey, genetic scientist says KOL tribe today are descendants of King Guha who was a Nishada king who befriended Lord Rama.
It is Panini who coined word “Bharata” for the region. Indian subcontinent had six countries—India, Pakistan , Bangala Desh ,Afghanistan , Nepal and Bhutan. Whole area was called Bharat Varsham. Hindu kush connected India with central Asia and Persia. Archeological explorations done in 20th century attest to Indosarsvat civilization extending to present day Afghanistan. Hindu kush was once a Buddhist area [ Bamiyan Buddhas]. Some believe Kush word is from Lord Rama’s son , Kush who ruled this area. Hindu kush acted as barrier between India and central Asia. Mahabharata epic gives us details of geography of India. Mahabharata is historical is proved by astronomical references of Bhagvat Puran. The position of Nava Graha mentioned in Bhagvat Puran is fully validated by science. It gives us timeline of war. Geographical details in Ramayana and Mahabharata could only be acquired by actual travelling. Writer Louis Jaccolliot says, “ Egypt received from India , its social institutions and laws”. Such was antiquity of Indian civilization, yet being ignored by Western writers because of their mind set.
Marine explorations, archeological excavations, Satellite images, Carbon dating , artifacts found and planetary archeology have dated some events as follows:--
1.Bhirrana---oldest metropolis, 10000years.
2 Dwarka---8000---9500 years.
3.Rakhigarh, Garhi—A village in Hissar. It is site of pre indus civilization settlement, 6500BC.
4. Lothal, Gujarat—3700BC. It had world’s earliest dock.
5 Mehargarh-----7000BC.
6. Ramayana----12000BC , Mahabharata 5561BC,Rigveda 6000BC --- by Nilesh oak.
Now it is established Ram Setu existed and it is man-made. In August 1995 , 43 historians and archeologists fixed Mahabharata war between 3139BC---3138BC.Bhatnagar puts RAMA – Ravana war In 5076BC. Frawley puts early VEDIC---- Harappa between 6500BC-----3100BC.
Word Arya means people living by ideals as postulated by Vedas. It does not refer to any race or language Imaginary Aryan invasion of India in 1500BC is biggest bluff spread by western writers to negate Vedic civilization which preceded all other civilizations on this earth. This Aryan invasion of India now stands fully refuted. India has been cradle of human civilization. Vedic culture gave birth to a religion called Sanatan Dharma[ Hinduism]. Hinduism unlike other religions does not demand blind faith but pursuit of TRUTH by dharmic means. This religion evolved over a period. This Vedic civilization spread from India to Europe via Iran before Mesopotamia and Egyptian civilizations. It also spread to Far East [ Combodia , Thailand , Indonesia , Malaysia]. Bias of western writers towards this civilization needs to be removed. Misinterpretation of Vedas by Christian scholars needs to be corrected. Historical material in Puranas and Vedas needs to be analyzed and not ignored. Ancient dynasties who ruled ancient India need to be given due place in history. Science and Math originated in India and went to west via Iran. Two great epics have played significant role in nation integration.
Indian culture and religion[ Hinduism , Buddhism] spread through out South East Asia. This country has produced two great civilizations--"Vedic civilization and Indo Sarswat civilzation[ IVC], India is united by its ancient culture and heritage. Vedas contain timeless wisdom. It totally ignores preceding Vedic civilization. West totally ignores what is written in Vedas [Rig] and Puranas which give us chronology of ancient rulers of India. Recent research in archeology ,archeoastronomy , marine exploration , Satellite imagery and literary evidence suggest that India has a history which goes back to 7000BC-8000BC.Vedas and Puranas recorded history just in the form that is different than what is considered norm today.
Toba volcano of Sumatara, Indonesia 7500 years back put a ash layer of 15cm over whole India. We have archeological evidence of Jwalapuram in Karnool district showing human habitation before and after Toba eruption. Around 11200 years back incessant rains followed by earthquake caused massive floods. This occurred during the reign of Vaivasvata Manu. Due to earthquake Sarswati river changed its course and it started flowing westwards from Kurukhetra , Sirsa to Kalibangan. Sutlej ,Yamuna and Drisadvati were main contributaries to Sarswati river. Sea level rose by 28 metres in 500 years , about 9500--10000 years ago. This rise in sea level submerged Dwarka..
It is traditionally recorded that Lord Rama was born in last century of Treta yuga. Vedveer Arya's research reestablishes the chronology of ancient India using Surya Siddhanta and Krita Yugant in 6778BC as the sheet anchor.Saptrishi cycle of 2700 years was introduced in 6778BC. Thus one could fix period of Treta Yuga around 6777BC---5577BCand Dwarpa Yuga around 5577BC--3177BC. By astronomical observation which is verifiable, date of birth of Lord Rama could be in 5674BC. Mahabharata period around 3162BC.Aihole inscription establishes Mahabharata war in 3162BC.Western scholars blindly assume 1AD as Christ birthday with out any proof . This means Christian era does not deserve to be sheet anchor of world history. Indian mythology needs to be used as an narrative to form sequential type of ancient Indian history. Valmiki was first historian who authored Ramayana , just like Herodotus was for Greece.Not all historians have been witness to events. They depended on the records available.
Vedic calendars give perfect information of eclipses with perfect time. This is verifiable even now. Why is this valuable piece of evidence ignored by western writers?Max Muller observed that mythology of Egyptians[also of Greeks] is wholly founded on Vedic traditions.Harrapa civilization dwarfed Egyptian and Mesopotamia in sheer size.[2mil sq miles]. Saraswati civilization did not give us Pyramids or sphinx but gave world mystic philosophy in the form of Vedas and Upanishads.The key characteristic of this Vedic civilization has been that it continued in a unbroken tradition from ancient times to present era.There are many writers now like Bohlen, Brugsch , Ludwig Heeren who attest that Indians brought civilization into Egypt.
Louis Jaccolliot says,"Egypt received from India , by Manes or Manu , its social institutions and laws.........".
At the heart of Egyptian life was communication with gods After life concept was imported from India. Egyptians preserved bodies of Pharaoh's in tombs , with treasures for the after life.
A new book on Indian history is need of hour. It is certain now that Indian history does not start with battle of Panipat[1526AD].Hymns of Rigveda have abundant material", for political history in the shape of names of kings , kingdoms and tribes who ruled ancient India".River Saraswati sustained a civilization spread over 2 Mil sq miles. This river vanished around 1900BC but is mentioned in Rigveda 30 times. This river is not a myth but a empirical fact proved now by satellite imagery. IndoSarswat civilization occupied the same geographical area as is described in Rigveda.
. It is really saddening to note that Indian universities still have western history books and western translations of Vedas and Upanishads. Acceptance of this western interpretation of Vedas amounts to self-betrayal. Tolerance should not mean acceptance of falsehood. Indian intellectuals need to rise,. correct the wrong doings of western writers and put Indian ancient history at proper pedestal.India is paying price for its misuse of philosophies. Varna system has been converted into caste system by greedy brahmins and religion turned into theoretical concept. Hinduism in west is reflected through lens of Abrahamic religions thus theological uniqueness of Hinduism is being totally compromised. India is a mix of spirituality and materialism , a point missed by west. Rigveda not only is history books but book speaking of human mind while Puranas give us traditional history.
Need of hour is to rewrite ancient Indian history and recognize it. Aryan invasion theory needs to be debunked. Indian writers need to rely on manuscripts in Sanskrit and not rely on English translations of Vedas and Upanishads.
Humbolt……..” Bhagvat Gita is perhaps the loftiest and the deepest thing that world has to show”. |
*Dr. Makhan Lal Babu, Born and brought up in Kashmir, lived in Kashmir till his migration from valley in 1990. Retired as Professor and Head Neurosurgery from Institute of Medical sciences, Soura, Srinagar. Has published a lot of professional articles, both in national and international journals. His interests, besides medicine, are in Ancient history of Kashmir, Vedas and Ancient India. His focus is educating youth who are fast losing track of their glorious roots and culture.
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