Guest guest Posted September 2, 1999 Report Share Posted September 2, 1999 Antiquity and Continuity ... (Last Part, 6/6) Prasad Gokhale <f0g1 Organization: University of New Brunswick - --------- Antiquity and Continuity of Indian History (From Swayambhuva Manu to Gupta Dynasty) --------- Index ----- 17. Chronology 18. Summary 19. Bibliography 17. Chronology -------------- Here under is provided a chronological table of events from the beginning of this "Kalpa" right upto the rule of the Gupta dynasty, i.e., when Greek Alexander invaded the western borders of India. The Vedic culture continues to flourish in India, the cradle of human civilization, even today. However, only the events before the advent of Common Era are listed in the following table. It is noted that dates prior to the Mahabharat (3138 B.C.) are approximate, until further investigation puts forth any convincing evidence. Event/Person/Text Datelines Swayambhuva Manu 29,000 B.C. Veda (early stages) 23,720 B.C. Samhita (Taitiriya) 22,000 B.C. Manu Chakshushu 17,500 B.C. King Pruthu 16,050 B.C. Manu Vaivasvata 14,000 B.C. Indra-Skanda dialogue (Mahabharat) 13,000 B.C. Glaciation period 8,000 B.C. Dasharadnya War 7,000 B.C. Ramayan 5,500 B.C. Orion period 4,000 B.C. Greeks separate 4,000 B.C. Rajatarangini begins 3,450 B.C. Gonanda-I of Kashmir 3,238 B.C. Mahabharat 3,138 B.C. Veda (last stages) 3,100 B.C. Saptarsi era begins 3,076 B.C. Saraswati-Sindhu Culture 3,000 B.C. Buddha born 1,887 B.C. Buddha Nirvana 1,807 B.C. Mahaveer Jain born 1,862 B.C. Chandragupta Maurya 1,534 B.C. Ashoka Maurya 1,482 B.C. Ashoka Gonanda 1,448 B.C. Kanishka 1,294 B.C. Kumarila Bhatta 557 B.C. Vruddha Garga 550 B.C. Aadi Shankaracharya born 509 B.C. Harsha Vikramaditya 457 B.C. Shatkarani Gautamiputra 433 B.C. Chandragupta Gupta 327 B.C. Shakari Vikramaditya 57 B.C. Shalivahan 78 A.D. Huen-Tsang 625 A.D. Kalhana (Kashmiri historian) 1,148 A.D. The continuity of Vedic culture from the distant past until today is preserved in the Rgved. This world's most ancient text records the happenings of many peoples; sincerely and faithfully preserved by the ancient Hindus and passed on to their subsequent generations. The Puranas also hold many geographical and historical annals of great kings and heroes who assisted in ushering principles of truth and righteousness around the globe. It is only the Hindus who have preserved authentically the records of the bygone era, a matter that they have a right to be proud about. It is hoped that the above exercise is sufficiently convincing to indicate the necessity to study, understand and decipher the language and expression in the ancient texts which may further deliver the secrets and accomplishments of the bygone civilizations. The mystery of the common traits in the cultures and literatures of the world may also be solved by recognizing the genesis and unity in the thought of all peoples; the Rgved belongs to all humanity, irrespective of class, colour or creed. It also renders an idea of the required magnitude of research, sincere and apolitical, imperative to evaluate the older version of Indian history and rewrite it, recognizing the latest developments in archaeological and literary findings. Summary ------- The word "arya" was used for people who cultivated the mind and character. The "aryans" were the inhabitants of India for at least a few thousand years in the past, who spoke Sanskrit and practised the Vedic culture along the banks of the rivers Saraswati and Sindhu. There was no invasion of the aryan-race in India, causing the destruction of property and massacre of the aboriginals and of the so-called Dravidian people. Hindus have maintained the oldest and most authentic records of the ancient world, in the Vedas and Puraan, and accordingly, the Dravidians were the early offshoots of the Vedic people through Sage Agastya. After separating from their original homeland in the arctic regions, and later, from the regions of Caspian Sea, the Vedics appear to have migrated across the globe. This explains the commonality and affinity of the most ancient languages with Sanskrit. The customs, expressions and traditions of the Greek, Iranians, Egyptians with that of the Vedics is also apparent from the evidence presented in the preceding article. The annals of astronomical configurations in the Rgved and Samhitas indicate a date of 23000 B.C. when the early stages of the these texts were composed. The literary works on ancient India provide long lists of kings, their genealogies and ancestries. From these and other records, the date when Swayambhuva Manu, the first king of this Kalpa, flourished is calculated to be roughly 29000 B.C. It was in 5500 B.C roughly that the great Ramayanic civilization appears to have flourished and the great Mahabharat War was fought, as calculated from literary, archaeological and astronomical examinations, in 3138 B.C. The Sage Buddha attained Nirvana in 1807 B.C., after living a saintly life of 80 years propagating the Vedic tenets. Chandragupta Maurya, the grandfather of Maurya Ashoka, with the assistance of Arya Chanakya captured power and was coronated as the emperor of India in 1534 B.C. The foremost of all philosophers and the greatest proponents of the Advaita school of thought, Aadi Shankaracharya, was born in 509 B.C. The end of the Andhra dynasty, and the rise of the Gupta dynasty began in 328 B.C. It was an era when Gupta Chandragupta, Sandrocottus of the Greeks, ruled India. The rule of the Guptas is recorded as the "Golden Age" in the history of India, when all the facets of civilization, art and architecture, polity and politics, wealth and wisdom flourished side by side. Thus, even before the advent of Christ, the civilization and thought in India, the Vedic culture had reached a state of supreme high idealism which the arya people wanted to propagate and share with rest of the world. It may be matter of a few decades until fresh literary, archaeological and experimental evidence is brought out that may provide further insight into the culture of the ancients, seeking answers to the common history of humanity. It is hoped that this article will benefit the readership in providing a better understanding of the history of ancient nations and cultures. Bibliography ------------ Aurobindo, The Secret of the Veda, Pondicherry, India, Ed.7, 5. 1993. Dayanand Saraswati, Satyartha Prakash Elst, K., Indigenous Indians (Agastya to Ambedkar), New Delhi, 1993. Frawley David, Gods, Sages and Kings, Utah, USA, 1991. Hodivala S.K., Zarathustra and His Contemporaries in the Rgved, 1913. Kak, S., "On the decipherment if the Indus Script - A preliminary Study of its Connection with Brahmi," Indian J. of History and Science, V.22.1, p.51-62, 1987. Kulkarni, S.D., Ed., Beginnings of Life History and Culture, The Study of Indian History and Culture, Thane, India, 1993. Kulkarni, S.D., Ed., Glorious Epoch, The Study of Indian History and Culture, Thane, India, 1993. Kulkarni, S.D., Aadi Shankara, Bombay, India, 1987. Maxmuller F., History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature, 1968. Narayana Shastri T.S., Age of Shankara, Madras, 1916. Oak P.N., World Vedic Heritage, New Delhi, 1984. Patnaik K.N.S, "The Mahabharat Chronology", Annual Research J. of the Institute of Rewriting Indian History, Pune, India, 1990. Pococke E., India in Greece Rajagopalachari C., Indian Philosophy Ramachandran, V.G., A Peep into the Past History, Madras, 1982. Rao, S.R., Lothal and the Indus Valley Civilization, Bombay, India, 1973. Sathe S., Dates of the Buddha, Hyderabad, India, 1987. Sathe Sriram, Search for the Bharata War, 1983. Sethna, K.D., The Problem of Aryan Origins, New Delhi, 1992. Spencer H.S., Are the Gathas pre-Vedic?, 1965. Talgeri, S., The Aryan Invasion and Indian Nationalism, New Delhi, 1993. Tilak B.G., The Arctic Home in the Vedas, Pune, India, 1987. Tilak B.G., The Orion or Researches into the antiquity of the Vedas, Pune, 1994. Vallency C., Collectania De Rebus Hibernicus, Dublin, 1804. Vartak P.V., Swayambhu, Pune, Bharat, 1988. Vartak P.V., Vastav Ramayan (in Marathi), Pune, Bharat, 1993. Venkatachalam, K., The Age of Buddha, Milinda and Amtiyoka and Yuga Purana, Vijaywada, India, 1956. Wheeler, M., Civilization of the Indus Valley and Beyond Yukteshwar, Sri, The Holy Science, Los Angeles, 1984. - ----- --------- Prev: There is a need to be careful here Re: Religious unity Next: Re: The definition of HINDU (Was about VK Rao's def) .. very long Index(es): Main Thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.