Maya In Ramayana

 This article is a part of a series of articles on individuals described in the Vedas, Epics and Puranas, with the name 'Maya' and related concepts like 'Maaya'. Their connection with the Meso American Mayans too is explored in detail. Read the main article:- Danava Maya and Mayans of America

 

Maya in Ramayana

Maya / Maaya is mentioned around 23 times in Ramayana. Here one Maya belonging to the Maya tribe is described as a great architect and father of Mandodari who became the queen of Rakshasa king Ravana. Maya is variously described as an Asura, a Danava and as a Daitya. He is mentioned as son of Diti, the mother of all Daityas. The Daityas and Danavas were both Asuras. It seems there is some ambiguity in ascertaining if Maya belonged to the Daitya group or to the Danava group, but there is no doubt that he was an Asura. The question whether Maya was a Daitya or a Danava has some importance if we consider the theory that a section of Iranians (the Ahura worshipers, who migrated from India to Iran) descended from Daityas and a section of the Greeks (the Danaans, who migrated from India through Iran and Turkey to Greece) descended from the Danavas.

There is a possibility that the Maayan tribe or the Maya tribe of ancient India contains members belonging to the Daitya clan as well as the Danava clan and the name Maya is used by them when they were experts in creating technological wonders (magic or illusions) using their metallurgy, metal smelting and metal working technologies.

Another person Mayavi with some connection with Maya is mentioned in Ramayana six times.

 

Vishnu Maaya

Ramayana contains the term Vishnu-Maaya (vrm.1.29), which is the illusory power of Vishu. This indicate the generic usage of the word Maaya to mean illusion. The word Maaya is used in the same sense at (7.117) and (7.123) as well. Thus such references are found only in the first and last book of Ramayana well known as containing later additions.

 

Asura Maaya of Maya

The following verse (13) in Aranya Kanda (Book 3), Chapter 54 refers to Maya and his 'Asura Maaya':-
tatra taam asita apaa.ngaam shoka moha paraayaNaam || 3-54-13
nidadhe raavaNaH siitaam mayo maayaam iva aasuriim |

Its meaning is as follows:- Ravana {raavaNaH} placed {nidadhe} Seetha {siitaam} having black eyelashes {asita apaa.ngaam} but with full of sorrow and bewilderment {shoka moha paraayaNaam}, as if by some Asura Maaya {maayaam iva aasuriim} of Maya {mayo}.

This verse clearly indicate that Maya or people belonging to the Maayan tribe of ancient India is the source of Asura Maaya (technological wonders of the Asuras) which was used by other Asuras and Rakshasas like Ravana. Ravana was a king of the Rakshasas ruling at Lanka (Srilanka). (In Mahabharata we see these technologies are used by the Pandavas as well, to construct an assembly hall).

 

Maayaavi

Kishkindha Kaanda (Book 4), Chapter 9, Verse 4:-
maayaavii naama tejasvii puurvajo dundubheH [mayaH] sutaH |
tena tasya mahad vairam vaalinaH strii kR^itam puraa || 4-9-4
Meaning:- There was a fierce {tejasvii} one named Maayaavi, the elder brother {puurvajo} of Dundubhi and the son {sutaH} of Maya. There occurred a great enmity {vairam} between this Maayaavi and Vali owing to some female {strii-kRtam}.

Thus Maayaavi is mentioned as a son of one Maya. Subseqently he fought with Vanara king Vali ruling at a southern Indian kingdom (Hampi, east central Karnataka) and was killed. This information goes well with the presence of the Maya / Maayan tribe in southern India, which will eventually led them to a sea-faring voyage to Meso America.

 

Danava Maya's Mansion

Kishkindha Kaanda (Book 4), Chapter 43, Verse 30:-
mayasya bhavanam tatra daanavasya svayam kR^itam |
mainaakaH tu vicetavyaH sa saanu prastha ka.ndaraH || 4-43-30
Meaning:- The mansion of the Maya {mayasya bhavanam} which that Danava himself built {svyam kRtam} and that mountain Mainaaka is to be searched out, inclusive of its crests, grades and caves. This is an instruction given to the Vanaras who are to search for Sita, who was abducted by Ravana. It is not clear where this mansion is situated, but the mention of Mainaka mountain that lied in the sea separating Lanka and India and the southern Indian region close to Kanyakumari could be probable locations.

 

The Riksha Cavities of Maya

Another mansion of Maya (which could be same as the one discussed above, but as per epic Ramayana and Mahabharata, he constructed for his lover Apsara Hema) is describes as situated inside an elaborate cave network that ran several hundred kilometers underground. To see the references in Mahabharata about this topic see:- The underground Mansion of Maya, described in Mahabharata.
Kishkindha Kaanda (Book 4), Chapter 50, Verse 7:-
giri jaala aavR^itaan deshaan maargitvaa dakSiNaam disham |
vicinvantaH tataH tatra dadR^ishuH vivR^itam bilam || 4-50-7
durgam R^iksha bilam naama daanavena abhirakshitam |

Meaning:- That province {deshaan} in southern direction {dakSiNaam disham} is encompassed with interlocked mountains {giri jaala}. During their search there they have observed {dadRishuH} a wide-opened {vivRitam} and impassable {durgam} cavity {bilam} known as Riksha cavity {Riksha bilam} which is well guarded {abhirakshitam} by a Danava {daanavena}. Chapters 50, 51 and 52 elaborate on this Riksha cavity and describe the creator of this cavity with full of illusions (technological wonders) as none other than Danava Maya. Chapters 53, 54 and 57 too mentions about it further. For want of space I am providing here only a summary of this wonderful narration spanning 3 chapters in Ramayana.
Those entered into this mesmerizing cave network said thus:- 'We entered into this cave, overpowered with hunger, seeking some food. Initially we saw only darkness. Now we see diverse and marvellous mansions {vidhaan bhaavaan} and other such wonders {adbhuta upamaan} like golden trees {kaa.ncanaa vRikSaaH} splendid like young suns {taruNa aaditya sannibhaaH}, golden colored air-crafts {kaa.ncanaani vimaanaani} in silver colored houses {raajataani gRihaaNi}"

 

History behind the Riksha Cavities as per Ramayana

A lady named Swayamprabha (meaning:- the self glowing one) who protected the cavities replied:-
mayo naama mahaatejaa maayaavii daanavarSabhaH || 4-51-10
tena idam nirmitam sarvam maayayaa kaa.ncanam vanam |

There was a brilliant {mahaatejaa} illusionist (technologist) {maayaavii} by name Maya {mayo naama}, who was a bull among the Daanavas {daanavarSabhaH}. He constructed {nirmitam} all of these {sarvam} illusory golden forest {maayayaa kaa.ncanam vanam}.
puraa daanava mukhyaanaam vishvakarmaa babhuuva ha || 4-51-11
yena idam kaa.ncanam divyam nirmitam bhavana uttamam |

Foremerly {puraa} he was the chief among the Danavas {daanava mukhyaanaam} and their Universal Craftsman {vishvakarmaa}. He constructed {nirmitam} this superb {uttamam} mansion {bhavana}, golden {kaan.ncanam} and divine {divyam}.
tam apsarasi hemaayaam saktam daanava pu.ngavam || 4-51-14
vikramya eva ashanim gR^ihya jaghaana iishaH pura.ndaraH |
That best of the Danavas {daanava pu.ngavam} was infatuated {saktam} with an Apsara {apsarasi} named Hema (meaning:- the golden one). Then the ruler of the world {iishaH} Indra, the destroyer of enemy citadels {pura.ndaraH} struck {jaghaana} him with his Thunderbolt {ashanim}.
mama priya sakhii hemaa nR^itta giita vishaaradaa || 4-51-17
tayaa datta varaa ca asmi rakSaami bhavanam mahaan |

My dear friend {mama priya sakhii} Hema is well-versed {vishaarada} in dance {nRitta} and music {giita}. By the authority she has given me {tayaa datta varaa} I am protecting {rakSaami} this superb mansion {bhavanam mahaan}.

 

Further mention of the Cavities

Below are some more references to these strange Cavities (Cave Networks):-
(4.53) That highly impassable cavity is contrived by Maya and it is abundant with trees, water, eatables and potables, and there is no fear even from Indra in that cavity, nor from Raghava, nor from Sugreeva, the king of Vanaras.

(4.54) "Indeed, once Indra thudded his Thunderbolt on this very underground illusory place, but that act was indeed a trivial deed for that Thunderbolt made a single Rakshasa sized aperture to eliminate a single Danava, Maya, which we now call Riksha bila, Black Hole, nevertheless Lakshmana will splinter whole of this Black Hole with his acute arrows, as if it is leafy bowl. (This statement help us know that the Vanara's entered into Maya's marvelous underground construction works through the crude aperture created due to the striking of Indra's thunderbolt and not through its proper entrance, which explains the initial darkness encountered by the Vanaras while entering. The real entrance could be else where or is hidden and could have been more refined).

(4.53) Which month is set as timeframe for the Vanaras by king Sugreeva that month passed off while the Vanaras are searching mountains, impassable areas and within the cavity concocted by the wizardry of Maya. (4.57) During our search in that Black Hole, which was crafted by the wizardry of Maya, the month fixed by our king for our return has been elapsed. (This indicate that the underground structures were quite elaborate and spread in a vast area, like in the case of Meso American Maayan constructions).

 

Geographical Location of the Cave Networks

From the narration and geography described, Maya's abode inside the cave network was somewhere close to Kanyakumari (the southern tip of India), with sea-shore (Indian ocean) and mountains (Malaya, Sahya) nearby in Tamilnadu-Kerala boarder. The narration also make it clear that the cave network itself was quite extensive spreading several hundred kilometers and it ran parallel to some interlocked mountain networks. Such mountain network exist in Tamilnadu as part of the southern portions of Eastern Ghats starting from Vellore in the north and passing through Selam, Madurai and finally reaching up to Kanyakumari. These interlocked mountains (Giri Jaala) joins with Malaya Mauntains (southern portion of Sahya Mountains to the south of Palakkad), at Rajapalayam in Tamilnadu.

After searching for the presence of underground cave network in these region, I found a surprising a fact that many temples in this region starting from Vellore to Madurai have sacred underground cave structures and subterranean passages.

1. Vrinchipuram Temple near Vellore:- This temple is located 15 km away from the Vellore city with an underground route from the Virinchipuram temple to the Vellore Jalagendeswarar temple.
2. Sri Vilvanatheswarar Temple, Thiruvalam near Vellore - In the left side outer Praharam, beneath the Bali Peetam, there is a underground passage and no one knows where it leads to!
3. Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam, Madurai:- The temple tank is fed by water of the Vagai river, brought through an ingenious system of underground channels.

From all these field data, one could conclude that Hanuma and the Vanaras entered the Maya's network of caves somewhere around Vellore and emerged out of it close to Kanyakumari, passing through Selam and Madurai. It is not clear if all of it were a continuous subterranean passage or there were intermittent emergence to outer surface (covered with forests or mountain folds) and re-entry back into another underground cave structure.

Such underground cave structures of Mayans are quite common in Mexico and generally in Meso America.

It is also clear that these cave network interconnects the territories controlled by the three major kingdoms in southern India, viz. Chola, Pandya and Kerala (Cheral, Chera). Vellore and Selam falls in Chola territory. Maturai falls in Pandya territory and Malaya mountains falls in the Kerala-Pandya boarder.

 

Chola king and the love story of Maya and Hema

See Also:- Indra-Chola, Varuna-Chera Connection

Chola kings are connected to their northern cousins viz. the Sivi tribe (Sibi, western Pakistan), who, as per references in Mahabharata, had assumed the title 'Indra'. A Sivi king is mentioned as one among the many Indras. The same title 'Indra' is sometimes assumed by Chola kings like Rajendra Chola. The story of a Sivi king protecting a dove from a hawk by sacrificing flesh from his thigh is also attributed to a Chola king (a story which is also attributed to king Solomon known in the west).

Thus it is possible that the Indra mentioned in Maya-Hema love story of Ramayana was an ancient Chola king who disapproved architect Maya's infatuation with the Apsara, Hema, described as a dancer girl. This make Hema similar in profession to Matavi, a dancer girl mentioned in Tamil epic Silappatikaram, who too was mentioned as an Apsara.

 

Maya and the construction of Lanka city

The following statement compares the architecture of the mansion of Ravana, the ruler of Lanka with the excellent architectural constructions of Maya:- (5.7) Hanuma saw those houses of the ruler of Lanka, constructed by great effort as though constructed by Maya himself oni earth with all best qualities.

From elsewhere in Ramayana we know that Lanka city was constructed not by architects known by the tribal name Maya but by architects known by the tribal name "Vishvakarma" (universal craftsman) which is a generic term applied to engineers working on all types of construction, art, craft and architecture fields. The construction of the city of Lanka took place during the reign of Yaksha king Vaisravana Kubera (Kuvera) who ruled Lanka before Ravana. Often in Puranic literature, we see descriptions like the Mayas were the architects among the Asuras and the Vishvakarmas were the architect among the Devas, as if each of them were distinct tribes with opposing political affinities. But in close examination, we find that the boundaries separating the Vishvakarmas from the Maayans are blurred, especially since the title 'Vishvakarma' is applied to Maya as well. The tribe Vishvakarma now survives as a caste name in India who are skilled architects and engineers.

 

Maya's relationship with Ravana

The following statement establish that a certain individual belonging to the Maya / Maayan tribe of ancient India was the father-in-law of Rakshasa Ravana. This verse also indicate that Maya gave his daughter to Ravana due to fear (unwillingly) and hence desiring Ravana's friendship (thinking it would be beneficial to advance his position since Ravana was powerful and controlled southern India and the southern ocean) :-

mayena daanava indreNa tvad bhayaat sakhyam icchataa |
duhitaa tava bhaaryaa arthe dattaa raakSasa pumgava || 6-7-7
(6.7) Maya {mayena}, the best among the Danavas {daanava indreNa}, gave {dattaa} his daughter {duhitaa} (Mandodari) to you as wife {bhaaryaa arthe}, due to fear {bhayaat} from you and hence desiring {icchataa} your friendship {sakhyam}, Oh, the best of Rakshasas {raakSasa pumgava}!

Rakshasas and Danavas were distinct tribes, who were not always in good terms with each other. Daityas-Danavas and Adityas formed one genetic group. Daityas and Danavas were known as Asuras while Adityas were known as Devas. Puranic texts of ancient India look upon Asuras as demons and Devas as gods. Rakshasas, Yakshas and Gandharvas formed another genetic group. Puranic texts of ancient India look upon the Rakshasas as demons, the Yakshas sometimes as demons and sometimes as demi gods where as they look upon Gandharvas mostly as demi gods. These are but later developments.

 

Maya's skill in creating realistic sculptures

The statement below gives and indirect evidence of Maya architects' skill in creating realistic sculptures or images. Here Sita is compared to an image created by Maya! :- (6.12) Looking like an idol of gold and being placid She appears like an illusory image created by Maya.

 

Maya's skill in creation of weapons

The following passages clearly shows Maya created and supplied weapons to Ravana.
mayena vihitan raudramanyadastraM mahaadyutiH |
utsraShTun raavaNo ghoraM raaghavaaya prachakrame || 6-100-2
(6.100) Ravana {raavaNo} started to release {utsraShTun} in a terrifying manner {ghoraM}, another fearsome {raudram} missile {astraM} endowed with extraordinary splendor {mahaadyutiH}, created {vihitan} by Maya, upon Rama {raaghavaaya }.
ityevamuktvaa taan shaktimaShTaghaNTaaM mahaasvanaam |
mayena maayaavihitaamamoghaan shatrughaatiniim || 6-100-30
lakShmaNaaya samuddishya jvalantiimiva tejasaa |
raavaNaH paramakruddhashchikShepa cha nanaada cha || 6-100-31
(6.100) Thus saying, the greatly enraged Ravana roared and hurled towards Lakshmana, that unfailing spear {shakti}, which was adorned with eight loudly clamouring bells {aShta ghaNTaam}, which had been designed by Maya by his Maaya (technology) {mayena maayaa-vihitaam} , capable of destroying adversaries and blazing with splendor {jvalantiim-iva tejasaa}.

 

Maya mentioned as Diti's son

The only mention of Maya as Diti's son and hence a Daitya is found in Book 7 (Uttarakanda) which contain many later additions.

(7.12) The Raksha was wandeing about for the purpose of hunting, when he happened to see Diti s son, named Maya. In the same chapter which describe the encounter of Ravana with Maya and his beautiful daughter Mandodari, Maya is described as a Danava (that Danava and foremost of Asuras, Maya) and again as a Daitya:- Maya lord of Daityas laughing, said unto that lord of the Rakshasas, This daughter of mine, O king, borne by the Apsara, Hema, this my daughter named Mandodari do thou accept as thy wife.

 http://ancientvoice.wikidot.com/article:maya-in-ramayana

Maya In Mahabharata

 This article is a part of a series of articles on individuals described in the Vedas, Epics and Puranas, with the name 'Maya' and related concepts like 'Maaya'. Their connection with the Meso American Mayans too is explored in detail. Read the main article:- Danava Maya and Mayans of America

 

Maya in Mahabharata

Maya / Maaya is mentioned around 61 times in Mahabharata. Thus Mahabharata contains the largest reference to Maya. Here one Maya belonging to the Maya tribe is praised as a great architect and creator of many technological illusions. Another Maya is credited with the creation of space-crafts rotating around Earth in precise orbits. One architect Maya constructed a wonderful assembly for the Pandava king Yudhisthira. He was respected by the king as a great man. Like in Ramayana, in Mahabharata too there is varying references that make Maya a Daitya or a Danava, but undoubtedly and Asura. Mahabharata also contains references to a battle between Indra and Maya, where Indra defeated or killed Maya. This corroborate with some of the references in Rig Veda where a battle between Indra and Gandharva is mentioned. The designation 'Gandharva' in this case may be point to the location of this Maya's territory in Gandhara region (north-western Pakistan).

 

Maya mentioned among great kings

Mahabharata gives the highest respect to a member of the Maya / Maayan tribe of ancient India by counting him among great kings as found in the following passage:-
(Mbh.1.55) Like the sacrifice of Maya, of king Sasavindu, or of king Vaisravana, of the sacrifice of Nriga, of Ajamida, of the son of Dasaratha, is this sacrifice of thine O son of Parikshit.

 

Maya's association with the Pandavas

Chapter 229 of the Book 1 (Adi Parva) of Mahabharata gives the detail account of how one architect belonging to the Maya tribe became a friend of the Pandavas. Due to the enormity of the narration it is described in a summary here:- Danava Maya (around 3100 BCE) was dwelling in the territory of Naga king Takshaka called the Khandava (modern day Delhi and its surroundings). He was there to construct some buildings for Takshaka. Since the territory of Naga Takshaka was a threat for the newly created city of the Pandavas, viz. Indraprastha (now the Delhi city), Arjuna (brother of King Yudhisthira ruling at Indraprastha) and his friend Krishna decided to burn the Naga settlements at Khandava. While the territory was thus burned, Maya sought the protection of Krishna and Arjuna. They gave him protection and did not slay him. In return Maya asked what he shall do for them. Then Krishna said:- "Let a palatial Sabha (meeting hall) as thou choosest, be built by thee, if thou, O son of Diti, who art the foremost of all artists, desirest to do good to Yudhishthira the just (Mbh.2.1)". Having heard those words, Maya became exceedingly glad. Then Krishna and Arjuna after having narrated everything unto king Yudhishthira the just, introduced Maya unto him. Yudhishthira received Maya with respect, offering him the honour he deserved. Maya accepted that honour thinking highly of it.

 

Exotic articles collected by Maya

For details see Maya at Kailasa

(2.3) Then Maya Danava addressed Arjuna, that foremost of successful warriors, saying, I now go with thy leave, but shall come back soon. On the north of the Kailasa peak near the mountains of Mainaka, while the Danavas were engaged in a sacrifice on the banks of Vindu lake, I gathered a huge quantity of delightful and variegated vanda a kind of rough materials composed of jewels and gems. This was placed in the mansion of Vrishaparva. There is also, I think, a fierce club placed in the lake Vindu by the King of the Danavas after slaughtering therewith all his foes in battle. Besides being heavy and strong and variegated with golden knobs, it is capable of bearing great weight, and of slaying all foes, and is equal in strength unto an hundred thousand clubs. It is a fit weapon for Bhima, even as the Gandiva is for thee. There is also in that lake a large conch-shell called Devadatta of loud sound, that came from Varuna. I shall no doubt give all these to thee.

Having spoken thus unto Partha, the Asura went away in a north-easterly direction. On the north of Kailasa in the mountains of Mainaka, there is a huge peak of gems and jewels called Hiranya-sringa. Near that peak is a delightful lake of the name of Vindu.

Maya brought back the club and the conch-shell and the various crystalline articles that had belonged to king Vrishaparva. And the great Asura, Maya, having gone thither, possessed himself of the whole of the great wealth which was guarded by Yakshas and Rakshasas. Bringing them, the Asura constructed therewith a peerless palace, which was of great beauty and of celestial make, composed entirely of gems and precious stones, and celebrated throughout the three worlds. He gave unto Bhimasena that best of clubs, and unto Arjuna the most excellent conch-shell at whose sound all creatures trembled in awe.

 

The Maya Sabha: The Palatial Hall created by Maya

The palace that Maya built consisted of columns of gold, and occupied an area of five thousand cubits. The palace, possessing an exceedingly beautiful form, like unto that of Agni or Suryya, or Soma, shone in great splendour, and by its brilliance seemed to darken even the bright rays of the sun. And with the effulgence it exhibited, which was a mixture of both celestial and terrestrial light, it looked as if it was on fire. Like unto a mass of new clouds conspicuous in the sky, the palace rose up coming into view of all. Indeed, the palace that the dexterous Maya built was so wide, delightful, and refreshing, and composed of such excellent materials, and furnished with such golden walls and archways, and adorned with so many varied pictures, and was withal so rich and well-built, that in beauty it far surpassed Sudharma of the Dasarha race, or the mansion of Brahma himself. And eight thousand Rakshasas called Kinkaras, fierce, huge-bodied and endued with great strength, of red coppery eyes and arrowy ears, well-armed and capable of ranging through the air, used to guard and protect that palace.

Architect Maya (right) with the five Pandavas and Krishna (left), after the Construction of 'Maya Sabha' (right). From my paintings on Mahabharata

 

Tank inside the Palace

Within that palace Maya placed a peerless tank, and in that tank were lotuses with leaves of dark-coloured gems and stalks of bright jewels, and other flowers also of golden leaves. And aquatic fowls of various species sported on its bosom. Itself variegated with full-blown lotuses and stocked with fishes and tortoises of golden hue, its bottom was without mud and its water transparent. There was a flight of crystal stairs leading from the banks to the edge of the water. The gentle breezes that swept along its bosom softly shook the flowers that studded it.

The banks of that tank were overlaid with slabs of costly marble set with pearls. And beholding that tank thus adorned all around with jewels and precious stones, many kings that came there mistook it for land and fell into it with eyes open.

Many tall trees of various kinds were planted all around the palace. Of green foliage and cool shade, and ever blossoming, they were all very charming to behold. Artificial woods were laid around, always emitting a delicious fragrance. And there were many tanks also that were adorned with swans and Karandavas and Chakravakas Brahminy ducks in the grounds lying about the mansion. And the breeze bearing the fragrance of lotuses growing in water and of those growing on land ministered unto the pleasure and happiness of the Pandavas.

And Maya having constructed such a palatial hall within fourteen months, reported its completion unto Yudhishthira.

 

The underground Mansion of Maya

For details see Vanara's searching for Sita

The Riksha cavities of Maya mentioned in Ramayana is also mentioned in Mahabharata, in a passage describing the history of Rama:-

Having searched the southern region with all its hills, forests, and mines for some time, we became very weary. At length we beheld a great cavern. We entered that cavern which extended over many Yojanas. It was dark and deep and overgrown with trees and infested by worms. And having gone a great way through it, we came upon sun-shine and beheld a beautiful palace. It was the abode of the Daitya Maya. And there we beheld a female ascetic named Prabhavati engaged in ascetic austerities. And she gave us food and drink of various kinds. And having refreshed ourselves therewith and regained our strength, we proceeded along the way shown by her. At last we came out of the cavern and beheld the briny sea, and on its shores, the Sahya, the Malaya and the great Dardura mountains. And ascending the mountains of Malaya, we beheld before us the vast ocean And beholding it we felt sorely grieved in mind.

The narration matches with those found in Ramayana except that the name of the guardian of the palace was mentioned as Prabhavati (the glowing one) instead of Swayamprabha (the self glowing one). From the narration and geography described, Maya's abode was somewhere close to Kanyakumari (the southern tip of India), with sea-shore (Indian ocean) and mountains (Malaya, Sahya) nearby in Tamilnadu-Kerala boarder.

 

The city of Hiranyapura built by Maya

This is a dialog between sage Narada and Matali, the chariot driver of Indra. They were looking for a bride for Matali's son Gomukha. For details see The city of Hiranyapura.

Here in these regions called Patala is that spacious and celebrated city of cities, called Hiranyapura, of the Daityas and Danavas, possessing a hundred diverse kinds of illusion. It hath been built with great care by the divine artificer, and planned by the Danava Maya. Many Danavas lived here, exhibiting a thousand different kinds of illusion.

They were incapable of being vanquished by Sakra (Indra) or any other celestial. Here dwell, Those Asuras called Kalakhanjas and those Rakshasas also called Yatudhanas. All of them are endued with frightful teeth, terrible impetus, the speed and prowess of the wind, and great energy depending on powers of illusion. Besides these, another class of Danavas called Nivatakavachas, who are invincible in battle, have their abode here. Thou knowest how Sakra is unable to vanquish them.

Many times, O Matali, thou, with thy son Gomukha, and Indra with his son, had to retreat before them. Behold their homes, O Matali, that are all made of silver and gold, and well-adorned with decorations done according to the rules of art. All those mansions are decked with lapis lazuli and corals, and made effulgent with the lustre of the Arka-sphatika (solar-glass), and the radiance of gem called Vajrasara. And many of those palatial residences seem, as if, they have been made of the shine of these gems called Padmaragas, or of bright marble, or of excellent wood. And they are also possessed of the radiance of the sun, or blazing fire.

And all the edifices, adorned with gems and jewels, are very high and stand close to another. Of spacious proportions and great architectural beauty, it is impossible to say of what material these mansions are built or to describe their style of beauty. Indeed, they are exceedingly beautiful in consequence of their decorations. Behold these retreats of the Daityas for recreation and sport, these beds of theirs for sleep, these costly utensils of theirs set with precious stones, and these seats also for their use. Behold these hills of theirs, looking like clouds, those fountains of water, these trees also that move of their own will and that yield all fruits and flowers that one may ask.

Here when Narada asks Matali to search for a bride, Matali replied:- "It behoveth me not to do anything that may be disagreeable to dwellers of heaven. The Devas (gods) and the Danavas, though brothers, are ever at hostility with each other. How can I, therefore, make an alliance with those that are our enemies?" This vindicates our analysis that the Daityas, Danavas and Devas shared close kinship.

 

Battles between Maya and Indra

As a corroboration of the battles mentioned in Rigveda between Maya and Indra we have some of them mentioned in Mahabharata, Bhishma Parva (Book 6):- (6.101) Routing that large army and causing many mighty car-warriors to tremble, he gladdened his friends like Vasava gladdening the celestials after vanquishing Maya. (6.102) The son of Subhadra then, in that battle, with his straight shafts, obliged the Rakshasa to turn his back upon the field, like Sakra repulsing Maya in days of old. (6.111) And they encountered each other in dreadful battle like Maya and Sakra in days of old.

This is also repeated in Drona Parva (Book 7), where the battle is mentioned as between Maya and Vishnu:- (7.172) Seizing then that gigantic prince of Rakshasas, viz, Alamvusha, who thus struggled with him, he pressed him down on the earth, like Vishnu slaying the Asura Maya in battle.

In Shalya Parva (Book 9) Bhima and Duryodhana about to commence a dual fight with mace is compared to Indra and Maya (9.53).

 

The space-cities created by Maya

For more details see The Three Space Cities

The three Daityas, sons of Asura Taraka (the one belonging to the stars) named Tarakaksha (the star-eyed one), Kamalaksha (the lotus-eyed one) and Vidyunmalin (the one adorned with electricity) asked Danava Maya, who was respected by Daityas and Danavas alike, to make three space-cities for them. Then Maya, of great intelligence, by the aid of his own ascetic merit, constructed three cities, one of which was of gold, another of silver, and the third of black iron. The golden city was set in heaven, the silver city in the welkin, and the iron city was set on the Earth, all in such a way as to revolve in a circle.

Each of those cities measured a hundred yojanas in breadth and a hundred in length. And they consisted of houses and mansions and lofty walls and porches. And though teeming with lordly palaces close to each other, yet the streets were wide and spacious. And they were adorned with diverse mansions and gate-ways. Each of those cities had a separate king. The beautiful city of gold belonged to the illustrious Tarakaksha: the silver city to Kamalaksha, and the iron one to Vidyunmalin. Maya became the supplier of every thing they wanted. Whoever amongst those residing in the triple city wished for any object in his heart had his wish fulfilled by Maya aided by the latter's powers of illusion.

 

The lake that can revive the wounded and dead

Hari, son of Tarakaksha, created a lake in his city that was capable of reviving the dead. In whatever form and whatever guise a Daitya might have been slain by means of weapons, if thrown into that lake, he was restored to life, in the self-same form and guise and with redoubled strength.

 

Destruction of the cities

The Asuras in these cities began to shamelessly exterminate the cities and towns established all over the universe. Sakra, surrounded by the Maruts, battled against the three cities by hurling his thunder upon them from every side. However, Purandra failed to pierce those impenetrable cities. The cities were finally destroyed by Siva with a single projectile weapon shot from Earth, while they came aligned in a straight line, while in their respective circular orbits:- (8.34) Then Sarva, having stringed his bow and aimed that shaft with which he had united the Pasupata weapon, waited thinking of the triple city. The three cities during that time became united losing their separate characters. Siva, then drawing that celestial bow, sped that shaft which represented the might of the whole universe, at the triple city. They began to fall down towards the Earth. Burning those Asuras, he threw them down into the Western ocean.

 

Maaya

Mahabharata also contains extensive mention of the concept of Maaya (illusion) used in the sense of the divine illusion that deludes all the sentient beings giving them a sense of living in a universe. These references are found in Book 12 and 13 (Santi and Anusasana Parvas) which are huge philosophical discourses and well known as later additions. Some examples are as follows:- (12.47) Salutations to thee in thy form as Maya illusion! (12.231) Then the original Creator of all beings, having by his Maya divided Himself, enters that subtile form for surveying or overlooking everything. (12.248) Thou art concealed in consequence of being invested with Maya or illusion. (12.320) .. the seventeenth and the eighteenth principles called Prakriti and Vyakti ie, Maya and Prakasa. (12.320)… the four together viz, Purusha and his Maya and Jiva and Avidya. (13.17) consciousness endued with Maya. (13.149) …the deity that overwhelms the universe with His Maya (illusion).


 http://ancientvoice.wikidot.com/article:maya-in-mahabharata

Other Indian Tribes in America

 This article is a part of a series of articles on individuals described in the Vedas, Epics and Puranas, with the name 'Maya' and related concepts like 'Maaya'. Their connection with the Meso American Mayans too is explored in detail. Read the main article:- Danava Maya and Mayans of America.

 

Yakshas

Yakshas were an ancient Indian tribe, similar to the Mayan tribe with a pan-Indian presence. They were present in Tibet, the Himalayas, the Western Mountains (now in Pakistan), Narmada valley and in Southern India. The Yakshas of Tibet, living around mountain Kailasa and Manasarovar controlled the northern trade routes (predecessors of later day Silk routes), where rich mountain goods were traded. Through the sea ports in Dwaraka, Vanga, Southern India and Lanka (Srilanka) they traded these goods to distant lands crossing all the major Oceans. The southern Yakshas controlled the sea-ports in Southern India and Lanka.

 

South Indian Yaksha territory

From the analysis of Valmiki Ramayana, we have already seen the presence of Yakshas in southern India during Ramayana era (reign of Rama and Ravana). There they inhabited the Malaya mountains (southern portion of Western Ghats of India) that lies along Kerala-Tamilnadu, Kerala-Karnataka boarder. We have also explored the possibility of them having their sea port at Kanyakumari, where Malaya mountain terminates at the sea shore of Indian Ocean, close to Mahendragiri.

This territory of southern-Yakshas (Dakshina-Yaksha / Ten-Yaksha / Yaksha-Ten / Yaksha-Dakshina) lied to the west of Chola territories and to the immediate west of Maya's cavities / cave networks (Vellore-Selam-Madurai-Kanyakumari).

 

Yucatan, the Yaksha territory in Meso America

It is interesting to note that there existed a Yaksha territory in Meso America as well, which was considered as a part of the ancient Mayan cultural region in Meso America. There are many territorial entities with names resembling Yaksha, Yaksha-Desa (Yaksha Country), Ten-Yaksha, Yaksha-Ten, Yaksha-Dakshina, Yaksha-Deccan, Yaksha-Tekkan (southern Yaksha) here such as Yucatan one of the 31 states of Mexico and Yucatan Peninsula. These territories are located in South Eastern Mexico along the Atlantic coast.

The Yucatán Peninsula comprises a significant proportion of the ancient Maya Lowlands (although the Maya culture extended south of the Yucatán Peninsula, through present Guatemala and into Honduras and highland Chiapas). There are many Maya archaeological sites throughout the peninsula; some of the better-known are Chichen Itza, Tulum and Uxmal. Indigenous Maya and Mestizos of partial Maya descent make up a sizable portion of the region's population, and Mayan languages are widely spoken here.

People inhabiting in this region seems to be of a mixed descend that emerged from the Yaksha and Maya tribes who reached here from the ancient sea-ports of southern India, crossing the Oceans in huge ships, following each other.

 

Yaksha king Kubera

The king of the Yakshas is mentioned as Kubera (Kuvera, Vaishravana) in ancient Indian texts. There were many places mentioned in ancient Indian sub-continent with Kubera's name both in south and north. Thus there were southern Yakshas as well as northern Yakshas, with some tribal kinship existing between them. The place name Khyber, which now appear as the name of a mountain pass in Afganistan-Pakistan boarder is derived from Kubera, the king of the Yakshas. Kubera's presence in Kailasa (mount Kailas, Tibet), Manasa sara (Manasarovar, Tibet) and Himalaya mountains is also well attested in the epics and Puranas. As per Ramayana he ruled at Lanka (Srilanka). When Rakshasa king Ravana rose to power in Lanka (during the reign of Rama), Kubera retreated to his territories in Malaya mountains of southern India (which is wrongly described as Himalaya mountains in Ramayana due to the tribal connections of southern Yakshas and northern Yakshas). Today, Yaksha tribe is known by the name Yakka, Yakha, Yakhu, Yak, Yaka, Yasha etc in Srilanka (ancient Lanka), Nepal (Himalaya) and southern Tibet (Kailasa).

 

Kambojas

Kambojas were an ancient Indian tribe mentioned in Mahabharata and Ramayana and in many Puranas. Their territories were spread in Kashmir, north-West Pakistan and the north and west of it. They were sometimes mentioned as an Asura clan. They have taken part in Kurukshetra War described in Mahabharata, siding with the Kuru king Duryodhana.

 

Khyber and Kamboja

It is interesting to note that the Khyber pass is named after Yaksha Kubera. In ancient times he controlled the trade goods passing through the trade routes passing through this mountain and earned enormous wealth. Thus he earned the title 'the Lord of the Riches'. Khyber pass falls in ancient Kamboja territories. The Kambojas had trade relations with the Yakshas in Tibet as well as sea ports in Dwaraka, Vanga and southern India (some of which belonged to the southern Yakshas).

 

Kamboja in Meso America

Naturally if the Mayans and Yakshas who coexisted in India (especially in the sea-faring southern India) we would expect the Kambojas too follow them and reach Meso America. Surprisingly we find them in Campeche another Mexican state bordering Yucatan. Campeche lies to the south west of Yucatan. Even the trade route of the Kambojas to Meso America along Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean is traceable as a South East Asian country is named after Kamboja, viz. Kampochia / Kambodjia / Camobodia. Kamboja traders from India first settled in Cambodia, giving the land its name and then moved to Meso America where it gave Campeche state of Mexico its name.

 

Local Etymology

As per some Western scholars the name of Campeche is derived from the Mayan name of a settlement called “Ah-Kin-Pech” where the city of Campeche is now. The original mean “place of snakes and ticks". This is inaccurate and seems to be a locally derived etymology when the original name 'Kamboja' is lost from memory, a phenomenon not uncommon in many parts of the world as well.

 

Known History (Western Version)

The first people to dominate the state were the Mayas, who arrived to Campeche from Guatemala (Ketumala), Honduras and Chiapas. The main Mayan cities were Edzna, Xtampak, and later Calakmul and Becán. The Mayan civilization reached it height between 600 and 900 CE. From 1000 on, the Mayan cities collapsed and were abandoned for unknown reasons. This led to the establishment of smaller settlements and a mixing of the Mayan and Chontal people in the south of the state, which had commercial ties to the central highland cultures of Mexico. From the 11th century to the 16th century, Campeche was divided into smaller dominions.

 

Patala and the Seven Talas

The epics and Puranas describe several vast inhabited continent sized regions called 'Talas'. There are seven Talas identified with what is now known as the seven continents. Among them Rasatala is identifiable with Africa (especially its eastern coast). Patala is identifiable with South America and Meso America. Sutala is identified with Australia (especially its northern western coast) and South East Asia, also known as Suvarna Tala and Suvarna Bhumi (the Golden region). Vitala is the rest of Asia. Talatala is identified with Antartica and Mahatala with North America.

Atala is identifiable with Europe and Atalanta ('Atala' 'anta', the end of Atala) with the western boundary of Europe including some inhabited islands in Atlantic Ocean. One among such island in Atlantic ocean was inhabited by people with advanced civilization, called Atlantis which as per Greek sources, later submerged. The name of this island called 'Atlantis', the name of 'Atlantic Ocean', the place names like 'Atlanta', the name of Greek god 'Atlas' - all of these are derived from the Sanskrit word 'Atala' denoting a vast region known to ancient Indians which is now known as Europe.

Patala is mentioned as a vast region with plenty of precious metals like gold, silver and copper. Ancient Indian sea-traders reached Patala (South America) in search of these. There are places in America where these metals are found in abundance. Argentina (in South America) got its name because of its silver mines. Silver in Sanskrit is called 'Arjuna' (from which its scientific Latin name 'Argentum') is derived. 'Arjuna' means, 'shining white'. There is an island called Copper Island (Kupari-saari)- a local name given to the northern part of the Keweenaw Peninsula (projecting northeastward into Lake Superior at the western end of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, United States of America. Saari means an island inside a Saras (Lake). Some copper mines in America was in use even in 3000 BCE period (post Mahabharata period in ancient India). There were plenty of gold mines too in both north and south America.

 

Balis

There were many kings in ancient India who assumed the title 'Bali' or possessed the tribal name 'Bali' (alternatively pronounced as Vali). Bali means 'the powerful' in Sanskrit. Many kings with the name 'Bali' ruled in the western and eastern coastal regions of India. The territory of Bali kings thus was spread in the coastal region of Indian peninsula. They engaged in sea trade and extended their power into Indian Ocean and into territories lying in Indian Ocean such as South East Asia (Baali) and Eastern Africa.

 

Western Bali: Mahabali

One of the prominent king named Bali was Maha-bali. He was the son of Virochana and grandson of Prahlada and the great grandson of Daitya Hiranyakasipu. He ruled the western sea shore of ancient Indian Sub-continent, from Baluchistan in the north to Kerala in the south. He is still revered as a great king by people of Kerala, in south western India, where every year they celebrate a festival named 'Onam' (Sravanam) to commemorate Mahabali. Subsequent to the expansion of Kashyapa tribe from Kashmir, his tribe later moved to Rasatala (Africa, especially the eastern coast). The territorial names like Bali (a province in Ethiopia in East Africa] and others in Somalia are the result of the presence of the Bali tribe in Rasatala.

They later seems to have migrated to the western shores of Africa as well (Bali, Nigeria, Bali city in Cameroon).

 

Astronomical significance of Onam

In Kerala, Onam is celebrated when the Moon is at the star Sravana during the month when Sun is in the constellation of Leo (skt. Simha, mal. Chingam). People of Kerala, Malayalis, celebrate New Year on the day when the sun enters the constellation of Leo following a calender named 'Kolla Varsham'. The current version of this calender started in common era 825 CE (the year of death of the famous sage Sankaracharya / the date when the city Kollam is reopened after it was destroyed due to a natural disaster). However this calendar is the remnant of a much ancient calender established when Vernal Equinox was in the constellation of Leo, around 10,500 BCE to 8000 BCE.

Almost all of the ancient cultures design their calenders such that they start their years with Vernal Equinox when day and nights will be equal in duration so that it is easy to mark the beginning of the year. But the Vernal Equinox shift from constellation to constellation due to Precession of Earth's axis which take 25,772 years to complete one revolution, traversing 1 degree in around 72 years, and one constellation (30 degrees) in around 2148 years.

Around 10,500 BCE is also the period arrived at by Graham Hancock and Robert Bauval as the date when the Great Pyramid and the Sphinx were constructed in Egypt. Since I identify Rasatala with east coast of Africa, it follows that the civilization that created these structures could be belonging to the Asura Daitya tribe of Mahabali (his predecessors or successors). Africa (including Egypt) also falls midway to Patala (identified with South America and Meso America) which was the final destination of Mahabali as per the Onam myth. As per this myth Mahabali was sent to Rasatala and Patala by a Kasyapa sage named Vamana who famously measured the Earth in three strides (an allusion to the cartographic measurement of the surface of Earth marking its longitude and latitude).

Kerala has yet another calender with New Year (named Vishu, Vaishakhi) celebrated on the day when sun is in the middle of constellation of Aries (skt. Mesha, mal. Medam) around April 15. This calender is the remnant of another ancient calender system when Vernal Equinox was in the middle of constellation of Aries (corresponding to 3100 BCE). Modern Western Astrology which which considers Aries as the first constellation, originated in 2150 BCE in Greece. India's national calender, (current version:- Saka Era which started at 78 CE) too consider Aries as the first constellation of the year.

 

Vaanara Baali

It is speculated that Vanara Baali (Vaali) mentioned in Valmiki Ramayana as the brother of Vanara Sugriva is a member of the Bali tribe. Baali is mentioned as the son of Indra. As per my analysis Indras are many who ruled as kings at various time at various places, belonging to various tribe. A king of the Sivi kingdom is mentioned as one among the many Indras. Mahabali is also considered as one among the many Indras. Hence Baali could as well be a descendant or son of Mahabali.

 

Eastern Bali

Another king Bali is mentioned as ruling in Bihar, Bengal, Orissa region as per Mahabharata. His descendants were mentioned as the founders of the five famous kingdoms of ancient India:- Anga (in Bihar), Vanga (in west Bengal), Kalinga (in Orissa), Pundra (in Bangladesh) and Suhma (in Bangladesh). The descendants of this Bali have moved to South East Asia using sea ports of Vanga and Kalinga. The Indonesian island Bali bears the name of ancient territories of Bali in SE Asia. The Bali tribe seems to have also reached China attested by the names like Bali in China.

 

Belize: Balis in Meso America

Following other tribes like the Mayas, the Nagas, the Yakshas, the Balis too reached Meso America. Their territory became later known as Belize. To the south of it was Ketumala (Gautemala) a prominent geographical territory described in the epics and Puranas of ancient India which describe the geography of the whole world known to ancient Indians. The etymology of the name Belize using the native Maya word belix, meaning "muddy water" is purely artificial and a later invention.

 

Migration of Bali tribes from India to America

Belize has a sizeable proportion of Africans from the ancient Kingdom of Kongo, who could have brought the name with them, as there is a Belize in Angola as well. This indicate it was the Bali tribe of western India who came by circumventing the Eastern and Western coast of Africa and crossing the Atlantic Ocean, who dominated Belize rather than the Eastern Bali who came by SE Asia and the Pacific Ocean.

 

Virochana Viracocha Connection

Among the Incas (another ancient civilization in Americas besides Mayan) in the west coast of South America there is a god by the name Viracocha who is none other than Asura Virochana, the father of king Mahabali. Viracocha is the great creator god in the pre-Inca and Inca mythology.
See:- Virochana in Atharva Veda, Virochana in Ramayana, Virochana in Mahabharata, Virochana in Vishnu Purana.

In Sanskrit the name 'Virochana' means 'the bright one', 'the shining one', 'illuminating one', 'light', luster' etc. This name is used to denote sun, moon and fire. It is also used as the name of sun-god. Virochana is also the fifth in descend from Pitamaha Brahma (Spitama in Avesta):- Brahma - 1.Daksha - 2.Diti - 3.Hiranyakasipu - 4.Prahrada - 5.Virochana and thus is the Fifth Sun. Thus Virochana was a contemporary of Zara-tushtra, who is mentioned as fifth in descent from Spitama as per Avesta.

 

Arrival of Virochana in South America

Viracocha was one of the most important deities in the Inca pantheon and seen as the creator of all things, or the substance from which all things are created, and intimately associated with the sea. This is because Virochana reached South America from India crossing the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean.

 

Virochana established Inca civilization

Viracocha created the universe, sun, moon and stars, time (by commanding the sun to move over the sky)[3] and civilization itself. Viracocha was worshipped as god of the sun and of storms. He was represented as wearing the sun for a crown, with thunderbolts in his hands, and tears descending from his eyes as rain. He wandered the earth disguised as a beggar, teaching his new creations the basics of civilization, as well as working numerous miracles. He wept when he saw the plight of the creatures he had created. This indicate the huge effort Virochana had to make to establish a civilization in South America.

 

Characteristics of Virochana

Viracocha was described as "a man of medium height (in some narrations, tall), white and dressed in a white robe like an alb secured round the waist, and that he carried a staff and a book in his hands". Spanish chroniclers from the 16th century claimed that when the conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro first encountered the Incas they were greeted as Gods, "Viracochas", because their lighter skin resembled their God Viracocha.

It is possible that Virochana indeed had a lighter skin color since he belonged to Asura Daitya tribe. But the "whiteness" here need not be mere skin color but could as well represent Virochana's role as a sun-god, who was often hailed as 'the bright one', 'the shining one', 'illuminating one', 'light', luster' etc.

 

Virochana's descendants in South America

In one legend he had one son, Inti, and two daughters, Mama Quilla and Pachamama. In this legend, he destroyed the people around Lake Titicaca with a Great Flood called Unu Pachakuti, saving two to bring civilization to the rest of the world, these two beings are Manco Cápac, the son of Inti (sometimes taken as the son of Viracocha), which name means "splendid foundation", and Mama Ocllo, which means "mother fertility". These two founded the Inca civilization carrying a golden staff, called ‘tapac-yauri’. In another legend, he fathered the first eight civilized human beings. In some stories, he has a wife called Mama Cocha.

In another legend, Viracocha had two sons, Imahmana Viracocha and Tocapo Virachocha. After the Great Flood and the Creation, Viracocha sent his sons to visit the tribes to the Northeast and Northwest to determine if they still obeyed his commandments. Viracocha himself traveled North. During their journey, Imaymana and Tocapo gave names to all the trees, flowers, fruits and herbs. They also taught the tribes which of these were edible, which had medicinal properties, and which were poisonous. Thus it is clear that Virochana's children spread the Inca civilization in South America.

 

Return of Virochana to India

Eventually, Viracocha, Tocapo and Imahmana arrived at Cuzco (in modern day Peru) and the Pacific seacoast where they walked across the water until they disappeared. It seems Virochana and his son sailed back to India.

 

Symmetry of Onam myth with Viracocha myth

In Kerala, as per Onam myth, a great king and leader of the people (viz. Asura Mahabhali, the son of Virochana) leaves his south western Indian coastal territory and goes to Rasatala and Patala. As if complementing this myth we have in South America and Meso America the myth of Viracocha arriving there from a far away land beyond the oceans and becoming their king / leader of people / god / builder of civilization. The Kerala myth also states that Mahabali will rule at Rasatala and Patala (identified as Africa and Americas respectively) like Indra as a great ruler and we see that was exactly Viracocha did in the Americas.

Thus it is possible that Viracocha of the Americas was none other than 'Asura Mahabali Virochana Putra' (Asura Mahabali, the son of Virochana) which got abbreviated as Viracocha.

There is also evidence for Mahabali's intermediate presence in Africa (Rasatala) in the Egyptian myth of Osiris. The Egyptian god Osiris is mentioned as the main god who brought civilization to Egypt from a far away land beyond the eastern shore / eastern ocean from a south eastern direction. The name 'Osiris' could be an abbreviation of the name 'Asura' the tribal appellation of Mahabali.

 

Ketumala

Ketumala is a geographical region mentioned extensively in Mahabharata and Vishnu Purana as an important region in the world known to ancient Indians. It is mentioned as a western region (indicative of America). It is mentioned as among the four continental regions known to ancient Indians as inhabited by people like them:- Bhadraswa (South East Asia), Ketumala (Americas), Jamvudwipa (Indian Sub-Continent), and Uttar-Kuru (Rest of Asia to the north of India). The remnant of the name Ketumala as applied to America is seen in the name Guatemala, a Meso American country, which was part of the Mayan cultural region.

As per Western historians the origin of the name "Guatemala" is unclear, but several theories exist. "Guatemala" is derived from "Goathemala," which means "the land of the trees" in the Maya-Toltec language. Another theory is that it comes from the Nahuatl expression "Cuauhtitlan," meaning "between the trees". All of these etymologies are incorrect and pales in comparison to the etymology derived from the Sanskrit territorial name Ketumala, applied to the Americas.

 

Uraga Uruguay connection

Uraga is an ancient Naga (snake worshiping) tribe mentioned in Mahabharata and other ancient Indian texts. There presence in Kashmir (with place names like Uri) and in Southern India is well attested in these texts. They were a sea-faring tribe like many Naga tribes. Their presence in South America is attested by the name of the country Uruguay.

 

Gaya and Apara Gaya in South America

Gaya was another Asura tribe mentioned in ancient Indian scriptures. An Asura by the name Gayasura belonging to this tribe is mentioned as ruling from a territory in what is now Bihar state of India. Currently the place name Gaya is a remnant of this territory. The Gaya-Asura tribe seems to have reached South America forming two kingdoms one (Gaya) in the east of South America and other to its west (Apara Gaya).

The name of two countries Guyana and Paraguay bears the name of ancient Gaya and Apara-Gaya (meaning the other Gaya or the western Gaya) in South America. Guyana is the ancient Gaya of America and Paraguay is the ancient Apara Gaya of America.

http://ancientvoice.wikidot.com/article:other-indian-tribes-in-america

Indian Maayans And The Meso American Maayans

 This article is a part of a series of articles on individuals described in the Vedas, Epics and Puranas, with the name 'Maya' and related concepts like 'Maaya'. Their connection with the Meso American Mayans too is explored in detail. Read the main article:- Danava Maya and Mayans of America

 

Indian Maayans and the Meso American Maayans

It is impossible to ignore the etymological similarity of Maya with the Maayans of Meso America. The Mayan civilization is known for their astronomical systems (like the Mayan calender) and predictions based on them.

There are also many direct and indirect evidence showing the interaction of ancient Indians with Meso America through ancient sea-trade networks in huge Indian ships capable of carrying 500 or more people. Besides this, Human Genome Project shows a north-eastern migration starting from India, through Tibet, Mongolia, Russia, North America, Meso America and South America.Analyzing the ancient Indian literature, this migration could be identified with the Naga-Suparna, Danava-Deva migration from ancient India in the north-eastern direction mentioned in the Indian scriptures.

 

Factors favoring Indian origin of Meso American Maayans

Ancient Indian culture is the only culture containing extensive reference to Maya (skt.), Maaya (skt.) and Mayan (tamil). Reference of Maya is found in Sanskrit and Tamil literature. The total number of individual references to Maya and Maaya numbers more than 200. The total number of passages describing Maya in these texts would be equal or greater than those found in the literature of Meso American Mayans themselves. Ancient India is the place of origin of decimal system and the number zero allowing astronomical calculations for which both ancient Indians and Meso American Mayans are famous for. Their calanders are better than Gregorian calender in accuracy and in antiquity (starting since around 3100 BCE, around 5100 years old).

Indian ships were capable of navigating long distances in Indian ocean, which could easily take them to Meso America, creating settlements there. Plenty of architectural and cultural similarities exist in Meso American and Indian culture, such as similarities in temple architecture, Naga (serpent) worship, cyclic concept of time, calenders starting precisely around 3100 BCE and many more.

 

Ancient Indian's skill in Sea Navigation

Baron Alexander von Humbolt an eminent European scholar and anthropologist, was one of the first to postulate the Asiatic origin of the Indian civilizations of the Americas.

 

Ancient Indian ships in Pacific ocean

Dr. Robert Heine Geldern anthropologist, has written that: "Those who believe the ancient peoples of Asia were incapable of crossing the ocean have completely lost sight of what the literary sources tell us concerning their ships and their navigation. Many of the peoples of Southeastern Asia had adopted Indian Hindu-Buddhist civilizations. The influences of the Hindu-Buddhist culture of southeast Asia in Mexico and particularly, among the Maya, are incredibly strong, and they have already disturbed some Americanists who don't like to see them but cannot deny them."

"Ships that could cross the Indian Ocean were able to cross the Pacific too. Moreover, these ships were really larger and probably more sea-worthy than those of Columbus and Magellan."

 

Ships from India to China

Dr Baron Robert Freiherr von Heine Geldern (1885 - 1968) and Gordon F. Ekholm (1909 - 1987):- "Ships of size that carried Fahien from India to China (through stormy China water) were certainly capable of proceeding all the way to Mexico and Peru by crossing the Pacific. One thousand years before the birth of Columbus Indian ships were far superior to any made in Europe up to the 18th century."

 

Ships, world maps and geographic surveys

Buddhist Jataka stories wrote about large Indian ships carrying seven hundred people. In the Artha Sastra, Kautilya wrote about the Board of Shipping and the Commissioner of Port who supervised sea traffic. The Harivamsa informs that the first geographical survey of the world was performed during the period of Vaivasvata. The towns, villages and demarcation of agricultural land of that time were charted on maps. Brahmanda Purana provides the best and most detailed description of world map drawn on a flat surface using an accurate scale. Padma Purana says that world maps were prepared and maintained in book form and kept with care and safety in chests.

 

Ancient Indian presence in other parts of the world

 

Greece

Edward Pococke (1604–1691) English Orientalist has asserted that Greek civilization, is a local variation of an Indian culture taken to Greece by early colonists from India. This inference can also be derived by making a comparison of Iliad and Odyssey with Mahabharat and Ramayana, where we find continuation of the Danava tribe mentioned in Mahabharata, migrated to Turkey and Greece as the Danaans mentioned extensively in the Greek texts. See my analysis here

 

Peru

Edward Pococke has also written that the:"The Peruvians and their ancestors, the Indians, are in this point of view at once seen to be the same people.". Sir William Jones (1746-1794) opined:- "Rama is represented as a descendant from the sun, as the husband of Sita, and the son of a princess named Causelya. It is very remarkable that Peruvians, whose Incas boasted of the same descent, styled their greatest festival Rama-Sitva; whence we may take it that South America was peopled by the same race who imported into the farthest of parts of Asia the rites and the fabulous history of Rama."

 

Mexico

Ephraim George Squier (1821-1888) comparing the temples of India, Java and Mexico, wrote nearly a hundred years ago: "a proper examination of these monuments would disclose the fact that in their interior as well as their exterior form and obvious purposes, these buildings (temples in Palanque, Mexico) correspond with great exactness to those of Hindustan…" Squier further wrote: "The Buddhist temples of Southern India, and of the islands of the Indian Archipelago, as described to us by the learned members of the Asiatic Society and the numerous writers on the religious and antiquities of the Hindus, correspond with great exactness in all their essential and in many of their minor features with those of Central America."

 

Java

Sir Stamford Raffles (1781-1826):- "the great temple of Borobudur in Java might readily be mistaken for a Central American temple."

 

Alaska and Mexico

Professor Fredrick W Putnam (1839 - 1915):- He found in the jungles of Honduras a sculpture which greatly resembles Buddha. According to the July, 1901 issue of American Harper's Magazine, it has been proved with evidence that five Buddhist monks had reached Mexico in ancient times, via Alaska.

 

Similarity in calenders

B.G. Sidharth:- "It is also interesting to note that the Mayan calendar began with a date around 3112 B.C., very close to the Hindu traditional beginning of the Kali Yuga/Age viz., 3102 B.C."

Mayan calendar depend on planet Venus (Sukra, the Asura Guru) while Indian calender depend on planet Jupiter (Brihaspati, the Deva Guru). This is the reason why in India the festival Kumbhamela is celebrated once in 12 years when Jupiter enters the sign of Kumbha (Aquarius).

In the “Brahma-Vaivarta Purana”, Krishna tells Ganga that a Rta Yuga will come after the Kali Yuga 5,000 years after the beginning of the Kali Yuga. It is interesting that this prediction of the emergence of a new world is prophesied to appear about the same time that the Mayans predicted it to come! The Mayan calendar began with the Fifth Great Cycle in 3114 BC and will end on 21 December 2012 AD. The Hindu Kali Yuga calendar began on 18 February 3102 B.C. There is only a difference of 12 years between the Hindu's beginning of the Kali Yuga and the Mayan's beginning of the Fifth Great Cycle.

The ancient Indians used both lunar calendars solar calendars. An average lunar year equals 354.36 days. This would be about 5270 lunar years from the time when the Kali Yuga started until 21 Dec 2012. This is the same year that the Mayans predict rebirth of our planet. It is also about 5113 solar years of 365.24 days per year, and is day number 1,867,817 into the Kali Yuga. By either solar or lunar years, we are over 5,000 years into the Kali Yuga and it is time for Krishna's prophecy to happen according to the ancient Hindu scriptures. It is amazing that both calendars began at about the same time over 5,000 years ago and both calendars predict a totally new world and/or golden age after about 5,000 years into their calendars!
This could mark a new awakening of India (Bharata) which will once again start to recollect its ancient glory as if waking up from a dream and start the foundations for a new age of knowledge and scientific temper.

http://ancientvoice.wikidot.com/article:indian-maayans-and-the-meso-american-maayans

Kalachakra

 

The Vedas, Epics and Puranas of ancient India describe an interesting concept of time called Kaalachakra, the wheel of time. This wheel of time is conceived as having twelve spokes indicating twelve points of time measurement on the wheel of time. Close examination of the imagery reveals that this concept is related to the Yuga System and used for various kinds of time measurements in ancient India. The same wheel of time is used to measure hours in a day, months and seasons in a year and large units of time like Yugas, which appear like seasons lasting for thousands of years as part of the 25,776 years long "Great Year" resulting from the precession of Earth's Axis of Rotation.

 

The Twelve Spoked Wheel of Time

 

The twelve spoked wheel of time (Kaalachakra). Twelve divisions are named with zodiac signs for easy comparison with Western Systems. The Pisces-Aquarius transition base-lined at 2012 CE

 

Motions of Sun

The twelve spoked wheel of time (Kaalachakra) is mentioned extensively in Rig Veda and other Vedas. Vedic seers used to make observations of the sky with this framework called the wheel of time in their mind. For this they closely observe the path of the sun through the sky and locate its position in the sky

 

Observations from the South and North of India

Close to Equator in Southern India, the Sun traverse a path close to celestial equator, rising in the east and setting in the west, reaching zenith at noon. Besides this daily motion, Sun also makes a pendulum like motion on an yearly basis moving northwards and southwards clearly observable in northern India, 35 degrees north of equator. Ancient Indian astronomers, which includes many Vedic seers in northern and southern India, knew very well the reasons for all these movements. They were aware that Earth is a sphere moving around sun in an year, with a tilted axis, where it rotates once a day and that the axis of rotation itself will make one turn in around 26,000 years.

 

Depth of Knowledge of Ancient Astronomers

They knew that daily motion of sun in the sky is due to the rotation of Earth on its axis. They knew that yearly pendulum like motion of Sun in the sky to north and south is due to the yearly revolution of Earth in its orbit around Sun with a tilted axis of rotation. All these motions are partially confined in a band of region in celestial sky around 20 degrees north and south of the celestial equator. This band is called zodiac. It resembles the wheel of time (Kalachakra) and is one of the many aspect of the wheel of time, the other one being the orbit of the celestial pole in the sky. The zodiac is the region where the sun, moon and the five visible planets apparently wander in the sky of Earth. This region was of tremendous important for the ancient astronomers. It was divided into 12 constellations or regions where easily recognizable configurations of well known stars were defined. The twelve constellations were thus defined as stellar formations in the shape of fish, ram, bull, crab, lion, scorpion etc. These 12 constellations are Pisces (the fish), Aries (the ram), Taurus (the bull), Gemini (the twins), Cancer (the crab), Leo (the lion), Virgo (the virgin), Libra (the scales), Scorpio (the scorpion), Sagittarius (the archer), Capricorn (the sea animal) and Aquarius (the pot bearer). Each of these regions span around 30 degrees of the Zodiac wheel. These 12 regions are also called the 12 zodiacal signs and is one of the basis of astrology besides being fundamental to ancient astronomy.

The ancient astronomers also knew that the axis of rotation itself is slowly rotating, something which require many thousands of years of careful observation. All of these developments are already discussed in the article named Yugas.

 

The Daily Motion and Temperature Variations

Sun moves from eastern horizon to western horizon reaching zenith at noon. During zenith position sun's rays reach us perpendicularly and we feel maximum heat. During morning and evening sun's rays reach us with an inclination so that it travel a longer distance through atmosphere which dissipate much heat before it reach us. This changes create a smaller version of seasonal changes that we observe through out the year.

 

Yearly Motion and Yearly Seasons

The various seasons are the result of yearly motion of Sun in the terrestrial sky.

 

Uttarayana and Dakshinayana

The movement of Sun in the sky to the north is called Uttarayana. The movement of Sun in the sky to the south is called Dakshinayana. These apparent movements are due to the combined effect of Earth's motion in its orbit around Sun and due to the 23.5 degree tilt of Earth's Axis of Rotation. These motions are linked to the four important days of the year viz. Winter Solstice, Vernal Equinox, Autumnal Equinox and Summer Solstice. Uttarayana (northward motion of sun) commence after Winter Solstice day when northern hemisphere observe longest night. During Uttarayana at one point day and night becomes equal and that is Vernal Equinox day. Uttarayana ends at Summer Solstice day when the duration of night becomes lowest. After this Dakshinayana (southward motion of sun) begins. During Dakshinayana at one point day and night becomes equal again and that day is Autumnal Equinox day.

 

The Four Corners of the Sky

The position of sun against the background of stars in the sky, during all these four days viz. Winter Solstice, Vernal Equinox, Autumnal Equinox and Summer Solstice is considered as four crucial points in the zodiac. These four points constitute "the four corners of the sky". They are figuratively praised in the scriptures as the four great supports of the sky and as the four pillars that uphold the sky, due to obvious reasons.

 

The Six Seasons

When Sun moves to south and reach the southern most point in the celestial sky, Sun's rays reach earth obliquely. This reduces the amount of heat reaching northern hemisphere, due to reflection and refraction of sun's rays in the atmosphere. This generate a cold climate in northern hemisphere and causing winter season. Similarly when the Sun moves to north and reach the northern most point in the celestial sky, sun's rays fall in northern hemisphere perpendicularly causing maximum heat in northern hemisphere and thus summer season. In this way all the seasons are resulted from the motion of Sun and due to the resultant change in the energy distribution and energy flow in Earth's atmosphere.

The seasons are six in numbers (Shad Rtu, six seasons):- Vasanta (Spring:- February & March), Greeshma (Summer:- April & May), Varsha (Rains:- June & July) Sarath (Autumn:- August & September), Hemanta (Pre-Winter:- October & November) and Sishira (Winter:- December & January). The English months given are approximations. Seasons change widely in northern and southern India. Besides these seasons shift their temporal location in course of several centuries.

 

The Precessional Motion and the Shift of Seasons

Ancient Indian Astronomers including Vedic seers and Valakhilyas were keen observers of the motion of sun and were keepers of centuries long tradition of watching the movement of sun across the background of fixed stars and stellar constellations in the sky of Earth. They observe the position of Sun during Winter Solstice, Vernal Equinox, Autumnal Equinox and Summer Solstice in the background of the constellations observed in the sky. In a period of one or two years no change is noticeable. But in the course of a century, changes are noticeable. Due to the precessional motion (rotation of Earth's axis) the position of sun at Winter Solstice shift with respect to the stellar background by 1 degree in 71.6 years (length of the life of an average healthy human being). It traverses 30 degree or one zodiac-sign in 2148 years. It completes 360 degrees of one full circle of the zodiac in 25,776 years. This 25,776 years is figuratively called the Great Year, the Divine Year and One Year of the Devas.

Similarly all other points (Vernal Equinox, Summer Solstice and Autumnal Equinox) that constitute the "four corners of the sky" too shift following the Winter Solstice. Along with the four crucial points of the sky, all the six seasons too are shifted.

The shift progress in the anti-clockwise direction, ie instead of moving from Aries to Taurus to Gemini, they move from Aries to Pisces to Aquarius.

 

Calenders

Calenders are systems of time framework that help us to know what day of month it is and what month of an year it is. Calenders also count years from the year of start of the calender system. Examples of Calender systems are Shaka Calender established in 78 CE, Kolla Varsham Calender established (or rather re-established) in 825 CE, the Julian Calender established in 45 BCE and many more.

A 1 degree shift of Winter Solstice does not cause any disturbance in the calender system. But in a period of 2148 years (ie in around two millennia) the shift will be around 30 degrees, which is equivalent to one constellation in the sky and one month of an year. This is substantial change which makes all existing calenders useless. For example if one do not make any change in the existing calenders in 2148 years we will see that seasons are shifted by a month. For example, 2148 years in the past, ie in 136 BCE, Vernal Equinox occurred in April 21st instead of March 21st. Then spring started in January rather than in February.

Often calenders are designed such that Vernal Equinox is close to the beginning of the first month / first zodiacal sign. After 2148 years this no longer will be true, causing the astronomers to redesign their calenders. Some calenders adjust themselves to shift of equinoxes and solstices by changing the first month of the year. Some other calenders are discontinued and new calenders are adopted. Often the new-year date of discarded or destroyed calender is still remembered as a celebration. In some cases the practices followed in old calender continues to be part of some traditions though not attached to the active calender system.

 

A Calender with Pisces as the first month / sign

As an example of self-adjusting calender we have the astrological calender followed in Kerala, the southern state of India. In this calender the astrological year starts with Pisces (Meena) rather than with Aries (Mesha / Meda). Currently the Vernal Equinox is at the beginning of Pisces, ready to enter Aquarius. So it make sense to consider Pisces as the first zodiac sign or the first month.

 

A Calender with Leo as the first month

The Kolla Varsham calender in Kerala consider Leo (Simha / Chingam) as the first month of the year. Vernal Equinox was at the beginning of Leo, ready to enter into Cancer in around 8728 BCE. Thus this calender in Kerala is a remnant of an old calender that started in 8728 BCE when this region was ruled by a king named Mahabali. The first day of Chingam is considered as a New Year and the day when Moon in this month comes close to the star Sravana is celebrated as Onam a great festival associated with king Mahabali's return from his exile in Patala (South America).

 

Calenders with Aries as the first month / sign

 

Vishu Calender

Another New Year in Kerala is celebrated based on another calender in the month of Aries (Mesha / Meda) named Vishu or Vaishakhi. The date of this New Year usually falls in April 14, 15 or 16. It is now celebrated as an ancient Vernal Equinox. A Vernal Equinox in April 15 means it occurred 25 days later than March 21st (current date of Vernal Equinox). Since 365.25 days of the year corresponds to 360 degrees of the zodiac, 25 days corresponds to 24.64 degrees. One degree shift requires 71.6 years, so 24.64 degrees shift requires 1764.27 years. So Vernal Equinox was at April 15th 1764.27 years ago, ie in 247 CE. During this time Vernal Equinox point was still in Pisces but very close to the beginning of Aries. Hence the builders of calender in those days chose Aries as the first month and first zodiac sign. Arrival of calender start dates based on Gregorian calendar is not absolutely accurate because of errors in Gregorian - Julian calender and because of the Luni-Solar nature of the Vishu Calender due to which New Year day (Vishu) varies as April 14, 15 and 16.

As per Julian calender one year is 365.25 days. Gregorian calender corrected it as 365.2425. But Ancient Indian calenders were based on more accurate calculations which consider an year to be 365.2421756 days (only 1.4 seconds shorter than the modern scientific value of 365.2421904 days. See:- maya-s-theory-of-sun).

 

Western Astrology Calender

In some cases, the practices followed in old calender continues to be part of some traditions though not attached to the active calender system. For example in Western Astrology, Aries is considered as the first sign. Vernal Equinox was at the beginning of Aries ready to enter Pisces in around 136 BCE. This period was also the beginning of modern western astrology. There is a huge debate going on if the predictions based on western astrology needs to be shifted by a month. In my opinion, this depend on whether western astrologers want to base their predictions on the fixed zodiac or on the equinoxes and solstices which keep on moving around 1 degree every 72 years.

 

Nakshatra System

Much like the division of sky into 12 zodiac signs, the Nakshatra system is a unique division of sky into 27 parts using 27 easily identifiable stars in the zodiac, ie in the path of Sun, Moon and the planets. Some astronomers identify 26 and some others 28 such stars and hence the division of zodiac based on Nakshatra-system may vary from 26 to 30. In case of 26 Nakshatras, crossing of one Nakshatra region by Vernal Equinox will require close to a millennium (991.3846 years). In case of 27 Nakshatras, one division will span 13.3333 degrees (ie exactly 13 degrees and 1/3 degrees more, a more manageable fraction). When 30 Nakshatras are used one division will span exactly 12 degrees. The most popular Nakshatra system uses 27 Nakshatas. The system which provide ease of observation and which deals with more manageable fractions is preferred.

 

Yuga System

See More discussions on Yuga System in this series of articles:- Yugas

Kaalachakra with Yuga Chakra Inside. A refined Markandeya Yuga Chakra with Ascending and Descending Chaturyugas each with a duration of 12888 years is depicted. Negative Numbers are BCE years and Positive numbers are CE Years.

The Yuga System existed side by side with Nakshatra System (with its 27 divisions of zodiac) and with the Kalachakra system (with its 12 divisions of zodiac). But it has more to do with historical or geological epochs and less with astronomical observations. However the historical events expressed as having occurred in a particular Yuga may be fixed in time axis using astronomical observations. There are some indirect correlations with Yuga System and with Kalachakra (12 spoked wheel of time or zodiac).

 

Ascending and Descending Chatur Yugas

It has mainly four divisions called Rta Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dwapara Yuga and Kali Yuga. The divisions can be of equal size (1:1:1:1) or follow a ratio (4:3:2:1). The four Yugas together is called a Chatur-Yuga. In some definitions there are both ascending and descending Chatur Yugas. An Ascending Chaturyuga is defined starting with Kali Yuga, then Dwapara, Treta and Rta Yugas. After this the Descending Chaturyuga proceeds as Rta, Treta, Dwapara and Kali Yugas.

 

Duration of a Chatur Yuga

The duration of a Chatur Yuga varies based on the definition as 10,000 years (Sanjaya's Definition), 12,000 years (Markandeya's Definition) or 4,320,000 years (Shanti Parva Definition). Of this the 12,000 years Yuga defined by Markandeya is the one that aligns closely with the 25,776 year long axial precession if ascending and descending Chaturygas are taken together (a total of 24,000 years). Markandeya system also has the concept of dawn and eve. These are periods with 1/12th of the size of Yuga duration at the beginning and end of each Yuga were the effects of the adjacent Yuga too is felt. For example, the dawn and eve of Kali Yuga having 1200 years duration is 100 years each and that of Dvapara Yuga of 2400 years duration is 200 years each.

 

Reason for the 4.32 million long Chatur Yuga

In 4,320,000 year long Chatur Yuga definition 12,000 year long Markandeya Yuga duration is multiplied by 360 saying 360 human years constitute one year of the Devas. Actually what is meant here is that 360 degree motion of Vernal Equinox (ie one revolution of Vernal Equinox or one complete turn of axis of rotation due to precession) in 25,776 years constitute one Great Year, which can be figuratively described as One Divine Year or One Year of the Devas. But this does not require any multiplication of 12,000 years with 360. This error in the Shanti Parva of Mahabharata is copied into all Puranas including Vishnu Purana and Bhaagavata Purana. Currently many Hindus believe in this 4,320,000 year long Chatur Yuga in which current Yuga viz. Kali Yuga is thus unnecessarily and erroneously long (432,000 years long).

 

Refined Markandeya Yuga System

Markandeya Yuga system itself seems to be an approximation of the actual Chatur Yuga definition which was half the size of axial precession period (ie 12,888 years) so that ascending and descending Chatur Yuga will constitute one complete precession in 25,776 years. Such approximations are rampant in ancient Indian scriptures to facilitate easy memorization. For example the number 71.6 (the number of years taken for the Vernal Equinox to traverse 1 degree in its circular motion) is often approximated as 72 and is found in Vedic hymns.

A refined Markandeya Yuga Chakra with Ascending and Descending Chaturyugas each with a duration of 12888 years is depicted. Dawn and Eve of each Yuga is marked. Negative Numbers are BCE years and Positive numbers are CE Years.

 

Historical and Geological events in Yugas

The beginning and end of each Yuga is marked by an event especially the death or birth of a historical figure. The Descending Treta Yuga is marked by the death of Rama and the Descending Dwapara Yuga is marked by the death of Krishna. Birth of a king named Avikshit is mentioned as the beginning of Descending Treta Yuga. At the beginning and end of Descending Rta Yuga there were floods. There were floods in the beginning of the Descending Treta Yuga. Sarayu river that flows through Rama's city Ayodhya, was flooded during the end of Descending Treta Yuga. Dvaraka, the island city of Krishna was submerged due to flooding of sea water at the end of Descending Dwapara Yuga.

 

Saptarshi, the Seven Sages

Saptarshi is the name of a constellation near celestial pole and also the collective name of the seven sages who carries forward the secret of Kalachakra. This constellation also plays a role in the movement of the wheel of time as some of the stars in it becomes the pole-star due to the precessional movement. It is known as Big Dipper and Ursa Major (Great Bear) in western astronomy. The names of the seven sages differ based on the source text. Popular list include Bhrigu, Atri, Angirasa, Marichi, Pulastya, Pulalaha and Kratu. Sometimes Marichi is replaced by Vasistha and either Atri or Kratu replaced by Agastya.

 http://ancientvoice.wikidot.com/article:kalachakra