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

Kurukshetra: Legendary banyan tree under which Krishna believed to have delivered Bhagvad Gita is dying.

JYOTISAR (Kurukshetra): The legendary banyan tree under which Lord Krishna is believed to have delivered his message of “Bhagvad Gita” to Arjuna is dying a slow death, reported TIMES OF INDIA (TOI).

The legendary banyan tree under which Lord Krishna is believed to have delivered his message of "Bhagvad Gita" to Arjuna

Considered to be more than 5,000 years old, this tree at Jyotisar near Kurukshetra in Haryana is reportedly the only remaining relic from the time of the Mahabharata. Now, a tussle between the two claimants over the holy place on a puerile issue has left the tree completely neglected putting it on the verge of extinction.

TOI found that the area surrounding the tree has been covered with marble pavement and it can’t draw nutrients for its growth. Fancy lights and lamps are fitted with nails on the tree for lighting during night and big bells are tied all over it. The ‘holy thread’ tied by the visitors has covered most of the lower branches. Tying threads is considered to be wish-fulfilling. Sadly, chunks of branches were also chopped off recently by the caretakers without any expert advice.

The two stakeholders – Hindu Mission, a local religious body that has been taking care of the tree for years and the Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB) – are sparring over the ownership of the space where the tree is located.

The legendary banyan tree under which Lord Krishna is believed to have delivered his message of "Bhagvad Gita" to Arjuna

Pandit Sukhpal, who is currently taking care of the disputed portion on behalf of Hindu Mission, said, “We have been looking after the holy tree and even constructed a marble pavement for its upkeep. Our gardener prunes it from time to time.” Sukhpal added that there is no need of any scientific preservation of the tree because that would invite some ‘problem’ for this holy area, as the KDB would then levy fee on visit to this place.

When contacted, KDB curator Rajender Rana told TOI that for scientific assistance for maintenance of the tree, they had contacted officials at the Sunderbans in West Bengal, which has the largest forest cover of old trees in the world. He added that on receiving feedback from the Sunderbans, they had chalked out a plan for its preservation but the claim by some individuals over the area has prevented them from taking any concrete step.

A case between Hindu Mission and KDB is pending in the apex court, which has ordered to maintain status quo.

Agriculture scientist and plant pathologist of Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) Ludhiana, Dr Jagtar Dhiman said that any construction near such trees would restrain flow of nutrition required for its growth. He also added that as the roots of such trees expand in acres, it requires periodical treatment from pests and diseases. “Old branches of such trees are replaced by new if they are cut down scientifically,” Dhiman pointed out.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Bhagvad-Gita-banyan-tree-dying-in-Haryana/articleshow/14007134.cms

India climbs into top 10 wealth markets

NEW DELHI: India is poised to occupy the sixth position in the top 10 wealth markets this year after edging out Spain for 10th slot in 2011, says a report.
“Uncertainty about the future of the euro and the worsening of the sovereign crisis in Europe are predicted to cause continuing problems, but many emerging markets are expected to continue marching ahead,” according to Datamonitor’s 2012 global wealth market report.

The report further said the world order of wealth markets is witnessing a tilt towards emerging economies which are expected to overtake their Western European counterparts going forward.

The top 10 wealth markets, in terms of dollar millionaire holdings at the end of 2011, in descending order, were the US, Japan, China, the UK, Germany, Italy, Canada, France, Brazil, and India, it said. Moreover, the cumulative value of the liquid assets held by millionaires in the emerging economies of Brazil, China, and India are likely to triple to USD 4.6 trillion from USD 1.5 trillion between 2006 and 2015.

India, in particular, will experience explosive growth, and is anticipated to jump sixth place by the end of 2012, the report said.

Top 10 wealth markets in 2015 will be the US at number one, with China in second place, followed by Japan, the UK, Germany, India, Brazil, Italy, Canada, and France, it added.

Some of the mature markets have, however, proven more resilient, with the UK and the US, in particular, expected to perform strongly. The US will remain the largest high net worth market in the world till 2015, the report said.

Spain’s fall from the top 10 wealth market in 2011 was largely due to the combination of its poor performance and the explosive growth seen in India and Brazil, the report said.

“The collapse of Spanish real estate and the highest unemployment rate in Western Europe are taking their toll on the market, and the austerity measures recently announced by the government are further aggravating growth prospects for the already struggling sector,”Datamonitor said.

 

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/India-climbs-into-top-10-wealth-markets-Report/articleshow/14202545.cms

Church of England observes ‘Hindu Day’

London: St Mary’s Church of England Primary School in Bridport in South West England (United Kingdom) celebrated “Hindu Day” recently complete with blowing a conch shell. Dressed-up in Hindu costumes, students learnt about respect within Hindu religion, attended a sample Hindu wedding and participated in Indian dance on this Day in May. “The children are all now engaged in doing follow up work to find out more about Hinduism, having had an inspirational start”, school website says.

Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, described it as a “step in the right direction”. He stressed the need of organizing Hindu Day in all the primary schools of United Kingdom (UK) where children should learn about basic concepts, symbols, art, music and traditions of Hinduism.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out that awareness about other religions thus created by organizing such days would make the UK pupils well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow. It also made a good business sense to know the beliefs of “others” in a global community. Moreover, students should have knowledge of the entire society to become full participants in the society.

Spiritual development is an important element of education in this St Mary’s Church of England Primary School where Hinduism is also taught under Religious Education. Helen Farmer is the Headteacher while Janet Tolley and Chris Causon are Chair and Vice Chair respectively of its Governing Body, whose children are aged between 4-11 years. Stunning countryside and charming rolling hills surround Bridport, which is known for making hangman’s rope.St Mary’s Church of England Primary School in Bridport in South West England (United Kingdom) celebrated “Hindu Day” recently complete with blowing a conch shell.

Dressed-up in Hindu costumes, students learnt about respect within Hindu religion, attended a sample Hindu wedding and participated in Indian dance on this Day in May. “The children are all now engaged in doing follow up work to find out more about Hinduism, having had an inspirational start”, school website says.

Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, described it as a “step in the right direction”. He stressed the need of organizing Hindu Day in all the primary schools of United Kingdom (UK) where children should learn about basic concepts, symbols, art, music and traditions of Hinduism.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out that awareness about other religions thus created by organizing such days would make the UK pupils well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow. It also made a good business sense to know the beliefs of “others” in a global community. Moreover, students should have knowledge of the entire society to become full participants in the society.

Spiritual development is an important element of education in this St Mary’s Church of England Primary School where Hinduism is also taught under Religious Education. Helen Farmer is the Headteacher while Janet Tolley and Chris Causon are Chair and Vice Chair respectively of its Governing Body, whose children are aged between 4-11 years. Stunning countryside and charming rolling hills surround Bridport, which is known for making hangman’s rope.

India to gift e-network to Central Asia

NEW DELHI: Stepping up its diplomatic footprints in energy-rich Central Asia, India is set to replicate the success of the Pan Africa e-network by creating a similar project of tele-education and tele-medicine that will span all the states of the strategically important region.

The e-network project will be unveiled during minister of state for external affairs E. Ahamed’s visit to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, June 12-13, a senior official familiar with the region, told IANS. Ahamed will be accompanied by senior officials of the external affairs ministry, including Ajay Bisaria, joint secretary in charge of the Eurasia division.

In Africa, the e-network has been a success with 47 African countries signing onto it.

The Central Asian e-network will be a pioneering attempt by India to leverage its prowess in the IT to bridge the digital divide in developing countries and to bolster their capacity in critical areas of health and education by linking India’s top hospitals and educational institutions with hubs in the region.

The Krygyz capital will also see India unfurling its Central Asia policy, the first such attempt to articulate New Delhi’s vision for the region where China has made deep inroads.

Bishkek will host a Track 1.5 dialogue that will bring experts and academics along with officials from India and Central Asian countries to map out a coherent and effective India-Central Asia partnership. The dialogue has been organized by the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA).

Given the critical importance of the resource-rich Central Asian nations, India has been raising its profile by proactive initiatives on multiple fronts in the region which is already sold on the charms of Bollywood cinema. Culturally, India is strongly placed with its soft power attractions – many Tajiks and Uzbeks who trained in India speak fluent Hindi and love humming Hindi songs.

With its core strengths in capacity building, IT and human resource development, India is uniquely poised to transform the resource-rich strategically located region that suffers from a massive infrastructure deficit. During his visit, Ahamed will also inaugurate a potato processing plant, part of a slew of small development projects shepherded and assisted by India in the region.

The presence of Islamist militant networks and the geographical contiguity of Afghanistan with Central Asian nations have added to the region’s strategic significance for India. Defence cooperation with the region is also growing. India has the only overseas military base in Tajikistan, which is operated by the Indian Air Force in collaboration with the Tajikistan Air Force.

India’s proactive diplomacy in the region will also complement its efforts to join the six-nation Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which brings together Russia and China along with Central Asian states, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

India made a strong pitch for joining the SCO at the June 6-7 summit in Beijing by outlining its strong multi-faceted relations with the region and myriad strengths it could bring to bear on the development of Central Asia.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-to-gift-e-network-to-Central-Asia/articleshow/14002001.cms

Afghan museum highlights country's Buddhist heritage

Source: AFP      http://en.newsbharati.com

Kabul, May 3: Afghanistan, which achieved global notoriety for cultural barbarism when the Taliban blew up the ancient Bamiyan Buddhas, this week, opened an exhibition highlighting the country's rich Buddhist heritage.

In sharp contrast to the religious intolerance behind the destruction of the Buddhas 11 years ago, the immaculate exhibition is on display in the National Museum, itself rebuilt with international aid after being destroyed by civil war.

Overlooked by living history represented by the ruins of the neoclassical Darulaman Palace on a neighbouring hill - also a victim of war - the interior of the museum is a sanctuary of quiet arches and marble floors in a violent land.

In the entrance hall is a replica of the Great Buddha of Bamiyan, one of two giant standing statues carved into Bamiyan cliffs in Afghanistan's central highlands in the sixth century.

But the polyurethane copy is a poor substitute - unlike the surviving treasures dating from the second century AD that dedicated museum staff managed to hide and protect through 30 years of conflict and turmoil.

One statue shows a lean-torsoed Buddha, reflecting the art of the ancient Greeks introduced by Alexander the Great, who staged one of the many invasions of Afghanistan over the centuries, said museum curator Surkh Kotal.

Others show damage inflicted by Taliban fanatics who destroyed many of the museum's artifacts before their regime was overthrown by US-led troops in 2001 for harbouring Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

Among the items spared - many hidden in secret vaults outside the museum - are relief carvings depicting the Buddha's life and other artifacts from former Buddhist monasteries in Afghanistan, mainly south of the Hindu Kush Mountains.

One of those behind the protection of the treasures is museum director Omarakhan Massoudi, who joined the museum 34 years ago.

“I'm happy we preserved some masterpieces through a difficult time in our country," Massoudi told AFP, recounting how a decision was made to move major works to secret locations in 1989 as Soviet forces withdrew and civil war loomed.

During that war, some 70 percent of the museum's artifacts were looted and smuggled into neighbouring countries to find their way onto the black market, he said.

The museum, along with the palace on the hill, was largely destroyed as rival warlords unleashed artillery and rocket fire on the capital in a brutal struggle for power.

Then came the Taliban, Islamic hardliners who swept to power in 1996. Towards the end of their rule they destroyed more than 2,000 artefacts, Massoudi said, and blew up the Bamiyan Buddhas as "idols" in March 2001.

"We have repaired more than 300 statues. Some are on display and we will continue this activity in the future," said Massoudi.

The destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas was "a big tragedy because they were a part of our history, a part of our culture", he said.

Afghanistan, lying on the famed Silk Road trading route connecting east and west, absorbed Buddhism from India and the religion flourished for hundreds of years before the arrival of Islam in the eighth century.

Now, the practice of Buddhism has virtually disappeared from a country where more than 99 percent of the population proclaim themselves to be Muslim. But the museum is dedicated to keeping the nation's history alive.

"We have to be proud about this very rich heritage of Afghanistan, and we need to transfer it to the next generations," said Massoudi.

In a country still at war, with 130,000 US-led NATO troops helping the government of President Hamid Karzai fight a Taliban insurgency, it is still unsafe for the museum to display some of its most important possessions.

The famed and priceless 2,000 year-old Bactrian Gold collection of more than 20,000 gold ornaments, hidden by museum staff during the civil war, has been touring the world since 2006.

But closer to home, the ruined grandeur of the Darulaman Palace - clearly visible from the museum - stands as an enormous exhibit reflecting a less than glorious period in the nation's history.

India’s Underused Soft Power

Hu Shih, (1891-1962), Chinese philosopher once said: ’India conquered and dominated China culturally for two thousand years without ever having to send a single soldier across her border‘.

I got to see a glimpse of this soft power of India during my recent visit to Sarnath – the Birthplace of Buddhism. People from all over the world arrive here to pay homage to Gautama the Buddha. This was the place where Buddha gave his first sermon after attaining enlightenment.

Buddhist Monks from around the World at Sarnath, the birthplace of Buddhism.

Sarnath is about 13 Kms from Benares. The city of Benares has pathetic public infrastructure, totally ignored by the successive Governments. It is the oldest living city in the World, and it hasn’t got the attention it deserves. There is little attempt to preserve the cultural heritage. The road to Sarnath is broken, with illegal encroachments all over. While the Japanese Govt has offered to preserve and promote the ancient monuments at Sarnath, the State Govt has shown little will.

Swami Vivekananda said more than 100 years back, that Spirituality is the reason for India’s existence and it’s contribution to the World: 

‘Touch him on spirituality, on religion, on God, on the soul, on the Infinite, on spiritual freedom, and I assure you, the lowest peasant in India is better informed on these subjects than many a so-called philosopher in other lands… We have yet something to teach to the world. This the very reason, the raison d’être, that this nation has lived on, in spite of hundreds of years of persecution, in spite of nearly a thousand years of foreign rule and foreign oppression. This nation still lives; the raison d’être is, it still holds to God, to the treasure house of religion and spirituality.‘

Unfortunately we have ignored the powerhouses of Spirituality in India, places like Benares and Sarnath are just an example of that.

The Ocean churning scene from Indian mythology at the Bangkok Suvaranbhumi Airport

Several spiritual Gurus from India have spread the message of spirituality around the world, starting from Swami Vivekananda, Paramahamsa Yogananda, Osho, J Krishnamurthy, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Mata Amritanandamayi, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, Baba Ramdev etc, who have millions of followers world wide and continue to grow each day.

We have something the world needs today more than ever before. This is our soft power. We need to recognize it and wield it in the right way.

‘In religion, India is the only millionaire – the One land that all men desire to see, and having seen once, by even a glimpse, would not give that glimpse for all the shows of all the rest of the globe combined‘ – Mark Twain

http://shobhitmathur.wordpress.com/2012/04/14/indias-underused-soft-power/

Ram Setu, a National Monument: Nation believes, Sonia Brigade fumbles

Source: News Bharati

New Delhi, March 29: From thousand years, entire India and the world firmly believes that the Ram Setu is more than a National Monument. It is the history of Indian civilization. But now Sonia-led UPA government is in confused position where it has to tell the Supreme Court about its stand on Ram Setu. The UPA and the Congress are in disarray about Ram Setu’s monumental status. They are going to lose the battle for any stand they will embrace. 

On Thursday, the Supreme Court granted two weeks' time (till 19 April) to the Central government to decide whether Ram Setu will be declared as a national monument, after the Centre begged the Court that it needed more time to file an affidavit on the issue. Ram Setu is revered by Indians as the sacred bridge between India and ShriLanka.

Dr. Subramanian Swamy, the petitioner in this case who wants Ram Setu to be declared as a national monument, told the top court he wondered why the Centre is not taking a decision. The Supreme Court, however, granted time to the Centre and adjourned the case till April 19. The top court had directed the Centre to file an affidavit on the issue in July 2007.

The Ram Setu, was to be cut through for the Sethusamudram Canal project, but the Supreme Court had stayed the decision.

On Wednesday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging him to Ram Setu a national monument. "I request you to take necessary action to communicate the views of the government of India to the Supreme Court that it would take immediate steps for declaring the site as a national monument," she said in the letter.

Several cases have been filed in the Madras High Court and the Supreme Court against the Sethusamudram project that proposed to dredge the Palk Strait so that shipping is possible between the western and eastern coasts instead of circumventing Sri Lanka.

Hindus believe that the stretch of limestone shoals between Dhanushkodi near Rameshwaram in Southern India and Mannar in Northwest Shri Lanka are the remains of an ancient bridge built by Lord Rama, as described in the holy epic, Ramayana.

NASA satellite images show clear pictures of a broken bridge under the ocean floor. The heritage of the bridge and the story of Lord Rama are extremely sacred to Hindus.

The ocean floor between India and Sri Lanka near the Mannar coast is very shallow and is not navigable. It does not allow ships to pass. This means that. India does not have a continuous navigational channel linking the east and west coasts. Ships coming from India's west and heading to Bangladesh or Indian ports on the east coast have to go around Sri Lanka because the waterway in the sea dividing the two countries is shallow.

Therefore, the Government of India has proposed the dredging of the sea to create a shipping canal to save up to 780 km of sailing distance and 30 hours of sailing time for ships plying between the east and west coasts of India.

Indian officials say the canal, which is called the Sethusamudram project, will also boost the national economy besides speeding up the movement of Indian Navy and Coast Guard vessels as well. Many Naval officials are saying that even after the completion of SSCP, the depth of the canal shall be only 12 meters (about 36 feet ), and only small and medium sized vessels shall be able to pass. Large sized vessels and carriers shall not be able to pass.

The construction of the canal immediately led to wide protests in India by Hindu leaders. Several holy men have gathered together to launch a campaign of protest. In March 2007, over ten Hindu umbrella organizations from around the world joined together to launch the Save Ram Sethu Campaign (Ram Sethu Bachao Andolan) to increase the profile of the issue amongst the international communities.

The campaign said that construction of the canal will hurt religious sentiments of millions of Hindus and also pose a great risk to the environment of the region and the livelihood of local fishermen.

 

Ram Setu prevented the tsunami from advancing from Rameshwaram to Kerala. Ram Setu (Sethu) is a natural barrier to Tsunami. Dr. Murthy, Chief Editor of the reputed International Tsunami Journal "Science of Tsunami Hazards" has said that during the last tsunami, the Ramar Bridge (at a high elevation) from the rest of the shoal accumulations acted as a natural barrier prevented the direct devastation of the entire coastline south and southwest of Nagapattanam.

Many geologists, earth scientists, and oceanographers have commented critically, against the disastrous consequences of constructing SSCP. Amongst these is the impending devastation of Kerala, which will suck in after implementation of SSCP, after next Tsunami hits it.

The construction of SSCP is trampling upon the feelings and emotions of millions and millions of Hindus. Besides, this bridge is world's oldest man-made structure. It is much much older than the pyramids of Egypt, and the Great Wall of China.

People have crossed the sea using the Ram Setu, for many thousand years, until the 15th century. According to the specialists, a sea route may be prepared for navigation without damaging Ram Setu, by removing the barren sand heaps near village Mandapam between Rameshwaram and Dhanushkoti railway. This will not only give a shorter route for navigation but also protect the oldest man-made heritage.

On Thursday, after the Congress Party begged the SC for time to decide the status of Ram Setu, Dr. Subramanyam Swamy has tweeted, “On Rama Setu being declared a national heritage site, Congi (Congress) caught in Catch 22. Enjoy the unfolding spectacle. Mama Mia! Mia should speak up”.

Congress Party and the UPA Government are now saving their faces as they have no escape route for about the status of the Ram Setu. If they declare ram Setu as National Monument, it will shake their image of Muslim appeaser and Congies like Digvijay Singh have to explain the Muslims about their ‘misgivings’. If, in an attempt to pacify Muslims and secularists, they announce that the Ram Setu is not a National monument, then nationalist forces will again get charged up and it will again tumble the base of Sonia Brigade. 

 http://en.newsbharati.com//Encyc/2012/3/29/Ram-Setu,-a-National-Monument--Nation-believes,-Sonia-Brigade-fumbles.aspx?NB=&lang=1&m1=&m2=&p1=&p2=&p3=&p4=&NewsMode=int

Scientific Verification of Vedic Knowledge

 

by Swami Visnu 

A vast number of statements and materials presented in the ancient Vedic literatures can be shown to agree with modern scientific findings and they also reveal a highly developed scientific content in these literatures. The great cultural wealth of this knowledge is highly relevant in the modern world. 

Techniques used to show this agreement include:

• Marine Archaeology of underwater sites (such as Dvaraka)

• Satellite imagery of the Indus-Sarasvata River system,

• Carbon and Thermoluminiscence Dating of archaeological artifacts

• Scientific Verification of Scriptural statements

• Linguistic analysis of scripts found on archaeological artifacts

• A Study of cultural continuity in all these categories.

Introduction

Early indologists wished to control & convert the followers of Vedic Culture, therefore they widely propagated that the Vedas were simply mythology.

Max Muller, perhaps the most well known early sanskritist and indologist, although later in life he glorified the Vedas, initially wrote that the "Vedas were worse than savage" and "India must be conquered again by education... it's religion is doomed"

 

Thomas Macaulay, who introduced English education into India wanted to make the residents into a race that was: "Indian in blood and color, but English in taste, in opinion, in morals, and in intellect."

However, the German Philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer stated that the Sanskrit understanding of these Indologists was like that of young schoolboys.

 

These early Indologists:

• Devised the Aryan Invasion theory, denying India's Vedic past

• They taught that the English educational system is superior

• They intentionally misinterpreted sanskrit texts to make the Vedas look primitive.

• And they systematically tried to make Indians ashamed of their own culture

• Thus the actions of these indologists seems to indicate that they were motivated by a racial bias.

Innumerable archaeological findings and their analysis have recently brought the Aryan Invasion Theory into serious question. This theory is still taught as fact in many educational systems despite much contrary evidence.

The Aryan Invasion Theory Defined

• Vedic Aryans entered India between 1,500 and 1,200 B.C.

• They conquered the native Dravidian culture by virtue of their superiority due to their horses & iron weapons

• They Imported the Vedic culture and it's literatures.

• This Aryan Invasion Theory, however, deprives the inhabitants of India of their Vedic heritage. The wealth of their culture came from foreign soil.

The Aryan Invasion Theory raises an interesting dilemna called Frawleys Paradox: On the one hand we have the vast Vedic Literature without any archaeological finds associated with them and on the other hand, we have 2,500 archaeological sites from the Indus-Sarasvata civilization without any literature associated with them.

A preponderance of contemporary evidence now seems to indicate that these are one and the same cultures. This certainly eliminates this paradox and makes perfect sense, to an unbiased researcher.

Facts which cast serious doubt on the Aryan Invasion Theory

• There is no evidence of an Aryan homeland outside of India mentioned anywhere in the Vedas. On the contrary, the Vedas speak of the mighty Sarasvati River and other places indigenous to India. To date, no evidence for a foreign intrusion has been found, neither archaeological, linguistic, cultural nor genetic.

• There are more than 2,500 Archaeological sites, two-thirds of which are along the recently discovered dried up Sarasvati River bed. These sites show a cultural continuity with the Vedic literature from the early Harrapan civilization up to the present day India.

The archaeological sites along the dried up Sarasvati River basin are represented by black dots.

• Several independent studies of the drying up of the Sarasvati River bed, all indicate the same time period of 1,900 B.C.E.

• The significance of establishing this date for the drying up of the Sarasvati River is, that it pushes the date for the composition of the Rig Veda back to approximately 3,000 B.C.E., as enunciated by the Vedic tradition itself.

 

• The late dating of the Vedic literatures by indologists is based on speculated dates of 1,500 B.C.E. for the Aryan Invasion and 1,200 B.C.E. for the Rig Veda, both now disproved by scientific evidence.
 

Max Muller, the principal architect of the Aryan Invasion theory, admitted the purely speculative nature of his Vedic chronology, and in his last work published shortly before his death, The Six Systems of Indian Philosophy, he wrote: "Whatever may be the date of the Vedic hymns, whether 15 hundred or 15,000 B.C.E., they have their own unique place and stand by themselves in the literature of the world."

The Vedic Culture is indigenous to India

It can be scientifically proven that the Vedic Culture is indigenous, through archaeology, the study of cultural continuity, by linguistic analysis, and genetic research.

For example, the language and symbolism found on the Harappan seals are very Vedic. We find the Om symbol, the leaf of the Asvatta or holy banyan tree, as well as the swastika, or sign of auspiciousness, mentioned throughout the Vedas. Om is mentioned in the Mundaka and Katha Upanisads as well as the Bhagavad Gita.

The Holy Asvatta tree is mentioned in the Aitareya and Satapata Brahmanas as well as the Taittiriya Samhita and Katyayana Smrti.

The pictoral script of these Harappan seals has been deciphered as consistently Vedic and termed "Proto-brahmi," as a pre-sanskrit script.

 

This piece of pottery from the lowest level of Harappan excavations with pre-harappan writing is deciphered as ila vartate vara, referring to the sacred land bounded by the Sarasvati River, described in the Rig Veda.

Additionally, other archaeological finds are culturally consistent, such as the dancing girl, whose bracelets are similar to those worn by women of Northwest India today as well as

the three stone Siva Lingas found in Harappa by M. S. Vats in 1940. The worship of the Siva Linga is mentioned in the Maha Narayana Upanisad of the Yajur Veda and is still ardently practiced today.

The Vedas were maligned by early indologists because of their disagreement with their Eurocentric colonialists world view, a view which produced and depended on the Aryan Invasion Theory. The fact that the Aryan Invasion Theory has been seriously challenged recently by scholars and indologists, adds credence to the Vedas as viable, accurate and indigenous sources of information.

Satellite imagery of the Dried Up Sarasvati River Basin

Using modern scientific methods, such as satellite imagery and dating techniques, it can be shown that the ancient statements of the Vedas are factual, not mythical as erroneously propagated. High resolution satellite images have verified descriptions in The Rig Veda of the descent of the ancient Sarasvati River from it's source in the Himalayas to the Arabian Sea.

"Pure in her course from the mountains to the ocean, alone of streams Sarasvati hath listened."

The mighty Sarasvati River and it's civilization are referred to in the Rig Veda more than fifty times, proving that the drying up of the Sarasvati River was subsequent to the origin of the Rig Veda, pushing this date of origin back into antiquity, casting further doubt on the imaginary date for the so-called Aryan Invasion.

The Satellite image (above) clearly shows the Indus-Sarasvata river system extending from the Himalayas to the Arabian Sea. Here the Indus River is on the left, outlined in blue, while the Sarasvati River basin is outlined in green. The black dots are the many archeological sites or previous settlements along the banks of the now dry Sarasvati River.

The drying up of the Sarasvati River around 1900 B.C.E. is confirmed archaeologically. 

Following major tectonic movements or plate shifts in the Earth's crust, the primary cause of this drying up was due to the capture of the Sarasvati River's main tributaries, the Sutlej River and the Drishadvati River by other rivers.

Although early studies, based on limited archaeological evidence produced contradictory conclusions, recent independent studies, such as that of archaeologist James Shaffer in 1993, showed no evidence of a foreign invasion in the Indus Sarasvata civilization and that a cultural continuity could be traced back for millennia. 

In other words, Archaeology does not support the Aryan Invasion Theory.

Evidence for the Ancient Port City of Dvaraka

Marine archaeology has also been utilized in India off the coast of the ancient port city of Dvaraka in Gujarat, uncovering further evidence in support of statements in the Vedic scriptures. An entire submerged city at Dvaraka, the ancient port city of Lord Krishna with its massive fort walls, piers, warfs and jetty has been found in the ocean as described in the Mahabharata and other Vedic literatures.

This sanskrit verse from the Mausala Parva of the Mahabharata, describes the disappearance of the city of Dvaraka into the sea.

"After all the people had set out, the ocean flooded Dvaraka, which still teemed with wealth of every kind. Whatever portion of land was passed over, the ocean immediately flooded over with its waters."

 

Dr. S. R. Rao, formerly of the Archaeological Survey of India, has pioneered marine archaeology in India. Marine archaeological findings seem to corroborate descriptions in the Mahabharata of Dvaraka as a large, well-fortified and prosperous port city, which was built on land reclaimed from the sea, and later taken back by the sea. This lowering and raising of the sea level during these same time periods of the 15^th and 16^th centuries B.C.E. is also documented in historical records of the country of Bahrain.

Amongst the extensive underwater discoveries were the massive Dvaraka city wall, a large door-socket and a bastion from the fort wall.

Two rock-cut slipways of varying width, extending from the beach to the intertidal zone, a natural harbor, as well as a number of olden stone ship anchors were discovered, attesting to Dvaraka being an ancient port city.

The three headed motif on this conch-shell seal (above), found in the Dvaraka excavations, corroborates the reference in the scripture Harivamsa that every citizen of Dvaraka should carry a mudra or seal of this type.

All these underwater excavations add further credibility to the validity of the historical statements found in the Vedic literatures.

Thirty-five Archaeological Sites in North India

Apart from Dvaraka, more than thirty-five sites in North India have yielded archaeological evidence and have been identified as ancient cities described in the Mahabharata. Copper utensils, iron, seals, gold & silver ornaments, terracotta discs and painted grey ware pottery have all been found in these sites. Scientific dating of these artifacts corresponds to the non-aryan-invasion model of Indian antiquity.

Furthermore, the Matsya and Vayu Puranas describe great flooding which destroyed the capital city of Hastinapur, forcing its inhabitants to relocate in Kausambi. The soil of Hastinapur reveals proof of this flooding. Archaeological evidence of the new capital of Kausambi has recently been found which has been dated to the time period just after this flood.

Kurukshetra

Similarly, in Kurukshetra, the scene of the great Mahabharata war, Iron arrows and spearheads have been excavated and dated by thermoluminence to 2,800 B.C.E., the approximate date of the war given within the Mahabharata itself.

The Mahabharata also describes three cities given to the Pandavas, the heroes of the Mahabharata, after their exile:

Paniprastha, Sonaprastha & Indraprastha, which is Delhi's Puranaqila. These sites have been identified and yielded pottery & antiquities, which show a cultural consistency & dating consistent for the Mahabharata period, again verifying statements recorded in the Vedic literatures.

Renowned Thinkers Who Appreciated the Vedic Literatures

Although early indologists, in their missionary zeal, widely vilified the Vedas as primitive mythology, many of the worlds greatest thinkers admired the Vedas as great repositories of advanced knowledge and high thinking

Arthur Schopenhauer, the famed German philosopher and writer, wrote that: I "...encounter [in the Vedas] deep, original, lofty thoughts... suffused with a high and holy seriousness."

The well-known early American writer Ralph Waldo Emerson, read the Vedas daily. Emerson wrote: "I owed a magnificent day to the Bhagavat-Gita"

 

Henry David Thoreau said: "In the morning I bathe my intellect in the stupendous philosophy of the Bhagavad Gita... in comparison with which... our modern world and its literature seems puny and trivial."

So great were Emerson and Thoreau's appreciation of Vedantic literatures that they became known as the American transcendentalists. Their writings contain many thoughts from Vedic Philosophy.

 

Other famous personalities who spoke of the greatness of the Vedas were: Alfred North Whitehead (British mathematician, logician and philosopher), who stated that: "Vedanta is the most impressive metaphysics the human mind has conceived."

 

Julius Robert Oppenheimer, the principle developer of the atomic bomb, stated that "The Vedas are the greatest privilege of this century." During the explosion of the first atomic bomb, Oppenheimer quoted several Bhagavad-gita verses from the 11th chapter, such as:

 

"Death I am, cause of destruction of the worlds..."

When Oppenheimer was asked if this is the first nuclear explosion, he significantly replied: "Yes, in modern times," implying that ancient nuclear explosions may have previously occurred.

Lin Yutang, Chinese scholar and author, wrote that: "India was China's teacher in trigonometry, quadratic equations, grammar, phonetics... " and so forth.

Francois Voltaire stated: "... everything has come down to us from the banks of the Ganges."

From these statements we see that many renowned intellectuals believed that the Vedas provided the origin of scientific thought.

The Iron Pillar of Delhi

 

The Vedic literatures contain descriptions of advanced scientific techniques, sometimes even more sophisticated than those used in our modern technological world.

Modern metallurgists have not been able to produce iron of comparable quality to the 22 foot high Iron Pillar of Delhi, which is the largest hand forged block of iron from antiquity.

This pillar stands at mute testimony to the highly advanced scientific knowledge of metallurgy that was known in ancient India. Cast in approximately the 3rd century B.C., the six and a half ton pillar, over two millennia has resisted all rust and even a direct hit by the artillary of the invading army of Nadir Shah during his sacking of Delhi in 1737.

Vedic Cosmology

Vedic Cosmology is yet another ancient Vedic science which can be confirmed by modern scientific findings and this is acknowledged by well known scientists and authors, such as Carl Sagan and Count Maurice Maeterlinck, who recognized that the cosmology of the Vedas closely parallels modern scientific findings.

Carl Sagan stated, "Vedic Cosmology is the only one in which the time scales correspond to those of modern scientific cosmology."

Nobel laureate Count Maurice Maeterlinck wrote of: "a Cosmogony which no European conception has ever surpassed."

 

French astronomer Jean-Claude Bailly corroborated the antiquity and accuracy of the Vedic astronomical measurements as "more ancient than those of the Greeks or Egyptians." And that, "the movements of the stars calculated 4,500 years ago, does not differ by a minute from the tables of today."

The ninety foot tall astronomical instrument known as Samrat Yantra, built by the learned King Suwai Jai Singh of Jaipur, measures time to within two seconds per day.

 

Cosmology and other scientific accomplishments of ancient India spread to other countries along with mercantile and cultural exchanges. There are almost one hundred references in the Rig Veda alone to the ocean and maritime activity. This is confirmed by Indian historian R. C. Majumdar, who stated that the people of the Indus-Sarasvata Civilization engaged in trade with Sooma and centers of culture in western Asia and Crete.

The Heliodorus Column and Cultural Links to India

An example of these exchanges is found in the inscriptions on the Heliodorus Column, erected in 113 B.C.E. by Heliodorus, a Greek ambassador to India, and convert to Vaisnavism, as well as the 2nd century B.C.E. Coins of Agathocles, showing images of Krishna and Balaram. These artifacts stand testimony that Sanatan Dharma predates Christianity.

This also confirms the link between India and other ancient civilizations such as Greece and shows that there was a continuous exchange of culture, philosophy and scientific knowledge between India & other countries. Indeed the Greeks learned many wonderful things from India.

Vedic Mathematics

 

Voltaire, the famous French writer and philosopher) stated that "Pythagoras went to the Ganges to learn geometry." Abraham Seidenberg, author of the authoritative "History of Mathematics," credits the Sulba Sutras as inspiring all mathematics of the ancient world from Babylonia to Egypt to Greece.

As Voltaire & Seidenberg have stated, many highly significant mathematical concepts have come from the Vedic culture, such as:

The theorem bearing the name of the Greek mathematician Pythagorus is found in the Shatapatha Brahmana as well as the Sulba Sutra, the Indian mathematical treatise, written centuries before Pythagorus was born.

The Decimal system, based on powers of ten, where the remainder is carried over to the next column, first mentioned in the Taittiriya Samhita of the Black Yajurveda.

The Introduction of zero as both a numerical value and a place marker.

The Concept of infinity.

The Binary number system, essential for computers, was used in Vedic verse meters.

A hashing technique, similar to that used by modern search algorithms, such as Googles, was used in South Indian musicology. From the name of a raga one can determine the notes of the raga from this Kathapayadi system. (See Figure at left.) 

For further reading we refer you to this excellent article on Vedic Mathematics.

Vedic Sound and Mantras 

The Vedas however are not as well known for presenting historical and scientific knowledge as they are for expounding subtle sciences, such as the power of mantras. We all recognize the power of sound itself by it's effects, which can be quite dramatic. Perhaps we all have seen a high-pitched frequency shatter an ordinary drinking glass. Such a demonstration shows that Loud Sounds can produce substantial reactions

It is commonly believed that mantras can carry hidden power which can in turn produce certain effects. The ancient Vedic literatures are full of descriptions of weapons being called by mantra. For example, many weapons were invoked by mantra during the epic Kuruksetra War, wherein the Bhagavad-gita itself was spoken.

The ancient deployment of Brahmastra weapons, equivalent to modern day nuclear weapons are described throughout the Vedic literatures. Additionally, mantras carry hidden spiritual power, which can produce significant benefits when chanted properly. Indeed, the Vedas themselves are sound vibrations in literary form and carry a profound message. Spiritual disciplines recommend meditational practices such as silent meditation, silent recitation of mantras and also the verbal repetition of specific mantras out loud. 

A Clinical Test of the Benefits of Mantra Chanting was performed on three groups of sixty-two subjects, males and females of average age 25. They chanted the Hare Krsna Maha Mantra twenty-five minutes each day under strict clinical supervision.

Results showed that regular chanting of the Hare Krsna Maha Mantra reduces Stress and depression and helps reduce bad habits & addictions. These results formed a PhD Thesis at Florida State University.

Spiritual practitioners claim many benefits from Mantra Meditation such as increased realization of spiritual wisdom, inner peace and a strong communion with God and the spiritual realm. These effects may be experienced by following the designated spiritual path.

Conclusion

Most of the evidence given in this presentation is for the apara vidya or material knowledge of the Vedic literatures. The Vedas however, are more renowned for their para vidya or spiritual knowledge. And even superior is the realized knowledge of the Vedic rsis or saints — that which is beyond the objective knowledge of modern science — knowledge of the eternal realm of sat, cit ananda, eternality, blissfullness and full knowledge. But that is another presentation.

The Scientific Verification of Vedic Knowledge is available from DevaVision Video Documentaries as a more extensive video as well as a PDF chapter in Science of the Sacred.

http://www.archaeologyonline.net/artifacts/scientific-verif-vedas.html