In the modern world, every country has its history. Historians and academicians belonging to a country carefully study, preserve and narrate their country's history.
India is probably the only country in the current world has 2 or 3 versions of ancient history. (We may assume it as 2.5 versions as we see while the essay unfolds). Especially these versions are predominant for the history 3000 years before common era till 5th century AD. (3000BC - 500 AD)
Let me enumerate a small example: Once upon a time in India there was a great poet was there. His name is Kalidasa.
When he was existed?
Undoubtedly he was existed before 6th century AD. Reason: There is an inscription in Aihole, Karnataka where his name is mentioned. So the poet existed somewhere before 600 AD according to the evidence.
If we examine the secondary evidences too, then there are below possibilities.
His time period might be
1st century BC - This we call version 1.
somewhere between 400 AD and 600 AD - Version 2. (Established)
Somewhere between 100 AD and 300 AD - Version 2.5
The first version is corroborated by Puranic chronology, traditional Indian literature etc.
The second version is the one currently being "accepted" and established everywhere. This version emerged after a British scholar Mr. William Jones has constructed and given a shape Indian history, when he was the director of Royal Asiatic Society. He is the first person who started narrating the Indian history according to his "views."
The version 2.5 is the version resulted, while adjusting the differences between version 1 and version 2 , and is being quoted by historians.
Hence for the sincere academicians there are 2 (or 2.5) parallel histories currently existing about India.
How these versions formed?
Before going in to that question, we should understand the definition of "History" in India before British colonization and also should examine how that definition is changed radically after Europe colonization.
For Bharata varsha (Let me call this name instead of India for this context) History is a process. A flow. It flows from one era to next era. It is a collection of cultural heritage, values, the samskara. It is called charitra/Itihasa. In Bharatavarsha, Individualities, the deeds, the activities, ideas, philosophies are studied as history, and not the personal details.
What Kalidasa has told? What message was passed by the likes of Kalidasa? - These things are important rather than the personal details like height, weight, his time, the number of wives he possessed - these sort of details. We are not even sure whether the name "Kalidasa" is his proper name or not. Still we can read RaghuvamSa, Kumarasambhava, Meghadoota and other works of Kalidasa without any inhibitions and worries. What are the values that poet trying to perpetuate is our concern, but not the other details. Hence history is a flow. A flow of values, culture, heritage. These values may redefine themselves during the flow, but basically the historical studies are defined as a flow.
Our history was revolved around the questions what and why.
History is a perennial flow of inferences/ideas/philosophies to mentor/motivate the individuals. History is not a collection of mere facts, but the collection of ideas. It is not Nyaya(Law). It is Mimamsa. It is not a straight line or a prism, it is a circle or an evolute/Involute. It is process, it is a verb.
dharmaartha kaama mOkshaaNaam upadESa samanvitham |
poorvavRttam kathaayuktam itihaasam pracakshyatE ||
Itihasa teaches - dharma, artha, Kama, mOksha. It comprises of tales, incidents of the foregone era.
Why we had such a definition for history (as flow?). Probable reason is this. In BharataVarsha, Individuals are identified by GotraPravara, and different Varnas. This is somewhat similar to current day Adhar Card (or SSN) in social context. This system was concretely in practice, and hence identifying individuals was not a great requirement in different social contexts and situations. So the focus of historical studies was based on values and not the details of Individuals.
****
Let's come to after British colonization period. For Europeans - history is a collection of facts, nouns. History is a product, but not a process. For them names are important, time periods are even more important. They weigh the other things after getting these basic details. Who is Kalidasa? What is his native place? When is his period? after these details, the bother about the beauty of Meghadoota. :)
History is a collection of facts for Europeans. History is a solid not a flow. It is meant for dissection, analysis.
History means when and who, but not why and what.
History is a collection of discrete solid pieces of information for the usage of different persons. History is Nyaya(Law). History is linear.
( "for in History, as in Law, we must not follow streams, when we may investigate fountains, nor admit any secondary proof, when primary evidence is attainable." - From works of William Jones, page 147, 10th Anniversary meeting of Asiatic research society)
One more thing worth mentioning here. Let's say, there is an established truth. Later in future, one more truth propounds. In Bharata varsha, the first truth is synthesized with second one to give a new thought process. Sankara argues with Mandana Mishra and established Advaita/Vedanta philosophy. Later Vidyaranya (proponent of Advaita) was argued and defeated in argument by AkshObhyateertha proposing dvaita philosophy. Similarly Upanishats have lot of influence upon Buddhist vision. Buddhism in turn gave inputs to Vedanta., so on so forth.
Even in poetics, and in literature, this phenomenon is visible.
Because of this process, Bharatavarsha gave birth to several religions and thought systems.
Our method of study is round. We value 0. (It is Purna, it is the Truth.). It is invented in BharataVarsha. The Truth doesn't start at a point and ends at a point. There is no absolute truth. There is only witnessing. It is called Brahman. It is defined in similar lines according to various visions (darSanas).
*****
The western thought process is a straight line. If there is a truth found, it is, and it has to be concrete. Then inwards whatever is found will be a corollary of original truth but it will not displace the original truth.
Why so? Because it helps in material world and in science. Newton finds the value of g (acceleration due to gravity ) = 9.8 m/sec square. No need for anybody else to "re-invent the wheel". The later can use that and expand theories.
For west, TRUE = 1. :)
***************
As the definitions, outlook and methods differed, the study of history in India was deeply affected and distorted. As India was colonized and went in slavery, the Western thought system has entered in Historical studies. They (the rulers) have started narrating Indian history according to their methods. The old methods and their advantages were put aside.
The need of writing new history of India was felt during British Raj. And the process of re-writing the Indian history according to western thought process was started by a person called Sir William Jones. He was employed by Warren Hastings, the general of East India company. For many reasons, writing Indian history "according to western lenses" was a great political necessity to establish the colonial rule.
We examined already that - for west, history revolves around - who and when. The chronology of kings, and the time frames. Basically Western method of Indian history revolves around this. Because their perspective is about "who and when" - they assumed that Indian have no knowledge of history. The same is propounded even now.
Before we go towards William Jones, we examine - even this question. Whether the ancient Pandits/scholares of BharataVarsha did not recorded the time frames and Chronologies improperly? Does Bharata Varsha really lacking the sense of history?
We examine.
The Puranic literature of BharataVarsha has recorded the ancient dynasties and kings belonging to different dynasties and their time frames absolutely and perfectly. Not just in one Purana, but this chronology is similar across 7 puranas. (Matsya, Vayu, BrahmanDa, VishNu, Bhagavata, GaruDa, Bhavishya).
In AndhraPadesh there existed a great Brahmin Pandit during British period. He was a very simple man, lived in poverty and his name is Kota VenkaTachalam. He collected the original palm leaf versions of the different Puranas with utmost difficulty and presented the Chronology of Indian Dynasties right from Mahabharata War. (He only did compilation, but not induced any of his own thoughts in this compilations). This presentation he did in order to refute the colonial version of Indian history.
In Hindu Puranas the chronology of kingdoms and the dynasties was clearly narrated right from Mahabharata war. Nobody knows who wrote these Puranas and when these were written. No scholar in ancient times cared about who and when. Who ever might have written, the purpose was sought after by the scholars while studying them. For - "PrayOjana manuddiSya mandOpi na pravartatE" - Without seeking a purpose not even a stupid does things. Definitely the tons of literature cannot be written without any purpose., and couldn't have withstood for centuries.
In those chronologis, important is "Magadha" dynasty. For centuries, Magadha has been a pivot of many political and historical events in Aryavarta.
Kota Venkatachalam has collected the puranic details of Magadha dynasty from the advent of Kaliyuga. Actually Kaliyuga started exactly from 36 years after the great Mahabharata war was finished.
The chronology of Magadha synasties however was started from the end point of Mahabharata war.
Chronology of Dynasties which ruled Magadha.
During Mahabharata period, Magadha was ruled by a king called Jarasandha. He was killed by Bheema before Mahabharata war. Jaraasanadha's son was Brihadraha, and his son was SahadEva. Both Brihadratha and Sahadeva were killed in great war. SahadEva's son was sOmaadhi. He started ruling Magadha after Mahabharata war. His dynasty was called Barhadrathas. They ruled for 1000 years starting from 3138 BC. The names of kings ruled for those 1000 years and their individual ruling periods were clearly mentioned across Puranas. Here goes that list.
Atha ūrdhvaṁ pravakṣyāmi magadhā yē bār'hadrathāḥ jarāsandhasya yē vanśē sahadēvānvayō nr̥paḥ ||
atīta vartamānāśca bhaviṣyāśca tathā punaḥ prādhān'yataḥ pravakṣyāmi gadatō mē nibōdhata ||
saṅgrāmē bhāratē vr̥ttē sahadēvō nipatitē sōmādhiḥ tasya dāyādō rājā̕bhūt sa girivrajē pan̄caśataṁ tathā̕ṣṭau ca samā rājyamakārayat | (58 years - sōmādhi)
śrutaśravas catuṣṣaṣṭim samās tasyānvayē bhavat (64 years - śrutaśrava)
ayutāyustu ṣaṭ trinśat rājyaṁ varṣān'yakārayat (36 years - ayutāyuvu/apratīpa)
catvārinśat samāstasya nirāmitrō divam gataḥ (40 years -nirāmitruḍu)
pan̄caśataṁ samāṣaṣṭaḥ sukṣatraḥ prāptavān mahīm (58 years -sukṣatruḍu)
trayōvinśat br̥hatkarmā rājyaṁ varṣāṇyakārayat (23 years - br̥hatkarma) .... ....
Hence
sōmādhi - 58
śrutaśrava - 64
ayutāyuvu/ apratīpa- 36
nirāmitra - 40
sukṣatra - 58
br̥hatkarma - 23
sēnajit - 50
śrutan̄jaya - 40
vibhu - 35
śuci - 58
kṣēma - 28
suvrata - 64
sunētra - 35
nirvr̥ti - 58
suvrata - 38
dhr̥ḍhasēna - 58
mahīnētra(sumati) - 33
sucala (subala/bāhubali) - 22
sunētra - 40
satyajit - 83
viśvajit (vīrajit) - 35
ripun̄jaya - 50
------------------- (Total) 1006
Dvāvinśati nr̥pāhyētē bhavitārō br̥hadrathāḥ | pūrṇaṁ varṣasahasraṁ vai tēṣāṁ rājyaṁ bhaviṣyati ||
22 kings of Brihadrathaas ruled for 1000 years. If we calculate their individual ruling periods we get 1006. These details are clearly mentioned in Matsya, Vayu Puranas. The first king to start with is Somadhi and the last king was Ripunjaya.
1000 years after Mahabharata war, the last ruler of Barhadratha dynasty Ripunjaya was killed by his minister's son PradyOtha. Thus started the second dynasty which is called PradyOtha dynasty. they were 5 kings ruled for 138 years.
Like this, several dynasties ruled Magadha and their list is as below according to Hindu Puranas.
1. Bār'hadrathaas - 22 kings BC 3138-BC 2132 - 1006 years
2. Pradyōtas - 5 kings - BC 2132 - BC 1994 - 138 years
3. Śiśunāgaas - 10 kings - BC 1994 - BC 1634 - 360 years
4. Nandaas - 2 kings- BC 1634 - BC 1534 - 100 years
5. Mauryaas - 12 kings - BC 1534 -BC 1218 - 316 years
6. Śuṅgaas - 10 kings - BC 1218-BC 918 - 300 years
7. Kāṇvaas - 4 kings - BC 918 - BC 833 - 85 years
8. Śātavāhanaas - 33 - BC 833 - BC 327 - 506 years
9. Guptaas - 7 - BC 327 - BC 82 - 245 years
10. Vikramārka, śālivāhana, śālihōtra + paramāra, tōmāra, brahmakṣatra+ Others) - -- - BC 82 - AD1193 - 1275 years
then after Magadha was no more a pivot, it was under different kingdoms. Then came Mughal invastion followed by Europe colonials.
Total = 5138 years (Till 2000 AD) - This is the time elapsed since Mahabharata war as per Mahabharata war or the Barhadratha rule.
***********
Below is the list of important kings from different dynasties, who ruled Magadha and also India.
Sōmādhi - 3138 BC - 3080 BC (58 years)
ripun̄jaya - 2182 BC - 2132 BC (50 years) Last king of Barhadratha
pradyōta - 2132 BC- 2109 BC (23 years)
Nandivardhana - BC 2014 - BC 1994 (20 years) - Last one in PradyOtas)
śiśunāga - BC 1994 - BC 1954 (40 years)
bimbisāra - BC 1852 - BC 1816 (38 years).
He is contemporary of Buddha
gautamabud'dha - BC 1887 - BC 1807 (80 years) ajātaśatruvu - BC 1816 - BC 1789 (27 years) mahānandi - BC 1677 - BC 1634 (43 years) - Final king of SiSunaga (mahāpadma)nanda - BC 1634 - BC 1546 - 88 years
sumālyu (nandasuta) BC 1546 - BC 1548 (2 years only)
cāṇakya (viṣṇugupta) (Contemporary of MahaPadmananda, Sumalya)
maurya candragupta - BC 1534 - BC 1500 (34 years)
(maurya) bimbisāra - BC 1500 - BC 1472 (28 years)
(He is also bindusāra. amitraghātaka. AmitroChats)
aśōka - BC 1472 - BC 1436 (36 years)
br̥hadratha - BC 1305 - BC 1218 (87 years)maurya last king
puṣyamitra - BC 1218 - BC 1158 (60 years) First śuṅgavanśa king.
Agnimitra - BC 1158 - BC 1108 (50 years)
dēvabhūtini/kṣēmabhūmi - BC 928 -BC 918 (10 years). Śuṅga final king.
Vāsudēva - BC 918 - BC 869 (39 years) kāṇva's first king
Suśarma - BC 843 - BC 833 (10 years) last kāṇvaking.
Śrīmukha śātakarṇi - BC 833 - BC 810 (23 years)
gautamī putra śātakarṇi BC 433- BC 405 (25 years) (26th king of Satavahana dynasty)
candraśrī (Xandrames)- BC 331 - BC 333 (3 years.) He was a minor and killed by Chandragupta)
guptacandragupta (SandroKottas) - BC 327 - BC 320 (7 years)
samudragupta (SandroSyptus) - BC 320 - BC 269 (51 years)
māḷavādhipati vikramārka - BC 82 ~ AD 000 (He started vikrama śaka/vikrama sanvat - BC 58/57 .)
Kāḷidāsa, varāhamihira - (vikramādityas āsthāna kavis)
śālivāhana, ~ AD 50 - AD 100 (AD 78 is starting of Salivahana Saka)
*******
This list is elaborately mentioned across 7 Puranas and are consistent with minor variations. Kota Venkatachalam took pains to prepare the list and presented by verifying the original untampered manuscripts.
********
Now one question. Why should we believe in this list? In other words, what is the authenticity of this details? How to cross verify that these facts are correct?
Fortunately, Ancient Rishis have deviced a method to cross verify the facts. That method is called Astronomy.
We all studied somewhere or the other that, Kaliyuga started during Lord SriKrishna's last days of Avathara. Or somewhere after Mahabharata war. What is Kaliyuga in measurable sense? How do we say it has started at that point?
In order to understand that, we should briefly look in to the motion of saptarshi Mandala (Big dipper) and also Dhruva (pole star).
saptarshi mandala + Dhruva, the pole star.
Then if u play the entire video by increasing the speed to several folds, u can observe a phenomena. i.e., all the stars revolve around a particular star, which is called Dhruva. They revolve either in circular or elliptical orbits, but they do revolve around pole star.
Why this pole star is important during those days?
We all know earth is sperical (ellipsoid), and it has an axis. Earth revolves around itself on that axis. That axis in turn points to the north direction in space (Equinox). Dhruva is the star located at the point where the earth's axis points. The two sides of the earth of that axis are also called Dhruvas.
So, Dhruva (pole star ) points north. This is useful while navigating in oceans, and also to measure the directions in those times, when no lights and modern equipment was not available.
(Note: Though earth's axis points to Dhruva star, it is not constant all the time. This is called precision of equinoxes. This change of Dhruva Pole star will happen in several hundred years. We discard these minute details at this point)
Let's come to saptarshi Mandala. It is called Big dipper. This is a sequence of seven stars. Our grand parents were clearly able to identify this saptarshis. Even my Grand Mom shown me this during my childhood days.
This looks like a Sakata (Cart). When BalaKrishna kicked SakaTasura, it went above dhruva and stood up in space as a cart - a sanskrit poet Maagha wrote beautiful verse with this meaning. :)
Ok, We have 27 stars in our JyOtiSchakra as per Hindu calendar. we know that (Asvani, bharani, rohini, mRigaSira etc)
The saptarshi's for every 100 years stay in one nakshatra and then shift to next Nakshatra. i..e., if we draw a line of 3 stars of Saptarshis, that will meet a nakshatra, and that nakshatra will change for every 100 years. (This is because, stars will have translatory motion as well in space, and also the speed of rotation of stars vary from each other)
Saptarṣīṇāṁ tu yau pūrvau dr̥śyatē hyuditau niśi tayōstu madhyē nakṣatraṁ dr̥śyatē yatsamaṁ divi || (matysapurāṇaṁ 271.45)
The jyOtiShya Sastra pandita can estimate (see) - on which star saptarshi mandala is reciding.
Since Saptarshi Mandala stays in each nakshatra for 100 years, to complete one cycle, it will take 27 (total stars) X 100 = 2700 years to stay in all nakshatras and come back to the first. To complete 2 cycles, it'll take 2700 X 2 = 5400 years.
Currently saptarshi Mandala is residing in UttaraPhalguni star.
During Mahabharata war Saptarshi mandala was residing in "Makha" nakshatra. This is mentioned in Purana's and also in our ancient Austronomy. (ParaSara samHitha).
Saptarṣayō makhāyuktāḥ kālē pārikṣitē śatam | āndhrānśē ca caturvinśē bhaviṣyanti matē mama || (vāyupurāṇaṁ. 99.423)
Saptarṣayō makhāyuktāḥ kālē pārikṣitē śatam | brāhmaṇāstu caturvinśē bhaviṣyanti śataṁ samāḥ || (matsyapurāṇaṁ 272.47)
During Mahabharata time, saptarshis were reciding in Makha nakshatra. and later during Andhra Satavahana Brahmanas were ruling, they were in 24 th star from Makha.
So, with this austonomical evidence, we can clearly estimate that ~5100 years were elapsed since Mahabharata time.
Even the western austronomists have calculated the Kaliyuga and said that it has started at BC 3102 Feb 20, time 2:27:30, erly morning. Exactly 77 years before, i.e., in 3177, Saptarshi constelaation entered Makha. 38 years before that YudhiShThiraSaka was framed. It was during Parikshit (Son of Abhimanyu) time, the transition to Makha has happened.
However, the dynasty calculations were started with YudhiShThira Saka, i.e., from BC 3138.
(Note: The saptarshi constellation staying in a particular star is not 100 years, it is ~97.34. We need to apply correction factors to arrive at exact figures. Our intention is not that precision, hence that is neglected for this essay)
***********
To conclude :
1. Indian historical studies were around why and what, and the western perspective is when and who. Hence the study methods of history in ancient time and to western perspective was different. Indians never lacked the historical sense.
2. Puranas have clearly looked in to - even the when and who perspective.
3. The Chronology of kings ruled Magadha was clearly and elaborately mentioned in Puranas. Not just one, across 7 Puranas.
4. The list was backed up by a strong austronomical evidence, as we saw.
This chronology and the rulers time frame we can call as Version 1 of Indian history.
How that historical time line was distorted? That we see in upcoming part. It is done by a stupid called Sir William Jones whom we call the father of Indology, the legend etc. He is one of the stupid who doesn't know anything about India. We see that from his own references in upcoming part as well.
Excellent
రిప్లయితొలగించండిExtraordinary
రిప్లయితొలగించండి