Hindunet: The Hindu Universe: Year of Mahabharata, Pioneer Daily

Year of Mahabharata, By Saroj Bala
Pioneer Daily, 26 Feb 2004

For thousands of years, we have believed in the divinity of Shri Krishna. For us he was a Karmayogi par excellence who gave us action oriented philosophy of life in the form of Bhagavad Gita. But questions have constantly haunted us as to whether Krishna was a historical or mythical character and whether the war of Mahabharata was actually fought.

Till recently, we did not have the wherewithal to search for and establish the truth. But modern scientific tools and techniques like computers with planetarium softwares, advancements in archaeological and marine archaeological techniques, earth-sensing satellite photography and thermo-luminescence dating methods, all have made it possible to establish the authenticity and dating of many events narrated in ancient texts like the Mahabharata. Recent archaeo-astronomical studies, results of marine-archaeological explorations and overwhelming archaeological evidence have established the historicity and dating of many events narrated in the Mahabharata. These have led to the conclusion that Mahabharata War was actually fought in 1478 BC and Shri Krishna's Dwarka City got submerged under the sea in 1443 BC.

Astronomical Evidence: In the Mahabharata references to sequential solar and lunar eclipses as also references to some celestial observations have been made. Dr RN Iyengar, the great scientist of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, examined relevant references and searched for the compatible dates by making use of planetarium software (PVIS and EZC). He concluded that most of these references were internally consistent and that the eclipses and celestial observations of Mahabharata belong to the period 1493 BC-1443 BC of Indian History, (refer Indian Journal of History of Science/38.2/2003/77-115).

In the Mahabharata, there are references to three sequential solar eclipses and some other planetary positions. Reference to the first solar eclipse comes in the Sabha Parva (79.29), graphically described by Vidur when Pandavas start their journey to the forest on being banished for 12 years of life in exile and one year of life incognito after they had lost everything in the game of dice. After 13 years of exile and incognito life, the Pandavas returned to Hastinapur and demanded their kingdom back, but Duryodhana refused. Several efforts to prevent war failed and war became imminent.

There is a reference to the second solar eclipse in the Bhisma Parva (3.29), following a lunar eclipse occurring within the same fortnight a few days before the actual war of Mahabharata. These eclipses occurred after 14-15 years of the first solar eclipse The epic also refers to some unfavourable planetary positions between the second solar eclipse and the beginning of the war on Kartika Purnima (Bhisma Parva 3.14 to 3.19). On Kartika Krishna Ashtami, Saturn was near Rohini and Mars was between Jayestha and Anuradha. Twenty two days later, on Kartika Purnima, Saturn was near Rohini, Mars was near Jayestha (probably Uranus) was between Citra and Swati.

Another white planet (possibly Jupiter) had moved from Purva-bhadra to Uttar-bhadra. Reference to the third solar eclipse comes in the Mausala Parva (2.19 to 2.20) occurring in the 36th year of the Mahabharata War. This was visible from the city of Dwarka, which is stated to have been subsequently submerged under the sea. For these observations to be internally consistent, there should have been three solar eclipses within 50 years. The first one and the second one after a gap of 14-15 years should have been visible from Kurukshetra whereas the third solar eclipse should have been visible from Dwarka after 35 years of the second one.

Marine Archaeological explorations around Dwarka: The on-shore and off-shore explorations carried out in and around Dwarka during last 50 years have revealed that Dwarka was a prosperous city in ancient times, which was destroyed and reconstructed several times. The work of great excavators like ZD Ansari and MS Mate and chance discovery of temples of 9th century AD and 1st century AD buried near the present Dwarkadhish Temple, prompted setting up of a Marine Archaeology Centre jointly by the National Institute of Oceanography and the Archaeological Survey of India. A project for marine archaeological explorations in Dwarka was initiated under the dynamic leadership of great marine archaeologist Dr Rao, who has the distinction of being awarded "The World Ship Trust Award" for outstanding research in this field.

Dr Rao's team consisted of expert under-water explorers, trained diver-photographers and archaeologists. The technique of geophysical survey was combined with the use of echo-sounders, mud-penetrators, sub-bottom profilers and under-water metal detectors. This team carried out 12 marine archaeological expeditions between the year 1983 to 1992 AD and articles/antiquities recovered were sent to Physical Research Laboratory for dating. By using thermo-luminescence, carbon dating and other modern scientific techniques, artifacts were found to be belonging to the period 15th to 18th century BC. In his great work, The Lost City of Dwarka, Dr Rao has given scientific details of these discoveries and artifacts.

Conclusions arrived at after carrying out these under-water archaeological explorations support and validate the dates arrived at through astronomical calculations. These also prove that the reconstructed city of Dwarka was a prosperous port town, and that it was in existence for about 60-70 years in the 15th century BC before being submerged under the sea in the year 1443 BC.

Attempts have also been made to determine the year of Mahabharata from the details available in scriptures which include Puranas. When events are unrecorded for quite some time and are passed on to the succeeding generations through Shruti and Smriti, the inaccuracies and myths get mixed with reality on account of differences in the perceptions of different individuals. However, it is for the objective rational individual mind to find out and differentiate fact from fiction. Important information, including the genealogy charts of rulers after Yudhishthira, are available in Srimad Bhagvatam, Matsya Puran and Vayu Purana. On the basis of such evidence, famous historian Lord Cunningham assigned the year 1424 BC to the War of Mahabharata.

Evidences referred to earlier point more to the probability that nobody had come to India from Central Asia or from any other place. In fact, Indo-Aryan kings and warriors had come to Kurukshetra in their war chariots from all over India to participate in the Mahabharata War and that a whole lot of people got killed in that war. The killers as well as the killed, the victors as well as the vanquished, the charioteers as well as the foot soldiers, all were Indians who had already experienced thousands of years of prosperous and advanced civilisation. Archaeology also records a continuous indigenous evolution of Vedic civilisation going back to 5000 BC at sites like Mehrgarh and Koldi.

It is sad that so far we have not known even a fraction about our ancient civilisation and cultural achievements. Detailed factual data in our ancient texts and Sanskrit manuscripts is beckoning us to carry out further research. By making use of modern scientific instruments and techniques we must discover the true facts about our ancient past. If we do, we may be able to gather supportive evidences to reassert that ours was the oldest civilisation in the world and that our ancestors, the Vedic Aryans, had travelled from India to various parts of Asia and Europe to spread our knowledge, civilisation and culture. When this is recorded we would be able to hold our heads higher and be able to take on the future with greater confidence.

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MADAN: you may want to check this site out too! Very interesting. Here is the contents, I zipped out, just in case the link does not work!

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COINS OF INDO-GREEK DYNASTIES

After death of Alexander in 323 BC, his generals, known as diadochi started fighting for his massive empire. Seleukos Nictator, a friend and general of Alexander proclaimed himself King of Persia,Bactria (afghanistan) and Syria. He founded a dynasty named after him, widely known as Seleukid dynasty. He had his capital at Babylon and invaded India (modern Punjab, located in northern India and Pakistan) in 304 BC, which was then Muaryan empire ruled by Chandragupta Maurya. Chandragupta Maurya (Sandrocottus according to Greek Historians) put an army of hundred thousand men and 9000 war elephants on battle field! The sheer number of men on battlefield and the battle elephants (I guess Greeks were more worried of beasts rather than Indian soldiers) made Seluekos change his mind. Wisely, Seleucus concluded an alliance and gave his daughter in marriage to Chandragupta. He also transferred Kabul, Kandahar (modern Afganistan) and Baluchistan (modern Pakistan) to Chandragupta. Chandragupta in turn presented him with 500 war elephants. Seleukos sent an ambassador named Magasthenes to Chandragupta's court, who repeatedly visited Patliputra (modern patana in Bihar state), capital of Chandragupta. Magasthenes has written detailed description of India and Chandragupta's reign, which is perhaps the earliest description of ancient India by a foreign traveller. Seleukos minted Coins bearing his name which are rare gold staters and silver tetradrachms/drachms (some day I shall introduce the image).

In 281 BC Seleukos was assasinated but the kings who followed him maintained friendly relationship with mighty Mauryan emperors for some time (records exist that Antiochus II was in friendly terms with Chandragupta's son Bindusara). Seleucid empire disintegrated soon after assasination of Seleukos into Parthia (Arsaces as King), Syria (Antiochus I as king) and Bactria (Diodotus as king). During 151-150 BC, a Seleukid pretender, Alexander Balas, Attalos II of Pergamum, Ariarathes V of Cappadocia, Ptolemy VI and the Roman Senate, arrived in Ake-Ptolemais, to lay claim to the Seleukid throne. Within months they won a decisive military victory over Demetrios I, who was killed in battle. With the defeat of Demetrios I, Phoenicia and Southern Syria, disputed territory that separated the Seleukids and Ptolemies was now in the hand of an Egyptian ally. To cement the alliance between the two empires, Ptolemy VI offered his daughter in marriage, Cleopatra Thea, to Alexander Balas. Shown below is the coin minted by Demetrios I, Seleukid Kings of Syria.

Demetrios I, the Soter
162-150 BC
Seleukid King of Syria
Silver drachm
Weight: 4.2 gm
Obverse: Diademed head
Reverse: Cornucopia
Minted at Antioch, Yr 162 BC
Reference: Newell 134

Diodotos was a Seleucid governor of Bactria who seized the opportunity and declared himself king of Bactria (256 BC). He soon issued gold and copper coins bearing his portrait on obverse and Greek deities (prominently Zeus) on reverse. He is considered to be the first ruler of Indo-Greek dynasties which ruled north-western part of India, called Bactria . He was followed by many kings of Greek origin who ruled this region for little more than 100 years till arrival of next conquorers, Kushans.

Diodotos
250-230 BC
Indo-Greek Dynasty
Bronze Unit
Weight: 1.00 gm
MAC#1607

After death of last great Mauryan King, Ashoka, India was disintegrated into many small kingdoms, which provided great opportunity for Indo-Greek kings for eastern expansion of their kingdoms. Seleucid monarch, Antiochus III (223-187 BC) carried out the third Greek (first Greek invasion is considered to be by Alexander while second is by Seleucus) invasion of India in 206 BC. The first stop was the Kabul valley in Afghanistan, then ruled by Mauryan governor, Subhagsena or Subhashsena ( Sophagasenus according to Greek historians). Interestingly, the invasion did not escalate into a expected massive bloodshed but resulted into exchange of gifts and Antiochus withdrew from India. Subhagsena is listed in names of Mauryan princes and also Yadava dynasty as descendants of Pradyumana. Most Probably, he was a prince of ancient Vrishni vansha (claims descent from lord Krishna) and also related to Mauruyan dynasty. Possibly he was a grandson of Ashoka or Ashoka's son Kunala. Initially, he ruled as governor of Kabul valley from 206 BC but soon assumed independance on Shunga coup in 185 BC. After withdrawal of Antiochus from India, Euthydemos consolidated his realm in Bactria by re-oraganizing the currency and mints. Euthydemos died in 190 BC and succeded by his son Demetrius. Demetrius (190-171 BC) was the first Indo-Greek ruler who successfully brought most of the Afganistan, Punjab and Sindh under his control. He defeated Subhagsena, now king of Kabul and proudely took a title `King of Indians'. The descendants of Subhagsena did not die out but went on to found state of zabul (or Gujni in Afghansistan) before retreating back to Indus/Punjab and are current Bhatti rulers of Jaisalmer princely state (modern Rajasthan).

Demetrios I
200-190 BC
Indo-greek King of Baktria
Silver drachm
Weight: 4.1 gm
Obverse: Head of Demetrios wearing elephant's skin
Reverse: Herakles holding club and lion's skin

The coins stuck by Euthydemus, Demetrius and Antimachus (weriearing kausia cap and half mocking smile) are purely Greek in style, in language and in weight. These coins are THE BEST example of art as applied to portraiture, anywhwere in the world. Such beautiful coins depicting lifelike portraits of these kings have no parallel in history. After so called `conquest of India', Demetrius minted coins showing himself wearing elephant's scalp which represent the excellent example of portrait coins of Indo-Greeks. Demetrius was followed by two of his generals, Apollodotus I and Menander who proclaimed themselves to be kings of this house. Both ruled in different regions of North Western India.

MENANADER (160-145 BC)

Menander
160-145 BC
Silver drachm, Bilingual
Obverse: Bust of King, Greek legends
Reverse: Pallas, Kharosthi legends
Minted at Panjshir
Weight: 2.33 gm
MAC#1791

Menander is the only Yavana (person of Greek origin in Indian language) king who has become celebrated in ancient Indian literature. He is known as `Milinda' who had his capital at Sakala (modern Sialkot in Pakistan, Euthymedia in Greek). He one of the two leading characters of a Pali (ancient language of India) treatise Milindpanha (Questions of Milinda). This book describes fundamental principles of Buddhist philosophy which is narrated in form of a dialogue between King Milinda and Buddhist scholar Nagasena. Thus Menander is well known for Indian historians as a philosopher with superior knowledge in various schools of thought and not as a mighty conqueror. He was born at Charikar, a country between Kabul and Panjshir rivers, a connecting link between Bactria and India. Menander has earned tremendous fame as a great ruler not only in India but also in Greek world. There is no doubt that he was great conqueror and ruled over large area. His coins are found in all of modern Afganistan, Pakistan and north western region of modern India.

The numismatic record of Menander is extraordinarily good which shows greater variety and wider distribution than those of any other Indo-Greek ruler. Shown above is a fine example of his coin minted at Taxila (Takshshila). This is a bilingual coin with interrupted legends. On obverse is king throwing Javelin, the legends are in Greek, King Soter Menander while reverse shows Pallas Athene facing left with sloping shield. The legends on reverse are in ancient Indian language Prakrit, written in Kharoshthi script which reads Maharajasa tratasa Menandrasa (-of the king, saviour, Menander) .

APOLLODOTUS I (180-160 BC)

Apollodotus I
180-160 BC
Silver drachm
Obverse: Elephant, Greek legends
Reverse: Humped bull, Kharosthi legends
minted at Taxila
Weight: 2.38 gm
Reference: MIG#207h, MAC#1754

Another general of Demetrius who became king and minted beautiful coins. Shown above is very atteactive coin mintd by him which is square in shape. Before arrival of Indo-Greeks, local population of his newly acquired kingdom had been using rectangular/square shaped punch-marked coins for most transactions. Perhaps this fact had enfluenced him to issue square shaped, bilingual coinage which can be accepted readily by local merchants. Secondly, to keep up with Indian tradition of punching animals like Elephant and Bull on punch-marked coin, this coin also bear these two animals on the coin. The legends on reverse are in Prakrit, written in Kharoshthi script which reads Maharajasa tratarasa Apaladatasa(-of the king, saviour, Apollodotus ).

PHILOXENUS (110-80 BC)

Philoxenus
110-80 BC
Silver tetradrachm
Minted at Pushkalavati
Weight: 7.32 gm
MAC#1959

Bactrian king Antimachus claimed that he was a successor of Diodotus and thus belonged to house of Euthydemus. He ruled in lower Kabul Valley consisting of Jalalabad and Peshwar districts (part of modern Afganistan and Pakistan). He was succeded by Philoxenus and Diomedes who jointly ruled the western Indo-Greek kingdom from river Indus to Qunduz region of bactria.Their coins depicts king wearing flat cap (kausia) sitting on prancing horse. Philoxenus kingdom consited of Valley of Jhelum river. His coins are found only to the east of Jalalabad district. Philoxenus and Diomedes were succeded by two pairs of kings: Archebios, Peucolaus and Theophiles Nicias. Archebios and Peucolaus issued coins in Kabul valley and Koht in 80-60 BC while Theophiles and Nicias struck their coins in Gandhara. Shown above is fine example of coin minted by Philoxenus. On obverse is king throwing Javelin with his name below the portrait while on reverse is king mounted on prancing horse. This is another bilingual coin with Greek legends on obverse while Kharoshti legends Maharajasa apadihatasa Philasinasa on reverse.

NICIAS (80-60 BC)

Niciuas
80-60 BC
Silver tetradrachm
Weight: 9.09 gm

Most likely Nicias was junior colleague of Theophilos who might have succeded to the kingdom of Gandhara. Coins of Nicias are found mostly in Jhelum valley (modern Pakistan). Shown above is a nice example of his coin which is bilingual. On obverse the legends are in Greek with his name at the bottom of portrait while reverse shows Pallas facing left with sloping shield. The legends on reverse are in Kharaoshti which reads `Maharajasa tratarasa Nikiasa'.

HERMAEUS (40-1 BC)

The kings of house of Eucratides ruled in the region south of Hidu Kush and upper Kabul valley (southern half of modern Afganistan). Hermaeus belonged to this house and minted coins depicting Zeus enthroned. Hermaeus was the last Indo-Greek king. His kingdom was invaded successively by Shakas (Scythias), Pahalavas (parthians) and lastly by Kushanas. It is very likely that Indo-Greeks were followed by Pahalavas which in turn were replaced by Kushanas. Coins bearing last Yavana King Hermaeus and first Kushana ruler Kujula Kadphises are available indicating eventual passing of Kabul valley and whole of North east India to Kushana dynasty, the next suzerain power in ancient India.

Shown below are two of his coins portraying him on obverse. On reverse one can see Zeus enthroned. Both are bilingual coins with Greek legends on obverse while Kharoshti legends Maharajasa tratarasa Heramayasa on reverse.

Hermaeus
40-1 BC
Silver tetradrachm
Minted at Chach
Weight: 9.17 gm
MAC#2016

Hermaeus
40-1 BC
Silver tetradrachm
Minted at Kapisa
Weight: 12.72 gm
MAC#2034

The portraits on all Indo-greeks coins are very realistic which express powerful features and minute personal details very clearly. This indicate that all the engravers were from same school of art and obviously very well familiar with Hellinstic art. Indian coinage is greatly enfluenced by coinage of Indo-Greeks. The policy of rulers to show their subject their true appearance was totally unknown in Indian subcontinent. The first Indian King who issued coins bearing his portrait was Saubhuti (Sophytes or Sopeithes according to Greek historians). He ruled in Bactria or Panjab in 315-305 BC and minted Greek styled coins (I am hoping to get his coin which are just too expensive). His silver coins were greatly enfluenced by his contemporary Bactrian Greek ruler Seleucus Nictator. He is the first Indian ruler whose name and portrait appears on a coin. The reverse shows cock standing right>>

http://www.med.unc.edu/~nupam/greek1.html

I was doing a search on BHOJRAJ (who may be the JOB of OT)
I am not sure yet.

WHen I read JOB under OT, there were 3 friends of him who may be descendents of ABRAHM, HARAN and NAHOR..(names I will post later here)

BUT ELIHU could be one of the characters, descendent of LORD RAMA only. For it says in the OT that ELIHU was a descendant of "RAM" CLAN.

Have you read the OT at any time?

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