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Indian History - 2 - Hauma Hamiddha - 01-05-2005
Previous version of this thread is available at ..
http://indiaforumarchives.blogspot.com/200...an-history.html
<b> South Indian works on dharma in the middle period</b>
-700 CE bAlakrIDA a commentary on the yAGNYavAlkya smR^iti was composed by vishvarUpa in Shringagiri in Karnataka.
-?700 CE bhAruchi wrote commentaries on the viShNu dharmashastra and the manusmR^iti.
-1120 CE mitAksharA was written by viGNYAneshvara who was the prime minister of the chAlukya king vikramAditya-04. It was a definitive work on Hindu law that gained currency throughout much of India and continues to be authoritative to this date. It was based on the yAGNYavalkya dharmashAstra. He also wrote the work Asaucha dashaka or a brief set of sholkas on ritual pollution.
-1120 CE The shilahara king aparAditya, who ruled over Goa and the Konkans wrote a great compendium on Hindu law entitled the yAGNYavalkya smR^iti bhAShya. Though it traces it antecedents to yAGNYavalkya's law book, it is a rather independent volume of law in that era. aparAditya also composed a work on nyAya atomism and logic: the nyAyasAra TIka.
-1150 CE nArAyaNa shAstri, a disciple of viGNYAneshvara composed a compendium on civil law entitled the vyvahAra shiromaNi.
-1200 devana bhaTTa in Karnataka wrote the extensive digest of various smR^itis: smR^iti chandrika
-1260s paNDita haradatta in Tamil Nad wrote his famous commentaries on dharma sUtras of Apastamba and gautama. Some authorities believe he lived in the 800s of CE and also authored a work on the grammar of pANini. They may have been distinct
-1260 hemAdri, the prime minister of the yAdava king of Maharashtra, mahAdeva yAdava, wrote a great Hindu encyclopedia: the chaturvarga chintAmaNi. It is one of the most voluminous Sanskrit works ever composed and covers at length topics like vratas, dAna, tIrtha, moksha, parisheSha, prAyshchitta and vyavahAra. All aspects of Hindu law were encompassed in the encyclopedia along with other topics like geography and ritual. On legal aspects he often mentions devana bhaTTa.
-late 1200s varadarAja in Tamil Nad wrote the vyvahAra nirNaya which tries to interpret the legal principles based on mImAsa.
-1350s mAdhava vidyAraNya, minister of the Vijayanagara empire wrote the parAshara mAdhavIya, which followed at its core the law book of parAshara. However, it independently developed several aspects that were not covered by the hoary smR^iti.
-1350s His brother, sAyaNa, wrote the puruShArtha sudhAnidhi which covers several aspects relating to personal law.
-1375 vishveshvara wrote a text called mitAkShara subodhini that develops on the earlier work of viGNYAneshvara.
-1500 harita venkaTAchArya, a shrivaiShNava scholar composed the smR^iti ratnAkara which survives to this date amongst shrivaiShNava brahmins.
-1510 paNDita dalapati wrote the voluminous text nR^isimha prasAda, a work in 12 chapters that covers all aspects of Hindu civil and ritual law. dalapati was an effective politician who had infiltrated the court of the Nizam Shah and managed to induce the Sultan to allow Hindus to be ruled independent of the Shariat under their own legal code.
-1510 lakShmIdhara, the famed Tantrik from Orissa wrote the sarasvati vilAsa, which systematically deals with the contradictions in aparAditya, viGNYAneshvara and bhAruchi's work and attempts a conciliatory synthesis.
-1600 vaidyanAtha dIkShita in Tamil Nad wrote the smR^iti muktAphala which is considered as the authoritative text on legal issues by the smArta brahmins of Tamil Nad.
This brief survey shows that Hindu law was not static as is commonly painted in Leftist and secularist history-writing on India. While the legal issues were based on the earlier legal tradition comprising of dharma sUtras followed by the smR^itis or the dharma shAstra, they typically diverged from their precedents. The divergence allowed discussion of new legal issues uncovered by the earlier legal sources and importantly account for the changing times. Attempts were made to compile legal digests by drawing out material from diverse earlier authorities, as well as develop new systems by recombination and reconciliation of earlier sources. In several cases, new concepts may be slipped in with different degrees of conservative or reformist opinion.
However, it should be kept in mind that many of the issues are mainly relevant to the Arya varNas and their pre-occupations. It is clear that the fourth varNa was sort outside of the consideration of many of the points discussed in the smR^iti and hence their complaints about enforcement of oppressive laws by the Arya varNas are rather unjustified on occasions.
Indian History - 2 - Guest - 01-06-2005
HH guroo,
If possible some examples of divergence b/w such works would be great. <!--emo&:rock--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rock.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='rock.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Indian History - 2 - ramana - 01-08-2005
Spanish troupe to dance to Rajasthani folk music
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Spanish troupe to dance to Rajasthani folk music
Jaipur, Jan 7 (PTI): A Spanish troupe would present famous Flamenko dance on Rajasthani folk music Maand in the International Jaipur Heritage Festival begining from January 14 here, organisers said today.
There will be fusion of performing arts of East and West with a Spanish troupe, led by famous dancer Eva Santiago, presenting 'jugalbandi' composition with well-known Rajasthani Maand singers Manganiayars during the 10-day event, Director of festival committee Divya Bhatia said.
Wearing long skirts and specially designed shoes,<b> Flamenko artistes perform the fast-stepped dance on guitar while Manganiyars are also famous for their fast rendering of Rajasthani folk songs on the tunes of traditional musical instruments.</b>
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Any one see parallels in the dance technique not the style? I submit falmeco came to Spain from the Gypsies who were displaced from Sindh/Rajasthan area due to the Arab/Turkish invasions/raids.
Indian History - 2 - Guest - 01-08-2005
<!--QuoteBegin-ramana+Jan 8 2005, 01:18 AM-->QUOTE(ramana @ Jan 8 2005, 01:18 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->
Any one see parallels in the dance technique not the style? I submit falmeco came to Spain from the Gypsies who were displaced from Sindh/Rajasthan area due to the Arab/Turkish invasions/raids. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Ramana garu,
Flamenco Dance History
They just get "India" part fine, but here too "caste system" has to come in <!--emo&:blink:--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='blink.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tongue.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Indian History - 2 - ramana - 01-14-2005
Ashish Talwar in Pioneer, 13 Jan., 2005....
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Sher Mandal
Ashish Talwar
<b>Inside the Purana Qila, to the south of the Qala-i-Kuhna Masjid lies a double storeyed octagonal tower of red sandstone relieved by marble. Known as Sher Mandal, this monument is surmounted by an octagonal pavilion or chhatri. </b>It has a recessed arch in each of its sides. The second storey has a cruciform central chamber with recesses on its four sides. Its interior is decorated with glazed tiles and painted plaster-work.
What purpose did this unique building serve is not known. It may have been built by Sher Shah as a pleasure resort or it may have been used a library by Humayun. Humayun had built Dinapanah at the site of the present Purana Qila. Sher Shah Suri, after chasing Humayun out of India had built the Purana Qila. After Humayun retook Delhi, once again shifted into the Purana Qila which was once again named Dinapanah. <b>In fact, the excavations at the Purana Qila apart from producing continuing levels from around 1000 BC to the Rajput period around 1000 AD, have also yielded evidence of occupation during the Sultanate rule. During the Sultanate period, rubble and brickbats were used for ordinary houses. Glazed ware both of Central Asian affinities and local manufacture have been found. Coins of Balban's and Muhammad bin Tughluq have turned up at these levels.</b>
Some fascinating objects of the Early Mughal Period have also been found from a refuse dump of discarded broken household objects. Included are jars of eggshell thin grey ware, glazed ware dishes and painted Chinese porcelain. One of these porcelain pieces has the Chinese inscription - Made in the Great Ming Dynasty of the Cheng Hua era (1465-1487). Another piece has an inscription of a fairy tale in Chinese verse. Other objects include wine bottles of glass, a gold earring inlaid with emerald and pearls and coins of Adil Shah Sur.
While the fact whether the Sher Mandal was Humayun's library or not is uncertain, accounts of the accident resulting in Humayun's death are well recorded. <b>While descending the steep steps of his library at Dinapanah, Humayun slipped and rolled down the stairs, falling headlong on the ground. </b>Blood came out of his nose and ears. After remaining unconscious for two days, he breathed his last on 26 January 1556.
For 17 days, Humayun's death was kept a closely guarded secret as there was fear of uprisings. <b>During these days, one Mulla Bakshi, dressed in royal clothes, daily appeared on the palace balcony to acknowledge the population's customary greetings. </b>The proclamation of death was made only when detachments of the army had been placed at all strategic points to deal effectively with any likely insurrection. Along with the proclamation, it was simultaneously was announced that Akbar had ascended the throne and all was quiet throughout the length and breadth of the empire.
Akbar ascended the throne on February 14, 1556, at Kalanaur. Some Afghan governors of principalities who were also relatives of Sher Shah aspired to seize the vacant throne. <b>Humayun's accidental death could have sounded the death-knell for Mughal rule in India but Akbar's luck and the courage of the loyal Bairam Khan ensured that Akbar was firmly established as Emperor of India.</b>
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Indian History - 2 - Guest - 01-14-2005
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Humayun's accidental death could have sounded the death-knell for Mughal rule in India but Akbar's luck and the courage of the loyal Bairam Khan ensured that Akbar was firmly established as Emperor of India.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Akbar was just a teen around fourteen when Humayun died. There's a very interesting story of a relatively unknown Hindu trader called Hemu who rose rapidly through military ranks of the Hindu forces and led an army against Akbar and almost won Delhi. Luck was against him when a stray arrow hit his eye and he fell; his army panicked and left the battle field. Hemu was imprisoned and brought before Akbar who spared his life. But Bairam Khan wouldn't have it and he personally beheaded Hemu.
(from a book I was recently recently, sorry don't remember; may have been 'Shades of Sword' by M J Akbar)
Indian History - 2 - Guest - 02-10-2005
Kaushal,
The history of the subcontinent has to be revised, completely. There may be an asian migration theory after all, but the other way around; migration outwards. Either that, or a much larger civilisation spanning most of asia receded over time to just the subcontinent. Too many scholars are now saying this, and we have to take a less parochial view and look outside the subcontinent for the bigger picture; that there is unmistakable evidence of linguistic connections from the Mediterranean to Madagascar, to Kazakhstan right till AustroPolynesia. The evidence cannot be dismissed, and currents views of Indian history dont fit with it. It disturbs and overturns it radically.
You may want to take this up as part of your history studies. These theories also absolutely trashes the traditional AIT.
Regards.
Pathma
<b>ETRUSCAN, A DRAVIDIAN TONGUE?</b>
by Arysio Nunes dos Santos
arysio@horizontes.net
We have, some years ago, made the remarkable discovery â which we now prove in full detail â that <b>Etruscan, the ancestral tongue of the ancient Romans, is indeed a member of the Dravidian family of languages.</b> The importance of this discovery cannot be overstated, as it radically alters all that is known of human prehistory. Among other things, it shows that the mobility of early man was far larger than allowed by the conventional academic doctrines of historiography and archaeology.
Secondly, the present discovery demonstrates the great importance that coy India had in civilizing the other nations, not only in the Far East, but also in the Mediterranean region, the so-called Old World. Dravida, even today one of Indiaâs main tongues, is also closely related to the Austronesian languages, spoken all over the South Seas, from Madagascar in the West to Easter Island in the East. So, in a very literal way, we can say that <b>Dravida â the name given the family â is indeed a global tongue that well deserves the name of Proto-World, the tongue formerly spoken in the primordial center where humanity first evolved, before its great diaspora.</b>
http://www.verbix.com/documents/etruscan-dravidian.htm#intr
Indian History - 2 - Guest - 02-11-2005
Tsunami throws up India relics
The deadly tsunami could have uncovered the remains of an ancient port city off the coast in southern India.
Archaeologists say they have discovered some stone remains from the coast close to India's famous beachfront Mahabalipuram temple in Tamil Nadu state following the 26 December tsunami.
They believe that the "structures" could be the remains of an ancient and once-flourishing port city in the area housing the famous 1200-year-old rock-hewn temple.
Three pieces of remains, which include a granite lion, were found buried in the sand after the coastline receded in the area after the tsunami struck[QUOTE]
<img src='http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40818000/jpg/_40818721_relics203afp.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
Indian History - 2 - ramana - 02-12-2005
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Alexander's horse Bucephalas also died in this battle. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
There is a village/town in Kashmir near Surankote called Bafliaz reputed to be the burial place of the horse. So the sense of geography is quite bad.
Indian History - 2 - Guest - 02-12-2005
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Hemu was imprisoned and brought before Akbar who spared his life.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
My recollection is that Akbar earned his stripes as a Ghazi (killer of Kafirs)after beheading Hemu . It is well recorded that Akbar was inordinately proud of his attainment of Ghazihood. That such was the case(the inordinate pride that the Muslims felt in being a Ghazi), is enshrined in the naming of the town of Ghaziabad (the city of Ghazis) near Dilli.
Indian History - 2 - Guest - 02-19-2005
More history.
<b>Medieval Chola Empire and it's relations with Miyanmar</b>
http://forumhub.lunarpages.com/hub/viewlite.php?t=1719
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<b>Period of Rajaraja Chola - 1 {A.D.985 ñ 1014} </b>
With the beginning of the tenth century the Cholas with their capital in Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, emerged as a powerful ruling dynasty after a long spell in partial obscurity in the political scene of South India.
In the year A.D.985 king Rajaraja Chola -1 ascended the throne as the next successor to the Chola kingdom in Tamil Nadu. He gradually conquered the neighbouring and far lying territories within the Indian continent, forming a great Chola empire.
He laid a firm foundation to this empire by the wits of his political ingenuity and well streamlined administrative system backed by a powerful army and naval power which made it to grow steadily into an overseas empire.
During this period in Miyanmar (the former Burma) there existed two main kingdoms, namely the Arimaddanapura kingdom of the region called Marammadesa (the present central Miyanmar) having the capital at Arimaddanapura (the present Pagan), and the Talaing (Mon) kingdom of the region called Rammanadesa (the present southern Miyanmar also known as Arumanam in Tamil) having its capital at Sudhammavati (the present Thaton). The capital city of Arimaddanapura of the medieval period was also known as Pugarama and Pukkan.
While emperor Rajaraja Chola -1 was on the Chola throne, king Kyaungbyu (A.D.984 -1006) was on the throne of Arimaddanapura kingdom of Marammadesa, and was followed by his son king Kyizo {A.D.1006-1012} on throne. But we are aware of the king who was ruling the Talaing kingdom of Rammanadesa during the period of Rajaraja - 1.
During this period the traders from these two kingdoms traded with Tamil Nadu in their commodities, and the teak wood from Rammanadesa being one of their trading items, was known as "Arumanavan" in the Tamil Nadu.
<b>Period of Rajendra Chola ñ 1 {A.D.1012-1044}</b>
With the succession of emperor Rajendra Chola - 1 on Chola throne after Rajaraja Chola - 1, king Sokkate (A.D.1012-1037) started rule in the Arimaddanapura kingdom after his elder brother king Kyizo, and in this same period we also note a king named Manuha (A.D.?? ñ 1057) ruling the Talaing kingdom of Rammanadesa.
During this time there had been much sea traffic between these two countries. The traders from Tamil Nadu engaged themselves in trade with the Miyanmar kingdoms of Rammanadesa (also known as Arumanam) and the Mirammadesa.
In the meantime the Sri Vijaya kingdom of Sumatra was spreading it's authority over whole of Sumatra and Java - of the present Indonesia and over whole of Malaysia, forming an empire which was at one time a great hinderance to the flourishing trade of the Cholas in South-East Asia. It also seems that there had been similer hinderences to the traders from Tamil Nadu in Rammanadesa in present Miyanmar.
Rajendra Chola ñ 1 sent one of his grandson with great force in A.D.1024 in many ships under a Chola prince who later bore the title as "Kadaremkonda Cholan", which on their way to South-East Asia after capturing the Manakkavaram (Great Nicobar Island), reached the country of Rammanadesa in southern Miyanmar.
They devastated the seaport city of Mapappalam (most possibly the present Dagon or Rangoon), and the interior capital city of Sudammavathi (Thaton) with "protected fortress walls" - of the Talaing (Mon) kingdom of Rammanadesa (Arumanam), and defeated it's ruling king Manuha. It seems king Manuha submitted to the Rajendra Chola's forces in this war and agreed to pay tributes.
At the Arimaddanapur kingdom king Sokkate was followed by his younger brother Anuruddha also known as Anawratha (A.D.1037-1079) on the throne.
<b>Period of Rajadhiraja Chola ñ 1 {A.D.1018-1054} </b>
In the year A.D.1044 Rajendra Chola -1 died and followed by his eldest son emperor Rajadhiraja Chola ñ 1 {A.D.1018-1054} on Chola throne. It appears the king Manuha continued to pay tributes to the Cholas and the trade between two countries continued.
<b>Period of Rajendra Chola -2 {A.D.1051-1063} </b>
Rajadhiraja Chola ñ 1 was followed by his younger brother emperor Rajendra Chola ñ 2 on Chola throne.
Some years later a Buddhist dignitary named Shin Arahan who came to the Arimaddana kingdom from the Talaing kingdom in south Miyanmar and converted king Anuruddha to Theravada Buddhism. Shin Arahan also informed him that in the capital city Sudammavati of the Talaing kingdom, there were thirty sets of three Buddhist Pitakas and also many sacred relics.
King Anuruddha deeply engrossed in Theravada Buddhism sent his wise minister with much gifts and presents to king Manuha requesting some copies of Pitaka and relics which was refused by him with much ill reply.
This ended up with enraged king Anuruddha waging war with king Manuha of the Talaing kingdom in the year A.D.1057, in which king Manuha was defeated and taken captive with his entire family to Arimaddanapura.
From this year onwards the Rammanadesa became part of the Arimaddana empire under the rule of king Anuruddha, and a viceroy was appointed to overlook the affairs of this region. King Anuruddha chose Tharehkiltara (present Prome) in the Pegu region as his new capital of Rammanadesa in place of Thaton, which has now lost it's importance with it's destruction by his forces and with the capture of it's king Manuha.
It appears emperor Anuruddha with the fall of Rammanadesa, and it coming under his empire possibly appointed one of his own viceroy to rule over same, and also refused to pay tributes to the Cholas.
There seems to have been no immediate response and retaliation from the Cholas on the fall of Rammanadesa to Anuruddha's forces, and which was now in the hands of the Arimaddanapur empire.
<b>Period of Virarajendra Chola {A.D.1062-1070} </b>
Rajendra Chola ñ 2 was followed by his younger brother emperor Virarajendra Chola on Chola throne. It appear during this time the viceroy of Anuruddha interfered with the privilages enjoyed by the Chola traders already trading in Rammanadesa.
In this same period the king of Kadarem (present Kedah region of Malaysia) with the re-capture of this kingdom by the ruling king of Sri Vijaya of that period, sought the assistance of Virarajendra Chola in regaining his kingdom.
The emperor Virarajendra Chola sent an expedition in the year A.D.1068 under his nephew (sister's son) Kulothunga to help the king of Kadarem in winning back his kingdom. Kulothunga Chola lead his great forces in person, and reached Rammanadesa on his way to Kadarem and defeated the viceroy of Anuruddha ruling from Tharehkiltara (Prome) and captured the Rammanadesa (Arumanam).
However Kulothunga Chola re-instated the viceroy of Anuruddha at Rammanadesa on king Anuruddha agreeing to pay tributes to Cholas and allowing the Chola traders to trade freely in this region. It appears Kulothunga Chola thereafter stationed a fleet of Chola forces at Thandaung east of Prome to look after the interests of the Chola traders concentrated in this region. As a mark of his victory over Rammanadesa Kulothunga Chola left two stone pillars of victory "jayastamba" at Prome.
<b>Period of Athirajendra Chola {A.D.1070-1073} </b>
In the year A.D.1070 emperor Virarajendra Chola died, and his son Athirajendra Chola {A.D.1070-1073} succeeded on he Chola throne.
During this period the king Vijayabahu - 1 (A.D.1059-1114) of Sri Lanka was struggling hard to relieve the northen half of his country from the Chola domination. After many unsuccesfull efforts, few years before the year A.D.1071 he sent some envoys with rich presents to emperor Anuruddha of Arimaddanapur in Miyanmar, requesting for military assistance against Cholas.
But Anuruddha probably realising the impending danger to his growing empire, in the event he antagonised the mighty Cholas by providing forces to Vijayabahu of Sri Lanka, instead sent rich presents to him including camphor and sandlewood in place of soldiers.
<b>Period of Kulothunga Chola - 1 {A.D.1073-1123} </b>
Athirajendra Chola too died shortly thereafter in illness, which resulted in emperor Kulothunga Chola - 1 {A.D.1073-1123} ascending the Chola throne as the next successor in the year A.D.1073.
In Sri Lanka Vijayabahu - 1 withstanding the decision made by Anuruddha, on his own waged war with the Cholas and successfully expelled them from Sri Lanka in the year A.D.1074, after a period of nearly 72 years of their direct rule over the northern half of Sri Lanka. With this victory king Vijayabahu assumed the title "Chaththuru Chola kula anthaha". The new Chola emperor the Kulothunga Chola - 1 made no attempts in recovering the lost northern half of Sri Lanka.
King Vijayabahu immediately after his victory over Cholas in A.D.1074 sent his envoys to Rammanadesa - which was now in the control of the Arimaddana king - requesting for twenty pious elderly Buddhist monks versent in Pitaka, along with the religious books, and some sacred relics. King Anuruddha responded to this request and sent learned Buddhist monks with copies of Pitaka who instituted a Nikaya (Sect) known as Rammana Nikaya to re-foster Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
Emperor Anawratha was followed by his son Sawulu on throne Arimaddanapur {A.D.1079-1084}. Towards the latter part of his rule the general Kyanzittha decided to get rid of the Chola forces stationed in Thandung and sent his forces to defeat them. However immediately after this incidence emperor Sawulu died and Kyanzittha also known as Tribuwanaditya) (A.D.1084-1112), who was also a son of Anurudda by his another queen - an Indian princess from Bengal - took over the throne at Arimaddanapur.
At this time of his coronation the Kyanzitha's forces returned back saying they have conquered the Indian country of Thandaung and Nga Thon Pinle (thickly populated Miyanmar regions with Chola - Traders and forces) in the present Pegu division, and captured the Tamil Chola (Tamil Indian) warriors stationed in this region, who were now settled in another region named Singu east of Arimaddanapur possibly under captivity.
Some years after A.D.1084 it appears Kulothunga Chola sent an army under a Chola prince to one of the ports of Rammanadesa to avenge the capture of Chola forces, and king Kyanzitha now without antogonising the Chola prince sent tributes and warmely welcomed him, possibly released the Chola warriors under captivity, and took time to appraise him on the great religion of Buddhism who apparently adhered to the Buddhist religion.
The Chola Prince in strengthening his friendship with the Arimaddanapura kingdom also gave his daughter in marriage to Kyanzittha, thus smoothening the relations of the Cholas with the Arimaddanpur kingdom of Miyanmar. The name of this Chola prince and his daughter given in marriage to Kyanzittha is not known.
It appears during this period with the newly builtup relations the traders from the Tamil Nadu and the other countries of the Chola empire, became very free to trade as far as Arimaddanapur the capital city of Kyanzitha in central Miyanmar region, and they were also able to build a Vishnu temple at Arimaddanapur without any hinderance in the very heart of a Buddhist country named as "Nanadesi Vinnagar Alvar Koyil".
Some years later a trader named "Irayiran Sriyananana Kulasekara Nambiyar" from Mahodayapuram (present Cranganore) of the Malaimandalam (the present Kerala state) of South India - the former capital city of the Chera kingdom which was at that time under the rule of the Chola empire - built a sacred mandapa (hall), gave a sacred door to same, and one standing lamp to burn constantly in the mandapa of this temple.
In the year A.D.1106 Kyanzittha sent envoys to to pay tributes to the Chinese emperor Hui Tsung (A.D.1101-1126) of the Sung Empire. The emperor orderd the envoys to be provided the same rank and ceremony as to the envoys from the Chola country. But the grand council advised "....the Chola country is subject to Sri Vijaya. During the hsi-ning period (A.D.1068-79) imperial decrees were addressed to it on thick-backed paper and enclosed in box and wrapper. Now Pukan Arimaddanapur) is a big kingdom. We cannot look down on it as an ordinary little dependent kingdom. We desire to adopt the same protocal as in the case of the Ta-shih (Arabs), Chiao-chih (Annam) etc to whom imperial appointments and decrees were all written on white-backed, gold flowered, damask paper, and stored in a partly gold gilt tube with key and forwarded in a brocade silk double wrapper as sealing envelope ñ The emperor approved....."
Emperor Kyanzittha was followed by his grandson Alaungsithu (A.D.1112-1187) on the Arimaddanapur throne.
<b>Period Vikkrama Chola {A.D.1118 -1135} & Kulothunga Chola -2 {A.D.1133-1150} </b>
It appears the good relations the Arimaddanapur kingdom had with Cholas continued for some time even after Kulothunga Chola ñ 1, during the period of rule of Vikkrama Chola and Kulothunga Chola ñ 2.
<b>Period of Rajaraja Chola ñ 2 {A.D.1146-1163} </b>
However during the rule of Rajaraja-2 we note, among the distant lands which sent tributes to the Chola country is the Pappalam the seaport city of Rammanadesa.
However the fact remains that there had been continuos sea traffic on account of trade between TamilNadu and the Miyanmar kingdoms even thereafter, and we note in the year A.D.1178 Chinese traders being aware that one who wishes to go to the Chola kingdom from China, has to either tranship from Kollam kingdom or go there from the Pukan (Arimaddanapur) kingdom. This clearly indicates the extent of trade activities between China, Pukan and Chola country.
<b>Period of Pandiyas after Medieval Cholas </b>
Even after the fall of Chola empire and the re-surgence of the Pandiyan empire we note Pandiyan kings having relations with Arumanam the Rammanadesa of the Miyanmar country.
Maravarman Sundarapandiyan ñ 2 {A.D.1238-1251} claims to be the overlord of the king of Poppalam (Pappalam), and Sadaiyavarman Sunderapandiyan {A.D.1251-1271} claims having received tributes from Arumanam. However the Pandiya relations with Miyanmar country is left out for further research study as it does not fall within the scope of the title of this essay.
Indian History - 2 - Guest - 02-22-2005
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/SRR/Volume12/airavat.html
Was late medieval India ready for a Revolution in Military Affairs?- Part II
Airavat Singh
Indian History - 2 - Hauma Hamiddha - 02-23-2005
The kAlAmukhas-I
One of the most enigmatic of the shaiva groups of India were the kAlAmukhas. Their origins and the rise to power are shrouded in mystery. An added mystery is their suddence disappearance despite their prominent presence in the mideaval period. I stood before a great shrine of The god once built by the kAlAmukhas in the city of my birth and wondered about their origins. They were described as kAlAmukhas after the practice of marking their foreheads with a black streak. There were two great schools or councils (pariShads) kAlAmukhas. The siMha pariShad was common in Andhra and the shakti pariShad was common in Karnataka. The latter pariShad is most actively represented in epigraphic records studied by Lorenzen. Though there is not much evidence for the kAlAmukhas having any presence elsewhere in India, the South Indian epigraphic records suggest that they were also present in Kashmir. We do not find much connection between the kAlAmukhas and the much maligned kApAlikas, and the siddhAnta shaiva streams. The main center of the shakti parishad was the dakShiNa kedAreshvara temple in North Karnataka from where the kAlAmukhas fanned out into the rest of the state. From the inscriptions we get the following lineage of the kAlAmukhas.
The founding achArya was the learned kedArashakti. His first student was rudrAbharaNa. His student was vAlmIki. kedArashakti's second student was shrikaNTha. His student was someshvara. His student was vidyAbharaNa. He had 3 students vAmashakti, gautama and GYAnashakti-I. gautama's student was vAmashakti-II. His student was GYAnashakti-II. His student was shrikaNTha-deva II. His student was vAmashakti-deva III. Another line from GYAnashakti-I was started by his student chandrabhUShaNa. His student was krIyAshakti. Thus from late 900s to 1225 the kAlAmukha scholars dominated the scene in Karnataka.
The inscriptions suggest that the kAlAmukhas were the direct representatives of the pAshupata tantric stream. This is the tradition founded by the ancient lAkulIsha, who described in the shiva purANa as the promulgator of the pAshupata cult. The antecedents of the pAshupata stream can be traced back the parishiShThas of the atharva veda which describe the ancient version of the pAshupata vrata. For example the AchArya rudrAbharaNa is mentioned as being "an ornament of the lAkula-doctrine". The modern orthodoxy, has tended to malign the kAlAmukhas as a heterodox school that is to be shunned by the mainstream brahmins. However, the inscriptions clearly show that the kAlAmukhas were not heterodox followers of non-Aryan ways but a branch of brahmins. For example the Kedareshvara inscription states that "the kAlAmukhas study in the secluded and quite maThas, the R^ik, yajur, sAman and atharvan saMhitas with their auxiliary texts. A scholarly study is also made of the kaumAra, pANinIya, shAkaTAyana shabdAnushAsana grammars. They also are mentioned as studying: nyAya, vaisheShika, mImAmsa, sAMkhyA and bauddha philosophy as well as pauraNic and secular saMskR^it literature, in addition to the lAkulIsha tantras". In particular many of the kAlAmukhas were specialists in Hindu atomism of nyAya and vaisheShika. One of them someshvara was a particular expert in these schools as per one of the inscriptions. The kAlAmukha maTha is also mentioned as feeding jaina and bauddha mendicants in addition to Hindu brahmins and saMnyAsis.
Some kAlAmukha AchAryas of both pariShads in the Mysore region bear the title: kAshmIra paNDita. More explicitly the Muttagi inscription from Bijapur states that a certain kAlAmukha paNDita had migrate to Karnataka from Kashmir. Thus, at least the kAlAmukha cult had a certain adherants in Kashmir. The Ghaznavid invasion ravaged the two great pAshupata centres: Mathura of the kaushika lineage and Somanatha of the gArgya lineage. So it is quite likely that some of the North Indian scholars migrated to Karnataka and Andhra which were relatively safe from Islamic violence at that point. Thus, an understanding of the place and distribution of the kAlAmukhas in the larger matrix of pAshupata cults has been largely erased as their sister groups were destroyed in Somanatha and Mathura by the Islamic ravages. Like Buddhism, the eventual fall of the kAlAmukhas can be attributed to their highly centralized monastic structure. When Islam struck, these centralized vihAras or maThas that were entirely dependent on massive patronage and solely devoted to scholarly pursuits were blown away resulting their rapid extinction. In contrast the more amorphous Hindu groups dispersed over the countryside survived and revitalized the Hindu world in face of the Islamic assault.
Indian History - 2 - Guest - 02-26-2005
Coins from bygone era!
http://prabhu.50g.com/southind/hoysala/south_hoysalacat.html
http://prabhu.50g.com/southind/kadamba/sou...adambahcat.html
Indian History - 2 - Guest - 02-26-2005
History untold
Exclusive
An unsung hero who won a critical victory in Tipu's campaign
By N. Bhanutej
http://www.the-week.com/25feb27/currentevents_article2.htm
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->No history book will mention Venkatanarayana Iyer. A soldier who was
ranked the equivalent of a Major in Tipu Sultan's army, this Brahmin
warrior's gallantry in stopping the progress of the British army in
the late 18th century is unknown to the world. The yellowed pages of
a family manuscript, written by a certain R. Subbarayar on February
22, 1914, is the only record of Iyer's heroics. The manuscript,
found recently by a history enthusiast in Coimbatore, scripts one of
the most crucial phases of Indian history, the Third Anglo-Mysore
War of 1790, when British troops clashed with Tipu Sultan's army in
the war of Satyamangalam.
A tale of its own
The yellowed pages of the family manuscript titled 'Govinda
Bhattar's family history', written in 1914 by R. Subbarayar. History
enthusiast S.R. Krishnaswamy, a Coimbatore-based LIC clerk, procured
it from one Shekhar of Satyamangalam. Also seen are two coins, with
the elephant seal, from Tipu's time.
Iyer played a crucial role in Tipu's victory over the British in the
first part of the Third Mysore War. The victory, however, was short-
lived. Written in Manipravaalam (old Tamil) and punctuated with a
few English words, the text is titled `Govinda Bhattar's family
history'. The war hero, Iyer, is Govinda Bhattar's fourth
descendant. In the preface, Subbarayar says: "I am the seventh-
generation descendant of Govinda Bhattar, through Govinda Bhattar's
first son. I am also known in the family as Samanna. I am now 70
years old. I was interested in history right from childhood. No one
in the family recorded our history. I heard of our background,
several times, from many elders in the family."
Subbarayar mentions that he is attaching the vamsa vruksha (family
tree) of Govinda Bhattar. However, the document is not to be
found. "This piece of history was revealed to me in 1863," he
writes. "Apart from this, other elders who narrated the history
should be mentioned here: grandma Sivagami, my father's mother, who
was born in 1775 and died in 1865, and Amanni Atthai Paatiyaar (my
grand aunt)." Govinda Bhattar, from whose generation this story
begins, belonged to a family of pundits in Thiruvannamalai. His
forefathers held positions in the administration of the Vijayanagar
empire. With increasing attacks on Thiruvannamalai by the Bahamanis
of Bijapur, Govinda Bhattar moved from Thiruvannamalai to
Satyamangalam. In Satyamangalam, as well, this Brahmin family found
itself in the echelons of power, first serving the Nayakas
(beginning with Veerappa Nayakar) of Madurai and later, the Mysore
Wodeyars.
The only remains
Krishnaswamy holds a picture of the Negamam temple, taken two years
ago, before it was pulled down by villagers. The temple is being
rebuilt now (in background).
Govinda Bhattar's descendants found favour with Hyder Ali (who had
declared himself independent ruler of Mysore) as well. Describing
Iyer, Subbarayar writes: "He had the build of a warrior. He had
likeable qualities, knew many languages including Daccani. Hyder Ali
liked him, and on knowing his family background, made
Venkatanarayana Iyer the head of a contingent." As part of Hyder's
army, Iyer participated in several campaigns led by Tipu Sultan, and
was made deputy commander of the Satyamangalam fort (Sathy fort).
Then comes the crucial phase in history. The year is 1790. Governor-
General Lord Cornwallis is determined to "curb his [Tipu's]
insolence and exact signal reparation for the many injuries that we
and our allies have sustained". (Historical Sketches of the South
Indian History by Mark Wilks and Murray Hammick; Cosmo Publications,
New Delhi, 1980). Having entered into treaties with the Marathas and
the Nizam, binding them to unite against Tipu on the basis of equal
division of the spoils, Cornwallis declared war against the Tiger of
Mysore.
The Madras District Gazetteers (Coimbatore) by the late Dr B.S.
Baliga, who was curator of the Madras Record Office (Govt of Madras,
1966), records the events thus: "Thus began the Third Mysore War.
The first stage of this was mostly confined to operations in
Coimbatore and Salem under General Medows, the new Governor and
Commander-in-Chief of Madras. The plan of the English campaign was
that the main division under Medows, after taking all the forts of
Coimbatore and Palghat, was to ascend to the tableland by the
Gazzalhatti Pass, while another division under Colonel Kelly was to
invade Baramahal (Salem). Medows took Karur, Dharapuram, Coimbatore,
Dindigul and Erode, besides several minor places. But when a
division under Colonel Floyd established itself at Satyamangalam,
Tipu, leaving his heavy baggage at the top of the Ghat descended the
Gazzalhatti Pass... and attacked it and forced it to retreat."
Interestingly, the Gazzalhatty Pass was the only gateway from the
Mysore frontier to Satyamangalam and Coimbatore. The British army
would have been unstoppable had they secured the pass. Sathy Fort,
down below in the plains, was the last resistance to the British
before the Gazzalhatty Pass. Whoever held Sathy Fort, held the pass.
When bastion after bastion held by Tipu's men fell to the British,
Iyer alerted his chief. Subbarayar's manuscript notes that Iyer
passed on the intelligence to the "Mohammedan chief" of Sathy fort.
Though the Mohammedan chief's name is not mentioned in the
manuscript, Mark Wilks's book notes that a certain Seyed Saheb, the
Sultan's kinsman, was in command. "The Mohammedan chief did not
believe Venkatanarayana Iyer," goes the manuscript. "The polygars
wanted Tipu's rule to end, and opened their forts and granaries to
the British. That's why the Mohammedan chief did not get the right
picture. He simply smoked his hookah."
Iyer would not rest after passing on the news. He sent word to
Srirangapatnam (Tipu's capital), and taking five guns (cannons) from
the Sathy Fort, marched his troops to Gazzalhatty Pass. On the
foothills leading to Gazzalhatty Pass, he placed the guns at vantage
points and waited for the enemy. The next day, Colonel Floyd
captured Sathy Fort. The laidback commander ran for his life. Floyd
then sent the troops to Gazzalhatty Pass. That was not to be.
Iyer "sent the British troops back in the direction in which they
came", notes the manuscript.
When news of the British attack reached Srirangapatnam, Tipu came to
the summit of the pass with 30,000 men. Lt Col W.J. Wilson, in
History of the Madras ArmyâVol. II, says Tipu "suddenly descended
into Coimbatore by the Guzzlehutty Pass with about 40,000 men and a
large train of artillery". Mark Wilks describes this terrain and
this grand historical event thus: "The Sultaun [then]... commenced
the descent of this most difficult pass of the whole eastern range".
Wilks notes that Floyd had early intelligence of the Sultaun's
movements ("it was indisputably confirmed by the desertion of a
native officer, formerly in the English service, who gave an account
of the number of guns"). Floyd's side of the army comprised six
troops of His Majesty's 19th dragoons, sixteen troops of native
cavalry, His Majesty's 36th foot, and four battalions of sepoys,
including the garrison at Satyamangalam and eleven guns. In all, the
British troops were 3,000 in number. On September 12, Tipu crossed
the Bhavani and camped south of the river near Poongar. The war
began a day later. Despite several losses, Tipu's cavalry executed
lightning manoeuvres to beat Floyd's army, which ran to take refuge
in the Satyamangalam fort.
Bridge from the past
This dilapidated bridge, which could have been used by Hyder Ali,
Tipu and the British during their campaigns, remains unknown to
historians and archaeologists. The only mention is found in Baliga's
Madras District Gazetteers: "Gazzalhatty... was formerly the
principal pass from Coimbatore to Mysore, one track leading from
Satyamangalam and another from Coimbatore town via Danayakkankottai
to the foot of the ghat where an old-fashioned bridge is still
standing." The bridge, in the Satyamangalam jungle, is frequented
only by wild animals. There is no record about who built this bridge
across the Moyar.
The family manuscript reads: "Unable to stand up to Tipu's force,
the English dalagarthan (chief of the troops) turned and ran into
Sathy Fort". Tipu pursued the British troops. The manuscript adds a
crucial detail: "Two miles west of Sathy, the troops (Tipu's)
mounted canons on the pillars of the (dilapidated) Negamam temple
and rained fire on the Sathy Fort. The English colonel left the
provisions, military equipment and cannons behind in the Fort and in
the dark of the night, crossed the Bhavani in coracles (basket-
boats) and ran towards the south".
The manuscript adds that the dilapidated pillars, unable to bear the
weight and recoil of the cannons, crumbled. Unfortunately, the
Negamam temple (also known as Kenchanoor temple) is no longer there.
With nothing to indicate its historic importance, the dilapidated
temple was pulled down two years ago, and a new temple is being
built in its place by the villagers.
Wilks says eight English guns were disabled and that there were
serious casualties among the troops, the horses and the draught
oxen. The retreating English troops marched towards Ukkaram-
kavilipalyam (which the British refer to as Oocara), near the
village of Cheyur (Shawoor or Cheyoor). Here, the Sultan's army won
a decisive victory and proceeded to reclaim all the forts.
The family manuscript notes that Tipu, pleased by Iyer's gallantry,
decorated and sent him to Chevakad in Kerala. However, a year later,
in the second part of the Third Mysore War, Tipu is cornered by the
British and forced to sign a humiliating treaty which compels him to
part with half the kingdom and three million rupees. To raise money,
Tipu orders that the treasures of Guruvayur temple be handed over.
When this order is not carried out, Iyer is blamed by the governor
of Chevakad. However, when Tipu realises that it is the governor who
is in the wrong, he orders his execution. Iyer is stripped of his
honours and asked to leave. Iyer settles in Palakkad after being
relieved of his post.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Indian History - 2 - Guest - 02-26-2005
The history of India has been corrupted by the British. The British created the AIT to divide and rule. Even today, Indians believe the illogical AIT. Thereis no evidence to support the AIT. On the other hand, there is plenty of evidence that shows all Indians originated from the Indus valley and Harrappa civilizations. This whoe Aryan and Dravidian thing is bs. There is no Indo-european or Dravidian language group either. They should all be placed in the same group. Europeans have been meddling with India history for centuries now and their meddling must be stopped. Indian history is being completely ruined by euro-centric fools.
Indian History - 2 - Guest - 03-02-2005
Winston Churchill is on record stating that he'll ensure his place in history by writing it himself. After WWII (with plenty free time on hand after loosing election), he wrote 6 volumes of his narrative history. In early 50s ('53?) he won Nobel Prize for Literature for that work.
Indian History - 2 - Guest - 03-02-2005
Kunhali Marikkars: Myth & Reality
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->
Talking to The Hindu , Dr. Ochanthuruth claimed his research findings disproved the popular beliefs about Kunhali Marikkar.
According to Dr. Ochanthuruth, "the traditional view of Kunhalis as patriots supporting feudal lords like the Zamorin needs to be corrected.
<b>In the light of Kunhali Marikkar's own actions and Shayk Zaynuddin's statements, it is clear that they wanted an Islamic Principality in their own Malabar. (Shayk Zaynuddin was an Arab scholar who lived in Ponnani). </b>
"After 1600 when the Kunhalis were almost silenced by the Zamorin through a political operation with the help of the Portuguese, <b>the Muslim religious leaders in Malabar elevated Kunhali Marikkar as a cult figure for having attempted to unite the Muslims belonging to different ethnic groups and established their identity on the basis of an Islamic dream as visualised by Shayk Zaynuddin. </b>
<b>"This is the starting point of Muslim fundamentalism and communalism in South Malabar, later described by Ines and Evans as "fanatic zone," </b>he says in his paper presented at an international seminar on `The Portuguese and Kunhali Marikkars - myth and reality'.
.....
Dr. Ochanthuruth's views contradict the opinions of well-known and highly rated historians <b>Sardar K.M. Panikkar, A.V. Krishna Ayyar and O.K. Nambiar. </b>
"Available evidence suggests Marikkars were of Tamil origin and many of them were Parathava converts from Coramandel," Dr. Ochanthuruth claimed.
By R. Madhavan Nair <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Indian History - 2 - ramana - 03-02-2005
From the Week: Sense of history
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Reporter's Diary Â
 Coimbatore
Sense of history
By N. Bhanutej
It is amazing how every village in our country seems to have a memorable history to speak for itself. Unfortunately, we never had it in our culture to record it. What little âindigenousâ history (history as seen by us) we know is either handed down to us through oral tradition (grandmaâs tales, which contain a liberal dose of mythology) or given to us by some westerner.
It was during my visit to Coim-batore and Satyamangalam for the story on the Third Anglo-Mysore War (History Untold, The Week, February 27), that this thought came through louder than ever. We would never have heard of a local hero named Venkatanarayana Iyer. Education (on account of being Brahmins) allowed his descendants to record his history in a notebook. Those words, read years later, resurrected his legend. Had it remained in the notoriously short public memory, the tale would, by now, have been simplified or complicated into a proverb!
Meeting C.G. Venkataramanan, a 78-year-old accountant in Coimbatore, was a revelation. A direct descendant of Iyer, he had read the manuscript 50 years ago, but had lost it. When vacating his grandfatherâs house in Coimbatore, he came across a sword belonging to his great-great-grandfather Iyer, in the attic. On it is inscribed a crescent and stars, conclusive proof of its service in Tipuâs army.
Another piece of stunning history was engraved on one of the 100 pillars of the Venugopalaswamy temple in Satyamangalam: Tipu holding a parrot in his hand.
We are bad at recording history. Shouldn't the history that is preserved, deserve our attention?
Legacy: Venkatanarayana Iyer's sword
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Indian History - 2 - acharya - 03-05-2005
The Invention of the Aryan race
The Europeans invented the notion of an Aryan race to counter the Jewish mystic tradition known as the Kabbalah or (Quabbalah) which scholars believe is in turn a rehash of older Babylonian, Persian , Indian Greek and Celtic stories. The Kabbalah holds that just before the Great Flood secret wisdom was taught by the Sons of God who descended from the heavens and intermarried the descendents of Cain. <b>The Kabbalah subscribes to the notion of a superior or a root race which received this divine wisdom.</b> In the prevalent anti Semitic environment, the European occultist thought this to be a great embarrassment that this superior race was not them but the Jewish people. William Jones' (1783) pronouncement of the relationship between languages of Europe and India came at the most opportune time. If there was a proto language then there must be a proto race who spoke this proto language, the "Aryans." The Aryan race was offered as the European answer for Kabbalah. According to Robert Drews (1988)
<b>"It is an unfortunate coincidence that studies of the Indo European language community flourished at a time when nationalism, and a tendency to see history in racial terms, was on the rise in Europe. There was no blinking the fact , in the nineteenth century, that most of the world was dominated by Europeans or people of European descent. The easiest explanation for this was that Europeans, or at least most members of the European family, were genetically superior to people's of darker complexion. It was thus a welcome discovery that the ancient Greeks and the Persians were linguistically, and therefore one could assume biologically, "related" to the modern Europeans.</b> The same racial stock, it appeared had been in control of the world since Cyrus conquered Babylon. This stock was obviously the white race. INDIA, IT IS TRUE, PRESENTED A PROBLEM, AND REQUIRED A SEPARATE EXPLANATION. ARYANS HAD INVADED INDIA NO LATER THATN THE SECOND MILINNUM BC, AND SUCCEFULLY IMPOSED THEIR LANGUAGE ON THE ABORIGINAL POPULATION, BUT THE ARYAN RACE HAD EVIDENTLY BECOME STERILE IN THAT SOUTHERN CLIME AND WAS EVENTUALLY SUBNMERGED BY THE ABORIGINAL AND INFERUIR STIOCK OF THE SUBCONTINENT (emphasis added, Drews 1988 in Livingston 2003, p. 8)."
"Nevertheless fueled by an obstinate nationalism , Europeans denied their essential absence from history , and by grossly misrepresenting the facts, artistically created an ancient past, placing themselves far back in time, as far back as the beginning of human history and in the ranks of the great civilizations (Livingston 2002, p. xi). Such ideas are commonplace even today even though the rhetoric is much milder. After quoting two very contemporary mainstream scholars McNeil (1986) and Roberts (1995) as examples, Livingston (2002) concludes, " it is difficult to fathom that, in a society that considers itself as liberal and as morally progressive as our own, modern scholars present ideas as blatantly offensive as these. These theories are not the rabid ravings of neo-Nazi fanatics. These are the purported sober theories of mainstream intellectuals. However, their claims are no different than the lunacies formerly upheld by Hitler
(p. 16)." The concept of an IE language family originating in Europe is absolutely critical to the very existence of the West.
Livingston, David (2002), "the Dying God: The Hidden History of the Western Civilization," New York: Writers Club Press.
M. Kelkar