Ishwa, thanks for your recent enlightening posts. In mahAbhArata, undoubtably, yavana-s are placed as half-brothers of indian tribes and were mentioned respectably. Then later they have been moved into mlechCha category and denigerated as a pApiShTha (sin-tending) jAti. in Adi parvan, there is a story of several martial tribes emerging from the spiritual powers of vashiShTha, through nandinI, to defeat the army of vishvAmitra and shatter his ego. In several 'fighting' peoples mentioned in this list, yavana are considered respectably born through none other than the womb of nandinI (who is a spiritual daughter of kashyapa, in shape of a cow). Also pahlava race is mentioned rather respectably in this episode, whereas chIna-s, hUNa-s, etc are mentioned born through the saliva and mentioned as mlechCha-s. Also to be noted is yavana-s are mentioned two times in this story - first born through the womb and then again through saliva, hinting at two different types of yavana-s, the latter being mlechCha-s.
At other place, kR^iShNa and yudhiShThira discuss about the history of different kshatriya-s. There the former mentions that the foreign kingdoms (e.g. yavana) are none other than fallen and inferior kshatriya-s who were made to flee during the campaigns of the furious son of jamadAgni, and these fallen ones had taken over from other tribes and started ruling abroad.
(the last, i will have to double check for accuracy of exact data, as to whether yavana are mentioned there.)
<!--QuoteBegin-Ishwa+Sep 10 2008, 06:59 PM-->QUOTE(Ishwa @ Sep 10 2008, 06:59 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->The background of Bharata, son of Rshabha:
Lord Rsabha was incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He appeared in the womb of Merudevi, the wife of King Nabhi. The King underwent many severe austerities and penance to please Lord Visnu to get a son like Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu accepted his plea and thus appeared as Lord Rsabha - son of King Nabhi and Merudevi.
He followed the orders of His guru and accepted a wife named Jayanti, who had been given to Him by the King of heaven, Indra. He begot a hundred sons in the womb of Jayanti. Of these hundred sons, the eldest was known as Bharata. Since the reign of Maharaja Bharata, the Indian sub-continent has been called Bharata-varsa. Rsabhadeva's other sons were headed by Kusavarta, Ilavarta, Brahmavarta, Malaya, Ketu, Bhadrasena, Indrasprk, Vidarbha and Kikata.
[right][snapback]87786[/snapback][/right]
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The above, I had seen in bhAgavatapurANa. Any other purANa, eg nArada or viShNu says this?
At other place, kR^iShNa and yudhiShThira discuss about the history of different kshatriya-s. There the former mentions that the foreign kingdoms (e.g. yavana) are none other than fallen and inferior kshatriya-s who were made to flee during the campaigns of the furious son of jamadAgni, and these fallen ones had taken over from other tribes and started ruling abroad.
(the last, i will have to double check for accuracy of exact data, as to whether yavana are mentioned there.)
<!--QuoteBegin-Ishwa+Sep 10 2008, 06:59 PM-->QUOTE(Ishwa @ Sep 10 2008, 06:59 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->The background of Bharata, son of Rshabha:
Lord Rsabha was incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He appeared in the womb of Merudevi, the wife of King Nabhi. The King underwent many severe austerities and penance to please Lord Visnu to get a son like Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu accepted his plea and thus appeared as Lord Rsabha - son of King Nabhi and Merudevi.
He followed the orders of His guru and accepted a wife named Jayanti, who had been given to Him by the King of heaven, Indra. He begot a hundred sons in the womb of Jayanti. Of these hundred sons, the eldest was known as Bharata. Since the reign of Maharaja Bharata, the Indian sub-continent has been called Bharata-varsa. Rsabhadeva's other sons were headed by Kusavarta, Ilavarta, Brahmavarta, Malaya, Ketu, Bhadrasena, Indrasprk, Vidarbha and Kikata.
[right][snapback]87786[/snapback][/right]
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The above, I had seen in bhAgavatapurANa. Any other purANa, eg nArada or viShNu says this?