Re: Aryan invasion theory and race

From: shivkhokra
Message: 64677
Date: 2009-08-10

Rick,

> > > --- In cybalist@... s.com, "Francesco Brighenti" <frabrig@>
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>> Now check the following:
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>> http://tinyurl. com/l4nr2g
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>> "The mleccha bot indigenous and foreigner had acquired political power and a new concept was necessary. It was probably largely to circumvent this problem that the term vratyaksatriya (degenerate ksatriya) became current in describing the origin and status of such peoples. It was maintained that in origin they were of the ksatriya varna and that their degeneration was due to the non-performance of sacred rites, or because of the wrath of the brahmans when they ceased to perform the sacred rites [Note 62: Manu X, 43-4; Mahabharata, Anusasana Parva 35.17ff., Vana Parva 48.20ff., Sa. Parva 65.13ff.]. Among the foreign rulers included as vratya ksatriyas were the Yavanas and the Sakas (Scythians). "
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> >
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>> --- In cybalist@... s.com, "shivkhokra" <shivkhokra@ > wrote:
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> Before we get into the writing and speculations of the Kluge award winning Ms. Thapar we would like to ascertain if she, or you, have bothered to read the original sources? Let me reproduce a brief section from Mahabharata (Sabha Parva: 2.14) :
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> "He also that beareth on his head that gem which is known as the most wonderful on earth, that king of the *Yavanas*, who hath chastised Muru and Naraka, whose power is unlimited, and who ruleth the west like another Varuna, who is called Bhagadatta, and who is the old friend of thy father, hath bowed his head before Jarasandha, by speech and specially by act."

> So which Yavana (Greek or foreigner according to you) king was called Bhagdatta perhaps from Greek sources you can point out the identity of this Greek king who was helping the kauravas during Mahabharata time?
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> Furthermore this yavana king is the ruler of Pragjyotishpur which is modern Assam. So if you can place greeks to be dwellers of assam we can perhaps buy your argument.
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> . . .
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> Regards,
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--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, Rick McCallister <gabaroo6958@...> wrote:

> ShivrajBoth of you have confused me here. Isn't any mention of Yavanas anachronistic in the Mahabharata? The events of Arjuna et al. supposedly happened 1,000 years before the arrival of the Greeks. Wouldn't any talk of Greeks in that era be akin to also throwing in Santa Claus? At least it would seem to destroy any historical reliabiliyy the text may have had.
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Not anachronistic. Interpetation issues. Yavan is an overloaded term. Indians have used this term for lots of foreigners. Mughals (who arrived in 16th century CE) were also called yavans. That does not make them Greeks! Similarly in ancient India the word yavan never represented greeks only as the above blurb from Mbh shows that Bhagdatta was a yavan and had "cinas" in his army. Cinas is the name for chinese who fought in his army against pandavas.

Unfortunately, for a class of historians who want to show that Mahabharata post dates the arrival of Greeks in India, yavan implies Greeks which is obviously as incorrect as saying yavan mughals were greeks! Because using this argument one came come up with even more silly constructs like "Mughal (yavan) invasion of India was also a greek invasion" and since Mahabharata mentions Yavans it must have been composed post the arrival of Mughals!


-Shivraj