The chronology of Ancient BHARAT (Part 5 continued)-- Vedveer Arya
Arun Kumar Upadhyay August 15, 2015
The chronology of Ancient BHARAT
Author : VEDVEER ARYA.
Proto VEDIC period (10,000-8000 bce)
· The beginnings of ancient VEDIC civilisation may be assertively claimed to have started its journey of evolution at the start of the Holocene or the epoch of the so-called Neolithic revolution (12,000 bce); the foundations of VEDIC civilisation were laid around 10,000 bce in the region of Sapta Sindhu (Saraswati, Sindhu and the five rivers of Punjab). Some families / groups belonging to this period of VEDIC civilisation migrated to central Asia and Eastern Europe as conclusively proven by the genome studies and archaeological findings in the South-eastern Anatolian region (Turkey).
· Traditionally, VEDIC Rishis were deeply engaged in language studies and laid strong foundations for the evolution of VEDIC Sanskrit from the Proto Indo-Iranian language at an early date. They also founded the tradition of multi-generational record-keeping of astronomical observations that triggered the systematic study and development of Mathematics and Astronomy. VEDIC civilisation had also acquired the essential knowledge and experience to augur the agrarian revolution by 7500 bce, and this period also witnessed considerable internal migration.
· Early VEDIC period (8000 – 5500 bce)
· VEDIC civilisation transformed into an agrarian society around 7500-7000 bce according to the archaeological findings at Mehargarh, Lahuradeva, and Jhusi. Interestingly, VEDIC Rishis seem to have invented a primitive phonetic script that revolutionised language studies at a very early stage. Elementary VEDIC Sanskrit grammar, the rules of conjunction (sandhi), context-free grammar and the rules of Chandas (meters) started evolving by 7500 bce and quite possibly, the script used in the inscriptions found at Vikramkhol, Jharsuguda in Sambalpur district of Orissa may belong to the early and mid-VEDIC period. This script is undoubtedly anterior to the Brahmi script. Most of the hymns of the Rigveda and Yajurveda were written around 8000-7000 bce and various branches of the Vedas also evolved during the period 7000 bce to 5500 bce.
· The lunisolar calendar and the cycle of five year Yuga system were very likely Indian inventions that were in place by 7000 bce. Indian astronomy scaled new heights when Maya wrote the earliest version of Surya Siddhanta at the end of the Krita Yuga i.e. around 5600-5500 bce. The first Surya Vamsa King Iksvaku may have founded his kingdom around 6776-6700 bce.
· Some significant dates of the early VEDIC Period are:
8000-7000 bce | The hymns of Rigveda and Yajurveda were written and the earliest form of phonetic script was possibly invented. |
7500-7000 bce | The beginning of the agrarian revolution. |
7500-7000 bce | The use of the Lunisolar calendar and the cycle of five year Yuga system. (Interestingly, the first astronomical revolution coincided with the first agrarian revolution.) |
7000-5500 bce | The evolution of the various branches of the Vedas. |
6776-6700 bce | King Iksvaku founded the kingdom of Surya Vamsa. |
6700-5500 bce | The duration of Krita Yuga. |
6200 bce | Mandhata, the most illustrious King of the Krita Yuga flourished. |
5600-5500 bce | Maya authored the earliest version of Surya Siddhanta at the end of Krita Yuga. |
Mid-VEDIC period (5500-3500 bce)
VEDIC people continued their in-depth study of language due to which classical Sanskrit started evolving. Possibly, the basics of advanced Sanskrit fully evolved and classical Sanskrit came into popular use by the end of the Krita Yuga i.e. 5500 bce. Rama, the most illustrious king of the Surya Vamsa, was born in 5114 bce and Maharshi Valmiki wrote the Ramayana, the “Adikavya” (the first poetry in classical Sanskrit) around 5050 bce. Various branches of the Vedas undertook an initiative to formally edit and compile the hymns of Rigveda, Yajurveda and Samaveda according to their traditions around 5000 bce. Most probably, the presently available texts of the Rigveda, Yajurveda and Samaveda were finally edited and compiled around 4500-3500 bce.
Some significant dates of the Mid-VEDIC Period are:
5500 bce | The evolution of classical Sanskrit and the basics of advanced Sanskrit grammar. |
5500-4300 bce | The duration of Treta Yuga. |
5114 bce | The birth of the greatest King Rama. |
5050 bce | Maharshi Valmiki authored the earliest version of Ramayana. |
5000 bce | The first king of the Pandya dynasty was ruling in what is today Tamilnadu and the first Sangam was convened under the guidance of Maharshi Agastya. |
4500-3500 bce | The texts of Rigveda, Yajurveda and Samaveda were finally edited and compiled. |
4500-4000 bce | Some old Srautasutras like Latyayana, Asvalayana, Sankhayana etc. may have been written prior to the disappearance of the Saraswati River. Interestingly, these Srautasutras refer to the Saraswati as a perennial river. Gobhila Grihyasutra was also written during this period. |
4300-3100 bce | The duration of Dvapara Yuga. |
4000 bce | Kaushitaki Brahmana was written. |
Post VEDIC period (3500-1650 bce)
The Saraswati was the mightiest river of ancient India and flowed in all her splendour up to 4000 bce. Sutudri (Sutlej), Yamuna and Drishadvati rivers were the main tributaries of the Saraswati. According to geological studies, the Saraswati originated in the glaciers of western Garhwal. Due to major tectonic activities in the Siwalik Hills, the decline of the Saraswati possibly commenced around 4000 bce. The Sutlej suddenly shifted her course westwards and became a tributary of the Indus and probably at the same time, the Yamuna also started flowing eastwards to be another tributary of the Ganga by 3500 bce. Thus, the sudden diversion of the Sutlej and the Yamuna as well as the melting glaciers of Garhwal reduced the Saraswati to be dependent on the Drishadvati and seasonal streams by 3500 bce and eventually, by 3000 bce, both the Saraswati and the Drishadvati dried up completely. Politically, the great kingdom of Surya Vamsa declined by 4200-4000 bce. Kuru founded the rule of the Kaurava dynasty and shifted the capital from Prayaga to Kuruksetra around 3900 bce. Brihadratha I founded the rule of Brihadratha dynasty in Magadha and made Girivraja or Rajagriha as his capital around 3700 bce. Gopala also founded the rule of the Gopala dynasty in Nepal around 3700 bce and at the same time, Naraka and Bhagadatta established the rule of their dynasty in Kamarupa (Assam) around 3700 bce. Gonanda I reigned in Kashmir around 3147 bce and was the contemporary of the Magadha king Jarasandha. The Mahabharata war took place around 3128 bce.
Various Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Pratisakhyas, Upanishads, and Sulbasutras were written during this period.
Some important dates of the post VEDIC period are:
4000-3000 bce | The disappearance of the Saraswati River and the decline of Indus-Saraswati civilisation. |
3900 bce | King Kuru founded the Kaurava dynasty in Kuruksetra. |
3700 bce | Brihadratha I founded his dynasty in Magadha. |
3700 bce | Gopala I was ruling in Nepal and Naraka or Bhagadatta was ruling in Kamarupa (Assam). |
3148-3147 bce | Gonanda I was ruling in Kashmir and Jarasandha of Brihadratha dynasty was ruling in Magadha. |
3128 bce | The year of the Mahabharata war and the coronation of King Yudhishthira. |
3102 bce | The epoch of the Kaliyuga era commenced in 3102 bce. Various Siddhantas of Indian astronomy started evolving around 5000-3000 bce. Surya Siddhanta was completely updated and the concept of Mahayugas and 14 Manvantaras was introduced in Astronomy. The earlier Yuga of 1200 years was multiplied by 360 to get 432000 years and introduced the differential duration of Yugas in a ratio 4:3:2:1 i.e. Krita (432000 x 4), Treta (432000 x 3), Dvapara (432000 x 2) and Kali (432000 x 1). |
3500-2500 bce | Atharvaveda was finally edited and compiled. |
3200-3100 bce | The date of the Aitareya Brahmana. |
3200-2400 bce | The date of the Taittiriya Aranyaka. |
3200-2500 bce | Possibly, the Brahmi script evolved from an ancient phonetic script (the script used in the Vikramkhol inscriptions) and became popular over the whole of India by the Mahabharata era and later became the root of all other Indian scripts. (It is quite likely that the script found on the seals of Indus-Saraswati civilisation was used by Bahlikas, who were ruling in the western parts of ancient India around 4000-3000 bce; gradually, the Kharoshthi script evolved and became popular in the western parts of ancient India around 3000-2500 bce. Yavanas emerged as powerful kings after 3000 bce who used Yavanani script (later adopted by ancient Greeks). The Rabatak inscription of Kanishka (1950-1910 bce) found in 1993 ce in Afghanistan is written in Yavanani or the so-called ancient Greek script that clearly tells us that Kanishka introduced the Aryan language (Sanskrit) and script by replacing the Yavana language and script. Thus, the Yavanas gradually learnt Sanskrit and became Indianised. |
3000-2000 bce | The date of Various Sulbasutras (Baudhayana, Apastamba, Manava, Katyayana etc.). |
2950 bce | The date of Satapatha Brahmana. |
2719-2718 bce | Aryabhata wrote his astronomical work titled “Aryabhatiyam”. (TS Narayana Sastry claims that many old manuscripts of Aryabhatiyam mention the birth of Aryabhata in the 360th year elapsed (2742 bce) and not the 3600th year elapsed (498 ce) from the epoch of Kaliyuga. Varahamihira (156-74 bce) used the verb “Jagada” in remote past tense which unambiguously indicates that Aryabhata was not his contemporary. Interestingly, all astronomical texts written after the epoch of the Saka era (583 bce) invariably refer to the Saka era except Aryabhatiyam which indicates that Aryabhata flourished prior to the introduction of the Saka era (583 bce). Therefore, Aryabhata cannot be dated around 476 ce or 498 ce.) |
2700-2600 bce | Latadeva, the disciple of Aryabhata, might have authored “Surya Siddhanta”. (It seems that Latadeva tried to establish a balance between traditional approach and radical (scientific) approach of Aryabhata.) |
2300 bce | The date of the Taittiriya Brahmana. |
2200-2000 bce | Yavanesvara wrote “Yavanasiddhanta” or “Horarthasastra” in the Yavana language (Bactrian or Bahlika language). Sphujidhvaja, the later king of the Yavanas, translated it into Sanskrit around 1500-1000 bce. The same Sanskrit translation of Sphujidhvaja was re-produced as “Yavanajatakam” by an unknown author after Saka 56 (528-527 bce). This unknown author wrote the 79th chapter of Yavanajataka with the objective of presenting the Yavana siddhanta with reference to lunisolar astronomy. |
3138-2132 bce | The rule of Brihadratha dynasty. |
2500-2200 bce | The establishment of Taksasila University. |
2214-2213 bce | Buddha was born on 6th April 2214 bce. According to Tibetan Sa-skya-pa scholars, Buddha was born in Earth-Dragon year (2214-2213 bce). |
2134-2133 bce | Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana on 23rd Mar 2134 bce. Tibetan Sa-skya-pa tradition seems to be most authentic and Kalhana’s Rajatarangini also supports it. According to Sa- skya-pa scholars, Buddha attained nirvana in the boundary of the Fire-Pig year (2134 bce) and the Earth-Mouse year (2133 bce). |
2200-2100 bce | Parsvanath, the 23rd Tirthankara of the Jainas was a contemporary of Buddha. |
2034-1881 bce | Kashmir Kings Asoka (2034-2000 bce), Jaloka (2000-1990 bce), Damodara II (1990-1984 bce), Hushka (1984-1960 bce), Jushka (1960-1950 bce), Kanishka (1950-1910 bce) and Abhimanyu (1910-1881 bce) flourished. According to Kalhana, Hushka, Jushka and Kanishka flourished 150 years after the date of the nirvana of Buddha. (The Rabatak inscription of Kanishka is written in ancient Greek script. Actually, this script was used by the Yavanas of Afghanistan, Persia and central Asia [most probably, the Indian migrants of the early VEDIC era] which was referred to by Panini as “Yavanani”. The same script of the Yavanas was later adopted by ancient Greeks. Therefore, the so-called Greek script is originally the script of the Yavanas. Most probably, the astronomical school of the Yavanas [Yavana Siddhanta] influenced Babylonian and Egyptian astronomy.) |
1950-1949 bce | The date of Rabatak inscription of Kanishka (1st regnal year). |
1881 bce | Kashmir King Gonanda III ascended the throne. |
2132-1994 bce | The rule of Pradyota dynasty. |
1994-1616 bce | The rule of Sisunaga dynasty. |
2500-2200 bce | The date of “Manusmriti”. |
2500-2200 bce | The date of Panini and Pingala (Ashtadhyayi and Chandasastra). |
1800-1600 bce | The date of “Charaka Samhita” and “Sushruta Samhita”. |
1660 bce | The date of Maitrayaniya Aranyaka Upanishad. |
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Imperial era or Early Classical period (1650-200 bce)
Mahapadma Nanda founded a powerful Magadha empire around 1616 bce or roughly over 1500 years later from the date of the Mahabharata war (3128 bce). Chandragupta Maurya dethroned the Nandas and established the great Maurya dynasty around 1516 bce. Later, the Sungas, Kanvas, Satavahanas and Guptas ruled over the Magadha Empire. Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainas, attained nirvana in 1189 bce.
Kautilya’s Arthasastra, Vedanga Jyotisha, Parasaratantra, Patanjali’s Mahabhashya, and most of the Ayurveda, Smriti, & philosophical works were written during this period. The Pali and Prakrit literature of Buddhism and Jainism also came into existence. The outlines of the chronology of Imperial or early classical period are as follows:
1634 bce | According to “Milindapanho”, the Yavana king Milinda flourished 500 years after the date of the nirvana of Buddha. |
1616-1516 bce | The rule of the Nanda dynasty. |
1606 bce | King Jayavarman of Surya Vamsa was ruling in Nepal. |
1516-1217 bce | The rule of the Maurya dynasty. |
1300-1200 bce | Kharavela of Mahameghavahana dynasty was ruling in Kalinga. |
1261 bce | Mahavira born on 28th Feb 1261 bce. |
1189-88 bce | Mahavira attained nirvana on 22nd Oct 1189 bce. |
1216-916 bce | The rule of the Sunga dynasty |
1000-600 bce | Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda emerged as Buddhist centres. |
900-600 bce | The rule of the Iksvaku dynasty in Andhra Pradesh. (Vijayapuri [Nagarjunakonda] was their capital. Many inscriptions of this dynasty found at Amaravati, Bhattiprolu, Nagarjunakonda and Jaggayyapeta.) |
966 bce | The epoch of the Lichchavi era used in the inscriptions of the Lichchavi dynasty of Nepal. |
966-300 bce | The rule of the Lichchavi dynasty in Nepal |
916-836 bce | The rule of the Kanva dynasty |
836-338 bce | The rule of the Satavahana dynasty |
800-200 bce | Ajanta caves were constructed. |
736-723 bce | King Gardabhilla was ruling in Ujjain. |
723-719 bce | The Sakas defeated Gardabhilla and ruled for 4 years in Ujjain. |
719-718 bce | The epoch of the Krita era or Malava-gana era or Karttikadi Vikrama era. |
719-583 bce | The reign of the greatest King Vikramaditya I and his four successors and the establishment of Malava-gana (the republic of Malava). |
700-420 bce | The rule of Bhagadatta lineage in Kamarupa (Assam). Bhaskaravarman of this lineage was a contemporary of Sri Harsha. |
700-400 bce | The Matharas, Vasishthas and Pitribhaktas ruled in Kalinga. |
650-300 bce | The rule of the Naga dynasty in Vidisa region. |
600-500 bce | Meharauli iron pillar was installed by the Naga king Chandra. |
657-656 bce | The epoch of the Gangeya era (used by the eastern Ganga kings). |
657-107 bce | The rule of the eastern Gangas in Kalinga. |
630-330 bce | The rule of the Malava Guptas (mistakenly identified as the Later Guptas). |
583 bce | The epoch of the coronation of Saka king. (The Sakas defeated the fourth successor of Vikramaditya I and probably the Western Ksatrapa Chashtana became the king of Ujjain.) |
583-246 bce | The rule of the Western Saka Ksatrapas. |
580-539 bce | The great Licchavi king Manadeva I was ruling in Nepal. |
580-420 bce | The rule of the Pushpabhuti dynasty. |
475-474 bce | The Early Chalukya king Vishnuvardhana was ruling in Rajamahendravaram in the Kaliyuga era 2628 (475-474 bce). |
457-456 bce | The epoch of the Sri Harsha era. |
457-420 bce | The reign of the great Pushpabhuti king Sri Harsha or Harshavardhana. |
450-300 bce | The rule of the Salankayanas in Andhra Pradesh. |
403-402 bce | The epoch of the Kalachuri-Chedi era. |
391-390 bce | Malava Gupta king Adityasena was ruling. |
385-150 bce | The rule of the Vakataka dynasty. |
340-150 bce | The rule of the Vatsagulma branch of the Vakatakas. |
374-286 bce | The rule of the Maharajas of Valkha |
373-358 bce | The rule of the Katacchuri dynasty. |
338-92 bce | The rule of the Gupta dynasty. |
335 bce | The epoch of the Gupta era. |
331-280 bce | Samudragupta established the mightiest Gupta Empire in India. (He was the real contemporary of Alexander. Greek historians referred to him as “Sandrokottus”.) |
300-95 bce | The rule of the Vishnukundin dynasty. |
289-209 bce | The rule of the Aulikara dynasty. |
The chronology of ancient BHARATIYA literature:
2000-800 bce | Ancient Buddhist literature was written. |
1500 bce | Kautilya authored “Arthasastra”. |
1500-1000 bce | The Yavana king Sphujidhvaja translated Yavanesvara’s Horarthasastra into Sanskrit (Yavanajatakam). |
1400 bce | Suchi wrote “Vedanga Jyotisha” based on the treatise of Maharshi Lagadha. The date of Lagadha can be fixed as not being later than 2000-1800 bce. |
1370-1150 bce | Maharshi Parasara wrote his treatise “Parasaratantra”. |
1200 bce | Patanjali wrote “Mahabhashya” during the reign of the Sunga king Pushyamitra. |
1100-200 bce | Ancient Jaina Literature was written. |
600-500 bce | The Jaina monk Sarvanandi authored “Lokavibhaga”. |
500 bce | Vriddha Garga wrote “Garga Samhita”. |
495-490 bce | Gunadhya wrote “Vaddakatha” (Brihatkatha) in Paisachi dialect and the Satavahana King Hala authored “Gathasaptasati”. |
400-300 bce | Vatsyayana wrote “Kamasutra”. |
400-250 bce | Subandhu authored “Vasavadatta”. |
340-305 bce | The Vatsagulma Vakataka king Sarvasena authored “Harivijaya”. |
210-200 bce | The Vakataka king Pravarasena authored “Setubandha”. |
204-203 bce | The Jaina scholar Simhasuri translated “Lokavibhaga” into Sanskrit. |
To be continued.