Itihas Diwakar

Editorial: Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah (Dharma Protects Those Who Protect It)

On Margashirsha Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi, Kaliyugabda 5110, corresponding to November 26, 2008, the dance of destruction by terrorism that took place in Mumbai, this message from the sages and saints is resonating with human consciousness: Dharma eva hato hanti dharmo rakshati rakshitah. Meaning, the abandonment of Dharma leads to destruction, and adherence to Dharma provides protection. The vast progress of science for the welfare of humanity and the world is a great achievement, but in the absence of Dharma, these very achievements become the cause of great destruction. The great catastrophe of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is still mocking the development devoid of religious values in the minds of the world community. In the world, sinful action is Adharma (unrighteousness) and virtuous conduct is Dharma. The highest interpretation of human Dharma was given in very simple words by Maharishi Vedavyasa: helping others is virtue and causing pain to others is sin - Paropakarah punyaya papaya parapeedanam. This culture of Dharma will only be realized when the goal of the world family 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is one family) is widespread among all people.

Element of Time: The Era of Mahatma Buddha

Th. Ram Singh

Writing history without a chronology is not just difficult but impossible. The subject of Indian history does not originate from a time stream of two or four thousand years, but from the time-point of the creation of Hiranyagarbha. In Indian thought and philosophy, time and history are not two separate things, but have a relationship of object and image. If time is the object, history is its image. Therefore, according to the concept of the element of time, India's longest history of 197 crore years is divided into 14 Manvantaras based on the scientific Hindu calendar. Of these, 6 Manvantaras have passed, and the 12 crore 5 lakh 33 thousand 3 hundred and tenth year of the seventh Vaivasvata Manvantara is currently running.

The Concept of Time and Western Understanding of History

In the Western world, the concept of the element of time has been unclear from the beginning and remains so. Until the 14th century, Europe did not know how to count. When Hindu mathematics traveled to Europe, Hindus taught Europe how to count. Until the 17th century, Europe had no knowledge of what the present is, and its relationship with the past and future. The philosophy of Indian history is based on the element of time, which is why the 197 crore year history here is written according to the scientific processes of the element of time, Mahayuga, Manvantara, Kalpa, and Mahakalpa.

Geography Introduction: Panini's Geography

Dr. Vasudev Sharan Agrawal

The geographical material of the Ashtadhyayi is extremely useful for ancient Indian history. The vocabulary collected by Panini included many names and words related to countries, mountains, seas, forests, rivers, regions, cities, and villages. The collection of this vast material was the author's original insight. From Central Asia to Kalinga and from Sauvira (modern Sindh) to the Suramas (present-day Surma river) region in the province of Assam in the east, place names of extensive geographical areas are found in the Ashtadhyayi. This proves that there was a close relationship between all four corners of the country in the conduct of life. The author, born in the village of Shalatur near the Indus River, had good knowledge about these regions scattered from east to west like Suramas, Kalinga, Ashmaka, Kutch, and Sauvira.

Expansion of Geographical Boundaries

The introduction to the Panini-era geographical expanse is found with the help of certain place-names mentioned in the sutras. In the northwest, there is a mention of Kapishi (4/2/99), which was a very famous capital in ancient times. Its ancient remains have been found about 50 miles north of Kabul. Its name today is Begram. Even further north of Kapishi was the Kamboja (4/1/175) janapada, where the Pamir plateau of Central Asia is today. Panini has mentioned two parts of the country, Udichya (northern) and Prachya (eastern). Between these two was the Bharata janapada, where Kurukshetra is today.

World Luminary: Brahmavadini Gargi

Dr. Om Prakash Sharma

The sages have provided many systems in the development of Indian civilization. In fact, Aryans are the descendants of sages. Moving forward on the path of civilization, the sages established fundamental principles. Thus, the traditions of sages continued to develop. From the Vedic period to the Puranic era, the names of various sages come before us. Vachaknavi Gargi is one of those female sages. The name of the learned Gargi reminds us of the early period of the Vedic age. Gargi's father's name was Vachaknu. For this reason, Gargi's name is also available as Vachaknavi. Vachaknu was born in the Garg gotra. Therefore, the name Gargi was famous until the Upanishadic period. There is a mention in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad that King Janaka once performed a great yajna. Scholars from countries like Kuru and Panchal were present in this yajna. There, a philosophical debate (shastrarth) took place between Yajnavalkya and all the scholars. Yajnavalkya defeated all the scholars in the debate. On this occasion, Brahmavadini Gargi, or Vachaknavi Gargi, was also present.

Miscellaneous: The Ancestors of Muslims were Aryans

Banwari Lal Umar Vaishya

This country is known as Jambudvipa, Bharatakhanda, and Aryavarta. Even today, during Hindu worship rituals, the resolution is taken as 'Jambudvipe Bharatakhande Aryavarte'. The Ramayana and Mahabharata mention non-Aryan races. The Puranas mention some races separate from the Aryan dharma that settled in the western parts of the country. The Shakas were a barbarian race that lived in Balkh. This Shaka race fought with the Padar and Pahlava races and settled in Iran. The Parad, Pahlava, and Parsian races have been Aryan races of Persia. Iran was Aryan. Aryana was the Aryan region. The people there became Muslims under the influence of Islam due to country, time, and environment, but their ancestors were Aryans.