Origin of the Aryans

Abstract

Gautama Buddha called himself an Aryan. His philosophy is called the “Aryan Way.” Japan, according to the latest archeological evidence, was also an Aryan society. That is the reason it is important to know the origin of the Aryan values and traditions. Vedic literature is the origin of Aryan thought. Aranyaks and Upanishads are philosophical explanations of the four Vedas. Rig Veda narrates the origin of the creation, the early history of the Aryans, various deities and their origin from ultimate Brahman, early social system, and adorations of the spirits of Brahman. Indian Veda became Avesta in ancient Persia. Vedic God Mitra, the Sun in Sanskrit language, became Mithra in Persia and became the God of War in the Roman Empire. The same Mitra became Apollo, the sun-god in Greece. This spread of Aryan culture was narrated in Puranas, which describes, in Sanskrit, the history of the world from the beginning and the evolution of human being.

Appendices

Appendix A

Ancient India: possibly 15000 B.C. and after

Vedic Period (Source: Vedas)

Period of Ramayana and Raghu Dynasty (possibly 7500 B.C.)

Period of Mahabharata and Bharat Dynasty (about 4000 B.C.)

Indus Valley Civilization (3500 B.C.)

Birth of Gautam Buddha (563 B.C.)

Invasion of Alexander (326 B.C.) and Chandra Gupta (321 B.C.)

Asoke (265 B.C.) and Expansion of Buddhism

India in South East Asia: Sri Vijaya (Indonesia), Barman (Burma), Champa (Vietnam), Cambojh (Cambodia and Laos), Suvarnabhumi (Thailand)

Samudra Gupta and Gupta Dynasty (320 A.D. to 600 A.D.)

Invasion of the Arabs (644 A.D.)

Pala Dynasty (eighth to twelfth century)

Invasion of Turks (eighth century onward)

Occupation and Destruction of North India by Turks (twelfth century)

Sources of Information about Ancient India:

Four Vedas (Rig, Sam, Yajur, Atharva): Describe origin of the universes, social system in ancient India

Upanishad and other Philosophical texts: Describes society and its relationship with the nature

Ramayana: Describes the history of a Dynasty in ancient India

Mahabharata: Describes the history of a dynasty and history of India at about 4000 B.C.

Puranas: Describes in terms of stories various events in ancient India from era before the last ice age up to the twelfth century

Archaeological excavations in India and Russia

Descriptions given by Greek and Roman historians

Descriptions given by Greek ambassadors to the Maurya Empire Chandra Gupta-Asoke

Contributions to Science and Mathematics

Ancient India:

Estimation of time of the creation: The 8.64 billion years that mark a full day-and-night cycle in Brahma’s life is about half the modern estimate for the age of the universe.

The geometrical formula known as the Pythagorean theorem can be traced to the Baudhayana, the earliest form of the Shulba Sustras prior to the eighth century B. C. Basic Algebra are also there in Sulva Sutras. The concept of atoms are in Kanad (sixth century B.C.).

Binary System of Number Representation

A Mathematician named Pingala (c. 100 B.C.) developed a system of binary enumeration convertible to decimal numerals. He described the system in his book called Chandah-shaastra. The system he described is quite similar to that of Leibnitz, who was born in the seventeenth century.

The oldest known text to use zero is an Indian (Jaina) text entitled the Lokavi-bhaaga (“The Parts of the Universe”), which has been definitely dated to 25 August 458 B.C.

The Indian numeral system and its place value, decimal system of enumeration came to the attention of the Arabs in the seventh or eighth century, and served as the basis for the well known advancement in Arab mathematics, represented by al-Khwarizmi.

Zero reached Europe in the twelfth century when Adelard translated al-Khwarizmi’s works into Latin. Fibonacci was one of the main mathematicians who accepted the concepts of zero in Europe.

Indian system of medicine is called Aryerveda.

Most of the medical properties of various plants and herbs were developed in ancient India.

There were several universities in ancient India: Taxila, Nalanda, Vikramshila, Odontyapuri, Ujjain, Sombihar or Paharpur. Taxila was famous for medical science. Gautam Buddha has received treatment there. However, at the time of the Turkish invasion in twelfth century all these universities were destroyed.

Steel was invented possibly before the time of Asoke (265 B.C.). Asoke had built several steel pillars in different parts of India and Afghanistan.

Most of the astrological knowledge were known to the ancient Indian. Arya Bhatta about 1200 years before Copernicus knew earth moves around the Sun and moon moves around the earth. BramhaGupta in sixth century knew about gravity long before Newton.

Contributions of Individual Scientists

Arya Bhatta (476 A.D.):

Calculation of Phi, Quadratic equations, Division by Zero, Geometry and Trigonometry, Decimal system, Indeterminate Equations, simultaneous equations, Motions of the Solar System, Eclipses, Heliocentrism.

Brahma Gupta (sixth century):

Imaginary number, Square root, solution of Quadratic and simultaneous equation, gravity, distances of sun and moon from earth.

Bhashkar (eighth century):

Logarithm, sequence of series, indeterminate equations and numerical mathematics, basic ideas of calculus.

Sridhar (ninth century):

Arithmetic and geometric progressions, including progressions with fractional numbers or terms, and formulas for the sum of certain finite series.

Madhav (fourteenth century):

Expansion of the cos and sine functions.

Appendix B

Ṛig Veda

It has five commandments:

• Ahiṅsa—non-injury

• Brahmacharya—non-fornication

• Asteya—non-stealing

• Satya—non-lying

• Aparigraha—non-possessiveness

The following excerpt from the Ṛig Veda sums up the Pancha-vrata:

Violence, womanizing, drinking liquor, gambling, stealing, falsehood or lying and association with those who commit these sins; one who commits any of these sins is a sinner.

Yājñavalkya Smrti

It has five commandments. Sage Yājña-valkya was a ṛṣi in the Vedic age and mentor of Rājā Janaka. The Yājña-valkya Smṛti prescribes the Pancha-vrata, apart from other moral codes.

Yoga Sutra

It has ten commandments. Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras lists them to follow for a good or sinless livelihood.

• 1. Ahiṅsā: Nonviolence. Abstinence from injury that arises out of love for all, harmlessness, the not causing of pain to any living creature in thought, word, or deed at any time. This and Satya are the “main” yama. The other eight are there in support of its accomplishment.

• 2. Satya: Truthfulness, word and thought in conformity with the facts, honesty.

• 3. Asteya: Non-stealing, non-coveting, non-entering into debt.

• 4. Brahmacharya: Being constantly aware of the universe, immersed in divinity, divine conduct, continence, celibate when single, faithfulness when married.

• 5. Kṣama: Patience, releasing time, functioning in the now.

• 6. Dṛti: Steadfastness, overcoming non-perseverance, fear, and indecision; seeing each task through to completion.

• 7. Dayā: Compassion; conquering callous, cruel and insensitive feelings toward all beings.

• 8. Ārjava: Honesty, straightforwardness, renouncing deception and wrongdoing.

• 9. Mithara: Moderate appetite, neither eating too much nor too little; nor consuming meat, fish, shellfish, fowl or eggs.

• 10. Śaucha: Purity, avoidance of impurity in body, mind and speech

Śāndilya Upaniṣad

It has ten commandments.

• 1. Ahiṅsā—Non-violence

• 2. Satya—Truth

• 3. Asteya—Non-stealing

• 4. Brahmacharya—Celibacy

• 5. Dayā—Compassion

• 6. Ārjava—Equanimity

• 7. Kṣamā—Forgiveness

• 8. Dhṛti—Firmness of mind

• 9. Mitāhāra—Vegetarianism and non-wasting of food

• 10. Sancha

Veda Vyāsa

It has ten commandments. In the Mahā Purāṇam Śrimad Devî Bhāgavatam, Veda Vyāsa writes of achieving yoga or union with God by destroying the six enemies of yoga;

• 1. Lust

• 2. Anger

• 3. Greed

• 4. Ignorance

• 5. Vanity

• 6. Jealousy

The six attributes can be destroyed by following Patanjali’s commandments.

Maharishi Gautama

It has ten commandments. Mahaṛṣi Gautama was a lawgiver and ascribed eight yamas.

• 1. Dāyā sarvabhuteshu: Kindness, compassion, pity, and sympathy toward every living being.

• 2. Kṣamā: Forgiveness.

• 3. Anusuyā, anirmatsarata: No jealousy.

• 4. Śauch, antar-bāhya-śuchirbhutata: Purity, the state of being pure from outside and inside.

• 5. Anāyāsa: Not to indulge in petty and meaningless things.

• 6. Mangala: To think, wish, and work for bliss, well-being, and prosperity of all.

• 7. Akarpanya: Neither to be nor to show weakness and miserliness.

• 8. Aspṛha: Neither list nor wish to possess whatever belonged to others.

Srimad Bhagavatam

It has thirty commandments. The Śrimad Bhāgavatam lays down the following customs to be practiced for a good human life.

• 1. Truthfulness

• 2. Mercy

• 3. Austerity

• 4. Bathing twice a day

• 5. Tolerance

• 6. Discrimination between right and wrong

• 7. Control of the mind

• 8. Control of the senses

• 9. Nonviolence

• 10. Celibacy

• 11. Charity

• 12. Reading of scripture

• 13. Simplicity

• 14. Satisfaction

• 15. Rendering service to saintly persons

• 16. Gradually taking leave of unnecessary engagements

• 17. Observing the futility of the unnecessary activities of human society

• 18. Remaining silent and grave and avoiding unnecessary talk

• 19. Considering whether one is the body or the soul

• 20. Distributing food equally to all living entities

• 21. Seeing every soul as a part of the Supreme Lord

• 22. Hearing about the activities and instructions given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead

• 23. Chanting about these activities and instructions

• 24. Always remembering these activities and instructions

• 25. Trying to render service

• 26. Performing worship

• 27. Offering obeisance

• 28. Becoming a servant

• 29. Becoming a friend

• 30. Surrendering one’s whole self