Archaeology & Epics in the Light of New Research: Challenges and Opportunities for Archaeologists and related Scholars

For the first time in the history of UNESCO, itsgeneral assembly was hosted by Bharat,  and very graciously inaugurated by Hon. Prime Minister of India on 21^st July 2024, at Bharat  Mandapam. In the presence of Director General UNESCO Audrey Azoulay, Minister of  External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, Culture, and Tourism Minister Shri G.S Shekhawat, several  Ministerial colleagues and senior officials, Hon. Shri Narendra Modi delivered a powerful evocation of  Bharatiya civilisation when he mentioned Sanauli and the Iron Pillar at Indraprastha. Before him the DG UNESCO had already set the tone by referring to the Mahabharata linkages to the capital of India and to the  very venue of the meeting, and also very correctly interpreting the word “Dharma” as duty. 

This 46^th World Heritage Committee Meeting was organized by the Archaeological Survey of India of  the Ministry of Culture, in association with the Ministries of Tourism and External Affairs. In keeping  with the core theme of World Heritage, the Archaeological Survey of India appropriately  organised, along with many other programs, a Panel Discussion on its latest heritage legacy  finding: the Rath at Sanauli, located in the erstwhile Kuru Mahajanapada. Titled Archaeology &  Epic in the Light of New Researches the Panel Discussion focused on the landmark new finding linked to references to Rath (chariot) in the Mahabharata.  

Undoubtedly this new research by Dr. Sanjay Manjul, (JDG ASI) and his team is the most  significant revelation after the late Prof. B.B. Lal’s remarkable find of common PGW culture across  several places mentioned in the Mahabharata text. Because of his excavations carried out since 1951, Shri B.B. Lal is noted as a  pioneer who unearthed arcaheological traces related to the Itihasa of Mahabharata  which made waves across  the world. Now the latest discovery of a proper War chariot, the Rath has created more  excitement among archaeologists. It has also silenced many who have been questioning the  historicity of our sacred Texts. 

However, despite its great significance, this War Chariot is no proof of either the  Kurukshetra War / Dharam Yuddh nor of its date. So where does the future of this research  lie? Ironically clues from textual knowledge  guide researchers to explore locations narrated in these epics, but hardly any  archaeologist will admit that Mahabharata narration and events are directly linked to those findings. Why? What are the challenges and opportunities for researchers,  especially archaeologists, in decoding the history embedded in our Itihasas.  

Voice of an old Intelligence: In the 19^th century, American Author R.W. Emerson (1803- 1882) had said – 

“In the great books of India, an empire spoke to us, nothing small or unworthy, but large,  serene, consistent, the voice of an old intelligence, which in another age and climate had  pondered and thus disposed of the questions that exercise us”. 

Unearthing a Civilization: We are discussing a “past” that has been submerged due to the political/ cultural  upheavals of almost 90 years of colonial rule (1857-1947), following the disturbances and destructions that took place from about the 7^th century onwards, especially in North, West & East Bharat. Unfortunately much of this turmoil had continued even after independence was attained. 

Reflection of Civilization… 

Our Past is embedded in countless texts – especially the Vedas, Puranas, Ramayana, Mahabharata and  related commentaries,  and also in inscriptions, coins, art works etc. Our past also  emerges from the vast geo-spatial mapping of Jambudweep, the Continent getting its name from the Jamun  (Indian blackberry/ Java Plum) fruit Trees. Sometimes foreign accounts reveal the lost past and  sometimes it comes to light through our curious and sensitive researchers- archaeologists, art  historians, epigraphists, and scientists in various disciplines. 

Keeping the focus on Mahabharata, let us understand the related ancient  textual knowledge and how it has helped new research. Modern historians have termed our texts  as poetic literature. The Colonial education system defined them as literature  and philosophy and ignored the history and geography embedded in it. Also the world has called  our two great ancient Texts, the Mahabharata and Ramayana as Epics. As per Merriam Webster, “Epic is  a long narrative poem in elevated style recounting the deeds of a legendary or historical hero”. However  for Bharata these Texts are Itihasa (meaning as it happened). This is mentioned by Maharishi Vedvyasa ji  in the Granth Mahabharata itself. 

Two questions are normally raised about: 1. Interpolations in Mahabharata Text, 2. Dates of the writing,  events etc. 

Origin of Itihasa: Smrti, Shruti: An Oral Tradition dissemination method, later documented on  palm leaves or cloth, and later on paper. The strength and accuracy of the Bhartiya Oral Tradition has already been recognized. 

Thankfully, UNESCO has declared the oral tradition of Vedas in India as a “Masterpiece of the Oral and  Intangible Heritage of Humanity” in the year 2003. Fortunately, science re-verifies our ‘Gyan Vigyan’.  The Gayatri Mantra- (as per a 20 years long research program undertaken by AIIMS, New Delhi) “increases brain capacity, memory,  processing speed”…. Thus this mantra was the basis for the unbroken tradition of Smriti and Shruti. Our textual knowledge includes genealogical annals, Granths (devotional volumes), Panchang (almanachs), rnscriptions on rocks and metal plates, Coins etc. 

Archaeology is a limited science. It can only give approximate dates to certain “material” objects. Archaeologists  date the findings and attempt to co-relate them to a particular historical timeframe. The biggest challenge is  that unless their dates are in synergy with our traditional systems of knowledge, their acceptance is shaky and  open to contestation. What are our traditional knowledge sources our centuries-old calendars- the  Panchangs which have such minute details of time calculation and accuracy of prediction of natural  phenomena like eclipses, comets, earthquakes etc. These calculations are also used to draw the birth charts of nations, andespecially of individuals and even the western doctors are now using them in medical treatment.  

The events of birth of Sri Ram, Sri Krishna and even many festivals like Ganga Avtaran or Yamuna  Chhath etc. have been and still are celebrated for centuries on the dates given in the Panchang! Ganit is the basis of Bharatiya  Gyan Vigyan and our Panchangs have taken shape during major events. for instance, we have dates  linked to the lives and deeds of historical personalities.

A second important source of historical information comes from the ancient genealogies. These have been documented  since time immemorial and maintained at several locations. Dr. F.E. Pargiter has analyzed the dates provided for many dynasties and even Alexander Cunninghham agrees that right upto king Kshemek the list of monarchs is correct. However,  when learning about Bharat, we cannot ignore Bharatiya Scholars. A very important contribution has been  made by Swami Dayananda Saraswati here. We learn about Aryan rulers from Yudhishthir onwards. 

The Aryas ruled in Indraprastha (Modern Delhi) from the time of  Emperor Yudhishthir down to that  of Yashpal.  

Total number of Rulers = 124 (approx.)  

Period covered = 4,157 years, 9 months, and 14 days.  

Average length of reigns = 33 or 34 years (approx.) 

About 30 Emperors from the House of Yudhishthir ruled  for 1, 770 years, 11 months, and 10  days. Average length of reign: 59 years approximately. (the names and dates are given) 

Reference: Satyarth Prakash by Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati and the basis of translation of few articles published  in the fortnightly magazines, called Hari Chandrika and Mohan Chandrika published by Shrinathdwara at Chittore. Source: Misra, Neera, Lal Rajesh, Indraprastha Revisited, 2017, Article 13, pp. 123-134, Dr. Shashi Tiwari. 

The third, textual knowledge sources are our “abhilekha” or inscriptions and art works of various types. Besides hundreds of Inscriptions giving that same date for Kaliyuga, we have a specific inscription  mentioning the Kurukshetra war and also artworks representing events and scenes from the Itihasa. Can that evidence be ignored?

Methodology: Right-hand driving and left-hand driving 

It is pertinent to understand the methodology used by our Rishis to document our past through ‘time frame tales’ we learn of the multilevel and multifaceted events involving kings, queens, administrators, Rishis,  the general public, political, socio-economic life as well as the geographical areas for these records, in a  particular TIME FRAME as Evident from astronomical mentions and inscriptions giving dates within the Kalyuga. Our  methodology was circular whereas the modern western historians use a linear format; that makes the two methods comparable to  different ways of driving: right hand driving vs left-hand driving.  

The ‘Itihasa’ buried in this exhaustive poetic text of ancient Bharat was obfuscated

Methodology of Documenting Itihasa: 

The ‘Itihasa’ buried in this exhaustive poetic text was destroyed by foreign onslaughts and obfuscated by  the foreign historians and their followers, due to lack of knowledge of the methodology of ancient Bharatiya  scholars. The dominant western concept of structures and methodology was not suitable to decode Bharatiya  history. 

Nomenclature and Interpolation in the Mahabharata:  

We have to understand the way our seers documented the Itihasa. Correct understanding and  interpretation of the methodology, nomenclatures, and structures of the Mahabharata text is critical to  corelating it with archeological findings. The word MAHA BHARATA implies the Ithihasa of the  GREAT/ VIRAT geo-spatial landscape, spanning Jambudweepa, touching few other continents with a  special focus on the most influential rulers of the lands known as BHARATAVARSHA – i.e. the core  Bharatvansha rulers and those closely linked to their families, who followed the established principles of  Dharma, Arth, Kaam Moksha. “Bha-rath” = Bha (Knowledge), Rath (Vehicle). Only ten per cent of the hundred thousand stanzas in the Itihasa  are about the war itself.

Challenges of interpretations and acceptance: Despite the massive destruction of ancient sacred texts,  and of the tangible landmarks of our sacred geography and history, we still find a lot of material evidence spread across the surface Bharat.  The archaeologists face the biggest challenge in accepting the context provided by the  textual sources.  Due to the Gregorian calendar calibrations and centuries-old misperceptions about the remote human past, scholars still hesitate to accept the date of Kaliyuga’s inception mentioned in hundreds of  inscriptions across South and Southeast Asia.  

They have been conditioned to question the narration in the texts. They doubt that Kampilya or  Indraprastha could have hosted an urban civilization similar to the one found at Dholavira, despite the fact that an Italian archaeological mission found extensive vestiges of it. The Mahabharata text vividly  describes the highly developed urban planning of Indraprastha. It has to be noted that Indraprastha, which spread beyond the area of the current NCR, to Baghpat, Sonipat, Panipat and Tilpat, was the most often attacked and conquered location. Surprisingly, the physical destruction of the original landmarks led to the renaming and transformation of ancient sites into “medieval” ones. Now, to rediscover the past, we must rehabilitate the methodology used by ancient seers and reconsider the tag of ‘later interpolations’ put often hastily on many parts of the reference literature. 

Veda Vyasa – Krishna Dwapayan – Composition of his Texts: in terms of composition of the text and  alleged interpolations within it we have to go back to the text to really understand it. 

Analysis of the Aadi Parva slokas throws light on this (Sloka 78 to 82). The 81st sloka of the 1st  Adhyaya refers to 8,800 verses as being in the  form of puzzle. The Maharishi clarifies that these 8800 are  difficult to understand- Slokas 80 and 82 refer to (श्लोक कर टम्). The 81st sloka specifies- “I and  Suka can understand these 8800 slokas, but whether Sanjaya can understand or not, I cannot tell”. Aadi  Parva Sloka 96 to 109 – Veda Vyasa authored 60 lakh verses (60x100x1000, षतटं शाि सहस्र ). Sloka 101 reveals the number of slokas as one lakh, which includes उिाख्यान (sub-stories), Sloka 102 mentions  24,000 slokas are उिाख्यानैतििना (without sub stories). Thus the idea that there was an original Jaya of 8,800 verses  that was expanded into a Bharata of 24,000 verses does not seem to be accurate (Courtesy author Dr. M. L. Raja). 

Bharat is a Civilisation founded on many millennia of cultural traditions collected in Itihasa – wherein evolves A Philosophy for Mankind. The Historical Heritage Legacy still springs up  surprises for modern historians. Dutch Historian, Johan Huizinga had said, “History gives answers only  to those who know how to ask questions.” Some Modern Historians QUESTION Itihasa’s historic credibility, but the new research of Bharatiya scholars, who have revisited the past with a pragmatic  take on the “Epic” Mahabharata, will authenticate the Itihasa (the real facts) embedded in the textual  sources. 

We have to revisit the past to understand the various layers of civilisation. Just like today’s Bharat Adivasis (forest dwellers), Rural, Urban, and ‘Ultra Urban’ (cosmopolitan) populations co-exist fairly close to each others the civilisation depicted  in the Mahabharata- was not only Rural. It was also a planned urban society, as described in the Indraprastha Kingdom’s Rajdhani, also called Indraprastha. It was like today a  City State. 

About Kampilya, in today’s state of Uttar Pradesh, the most exhaustive work and reports were done by an Italian team under the “Kampilya  Mission” in 1997 and 1999. The Ca, Foscari University of Venice, the CNR of Padua, and the VAI  Sonlus (an NGO) conducted the first field survey under the direction of Bruno Marcolongo and  Gian G. Filippi. This research led to the discovery of a complex of ruins, identified as the remains  of a fortified structure, locally called Drupad Kila, The plans for Kampilya-Drupada Kila and  Dholavira in Gujarat mirror each, something recognised  by Dr. Bisht, director of the Dholavira  excavations. This poses a problem for  Indian archaeologists, because as per current  available research, Dholavira was a town of the Indus-Sarasvati civilization, so far  dated to 2000 years earlier than Kampilya. This provides evidence of the  continuity of one urban model from the Indus-Sarasvati to the Ganges civilisations in  the time frame of two millennia. Truth always finds ways to emerge, even from the depths  of the earth! (Gian Giuseppe Filippi & Bruno Marcolongo, 1999, Kampilya Quest for a Mahabharata City, New  Delhi.)