Chronology of Indian History --Newer discussions

Hanuman narrated about the next Yuga to Bhima as follows;

" In the Dwapara Yuga the aspect of the World Soul was Yellow,

religion lessened one half. The Veda, which was one [the Rigveda]

in the Krita Yuga, was divided into four parts, and although some

had knowledge of the four Vedas, others knew but three or one.

Mind lessened, Truth declined, and there came desire and diseases

and calamities; because of these men had to undergo penances. It

was a decadent Age by reason of the prevalence of sin."



to be contd./----
 
In the Kali Yuga [the present age, according to Hindu belief] "the World Soul is Black in hue: it is the Iron Age; only one quarter of virtue remaineth. The world is afflicted, men turn to wickedness;disease cometh; all creatures degenerate; contrary effects are obtained by performing holy rites; change passeth over all things, and even those who live through many YUGAS must change also."

Having spoken thus, Hanuman bade Bhima to turn back, but Bhima said: " I cannot leave thee until I have gazed upon thy former shape."

Then Hanuman favoured his brother, and assumed his vast body; he grew till he was high as the Vindhya mountain; he was like to a great golden peak with splendour equal to the sun, and he said: "I can assume even greater height and bulk by reason of mine own power."

Having spoken thu, Hanuman permitted Bhima to proceed on his way under the protection of Vayu, god of wind.

Bhima then collected Celestial lotuses for his queen from the lake of Kuvera.
 
To sum up the Bhima-Hanuman narrative, we find the authors attempt to bring to the notice of the readers, the salient characteristics and features of all the four Yugas and to show the gradual decline in moral values and degeneration in religion related matters.

The intent and purpose of the narration seems to be to warn the people about the ill consequences of the fall in moral values and the need to check it.
 
The division of different Yugas and assigning them various colours as posted earlier in the case of Indian myth : White in Krita Yuga, Red in Treta, Yellow in Dwapar and finally Black in Kali Age is not a new thing. The practice was followed in other ancient Indo-European ancient races too.

"Hesiod, the Greek poet, in his Works and Days, divided the mythical history of Greece similarly, but the order of the Ages was different; the first was the Golden Age [yellow]; the second was the Silver Age [white];the third was the Bronze Age [Red]; the fourth was the Age of Heroes; and the fifth was the age in which Hesiod lived--the Iron Age [black ]." [ cited from Indian Myth and Legend, p.109]

It is considered that the Heroic Age did not belong to the original scheme and is evidently a late interpolation.
 
Let us see what the Greek mythological different ages offered to man and what

were their salient characteristics.

''In the Greek Golden Age men lived like the gods'' quotes Donald A. Mackenzie,

"under the rule of Kroos; they never suffered the ills of old age, nor lost their strength;

they feasted continually, and enjoyed peace and security. The whole world prospered.

When this race passed away they became beneficent spirits who watched over mankind

and distributed riches."
 
In the Greek ''Silver Age mankind were inferior;

children were reared up for a century, and died

soon afterwards; sacrifice and worship was neglected.

In the end Zeus, son of Kronos, destroyed the Silver Race.''
 
In the Bronze Age mankind sprang from the ash.

they were endowed with great strength, and worked

in bronze and had bronze houses; iron was unknown.

But Bronze Age men were takers of life, and at length

Black Death removed them all to Hades.''
 
He goes on to narrate: "Zeus created the fourth race, which as represented

by the semi-divine heroes of a former generation; when they fell in battle on

the plain of Troy and elsewhere, Zeus consigned them to the Islands of the Blest,

where they were ruled over by Kronos.The fifth Age may originally have been the

fourth.As much is suggested by another Hesiodic legend which sets forth that all

mankind are descended from two survivors of the Flood at the close of

the Bronze Age,"
 
Thus we find that different colours have been assigned to different Yuga people

to depict special characteristics and features of the four ages by the authors on

ancient people of Greece and India.

The similarity of the tradition and myth on the description of various Yugas between


Ancient Indian tradition and Ancient Irish tradition is quite amazing about which we

will study further in subsequent posts.
 
Before proceeding further, it would be interesting to know the tradition of recording time line,if any, in other ancient civilisations.

Your inputs are solicited.
 
urmiladuhan said:
Posts 901-908 are like poetry. One cannot perhaps take the contents literally.
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You are right.

Indeed many of them are simplified presentation of verses.

And one must not take the contents literally.

Rather one must reach to the stage where one can understand

the intended meaning conveyed therein.

Thanks.
 
prashantacmet said:
welcome back urmila ji ....we need your valuable inputs on congress versus modi threads..kimme likho aap bhi udde
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Friend,

We cordially welcome you and all those who contribute to enrich history section in one way or the other.

Therefore, we invite you kindly to join meaningful discussion on some aspect of your choice on history section,

instead of weaning away Ms. Duhan from History Section !

Thanks.
 
DrRajpalSingh said:
Friend,

We cordially welcome you and all those who contribute to enrich history section in one way or the other.

Therefore, we invite you kindly to join meaningful discussion on some aspect of your choice on history section,

instead of weaning away Ms. Duhan from History Section !

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Lol! History has become my hobby ever since I sort of started understanding it the way it should be. Dr. Rajpal, be assured that I cannot be lured without my permission. I have been on JL for almost 13 years now and some of the members know me and my interaction style - perhaps they want some sort of exciting activity in other specific threads and perhaps they think I can do that sort of a job (lol!) there. You know, like shake things up :)
 
DrRajpalSingh said:
Thus we find that different colours have been assigned to different Yuga people

to depict special characteristics and features of the four ages by the authors on

ancient people of Greece and India.

The similarity of the tradition and myth on the description of various Yugas between


Ancient Indian tradition and Ancient Irish tradition is quite amazing about which we

will study further in subsequent posts.
Click to expand...

Friends,

Writing about the Irish [Celtic] tradition on Yugas, it is found that their order differs from those in Greek, but it is of special interest to note that they are arranged in exactly the same colour order as those given in the Mahabharata.

To grasp the chronological discussion about ancient Yugas in ancient traditional records of India and Greek refer to earlier posts and then compare the Irish /Celtic tradition as posted below.

Thanks
 
The First Celtic Age is that of Partholon,

which Professor D'Arbois de Jubainville in Le Cycle Mythodologique Irandais et la Mythologie Celtique,

identifies with the Silver Age (white);

the second is Nemed's, the Bronze age (red);

the third is the Tuatha de Danann, the Golden Age (yellow).

to be contd.../---
 
It goes on to state about the Fourth Age:

The Fourth is the Age of the dark Milesians, called after their divine ancestor Mile, son of Beli, the god of night and death. the Irish claim descent from the Milesians.
 
The question of dating arises after it is established that indeed an event took place. What evidence are you relying on ?

Regards,

Urmila.



DrRajpalSingh said:
Dasaratha and Divodasa were contemporaries as they are said to have

fought as allies against their common enemy Shambara, the Hariyupean king.

When was this battle fought between the two parties/groups and

what were the boundaries of their realms will be an absorbing and

interesting issue of discussion.

Kindly share your studies to fix up their time line.
Click to expand...
 
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