Ramanisblog

Month: April 2016

  • Rama Birth Place Temple Built Before 100 BC

    The Skanda Purana and the Brahmanda Purana list Ayodhya as one of the Holy Spots of Hinduism.

    ‘In the Atharvaveda, Ayodhya was said to be “a city built by gods and being as prosperous as paradise itself”. In Garuda Purana, Ayodhya is said to be one of seven holiest places for Hindus in India, with Varanasi being the most sacrosanct..

    ayodhya
    Rama’s Temple, Ayodhya. Image credit.

    http://indianreligioustemple.blogspot.in/2012/12/lord-ramas-birth-place-ayodhya-shri-ram.html

    .

    Ayodhya is a ‘Mokshdayani Puris,’ or ‘land of spiritual bliss and liberation from karma bandhan,’ along with Varanasi, and Dwarka. Hindu scripture such as the Ramcharitmanas,Vishnu Purana and Shrimad Bhagvat Mahapuran recommend pilgrimage to the city.

    Several Tamil Alvars mention the city. It is the birthplace of Jadabharata, the first Chakravartin, Bahubali, Brahmi, Sundari, Padaliptasurisvarji, Harishchandra and Achalbharata.

    ‘

    “Insofar as history is concerned, Ayodhya was ruined and established in its existence period. It is mentioned in Valmiki Ramayana 7/111/10 that during His lifetime Lord Sri Rama had depopulated Ayodhya and had proceeded to

    heaven along with His entire subjects. He had arranged for His sons to rule from outside Ayodhya.

     

    “The elder son Luv was asked to rule with Shrawasti (Sahet-Mahet ) as capital

    and till the period of Buddha, this place continued to be the capital of Kaushal estate. Subsequently, in the Maurya period as well this Kaushal estate (province of Magadh empire) was the capital.

     

    The city of Kushawati, which is in  the Vindhya region, was established for the rule of the  other son Kush and thereafter till date it is famous as  Mahakaushal.

     

     

    “It has also been mentioned in the Ramayana that after Lord Sri Rama, Ayodhya would again be  inhabited during the times of Rishabh.

    He was the first Tirthkar of Jains and is also known as Adinath.”.

    The city of Lahore was founded by Rama’s son Lava.

    While no credible evidence is available on who built the First Rama Mandir in Ayodhya, evidence indicate that King Menander destroyed Ayodhya around 130 BC.

    Menander would not have destroyed  Ayodhya but for the presence of the Iconic presence of Rama’s Temple at his birth place in Ayodhya.

     

    ‘The Chinese Travellers Fa-Hien and Yuan-Chawang have seen several rock edicts as well. The Dharmrajika Stupa at Sarnath was also built by Ashok. The downfall of the Magadhan empire began with the death of Ashok in 232 B.C. His grandsons, Dashrath and Samprathi divided the whole Empire among themselves. The entire area south of Narmada became independent and in 210 B.C. Punjab Passed into other hands. The last ruler of this Dynasty was Brihdrath who was assassinated by his commander-in-chief Pushyamitra Shung in 185 B.C. Pushyamitra kept Magadhan empire intact. Patanjali’s commentary refers to the seize of Saket (Ayodhya) by the Greeks. Menander and his brother mounted a heavy attack in about 182 B.C.”

    ( source.http://uponline.up.nic.in/uphistory.aspx

    Menander waged war against Ayodhya between 144 qand 120 BC.

    https://books.google.co.in/books?id=lvObCwAAQBAJ&lpg=PT371&ots=ttHUjqFwI6&dq=menander%20ayodhya&pg=PT371&output=embed

     

    For  recently converted Buddhist, what better way to show his loyalty to his faith?

    ‘

    Menander I Soter (Ancient Greek: Μένανδρος Α΄ ὁ Σωτήρ, Ménandros A’ ho Sōtḗr, “Menander I the Saviour”; known in Indian Palisources as Milinda) was an Indo-Greek King of the Indo-Greek Kingdom (165//155[3] –130 BC) who established a large empire in North India and became a patron of Buddhism.

    Menander was initially a king of Bactria. After conquering the Punjab he established an empire in the Indian subcontinent stretching from the Kabul River valley in the west to the Ravi River in the east, and from the Swat River valley in the north to Arachosia (theHelmand Province). Ancient Indian writers indicate that he launched expeditions southward into Rajasthan and as far east down the Ganges River Valley as Pataliputra (Patna), and the Greek geographer Strabo wrote that he “conquered more tribes than Alexander the Great.”

    Buddhist tradition relates that, following his discussions with Nāgasena, Menander adopted the Buddhist faith:

    “May the venerable Nâgasena accept me as a supporter of the faith, as a true convert from to-day onwards as long as life shall last!” (The Questions of King Milinda, Translation by T. W. Rhys Davids, 1890).

    He then handed over his kingdom to his son and retired from the world:

    “And afterwards, taking delight in the wisdom of the Elder, he handed over his kingdom to his son, and abandoning the household life for the houseless state, grew great in insight, and himself attained to Arahatship!” (The Questions of King Milinda, Translation by T. W. Rhys Davids, 1890)

    There is however little besides this testament to indicate that Menander in fact abdicated his throne in favor of his son. Based on numismatic evidence, Sir Tarn believes that he in fact died, leaving his wife Agathocleia to rule as a regent, until his son Strato could rule properly in his stead. Despite the success of his reign, it is clear that after his death, his “loosely hung” empire splintered into a variety of Indo-Greek successor kingdoms, of various size and stability.

    The temple was rebuilt by King Vikramaditya around 101 BC.

    Vikramaditya was born in 101 BCE and his Vikarama Saka started in 58 BCE and he died in CE 19. (You may refer Thiru Venkatacharya, “Ganitha Khagola Sastramulu”, Vgnyaana Sarvasvamu, Samputi 9, Telugu Bhaashaa Samiti, Madras, Hyderabad, 1965 and Kavana Sarma and Satya Sarada “Mana praacheena saahityam charitra” 8 th article, Rachana Monthly Magazine, page 26, March 2011).

    Salivahana Sakam started in 78 CE (AD). The rule for becoming a Saka kartha (ie having a saka in your name) is that you have to either defeat a previous Saka kartha or the kings of Saka jathi (race of invaders form the north west)..

     

    ‘  2100 years ago – A grand temple, on 84 black touchstone pillars, was constructed by Sakari Samrat Vikramaditya at Sri Rama Janma Bhumi (birthplace of Sri Rama), in Ayodhyaand dedicated to Sri Ram to glorify and perpetuate his memory as a  national and global hero and savior. Further temples were built at different times to replace old ones that had been affected by vagaries of nature including the Sarayu floods, new ones coming up to mark the site as Sri Ramjanma bhumi sthaan. According to experts, the pre-Babri temple had been in existence from the Gahadwal period.

    “It is so believed amongst the Hindus that the credit for inhabitance of Ayodhya for third time, goes to Vikramaditya, king of  Ujjain.

    It appears from paper no. 107C-1/10, 107C-1/28,

    107C-1/35, 107C-1/55 filed in this suit that he had built 360 temples in Ayodhya.

     

    “Few consider him to be king  Vikramaditya of Gardbhill dynasty of Ujjain, who had destroyed the Shakas in 57 BC and had started the Vikram  era and few consider him to be Chandragupta  Vikramaditya of Gupta dynasty. Be that as it may, the Sri  Ramjanmbhumi temple was certainly included in those 360 temples.

    Hence while the exact details of. who built the temple for Rama, it is evident that there was temple before 100 BC and was destroyed by Menander  around 100 BC.

    And it was rebuilt by King Vikramadhitya.

     

    Citations and references.

    http://www.stephen-knapp.com/ayodhya_and_the_research_on_the_temple_of_Lord_Rama.htm

     

    http://jayasreesaranathan.blogspot.in/2010/10/history-of-ram-janma-bhumi-temple-at.html

    http://www.ibtl.in/column/1237/unconquerable-ayodhya-the-kingdom-of-kosal

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menander_I#Menander_and_Buddhism

    https://ancientindians.in/2011/03/08/bhartruhari-vikramaditya-kalidasa-varahamihira-bhoja-salivahana/

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayodhya

  • Muslims Worship Shiv Lingam At Mecca Masjid Al Haraam Says Islamic Site

    I have written articles on the Fact that,

    Kaaba was a  Shiva Temple,

    786 is Flipped OM,

    Vikramadhitya’s inscription is found in Kaaba,

    Prophet Mohammed’s Uncle wrote a Siva Stuthi,

    Sapthapathi in Islam,

    Ancient Tamils literary practices were followed in Arabia,

    Kaaba is from The Tamil deity, Kabaaleswarar,Shiva,

    and more posts on this subject.

    Usually vociferous  Islam Apologists and our own secularists are  generally mum on these issues.

    However there are some comments which need more evidence.

    Most of the evidence I have provided are from Islamic sources.

    Now there is one more evidence from a Muslim source, that too from a strict Islamic one at that.

    The site is named as ‘

    Ahlal Quran Wal Tawheed

     

    meaning or is it a Byline? ‘

    “Indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is the straight path’

    The site denounces the act of worshiping the Idol of Shiva by the Muslims in Kaaba as prohibited in Islam and exhorts Muslims to desist from this.

    shringar of shiv ling
    Shiva Linga at  Masjid Al Haraam
    images1
    Kaaba where Muslims worship.
    rudraksha-shiv-ling
    Rudraksha Shiva Linga

    Quote from the site.

    ‘The Polytheist Hindu’s of India worship something called Shiva Lingham, which literally translates to Shiva’s Penis. Here are some images of this Penis:

    Polytheist Muslims also worship their own type of Penis five times a day. Those who live in the ancient city of Mecca visit the old temple grounds to face and worship this Penis. To polytheist Muslims temple ground is known has Masjid Al Haraam but historically it was where Arab polytheists gathered anully to worship their gods. Those who live far from the Lingham worship it by facing the direction of Lingham. The Arabian shape of Lingham is a cube building popularly known as Kabah. Here is a image of the greatest enemy of Tawheed and most worshiped idol on earth:

     

    Polytheist Muslims worship this greatest enemy of Tawheed and not Allah the Great even though Allah the Great has informed mankind to not to worship anyone other then Him:

    “O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allah), Who created you and those who were before you so that you may become Al-Muttaqun.” (2:21)

    “Indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is the straight path.” (3:51)

    These polytheist Muslims do not worship Allah the Great purely. Instead they pollute their worship of Allah the Great with idol worship. They in reality hate purifying their worship for Allah and about such people Allah the Great as said:

    “And your Lord says, “Call upon Me; I will respond to you.” Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter hell [rendered] contemptible.“ (40:60)

    The polytheist Muslims commit major Shirk by worshiping idols. Allah the Great states in a verse of Koran that  He does not forgive Shirk:

    “Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.” (4:48)

    “Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly gone far astray.” (4:116)

    Those who associate partners with Allah the Great the paradise has forbidden for them and they will enter hellfire:

    “They have certainly disbelieved who say, ” Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary” while the Messiah has said, “O Children of Israel, worship Allah , my Lord and your Lord.” Indeed, he who associates others with Allah – Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers.” (5:72)

    If you are a Unitarian Muslim then know that a Muwahid does not worship anyone other then Allah. Please spread the message of Quran and Tawheed. Prevent from polytheisitic Muslims from distorting the true teaching of Quran and Tawheed. Tell your relatives and friends about the Tawheed and about the greatest enemy of Tawheed – the Kabah Penis Idol.

    Quote, Images  and Reference.

    https://ahlaltawheed.wordpress.com/2014/03/07/5/

     

    Denial with authentic sources welcome.

  • Horoscope Matching For Marriages Not Needed

    I am of the opinion that Astrolgy at the individual level is not warranted nor is it accurate.

    Predictions based on horoscope depend on two factors.

    images
    Horoscope matching for Marriage , India.

    The correct time of birth.

    This is not possible in almost all the cases as there  is alwaysna time gap between the actual birth and the time of reporting it.

    As the science of Astrology is very accurate in time, for it divides a minute into further divisions band it asserts that even a miniscule difference will alter the predictions.

    The reason is that Time is Relative and not Absolute.

    Time is only a convenient cocept.

    In the Nature of things in the universe, even our conception of Time varies.

    Th Time/day of the earth is not identical with the other celestial bodies like the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn..

    The Time varies depending on the planets’ revolution around the Sun and Sun’s revolution in relation to other STARS and other Galaxies vary.

    Such being the case, a minor difference in time of birth can make a huge difference.

    So as the Time of  Birth is not accurate, so are the predictions based on this.

    Secondly there is  controversy about what exactly is time of birth.

    One section maintains that the emergence of the head of the child is the time of birth, another group says it is the time the child touches the ground as only this constitutes the birth on the Earth.

    As these views are divergent there is no certainty about the predictions made based on the Time of Birth.

    Vedic Astrology requires an impassioned approach . Most of the Astrolgers of today treat this as a way to earn money.

    When money comes in ,dispassionate assessment is a casualty.

    And Vedic Astrology is a serious Study.

    It calls for dedication and serious research, which one does not;find among most of the Astrologers.

    Such being the case,  do not attach importance to Astrology .

    I am buttressed in my view bnthe Karma Theory of Hinduism, wherein one can not alter Destiny unless It Wills it.

    None can escape the consequences of one’s actions, be it Man or an Avtar.

    The goal of Life is  Realization of the Reality, Brahman.

    Nothing else matters nor can alter the Universal Reality.

    This is the message of the Vedas.

    If horoscopes were correct and auspicious timings are accurate, Rama would not have  had to endure Vanvas.

    Sita would not nendednup in Ravana’s captivity, had to be away from her husband at the time  of delivery of Lava and Kusa.

     

    Then how come the predictions of  our ancient Sages are accurate concerning Natural Phenomena?

    The reason is that when you analyse an Universal Event like Eclipses you are not emotionally involved.

    Nor is the time incorrect as Universal Events take place at precise moments and more than one observes  and records it.

    Hence the accuracy  of predictions relating to Universal Events like Eclipses.

    Here all the shortcomings associated with individual predictions are overcome.

    Such being the case for predictions based on Horoscope, how about Matching Horoscopes for Marriage?

    What does the Vedas say?

    What does Jyotisha, a Vedanga, a part vof the Veda say?

     

    Both of them say that Matching of Horoscopes of a Girl’s with a Boy’s is not warranted.

    While the Vedas is silent on this issue, Vedanga says it is not necessary.

    ‘

    Matching of horoscopes or looking into the preordained events of life:When matching horoscopes the following eight aspects are taken into consideration – the class (varna), the matching of the lunar and solar signs (vashya), the lunar asterism (nakshatra), the species (yoni), the planets (grahas), the genus (gan), the lineage (kuta) and one of the three divisions of the lunar asterism (nadi). If all these eight match each other then in all, thirty-six points are said to match. When minimum of eighteen components match, the horoscopes are said to be matching. The greater the number of points matching beyond eighteen the better it is. It is pointless matching the points based on preordained events when the horoscopes of the boy and girl are not available. Deciding upon a suitable match by matching the horoscope is only a popular custom, and is not prescribed by the scriptures.’

    ‘

    Hindu astrology is astrology based on medieval Hindu texts, wherein the relative positions and movements of celestial objects is used as a means for forecasting information about human affairs and fortunes. The term Hindu astrology has been in use since the early 19th century by colonial era missionaries and some Indologists, and referred to Jyotisha.More recently, it is also referred to as Vedic astrology.

    Vedanga Jyotisha is one of the earliest texts about Jyotisha field within the six Vedangas, it is about astronomy and time keeping for Vedic rituals, and has nothing to do with prophecy or astrology.’

    Citation and references.

     

    1. ^ a b C. K. Raju (2007). Cultural Foundations of Mathematics. Pearson. p. 205. ISBN 978-81-317-0871-2.
    2. ^ a b c Supreme Court questions ‘Jyotir Vigyan’, Times of India, 3 September 2001 timesofindia.indiatimes.com
    3. ^ Thompson, Richard L. (2004). Vedic Cosmography and Astronomy. pp. 9–10.
    4. ^ Jha, Parmeshwar (1988). Āryabhaṭa I and his contributions to mathematics. p. 282.
    5. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_astrologyhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_astrology
    6. Image credit.   https://www.google.co.in/search?q=marriage+horoscope+matching&client=ms-android-samsung&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwip0ICt0f_LAhWRkI4KHfhDDBkQ_AUICQ#imgrc=yeK7A9fO11hzdM%3A

  • Who Are Gauda Saraswat Brahmins

    I had written on the History of Brahmins in India and followed it up with an article From where did the Brahmins come from.

    I had written a couple of articles about the Brahmins of Tamil Nadu ,Karnataka.

    Now let us see who the Gouda  Sarswat Bramins are .(GSB)

     

    http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51OHd1rjq0L._SX351_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

    Kalhana, King cum Historian about the distribution of Families in India thus.

    ‘

    कर्णाटकाश्च तैलंगा द्राविडा महाराष्ट्रकाः,
    गुर्जराश्चेति पञ्चैव द्राविडा विन्ध्यदक्षिणे ||
    सारस्वताः कान्यकुब्जा गौडा उत्कलमैथिलाः,
    पन्चगौडा इति ख्याता विन्ध्स्योत्तरवासि ||

    Karnataka (Kannada), Telugu (Andhra), Dravida (Tamil and Kerala), Maharashtra and Gujarat are Five Southern (Panch Dravida). Saraswata, Kanyakubja, Gauda, Utkala (Orissa), Maithili are Five Northern (Pancha Gauda ).

    -Kalhana in Raja Tharangini

    saraswat_brahman

    During the period of Sanatana Dharma, when the landmass of India was different,when Lemuria and Atlantis were in place as a part of Rodina , the Super Continent, Hindus were apread throughout the world.

    Brahmins being a part of the group, were also spread through out the world.

    Brahmins were found in as far away places from the present India to Ireland,Egypt, Turkey,Caucasus Region, Arctic, Polynesia and Australia to mention a few placed.

    Taking into account the present political map of the present India, concentration of Brahmins were in the following regions.

    Dravida Desa, comprising of the present States of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka,and Andhra.

    Among this there were two areas were Brahmins were more concentrated.

    That is in The Godavari Valley and the Cauvery Delta.

    While the former are now found more in Andhra and Karnataka, the later are settled in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

    In the North we have the Brahmins in the Basins of Sind, Saraswati,Ganges.

    Panch Gaur (the five classes of Northern India):

     

    (1) Saraswat, (2) Kanyakubja, (3) Maithil Brahmins, (4) Gauda brahmins (including Sanadhyas), and (5)Utkala Brahmins .

     

    In addition, for the purpose of giving an account of Northern Brahmins each of the provinces must be considered separately, such as, Kashmir, Nepal, Uttarakhand, Himachal, Kurukshetra, Rajputana, Uttar Pradesh,Ayodhya (Oudh), Gandhar, Punjab, North Western Provinces and Pakistan, Sindh, Central India, Trihoot, Bihar, Orissa, Bengal, Assam, etc. The originate from south of the (now-extinct) Saraswati River.

    In Bihar, majority of Brahmins are Kanyakubja Brahmins, Bhumihar Brahmins and Maithil Brahmins with a significant population of Sakaldiwiya or Shakdwipi Brahmins.

    Of this there were Families that migrated from the Saraswathi River region towards the south,probably due to a Tsunami that engulfed the Region towards the closing years of Dwapara Yuga, that is some time after the Mahabharata War.

    This finds a reference in the Bhagavatha Purana and Tamil Classics.

    One group led by Sage Agastya came to Dravida Desa and they were 72 Families who were called Velirs and formed a part of Tamil Kingdom.

    These Kingdoms were mostly under the tutelage  of the Cholas of Tamil Nadu though at times they became independent  and at some other times with the Rashtrakutas.

    . Im They belonged to Smartatradition and primarily worshipped Panchayatana (the five deities): Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Surya and Ganesha.  These Brahmins were one of the Pancha Gouda Brahmin groups who lived north of the Vindhyas. 

    Saraswat Brahmins mastered the Vedas, and administered the priestly rites in the temples. The Vedas were passed down to the generations by the virtue of word of mouth, as written records didn’t exist at that time.  The Saraswat Brahmins had to maintain a very tight hold on their culture to maintain and protect their legacy. 
    The first migration of Saraswats to Goa took place around 700 BC. They migrated from the Saraswati, mostly through sea routes in search of greener pastures.  They took up farming and trading business in Goa and worked in partnership with indigenous people. At the same time, they retained their Vedic way of life, performing their rituals and retaining their cultural traditions.  They also brought theirKuladevtas and established temples for their deities. These temples facilitated socio-cultural activities of the community.’
    ‘According to the mythological chronicle Sahyadrikhanda of the Skanda Purana, ninety-six Brahmin families belonging to ten gotrasmigrated to Goa from north-western India.The Purana adds that the sage Parashurama brought Saraswats to Goa. Even if Parashurama is considered as a historical figure, the regionalisation of Brahmins had not taken place during his era and he had brought only Brahmins and not specifically Saraswats Brahmin. According to Bhau Daji and Dharmananda Damodar Kosambi, there is no connection between Parashurama and the migration of the Brahmins. The Sahyadrikhaṇḍa is a later inclusion in the original SanskritSkanda Puraṇa, not a part of the original Sanskrit text. The Parashurama legend serves as a symbol of the Sanskritisation that Goan culture experienced with the advent of Brahminical religion to the region. This was achieved to a certain extent through the agency of the Saraswat Brahmins who had migrated to Goa who sought to establish their hegemony.

    Sahyadrikhanda mentions the original home of Saraswats as Tirhut. The section in which the Tirhut is mentioned has been tentatively dated to 1400 CE. A writer on the basis of the genealogy and chronology of Puranic sages has mentioned that Aryans reached Goa around 2500 BCE. This is based on a preconceived notion that Aryans and Saraswats were identical. Elsewhere in the same work the author has argued that Parashurama had brought only Brahmins and not Saraswats. Therefore, equating Aryans and Saraswats seems to be far-fetched.[3] It is more reasonable to suppose that the Saraswats of Goa migrated from northwestern Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Sindh, Kutch and Saurashtra. There is no agreement among scholars about the original home of Saraswats. The name by which these Brahmins have been designated clearly indicates that the river Saraswati had played an important role in the life in their life. Even after the disappearance of the river, the Brahmins who had once inhabited the banks of river Saraswati retained the name of the region. There are evidences in history about the migration of the population from one region to another regions account of foreign invasions and sudden climatic changes. Recent researches in archaeology have shown that the Saraswati river dried up before 1000 BCE. For the study of the migration of the Saraswats to Konkan and Deccan, the linguistics provides corroborative evidence. The main line of Indo-Aryan linguistic expansion began from north to south much before 500 BCE. The Saraswats settled themselves in Rajasthan, Sindh and Gujarat. In ancient Gujarat there was a separate division called Saraswat Mandal. There are many Konkani words which are found only in Gujrati. From this it is evident that Saraswats had settled in Gujarat migrated to Goa. This also indicates that the Saraswats from the Kutch regions might have migrated to Goa on account of Arab invasion in the 8th century CE.[3]

    Reference to Saraswat names are found in Shilaharas well as Kadambacopper plate inscriptions. Certain Muslim incursions in North India provoked the Brahmin exodus. The inscriptions found in Goa bear testimony to arrival of Brahmin families in the Konkan region.Sahyadrikhanda and Mangesh Mahatmya allude to migrations of Saraswats, constituting sixty-six families, who settled in eight villages of Goa. There were regional variations among the Saraswats, such as those among Bardeskars, Pednelkars, Kudalkarsand Sashtikars. The Konkana mahatmya, from the 17th century CE, deals with the internal rivalry of the Saraswats and strained relations between these groups. Saraswats were not recognised by the local Brahmins as well as others. They were not entitled to the six duties of the Brahmins called Shatkarmas and they were called Trikarmi, entitled to three duties like the other Dvijas. Hence besides their sacerdotal duties, they took up administrative vocations under the ruling dynasties. Therefore, they gradually established themselves in the landowning class and also as traders. After settling down in Konkan and Goa in about 800 CE Saraswats may have taken about a century to acquire patronage from the Shilaharas and the Kadambas of Goa. Many Saraswats left Goa after the invasion of Malik Kafur to the neighbouring regions and during the period of religious persecution of the Portuguese also Saraswats migrated to Uttar Kannada, Dakshina Kannada and North Konkan. The Saraswat Brahmins particularly served as village Kulkarnis, financiers, tax farmers, merchants in the intra-Asian trade, and diplomats. Many sources of government income in Goa, Konkan and elsewhere, including taxes on commodities and customs duties, remained in their hands.

     

    ‘First Migration :
    A king from Saraswat country, called Videgha Mathava with his preceptor, Gautama Rahugana set out eastwards to find out new pastures. In those days fire was to be carried physically from place to place and the king carried a tiny spark on his tongue. On the way the preceptor started conversing with the king but the king remained tight-lipped without giving any reply for fear that the spark might fall or get extinguished. The preceptor understood the anxiety of the king and invoked Agni, the fire-god. On hearing the praises, out came the flames of fire from the mouth of the king and started rolling on the ground like the waves of the sea. “Agnideva, what is thy command?” the priest asked, “Follow me,” was the commandment of the fire-god. Accordingly, they followed. The flames sped away eastwards through the Gangetic belt and on reaching the western bank of the River Sadaneera vanished. This is how the civilisation moved to the eastern region, later to be known as Aryavarta, and some of the families of Saraswat Brahmins moved to the east and settled down in Trihotrapura a township in Gowda Desha and later called them selves as Gowda Saraswats. According to another version, our forefathers never went to Trihotrapura but were called Gowda Saraswats as Saraswats were one among five groups of Brahmins who were collectively called Panchagowdas as stated above at the beginning. Whatever be the version, civilisation moved from western part of India to the Eastern India and definitely some families, when the river went dry must have gone to Trihotrapura. This anecdote is mentioned in Shatapatha Brahmana.

    Second Migration :
    As stated in the Sahyadri Khanda of Skanda Purana Lord Parashurama after reclaiming land from the western sea invited various groups of Brahmins from different parts of Bharat Khanda. In response ten families of Gowda Saraswats came down from Trihotrapura with their deities of daily worship and settled down in Gomantak now known as Goa. In gratitude even today the Gowda Saraswats dedicate all their havans and yajnas be it Gayatri or Mrityunjaya to Lord Parashurama stating “Yajnantargat Bhagwan Shri Parashuramamurti priyatam.”

    In the course of time the ten families multiplied and with the passage of time they took to trade and commerce as permitted by the scriptures, besides officiating as priests. Depending upon their occupations this gave them various surnames as they have to-day like Kini – a treasurer handling money with the jingling sound, Mallya – a construction contractor who built mansions or mahals, Nayak-a leader in any army. In Goa they were in full bloom and they built up hundreds of shrines and temples besides establishing Shri Kaivalya Math in the eighth century.

    Brother Communities :
    Their brother Saraswats migrated to various other parts of the country. Those who migrated to Kashmir called themselves as Kashmiri Pandits, Sind-Sind Saraswats, Kutch-Kutchi Saraswats, Rajapur-Rajapur Saraswats, Punjab-Punjab Saraswats, Rajasthan-Rajasthan Saraswats and Chitrapur-Chitrapur Saraswats.

    This in a nutshell is the mythological and historical background of the Gowda Saraswat Brahmins popularly known as GSBs. 

    Saraswat Muni : Saraswat was the son of Maharshi Dadhichi and the River Goddess Saraswati brought him up. When he was a student mastering the scriptures on account of successive droughts, the river went dry and people leaving their home and hearth on the banks of the River Saraswati left for other places in search of food and water. The young Saraswat also wanted to leave the place but the mother persuaded him to stay back and pursue his studies, and assured that she would provide him food and water. According to another version, he had the prowess to conquer hunger, thirst and sleep. Like this 12 long years passed and the normalcy returned only thereafter. In the meantime the Brahmins had forgotten the Vedas in their anxiety to survive. 

    When they were eager to learn again, only one person, that was Saraswat, was available as a teacher. They became his shishyas irrespective of their age and learnt from him the Vedas that were forgotten. They were altogether 60,000 brahmins and single handedly Saraswat taught them in his gurukula. Perhaps nowhere in the history of mankind there is a record available that one single teacher had taught such a huge assembly of students. This story is told in Mahabharat and it is believed that long ago our forefathers must have been his disciples and we acquired the name Saraswats as his disciples. Vishnupurana while giving a list of Vyasas (which in fact is a title given to a sage who had rendered selfless service for the preservation and propagation of Vedas) mentions Saraswat’s name also.

    Jagaduru Gowdapadacharya : Lived in 8th Century and for the first time expounded Adwaita philosophy. His very name and fame attracted Shri Adiguru Shankaracharya and at the behest of Shri Gowdapada, his shishya Shri Govindapada gave deeksha to Shri Shanakara and also to Shri Vivarananda Saraswati to commence a new Guruparampara for GSBs. More is narrated about him under “Our Religious Seats, Shri Kavle Math.”

     

    Citations and references.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goud_Saraswat_Brahmin

     

    http://www.gsbkonkani.net/OurHistory.htm

     

  • Seven Generations Name Hinduism Genealogy

     

    In Hinduism Seven Generations are being spoken of in all most all functions and ceremonies so much so to indicate some thing old and to insist on a practice being followed in the families the term seven generations are used and in some cases 14 generations are used.

    What is a generation in Hindu reckoning?

    A generation is normally taken as 60 years.

    Seven generations make it 420 years and Fourteen makes it 840 years.

    It is expected of a Hindu to member seven generations at least.

    Ideally Tharpana, Oblations offered to  Ancestors should cover these seven generations.

    But we often offer only for three.

    wp-1459993182048.jpeg
    Names identifying the Seven Generations, Genealogy.

    Many do not even remember the three generations!

    In Hindu ceremonies dealing with death, those dead are believed to move over to Pitru Loka, the domain of the dead ancestors.

    In a ceremony being performed immediately after one’s demise during the next 13 days after death,food in the form of a Rice ball is offered, Pinda Pradhaana.

    During this ceremony the one who is dead for whom the ceremony is being performed, the Pinda is moved over/joined to the earlier pindas offered to the earlier one, thus moving the earliest one to a higher Loka and no more Tharpana will be offered to him.

    What is the explanation of these seven generations?

    Ourselves,

    Father,

    Grand father,

    Great Grandfather,

    Great Grand father’s Father.

    Great grandfather’s Grand Father,

    His Father .

    The generation list includes their spouses.

    Tamil and Sanskrit have specific names assigned them.

    I have reproduced the image dealing the Names. in Tamil.

    With my limited knowledge of Sanskrit, I can identify,

    Ourselves,

    Pitha,

    Pithamaha

    Prapithamaha.

    Prapitha Maha Pitru,

    Prapithamaha Pithamaha,

    Prapithamaha Pithamaha.

    At Haridwar, the Brahmin priest maintain a Genealogy list , which covers the ancestors spanning over more than ten generations, in some cases going back further.

    These are kept to offer Oblations for those who want to perform Sraddha and Tharpana.

    As Haridwar has traditionally been a site, for death rites and also Shraaddha, amongst Hindus, it soon also became customary for the family pandits (priest) to record each visit of the family, along with their gotra, family tree, marriages and members present etc., grouped according to family and home town. And over the centuries, these registers became an important genealogical source for many families, part of splintered Hindu families, in tracing their family tree and family history as well, especially after the Partition of India in 1947, and later amongst the Indian diaspora,

    This custom is similar to Panjis or Panji Prabandh, the extensive genealogical records maintained among Maithil Brahmins in Bihar.