Ramanisblog

Tag: History of India

  • 2000 Years Old City Lava Ruled Jain Buddhist Sacred City Shravasti

    Yet another proof that the Ramayana was real and not a fantasy.

    That Ramayana was real, I had posted in detail through a couple of articles and an article about Rama’s son Lava having founded Lahore,Pakistan.

    The City Shravasti was the place in Kosala Kingdom from where Lava ruled from.

     

    Very little is known of the city of Shravasti until it rose to fame during the Gupta Period with its association with Buddhism and Jainism. Maheth, sprawling over an area of 400 acres, is identified with the remains of the city of Shravasti. Excavations led to the discovery of massive gates and ramparts and many other remains of the ancient city which speak volumes of the prosperity of Shravasti.

    The Sobhanath Temple is a Jain temple one must visit on tours to Shravasti. This place is believed to be and is revered as the birthplace of Jain prophet Swayambunatha. This is a major tourist attraction and pilgrimage spot for the Jains.Saheth another place to be visited on tours to Shravasti Uttar Pradesh in India, was once the site of the famous Jetavana monastery; the place houses numerous ancient shrines, stupas and monasteries spreading over an area of 32 acres. One of the earliest Stupas, probably dating back to 3rd century BC, is said to have contained relics of the Buddha. Excavations also revealed a colossal statue of Lord Buddha, which has been kept at the Indian Museum in Kolkata……

    Shiva Linga in Shravasti.jpg
    Shiva Linga in Shravasti.

     

    “Archaeologists in eastern India have discovered the remains of an ancient temple where the Buddha used to preach.

    The discovery of the 2,000-year-old shrine at Shravasti, the capital of the ancient Koshal kingdom in what is now Uttar Pradesh state, was reported by a team from the state Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

    Birendra Nath, a superintending archaeologist of the ASI, says the find has shed light on life at the time of the Buddha two millennia ago.

    He says the Buddha stayed for four months at Shravasti and delivered most of his sermons there.

    “The excavation sites have unveiled one of the most important cities of ancient India called Shravasti, which was the capital of the Koshal kingdom of King Premjit – a contemporary of Lord Buddha,” Mr Nath said.

    He says the Shravasti site was first identified by Sir Alexander Cunningham, a British archaeologist, in 1861.

    A large number of terracotta earthenware, human figurines, beads, plaques, seals, copper and silver coins and objects of bone and ivory were discovered.

    Mr Nath says the temple hints at the existence of a well-planned town with good drainage and brick-layered wells.

    The Buddha, an Indian prince born as Gautama Siddharta, is believed to have lived from about 563 BC to 483 BC.”

    References in the Ramayana, Mahabharata.

    Anathapindika's Stupa Shravasti Ruins.jpg
    Anathapindika’s Stupa in Shravasti

     

    During the period of the ancestors of Raghava Rama, there was only one Kosala kingdom. It had its capital at Ayodhya, identified as the Ayodhya town near Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh state of India. During the reign of Dasaratha, the father of Rama, Dakshina Kosala came into prominence. It was situated in the Madhya Pradesh state of India. Dasaratha married his eldest wife Kausalya from this kingdom.

    Raghava Rama’s son’s Lava and Kusa, inherited each half of the Kosala kingdom, with Ayodhya as its capital. Thus, this Kosala split into two parts; one ruled by Lava, with capital at Sravasti, to the north of Ayodhya and the other by Kusa at Kusavati, believed to be towards the east of Ayodhya.

    The Indian epic Mahabharata is the window to this era.

    During the time of Kurukshetra War, and the reign of Pandavas and Kauravas, we find mention of numerous kingdoms with the name, Kosala (as per the references in Mahabharata).

    The mothers of Dhritarashtra and Pandu, viz Ambika and Ambalika, where described to be Kosala princesses. They were some times described as princesses from Kasi Kingdom, Kasi and Kosala being a single kingdom (often denoted as Kasi-Kosalas) during the time of Mahabharata.

    Then Satyavati and Bhishma and the Kosala princesses were all gratified with the presents Pandu made out of the acquisitions of his prowess. And Ambalika in particular, upon embracing her son of incomparable prowess, became very glad.

    • Mahabharata, Book 1, Chapter 188

    Kosala king was present in this event

    ………the highly intelligent Vatsaraja, the king of Kosala, Sisupala and the powerful Jarasandha, these and many other great kings—all Kshatriyas celebrated throughout the world—have come, O blessed one (Panchali), for thee.

    • Mahabharata, Book 2, Chapter 14

    The eighteen tribes of the Bhojas, from fear of (Magadha King) Jarasandha, have all fled towards the west; so also have the Surasenas, the Bhadrakas, the Vodhas, the Salwas, the Patachchavas, the Susthalas, the Mukuttas, and the Kulindas, along with the Kuntis. And the king of the Salwayana tribe with their brethren and followers; and the southern Panchalas and the eastern Kosalas have all fled to the country of the Kuntis. So also the Matsyas and the Sannyastapadas, overcome with fear, leaving their dominions in the north, have fled into the southern country. And so all the Panchalas, alarmed at the power of Jarasandha, have left their own kingdom and fled in all directions.

     

    Jain Link.

    History of Shravasti teerth begins with the formation of Janpad’s by Yugadidev Shri Adishwar Prabhu. This place was the capitol city of North Kaushal Janpad. Many Jain Kings such as King Jitari, the father of third Teerthankar Shri Sambhavnath Bhagwan and others past here after Bhagwan Adinath. King Prasanjeet ruled this place at the time of Bhagwan Mahaveer. He was a loyal follower of Prabhu Veer. The main listener of Prabhu Veer King of Magadh Samrat Shrenik has wedded the sister of King Parasanjeet. This was also called by the names of Kunal Nagari and Chandrikapuri in the old days. Many Jain temples and Stoops (pillars) were present in this city. It is specified in history that greater king Samrat Ashok and his grand son King Samprati also constructed many temples and Stoops at this holy place. This teerth place is also descripting in “Brihatkalp”. Chinese traveler Fahiyan has also described this holy place in his memories of traveling India during 5th century BC. One more Chinese traveler during 7th century BC, Hun-Yen-Sang, has described this place as Jet van Monastery. Later this was called as Manikapuri. This was ruled by King Mayurdhwaj during 900 AD, by King Hansdhwaj during 925 AD, by King Makardhwaj during 950 AD, by King Sudhavadhwaj during 975 AD and by King Suhridhwaj during 100 AD. All of them were Jain Kings belonging to Bhar Vansh

    Citation.

    http://www.dhamurian.org.au/cultures/buddhatemple1.html

    http://shravasti.nic.in/history.asp

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosala_Kingdom#Era_of_Treta_Yuga

  • World’s First War Immigration 5000 BC Dasarajnya Harappa

    Unlike the other religious literature, Hinduism report events as they were, it does not whitewash history,be it the killing of Vaali by Lord Rama,the tactics adopted by Krishna in  Mahabharata battle,matricide even by sages.

    These texts portray people and society as it were, with real people with normal human foibles.

    They explain that there were people, when spirituality was in the ascendency, there were people, kings ,driven by greed went to war with each other.

    If Indian history and Puranas were to have been concocted all the characters could have been shown as pure as fresh snow.

    Not so.

    In the earliest literature of humanity,rig veda there is a reference to a Battle of Ten Kings, around 5000 BC-this could have been earlier.

    This was fought on the banks of river Ravi.

    This place is now known as Harappa, which, along with is one of the earliest sites which reveals the high levels of culture in the Vedic period.

    The Dasarajnya War.

    India north west kingdoms, rige vedic period.bmp.
    India North west kingdoms, rige vedic period.

    ‘

    The Battle of the Ten Kings (dāśarājñá) is a battle alluded to in the Rigveda (Book 7, hymns 18, 33 and 83.4-8), the ancient Indian sacred collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns. It was a battle between tribal kingdoms of Vedic Aryans: an “internecine war”, as the 1911 Britannica puts it, as opposed to the more frequent accounts of Aryans fighting Dasyus. K. F. Geldner in his 1951 translation of the Rigveda considers the hymns as “obviously based on an historical event”, even though all details save for what is preserved in the hymns have been lost. Further details have been provided in an incisive discussion of this hymn by H.P. Schmidt.[2]

    Battle of the Ten Kings
    Date c. 14th century BCE[1]
    Location Near Parusni River (modern Ravi),Punjab
    Result Decisive Trtsu-Bharata victory
    Territorial
    changes    		 Rigvedic tribes conquered by Sudas

    • Bharatas settle in Kurukshetra
    • Emergence of Kuru Kingdom
    Belligerents
    Trtsu-Bharata (Indo-Aryans) Alinas
    Anu
    Bhrigus (Indo-Aryans)
    Bhalanas
    Dasa (Dahae?)
    Druhyus (Gandharis)
    Matsya (Indo-Aryans)
    Parsu (Persians?)
    Purus (Indo-Aryans)
    Panis (Parni?)
    Commanders and leaders
    King Sudas
    Vashishta    		 The Ten Kings
    Vishvamitra
    Strength
    Unknown but less More than 6,666
    Casualties and losses
    Unknown but less 6,666 (Mandala 7)

    The battle took place during the middle or main Rigvedic period,[3] near the Ravi River in Punjab. Some of the powerful Purutribes like the Bharatas, allied with other tribes of the north west India and guided by the royal sage Vishvamitra, were defeated by the Trtsu (Puru) king Sudas in battle, celebrated in a hymn by Sudas’ poet and priest Vasistha (RV 7.18). There are diffferent account as to when this battle actually took place due to different hypothesis from different scholars. Some date it back to near 3000-4000 BC whie other consider it to be dated around the 14th century BC…

    The Trtsu are the tribe led by king Sudas. Sudas himself is included in the “ten kings”, as the Trtsus are said to be surrounded by ten kings in 7.33.5. But it is not made explicit how this number is supposed to be broken down: if of the tribes mentioned in 7.18, the Turvasas, Yaksuss (pun for Yadu),[2] Matsyas, Bhrgus, Druhyus, Pakthas, Bhalanas, Alinas, Shivas and Visanins are counted, the full number is reached, leaving the Anavas (7.18.14), the Ajas and Sigrus (7.18.19) and the “21 men of both Vaikarna tribes” (7.18.11) without a king, and implying that Bheda (7.18.19, also mentioned 7.33.3 and 7.83.4, the main leader slain by Sudas), Shimyu (7.18.5), and Kavasa (7.18.12) are the names of individual kings. The Bharatas are named among the enemies in 7.33 but not in 7.18.

    • Alinas: One of the tribes defeated by Sudas at the Dasarajna,[4] and it was suggested that they lived to the north-east of Nuristan, because the land was mentioned by the Chinese pilgrim Hiouen Thsang.[5]
    • Anu: Some place them in the Paruṣṇī (Ravi) area.[6]
    • Bhrigus: Probably the priestly family descended from the ancient Kavi Bhrigu. Later, they are related to the composition of parts of the Atharva Veda (Bhṛgv-Āṅgirasa) .
    • Bhalanas: Fought against Sudas in the Dasarajna battle. Some scholars have argued that the Bhalanas lived in the Bolan Pass area. [7]
    • Druhyus: Some align them with the Gandhari (RV I 1.126.7).
    • Matsya are only mentioned in the RV (7.18.6), but later in connection with the Śālva.[8]
    • Parsu: The Parśu have been connected by some with the ancient Persians.[9]
    • Purus: one of the major tribal confederations in the Rigveda.
    • Panis: also the name of a class of demons; later associated with the Scythians.

    The battle itself took place on the banks of the Parusni (Ravi). The warriors of Sudas are described as white-robed (shvityanca), wearing hair-knots on the right side of their heads (daksinataskaparda), having flying banners (krtádhvaj) (RV 7.83.2), while the ten kings do not sacrifice (áyajyavaḥ). It appears (7.18.5) that Sudas managed to cross the Parusni safely, while his foes, trying to pursue, were scattered by a flood and either drowned or were slaughtered by Sudas’ men:

    7.18.9 As to their goal they sped to their destruction: they sought Parusni; e’en the swift returned not.
    Indra abandoned, to Sudas the manly, the swiftly flying foes, unmanly babblers.
    7.18.9 They went like kine unherded from the pasture, each clinging to a friend as chance directed.
    They who drive spotted steeds, sent down by Prsni, gave ear, the Warriors and the harnessed horses. (trans. Griffith)

    Kavaṣa and the Druhyu were “overwhelmed by Indra” while still in the water (7.18.10). The slain warriors of the Anu and Druhyus are numbered 6,666 (7.18.14).

    In the aftermath of the battle, the Bharatas under Sudas (7.33.6), received tribute from the Ajas, the Sigrus and the Yaksus (= Yadu, 7.18.20), and Indra destroyed the seven fortifications of the enemies, and gave the treasures of Anu to Sudas (7.18.13). 7.18.17 stresses that this was a victory against all odds, compared to a lamb defeating a lion.

    Citation.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Ten_Kings

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  • Did Rama Destroy Rama Sethu,Adams Bridge?

    The Government of India declared in the Court that the Rama Sethu was destroyed by Rama himself.

    Remains of Kodandarama Temple,Dhanushkodi.jpg
    Remains of Kodandarama Temple,Dhanushkodi.

     

    “Responding to petitioners’ argument that Ram Sethu was a place of worship and that if it was breached it would no longer be fit for worship, senior advocate Fali S Nariman said: “The scriptures say it was already broken into several pieces by Lord Rama himself after the Rama-Ravana war. If that is so, it is already broken since time immemorial and hence it can no longer be a place of worship.”

     

    There is also a Tamil belief that Dhanushkodi,Tamil Nadu whci was destroyed by a Cyclone in 1964, means that the term Dhanushkodi means ‘ that the place was destroyed.

    ”

    The mythological importance assigned to this town is that when Lord Rama returned to India after vanquishing Ravana, Vibhishana pleaded with him to break the setu (bridge) so that no other armies would use it. Rama acquiesced to his request and broke the Indian side of the bridge with the end of his bow. This place came to be known as Dhanushkodi (Dhanush is ‘bow’ and kodi is ‘end’ in Tamil) and remains to this day a holy place for Hindus.

     

    I am unable to find any reference in the Ramayana that Rama Sethu was destroyed.

    To my understanding, Dhanush Kodi means the ‘end of Bow’, certainly no indication about it having been destroyed.

    Contribution on this subject welcome.

    Reference to Rama Sethu in Hindu Puranas.

     

    Apart from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata also refers to the continued protection of Nala Setu following Sri Rama’s command. Kalidasa’s Raghuvamsham also refers to the Setu. So does the Skanda Purana (III 1.2.1-114), the Vishnu Purana (IV 4.40-49), the Agni Purana (V-XI), the Brahma Purana (138.1-40).

    And hearing these words of Rama, the genius of Varuna’s abode (Samudra), joining his hands, answered in great affliction, ‘I do not desire to put any obstacle in thy way. I am no foe of thine! Listen, O Rama, to these words, and having listened, do what is proper! If, at thy command, I get a way for the passage of thy army, others then, from strength of their bows, will command me to do the same! In thy army there is aVanara of the name of Nala, who is a skilful mechanic. And endued with great strength, Nala is the son of Tashtri (Viswakarma), the divine artificer of the Universe. And whether it is wood, or grass or stone, that he will throw into my waters, I will support the same on my surface, and thus wilt thou have a bridge (over which to pass)!’ And having said these words, the genius of the Ocean disappeared. And Rama awaking, called Nala unto him and said, ‘Build thou a bridge over the sea! Thou alone, I am sure, art able to do it!‘ And it was by this means that the descendant of Kakutstha’s race caused a bridge to be built that was ten Yojanas in width and a hundred Yojanas in length.And to this day that bridge is celebrated over all the world by the name of Nala’s bridge. And having completed that bridge, Nala, of body huge as a hill, came away at the command of Rama.

    And while Rama was on this side of the ocean, the virtuous Vibhishana, the brother of the king of the Rakshasas accompanied by four of his counsellors, came unto Rama. And the high-souled Rama received him with due welcome. Sugriva, however, feared, thinking he might be a spy. The son of Raghu, meanwhile perfectly satisfied (with Vibhishana) in consequence of the sincerity of his exertions and the many indications of his good conduct, worshipped him with respect. And he also installed Vibhishana in the sovereignty of all the Rakshasas and made him his own junior counsellor, and a friend of Lakshmana’s. And it was under Vibhishana’s guidance, O king, that Rama with all his troops crossed the great ocean by means of that bridge in course of a month

    .-Translation by Kisari Mohan Ganguly.

    (Within the Mahabharata, Markandeya tells the story of the Ramayana to encourage Draupadi after Jayadratha’s attempted kidnapping of her.

    Within that is a reference to the Rama Sethu which was called as Nala Sethu after the engineer in the time of Veda Vyasa.

    Source : Mahabharata : Vana Parva  : Book 3 : SECTION CCLXXXI 🙂

     

    Citation.

    http://revolutionizingawareness.com/tag/rama/

    http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ram-himself-destroyed-Setu-govt-tells-SC/articleshow/3271270.cms

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  • Rama’s Arrow Made Maru Desert Jaisalmer

    Lord Rama, during his attempt to cross the ocean,prayed Samudra Raja, Lord of the ocean.

    He did not turn up.

    In a rare display anger Lord Rama sent in His arrow and it landed and parched the place it fell.

    Thus was formed the Maru Desert near Jaisalmer.

     

    Maru Mahotsav Jaisalmer,Rajasthan.jpg
    The world famous three-day Maru Mahotsav is the rich and colorful Rajasthani folk culture festival held every year in February at Jaisalmer. Maru Mahotsav also known as the Desert Festival is known for its unique events such as camel race,traditional dance performance, and other cultural events of royal Rajasthan.

    Ramayana says thus.


    ”

    The valiant ocean, the lord of rivers, wearing a wreath of pearls, with his eyes resembling lotus leaves, bearing a beautiful garland made of all kinds of flowers on his head, with ornaments of refined gold, adorned with excellent jewels made of pearls from his domain, decorated with different kinds of gems and metals, resembling Himavat mountain, wearing on his broad chest a locket shedding a white luster, resembling a Kaustubha gem (adorning the blossom of Lord Vishnu) and hanging in the middle of a single string of pearls, with a multitude of waves whirled around him, encircled by the clouds and winds, escorted by rivers mainly the Ganga and Sindhu, endowed with diverse forms resembling various deities, approached Rama with joined palms, who stood with arrows in hand, addressing him first as ‘Rama!’ and spoke the following words: “O, beloved Rama! Earth, wind ether, water and light remain fixed in their own nature, resorting to their eternal path. Therefore, I am fathomless and my nature is that it is impossible of being swum across. It becomes unnatural if I am shallow. I am telling you the following device to cross me. Neither from desire nor ambition nor fear nor from affection, I am able to solidify my waters inhabited by alligators. I shall make it possible to see that you are able to cross over. I will arrange a place for the monkeys to cross me and bear with it. As far as the army crosses me, the crocodiles will not be aggressive to them.”

    Then, Rama spoke to that ocean as follows: “Listen to me. This great arrow should not go in vain. In which region should it be descended?”

    Hearing Rama’s words and seeing that powerful arrow, the large splendid Ocean spoke the following words to Rama: Towards my northern side, there is a holy place. It is well known as Drumatulya, in the same way as you are well known to this world. Numerous robbers of fearful aspect and deeds, having the sinful Abhiras as their chief, drink my waters there. I am not able to bear that touch of those wicked people, the evil doers, O, Rama! Let this excellent arrow with out vain be released over them there.”

     Hearing those words of the high-soled Ocean, Rama released that excellent and splendid arrow towards that place as directed by the ocean. The place where the arrow, whose splendor was akin to that of a thunder and a thunder bolt, was descended by Rama- that place is indeed famous as desert of Maru* on this earth.

    * Maru—Malwar in Rajastan (India)

    The earth there, pierced by the dart, then emitted a sound . The waters of the penultimate subterranean region gushed forth from the mouth of that cleft. Then the hollow became known as Vrana. Water constantly seen, gushing forth from it resembled seawater. A terrific splitting sound was born in that place. Water was dried up in those cavities, as a result of hurling of that arrow by Rama. That desert of Maru became famous in the three worlds. Rama (the son of Dasaratha), a wise man and a valiant man resembling a celestial, made that cavity dried up and gave a boon to that desert of Maru. Due to granting of a boon by Rama, that desert of Maru became the most congenial place for cattle rearing, a place with a little of disease, producing tasty fruits and roots, with a lot of clarified butter, a lot of milk and various kinds of sweet- smelling herbs. Thus it became an auspicious and suitable move, bestowing these merits. While that cavity was burning, Ocean the lord of rivers spoke these words to Rama who knew all scientific treatises.”

    Contributions on this subject welcome.

    Citation.

    http://www.valmikiramayan.net/yuddha/sarga22/yuddha_22_prose.htm

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  • Chandra Gupta Megasthanes Never Met History Faked

    Chandra Gupta Megasthanes Never Met History Faked

    How does one start a Nation’s History?

    What does one base it on?

    Common sense would tell you to refer to the legends,literature of the Nation, check with contemporary event,s then cross check it with references , if any, if these literature is contemporary or slightly later.

    Can you imagine a Nation,s History being started solely on the basis of a Character, who has not even met the man he is quoted to have met!

    Well, this is what has happened to Indian History.

    Of Chandra Gupta Maurya.

    The man whose testimony is relied upon is Megasthanes.

    Megasthanes included, interpolated  Greek Gods and Goddesses( read my post on how History invented Greek Gods).

    These were later based upon along with the other names in Greek , presumably Indian, was linked to Chandra Gupta.

    1. Megasthenes has nowhere mentioned the word Maurya
    2. He makes absolutely no mention of a person called either Chanakya or Kautilya.
    3. Indian historians have recorded two Chandra guptas, one of the Maurya dynasty and another of the Gupta dynasty. Both of them had a grandson called Ashoka. While the Mauryan Chandragupta’ s son was called Bimbasara (sometimes Bindusara), The Gupta Chandragupta had a son called Samudragupta. Interestingly Megasthenese has written that Sandrakuttos had a son called Samdrakyptos, which is phonetically nearer to Samudragupta and not Bindusara.
    4. The king lists given by the Puranas say that 1500 years elapsed from the time of the Kurukshetra war to the beginning of the Nanda dynasty’s rule. If one assumes the Nandas’ period to be 5th century BCE, this would put the Bharatha war around 1900 BCE whereas the traditional view has always been 3100 BCE. This gives a difference of 1200 years which go unaccounted.
    5.  

      Megasthanese himself says 137 generations of kings have come and gone between Krishna and Sandrakuttos, whereas the puranas give around 83 generations only between Jarasandha’s son (Krishna’s contemporary) to the Nandas of the Magadha kingdom.. Assuming an average of 20 to 25 years per generation, the difference of 54 generations would account for the gap of the 1200 years till the time of Alexander.

    1. The Chinese have always maintained that Buddhism came to China from India around 1100 -1200 BCE, whereas the western historians tend to put Buddha at 500 BCE
    2. According to the Greek accounts, Xandrammes was deposed by Sandrokottas and Sandrocyptus was the son of Sandrokottas. In the case of Chandragupta Maurya, he had opposed Dhanananda of the Nanda dynasty and the name of his son was Bindusara. Both these names, Dhanananda and Bindusara, have no phonetic similarity with the names Xandrammes and Sandrocyptus of the Greek accounts.
    1. Asoka’s empire was bigger than that of Chandragupta Maurya nd he had sent missionaries to the so-called Yavana countries. But both of them are not mentioned. Colebrook has pointed out that the Greek writers did not say anything about the Buddhist Bhikkus though that was the flourishing religion of that time with the royal patronage of Asoka. Roychaudhari also wonders why the Greek accounts are silent on Buddhism.
    2. The empire of Chandragupta was known as Magadha empire. It had a long history even at the time of Chandragupta Maurya. In Indian literature, this powerful empire is amply described by this name but it is absent in the Greek accounts. It is difficult to understand as to why Megasthanese did not use this name and instead used the word Prassi which has no equivalent or counterpart in Indian accounts.
    3. To decide as to whether Pataliputra was the capital of the Mauryas, Puranas is the only source. Puranas inform us that all the eight dynasties that ruled Magadha after the Mahabharata War had Girivraja as their capital. Mauryas are listed as one of the eight dynasties. The name Pataliputra is not even hinted at, anywhere in the Puranas.

    In the Greek accounts, Sandrokottas of Palimbothra is described as a contemporary of Alexander of Macedonia who invaded India during 327 BC to 323 BC This decides the approximate date of Chandragupta Maurya. Princep’s research decides the approximate date of Asoka, the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya as in 3rd century BC Both these dates were adjusted with the reign periods of the three successive Magadha kings, Chandragupta, Bindusara and Asoka of the Maurya dynasty given in the Puranas. Thus, the date c. 320 BC was fixed as the date of coronation of Chandragupta Maurya. It is on this date that every other date of Indian history has been constructed.

    Max Mueller, in 1859 AD, finalized this identity of Sandrokottas with Chandragupta Maurya and declared c. 320 BC, the date of coronation of Chandragupta Maurya as the Sheet Anchor of Indian history. M. Troyer did not agree with this conclusion and noted this fact in the introduction to his translation of Rajatarangani of Kalhana. He even communicated his views to Prof. Max Mueller in a letter but did not receive a reply from him.

    Historian V. A. Smith took the chronological identity asserted by the predecessors in this historical hierarchy as the basis for further calculation of the exact dates of the different dynasties that ruled over Magadha after and before the Mauryas. He took the aid of numismatics in addition to epigraphy. He could not however get over, as if by compunction, to follow the Puranas in the enumeration of the kings and their dynasties. But he reduced their reign periods. The total reduction done by these British scholars, from Jones to Smith, comes to 1300 years according to some Indian chronologists.

    Citation.

    http://controversialhistory.blogspot.in/2009/07/did-megasthenes-meet-chandragupta.html#.U7Yec1WSz3S

    The site mentioned contains great articles.

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