This page is all about India (Bharatha) and its history(Ithihasa).
Lineage of Bharatha Dynasty
Pandavas and Kauravas belong to Bharatha dynasty. Below I am giving the lineage from Brahma till Ashvamedhadatta. I guess Ashvamedhadatta is the last prince of Bharatha Dynasty.
Brahma -> Daksha -> Aditi -> Vivasvat -> MANU -> Ila -> Pururava -> Ayus -> Nahusha -> Yayati -> Prachinvata -> Samyati -> Ahampati -> Sarvabhouma -> Jayatsena -> Arachina -> Mahabhouma -> Ayutanayi -> Akrodhana -> Devatithi -> Richa -> Riksha-> Matinara
So Matinara married Saraswathi by doing a scrifice on the banks of River Saraswathi. So still Sarawathi river is present here.
Matinara -> Tamsu -> Ilina -> Duhshanta
Duhshanta married Shakuntala [Yes Kalidasa Shakuntala story]
Duhshanta -> Bharata -> Bhumanyu -> Suhotra
Suhotra married Suvarna of Ikshvaku lineage. Rama belongs to Ikshvaku lineage right???
Suhotra -> Hasti
Hasti established Hastinapur
Hasti -> Vikunthana -> Ajamidha -> Samvarana -> Kuru
I think Kuru created Kurukshetra
Kuru -> Vidhuratha -> Arugvata -> Parikshit -> Bhimasena -> Paryashrava -> Shantanu
Shantanu married Ganga and gave birth to Bhishma. Between Saraswathi to Ganga there is 17 generations.
Shantanu -> Vichitravirya
Vichitravirya died without any sons. So Satyavathi second wife of Shantanu, asks Dvaipayana her first son from Parahara sage, to be the father of righteous children. From Dvaipayana 3 sons - Pandu, Dhritarashtra and Vidura. From Dhritarashtra 100 sons [Kauravas]- Duryodhana, Duhshasana, Vikarna, Chitrasena. Pandu has 5 [Pandavas]- Yudhishtira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadev.
In the great battle everyone dies all Kauravas, all the Pandavas sons. Only grandson of Arjuna Parikshith is left because of Krishnas boon i guess. So let me continue based on this.
Vichitravirya -> Pandu
Though after Pandu shuns the power Dhirtharashtra takes charge as king, I am not mentioning it as his lineage will be ended in the war. After war Yudhistira takes charge of king. But its Arjunas grandson who will be taking over next so I will mention Arjuna and his son Abhimanyu here.
Pandu -> Arjuna -> Abhimanyu -> Parikshith -> Janamejaya -> Shatanika -> Ashvamedhadatta.
So around 47 generations.
**Source: The Mahabharatha, Volume 1 [Translated by Bibek Debroy]
Indian contribution to Democracy
Somewhere in a village in TamilNadu [Uttaramerur] 2000 years before current date -
A stone carving describing the qualifications required of candidates to village assemblies
1. Knowledge (by teaching) of some Vedic texts
2. Ownership of tax-paying land and of a house
3. Age between 35 and 70
4. Should not be an existing committee member for the past 3 years.
5. Should have submitted all his accounts.
6. He/She cannot stand if he has killed a Brahmin, drinking alcohol, involved in theft, adultery or associated with criminals
7. Cannot stand if his/her relatives are current members.
8. Cannot stand if has stolen property of others.
9. Ownership of tax-paying land sized at least acre and a half. If you know Veda or Bhashya then only half of the area is sufficient.
10. Cannot stand if has been outcaste due to association with low caste.
11. Should not be foolhardy or has taken any forbidden dishes...
Elected by writing names on palm leaf and putting into a pot.
The tenure of a committee member was 360 days. Anyone found guilty of an offence was immediately removed from the office. Punishment - Parading on donkey.
The experience of Ancient India with republicanism, if better known, would by itself make democracy seem less of a freakish development, and help dispel the common idea that the very concept of democracy is specifically "Western."
It is especially remarkable that, during the near-millenium between 500 B.C. and 400 A.D., we find republics almost anywhere in India that our sources allow us to examine society in any detail. Unless those sources, not least our Greek sources, are extremely deceptive, the republics of India were very likely more extensive and populous than the poleis of the Greeks - Steve Muhlberger
And our text books heralded Greek is where democracy was born and British taught us democracy.
Indian contribution to Binary System
Somewhere in Kerala...
Pleased with the game of chess, King asks his Brahmin mentor and inventor of chess, What is that the mentor wishes so that King can give it as gratitude..
Brahmins reply - "Oh emperor, my wishes are simple. I only wish for this. Give me one grain of rice for the first square of the chessboard, two grains for the next square, four for the next, eight for the next and so on for all 64 squares, with each square having double the number of grains as the square before."
The King agreed, amazed that the man had asked for such a small reward - or so he thought!!!!
Finance minister after few days of calculation reports back to King. "Oh King do you realize what you have done?!" The last box itself fits 9223372036854775808 grains of rice. it would take more than all the assets of the kingdom probably whole of India to give the master his reward.
Ending has different versions.
1. King ordered to kill that Brahmin.
2. King opened the doors of treasury of food grains and asked master to collect his reward himself, knowing that it would take several hundred years to collect complete reward and Brahmin himself cannot do it in his lifetime.
Conversation with an Indian PU student who has just completed 2nd PU
Mr. X: Do you know Baudhayana?
Student: [Many students will say no] Yes yes. He came up with Pythagoras theorem.
Mr. X: Irony if Baudhayana came up with Pythagoras theorem then why it is named after Pythagoras? Okay, leave this. Do you know Aryabhatta?
Student: Yes. He invented Zero [with pride]
Mr. X: Hmmm he didnot invent zero. Infact he never used symbol "0" to represent zero. In his work that is book, place value of zero was implicit.Probably before him only somebody had discovered zero, he knew its value. So is that the only thing Aryabhatta did??
Student: hmmm yeah, thats the only thing they taught us.
Mr. X: Even that they didnt teach you properly. Okay let me give you some of his work - He came up with a simple formula to generate sine table, he had come up with many formulae for Arithmatic Progression and Geometric Progression. He came up with units of time to measure time of universe. He also came up with calculations to find the position of planets. Yeah also formula to find the approximate value of Pi.
Student: I knew about Pi, I think teacher had mentioned about that.
Mr. X: Hmmm Do you know Patanjali?
Student: hey I know this. Baba Ramdev - Patanjali - Yoga!!!!
Mr. X: Shabhas!! At least somewhere it rings the bell. He was a rushee who codified Yoga. Basically he wrote a book called Yoga Sutras. Apart from that he also wrote treatise on Sanskrit Grammer.
Mr. X: let us end the conversion today, we will have this continue some other day... Just for a thought, a quote
"Our school books talk about Socrates, Plato and Aristotle and rightly so but they dont mention Yajnavalka, Panini and Patanjali, which is a grave omission. Our grand boulevards in Delhi and other cities are named after Copernicus, Kepler and Newton, but ther are no memorials to Aryabhata, Bhaskara, Madhava and Nilakantha!"
"For at least 50 years, Indian intellectual life was stifled by a stalinist attitude. And before that, for two centuries, colonist historians appropriated Indian past for their own purposes. What they left for us was a mutilated version of our past. We are barely emerging from that hell." - Subhash Kak
Rama's instructions to Bharatha on how to rule?
As I was reading Valmiki Ramayana, I came across this wonderful Sarga. This is Sarga/Chapter 100 of Ayodhya Kanda. Scenario is already Lord Rama, Lakshmana and Sita have left Ayodhya to full fil the promise given by King Dasharatha to queen Kaikaiye. Due to the grief of parting son, King Dasharatha has died and Bharatha with the vow of bringing Rama back to Ayodhya, has left in search of his brother. After going to many places, visiting many ashrams of great rushees, he is finally able to track down his brothers abode in forest. As Rama meets Bharatha, Rama asks set of questions. These questions teach us how an administration by a King should be. So let me recount one by one.
1. First few questions are related to his father Dasharatha, so I will not be quoting here as it is not that interesting to us for this article. Question is basically how is father Dasharatha and are you Bharatha helping him in his administration? Is Rishi Vasishta being treated respectfully, who is well versed in sacred scriptures? Does all the queens Kausalya, Sumitra and Kaikaiye are happy? Is son of Vasishta, Suyagna one who is knowledgable and unenvious person is honoured?
2. Is a Brahmin who is well versed in traditions, who is intelligent and just is employed by you? Does that Brahmin remind you of religious duties?
3. Are you holding gods, ancestors, teachers, doctors and brahmins in high esteem?
4. Are you respecting your teacher Sudhanva who teaches you archery and has very well knowledge of political economy?
5. Did you chose minister who are valiant, learned, masters of their senses[disciplined], of noble birth, skilled in understanding the internal sentiments from the external gestures [body language] ?
6. Your victories are dependent on your council of ministers, who are very good in political science and can hide secrets and thoughts to themselves.
7. Don’t be the slave of sleep, wake up early and think of what good actions you need to do.
8. You should not take decision alone without discussing with others. But don’t discuss with many people. Also decision taken through discussion should not get leak to public until it is officially declared.
9. You take up such activities which has maximum benefit with minimum cost spent. Also don’t spend too much time to start such activities.
10. Other state kings should not know whatever activities/decisions you take. They should know only when that undertaking is complete or it has taken certain shape.
11. No other person should know about the type of discussions you are having with your ministers.
12. Always employ or be in company of wise men. A single wise man can be of great help in difficult times. Even if you employ 1000s or even 10000 fools, they won’t come to your help.
13. A minister should be wise, valiant, sagacious and efficient. A single such minister can bring great prosperity to kingdom and king.
14. Work should be assigned based on their ability. A superior servant should be assigned superior work, mediocre servant should be assigned mediocre and inferior servants should be assigned inferior works.
15. Are you appointing those as ministers who are eminent, incorruptible, from good family and are full of integrity in matters of great importance?
16. When your subjects feel fear from your power, does your ministers question you? Or do they just witness your subjects tremble in fear under your power. Basically does your subjects feel that you are cruel?
17. You should not be an womanizer, one who accepts terrible gifts(corrupt). Does any of the priests or subjects see you with this thought?
18. Remember this, kill these following persons because if you don’t then they will kill you.
a. A physician who is skilled in ways and means of aggravating a disease.
b. A servant whose intent is to bring disgrace.
c. A valiant warrior who has a greed of kingly powers.
19. Did you select an army chief who is cheerful, wise, courageous, valiant, well-behaved, from good family, beloved/respected by his sub ordinated and efficient?
20. Did you honor and gave respect to those warriors who are excellent, strong, skilled in war fare, whose excellent actions seen before in battles or various events and are courageous?
21. Are you giving suitable salary and daily provisions to the army without any delay?
22. Don’t delay in giving food and wages to servants. If you do they will become corrupt and angry against masters due to which unfortunate things will occur.
23. Does Kshatriyas are devoted to you and will they lay down their lives steadfastly for your sake?
24. Select those persons as ambassadors to other kingdoms who are knowledgeable, born and living in your country, wise, skilled, has presence of mind and who knows how to speak to the point.
25. Are you getting to know about the 18 functionaries of enemy and 15 functionaries of your kingdom from 3 different spies and each spy doesn’t know other spies who are working for you?
a. Functionaries are – 1. Chief Minister, 2. Kings family priest, 3. Crown prince, 4. Commander in chief, 5. Chief of bodyguard, 6. Palace secretary, 7. Superintendent of Jails, 8. Treasury Officer, 9. Chief Secretary of government, 10. Registrar in charge of petitions, 11. Financial assistant to commander in chief, 12. Mayor or municipal president, 13. Finance secretary to government, 14. Speaker of parliament, 15. Chief Justice, 16. District Magistrate, 17. Commander in charge of forts, 18. Commander in charge of state boundaries.
b. For enemies all these 18 functionaries information will be collected.
c. For one’s own side, information regarding chief minister, king’s family priest and crown prince will not be collected.
26. Do not think lightly about your enemies, even those enemies who are weak and are expelled. Those can return again.
27. Do not honor those brahmins who are materialistic. They think that they are learned. They are ignorant and they are skilled in perverting/corrupting the minds of others. Even though they take hostage of eminent books, they teach meaninglessly.
28. Are you preserving the city of Ayodhya, which is furnished with everything and flourishing? It has fortified gates, elephants, horses and chariots. It is filled with brahmins, warriors and merchants in thousands. These citizens are engaged in their respective duties, self-controlled and full of energy. City has palaces which are occupied by learned persons.
29. Kingdom should have rich temples, it should have water tanks and stores so that water can be distributed to the passer-by. Social festivals should be observed/celebrated by the men and women of the kingdom. Agricultural fields should be well tiled and they should not depend solely on rains. Cattles should be free from cruelties. It should have forest purged from the dangerous beasts, mines free from fear. Kingdom should be prosperous and an abode of happiness.
30. Are you taking care of farmers and those rear cattle. The people living on agriculture and cattle-rearing should prosper well. Their maintenance should be looked after by the king. Their fear should be removed by the kind.
31. All the citizens should be protected by king through his righteousness.
32. You are protecting and pacifying the women? And also you should not believe the words of these women and also don’t ever tell any secrets to them.
33. Are you taking care of the forests inhabited by elements? Make sure there is enough female elements. Also there should be enough population of horses and male elephants.
34. Are you daily appearing before people and also meet them in great high way [Raj path].
35. Servants should not be disrespectful to you. Also they should not be too obedient so that they agree for everything you tell. They should respect you but also should be able to question your actions.
36. Does your forts are full of money, grains, weapons, water and mechanical contrivances? They should have sufficient artisans and archers.
37. Your income should be abundant and expenditure should be minimum. Your treasure should not reach the undeserved.
38. You should spend for the cause of divinity, for brahmins, for elders, for unexpected visitors, soldiers and to your friends.
39. Before giving punishments to those accused, a proper enquiry should be conducted by persons who are well versed in law books. Extra care should be taken when the accused is known for honesty, integrity and noble work.
40. If a thief is caught during the theft or there is sufficient proof is there against the accused then that thief should not escape by bribing.
41. When a dispute occurs between a rich and a poor, your ministers should not show any partiality to either side of the party. Especially they should do not give decision with greedy of money by favoring rich. They should study the case carefully and handle it dispassionately.
42. Tears from the wrongly accused victim will destroy families of those who are indifferent to the justice. Remember this.
43. Keep the elders/aged, children and physicians happy through gifts, loving mind and polite words.
44. You should greet and respect your teachers, elderly, ascetics, deities, visitors, brahmins and also the trees at the cross roads.
45. For money sake do not spoil Dharma, similarly for the sake of Dharma do not spoil money. Also do not spoil money and Dharma for your self indulgence in pleasure, greed and gratifications of the senses. Practice Dharma, proper economics and also enjoyment. Each of them should be done with correct amount and in proper time.
46. Does brahmins versed in scriptures, villages, urban people wish for great health and happiness of yours?
47. You should not follow following things – Atheism, falsehood, anger, carelessness, procrastination, disregard to wise, sloth/lazy, indulge in sense pleasing activities, thinking alone regarding state matters, taking suggestions from perverted/corrupted minds, fail to start the projects which was decided earlier, failure to keep secrets, not respecting others and not speaking or doing good things.
48. For any decision you should consult with 3 or 4 minister in one on one secretly before taking decision.
49. Review yourself – Has your vedic studies been utilized properly, are your acts, productions of fair results, do you benefit from the company of your consorts.
50. Are you sharing your food with your friends?
51. You have the knowledge of following and deal with them accordingly
a. Ten evils – hunting, gambling, sleeping during day, womanizing [lustfulness], alcoholic, pride, false accusations, lounging about idly or aimlessly, diversions due to singing and dancing.
b. Five types of fortifications – By moat/river, mountain/high bank, forest/trees thickly planted, space destitute f grains or provisions, weapons.
c. Four expedients – making peace, liberality, sowing dissension, chastisement. There is one more interpretations. 4 Parts – blood relatives, wife relatives, family friends, those rescued in difficult times.
d. Seven limbs of state – king, ministers, friends, treasure, territory, forts, army
e. Three objects of human pursuit – religious merit, material wealth and sensuous enjoyment. Or Vedanga, Agriculture and commerce, War craft.
f. 3 branches of learning – vedas, knowledge of agriculture, commerce and other vocational pursuits and political science.
g. Six strategic expedients – coming to terms with the enemy, waging war, marching against enemy, biding ones time to seek an opportune time, causing confusion in the enemy’s army, seeking protection from a powerful ally.
h. Bad things caused due to divine – fire, rains or floods, epidemic or endemic diseases, famine, earthquakes and Tsunamis.
i. Adversities caused due to humans – officials, thieves, enemies, kings favourites and king himself. When they get taste of greed.
j. Eight concentations – Agriculture, business, forts, bridges, collecting elephants, mines, taxes, converting non-habitual places to habitual places.
k. Two types of fight – through intelligence and by strength of army
l. Two types of cease fire – terrifying the enemy from his army power or help from 3rd person.
m. Know about his kingdom. – its strength, weakness, features.
n. Not a good habits – Taking over others state, others wife, place, country; taking over relatives money illegaly, pride, ego, cruelity, lethargic, insulting knowledge, dharma, power or money; insulting friends, relatives, no respect to gods, insulting his ministers, stubbornness. Qualities of monarchs with whom negotiation is not worth – yet a child, aged, ailing for a long time, excluded by this own kin and kith, coward, surrounded by cowards, greedy, surrounded by greedy, insulted his ministers, fickle minded, speaks ill of divine and brahmins, indulged in sexual pleasures and luxuries, ill – fated, fatalist, afflicted by famine, remains away from home, has numerous enemies, not devoted to truth and piety, in very bad times, by military reverses.
52. Are you rule as per Dharma? See a wise and learned king having obtained and ruled the entire earth properly by dharma and by administering justice to the people indeed ascends to heaven.
Reference -
http://www.valmikiramayan.net/utf8/ayodhya/sarga100/ayodhya_100_frame.htm
Kannada Valmiki Ramayana - Dr. C N. Srinivas Iyengar
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