Bharatha Vamsavali - Preface (English Translation)

Editor:

N. GOPALAKRISHNAN B.A.

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First Edition -2006

Preface

“Nation Bharath is a grand old country, you are its progeny, Forget not”

-       Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathi

This small attempt as a book is to research and narrate the historical significance of the Tamil kingdoms (chera, chola and pandyas), the Ikshvagu kings of the Surya vamsa (kula) and clan of Chandra vamsa who migrated from southern hemisphere to northern from a local Indian perspective. It also tries to record the history of Tamilnadu beyond the last sangam age and the visionaries who contributed to the Indian thought and the post Indian independence struggle. The parts which are covered substantially in the mainstream have been omitted for brevity.

Puranas are a record of historical facts. They are not entirely fictional stories. Its widely construed today that King Rama never existed. Also, it is said by the western historical scholars that Krishna was a king who ruled after the Aryan invasion of India. This is what we learn as history in classrooms. These ideas are entirely erroneous or misconstrued.

When British started their East India company in India, Maxmuller (the friend of Swami Vivekananda who translated Rig Veda and aspects of Kundalini Sakthi in English) helped as an agent to perpetrate the Aryan myth. He wrote that around 1500 B.C., the aryans came through the Kybar Canyon into Bharath, defeated the local kings and ruled the country thereon. He further wrote that Vedas, Ramayan and Mahabharat (Itihasas/epics) were written by Aryans. The Historical pundits of the west later wrote with archaeological studies that Mohenjadaro and Harappa were Dravidian civilizations which were more advanced before the Aryan invasion. These are also erroneous and lacked a local Indian perspective.

It doesn’t look like these writers have read or researched the entire Sangam period (three historical stages) of the Pandya Kings. Historical writings on India which are written without a clear perspective of Tamil history and civilization will be incomplete in substance and spirit.

The oldest epic of the world, Ramayana, was written by Maharishi Valmiki who was born of the Hunter clan. Following this, Mahakavi Kalidasa (from the Herdsmen/Yadava clan) wrote “Raghu Vamsa”. Both these books record the heritage and vamsa history of Rama. Many writers over the ages have translated or re-written the Ramayana in native dialects/languages based on Valmiki’s epic. When the truth is as above, how can one accept that Ramayana was a mythical writing entirely. In addition, the siva temples worshipped by the Ramayana characters like Vali, Sugriva, Karan, Thooshanan and Ravanan exist even today. Rameswaram holds the wells dug by the generals of Sugriva, today. NASA (American Space Research Organization) has already recorded after successful satellite photo evidences that the Sethu Samudra bridge between South India & Sri Lanka exists 10 feet below the sea level and should have been constructed before 7000 B.C. by humans. These facts established by Scientists must be accepted by the world for sure.

Puranas say that Krishna’s Dwaraka went under the sea. The marine research activities in Gulf of Kutch have recorded palaces, compounds and other artefacts. Scientists have concluded after sufficient research that these are dated before 3000 B.C.

Saraswathi river from the Puranas have been researched from satellite images and the Scientific findings are astonishing. The Indian satellite research (INSAT findings) has recorded the Saraswathi basin under the Indian northern plains.

Scientists have used the “Ecological Dynamic Find Methodology” to ascertain the existence of Saraswathi starting between Satluj and Yamuna (through Onalewan, Kavnal, Kalibangan, Lothal) passing through Rajasthan and merging into River Indus/Sindhu in Pakistan.

Around 10000 B.C., due to changes in the warming patterns (Polar ice melts and raising sea levels) or tectonic shifts of the Earth, multiple deluges have resulted in submergence of regions below SriLanka under the Indian Ocean. During the same time, parts of Himalayas (Rupin and Subin regions, Margani, Manja, Sation, Jam Dar and Rupin Glazier) have melted to form the Saraswathi river. Saraswathi is also called as Helmond in Kandahar/ South Afghanistan. Zend Avestha (Persian Vedic book) refers to Saraswathi as Harkanathi.

Melting of the Himalayan glaciers could have created the Saraswathi river. Rising sea level around the world, tectonic shifts (resulting in earthquakes and volcanic eruption) around 10000 B.C. has pushed certain regions above the sea level too. Deluges of earlier pre-historic times has resulted in the extinction of Dinosaurs. Like the Pralaya times of the pre-historic past, the 10000 B.C. period also can be called as a Pralaya considering the changes in earth and the impact on all living beings. The earliest of this Pralaya could be termed as the birth period of Seventh Manu (Vaivasvatha – date calculations are as below).

In the banks of Saraswathi, Sage Vasishta and Sage Viswamitra (guru peetams) had their ashrams built. A new civilization was born. Vedas and Sastras were re-written.  Jyotisha sastras were written. Vasishta’s jyotisha books have recorded about 22 nakshatras (or groups). Viswamitra has traveled below Vindhyas and has recorded 5 more Naksatra groups (Dhanishta Nakshatras -Thiruvonam, Avittam/Sravishta, Sathayam/Sathabhishag, Pooratadhi, Revathi). The viswamitra era was created around 7100 B.C. Hence, Rama’s birth should have happened around that period.

Rama was born before Krishna (as per Avatar concept). Ikshvaku clan in Ayodhya has seen 38 kings after Rama ( Kushan, Aathi, Nishithan, Nalan, Nabaasu, Pundarigan, Kshothanuva, Devaneegan, Aheena Kuhan, Guru, Bhariyatran, Balan, Jalan, Nalan (II), Valan, Unnaban, Vajranabhan, Sangan, Vinakshithasvan, Viswasahan, Hiranyanabhan, Kousalyan, Dhrabishtan, Putran, Danayan, Pushyan, Dhruvasandhi, Sudarsanan, Agnivarnan, Sugrahan, Maru, Prasuruthan, Susandhi, Amarshan, Sahasvaan, Viswasahan (II), Dheergha Prabhagzhan, Brahathbalan were the kings who ruled. Dheergha Prabhagzhan and Brahathbalan were killed by Pandavas during Mahabharath war.). 

Assuming a rough estimate that each king ruled 100 years (including unknown kings), Rama’s period can be considered as 3900 years before Krishna. If Krishna lived around 3100 B.C., then Rama’s birth happened around 7000 B.C. This aligns to the period of Viswamitra (or the founder of the guru peetam).

As per Valmiki Ramayanam, Rama was born on Hevilambi, chitra month, day 11, uttarayanam, sukla Navami, punarvasu nakshatram, Wednesday, daytime 11 Nazhighai (24 minutes cycle), 59 seconds in Uttar Pradesh (Kosala state), Ayodhya. This can be calculated as 21-04-7013 B.C.

7000 B.C. – Killed Thadakai and Subahu traveling with Viswamitra; married Seetha

6988 B.C. – At age 25, on his birthday (21-04-6988), left for forest

6976 B.C. – At age 38, Killed Karan and Thooshanan (14-09-6976); on 07-10-6976, Amavasya, Surya grahanam when Mars was near to earth;

04-12-6976 – Navami, Killed Ravana and Rama Pattabhishegham was done

Let us also delve into the Krishna’s period in history. 2005 A.D corresponds to Kali yuga (sahaptham) era, 5105 years. So, start of Kali yuga ( one Manvantara or 26,000 to 30,000 years cycle of retrogradation of equinoxes and solstices) should be calculated as 3100 B.C. The date should be considered as 18-02-3102 B.C., considering the time adjustment calculations. When Krishna attained mukthi, kali yuga started. Dwaraka submerged under water. When Kali yuga started, Mercury, venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn were in Sravishta nakshatra Kumbha Rasi. Sapta rishi (Ursa Major) mandal/constellation came to Magha nakshatra and 76 years later, kali yuga started as per Puranas. So, this should have referred to the deluge which happened in and around 8576 B.C.

On 21-11-8576 B.C., Friday, during the reign of Nalan or Ruthuparnan, the era of Sapta Rishi started. Rishis started the recording of historical dates using the calculation of 2700 years based on celestial movement of Ursa major across 27 nakshatras. This corresponds to a deluge in South India. From 8576 B.C., going back 2 saptha rishi cycles (5400 years), the great deluge (manvantara or epoc) would have occurred in 13,976 B.C (probable start of Vaivasvatha Manvantara).

During this deluge, the king of southern Madurai (near Krdumal river), vaivasvatha manu (7^th manu), escaped the oceanic deluge (similar to Noah of the Holy Bible) and built his kingdom in Northern plains near Ayodhya. Ikshvaku was the son of Vaivasvatha manu. In the surya vamsa clan of Ikshvaku, Rama was born later. A sub-clan of Pandyas went to North and created Chandra vamsa dynasties.

Around 13900 B.C., the Pandya empire (including 49 kingdoms) with Oli (Light), Kumari, Peruvala(Great Plains) to name a few, went under the ocean as per Silapathikaram ( Epic of Tamil) and Sanga literature.  Without researching the tamil history, the date and time of Avatara Purushas like Rama and Krishna cannot be calculated. 

 Valmiki Ramayanam talks about the Pothigai hills, Tamil sangam of Agasthya and Pandya capital of Kapadapuram.

Rama lived in Pasu malai near Madurai during the reign of Anandha guna pandyan. Satrugnan, brother of Rama, had a son who met the Chola princess Madanasundari (daughter of Chola King Kampukantan) in a svayamvaram and later eloped with her. Also, Ravana’s defeat with Chera king and southern kings including KarthaVeeryarjunan and Vali is recorded. From Panchavati to Lanka, Rama’s passage/footprint has been recorded historically across many places in the 12 years of forest life.

Krishna of Dwaraka (Dwarakapathi and Elite intellectual) was a member of Middle sanga era of Tamil. He received Siva deeksha from Upamanyu Rishi of Chidhambaram. In Mahabharath war, Pandya kings sided with Pandavas. Perumsotru Uthiyan ( Chera king supposedly) served food for both Kauravas and Pandyas during war in Kurukshetra. Perumdevanaar has written Parani songs in Tamil on Mahabharath and he should have been present in the war field. Tamil history has innumerable records and annotations for this.

Lets also see the Sanga literature across the 3 ages/stages of history from the books written.

Researchers who have analysed the sangam literature, record First sangam period as 4400 years. This includes the Pandya kings, Kaai sina Vazhuthi to Kadum Kon, 89 kings overall. The second sangam era was for 3700 years which saw the reign of Vendaar Chezhiyan to Mudu Thiru Maran, 79 kings overall. Last sangam era lasted for 1950 years, with Kings between Mudu Thiru Maran to Ugra Peru vazhuthi, 49 kings overall. Every sanga period marks the restart of the era after oceanic deluge of the pandya kingdom.

Thalai/First Sanga Era - 4400 years – 14,400 B.C. to 9,564 B.C.

Gap in Sangam – 2760 years

Idai/Second Sanga Era - 3700 years – 6,805 B.C. to 3,105 B.C.

Gap in Sangam – 1390 years

Kadai/Third Sanga Era – 1950 years – 1,715 B.C. to 235 A.D.

Sangam period calculation - Total of 14,200 years.

During 13,965 B.C, oceanic deluge forced the Vaivasvatha manu (Machavatara story and Noah’s Arc of Holy Bible) to migrate from Pandya empire in Kumari kandam (erstwhile lemurian projected land in Indian Ocean or southernmost part of India below Sri Lanka) to North Indian plain and hence, its logical to concur that the Pandyas ruled the major portion of the sub-continent from 13,900 B.C.

From ancient historical periods, Tamil kings have ruled the entire India (Tamil India by N.C. Kandiah Pillai of Kozhumbhu, Sri lanka). Tamil was spoken in Middle-east countries. They called Tamils as tamilar, dramilar, dramidar, dravidar, draavidar as seen in metamorphosis of the language or linguistic root word analysis. There were also clans which moved back from middle-east (migrated tamil speaking tribes as reverse migration) to India due to earthquakes and other natural calamities.  

From Kashmir to Kerala, Chalukyas were called as Vanavars (People from North). Due to their influence, the Tamil language mutated or transformed. During the Kalapirar reign (medieval time rule of Tamil land who were partially nomadic and considered uncivilized), tamil books were burnt. The Hindu/Indian way of life as we knew earlier, changed forever. Protesting religions like Samana/Jainism and Buddhism became more prominent. Kalapirar, pallavas, marathas, Telugu nayakar kings during their reign of the Tamil land further mutated the Tamil language and culture. Later, during Mughal (who could be considered as descendants of Mongols or who used Mongolian war techniques) and British reign, tamil language and culture further saw mutation. 

To blame, Aryans or Pseudo Aryans, Northern language Sanskrit, Brahmins as a clan/order/varna/caste for the mutation of Tamil language or culture is Lunatic Dramatization or simply Blasphemy.

The Grand Old Tamil history must be re-written (From 14,000 B.C. till date and from Indian Ocean to the Himalayas).

"Aa Sethu Himachalam" as they say...

For those who believe that the Tamil culture, Tamil roots of the Hindu/Indian Nation, Tamil language must be fostered, this small book will serve its purpose in re-kindling the forgotten truths of this civilization.

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Please see the website Book URL - Bharatha Vamsavali for more information about the book.