Book Description
The book is an attempt to free Indology of its Jonesian fetters. The author holds that Megasthenes’ Palibothra was not Patna as Jones wrote but Kahnuj in Magan, which was the early Magadha. The centre of early India was in the northwest and greater India extended upto southeast Iran. From a study of Stephanus, Pliny and other sources it is shown that Palibothra was in Southeast Iran which was known as India. Ignoring Jones' hypothesis, the Nandas, Chandragupta, Chanakya and Asoka are relocated in the northwest without any great difficulty. There are important clarifications regarding Kanauj and the Maukharis. It is shown that Asoka was the same as the Indo-Greek king Diodotus_I and that Kanik of Purushapura is Alexander.
Another suggestion of utmost importance is that the Sanskrit drama, Mudrarakshasa contains priceless material relevant to the history of Alexander. After an arduous campaign in Gedrosia Alexander defeated Moeris or Chandragupta Maurya of Prasii at Kahnuj in south East Iran which was Palibothra. The sage Kalanos who accompanied Alexander appears to be none other than the great Asvaghosa. Alexander may have patronised Buddhism long before Asoka though this enthusiasm was not shared by all his fellow men. He loved power but under the mellowing influence of Asvaghosa, succeeded in rising above the sensual domination that usually accompanies it. Finally Seleucus’ special relations with Sasigupta hint at a conspiracy between the generals and Sasigupta-Chanakya (Bagoas) to poison Alexander.
A unique feature of the book is that its starting point is the message from the Indus seals, not literary tradition. It details a more or less straightforward stategy for deciphering the Indus seals. The underlying language is taken to be a mixture of Sanskrit and Dravidian. Here a major point of departure is the assertion that India or Bharata designated not only Melukhkha or the Indus cities but also Dilmun and Magan. The author claims to have found the seals of Manu, the great priest-king of Dilmun, Magan and Melukhkha. Some seals apppear to be linked to sea-trade with the Persian Gulf (Madhyatarani) area. Another seal which reads ‘Pancha Sila’, may be linked to primitive Buddhism. There is report in the seals of a battle which may be linked to the Bharata war. Seistan and southeast Iran were clearly within early India. Seistan appears in the seals as Ukshanira which echoes Shinar of the Bible. Seistan was called India in early Christian sources. The author agrees with the view of R. Thapar that Gujrat was a part of ancient Dilmun.
The book unveils a totally unknown Gotama. The western affiliations of Buddhism were known to H. C. Raychaudhuri and others but their vision was clouded by a Jonesian enchantment. Here some of the pictures seem to do the actual talking. New light is also shed on ancient names like Luipad, Tissa etc. The author holds that mysterious Isigili Sutta pertains to the holy Esagila of Babylon. The reading, Mahakal Dvara Uksha, of an Indus seal was first given in this paper.
Of all the topics discussed in this book, the location of Kapilavastu, the birthplace of Gotama, may be the most important. As pointed out in the first article, it was situated not in Nepal but at Kuh-i Khwaja in Seistan where Sir Aurel Stein discovered a Buddhist monastery in 1916. A Kapilavastu in Seistan dramatically alters world history. Although the subject is not treated in any depth, there are broad hints at a Ur-heimat of all religions at Kabil or Babil in Seistan. The Patriarch Abraham may have started his westward journey in the eighteenth century BC from Babil in Seistan which was also known as Ur. Both Stein and Herzfeld realized the crucial importance of Seistan. Herzfeld wrote that the three Magi went to pay homage to Jesus from Kuh-i Khwaja.
From the Publisher
The book offers a fresh perspective in the history of Indo-Iran. Approaching age-old ideas with a scientific dimension, Ranajit Pal has shattered the half-truths about ancient India's glorious past. Extensively quoting from primary sources, the author has succeeded in shifting the till-date linear perceptions that have riddled ancient Indian history. It is a fascinating account that begins with Manu, lord of Dilmun, Magan and Melukhkha. There is irrefutable evidence indicating that Palibothra was in the north-west, and that Gomata was the true Gotama. Kapilavastu, again in the north-west, was the holiest religious centre of the ancient world. The work has very important ramifications in the history of Alexander the Great.
Painstakingly researched, analysed in depth, and a concentated effort at challenging the bastions of fallacies, this labour of hard work is a must for the history buff.
