All World
Gayatri Pariwar

Prologue

Scholars of Cultural History, Archeology and Spiritual Philosophy recognize India as a country of rich heritage and glorious past. All branches of knowledge and civilization are said to have emanated from the Indian Philosophy and Culture of the Vedic Age1, which were spread across the globe through the dedicated altruist endeavors of the rishis2. India continued to be the preeminent guide of the entire world in the post Vedic times as well. The scientific and socio-economic development here was so advanced those days that India was often referred as a “Diamond Bird” — a symbol of immense prosperity[1-4]. The seeds of Indian Culture were spread across the globe several thousands years B.C.

A large number of erudite researchers of — world-history, oriental culture and intellectual evolution have elucidated different aspects of ancient India from time to time. Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya had reviewed the foundation and dissemination of the cultural values and civilizational principles of ancient India and documented them in book-form in 1972-73 during a voyage overseas. The volume compiled by him is like a concise encyclopedia. It sketches the history of cultural civilization with respect to enormous contributions of India[5] to the rest of the world. It cites evidential information and published references on global spread of this most ancient culture and historical traces of its impressions on cultural development and civilization of the rest of the world.

Be that religion, philosophy, psychology, anthropology, archeology, sociology, art, architecture, science, technology or any other facet of civilization and culture, the rishis had generously bestowed their knowledge, guidance and creative help to the rest of the world. Many of them had even traveled to remote corners of the earth to plant the seeds of human-culture and uplift the status of people’s life there. In this effort, many of them had eventually resided on foreign lands forever.

Archeological proofs and references of our times available in the above regard are cited in this volume to review India's contributions in different parts of the world. The list of countries where the marks of ancient Indian contributions are found extends from North America (USA), Latin America, Mexico, Germany, Egypt, etc, to South Africa, Kampuchia, Laos, China, Japan, Russia and Australia. Similar details are cited there for small countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Mauritius, Indonesia, Fiji, Korea, Mongolia, Burma, etc, where the influence of Indian culture is quite evident even today.

Remarkably, this volume is not only of immense importance and interest for those engaged in research of the history of cultural civilization and archeological monuments, its lucid style of presentation makes it an excellent source of interesting information for wider class of readers as well. With this issue, we are commencing a series of six articles based on English translation of excerpts from this volume.

We must keep in mind that this review does not aim at establishing superiority of oriental civilization or so. It is being presented simply to see how firm and vast could be the roots of a culture imbibed with divine values of humanity. It should guide us towards a feasible approach of unity and convergence for realization of the vision of a global family in the present times.

A Glimpse of Ancient India:

The cultural, social, economic and political system of ancient India was developed on the principles of enlightenment and benevolence. People enjoyed disciplined, hardworking life-style devoted to altruistic service, justice, love and mutual progress. Selfishness and excessive possession of comforts were looked down upon and were widely condemned.

Acquisition and dissemination of pure knowledge and divine values was the main aim of people’s life. As remarked by eminent philosophers like David Thoreau [c.f. pg 9 of “Mother America” by Swami Omkar] and George S. Brett [in his original three volumes on “History of Psychology”] — the Indian rishis were perfect scientists of human psyche. Their spiritual acumen had a deeper reach in all dimensions of human mind. They had developed an all-encompassing cultural and educational system for the spiritual elevation of people of different mentalities and capabilities.

As we know, if one walks towards light, his shadow naturally begins to follow it. Similarly, refinement of personality, chiseling of talents and consequent worldly-progress too take place along with spiritual progress. Indeed, spiritual ascent had laid the foundation of all-round prosperity in the ancient Indian society. The socio-economic system was based on cooperative efforts and local self-governance; distribution of social responsibilities was according to work-potential and skills. All men and women were given equal opportunity to contribute towards the development of the society as per their innate talents and assigned duties.

Several scholars of the modern times have researched on different aspects of cultural, socio-economic and political facets of Ancient India (for example, see [4, 6-7]). We shall highlight only the findings relevant to the focus of this article.

Regional Borders:

It is difficult to describe a map or geographical boundaries of ancient India. This is because in those days the borders of nations were not defined geographically. Most parts of the globe consisted of gigantic mountains, oceans, seas, rivers and dense forests. Transportation was difficult and time-consuming. Therefore, geographically smaller states existed as republics, maintained by local governing bodies. A “chakravarti” empire encompassed all such republics. A “chakravarti” empire was like a world-level federation, under which the republics were autonomous in terms of governance and economy, but they had to abide by certain common constitutional and moral norms.

Geographically, the land of ancient India was vast. This greater India encompassed almost entire Asia. Although, politically, even the present land of India was divided into several autonomous republics those days, but ancient India was a chakravarti (global) nation. The light of ancient Indian Culture emanating from divine knowledge was spread across the globe. Kings or governing bodies did not rule the people, they only managed the system; everyone followed the righteous guidance of the Indian sages and saints (the rishis). In this respect, the ‘peripheries’ of ancient India were spread worldwide.

In terms of education and cultural development, ancient India was “jagat guru” –enlightening teacher/guide of the world. In terms of regulating the (moral) norms of governance, it was a chakravarti nation. Thus, we may say, the ‘brain and heart’ of ancient India was Âryavarta and its ‘body’ was the entire world.

Center of Global Civilization:


Motivated by the Vedic inspiration of “Vasudhaiva Kutu®bakam” (regarding the entire world as one family), the rishis had traversed long distances and reached different parts of the world. The purpose was not to spread any particular ritualistic religion or cult; rather, it was for the welfare of all. They volunteered to face the hardships of arduous journeys – mostly on foot or via boats to awaken the masses they met on the way. They sojourned and even stayed for good in foreign lands to plant and nurture the seeds of civilization and culture. These torchbearers helped the tribals, the downtrodden, lived with them and taught/educated them to elevate the level of their lives above the animalistic state. They also gave practical training to the masses on agriculture, weaving, pottery, herbal medication etc.


It appears from the commentaries on the epic “Mahabharat” that the armies of the states across almost entire Asia had participated (from Kauravas’ side) in the epochal war of “Mahabharata”, as all these states were part of Greater India.


Though the war of Mahabharata devastated the divine-like civilization of grand, global India, perennial relevance of its cultural values and ancient knowledge, and devout efforts of some Himalayan yogis and disciples of the rishis, helped India revive its golden glory in the post-vedic times.


The trends of global contributions of Indians continued in the later ages (several hundred years B.C.). By then, common people, especially traders, scholars and explorers had gone to different parts of the world in large numbers. The description of ancient text and findings of some researchers of oriental civilization indicate that along with good developments in agriculture, cattle-based small-scale works, handicrafts, preparations of plant medicines, astronomy, metallurgy, etc, India had advanced the technology of navigation and making of huge boats and ships. Kautilya’s “Arthashastra” (popularly known as the first book that laid the foundation of Economics) describes the strong naval base and strength of King Chandragupta’s empire. Greek Scholar Megasthenese, who was an Ambassador of King Silacus to India, has also cited advanced navigation technology of India around 4th Century B.C.


History of Syria mentions the use of Indian elephants in warfare. The early investigations on Pyramids revealed that the cloths that covered the mummies were made in India. Neighboring states were connected via roads. Indian traders used to ride on camels, elephants or horses to go to the states, where some routes were available through forests. Traders and scholars used to travel to remote lands via boats and ships. Many of them had stayed in the foreign states over long periods and helped in their economic development.


There were good ports in several coastal parts of India. The states like Kerala, Chola, and Pandya, in southern parts of India had trading relations with Greece, Rome and China. The eastern countries were like next-door neighbors for Indians. Buddhist scriptures like “Mahajatak” describe in great detail the tours of Indians to Myanmar, Anam, etc. First Century AD historian Periplus also cites the voyages of ships from the port of Machhalipattam in India to the Iceland countries in eastern Asia. History of Java acknowledges the role of Indians who went from Saurashtra (in Gujarat) and Kaling (in Orrisa) and developed the island countries like Java, Sumatra and Bali.


Several noted books and treatises like “Indian Teachers of China” by Phanindranath, “Japan” by Rahul Sankratayan, “Ancient Khotan” and “Innermost Asia” by Sir Marc Aurel Stein[8-9], “Early History of India” by V. A. Smith[10], “Arab aur Bharat ke Sambandha” by Ramchandra Verma, “History of Javanese Buddhism” by L. Annasni, “Lamaism” by L. Wyden, “Bauddhakalin Bharat” by Janardana Jha, ‘Fahiyan’ by J.M. Verma and “Buddhist Record of the World”, etc are among the more recent authentic sources that establish footprints of Indian Culture in Indonesia, Indochina, Malaysia, and other East Asian countries; China, Turkey, Russia, Mangolia, Japan, Korea, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and other countries in the Middle East. These show that the Greater India was, even geographically, spread across the entire Asian continent since hundreds of years B.C. and also up to Australia in the later years.

Historical text “India in Greece” written by Prof. E. Pococke[11], cites the proofs of Indian philosophers reaching Greece more than 400 years B.C. to spread the light of knowledge. The great emperors of Magadha (in north India) and states on the Banks of river Sindhu (in Western India) had established the first systematically governed, strong state in Greece. According to the research explorations of Sir John Leonard Wooly, the ancient Greek society used to follow Hindu customs like funeral of dead bodies, rituals of bride and her groom moving around holy fire during wedding ceremony. The book “New Light on The Most Ancient East” by Garden Child describes Indian civilization as the origin of Greek and Roman civilizations. The influence of Indian culture had also gradually spread to Europe, Americas and Africa.


In the subsequent articles of this series we shall have a glimpse of relevant scriptural texts and authentic archeological and historic evidences of Indian culture in specific countries.


References:

Bachman AL: Cultural History of India. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford, 1997

Bachman AL: The Wonder That India Was. Rupa & Co. Ltd, New Delhi

Allchin Raymond and Bridget: Origin of Civilization. Viking and Penguin Ltd.

London, 1968

Padmshri Dr. KD Dwivedi: Vedoó Meó Sam³jï³stra, Arthaï³stra aur

Sik̳ï³stra. Vishwabharati Anushnadhan Parishad, Gyanpur (Bhadohi), 2002.

Acharya Sharma S. (1995): Samasta Viïwa Ko Bh³rata Ke Ajasra Anud³na.

Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya Samagra Vangmaya Vol. 25. Akhand Jyoti

Sansthan, Mathura; UP, India.

Dr. AK Jayaswal: Vaidika Sansk—ati Ke Vividha Ây³ma. Lalit Prakashan, New

Delhi. 2000.

Monumental Collections of Rare Books at “The Greater India Society”,

Calcutta, “The Asiatic Society”, Mumbai, and “Bhandakar Oriental Research

Institute”, Pune.

A. Stein: Ancient Khotan: Detailed report of archaeological explorations in

Chinese Turkestan, 2 vols. Clarendon Press. Oxford, 1907.

A. Stein: Innermost Asia: Detailed Report of Explorations in Central Asia,

Kan-su and Eastern Iran, 5 vols. Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1928. (Reprint: New Delhi. Cosmo Publications. 1981)

VA Smith: Early History of India. The Clarendon Press, Oxford (new reprint by

Atalantic, ISBN: 8171566189)

E. Pococke: India in Greece (1st edition) 1851. First Indian Reprint, Oriental

Publishers, Delhi, 1972.


Gloassary:


Vedic Age: As cited by authentic scholarly texts and accepted by savants across the

globe, this is approximately the period of 50,000 to 20 thousand B.C.

Rishi: A seer, sage, yogi and saintly scientist of the Vedic Age.

Âry³varta: The land of Aryans, which, in terms of modern geographical maps,

corresponds to the Himalayan region and northern part of the pre-partition India.