This blog aims at bringing out the past glory and history of India, Hinduism and its forgotten values and wisdom. This is not copyrighted so as to reach genuine seekers of these information. Its my prayer that only genuine seekers - and not vandals & plagiarists - come to this site.
LOS ANGELES, CA - A copious quantity of scholarly information was exchanged and shared between researchers, scholars and several interested members of the public, on the intriguing debates which loom over the origins, locations and the cultures of the ancient Indian Civilization which existed in the Sindhu-Sarasvati Valley, at an International Conference conducted at the Loyola Marymount University over two days on February 21 and 22.
The conference underway with an introduction by Christopher Chapple, Conference Co-Director and Doshi Professor, LMU in which he expressed it was most appropriate the event was being conducted in LMU , a historical and archeological site which had been the home of the original settlers, the Tongva tribe. The beauty of archeology he added was that " we learn about those who went before and we learn a little about ourselves. He thanked Nalini Rao, Conference Director and Prof of Art History , Soka University for collecting the best group of people to speak at the event. He was pleased that her father , the reputable Indian archeologist, Dr. S.R.Rao was present to share his experiences and interpretations of the various discoveries during his several decades of excavation in Lothal. He expressed his deep gratitude for the continued support of Navin and Pratima Doshi in activities relating to India and to the speakers who had gathered, for their commitment and for sharing their knowledge.
Conference Director Nalini Rao set the tone for the conference with an explanation on the title of the event. She said there was sufficient evidence of the existence of the Sarasvati which dried up around 1500 BC , on the banks of which was the cradle of Indian Vedic civilization and its links with the Harappan society which flourished on the Sindhu or Indus River. The aim of the meetings she added was a reappraisal of the place of the Sindhu and its vedic culture and to reexamine the shared identity between the Sindhu and Sarasvati communities in the light of interdisciplinary studies like theological, linguistic , anthropological literary, mythological, religious and historical. Yet she said there are ambiguities in the chronological, geographical, cultural features which need to be examined and she hoped the scholars assembled would be able to objectively discuss the subject and arrive at some sort of consensus on the people of the Sindhu Sarasvati Valley.
Navin Doshi in his remarks added that the conference was meant to get to learn more of our ancestors and our roots in India and hoped presentation would be made without any bias. In closing he said that after the presentations "there will not remain any doubt into an undisputed coherent truth of our ancestors who had settled on the banks of the Sindhu and Sarawati Rivers" - the very same who are the children of the tribes of Homo-Sapiens originating from Ethiopia. Speaking to India Journal Doshi stated that he had not been happy with the Indus conference he had organized a few years ago. At that meeting he stated that there was far too much discord and conflict and the competence of some of the presenters was questionable. So it had been his wish to conduct another one and was excited it had materialized thanks to the efforts of the remaining members of the advisory committee, namely Nalini Rao, Damodar Sardesai, Christopher Chapple and Debashish Banerji.
The first papers presented were on the "Intellectual History of the Debate" by Edwin Bryant followed by the " Harappan Diaspora and South Asian Archeology by Jim Shaffer. At the conclusion of this session the Chair and Professor Emeritus of History at UCLA making references to the presentations remarked that politicizing of the debate over the origins of the ancient Indian civilizations was inevitable. He pointed out that the British reveled in the principle of creating a sense of inferiority by creating divisions and have all along tried to deny the identity of the Indian people which is perhaps their worst legacy. He said they feared that if the it could be established the Vedas and the Valley civilizations existed long before the Christian era , there would be a big question mark over the superiority of the British race. Showing his obvious dislike of the Raj he said a subject that had not come up at the conference till then was the genetic theory which has evolved tracing the migrational path of the human race through human genes , and sincerely hoped that his ancestory would not lead back to the British!
Several panels followed with question and answer sessions for the rest of the day and into half of the following day when the event came to an end with closing and appreciations by Nalini Rao and Debashish Banerji.
During a brief overview of the formation, history and activities of Taksha , its Chairman, Board of Trustees Adarsh Deepak awarded Navin Doshi and Rajinder Gandhi MD a memento and a Certificate of Induction in the Education Philanthropy Hall of Fame at the Institute in honor and recognition of their sustained support for constructive education and research in Indic traditions.
The conference also included a tour of the LMU Archaeology Center and the viewing of Indus artifacts in the collection.
The event was sponsored by the Doshi Bridgebuilder Endowment, Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, the Departments of Theological Studies,Classics and Archeology - LMU, Soka University and the Southern California Consortium for International Studies.
India Journal is the leading Indo-American Newspaper in Southern California, having been printed weekly for the last 20 years, we are the oldest and most trusted name people turn to when they need up to date information on the Indo-American community.
Dr S.Kalayanaraman is doing yeomen service to Bharatham and the world by bringing out the lost information on the world’s oldest civilization that thrived for many millennia in the Indian Sub-continent. His presentation yesterday in Chennai on the linguistic leads as revealed by the Sarasvati hieroglyphs turns out a new leaf in the understanding of languages in use in the 3rd millennium BC. The details can be read below.
In his own words,“A close study indicated that the ancestors of the present-day speakers of all Indian languages were living together in a linguistic area, where speakers of different dialects borrowed language features from one another and made them part of their own dialect,”
This finding makes me recall some instances from the past. One is from Valmiki Ramayana wherein Hanuman debates within himself on what language he could speak to Sita who was languishing in the Ashoka vana. Should I speak in the language of the learned persons (in Sanskrit) or speak in the language of common persons, Hanuman asked himself.
Sanskrit was the language of education and was used in discourses on intellectual stuff. This existed in written form. But the dialect spoken by people was different and it was not given a written form. We come to know from Megasthanes that transactions were done orally. There was no habit of recording or writing anything in trade. It was because people adhered to word of mouth and rarely indulged in cheating. Wherever writing was done it was done in Sanskrit.But the common dialect that people spoke was not given a written form.
This had existed till the times of onset of Jain and Buddha culture. The Jains were the forerunners in giving written form to spoken language of the commoner. In a scenario dominated by Sanskrit based Vedic religion, the Jains wanted to reach out to the common man.They could reach him easily only by speaking his language and making him read their views in the language they speak.
The earliest books written in language other than Sanskrit were by Jains. They werein Prakrith. The earliest Jain book of astrology is ‘Surya Pragnapti’ which was an adaptation of Lagadha’s Rig Jyothisha. This was in ‘Arthamagadhi Prakrith’. Lagadha’s Jyothisha was written when the sun entered Dhanishta in uttarayana. Jain’s Surya pragnapthi has the sun entering Abhijit in uttarayana!
That means this book of the Jains was written when Abhijith was still part of the sky. Abhijit is placed in between Utthradam and ThiruvONam (shravaNa).Abhijit was part of the sky until Mahabharatha times. Even if we want to discount the existence of abhijith for lack of evidence now astronomically, we can still enumerate the period of this book. This book was written when the sun entered uttarayana at a point left of Shravana star. Today the sun enters uttarayana in Moola star. The time gap can be ascertained and it is possible to find the time of Surya pragnapti from this. That time is when the spoken language of the people of most of Bharatham was given a written form.
From Prakrit, other Indian languages sprang with a written libi.
But Tamil was a case apart from all these.
When Mahabharatha war happened, Tamil was already there in written form supported by the sophistry of a well developed Grammar. A verse on the praise of the Cheran king who supplied food to the armies engaged in Mahabharatha war is found in PurananUru. Another verse is about the Pandyan king who lived in the now- submergedlandmass, south of present day Kanyakumari. Tamil was referred to as “Agastheeyam” in one of Srivaishnava books (Acharya Hrudhayam) Agastheeyam is said to be a grammar work of Tamil done by sage Agasthya. This sage is also said to have given a written form to Tamil.
That means Tamil had once existed as a spoken language among the masses. There are however many Sanskrit terms in Tamil (eg daanam, thavam) as part and parcel of Tamil language itself. Unless Tamil had co-existed along with Sanskrit, this can not have happened. The aiding tool for this combination is Hindu dharma or Sanatana Dharma as it was the only dharma prevalent everywhere in those days. Since the Tamil lands were stretched far down the South and were part of a huge landmass connecting Africa and Australia, my guess is that Tamil was a spoken language in that part of the world.
Coming to the findings of Dr S.Kalyanaraman, he has pointed out an interesting similarity in the writing on metallurgy and of artisans of India in those days. The cast for making statues (utsava bhEra) recovered from Harappan sites (Saraswathy sites) are the same as what the Vishwakarmas settled near Swamimalai in Tamil nadu do today! It was because there was a single cult of Vishwakarma, a single cult of Maya followed by artisans all through the Ithihasic and Puranic times.
As such, these informations are not news to me! Without even going into research of this kind, we can say everything about the antiquity and unanimity of Bharatheeya culture just from our arm chairs with the help of Ithihasas, Puranas, Samhitas and a host of other texts given by Maharishis.
Script is decoded as sarasvati hieroglyphs composed of all pictorial motifs -- over 100 -- and signs -- over 400 – and read rebus in mleccha vācas (as distinct from arya vācas -- Manu). The context is: miners' and smiths' repertoire (not unlike the viśwakarma working on utsava bera in Swamimalai following the cire perdue technique of Sarasvati civilization bronzes or asur/agaria working in iron ore smelters in Ganga basin of 18th century BCE).
Sarasvati hieroglyphs are in mleccha, mlecchita vikalpa (Vatsyayana). Hypothesis posited: Language X + Proto-Munda = Proto-mleccha (with borrowings in Sarasvati Linguistic Area).
Rebus readings of almost all glyphs (pictorial motifs as well as signs) relate to mine workers’ and metalsmiths’ repertoire. The writing system is a vikalpa (alternative representation) of their vernacular, mleccha, cognate: meluhha. Presented in 15 e-books at http://sites.google.com/site/kalyan97
In view of the essentially pictographic nature of the writing system, the presentation is made in three parts:
a. monograph on vernacular (deśī), the linguistic area and the continuity of proto-mleccha vernacular; structure and semantics of hieroglyphs of mlecchita vikalpa, the decoded writing system;
b. powerpoint slides with selected glyphs and readings; and
Two fundamental questions should be researched further:
1. the continuity of the civilization evidenced by cultural markers all over India and the neighbouring regions;
2. the formation and evolution of languages in a linguistic area of the Sarasvati civilization continuum in India, proved by the decoding of the Indus script (Sarasvati hieroglyphs).
Indians were pioneer metallurgists and the Indo-Aryan-Dravidian-Munda division among languages is false, claims a Chennai-based Indologist, insisting that Indian culture did not owe it to the Aryan invasion.
“People speaking old versions of the languages in the country were living together and had evolved words to describe advanced metallurgy,” Dr S. Kalyanaraman, chairman, Saraswathi Research Foundation, told Deccan Chronicle.
The deciphering of the 4,000-year-old writing system prevalent during the Indus civilisation proved the close link between metallurgy and the writing system, he said.
“The sub-continent had its own indigenous writing and culture. Postulations that our culture is indebted to the Aryan invasion are wrong,” he said. Dr Kalyanaraman says he has deciphered the Indus writing system through research spanning three decades.
“These scripts were found on nearly 4,000 seals and objects with the first seal excavated by archaeologist Alexander Cunningham in 1875,” he said.
The anxiety to prove the existence of the great Saraswathi Civilisation made him to take voluntary retirement from the Asian Development Bank.
“I could track the course of Saraswathi river from Manasarovar through Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat and beyond. A progressive civilisation existed along the Saraswathi’s banks and it was what historians termed as the Mohenjodaro-Harappan civilisation. The course of the Saraswathi was substantiated by satellite images from ISRO,” he said.
The inscriptions from the region had pictures and pictorial writings.
“A close study indicated that the ancestors of the present-day speakers of all Indian languages were living together in a linguistic area, where speakers of different dialects borrowed language features from one another and made them part of their own dialect,” he said.
According to Dr Kalyanaraman, this decoding had proved that more than 30 per cent of agricultural words and most of metallurgical words in Indian languages did not have any links with Indo-European languages.
In this post I would like to share certain insights on how marriages were fixed in the olden days.
The 8 types of marriages were about the way marriages were categorized on the basis of how they were proposed or conducted with specific stipulations on the circumstances that led to the union of the couple in the olden days.
Swayamvara and ghandharva vivaha were popular among kshathriyas..
The prajapatya vivaha was the most common type followed by many communities in those days. The prajapatya vivaha centres around the Prajapathy or Brahma or the Bruhaspathy or the purohit who conducted the marriage. The marriage among Brahmins (that we follow to day) is prajapatya only.
In this type of vivaha, even fixing an alliance begins with the blessings of the Bruhaspathy or Purohit or a rishi or the acharya.
In Tamil nadu, any one of the 'aim- kuravargaL' were in a position to influence marriage decisions. The 'aim kuravargaL' or the 5 kuravargaL are Mother, father, elder brother, guru and God.
(In Sethu mahathmiyam found in skanda purana, it is said that any apacharam to any one of the 5 kuravargaL amounts to a worst sin. Such a sin can be washed away only by taking a holy dip in the Sethu.)
Kovalan- kannagi marriage was decided by the parents - among the aim- kuravargaL. This habit was widely prevalent until recently all over Tamil nadu and in rest of India also.
Here the parents were led by their own judgment of the suitability of the choice (of groom or bride) on the basis of kulam, status, age, compatibility on different accounts between the couple etc. Some times they followed the custom of seeking some extraneous acceptance to their proposals.
The most commonly followed practice was to seek the advice of a "Vibra"Brahmin. The authentication for this comes from Janardhana maharishi – "Vibra vAkyO JanArdhana:"
This Vibra was a well respected person in the local area. It was also customary in the families to regularly seek the advice of a particular Vibra Brahmin. Some families regarded them as their gurus or acharyas and sought their advice in fixing marriages. Since many people used to go the Vibra or guru, the Guru would be knowing about the families seeking alliance. Until a few generations ago, Gurus played an important role in fixing marriages in Brahmin communities. Here the Guru's words only mattered.
There was another way of fixing the marriage – be seeing sagunas or omens. This is authenticated by Brahaspathy, as there is a saying in vogue, "saguNaanthu Bruhaspathy".
One does not exactly know who Bruhaspathy is. One opinion is that he is Brahma (four-faced one) himself. Parashara maharishi is said to have learnt the tattwas from Garga Maharishi who in turn learnt from Bruhaspathy or Brahma. The Bruhaspathy is also the officiating priest in vEdic kriyas.
According to Bruhaspathy, the omens seen at the time of deciding the marriage must indicate if it is good to proceed with the alliance or not.
Yet another way of fixing marriage is seeking Divine acceptance. This was followed by those who have completely surrendered to God. When a prospective alliance is at hand, they would seek divine acceptance by placing some colored flowers at the feet of God. If the desired flower is picked up, the alliance was accepted.
But with changing times and lack of spiritual strength, even the learned Vibras started depending on horoscopes for matching. It is said that Lord Krishna Himself has authenticated seeking advice of those well versed in 'vaana sastra'.
The spurt in formulation of vivahadhi yogas a few centuries ago gave enough impetus to horoscope matching. The 4 Southern states were together in those days and we find a near unanimous opinion on horoscope poruttham among scholars of Tamil, Kannada, Kerala and Andhra origin. Most of what we follow in Tamilnadu in star matching comes from Uttara Kalamritham by Andhra based scholar Kalidasa. (not Mahakavi Kalidasa of Raghu vamsam fame).
The Mars dosha factors were contributed by Kerala writers. The horoscope matching has been refined over a period with specific emphasis on Mangalya sthaan in sthree jataka.
Today no one is ready to take risk in fixing marriage. When communities were confined in smaller areas having allegiance to the same guru or Vibra, it was possible to get a first hand information about the prospective alliances. Today this advantage is not there.
When proposals for marriage are coming from unknown persons whose antecedents can not be known, the safe route is to analyse the horoscopes not only for matching but also for knowing about the person, his character, prospects etc.
We find people coming to astrologers to know about the person also while wishing to know if the horoscopes match!
Another trend nowadays is that matching is already there in 'mental matching' –(read love). We have authentication for this also in Maharishi MAndavya!! There is a saying "ManO jayanthu MandavyO"!!!
If the couple has mental matching, one can go ahead with the marriage.
But when this matching is a crossed one – between different communities, it is something that causes stress. Obviously Mandavya Maharishi did not mean love marriages or inter-caste marriages.
There has been resistance to moving to communities having lesser religious observance. The issue to be noted here is indicated by none other than Arjuna in the battle front (chapter -1 BG). When a varna- mix happens due to movement of a woman into another varna, the pithrus lose pindam! This is the basic issue that Arjuna was concerned about as a fall-out of the war. Those who become responsible for making someone lose the rights or habits to pay back the pithru ruNam, will have to pay back in a future birth.
Pithru tarpan is something which no one must do away with. If by marriage, a woman goes to a community that does not observe regular pithru- related actions, such a marriage can not be accepted.
By this it is also implied that movement of a woman to a community that follows better observance of pithru related practices, does not invite the wrath of Dharma devatha. Her future progeny will be having the fortune of following better practices.
This must be borne in mind in deciding marriage alliances in today's conditions.
We were waiting for the reaction from AR Rahman to the outrage expressed by persons from Amitabh to Arindham and others like me …
that the movie Slumdog Millionaire was a blot on Indian pride.
Not because it showcased the worst ills of our country.. We have had movies on much worse side of India in 'Pithaamagan' and more recently in 'Naan KadavuL' in Tamil that will shake our sensibilities besides shaking us from our slumber.
But those movies were not scripted on a theme nor did they promote a theme
that 'we are better than you'.
This message that 'we are better than you' was delivered openly in the scene
where Jamal showed the American tourists
what the Real India was –
inviting a response from them
who the Real American is!
Slumdog succeeded in the West, in the US
because it went to them at the right moment in history
when the entire American public was at a shock
at the fall of their Economic empire.
When the mass American psychology was so shocked
at their crumbling lives and life-styles,
not really knowing where they are heading for in the wake of 'melt-down',
Slumdog with its craftily placed dialogues gave
a tremendous 'feel-good'
that there is another side of the globe with all ills
which they can hardly imagine even in dreams and
they must be fortunate for what they are now.
The Real American is humanitarian to the core,
helps the fellow next to him,
can not stand someone suffer in front of eyes …
and blah blah…
all those feel-good sensibilities are re-ensured to them
on seeing this movie!
There is a verse in Tamil,
"Thammin meliyaarai nOkki, thamadudaimai
'amma; peridu endru agam magizhga" which means
"be happy with what you have by comparing yourself
with those who possess less than you".
This is the basis for "feel-good".
Every American who praised the movie,
praised it because it gave him a feel-good watching this movie.
The American pride is more than satisfied by the open dialogue that said
what it means to be an American.
We see this expressed in most of the blogs written by Americans.
I came across blog-post by an American mother
how she rushed home after seeing this movie
to hug her child that they are indeed lucky to have the safety of the home!
I came across many posts by Americans
who unanimously said that
it definitely gave a feel-good,
a sense of 'things will be ok for me' after seeing this film.
Is Slumdog Millionaire a film offering solutions to American economic problems?
No not at all.
All that this movie gives is just a 'feel-good'
that they are far better off than the kids in the movie.
This is reinforced by the psychological and mental superiority
given by the "Real American" identity
promoted powerfully in contrast to a negative portrayal of life
in another part of the world, for the entire stretch of the movie.
This is the message that can not escape the eyes of any thinking Indian.
Unfortunately we have the contrary type in the majority in India –
a majority who can be simply hyped and hijacked emotionally by clever talks.
And AR Rahamn, a well meaning person is a thinking Indian!
Then why did he work for this movie?
He must have been one of the very few who would have actually known
the message of the movie when he sat to compose music to it.
No one else including Anil Kapoor would have understood the message
and what the tactful dialogues had conveyed until he saw it
after it was completely made.
The un-asked question in the minds of most of us was
why didn't Rahman object to it.
There was a denigration of Amitabh image also.
Didn't he think that they were too much on the Indian pride?
I think he must have felt so…
this is confirmed in his acceptance speech at the Oscars.
But he would not have thought that this film
would even make it to the Oscars, if at all screened in India!
This is affirmed by the very little time he devoted for this movie
compared to the pains and long time he used to take for any movie.
And the winning number was already a discarded one.. just inserted by him.
This is another indication of how he was not serious about the success of the movie,
though I am sure he was not so in his work on music.
But the movie clicked with the American audience,
mainly with the Hollywoodiers
who were looking for a phoenix rise from the falling sate of affairs.
But at the cost of Indian pride!
Rahman opened his mind on why he did this movie,
and he did say why he was in this film.
He had to answer his conscience if he were to accept the Oscars.
He said, "The film is about optimism and the power of hope...
All my life I had a choice of hate and love.
I chose love and I'm here."
The film had a note of optimism in spite of the denigration of the Indian psyche.
He clinged to the optimism part of the story.
That was the justification to do work for that film.
The choice of Jai ho – inserting this discarded one - will say it all.
That is why he was there receiving the award!
Many readers will think that I am spinning some justification.
May be….
but not without support from him.
In his interview to the TV later,
he recalled how they expected this award
for Lagaan,
for Border
and they didn't get.
But now they have got it.
It's ok. Lets us accept it, he said.
The choking voice that said this to the interviewer make me feel sorry for him.
God could have crafted some other movie – there are many –
to give him recognition globally.
But he got the recognition for this movie…
Rahman himself is a stickler of values
when it comes to the message of the songs he composed music for.
Speaking on the lyrics of Jai Ho, he said,
"Words have the power.
Words formed action and intention of life.
I often argue with lyricists not to use words that have negative impact."
He took care of the verses of the songs for which he composed music.
But such a Rahman had no control on the words delivered in the movie
for which he composed the music.
Such a Rahman must have truly cried when the film made it big -
and when the sections of the society whose reaction had mattered to him most,
didn't approve the film.
Rahman kept a silence all along,
may be he was looking for a justification for him to accept the award.
And he did have a justification which he bluntly delivered on the stage
where he received the award.
The Indian public expected some rapturous words from him.
But his speech was unclear to most – even Pookutty seemed to convey a mood.
But this man seemed to speak something not suitable for the occasion.
But he really did convey.
The internal heat that he must have been undergoing
from the time this movie was tipped for the Oscars,
must be wiped off.
He gave his justification for why he did the movie.
He looked at the positive message of it
and that was why he was there at the Oscars.
Had he seen the negative message alone,
he would have refused to work for the movie.
That means he would not have been there at the Oscars.
Rahman, we understand you.
We have only seen you as a gentle good man for whom work is God.
You can not have faltered
and you can not be faulted for your love of your mother land and its Pride.
I understand you Mr Rahman!
Jai ho to you,
for your determination to see only positive words in your works.
Another Jai Ho to you for having taken Indian Music to the international audience!
The marriage ceremonies are almost identical throughout India from Kashmir to Tamilnadu. The Vedic marriage has held its sway almost on all geographic regions. The exchange of garland (var maala), kanya daan, paNigrahaNa and sapta padi are common everywhere. But Maangalya dharanam has found a place in the South of Vindhyas.
Some sects of Gujarath and Maharashtra follow this ritual. It is found in some sects in Karnataka and Andhra too, but more widespread in Kerala and Tamilnadu.
The Kerala customs are shocking to some extent. In some sects the father himself ties the mangal sutra to his daughter before she is taken to the marriage mantap. In many other sects, particularly in non-brahmin sects, kettu-kalyanam had been prevalent until recently. The thaali was merely symbolic of a mock marriage so that even if a severe vaidhavya yoga were to afflict the girl, she would lose her mock husband and not the one with whom she would be living!
The increasing incidence of misfortunes in marriage and premature widowhood must have given rise to this trend. The prevalence of tantric and maandrik followers in Kerala who were also well versed in astrology give credence to the opinion that Kerala could have been the forerunner in introducing the Thaali concept.
The astrologer –cum- priest possessed the authority to conduct the marriage ceremonies with some modifications. But such practices can not be included just like that. Unless there is near unanimous concurrence among the priests of those times – or debated for quite a few generations, this feature could not have been included.
To think about it, in today's marriages, some changes are happening. But they are not about addition of some compulsory feature in the ritual based or Vedic based events of the marriage. One notable addition of these days is making the couple pose as married ones in the 'Reception' in the previous day - even before they become man and wife. But this is a non-ritual and mostly for social convenience. There are instances of omission too – only in the case of inter caste marriages when customs of both families are mixed. There may be omissions of some parts of Vedic marriage due to non-application of it to one of the families (of a different varna) but there has never been any addition. In the modern set-up, in the wake of increasing incidence of inter caste marriages, the Purohits may be compelled to follow some features only. It is also possible that these modified portions of marriage may become permanent in the years to come.
But in the past, such compulsions were not there.
Almost all sections of the public respected the customs and traditions related to marriage and there was least scope for changing the rituals in those days – unless otherwise decided by the Purohits themselves. The Purohits were trained exclusively in Vedic, sastric and tradition bound practices. In an atmosphere of increased chances for threat to life due to constant wars, invasions, diseases and pathetic state of living for widows, there is scope to believe that astrologers played a vital role in averting such misfortunes.
The Mangalya –sutra Tradition
The planetary ills and mangal dosha had become centre points of debate and every kind of remedial could have been devised. But times were such that even learned ones would not invent something from out of the blue and impose it. Vedas and age old practices were respected in those days.
So any additional feature such as Maangalya dharanam must have some Vedic acceptance.
This additional feature can not be introduced unless authorized by highly respected Vediks.
The Taittriya vachan "yE tatthra BrahmaNa: sammarchina:…" (1) is a respected injunction even today. According to this any modification in custom – of course without damaging the main import of it - can be done only with the concurrence of or at the advice of a learned vEdik who is upright, unselfish and not directed by cruel intentions.
Such highly placed Brahmin priests who also happened to be well versed in Jyothisha could have introduced Mangalya dharanam and it could have gained wider acceptance gradually over the generations. (in fact almost all the rishis of Vedas were astrologers whose theories only were re-written concisely by later day astrologers for easy learning and propagation. From the four-faced Brahma onwards there are nearly 22 maharishis revered as Jyothisha pravarthakas by astrologers even as early as 2000 years ago. ) This could have happened any time during the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. That was the time, lot of activities were happening in the area of marriage related issues, in formulating vibahadhi muhurthas and in averting misfortunes in marriages. There are evidences of debates among scholar- astrologers. New jyothisha books were coming up - most of which are the basis of what we follow today in marriage related issues.
The Vedic authentication for Maangalya dharanam is found in the famous Rig vedic hymn on Surya's bridal
This hymn is the basis of the Vivaha manthras.
After invoking the blessings of Soma, Gandharva and Agni to confer strength, beauty and youth to the bride, the ceremony of Mangalya dharanam begins.
This is supported by the 40th and 41th verse of this Rig vedic hymn. The 42nd verse asks for non-separation and life of 100 yaers! (2)
This is exactly what the Mangalya dharanam manthra asks for.
The astrologers who found a necessity to incorporate some elements in marriage could have made Mangal sutra a symbol of protection against Mangal dosha, a sutra or thread that protects the man, that pulls him from the clutches of Yama's rope.
The inclusion of Rajju (rope) factor in marriage-poruttham is an indicator.
Calling that poruttaham as 'Rajju' says it all!
A typical rajju-like thaaali with 'thaalam' (leaf) acts as the amulet!
The Surya kunda and Soma kunda had been traditionally regarded as facilitators for auspicious life.
So the Surya- factor was incorporated by the brownish red thread (used in many sects).
And the moon –factor was incorporated as the white sari as wedding sari in many sects.
The mangal dosha was warded off by the now famous Mangalya verse.
While tying this sacred thread, the groom says that the thread is responsible for his life.
He is tying it around her neck so that they live for a hundred years.
"This is a sacred thread. This is essential for my long life. I tie this around your neck, O maiden having many auspicious attributes! May you live happily for a hundred years!"
But the 'tvam jiva' is replaced by 'sajjiva' in some places, particularly in Tamilnadu.
In this version, full life of 100 years for both is prayed.
The earlier version seems to have an implied meaning of the wife losing her life once the husband dies (sati?)
The 'tying' of 'something' is already a concept followed in marriages everywhere. In every sect of North India, the union of the couple is symbolically indicated by the tying of their garments. With this knot or 'mudicchu' they would go round the Agni and make the marriage vow. In some sects the wrists were tied.
This symbolism was incorporated in the Mangal sutra. By tying the sacred thread, the groom signals a union of the two. Here the Mangal connection is not just that of a Graha. All the grahas or planets are connected to 3 stars each. As such 27 stars of the zodiac are linked to 9 planets. The important feature is that these stars are lorded by Vedic Gods only. Every Vedic God mentioned in the Hymn on vivaha manthras is the lord of some star of the zodiac which controls the planets.
The prayer for 100 years – the veda praayam nooru – is something granted by the Sun God. He grants this to the one who never misses the Madhyaniha vandana! The Sun grants a life of 100 years to the one who worships Him in sandhya vandana. The same 100 years are prayed for in the Mangal sutra. That means Mars, the friend of Sun, who also happens to be the Commander-in- chief for the Sun, the King of the zodiac (who exalts in the Martian sign of Aries from where He begins his journey with Ashwin Devas bestowing health – this is told in the Rig hymn too) also is authorized to grant a 100 year longevity!
Now the next issue is why a sutra around the neck?
Is there any precedence for this?
Yes there is a precedence.
The 'Mangal sutra' was indeed worn by women even as early as 2000 years ago as an ornament – but not with the kind of importance attached to it as is done in our period to thaali!!
Mangal sutra was worn at the time of marriage.
It was one of the mangal AbharaNas worn by women.
Mangal sutra was indeed an auspicious piece of jewelry worn by woman at the time of marriage which she continued to wear at all times.
But it was not tied to her neck as a sacred thread to the blessings of "mangalyam thanthunanena…" sloka.
It was because it was always a golden chain with an amulet.
It was part of the wedding jewelry traditionally worn.
In Sita's times, the 'ChoodamaNi' worn on the top of the head was an auspicious jewel that can not be parted off by the woman.
That jewel was a like a small ring having a 'gem'.
Rama describes it as the gem got from the waters (3)
That must be the reference to pearl.
The pearl was used as an amulet for long life and prosperity
according Atharvana vedas (4)
So the choodamani was considered by Sita as life itself.
But Mangalya sutra was not assigned such an importance, though it was compulsorily worn by the married woman.
The authentication for this comes from none other than Sri Adhi Shankara.
He tells about the thread tied to the neck of AmbaL at the time of her marriage.
He says this in Verse 69 ofSoundarya Lahari written 2000 years ago
"She who is an expert in Gathi, Gamaka and Geetha, The three lucky lines on your neck, Perhaps remind one, Of the number of the well tied manifold thread, Tied during your marriage, And also remind of the place, In your pretty neck, Where originates the three musical notes, Of Shadja, Madhyama and Gandhara,"
In his commentary for this verse, published in 'Deivatthin kural',
Paramacharyal of Kanchi says like this:-
"What is stated in line 2, namely, "vivAha-vyAnaddha-praguNa-guNa-sankhyA-pratibhuvaH" that is, "A reminder of the strands of the auspicious string made by twisting several threads and well tied round the neck at the wedding ceremony". This refers to the most auspicious wedding of Goddess Parvati and the Lord. The direct meanings however are:
vivAha-vyAnaddha : wedding – tied well.
guNa-sankhyA: consisting of a certain number of guNas.
praguNa : noble guNas.
pratibhuvaH: that which authenticates, guarantees.
These direct meanings do not add up to an easily understood message. The "guNa-sankhyA" refers to the number three, coming from the three guNas satva, rajas and tamas. But when it comes to "praguNa" he is talking of 'strands of string', because guNa also means 'strand'. And 'praguNa' means 'auspicious strands'. And this is what brings in the 'mangala-sutra' (auspicious marriage thread) that is tied at the time of the wedding ceremony. In other words, it means that three noble strands of string have been twisted to make the mangala sutra for the Goddess. And it is these three strands that are recalled – 'pratibhuvaH' – by the three lines on the neck of ambaa. Of course, in addition, we can also interpret that the three lines implicitly stand for the three guNas also."
(end quote)
Vivaha means 'vishesenavahati iti vivaha:' Vivaha is that which gives special rights.
The special rights are those to discharge the duties as Grahastha.
In the very first paragraph of part -1 of this series it was written that the union of the woman and man is complementary to each other – the woman representing the Thought force (dictated by the 3 gunas sattwa, rajasa and tamasa) and the man represents the 'Pur' – the city / container that takes up those thoughts and act accordingly. (5)
The role of woman in marriage is such that she is Shakthi, the in-dweller of the Trinities. She is "Brahma-Vishnu- Shivaatmikaa"!
Even the name 'Sthree' is a combination of these 3 gunas (sakara, takara and rakara).
It is also to be remembered here that the 3 gunas are seen as 3 lines on the neck of a woman as per Samudrika lakshana sastra!
An auspicious woman will have 3 lines on her neck.
This is personified as the thread tied on her neck at the time of marriage.
Why at the time of marriage?
Because from then onwards only, here role as the Thought force or
the In-dweller of the Purusha begins!
This significance attached to the Samudrika lakshana of a woman and the 3 guna nature in her capacity to propel a man must have found an expression as an auspicious chain made of gold worn around her neck at the time of marriage.
That the woman herself is personified as an auspicious ornament is known from another hymn written by Adhi Shankara, the "Kanaka dhara stothra'
In the very first stanza, Sri Shankara asks for Mangalya – auspiciousness.
Laskhmi is Mangalya devatha
because she is an 'ornament' – a jewel that gives supreme happiness.
"Angam hare pulaka bhooshanamasrayanthi, Bhringanga neva mukulabharanam thamalam, Angikrithakhila vibhuthirapanga leela, Mangalyadasthu mama mangala devathaya".
Meaning:-
"To the Hari who wears supreme happiness as Ornament, The Goddess Lakshmi is attracted, Like the black bees getting attracted, To the unopened buds of black Tamala tree, Let her who is the Goddess of all good things,
Grant me a glance that will bring prosperity"
The jewel made of gold gives all happiness and prosperity as gold acts as an amulet for prosperity and long life, says AtharvaN Veda(6)
Such an ornament which is in the nature of female lakshana was worn by AmbaL.
This is not just a decorative description done by Sri Shankara.
The images of goddesses made long ago, are seen wearing this jewel.
Another authentication for this is a verse found in Varaha purana.
This verse is part of a hymn on glorification of Vakshasthala Lakshmi - Lakshmi who resides in the heart of Vishnu.
The 18th name found in this verse is in praise of Lakshmi who wears the "Maangalya aabharanaa".
She wears many auspicious jewels, the mAngalya AbharaNa, says this verse.
So it can be inferred that maangalyam or thaali was one of specific auspicious jewels worn by women at the time of marriage and continued to be worn by them. They were not removed from their body.
In the present day, the toe-ring called 'metti' in Tamil is also an ornament worn at the time of marriage but never removed.
From Tamil texts.
From a description in Silappadhikaram too, it is known that thaali or Mangal sutra was a gold chain with some kind of amulet- looking thing attached to it and it was worn by goddesses.
To please the Goddess Kottravai, her devotees decorated a young girl as Kottravai to pay their salutations to her. It is described in detail how this girl was decorated like the goddess with the jewels that the deity wears. There it is mentioned that she was decorated with 'Thaali' with the white teeth of tiger attached to it. (7)
The tiger teeth is tied to the thaali of Kottravai.
Kottaravai is described in this verse as the Presiding Goddess of the hunter groups.
The amulet is connected to the threat factor.
When the threat is from tigers, tiger tooth procured from the slain tiger is used as an amulet.
The amulet will be mostly white in color as required by Atharvan mantras.
The Atharvan veda also regards the teeth and bones of evil ones (asuras) who have been conquered or slain, as suitable for use as amulets.
So there is every chance that the people / goddesses in various places had used articles as suitable for (or connected to) their places as amulets and tied them to the golden chains to be worn at the time of marriage.
From these sources, it is known that ordinary women too wore the thaali, as it had vital meanings connected to it - bearing relevance to Vivaha as the three threads of Gunas tied together (as told in Soundarya Lahari) and as an amulet kind of a chain for auspiciousness ( as mentioned in Silappadhikaram)
But this would not have been worn to the chanting of specific mantras at the time of marriage.
In Sita Kalyanam, the pearl studded ChoodamaNi was given by Sita's father to Rama's father who in turn gave it to Sita'a mother who fixed it on Sita's head, as Rama was looking on.
Similarly there may be other auspicious ornaments meant for a married woman and would have been gifted at the time of marriage by one of the families to be worn.
These ornaments would have been regarded as precious or non-removable as is done with Thaali.
A reference to this can be found in Purananuru (8)
Purananuru tells that the women have donated everything they possessesed except the "Vizhai aNi".
The women were referred to as 'vizhai aNi magaLir'.
What is that Vizhai aNi, the indispensable jewel which they can not part off?
Vizhai means some thing superior or great or fantastic.
When they were ready to give up all other jewels which also could have been valuable in money terms or in terms of beauty, why could they not part of with certain jewels?
We have no clue other than pointing at the matrimonial link to them.
Similarly there comes a description in Silappadhikaram that Kanangi discarded all that she could, except the 'mangala aNi', while she was suffering from the separation of her husband who went after Madhavi.
The objects that she gave up are described from head to feet and the Urai (commentary) lists them in the order of the vital organs of the body.
She gave up her anklets (silambu)
She gave up the waist-chain (mEgalai).
She did not paint her breasts red. (Soundarya Lahiri describes the decoration in red found on Ambal's breast)
She did not apply eyetex.
She didn't ever wear the ruby-red Thilakam! (this is indicative of widowhood in today's custom)
Yes, it is mentioned "PavaLa vANudhal thilakam izhappa" (9)
She did not tie her hairs, the hairs were un-tended and let loose! (something inauspicious in our times)
She did not beautify herself.
The verse also says that she discarded all jewels except the 'mangala aNi'(10 )
The next line gives the information about what jewels she discarded. It says that she discarded her ear-studs. No mention of any other jewels. So the ear-stud was not considered as Mangal jewel. But there were other Mangal jewels which she could not remove.
While she removed jewels from forehead (the thilakam), ears, waist and feet, she did not remove the jewels from hands, neck and nose!
The bangles called 'Thodi' are popular ones with every woman in India those days. Tamil women were no exceptions. (11)
Even in the Harappan images found now and dated at 3rd millennium BC, the women were seen wearing bangles in the forearms and upper arms.
They wore neck ornaments.
In Soundarya Lahiri, we find mention of just 2 chains in the neck of Ambal,
one is a pearl necklace and the other, the Mangal sutra.
So these must have been the Mangal jewels which were part of bridal jewellery that were not removed.
There is nose ring in addition. Though the currently popular view is that the nose-ring is the legacy of the Muslims, evidence is to the contrary!
Adhi shankara describes the nose ring of Ambal in Soundarya Lahiri. (12 )
Ambal was wearing a pearl nose ring on her left nostril!
Left side nose ring is a custom everywhere except in Tamil nadu!
Probing the reason for this, we can locate a rationale in the yoga sastra of Swara, about the breath. The left nostril stands for Chandra kala and the right for soorya kala. The left stands for the moon – the feminine factor and the right, for the sun, the masculine factor. The one who has controlled the two kalas will become a tri-kaala gyaani.
The left side of the nose has particular relevance with reference to auspicious days such as Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (lorded by the benefic planets moon, mercury, Jupiter and Venus respectively). As per horary astrology, if a question is asked when the breath is in the left nostril (Chandra kala) of the astrologer on the benefic days as mentioned above, there will be success to the querist . The astrologer must be observing his breath when the question is asked and can answer according to the day and the swara or breath.
The point of interest to our discussion is that lefts side indeed is about benefics and therefore auspiciousness. The Tamils opted for the right side perhaps to invoke the blessings of Sun.
In the ultimate analysis, we can say that the nose ring and Mangal chains were regarded as Mangal jewels from time immemorial. (13)
About the Thilakam, which is considered as a symbol of Mangal these days, it is known from Silappadhikaram, that it was not considered so.
We get to know from the Harappan figurines, that placing kumkum at the partition of the hair (vagidu) was a custom even then. The two images so far discovered show hairs let loose – corresponding to the description of AmbaL in Soundarya Lahiri who has her hair encircling her face.
She is seen wearing vermilion at the spot of the parting of her hairs! (14)
Such a bindi cures one from all diseases according to this verse.
One interesting feature of the Harappan figurine is that there is no bindi in the forehead though a kind of projection in round shape is seen in the forehead. The bindi at the Vagidu is painted red, the hairs in black and the jewels around the neck in yellow. But there is no such coloring of the round bulge in the forehead.
What is known is that some ornaments worn at the time of wedding have been regarded as sacred.
But they were all about some golden / some metallic / gem based ornament.
Mangalyam Sthira Rahasya, said to be composed by the three great exemplars of Hindu wifehood - Anasooyaa, Arundhati and Lopamudra – refers to an ornament as supreme.
It is the Mangalya sutra. This book, of an unknown period instructs the wife
not to view the Mangalyam as a mere piece of metal,
but as a representative of the husband himself.
Thus, the marriage medallion was something to be worn always with reverence. (15)
Additional significance to Mangal
The prayer for Mangal starts before the couple are actually united by their palms.
Once the sacred thread is tied the groom catches hold of the bride's palm.
Even the holding of the palm seems to have some astrological significance.
The man holds the woman's hand including the thumb.
The portion below the thumb is the place of Venus,
signifying matrimony, spouse and love.
Just the other side of it is the place of Moon, signifying Mind.
These two planets play a crucial role in determining matrimonial bliss.
But this bliss is threatened by Mars which lies just above these two mounts in the hand.
These two mounts are separated by the Plain of Mars.
Thus the very design of grahas in the hand, indicate a constant bullying by Mars.
By holding these two mounts, in Pani grahanam,
the groom is overpowering the grahanam of Mars.
(planets are known as grahas. Grah means 'to bind' or 'catch'.
The planets catch humans and the bride too.
The groom in turn catches the planets to ensure
that planetary mischief are controlled by him so that he lives a full life with the woman
by taking a pledge by circumambulating the Agni deva.)
It is to be noted that soon after Mangalya dharanam,
the couple are led to the Homa kunda in Pani grahanam
to do Saptapadhi
The Mangalya dharanam is a ritual where the grahas or planets are worshiped for longevity and auspiciousness.
After that begins the prayer to Vedic Gods.
In Mangalya dharanam, the couple are united by the planets and
the unity must reach its logical conclusion in Saptapadi.
From Mangalya dharanam to Saptapadi,
the transition of control come from planets to Vedic gods.
The clasped hands must not be separated till they finish the Vedic vow done with agni-sakshi.It is because of this they are not supposed to come into contact with anyone else during this time.
But nowadays everyone clamours around the couple to congratulate them - even before they had become man-and wife.The process to become married had just begun with mangalya dharanamand planetary blessings have just been evoked in mangalya dharanam followed by a firm 'grahanam' of the bride's palm - as if to indicate that the planets are subdued or under control - that they can no longer play mischief with the life of the girl.
But this bonded vow is broken immediately after the vow is made!The couple go on hand-shaking spree with everyone around them.We can see some purohits sternly warning against this practice.But no one realizes the purpose of the marriage customs.
The wedding dress.
The Sun as Athma karaka or the All pervading God guides the couple. The Moon leads the Thought in the proper way.
In the wedding of Brahmins, particularly Srivaisihnavites,
their kula-guru is Guru, Jupiter.
So they get the sacred thread soaked in Yellow, the color signified by Jupiter.
The Sun guides them as Surya Narayan.
So the bride wears the wedding sari in 'arakku' (ruby) color, the color of the Sun,
while the groom wears yellow – in tandem with the tradition of Brahmanism
as indicated by Jupiter.
This is akin to taking a sacred dip in Surya kunda and Soma kunda
as told by the Brahmin girl Devandhi in Silappadhikaram.
Conclusion.
The mangal jewels were given to Sita by the Rishi-patni Anasuya so that she may ever be the source of happiness, valour and youthfulness of her consort, SriRama
She said, "O, Seetha! Your body, anointed with these heavenly cosmetics (and jewels), will cause your husband to look beautiful, as Lakshmi (the goddess of fortune and beauty) does the imperishable Vishnu (the Lord of Preservation). (16)
This means only on seeing Lakshmi with her mangal aabharanas, the Lord Himself will be able to discharge His functions.
It is not enough His consort is alongside Him. She must be bedecked in all auspiciousness.
The cosmic tattwa of Her role as His Thought-force and keeper of His life, his well-being is replicated in the mundane life of ordinary people.
We, the ordinary beings have to emulate them!
That is the way Santana dharma can live on.
May all theSanatanic principles with which they are ruling Mankind be remembered for ever!
May all that is Mangal envelop all beings!
May the Sun and the Moon protect all beings as Chakra and shanku!
May Lakshmi samedha Narayana
shower their auspiciousness on the entire human race!
(concluded for the time being –
but will be renewed if newer insights are gained)
***************************
Tail-piece:-
The devadasis also wear the Mangal sutra as they are wedded to God.
They are called as Nithya sumangalis.
They suffer no widowhood.
This clearly shows that Mangalya sutra is connected to the life of the spouse.
The woman become jewel in the heart of their spouse,
as was told in the first stanza of Kanaka dhara stothra of Lakshmi for Hari
******************************************
Reference :-
(1) Taittriya Upanishad (1-11-4)
(2) Rig veda X- 85 – 42.
"40 Soma obtained her first of all; next the Gandharva was her lord. Agai was thy third husband: now one bornof woman is thy fourth. 41 Soma to the Gandharva, and to Agni the Gandharva gave: And Agni hath bestowed on me riches and sons and this my spouse. 42 Be ye not parted; dwell ye here reach the full time of human life."
(6) Atharvana veda XIX, 26. Gold as an amulet for long life.
1. The gold which is born from fire, the immortal, they bestowed upon the mortals. He who knows this deserves it; of old age dies he who wears it. 2. The gold, (endowed by) the sun with beautiful colour, which the men of yore, rich in descendants, did desire, may it gleaming envelop thee in lustre! Long-lived becomes he who wears it! 3. (May it envelop) thee unto (long) life, unto lustre, unto force, and unto strength, that thou shalt by the brilliancy of the gold shine forth among people! 4. (The gold) which king Varuna knows, which god Brihaspati knows, which Indra, the slayer of Vritra, knows, may that become for thee a source of life, may that become for thee a source of lustre!
(7) Silappadhikaaram 12- lines 27 & 28.
"Puli vaai piLandhu pettra maalai, veN pal thaali nirai pootti.."
(Victory over mind, Getting of wealth) Asau naasa-vamsas tuhina-girivamsa-dhvajapati Thvadhiyo nedhiyah phalatu phalam asmakam uchitam; Vahathy anthar muktah sisira-kara-nisvasa galitham Samruddhya yat tasam bahir api cha mukta-mani-dharah
Oh Goddess , who is the flag of the clan of Himalayas, Let your nose which is like a thin bamboo, Give us the blessings which are apt and near. I feel mother, That you are wearing a rare pearl, Brought out by your breath, Through your left nostril, For your nose is a storehouse, Of rarest pearls divine.
(13) The earing and removal of the nose-ring( Mookutthi)is a daily festival at
MadhuraiMeenAkshiTemple at " ardha Jaamam" time . It is a type of Sayanotsavam for Mathurai MeenAkshi and SrI SundarEswarar . He travels in a small palanquin to His Devi'ssannidhi to the accompaniment of Vaadhyams and tEvAram recitation (OdhuvAr) and His wife waits for Him and then the removal of Mukkutthi by Her in preparation for the night's rest takes place . This observance seems to have relevance to the gist of Soundarya Lahiri.
There are a lot of tourists and devotees, who flock to attend this daily observance.
(14) Soundarya Lahiri 44
"Oh mother, let the line parting thine hairs, Which looks like a canal, Through which the rushing waves of your beauty ebbs, And which on both sides imprisons, Your Vermillion , which is like a rising sun By using your hair which is dark like, The platoon of soldiers of the enemy, Protect us and give us peace."
(15) The massive work, Mangalyam Sthira rahasya, composed by the three great exemplars of Hindu wifehood - Anasooyaa, Arundhati and Lopamudra outlines five attitudes and duties expected of a good wife: 1) Shaanta Bhaavana advises the wife to seek contentedness, appreciate that her own karma has subtly helped attract her husband and shy from scorning him. 2) Daasya Bhaavana bids the wife to maturely adopt the pure and selfless spirit of the help-mate. 3) Sakhya Bhaavana is unreserved mutual confidence, based on deep mutual respect 4) Vaatsalya Bhaavana is the sacredness and importance of the mother-child relationship. 5) Madhuro Bhaavana insures that the amorous and intimate affections shared between the married couple are natural, and helpfully bond their psychic union.
20. janakaatmaje= O, Seetha! liptaaN^gii= your body, anointed; divyena= with this celestial; aN^garaageNa= cosmetic; shobhayiSyasi bhartaaram= will cause yourhusabdn to look beautiful; yathaa= as; shriiH= Lakshmi (the goddess of fortune and beauty); (does); avyayam= the imperishable; viSNum= Vishnu (the lord of preservation).
"O, Seetha! Your body, anointed with these heavenly cosmetics, will cause your husband to look beautiful, as Lakshmi (the goddess of fortune and beauty) does the imperishable Vishnu (the Lord of Preservation)"
