(Many) hold…that the ancient civilisation of Europe is derived from the coasts of Africa (they do) not accept the theory that the Aryan civilisation was the first and most ancient in the scale. I believe I have been able to show in this examination of the Rig Veda—which is a repository of facts and not fiction—that it was not from Central Asia, as is ordinarily supposed, but from India—the land of the Ilibis, the Panis, the Asuras, the Angiras and others—that the light of civilisation spread far and wide to wake up the whole world to progress and enlightenment.
***
THE RIG VEDA,
A HISTORY
SHOWING
HOW THE PHOENICIANS HAD THEIR
EARLIEST HOME IN INDIA
TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH
FROM
A BENGALI ESSAY ON THE SUBJECT
BY
RAJESWAR GUPTA,
LATE OF THE BENGAL PROVINCIAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICE.
PUBLISHED BY JOGENDRA MOHAN GUPTA.
1904
Preface and Conclusion
***
PREFACE.
Many truths lie buried in the dark depth of the past covered over by numerous strata of forgotten events. I propose to dig up one of them, one that would have to combat the history of the primitive ages as it is commonly accepted and also the cherished theories of the scholars of the east and the west, both old and new. What I fear is that the importance of the discovery may fail to attract the attention of the learned world through my own insignificance, utterly unknown to fame as I am. But I consider the task I have set upon myself to be of great moment, and nothing undaunted I intend to strike out the path, for diligence in the cause of truth is destined to bring its reward and recognition of the truth itself.
I begin by recapitulating first the results of my investigation to create, if possible, an interest in the subject at the outset. They are the following: —
I. A great war broke out in the remote old days between the Indian Aryans and the Phoenicians in which the latter were defeated and compelled to leave wholly or partially the land of the Aryans.
II. Most of the Suktas of the Rig Veda either describe or refer to this and many other wars.
III. The Rig Veda, therefore, is not a poem only but a history. The current meanings of most of the Suktas will accordingly have to be altered and the Rig Veda Sanhita itself explained in a way different from the accepted one.
IV. The Phoenicians were the first of the civilized nations of th,e world. The civilization of Assyria, Babylonia, Egypt, Greece and other ancient countries owed its origin to the union of the civilization of the Aryans with that of the Phoenicians.
V. The Phoenicians originally lived in Afghanistan or in some part of India, whence driven out they migrated gradually westwards. While still residing in the neighbourhood of India they colonized and traded with Arabia and the countries bordering on the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.
VI. The Phoenicians had colonies in many countries from each of which they were driven away by the natives after severe struggles. In this way they were expelled nom India, Egypt, Greece, and Rome, or they mixed with the natives when they lost their supremacy in those countries.
VII. The primitive civilization of the world was born long before the time known to us.
VIII. In ancient time the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea were connected together by a strait through which the Phoenician and Aryan trading ships entered the Mediterranean Sea and Indian goods were taken to Europe. As that passage gradually silted up the connection between India and Europe broke off.
These conclusions will lead on to many others which it is neither the place nor the time to dilate upon. They are sure to revolutionize the history of the world, chalk out;, a new path for linguistic researches, and recast the classification of the human races when the agitation caused by their novelty has calmed down and they have found acceptance with the learned world. A careful investigation, I am confident, will reveal the truth of these statements to honest enquirers, and the feeble track I lay out will before long turn to a high road in skilled hands of willing labourers in the cause.
CONCLUSION.
With a few words more I shall conclude the subject, nation or race, old or new, civilised or uncivilised, In every e been handed down from generation to generation war-song small stock of songs that the wild hill tribes possess is only a collection of war-songs. Colonel Todd’s history of Rajasthan is based on such songs. In fact the songs of Bhats or eulogists, or eulogists, so well known in this country,
were current even in the Vedic age, and I have no hesitation in affirming that in war-songs and songs of victory the Rig Veda had its origin, at least they form the bulk of the great work. The old war songs of ancient India composed the true Rig Veda and many other songs on various subjects came to be added to them subsequently. The Rig Veda is thus not a collection of hymns and anthems but of war songs recording the primitive history of the world. It may therefore be concluded that the first history of each nation or race of man began with war songs.
I have in the previous section already mentioned the city of Heliopolis of Egypt. In Greek “Heliopolis” means “the city of the sun.” In India also there was an ancient city of that name which would appear to have belonged to some family of the Panis. A city or town in those days would be named after the family or clan that inhabited it, and so the clan of the Heliopolis named their towns after their own wherever they went. This I conclude from the name Hibis which occurs in the Rig Veda, the word being only another form of Heliopolis. All the towns of the name of Heliopolis —in India, in Egypt, or elsewhere—were founded by the Iibis.
Modern Morea in Greece had for its ancient name Peloponnesus which I think originally meant palli or residence of the Panis. That Greece was not unknown the people of ancient India has been very ably shown by Prof: Pococke in his work “India in Greece.” In fact the fame of India was carried throughout the ancient world by such races as the Hibis, the Panis, the Bals, the Asuras and others.
If may be safely affirmed that Balkh, Baalbek and other ancient cities bearing similar names were founded by the Bals. We know from the Rig Veda itself that the north west of ancient India was inhabited by these races h used to fight amongst themselves. The Rig Veda is ° fore not only a history of ancient India but the entire ancient world, and so the whole human race is interested in its correct and proper exposition. And as more light is thrown on the subject new truths will be discovered in the various branches of human knowledge. For this purpose it is necessary that the great work should be translated in the different languages of the world.
When in the old days the isthmus of Suez was a strait connecting the Red Sea with the Mediterranean not only was there an exchange of merchandise between the countries on either side but also of thoughts and experiences. With the closing up of the passage such exchange ceased and the nations and races grew up independently each in its own way, the western nations making rapid progress in material prosperity and the eastern in spiritual. Many centuries after Suez has again been opened up to renew the lost connection between the east and the west to fulfil the purposes of a beneficent Providence.
As Bhdts or eulogists in the present days sing in praise of heroes and dynasties so in the old days the Rig Veda was sung by the Rishis or sages and the assembled people heard with rapture the glories of their forefathers. In explanation of the discontinuance of the Vedic songs and psalms in India I can only say what I myself think on the subject. In many places of the Rig Veda mention is made of bovine food which the antagonists of the Panis were in the habit of taking. I am not sure if the word go at first meant cattle generally, but it is certain that subsequently it represented the cows only. And it is easy to conceive how the study of the Rig Veda came to be interdicted as containing obnoxious passages when cow-killing considered a great sin—at least in the Pauranic age. In fact the Rig Veda fell into disuse with the introduction the worship of the cow, nay the unfortunate householder who dared to possess the work was cursed to death from thunder and lightning. The result was that at last not only the doomed Rig Veda, but the entire Vedas fell into oblivion leaving behind only an unshaken veneration for them in the minds of the people of the country.
Professor Sergi holds that the ancient civilisation of Europe is derived from the coasts of Africa and he does not accept the theory that the Aryan civilisation was the first and most ancient in the scale. I believe I have been able to show in this examination of the Rig Veda—which is a repository of facts and not fiction—that it was not from Central Asia, as is ordinarily supposed, but from India—the land of the Ilibis, the Panis, the Asuras, the Angiras and others—that the light of civilisation spread far and wide to wake up the whole world to progress and enlightenment.
THE END.