Indica Kamlesh Tripathi
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Indica Kamlesh Tripathi ‘ ndica’ is an account of the Mauryan Empire by the Greek Iwriter, Megasthenes. The original book is now lost, but its fragments have survived in later Greek and Latin works. The earliest of these works are those by ancient Greek historian Diodorus Siculus, Strabo a Greek geographer, Pliny a magistrate of ancient Rome, and Arrian another Greek historian. Megasthenes’ Indica can be reconstructed using the portions preserved by later writers as direct quotations, rephrased or even when the content has not been paraphrased. The parts that explicitly attributed to belonged to the original text can be Megasthenes. There is a Greek identified from the later works document of Felix Jacoby titled based on similar content, ‘Fragmente der griechischen vocabulary and phrasing, even Historiker’ that contains 36 pages Bhavan’s Journal, 15 August, 2020 u 131 of content that can be traced back does not mention Megasthenes even to Megasthenes. once, unlike Strabo, who explicitly E. A. Schwanbeck, another mentions Megasthenes as one of his historian, traced several sources. There are several differences fragments of writings to between the accounts of Megasthenes Megasthenes, and based on his and Diodorus. For example, Diodorus collection, John Watson describes India as 28,000 stadia long McCrindle a Scottish philologist (a Greek unit of length from which the and educator published a word ‘stadium’ has come) from east reconstructed version of Indica in to west, whereas, Megasthenes gives 1887. But this reconstructed this number as 16,000. Diodorus version was not universally states that Indus may be the world’s accepted. largest river after Nile, whereas, Schwanbeck and John Watson Megasthenes (as quoted by Arrian) McCrindle attributed several states that Ganges is much larger fragments in the writings of the 1st than Nile. century BCE writer Diodorus to There is a description of Megasthenes. However, Diodorus Gangaridai that appears in the writings of Diodorus. Gangaridai is a term used by the ancient Greco- Roman writers to describe the people or a geographical region of the ancient Indian subcontinent. Some of these writers state that Alexander the Great withdrew from the Indian subcontinent because of the strong war elephant force of the Gangaridai. The writers variously mention Gangaridai as a distinct tribe, or a nation within a larger kingdom (presumably the Nanda Empire). A number of modern scholars locate Gangaridai in the Ganges Diodorus Delta of the Bengal region, although, 132 u Bhavan’s Journal, 15 August, 2020 Nanda Empire alternative theories also exist. about 185 to 192 metres. Gange or Ganges, the capital of the According to the text Gangaridai (according to historian reconstructed by John Watson Ptolemy), has been identified with McCrindle, Megasthenes’ Indica several sites in the region, describes India as follows: including Chandraketugarh and India is a quadrilateral-shaped Wari-bateshwar. country, bounded by the ocean on McCrindle believed that the southern and the eastern side. Diodorus’ source for his The Indus River forms the western description was the now-lost book and the northwestern boundary of of Megasthenes. However, the country, as far as the ocean. according to A. B. Bosworth (1996), India’s northern border reaches the Diodorus obtained this information extremities of Tauros the from Hieronymus of Cardia: mountains of southern Turkey. Diodorus described Ganges as 30 From Ariana (the Latinised name of stadia wide. It is well-attested by ancient Greece) to the Eastern Sea, other sources that Megasthenes it is bound by mountains that are described the median or minimum called Kaukasos by the width of Ganges as 100 stadia, Macedonians. The various native Bhavan’s Journal, 15 August, 2020 u 133 names for these mountains include south. The Ganges empties into the Parapamisos, Hemodos and ocean that forms the eastern Himaos (the Himalayas). Beyond boundary of Gangaridai. Other Hemodos, lies Scythia (a region of nations feared Gangaridai’s huge central Eurasia) inhabited by the force of the biggest elephants, and Scythians known as Sakai. Besides therefore, Gangaridai had never Scythia, the countries of Bactria, an been conquered by any foreign king. ancient region in Central Asia. Indus also runs from north to Bactria proper was north of the south, and has several navigable Hindu Kush mountain range and tributaries. The most notable south of the Amu Darya River, tributaries are Hupanis, the covering the flat region that Hudaspes, and the Akesines. One straddles modern-day Afghanistan, peculiar river is Sillas, which Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. More originates from a fountain of the broadly Bactria was the area north same name. Everything cast into of the Hindu-Kush, west of the this river sinks down to the bottom, Pamirs and south of the Tian-Shan, so nothing floats in it. In addition, with the Amu Darya flowing west there are a large number of other through the center, and Ariana rivers, supplying abundant water bordering India. for agriculture. According to the At the extreme point of India, native philosophers and natural there is this gnomon, the projecting scientists, the reason for this is that piece of the sundial that often casts the bordering countries are more no shadow, and the Ursa Major elevated than India, so their waters constellation that is completely run down to India, resulting in such invisible at night. In the remotest a large number of rivers. parts, the shadows fall southward, In the primitive times, Indians when even Arcturus the brightest lived on fruits and wore clothes star is not visible. made of animal skin, just like the India has many large and Greeks. Some learned Indian navigable rivers, which arise in the scholars say that Dionysus the god mountains on its northern border. of the grape-harvest, winemaking Many of these rivers merge into and wine, of fertility, ritual Ganges, which is 30 stadia wide at madness, religious ecstasy, and its source, and runs from north to theatre in ancient Greek religion 134 u Bhavan’s Journal, 15 August, 2020 them. Like the Greeks, they characterise him with the club and the lion’s skin. According to them, Heracles was a powerful man who subjugated evil beasts. He had several sons and one daughter, who became rulers in different parts of his dominion. He founded several cities, the greatest of which was Pataliputra. Heracles built several places in this city, fortified it with water-filled trenches and settled a Dionysus number of people in the city. His and myth invaded India, and descendants ruled India for several conquered it. When his army was generations, but never launched an unable to bear the excessive heat, expedition beyond India. After he led his soldiers to the several years, the royal rule was mountains called Meros for replaced by democratic city states, recovery. Dionysus taught Indians although there existed a few kings several things including how to when Alexander invaded India. grow plants, make wine and India has several mountains worship. He founded several large with fruit trees of every kind. There cities, introduced laws and are a large number of animal established courts. For this species in India. The Indian reason, he was regarded as a elephants are far stronger than the deity by the Indians. He ruled Libyan elephants, because of the India for 52 years, before dying abundance of food on the Indian of old age. His descendants ruled soil. The elephants are India for several generations, domesticated in large numbers, and before being dethroned and trained for war. The gestation replaced by democratic city- period of the elephants range from states. 16 to 18 months, and the oldest of The Indians who inhabited the the elephants live up to 200 years. hill country also claim that Gold, silver, copper and iron are Heracles a Greek deity was one of abundant on Indian soil. Tin and Bhavan’s Journal, 15 August, 2020 u 135 other metals are used for making a other countries, they do not number of tools, weapons, ravage farms during war or ornaments, and other articles. conquests. Moreover, the India has very fertile plains, warring sides never destroy the and irrigation is practised widely. enemy land with fire or cut The main crops include rice, millet, down its trees. a crop called bosporum, cereals, Because of its large size, India pulses and other food plants. There is inhabited by many diverse races, are two crop cycles per year, since all of which are indigenous. India rain falls in both summer and has no foreign colony, and Indians winter. At the time of summer have not established any colonies solstice, rice, millet, bosporum and outside India. They are well-skilled sesamum are sown. During winter, in art, above average stature, wheat is sown. because of abundant food, fine Famines have never occurred in water and air. India because of the following A law, prescribed by ancient reasons: Indian philosophers, bans slavery. u The Indians are always assured The law treats everyone equally, of at least one of the two but allows the property to be seasonal crops. unevenly distributed. u There are a number of One must appreciate spontaneously growing fruits Megasthenes who wrote such an and edible roots available. illustrative book when knowledge u The Indian warriors regard was very limited. Unfortunately the those engaged in agriculture original book is not available now. and animal husbandry as He was born in 350 BCE and lived sacred. Unlike the warriors in for 60 years. Strip Ad Shreekrishna Sweets, Chennai 136 u Bhavan’s Journal, 15 August, 2020 Full page B/W Muthuraman & Sons Bhavan’s Journal, 15 August, 2020 u 137 Full page B/W Newry Properties 138 u Bhavan’s Journal, 15 August, 2020.