International Journal of Management Volume 11, Issue 10, October 2020, pp. 1528-1536. Article ID: IJM_11_10_139 Available online at http://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJM?Volume=11&Issue=10 Journal Impact Factor (2020): 10.1471 (Calculated by GISI) www.jifactor.com ISSN Print: 0976-6502 and ISSN Online: 0976-6510 DOI: 10.34218/IJM.11.10.2020.139 © IAEME Publication Scopus Indexed ANCIENT CULTURAL LINKAGE OF ETHIOPIA WITH INDIA: CASE OF ALMAQAH TEMPLE OF YEHA (ETHIOPIA) Dr. Alok Kumar Professor, Jain University, Bangalore, India ABSTRACT This paper is an attempt to highlight ancient cultural linkage of Ethiopia with India and strong resemblances of cultural and religious practices of present orthodox Christian of Ethiopia with Hindus of India. This study also describes the claim of delegation of Indian experts that Yeha temple has been a Hindu (Jain) temple. The study was conducted by personal visit and observation at the excavation site and its museum, discussion with German expert and local community. Findings are based on observation and findings of joint Indian-Ethiopian team from New Delhi and Experts from Mekelle University which visited to study archeologist sites. The previous studies indicated that origin of Yeha civilization was Southern Arabia. The German Archeologist linked it to Sabaean culture. They called the structure as Sabaean Temple. But, the visit of team of Indo-Ethiopian expert to the excavation site disputed their claim. They linked it to Indian temples and found evidence of strong resemblance of present cultural practices of orthodox Christian with Indian Hindus. The inscriptions found at Almaqah temple of Yeha is of Brahmi script. The present study shed new insight on ancient Ethio-Indian cultural linkage and resemblance on religious practices. The paper will open new dimension for discussion and further research. Key words: Yeha Temple, Heritage, India, Ethiopia, Cultural linkage, Religious Practices Cite this Article: Dr. Alok Kumar, Ancient Cultural Linkage of Ethiopia with India: Case of Almaqah Temple of Yeha (Ethiopia), International Journal of Management, 11(10), 2020, pp 1528-1536.. http://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJM?Volume=11&Issue=10 1. INTRODUCTION Ethiopia is an ancient country with a rich heritage and cultural diversity. In fact, Ethiopia‟s cultural industry is perhaps one of the oldest in the world and is exceptionally diverse. Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa. Culturally, the population is diverse constituting more than 80 ethnic groups (Kumar Alok, 2018). http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJM 1528 [email protected] Ancient Cultural Linkage of Ethiopia with India: Case of Almaqah Temple of Yeha (Ethiopia) India is a large and populous country with a great past and great tradition. It can boast of some four thousand years of civilized life, and as such it must be ranked as one of the greatest civilization of world. It is moreover, a living civilization whose tradition directly arise from its past (Allchin F.R., 1969). India, because of its complicated and ancient culture, is rich in tangible and intangible cultural heritage. In India many communities live with their cultural knowledge, traditions, rituals, oral expressions and historical heritage (Shashi Bala, 2016). India has been considered the land of ancient history, heritage, and culture. India is famous for its temples and that is the reason that among the different kinds of tourism in India, pilgrimage tourism is increasing most rapidly (Arunmozhi T. et al, 2013). 2. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH There has been strong linkage between India and Ethiopia in ancient time. Hence, the glimpses of Indian cultural practices can be seen on beliefs and traditional practices of present Ethiopian community; majority of which is represented by Orthodox Christian. There are lots of similarities between them. Recently, finding at Almaqah temple of Yeha has shown resemblance with Hindu temples of India. This study in form of a research paper is first of its kind of attempt to describe religious and cultural similarity highlighting ancient linkage between India and Ethiopia with a case of Yeha temple. This study will be significant as it will open a new forum for discussion and further research as it has disputed the conclusion of German Archeologist with the claim of Ancient Almaqah temple at Yeha (Ethiopia) having Hindu connection. 3. OBJECTIVE OF STUDY To study and highlight similarity in religious, traditional and cultural practices of Ethiopian Orthodox Christian and Indian Hindus (Particularly Jains) To gain an insight into ancient Almaqah temple at Yeha (Ethiopia). To describe the claim of delegation of Indian experts that Yeha temple has been a Hindu (Jain) temple. 4. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY To meet the above objectives; combinations of following methods were applied: A personal visit was conducted to study Almaqah temple at Yeha (Ethiopia). This study is further outcome of observation during visit to the excavation site and its museum, discussion with German expert and local community. This paper has also utilized the observation and findings of joint Indian-Ethiopian team of constituting of members of Bhartvarshiya Digamber Jain Mahasabha, New Delhi and Experts from Mekelle University which visited Yeha, Wukro Museum, Almaqah temple and Aksum to study archeologist sites and museums of pre Axumite period in November 2017 . Secondary sources such as Journals (both print &online), Periodicals, Reports, Books, internet sites, project reports, thesis and annual reports of governments and non- organizations etc. were also utilized to highlight Ethiopian heritage, culture, religious practices and study Almaqah temple at Yeha. http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJM 1529 [email protected] Dr. Alok Kumar 5. REVIEW OF LITERATURE 5.1. Yeha: The Ancient Settlement in the Abyssinian Highlands of Tigrai The archeological complex of Yeha is located about 54 Km northeast of Aksum. It is accessible by road preferably was hired taxi for the tourist. It is situated on asphalted highway linking Aksum to Adigrat through the magnificent scenery of Adwa Mountains. It is further 5 Km road beyond Adwa town at the centre of the village (Kumar Alok, 2018).Yeha was center of the Da‟amat Kingdom, pre-Aksumite civilization that flourished eight to nine centuries before the birth of Christ. One of the remains of this great civilization is the temple of Yeha. It is the oldest standing structure in sub-Saharan Africa and is epitome of structural strength, the geometrical perfection and architectural beauty. Previous studies indicated that origin of Yeha civilization was Southern Arabia. It is a mirror of civilization which flourished in Yemen. However this turn out to be sheer conjecture. But the recent findings confirm it‟s linking to other civilization also (Yemane Gedlu et al, 2014). 5.2. The Almaqah Temple of Yeha, Ethiopia The Sabaean temple construction is dated to about 700 BC. The dimensions are about 18m x 15m; the original height was more than 14 meters. The walls are built of up to 3 meters long stones without any use of mortar. They are very flat and the stones are manufactured with great precision, so that joints between them are hardly developed. In general, the walls are very well preserved, at one part of the facade even the original final stone still remains on the top. Above the entrance on the western façade a U-shaped outbreak of the masonry is visible. Inside the temple with the height of about 6 meters a second wall connects to the outside wall, which still has its original height at several places. In the entrance area a foundation is located, from which the existence of a former propylon can be derived, which is totally destroyed today (Lindstaedt M. et al, 2011). The German Archeological Institute has done excavation in the building which can be dated between 8th and 9th century BC (DAI, 2010). This edifice was built on a high podium with a monumental portico reached by a roughly built stepped structure (Figure-1): Figure 1 The Almaqah Temple of Yeha, Ethiopia, view from West (left), Eastern façade inside the Temple (right) (Source: International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences) http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJM 1530 [email protected] Ancient Cultural Linkage of Ethiopia with India: Case of Almaqah Temple of Yeha (Ethiopia) The temple of the Sabaean God Almaqah is one of the main archaeological discoveries of the area, though there are signs of an ancient settlement nearby and some building believed to have a sacred use at nearby Ziban Adi. They belong to a settlement area of the 1st millennium BC, a period of crucial social development in the Abyssinian highlands. South Arabian inscriptions, temples and sculptures from the early 1st millennium BC, have been found at Yeha and Hawlti (Wolf Pawel, 2012). The temple was built in the 8th to 6th centuries BC on the ruins of an earlier building and continued in use with several modifications to probably the 3rd century BC. It resembles the early South Arabian religious buildings in form and is built from local stone. It also shows that elements of royal elite cultural and ideological traditions of South Arabia and the African region are used together. C14 dating confirmed the Ethiopian Sabaean inscriptions to date to the 7th century BC (Wolf Pawel, 2012) Figure 2 Almaqah Temple; Photo: Author What role did the Sabaeans play in the Abyssinian highlands at the beginning of the first millennium BC? Surely this was connected to the incense trade and the all-important trade routes across the desert. It is to be hoped that new research and the continuing efforts of the joint Ethiopian-German team will shed light on this fascinating „cultural transfer‟ (Perry Carolyn, 2012).Meqaber GaΚewa is a recently discovered site that indicates Sabaean cultural contacts with the Ethiopian highlands. Its main temple, dedicated to Almaqah, was unearthed under the auspices of a joint Ethiopian-German co-operation established in 2008.