| YAVAN Yavans as people were known to Panini and mentioned Mahabharat at various places. In the Indian epic Mahabharat, the word "Yavan" is used to identify the Greeks. In the Buddhist discourse of the Middle Length Sayings, in which the Buddha mentions to the Brahman Assalayan the existence of the Kamboj and Yavan people who have only two castes, master or slave.
Ionia on Map Anatolia Origin
:
Variants
of name :
Yavanni lipi is mentioned by Panini in Ashtadhyayi.
Shaka-Yavanm is mentioned by Panini in Ashtadhyayi.
History
:
Both Ionia and Gandhar, the home of Panini, formed part of the empire of Darius and also continued under the reign of Xerxes, who recruited to his army a contingent of Indians from Gandhara in his expedition against Greece about the year 479 BC. Thus was furnished a first hand opportunity for the Indians to become acquainted with the Greeks even before Alexander. As Prof Keith has observed : ‘If it is born in mind that Panini was a native of Gandhar according to Xuanzang, a view confirmed by the references in his grammar, it will not seem far fetched to consider that it was most probably from the older tradition that the name Yavanni was derived'. The word lipi borrowed from the Achaemenian dipi meaning edict is conspicuous by absence in the Buddhist canonical works and seems to have been borrowed from Achaemenian Iran. It may further be assumed that the Yavanni lipi was known only in Gandhar and the north-west at that time (ante, p.312).
V.
S. Agrawala writes that Patanjali makes clear the social status
of the sudras in his time. Firstly there were sudras who were not
excluded from Aryavrat but were living within its social system.
Secondly, there was another class of sudras who were living outside
Aryavrat and its society. He cites as examples (1) Kishkindha-Gabdikam
(2) Shak-Yavanm and (3) Saurya-Krauncham.
•
Kishkindha may be identified with Pali Khukhunndo in Gorakhpur,
Tej Ram Sharma writes that Saurashtra is mentioned in the Junagarh Rock Inscription of Rudradaman I (A.D. 150). It was governed by Pusyagupt, under Chandragupt Maurya and by a Yavan Tusasp under Ashok.
Tej Ram Sharma writes that Sudarsan is the name of a lake situated at some distance from Girinagar (possibly girnar) as mentioned in the Junagarh Rock Inscription of Rudradaman I (A.D. 150). The lake was originally constructed by the Vaisya Pusyagupt, the provincial governor of the Maurya king Chandragupt. Later on during the reign of Ashok it was adorned with conduits, by the Yavan governor Tusasph.
The Harsh Charita of Bana / Chapter VI tells ....[Kakavarna], being curious of marvels, was carried away no one knows whither on an artificial aerial car made by a Yavan condemned to death.
Ram Sarup Joon writes that Some people in Greece consider Balram, brother of Lord Krishna as their ancestor. Yunan, the other name of Greece is after the name of Chandra Vanshi King Yavan who was from Satjit branch of Yadu.
Paras
:
Parasikon the description of the Shrimashrul Shirs on which Charitravardhan has written while writing the commentary, has said - 'Paschatya: shrushmruni sthistitva keshavpantiti taddeshaarochakti:' meaning these western people shave their head and keep beard and moustache. This was the custom of the ancient Iranians, which was also adopted by the Hunas.
Kalidas knew both the landmark and the water way to go from India to the country of Paras - 'Parsikantasto Jetun Pratisthe Sthalvartmna. Indriyaktivya repuntattvagyanen sanyami' (4.60).
Kalidas has called Yavani as Parsik women - 'Yavneemukhapadmanam Sehe Madhumdan Sas. Balatpan Ivabjanan Akaljaldoya (4.61)
Mahomendan was used for all Western foreigners in ancient India though Adyt It Ioannina (Ionia). The Greeks were labeled. Kalidas called 'Sangramastumulastasya pashteshwarishvarasai'. In Sardagkugitvijrtreypratiode Rjasybhuth (4.62) Parasikon is called Western too. While commenting on this verse, commentator, Sumiti Vijay, has called the Parsiks 'Sindhutat Vasino Malechharajan' which does not seem to be right because Raghu. In 4,60 (see above) Raghu of Parasikon wrote to the Sthlvrtm for victory that certainly that was Smudramarg (water way) to get into the country. In 4,62 (see above), the Parsikas have been described by Kalidas as endowed with horse army or horse power.
In Mudrarakshas 1,20, by writing ‘Medhaksa: Panchamo-Ashmin Prithuturagbalaparasikadhiraj:’, Visakhadatta has indicated the strong horsepower of the Parsis. Kalidas also mentions the famous vineyards of ancient Iran - 'Vinayante Smadhyodha Madhubhirvijayashram. Aastirnajinratnasu Drakshavalayabhoomi (4.65).
The Parsikas are mentioned in Vishnu Puran 2,3,17 as follows - 'Madramaramasthambastha:, Parsika Dayastatha'.
Relations between Iran and India are very ancient. Dara, the Emperor of Iran, invaded western Punjab in the sixth century BCE and recovered tax from there for some time. His map-Rustam and records obtained from Bhistan has been described as the richest state of the empire of Darius Punjab. It is possible that Kalidas, the national poet of Gupta period, used Raghu on Parsiks to dispose of this ancient bitter historical memory.
[p.551] Vijay is described. As such, it is a historical fact that the Gupta emperor Maharaj used to confer Samudragupt with many kings and feudatories belonging to Paras and other northwestern regions of India and he also established matrimonial relations with Samudragupt. In the eighth century AD, the Prakrit treatise called Gaudavho (Gaudavadh), Kanyakubj Naresh Yashovarman's victory over the Parsis is mentioned.
Jat
History :
Bhim Singh Dahiya writes that ... Mayura attacked the capital of Indra. Here, as in the other Puran, the name of Mura is Sanskritised into Mayura, the reasons for which have already been discussed earlier. The second name Ugra, is again a tribal name, the Ugrians of Greek writers, and the present Uighur of Soviet Central Asia. The name of the ropes of Mura a, called Mourav ropes, is again the same as the name of the City and the clan, Maurav, as Persian records. Thus the Mura and Narakaare identical with the Mura and Nairi of Assyriyan records, the present Mor and Nara clan of the Jats. This area was definitely in the west of India, rather in the northhwest and Pragjyotish was its capital city. At the time of Mahabharat, it was ruled over by Bhagadatt who is called a king of Yavans and also a king of Asuras. He was a friend of Pandu. He attended the Rajasuya sacrifice of Yudhisthir. Arjun, defeats him in the North and in the war he is killed by Arjun. Vajradatt, son of Bhaga Datt was also killed by Arjun. In Sabha Parv both Mur and Narak are stated to be rulers in the West.
All this discussion clearly establishes that the country of Mura was in the North-West of India, and the present city of Merv can very well be identified with their ancient capital. As already mentioned, this city in the Iranian literature, is called Mourav or Maur.
Direct
identification :
•
The mention of the " Yona king Antiochus " in the Edicts
of Ashok (280 BCE).
Harsh Charita mentions .... The fate of a Yavan king was encompassed by the holder of his golden chowrie, who read the letters of a document reflected in his crest jewel. By slashes of drawn swords Vidurath's army minced the avaricious Mathura king Brihadrath while he was digging treasure at dead of night.
Rajatarangini mentions .... The queen Ratnadevi set up a religious school named Vaikunth and maths and other edifices, and with her own money made arrangements for their permanent maintenance.
At Ratnapur, a town of great value, and which had many gates, the spotless religions school was the receptacle of virtue, and looked like a large cage for a swan. Mahadev graced by his presence her white washed houses, like a white light, to destroy the transient state of man's existence. When she built sheds for cows, Shuravarmma and the other builders were reckoned as cows. There [at Ratnapur ] adorned with cowsheds, where the kine roamed unrestricted, and which was washed by the waves of the Vitast, she parted with her diseased body (died), At Nandikshetra she had raised religious schools, and in the principal places of the Yavans she had built delightful maths. In Darvva she built a town like the city of Indra, and named it after her name. It contained a beautiful and grand house befitting a king. The queen who was kind towards her dependants built various monuments consecrated to the memory of the great, the honored and the principal men who were dead.
The world held such jewels of women who were its ornaments. (p.217–218)
Old
World usage :
•
Egyptians used the word jwn (-n)
In
purans :
•
Ábhíras , 7, M .; 10, V;
In
Ramayan :
In
Mahabharat :
Adi Parv, Mahabharat / Mahabharat Book I Chapter 80 mentions in the Story of Yayati and his wives Devayani and Sarmishtha. Yavan appears in verse (I.80.26). [33] Sabha Parv, Mahabharat / Book II Chapter 13 mentions the List of Kshatriyas leaving their dominions in the north, fled to other countries out of fear of Jarasandh : Kshatriyas in support of Jarasandh includes Yavan kings Mur and Narak in verse (II.13.13). "that king of the Yavans , who hath chastised Mur and Narak, whose power is unlimited, and who ruleth the west like another Varun, who is called Bhagdatt".
Sabh Parv, Mahabharat / Book II Chapter 28 mentions the Kingdoms subjugated by Sahdev, who marched towards the southern direction. "The hero brought under his subjection and exacted tributes from the delightful city of Antakhis, the Roms and that of the Yavans".
Sabha Parv, Mahabharat / Book II Chapter 47 mentions Kings who brought tributes to Yudhishthir. This includes Yavans in verse (II.47.12) ... "And that great warrior king Bhagdatt, the brave ruler of Pragjyotish and the mighty sovereign of the malech, at the head of a large number of Yavans waited at the gate unable to enter".
Van Parv, Mahabharat / Book III Chapter 48 describes Rajsuya sacrifice of Yudhisthir attended by the chiefs of many islands and countries. This includes Yavans in verse (III.48.20) "and all the kings of the West by hundreds, and all the chiefs of the sea-coast, and the kings of the Pahlavas and the Darads and the various tribes of the Kirats and Yavans and Shaks".
Udyog Parv / Mahabharat Book V Chapter 19 mentions Who joined Duryodhan for war. This includes Yavans in verse (V.19.21) ... "And Sudakshin, the king of the Kambojs, accompanied by the Yavans and Saks, came to the Kuru chief with an Akshauhini of troops".
Bhisma Parv, Mahabharat / Book VI Chapter 10 Describes geography and provinces of Bharatvarsh. The other Provinces in south include Yavans in verse (VI.10.64).
Bhisma Parv, Mahabharat / Book VI Chapter 20 mentions warriors in Bhisma's division: this includes Yavans in verse (VI.20.13). .... "Saradwat's son, that fighter in the van, that high-souled and mighty bowman, called also Gautam and Chitrayudh, conversant with all modes of warfare, accompanied by the Sakas, the Kirats, the Yavans and the Pahlavas, took up his position at the northern point of the army".
Bhisma Parv, Mahabharat / Book VI Chapter 47 describes immeasurable heroes assembled for battle. This includes Yavans in verse (VI.47.7). "Let the Samsthans, the Sursens, the Veniks, the Kukkurs, the Rechaks, the Trigarts, the Madraks, the Yavans protect Bhishma with their (respective) troops".
Bhisma Parv, Mahabharat / Book VI Chapter 83 mentions Kauravs and the Pandavs, once more proceeded to battle. This includes Yavans in verse (VI.83.10). "Next to Vrihadval was the brave Trigart, the ruler of the Prasthal, accompanied by a large number of the Kambojs, and by Yavans in thousands".
Karna Parv / Mahabharat Book VIII Chapter 30 gives description blaming the Vahiks and Madraks. This includes Yavans in verse (VIII.30.80). "The Yavans, are omniscient; the Suras are particularly so. The malechs are wedded to the creations of their own fancy. Other peoples cannot understand".
Karna Parv / Mahabharat Book VIII Chapter 51 Describes terrible massacre on seventeenth day of War. This includes Yavans in verse (VIII.51.18). "Of terrible deeds and exceedingly fierce, the Tushars, the Yavans, the Khasas, the Darvabhisars, the Daradas, the Sakas, the Kamaths, the Ramaths, the Tanganas".
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Mahabharat :
In
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