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Vedic Rituals and the Aryan Invasion Theory


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1 Department of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, Mumbai 400 076, India
 

The main theme underlying Vedic rituals was the renewal of Prajapati, the creator God, who was exhausted after creating the universe. This was developed in analogy with the cyclical year. The Year was sanctified as a counterpart of Prajapati, making it the most important evidence. The combined expertise of Sanskrit scholars and scientists is necessary to understand Vedic rituals. They have interpreted Gavamayana and Agnicayana, the most important rituals, and Mahasivaratri to ∼3000 BC (Indus Valley Civilization), contradicting the Aryan invasion/migration theory. This consensus validates Kane's contention that Vedic rituals must be preferred over linguistics to understand Vedic literature.
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  • Vedic Rituals and the Aryan Invasion Theory

Abstract Views: 372  |  PDF Views: 127

Authors

T. R. S. Prasanna
Department of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, Mumbai 400 076, India

Abstract


The main theme underlying Vedic rituals was the renewal of Prajapati, the creator God, who was exhausted after creating the universe. This was developed in analogy with the cyclical year. The Year was sanctified as a counterpart of Prajapati, making it the most important evidence. The combined expertise of Sanskrit scholars and scientists is necessary to understand Vedic rituals. They have interpreted Gavamayana and Agnicayana, the most important rituals, and Mahasivaratri to ∼3000 BC (Indus Valley Civilization), contradicting the Aryan invasion/migration theory. This consensus validates Kane's contention that Vedic rituals must be preferred over linguistics to understand Vedic literature.


DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv109%2Fi10%2F1882-1888