Ancient Indian History

At the time of Corona virus outbreak, the world has known the importance of cremation. According to WHO guidelines, cremation is the best method for disposing the dead bodies during an epidemic. What is cremation- Cremation is the method of disposing the dead body through burning or combustion. The process of cremation Image courtesy: Wikipedia  After cremation about two and half kilograms remains is produced, known as 'ashes' and consists of unburned fragments of bones. They do not constitute risk to health and may be buried, scattered in fields and water bodies or disposed in various ways. In India, there is a vast practice of ashes disposal in holy rivers at Haridwar, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Gaya etc. Cremation at Manikarnika ghat, Varanasi  Image courtesy: Wikipedia  History of cremation- The earliest archeological evidence of cremation in the world was found in Australia at lake Mungo. (ref- Bowler, J. M. 1971. Pleistocene salinities an...

Today, the bricks play an important role in the construction of buildings and the process of construction is called 'brick masonry.' In India, history of  the masonry is very old. The brick masonry is being practiced since the ancient times and can be traced back to the great cities of the Harappan period. Type of bricks in ancient India- In the early Harappan period, unburnt and irregular bricks were used for construction of single storey houses. The people of that period did not know the use of moulds. In the mature Harappan period, burnt bricks were used. The moulds were used to make uniform cuboid bricks. The earliest evidence of moulded bricks was found in Nal region of Balochistan dated around 30th century BC. According to Gurdeep Singh, modern Sindh and Rajasthan had dense forests during Harappan period which provided wood for brick baking.  (ref- Shreen Ratnagagar (2001), Understanding Harappan civilization in the Greater Indus Valley, p. 24) Siz...

There is a strong query in the minds of many Indian people about the existence and location the river "Saraswati." The Saraswati is one of the main rivers mentioned in the Rigveda, an ancient Indian text. It has played an important role during  the Vedic civilization. अम्बितमे नदीतमे देवितमे सरस्वति। अप्रशस्ता इव स्मसि प्रशस्तिमम्ब नस्कृधि।। Rigveda- 2:41:16 O mother Saraswati, you are the best among all the rivers, mothers and goddesses. We are like foolish people, grant us the greatest knowledge.  Saraswati: The Goddess of Knowledge- Today, Indian people know "Saraswati" as goddess of knowledge, wisdom, art and literature. But it is originally personification of river goddess Saraswati. During the Vedic period, the earlier centers of knowledge (old schools of Vedas) might be situated at the bank of the river Saraswati. Vedic literature was supposed to have been composed by the vedic seers at its bank. Later the river goddess would have  been p...