Aryavarta

Aryavarta

Aryavarta (Sanskrit: आर्यावर्त, "abode of the Aryans") is the ancient name for northern and central India, where the culture of the Indo-Aryans was based. It is erroneous to give this name to the whole of India, since the borders of Aryavarta have been described differently in sources from different times.

The Manu Smriti (2.22) gives the name to "the tract between the Himalaya and the Vindhya ranges, from the eastern to the western sea".

The Vasistha Dharma Sutra I.8-9 and 12-13 locates Aryavarta to the east of the disappearance of the Sarasvati in the desert, to the west of Kalakavana, to the north of the mountains of Pariyatra and Vindhya and to the south of the Himalaya. Baudhayana "Dharmasutra" (BDS) 1.1.2.10 gives similar definitions and declares that Aryavarta is the land that lies west of Kalakavana [region of modern Allahabad] , east of Adarsana [where the Sarasvati disappears] , south of the Himalayas and north of the Vindhyas. In BDS 1.1.2.11 Aryavarta is confined to the Ganga - Yamuna doab, and BDS 1.1.2.13-15. Some sutras recommend expiatory acts for those who have crossed the boundaries of Aryavarta. Baudhayana "Srautasutra" recommends this for those who have crossed the boundaries of Aryavarta and ventured into far away places [ [http://www.omilosmeleton.gr/english/documents/VedicEvidenceforAMT.pdf Vishal Agarwal, "Is there Vedic evidence for the Indo-Aryan Immigration to India?"] ]

Patanjali's IAST|Mahābhāṣya defines Aryavarta like the Vasistha Dharma Sutra.

Aryavarta may thus have different definitions. In some later texts, Northwest-India (which earlier texts consider as part of "Aryavarta") is even seen as "impure", probably due to invasions. The Karnaparva 43.5-8 states that those who live on the Sindhu and the five rivers of the Punjab are impure and dharmabahya.

Notes

References

* Kane, Pandurang Vaman: "History of Dharmasastra: (ancient and mediaeval, religious and civil law)" Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona (1962-1975)

ee also

*Vedic civilization
*Etymology of India, India, Bharata
*Airyanem Vaejah


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Āryāvarta — The approximate extent of Iron Age (Vedic civilization) Āryāvarta is highlighted Āryāvarta (Sanskrit: आर्यावर्त, abode of the Aryans ) is a name for Northern India in classical Sanskrit literature. The Manu Smriti (2.22) gives the name to the… …   Wikipedia

  • Scholarship among Ancient Kambojas — The Kambojas are an ancient people of the north western Indian subcontinent (Central Asia), frequently mentioned in ancient Indian texts (though not directly in the Rig Veda). They spoke an Indo Iranian derived language, an Indo European family… …   Wikipedia

  • Gandharva Kingdom — refers to the territory inhabited by a tribe called Gandharvas who were one among the Exotic Tribes of Ancient India. They were well versed in music and dance. Gandarvas were also powerful warriors who roamed in Indian kingdoms disregarding any… …   Wikipedia

  • India — /in dee euh/, n. 1. Hindi, Bharat. a republic in S Asia: a union comprising 25 states and 7 union territories; formerly a British colony; gained independence Aug. 15, 1947; became a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations Jan. 26, 1950.… …   Universalium

  • Sarasvati River — The Sarasvati River (Sanskrit: सरस्वती नदी sárasvatī nadī) is one of the chief Rigvedic rivers mentioned in ancient Hindu texts. The Nadistuti hymn in the Rigveda (10.75) mentions the Sarasvati between the Yamuna in the east and the Sutlej in the …   Wikipedia

  • Cyrus the Great — King of Āryāvarta[1][2], King of Persia, King of Anshan, King of Media, King of Babylon, King of Sumer and Akkad, King of the four corners of the World[ …   Wikipedia

  • North India — Contents 1 Heading text 2 Definitions 2.1 Government of India definition 2.2 Linguistic definition 2.3 …   Wikipedia

  • Indo-Aryan migration — For other uses, see Indo Aryan migration (disambiguation). Indo European topics Indo European languages (list) Albanian · Armenian · Baltic Celtic · Germanic · Greek Indo Iranian …   Wikipedia

  • Madra Kingdom — was a kingdom grouped among the western kingdoms in the epic Mahabharata. Its capital was Sagala, modern Sialkot (in the Punjab province of Pakistan). The Kuru king Pandu s second wife was from Madra kingdom and was called Madri. The Pandava… …   Wikipedia

  • Arios — En 1894, el conservador del Departamento de Antropología del Museo Nacional de EE.UU. narró: se cree que [la esvástica] es uno de los símbolos más antiguo de los arios; estimándose que representa a Brahma, Vishnu y a Siva. [1] Este ejemplar está… …   Wikipedia Español

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”