Ravi S. Iyer: Worldly

Last updated on 9th Aug. 2022 Readers may want to see: List of my posts related to Thinvent Micro 5, a low-cost Linux mini PC based on Tanix TX 3 Android TV box,  https://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.com/2022/08/list-of-my-posts-related-to-thinvent.html  , 8th Aug. 2022 This post captures my trials from 28th July 2022 to 31st July 2022, and has some info. put up later on. This post follows up on my posts:  1) Review of below Rs.3000 (US$ 40) Micro 5 Linux Mini PC box w ARM Quad-core, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, HDMI, USB 2.0, used for Internet browsing, Libre Office and more w 21.5 in. LCD monitor,  https://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.com/2021/12/below-rs3000-us-40-micro-5-linux-mini.html  , 13th Dec. 2021. and 2) Can Thinvent Micro 5 based Linux mini PC costing around Rs.10,000 be used for teaching Internet browsing, Libre Office etc. and for online classes in poor rural schools?,  https://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.com/2021/12/can-thinvent-micro-5-based-linux-mini.html ...

For first part, please visit https://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.com/2022/07/1-bce-2000-years-ago-roman-trade-in.html . The first part post dealt with the route from Arabian sea coast of Western India to Kalyan, for goods of Roman trade in 1 BCE (2000 years ago). In this post, I will cover the Kalyan to Naneghat pass journey on land, after which the route is on the Deccan plateau and would have been relatively straight forward from then on, to Junnar, Paithan and Nasik. So my post coverage will stop at Naneghat pass. The Google map pic below shows the waterway from the West coast of India to Kalyan, and the land road from Kalyan to Murbad (labelled 61 and in yellow). The next Google map pic below shows the same land road continuing on from Murbad to Saralgaon, Tokawade and Vaishakhare. This road is referred to as Kalyan-Ahmednagar road. While this is a road of recent times, there would have been a similar land route from Kalyan to Vaishakhare or nearby areas in the past too. [On PC desktop...

Given below is a somewhat recent post of mine on another blog, which readers of this blog may want to read: Oldest inscriptions referring to Hindu deities, in this case, Samkarshana and Vāsudeva (Balarama and Krishna) in 2nd/1st century BCE, https://ravisiyer.blogspot.com/2022/07/oldest-inscriptions-referring-to-hindu.html  .

Minor update on 22nd Dec. 2022 For second and final part, please visit  https://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.com/2022/07/1-bce-2000-years-ago-roman-trade-in_27.html . I am very interested in this history as Sopara & Kalyan are close to Mumbai & Dombivli, and I have lived for many years in Mumbai (Bandra & Andheri suburbs) & Dombivli (till 2002). 1 BCE is over 2000 years old!  I don't think while I was living in Mumbai & Dombivli, I knew about Roman trade 2000 years ago through Sopara & Kalyan ports, as otherwise I would surely have visited whatever remains are there, of these port areas in today's Nalla Sopara and Kalyan town/city. Note that I have been to Kalyan town/city many, many times in the past (till 2002). Some years ago (after 2002), as I started reading up on history in general, and Indian history in particular using Internet sources mainly but also some history books, I came to know of Roman trade through Sopara port (and I think I may have read r...

Given below are extracts from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhamek_Stupa : Dhamek Stupa (also spelled Dhamekh and Dhamekha, traced to Sanskrit version Dharmarajika Stupa, which can be translated as the Stupa of the reign of Dharma) is a massive stupa located at Sarnath, 13 km away from Varanasi in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India.[1] ... After the parinirvana of the Buddha, his remains were cremated and the ashes divided and buried under eight mounds with two further mounds encasing the urn and the embers. Little is known about these early stupas, particularly since it has not been possible to identify the original ten monuments. However, some later stupas, such as at Sarnath and Sanchi, seem to be embellishments of earlier mounds.[4] The Dhamek Stupa was built in 500 CE[5] to replace an earlier structure commissioned by the great Mauryan king Ashoka in 249 BCE, along with several other monuments, to commemorate the Buddha's activities in this location. Stupas originated as circu...

Last updated on 8th July 2022 First about the pillars of Emperor Ashoka from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pillars_of_Ashoka : The pillars of Ashoka are a series of monolithic columns dispersed throughout the Indian subcontinent, erected or at least inscribed with edicts by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka during his reign from c.  268 to 232 BCE.[2] Ashoka used the expression Dhaṃma thaṃbhā (Dharma stambha), i.e. "pillars of the Dharma" to describe his own pillars.[3][4] These pillars constitute important monuments of the architecture of India, most of them exhibiting the characteristic Mauryan polish. Of the pillars erected by Ashoka, twenty still survive including those with inscriptions of his edicts. Only a few with animal capitals survive of which seven complete specimens are known.[5]  ... Averaging between 12 and 15 m (40 and 50 ft) in height, and weighing up to 50 tons each, the pillars were dragged, sometimes hundreds of miles, to where they were erected.[8] [References:...

Note that Sanchi is pronounced as Saanchi. Given below are relevant extracts from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanchi : Sanchi is a Buddhist complex, famous for its Great Stupa, on a hilltop at Sanchi Town in Raisen District of the State of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is located, about 23 kilometres from Raisen town, district headquarter and 46 kilometres (29 mi) north-east of Bhopal, capital of Madhya Pradesh. The Great Stupa at Sanchi is one of the oldest stone structures in India, and an important monument of Indian Architecture.[1] It was originally commissioned by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka the Great in the 3rd century BCE. Its nucleus was a simple hemispherical brick structure built over the relics of the Buddha. It was crowned by the 'chhatra', a parasol-like structure symbolising high rank, which was intended to honour and shelter the relics. The original construction work of this stupa was overseen by Ashoka, whose wife Devi was the daughter of a merchant of nearby Vid...

Last updated on 3rd July 2022 I clearly recall studying in my schoolkid days around five decades ago, about the Kalinga war and the suffering involved transforming emperor Ashoka into a peace-loving Buddhist ruler. It had made a strong impact on me then due to which I have this clear recollection. But now I am in a position to study the matter more deeply and better understand this supposedly transformative event in Emperor Ashoka's life and reign as emperor. That is a matter of quite some satisfaction. I use the word supposedly above as there seems to be some debate on this matter. Relevant extracts from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalinga_War including relevant part of Ashoka's Major Rock Edict XIII are given below: The Kalinga War (ended c. 261 BCE)[1] was fought in ancient India between the Maurya Empire under Ashoka and the state of Kalinga, an independent feudal kingdom located on the east coast, in the present-day state of Odisha and northern parts of Andhra Pradesh. ...

Instead of one long post, I plan to share info. about this topic as a series of relatively smaller posts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Indian_epigraphy informs us, "The earliest undisputed deciphered epigraphy found in India are the Edicts of Ashoka of the 3rd century BCE, in the Brahmi script." In this context, I understand epigraphy to mean inscriptions. So these are the oldest written records found in India that have been deciphered. It adds that undeciphered writings in India go back much further - 3rd millennium BCE - written in Indus script which has not yet been deciphered. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_script tells us that it is not known whether the symbols of Indus script constituted a writing system (script used by a language). So, as of now, if I have understood correctly, the earliest historical written message/record in India whose meaning we know, are these rock edicts of emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan empire, who ruled from 268 BCE to 232 BCE. Gi...