Quantcast
Channel: Bharatkalyan97
Viewing all 11035 articles
Browse latest View live

चषालः caṣāla on Yupa, an Indus Script hieroglyph like a crucible to carburize ores into steel/hard alloys

$
0
0
Mirror: http://tinyurl.com/h24ueao

चषालः caṣāla on Yupa, made of wheat straw, an Indus Script hieroglyph, signifies pyrolysis/carburization in smelting ores into steel/hard alloys

Yupa is a kunda, a pillar of bricks. This kunda signifies a fire-alter or agnikunda in Vedic tradition. A signifier of the pillar is a चषालः caṣāla as its top piece. This चषालः caṣāla (Rigveda) is made of wheat straw for pyrolysis to convert firewood into coke to react with ore to create hard alloys, e.g. iron reacting with coke to create crucible steel or carburization of wrought iron in a crucible to produce steel. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucible_steel

The sacredness associated with चषालः caṣāla is demonstrated by the architectural splendour of ancient varaha sculptures in the Hindu tradition. On the varaha monolith in Khajuraho, the चषालः caṣāla is signified by Devi Sarasvati. On many other sculptures of varaha, the चषालः caṣāla is associated with Mother Earth भूदेवी bhudevi. A gallery of varaha sculptural splendour is embedded together with explanatory notes on the dcipherment of  metal work catalogue in a Rakhigarhi seal with a rhinoceros decorated with a scarf (dhatu 'scarf' rebus: dhatu 'ore').

The Indus Script hieroglyphic hypertexts get expanded into metaphors during the historical periods narrating Varaha as the third Avatara of Vishnu. In archaeometallurgical parlance, the चषालः caṣāla is the core pyrolysis process to create crucible steel and/or hard alloys in smelting processes.

See the yupa as a signifier on Kuwait gold disc with Indus Script hieroglyphs:

Hieroglyph: kunda = a pillar of bricks (Ka.); pillar, post (Tu.Te.); block, log (Malt.); kantu = pillar, post (Ta.)(DEDR 1723).

Rebus: kun.d. = a pit (Santali) kun.d.amu = a pit for receiving and preserving consecrated fire; a hole in the ground (Te.) kun.d.am, kun.d.a sacrificial fire
pit (Skt.) kun.d.a an altar on which sacrifices are made (G.)[i] gun.d.amu fire-pit; (Inscr.)

See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2016/01/octagonal-yupo-bhavati-satapatha.html चषालः caṣāla is made of wheat straw according to Satapatha Brāhmana.
caṣāla चषाल This is a Rigveda word which signifies the top-piece of the Yūpa.

1.162.01 Let neither Mitra nor Varun.a, Aryaman, A_yu, Indra, R.bhuks.in,nor the Maruts, censure us; when we proclaim in the sacrifice the virtus of the swift horse sprung from the gods. [a_yu = va_yu (a_yuh satataganta_ va_yuh, vaka_ralopo va_); r.bhuks.in = Indra; but,here Praja_pati, he in whom the r.bhus,or the devas, abide (ks.iyanti); sprung from the gods: devaja-tasya = born as the type of various divinities, who are identified with different parts (e.g. us.a_ va_ as'vasya medhyasya s'irah: Br.hada_ran.yaka Upanis.ad 1.1.1); legend: the horse's origin from the sun, either direct, or through the agency of the Vasus: sura_d as'vam vasavo niratas.t.a].
1.162.02 When they, (the priests), bring the prepared offering to the presence (of the horse), who has been bathed and decorated with rich (trappings), the various-coloured goat going before him, bleating, becomes an acceptable offering to Indra and Pu_s.an. [The prepared offering: ra_tim-gr.bhi_ta_m = lit. the seized wealth; the offering to be made for the horse; pu_s.an = Agni; the goat is to be tied to the front of the horse at the sacrificial post, such a goat, black-necked, kr.s.nagri_va (a_gneyah kr.s.n.agri_vah: Taittiri_ya Sam.hita_ 5.5.22), being always regarded as an a_gneya pas'u, or victim sacred to Agni, and to be offered to him (Ka_tya_yana Su_tra 98). A black goat is also dedicated to pu_s.an, along with soma (Yajus. xxix.58; but, he is also to be attached to the na_bhi or middle of the horse (Yajus. xxiv.1)].
1.162.03 This goat, the portion of Pu+s.an fit for all the gods, is brought first with the fleet courser, to that Tvas.t.a_ may prepare him along with the horse, as an acceptable preliminary offering for the (sacrificial) food. [The portion of Pu_s.an: he is to be offered in sacrifice to Pu_s.an or Agni; Tvas.t.a_ = sarvasyotpa_daka, the producer of all forms; tvas.t.a_ ru_pa_n.i vikaroti (Taittiri_ya Sam.hita_ 1.5.92); or, identified wiith Agni;preliminary offering purod.a_s'am = offering of cakes and butter; purasta_d-da_tavyam, that which is to be first offered].
1.162.04 When the priests at the season (of the ceremony), lead forth the horse, the offering devoted to the gods, thrice round (the sacrificial fire); then the goat, the portion of Pu_s.an, goes first, announcing the sacrificer to the gods. [The goat is to be first immolated]. 
1.162.05 The invoker of the gods, the minister of the rite, the offerer of the oblation, the kindler of the fire, the bruiser of the Soma, the director of the ceremony, the saage (superintendent of the whole); do you replenish the rivers by this well-ordered, well-conducted, sacrifice. [The invoker of the gods: designations applied to eight of the sixteen priests employed at a solemn rite: the two first are: hota_ and adhvaryu; avaya_j = pratiprastha_ta_, who brings and places the offering; agnimindha = agni_dh, the kindler of the fire; gra_vagra_bha = the praiser of the stones that bruise the Soma,or he who applies the stones to that purpose; s'am.sta_ = pras'a_sta_; suvipra = Brahma_ (brahmaiko ja_te ja_te vidya_m vadatibrahma_ sarvavidyah sarva veditumarhati: Nirukta 1.8); replenish the rivers: vaks.an.a_ apr.n.adhvam, nadi_h pu_rayata, fill the rivers; the consequence of sacrifice being rain and fertility; or, it may mean, offer rivers of butter, milk, curds, and the like]. 
1.162.06 Whether they be those who cut the (sacrificial) post, or those who bear the post, or those who fasten the rings on the top of the post, to which the horse (is bound); or those who prepare the vessels in which the food of the horse is dressed; let the exertions of them all fulfil our expectation. [The post: twenty-one posts, of different kinds of wood, each twenty-one cubits long, are to be set up, to which the different animals are to be fastened, amounting to three hundred and forty-nine, besides two hundred and sixty wild animals, making a total of six hundred and nine (Ka_tya_yana); the text seems to refer to a single post: cas.a_lam ye as'vayu_pa_ya taks.ati: cas.a_la = a wooden ring, or bracelet, on the top of the sacrificial post; or, it was perhaps a metal ring at the foot of the post].  

Satapatha Brāhmana describes this as made of wheaten dough (gaudhūma).

गौधूम [p= 369,3] mf( g. बिल्वा*दि)n. made of wheat MaitrS. i Hcat. i , 7 (f().made of wheat straw S3Br. v , 2 , 1 , 6 Ka1tyS3r. xiv , 1 , 22 and 5 , 7.
http://www.sanskritdictionary.com/agnir/961/6#sthash.aDu8onbZ.dpuf

"Pyrolysis has been used since ancient times for turning wood into charcoal on an industrial scale...Pyrolysis is used on a massive scale to turn coal into 
coke for metallurgy, especially steelmaking.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrolysis In archaeometallurgical terms, the use of wheat straw to prepare the चषालः caṣāla fixed atop a Yupa may relate to such pyrolysis process to convert charcoal used in the fire-altar (furnace) into charcoal/coke to react with the dhAtu in the earth subjected to smelting/melting process (e.g. iron reacting with coke in a crucible to be transmuted as steel).

చషాలము [ caṣālamu ] chashālamu. [Skt.] n. A chalice, or cup used in sacrifice. A ring attached to the sacrificial post in a horse sacrifice. రాజ మాయము నందు యూపస్తంభమునకు అడుగున తగిలించే కడియము.څليَ ṯs̱alaey, s.m. (1st) A ring for the finger. 2. A pillar of mud or stones as a mark for land. 3. A butt or mark for arrows. 4. A mound or platform for watching a field. 5. A temporary building or shed. Pl. يِ ī. See منا (Pashto)

चषाल [p= 391,2]mn. (g. अर्धर्चा*दि) a wooden ring on the top of a sacrificial post RV. i , 162 , 6 TS. vi Ka1t2h.xxvi , 4 (चशालS3Br. &c चषालः caṣālḥचषालः 1 A wooden ring on the top of a sacrificial post; चषालं ये अश्वयूपाय तक्षति Rv.1.162.6; चषालयूपत- च्छन्नो हिरण्यरशनं विभुः Bhāg.4.19.19.-2 An iron ring at the base of the post.-3 A hive.


In lokokti, the yupa is associated with potaraju. The word pota signifies casting or smelting of metal.

పోతురాజు or పోతరాజు pōtu-rāḍsu. n. The name of a rustic god, like Pan, worshipped throughout the Telugu, Canarese and Mahratta countries. He represents the male principle associated with the village goddesses Gangamma, Peddamma, &c. A proverb says పాడుఊరికి మంచపుకోడుపోతురాజు in a ruined village the leg of a cot is a god. cf., 'a Triton of the minnows' (Shakespeare.) పోత [ pōta ] pōta. [Tel. from పోయు.] n. Pouring, పోయుట. Casting, as of melted metal. Bathing, washing. Eruption of the small pox. ఆకుపోత putting plants into the ground. పెట్టుపోతలు శాశ్వతములుకావు meat and drink (literally, feeding and bathing) are not matters of eternal consequence. పోత pōta. adj. Molten, cast in metal. పోతచెంబు a metal bottle or jug, which has been cast not hammered.

పోతము [ pōtamu ] pōtamu. [Skt.] n. A vessel, boat, ship. ఓడ. The young of any animal. పిల్ల. శిశువు. An elephant ten years old, పదేండ్ల యేనుగు. A cloth,వస్త్రము. శుకపోతము a young parrot. వాతపోతము a young breeze, i.e., a light wind. పోతపాత్రిక pōta-pātrika. n. A vessel, a ship, ఓడ. "సంసార సాగరమతుల ధైర్యపోత పాత్రికనిస్తరింపుముకు మార." M. XII. vi. 222. పోతవణిక్కు or పోతవణిజుడు pōta-vaṇikku. n. A sea-faring merchant. ఓడను కేవుకు పుచ్చుకొన్నవాడు, ఓడ బేరగాడుపోతవహుడు or పోతనాహుడు pōta-vahuḍu. n. A rower, a boatman, a steersman. ఓడనడుపువాడు, తండేలు.
Shapes of Yupa: A. Commemorative stone yupa, Isapur – from Vogel, 1910-11, plate 23; drawing based on Vedic texts – from Madeleine Biardeau, 1988, 108, fig. 1; cf. 1989, fig. 2); C. Miniature wooden yupa and caSAla from Vaidika Samsodana Mandala Museum of Vedic sacrificial utensils – from Dharmadhikari 1989, 70) (After Fig. 5 in Alf Hiltebeitel, 1988, The Cult of Draupadi, Vol. 2, Univ. of Chicago Press, p.22)

"Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of a Boar in order to defeat Hiranyaksha, a demon who had taken the Earth (Prithvi) and carried it to the bottom of what is described as the cosmic ocean in the story. The battle between Varaha and Hiranyaksha is believed to have lasted for a thousand years, which the former finally won. Varaha carried the Earth out of the ocean between his tusks and restored it to its place in the universe. Vishnu married Prithvi (Bhudevi) in this avatar.The Varaha Purana is a Purana in which the form of narration is a recitation by Varaha." 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varaha_Temple,_Khajuraho

वराह [p= 923,2]m. (derivation doubtful) a boar , hog , pig , wild boar RV. &c (ifc. it denotes , " superiority , pre-eminence " ; » g.व्याघ्रा*दि)N. of विष्णु in his third or boar-incarnation (cf. वराहा*वतारTA1r. MBh. &c


वराह an array of troops in the form of a boar Mn. vii , 187 வராகம்² varākam



n. < varāka. Battle; போர். (யாழ். அக.)

கட்டிவராகன் kaṭṭi-varākaṉ, n. < கெட்டி +. A gold coin, the varākaṉ. கட்டிலோ மெத் தையோ கட்டிவராகனோ. (குற்றா. குற.).கருக்குவராகன் karukku-varākaṉn. < id. +. New pagoda coin on which the figures are well defined; புதுநாணயம். (W.)தங்கவராகன் taṅka-varākaṉn. < தங்கம் +. Pagoda, a gold coin = 3½ rupees; 3½ ரூபாய் பெறுமான வராகன் என்னும் நாணயம்.வராகன்¹ varākaṉn. < Varāha. 1. Viṣṇu, in His boar-incarnation; வராகரூபியான திருமால். (பிங்.) 2. Pagoda, a gold coin = 3½ rupees, as bearing the image of a boar; மூன்றரை ரூபாய் மதிப்ள்ளதும் பன்றிமுத்திரை கொண்டதுமான ஒரு வகைப் பொன்நாணயம். (அரு. நி.) 


See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2011/07/devi-sarasvati-in-hindu-civilization.html

The Varaha shrine, built on a lofty plinth, is essentially similar in design to the Lalguan Mahadeva Temple, but is simpler and more modest. It is an oblong pavilion with a pyramidal roof of receding tiers, resting on fourteen plain pillars and enshrines a colossal monolithic (2.6 m long and 1.7 high) image of Yajna Varaha (incarnation of Vishnu) which is exquisitely finished to a glossy luster and is carved all over with multiple figures of gods and goddesses. The flat ceiling of the shrine is carved with a lotus flower of exquisite design in relief. The shrine built entirely of sandstone is assignable to circa 900-925.  http://asibhopal.nic.in/monument/chhatarpur_khajuraho_varahatemple.html#

Sarasvati with veena in her hands is shown on the चषाल 'snout (of boar).'


 


Devi Sarasvati

Why is Sarasvati shown on the upper lip (snout) of Varaha? Varaha is the 3rd avatar of Vishnu, rescuing the earth and the Vedas from the pralayam. Sarasvati on the lip of Varaha is a metaphor for Vaak and Vedas (Knowledge).

Varaha is Veda purusha, the avatar who ensured the continued prevalence of the Knowledge embodied in the Vedas.
Shaft-hole axe head with bird-headed demon, boar, and dragon.Bronze Age, ca. late 3rd–early 2nd millennium B.C.,Bactria-MargianaShaft-hole axe head with bird-headed demon, boar, and dragon.Bronze Age, ca. late 3rd–early 2nd millennium B.C.,Bactria-Margiana metmuseum.org

See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2011/09/central-asian-seals-seal-impressions.html

The pattern of double-heading in artistic representation and duplication of signs or glyphs (e.g. two bulls facing each other) in an inscription have been explained in decoded Indus script as connoting dula 'pair'; rebus: dul 'casting (metal)'. If the eagle is read rebus using a lexems of Indian linguistic area to connote pajhar 'eagle' (rebus: pasra 'smithy'), the double-headed eagle can be read as: dul pajhar = metal casting smithy. The body of a person ligatured to the double-headed eagle can denote the smith whose metalworking trade is related to casting of metals.
See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2011/09/central-asian-seals-seal-impressions.html


See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2015/06/tvastr-is-is-taksa-engrave-cire-perdue.html

Gold sheet and silver, Late 3rd/early 2nd millennium B.C.E.

L. 12.68 cm. Ceremonial Axe Baktria,Northern Afghanistan http://www.lessingimages.com/search.asp?a=L&lc=202020207EE6&ln=Collection+George+Ortiz%2C+Geneva%2C+Switzerland&p=1 "The whole cast by the lost wax process. The boar covered with a sheet of gold annealed and hammered on, some 3/10-6/10 mm in thickness, almost all the joins covered up with silver. At the base of the mane between the shoulders an oval motif with irregular indents. The lion and the boar hammered, elaborately chased and polished. A shaft opening - 22 holes around its edge laced with gold wire some 7/10-8/10 mm in diameter - centred under the lion's shoulder; between these a hole (diam: some 6.5 mm) front and back for insertion of a dowel to hold the shaft in place, both now missing.

Condition: a flattening blow to the boar's backside where the tail curled out and another to the hair between the front of his ears, his spine worn with traces of slight hatching still visible, a slight flattening and wear to his left tusk and lower left hind leg. A flattening and wear to the left side of the lion's face, ear, cheek, eye, nose and jaw and a flattening blow to the whole right forepaw and paw. Nicks to the lion's tail. The surface with traces of silver chloride under the lion's stomach and around the shaft opening.https://www.flickr.com/photos/antiquitiesproject/4616778973

File:Bactrian axe BM 123628.jpg
Cast axe-head; tin bronze inlaid with silver; shows a boar attacking a tiger which is attacking an ibex.ca. 2500 -2000 BCE Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex. Length: 17.8 cm (7 in). Weight: 675.5 g (23.82 oz). British Museum.ME 123268 (1913,0314.11913,0314.1) R. Maxwell-Hyslop, 'British Museum “axe” no. 123628: a Bactrian bronze', Bulletin of the Asia Institute, NS I (1987), pp. 17-26
Curator's comments: See RL file 6616 (29/6/1995); also Research Lab file 4992 of 12/09/1983 where XRF analysis of surface indicates composition as tin bronze with approx 10% tin and traces of arsenic, nickel, silver and lead. Dalton's inclusion in the 'Catalogue of the Oxus Treasure' among a small group of comparative items has unfortunately led to recurrent confusion over the date and provenance of this piece. It was first believed to be Achaemenid in date (Dalton, 'Catalogue of the Oxus Treasure', p. 48), labelled as such in 1975 in the former Iranian Room and thus suggested to be an Achaemenid scabbard chape (P R S Moorey CORRES 1975, based on an example said to have been excavated by P. Bernard at Ai Khanoum or seen by him in Kabul Bazaar, cf. P. Bernard CORRES 1976). It has also been assigned a 4th-5th century AD Sasanian date (P. Amiet, 1967, in 'Revue du Louvre' 17, pp. 281-82). However, its considerably earlier - late 3rd mill. BC Bronze Age - date has now been clearly demonstrated following the discovery of large numbers of objects of related form in south-east Iran and Bactria, and it has since been recognised and/or cited as such, for instance by H. Pittmann (hence archaeometallurgical analysis in 1983; R. Maxwell-Hyslop, 1988a, "British Museum axe no. 123628: a Bactrian bronze", 'Bulletin of the Asia Institute' 1 (NS), pp. 17-26; F. Hiebert & C.C. Lamberg-Karlovsky 1992a, "Central Asia and the Indo-Iranian Borderlands",' Iran' 30, p. 5; B. Brentjes, 1991a, "Ein tierkampfszene in bronze", 'Archäologische Mitteilungen aus Iran' 24 (NS), p. 1, taf. 1). 
http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=367862&partId=1
Eagle incised on a ceremonial axe made of chlorite. Tepe Yahya. (After Fig. 9.6 in Philip H. Kohl, 2001, opcit.)


Zoom: Sarasvati depicted on the upper lip (snout) of Varaha.




Site Name: Khajuraho
Monument: Varaha Mandir
Subject of Photo: Varaha
Locator Info. of Photo: SE of Laksmana temple courtyard
Photo Orientation: overview from SW looking NE
Iconography: Varaha
Dynasty/Period: Candella
Date: ca. latter half of the tenth century CE, 950 CE - 1000 CE
Material: stone
Architecture: structural
Zoom into Sarasvati image on the upper lip (snout) of Varaha

Along with various divinities, shown on the body of Viṣṇu's Varāhāvatara, third among incarnations, Sarasvatī figures appropriately on the mouth of Varāha Boar's monolithic image at Khajurāho (10th cent.)

Contemplating on pan-Indian tendencies of making images of Sarasvatī in the Hindu, Buddhist and Jaina pantheons, Catherine Ludvik, with her extensive researches on the theme[*], suggests two possibilities of Sarasvatī's feminine form : 1. the Mahābhārata narrative details, 2. Or, the other way around 'the female figure of Sarasvatī in the epic (Mahābhārata) might conceivably have been inspired from already existing, but no longer extant or known to be extant, representations of her' [Ludvik 107]. Thus the origin of Sarasvatī's iconographic conceptualization goes back to the third century bce. From then on gradually her human-like representations developed in the three different religions of the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain.
Vedābnāṁ mātaraṁ paśya matsthāṁ.

'Behold goddess Sarasvatī, the mother of Vedas enshrined in me' says Nārāyaṇa to Nārada [Vyasa's Mahābhārata, 12 : 326 : 5.]

Sarasvatīha vāgbhūtā śarīram te pravekṣyati

Sarasvatī enters the body as speech - [supra 12 : 306 : 6.]

jihvāyām vāk Sarasvatī

Sarasvatī dwells in the tongue [- ibid 12 : 231 : 8.].

devī jihvā sarasvatī

'goddess Sarasvatī is (your) tongue' says Bhīṣma, in veneration of Viṣṇu - [supra 6 : 61 : 56.].

parama jinendra-vāṇiye Sarasvatī
the supreme Lord Jina's preaching is Sarasvatī - [Pampa, Ādipurāṇa, 1-16.].
The Mahābhārata has referred to Sarasvatī as vāc [12 : 306 : 6] and vaṇī [3 : 132 : 2].
Besides, her beautiful form and lovely celestial body is lauded [3 : 184 : 18].
rūpaṁ ca te divyam atyanta kāntam

http://www.herenow4u.net/index.php?id=68838
Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3 Chapter 18


Canto 3: The Status Quo Chapter 18: The Battle Between Lord Boar and the Demon Hiranyaksha
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam

SB 3.18.1: Maitreya continued: The proud and falsely glorious Daitya paid little heed to the words of Varuna. O dear Vidura, he learned from Narada the whereabouts of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and hurriedly betook himself to the depths of the ocean.

SB 3.18.2: He saw there the all-powerful Personality of Godhead in His boar incarnation, bearing the earth upward on the ends of His tusks and robbing him of his splendor with His reddish eyes. The demon laughed: Oh, an amphibious beast!

SB 3.18.3: The demon addressed the Lord: O best of the demigods, dressed in the form of a boar, just hear me. This earth is entrusted to us, the inhabitants of the lower regions, and You cannot take it from my presence and not be hurt by me.

SB 3.18.4: You rascal, You have been nourished by our enemies to kill us, and You have killed some demons by remaining invisible. O fool, Your power is only mystic, so today I shall enliven my kinsmen by killing You.

SB 3.18.5: The demon continued: When You fall dead with Your skull smashed by the mace hurled by my arms, the demigods and sages who offer You oblations and sacrifice in devotional service will also automatically cease to exist, like trees without roots.

SB 3.18.6: Although the Lord was pained by the shaftlike abusive words of the demon, He bore the pain. But seeing that the earth on the ends of His tusks was frightened, He rose out of the water just as an elephant emerges with its female companion when assailed by an alligator.

SB 3.18.7: The demon, who had golden hair on his head and fearful tusks, gave chase to the Lord while He was rising from the water, even as an alligator would chase an elephant. Roaring like thunder, he said: Are You not ashamed of running away before a challenging adversary? There is nothing reproachable for shameless creatures!

SB 3.18.8: The Lord placed the earth within His sight on the surface of the water and transferred to her His own energy in the form of the ability to float on the water. While the enemy stood looking on, Brahma, the creator of the universe, extolled the Lord, and the other demigods rained flowers on Him.

SB 3.18.9: The demon, who had a wealth of ornaments, bangles and beautiful golden armor on his body, chased the Lord from behind with a great mace. The Lord tolerated his piercing ill words, but in order to reply to him, He expressed His terrible anger.

SB 3.18.10: The Personality of Godhead said: Indeed, We are creatures of the jungle, and We are searching after hunting dogs like you. One who is freed from the entanglement of death has no fear from the loose talk in which you are indulging, for you are bound up by the laws of death.

SB 3.18.11: Certainly We have stolen the charge of the inhabitants of Rasatala and have lost all shame. Although bitten by your powerful mace, I shall stay here in the water for some time because, having created enmity with a powerful enemy, I now have no place to go.

SB 3.18.12: You are supposed to be the commander of many foot soldiers, and now you may take prompt steps to overthrow Us. Give up all your foolish talk and wipe out the cares of your kith and kin by slaying Us. One may be proud, yet he does not deserve a seat in an assembly if he fails to fulfill his promised word.

SB 3.18.13: Sri Maitreya said: The demon, being thus challenged by the Personality of Godhead, became angry and agitated, and he trembled in anger like a challenged cobra.

SB 3.18.14: Hissing indignantly, all his senses shaken by wrath, the demon quickly sprang upon the Lord and dealt Him a blow with his powerful mace.

SB 3.18.15: The Lord, however, by moving slightly aside, dodged the violent mace-blow aimed at His breast by the enemy, just as an accomplished yogi would elude death.

SB 3.18.16: The Personality of Godhead now exhibited His anger and rushed to meet the demon, who bit his lip in rage, took up his mace again and began to repeatedly brandish it about.

SB 3.18.17: Then with His mace the Lord struck the enemy on the right of his brow, but since the demon was expert in fighting, O gentle Vidura, he protected himself by a maneuver of his own mace.

SB 3.18.18: In this way, the demon Haryaksha and the Lord, the Personality of Godhead, struck each other with their huge maces, each enraged and seeking his own victory.

SB 3.18.19: There was keen rivalry between the two combatants; both had sustained injuries on their bodies from the blows of each other's pointed maces, and each grew more and more enraged at the smell of blood on his person. In their eagerness to win, they performed maneuvers of various kinds, and their contest looked like an encounter between two forceful bulls for the sake of a cow.

SB 3.18.20: O descendant of Kuru, Brahma, the most independent demigod of the universe, accompanied by his followers, came to see the terrible fight for the sake of the world between the demon and the Personality of Godhead, who appeared in the form of a boar.

SB 3.18.21: After arriving at the place of combat, Brahma, the leader of thousands of sages and transcendentalists, saw the demon, who had attained such unprecedented power that no one could fight with him. Brahma then addressed Narayana, who was assuming the form of a boar for the first time.

SB 3.18.22-23: Lord Brahma said: My dear Lord, this demon has proved to be a constant pinprick to the demigods, the brahmanas, the cows and innocent persons who are spotless and always dependent upon worshiping Your lotus feet. He has become a source of fear by unnecessarily harassing them. Since he has attained a boon from me, he has become a demon, always searching for a proper combatant, wandering all over the universe for this infamous purpose.

SB 3.18.24: Lord Brahma continued: My dear Lord, there is no need to play with this serpentine demon, who is always very skilled in conjuring tricks and is arrogant, self-sufficient and most wicked.

SB 3.18.25: Brahma continued: My dear Lord, You are infallible. Please kill this sinful demon before the demoniac hour arrives and he presents another formidable approach favorable to him. You can kill him by Your internal potency without doubt.

SB 3.18.26: My Lord, the darkest evening, which covers the world, is fast approaching. Since You are the Soul of all souls, kindly kill him and win victory for the demigods.

SB 3.18.27: The auspicious period known as abhijit, which is most opportune for victory, commenced at midday and has all but passed; therefore, in the interest of Your friends, please dispose of this formidable foe quickly.

SB 3.18.28: This demon, luckily for us, has come of his own accord to You, his death ordained by You; therefore, exhibiting Your ways, kill him in the duel and establish the worlds in peace.
Varaha, rock carving from the early 5th century, in Udayagiri, Orissa, India. (Encyclopaedia Britannica).

On the Rakhigarhi seal, a fine distinction is made between two orthographic options for signifying an arrow with fine pronunciation variants, to distinguish between an arrowhead and an arrow: kaNDa, kANDa. The word kANDa is used by Panini in an expression ayaskANDa to denote a quantity of iron, excellent iron (Pāṇ.gaṇ) i.e., metal (iron/copper alloy). This expression ayas+ kāṇḍa अयस्--काण्ड is signified by hieroglyphs: aya 'fish' PLUS kāṇḍa, 'arrow' as shown on Kalibangan Seal 032. An allograph for this hieroglyph 'arrowhead' is gaNDa 'four' (short strokes) as seen on Mohenjo-daro seal M1118.

Rebus: ayaskāṇḍa ‘a quantity of iron, excellent iron’ (Pā.ga) aya = iron (G.); ayah, ayas = metal (Skt.)

Thus, the arrowhead is signified by the hieroglyph which distinguishes the arrowhead as a triangle attached to a reedpost or handle of tool/weapon.

As distinct from this orthographic representation of 'arrowhead' with a triangle PLUS attached linear stroke, an arrow is signified by an angle ^ (Caret; Circumflex accent; Up arrow) with a linear stroke ligatured, as in the Rakhigarhi seal. To reinforce the distinction between 'arrow' and 'arrowhead' in Indus Script orthography, a notch is added atop the tip of the circumflex accent. Both the hieroglyph-components are attested in Indian sprachbund with a variant pronunciation: khANDA. खााडा [ kāṇḍā ] m A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon) (Marathi)

It is thus clear that the morpheme kANDa denotes an arrowhead, while the ^ circumflex accent hieroglyph is intended to signify rebus: kāṇḍā 'edge of tool or weapon' or a sharp edged implement, like a sword. In Indian sprachbund, the word which denotes a sword is  khaṁḍa -- m. ʻswordʼ(Prakritam).

In the hieroglyph-multiplex of Rakhigarhi seal inscription, the left and right parentheses are used as circumscript to provide phonetic determination of the gloss:  khaṁḍa -- m. ʻswordʼ (Prakritam), while the ligaturing element of 'notch' is intended to signify खााडा [ kāṇḍā ] 'A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon)' Rebus: kaNDa 'implements' (Santali). 
Thus, the hieroglyph-multiplex is read rebus as kaNDa 'implements'  PLUS  khaṁḍa ʻswordʼ. The supercargo is thus catalogued on the seal as: 1. arrowheads; 2. metal implements and ingots; 3. swords. 

The hieroglyph 'rhinoceros is: kANDA rebus: kaNDa 'implements/weapons'.
The entire inscription or metalwork catalogue message on Rakhigarhi seal can be deciphered:
kaNDa 'implements/weapons' (Rhinoceros) PLUS खााडा [ kāṇḍā ] 'weapons' PLUS mūhā 'cast ingots'(Left and Right parentheses as split rhombus or ellipse).

Thus, the supercargo consignment documented by this metalwork catalogue on Rakhigarhi seal is: metal (alloy) swords, metal (alloy) implements, metal cast ingots.

Rakhigarhi seal 
Hieroglyph-multiplex on Rakhigarhi seal.
M1118
Kalibangan032  
See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2015/08/supercaro-ingots-1-of-cast-metal-2-for.html

This monograph deciphers m1429 Prism tablet with Indus inscriptions on 3 sides. Three Sided Moulded Tablet with a boat and crocodile+fish Indus inscription Fired clay L.4.6 cm W. 1.2 cm Indus valley, Mohenjo-daro,MD 602, Harappan,ca 2600 -1900 BCE Islamabad Museum, Islamabad NMP 1384, Pakistan.
Image result for mohenjodaro boat sealOne side of a Mohenjo-daro tablet. 
baTa 'quail' Rebus: bhaTa 'furnace' (i.e., supercargo out of furnace)

What was the cargo carried on the boat? I suggest that the cargo was Meluhha metalwork.





The shape of the pair of ingots on the boat (shown on the tablet) is comparable to following figures: 1. the ingot on which stands the Ingot-god (Enkomi); 2. Copper ingot from Zakros, Crete, displayed at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum But the script used on the tablet is NOT Cypro-Minoan or Cretan or Minoan but Meluhha:


The shape of the pair of ingots on the boat (shown on the tablet) is comparable to following figures: 1. the ingot on which stands the Ingot-god (Enkomi); 2. Copper ingot from ZakrosCrete, displayed at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum But the script used on the tablet is NOT Cypro-Minoan or Cretan or Minoan but Meluhha: One side of a Mohenjo-daro prism tablet (Full decipherment of the three sided inscription is embedded). What was the cargo carried on the boat? I suggest that the cargo was Meluhha metalwork -- castings and hard copper alloy ingots. Together with the pair of aquatic birds, the metalwork is with hard alloys (of copper).

bagalo = an Arabian merchant vessel (Gujarati) bagala = an Arab boat of a particular description (Ka.); bagalā (M.); bagarige, bagarage = a kind of vessel (Kannada) Rebus: bangala = kumpaṭi = angāra śakaṭī = a chafing dish a portable stove a goldsmith’s portable furnace (Telugu) cf. bangaru bangaramu = gold  (Telugu)
karaṇḍa ‘duck’ (Sanskrit) karaṛa ‘a very large aquatic bird’ (Sindhi) Rebus: करडा [karaḍā] Hard from alloy--iron, silver &c. (Marathi)

Side A: kāru a wild crocodile or alligator (Telugu) ghariyal id. (Hindi)
kāru 'crocodile' (Telugu) கராம் karām, n. prob. grāha. 1. A species of alligator; முதலைவகை. முதலையு மிடங்கருங் கராமும் (குறிஞ்சிப். 257). 2. Male alligator; ஆண் முதலை. (திவா.) కారుమొసలి a wild crocodile or alligator. (Telugu) Rebus: kāru ‘artisan’ (Marathi) kāruvu 'artisan' (Telugu) khār 'blacksmith' (Kashmiri)
[fish = aya (G.); crocodile = kāru (Telugu)] Rebus: ayakāra ‘ironsmith’ (Pali) 

khār 1 खार् । लोहकारः m. (sg. abl. khāra 1 खार; the pl. dat. of this word is khāran 1 खारन्, which is to be distinguished from khāran 2, q.v., s.v.), a blacksmith, an iron worker (cf. bandūka-khār, p. 111b, l. 46; K.Pr. 46; H. xi, 17); a farrier (El.) 

Text 3246 (l., to r.) 

mēd ‘body’ (Kur.)(DEDR 5099); meḍ ‘iron’ (Ho.) karNika 'rim of jar' Rebus: karNI 'supercaro'

dula 'pair' Rebus: dul 'cast metal' Thus the the pair of ellipses with an inscripted 'notch' hieroglyph component: dul mūhā 'cast ingot. 

karNika 'rim of jar' Rebus: karNI 'supercargo'
kárṇa— m. ‘ear, handle of a vessel’ RV., ‘end, tip (?)’ RV. ii 34, 3. [Cf. *kāra—6] Pa. kaṇṇa— m. ‘ear, angle, tip’; Pk. kaṇṇa—, °aḍaya- m. ‘ear’, Gy. as. pal. eur. kan m., Ash. (Trumpp) karna NTS ii 261, Niṅg. kõmacr;, Woṭ. kanƏ, Tir. kana; Paš. kan, kaṇ(ḍ)— ‘orifice of ear’ IIFL iii 3, 93; Shum. kõmacr;ṛ ‘ear’, Woṭ. kan m., Kal. (LSI) kuṛõmacr;, rumb. kuŕũ, urt. kŕä̃ (< *kaṇ), Bshk. kan, Tor. k *l ṇ, Kand. kōṇi, Mai. kaṇa, ky. kān, Phal. kāṇ, Sh. gil. ko̯n pl. ko̯ṇí m. (→ Ḍ kon pl. k *l ṇa), koh. kuṇ, pales. kuāṇƏ, K. kan m., kash. pog. ḍoḍ. kann, S. kanu m., L. kann m., awāṇ. khet. kan, P. WPah. bhad. bhal. cam. kann m., Ku. gng. N. kān; A. kāṇ ‘ear, rim of vessel, edge of river’; B. kāṇ ‘ear’, Or. kāna, Mth. Bhoj. Aw. lakh. H. kān m., OMarw. kāna m., G. M. kān m., Ko. kānu m., Si. kaṇa, kana. — As adverb and postposition (ápi kárṇē ‘from behind’ RV., karṇē ‘aside’ Kālid.): Pa. kaṇṇē ‘at one's ear, in a whisper’; Wg. ken ‘to’ NTS ii 279; Tir. kõ; ‘on’ AO xii 181 with (?); Paš. kan ‘to’; K. kȧni with abl. ‘at, near, through’, kani with abl. or dat. ‘on’, kun with dat. ‘toward’; S. kani ‘near’, kanā̃ ‘from’; L. kan ‘toward’, kannũ ‘from’, kanne ‘with’, khet. kan, P. ḍog. kanē ‘with, near’; WPah. bhal. k *l ṇ, °ṇi, k e ṇ, °ṇi with obl. ‘with, near’, kiṇ, °ṇiā̃, k *l ṇiā̃, k e ṇ° with obl. ‘from’; Ku. kan ‘to, for’; N. kana ‘for, to, with’; H. kane, °ni, kan with ke ‘near’; OMarw. kanai ‘near’, kanā̃ sā ‘from near’, kā̃nı̄̃ ‘towards’; G. kan e ‘beside’. Addenda: kárṇa—: S.kcch. kann m. ‘ear’, WPah.kṭg. (kc.) kān, poet. kanṛu m. ‘ear’, kṭg. kanni f. ‘pounding—hole in barn floor’; J. kā'n m. ‘ear’, Garh. kān; Md. kan— in kan—fat ‘ear’ (CDIAL 2830)

aya 'fish' Rebus: aya 'iron' (Gujarati); ayas 'metal' (Rigveda)

kolom 'thre' Rebus: kolami 'smithy, forge'

kolami mūhā 'ingot (for)smithy,forge ingot'

Thus, the message of the text on the Mohenjo-daro prism tablet of a boat + crocodile + fish is: supercargo of kolami mūhā 'smithy,forge ingots' dul mūhā 'cast metal ingots'. The metal is sinified as ayas.

mẽṛhẽt, meḍ ‘iron’ (Mu.Ho.)
mūhā mẽṛhẽt = iron smelted by the Kolhes and formed into an equilateral lump a little pointed at each of four ends (Santali)
Maysar c.2200 BCE Packed copper ingots. The shape of the ingots is an 'equilateral lump a little pointed at each of four ends' -- like an ellipse or rhombus. See: 

See: http://nautarch.tamu.edu/pdf-files/JonesM-MA2007.pdf Michael Rice Jones' thesis of 2007 on the importance of Maysar for copper production.

An ingot may be signified by an ellipse or parenthesis of a rhombus. It may also be signified by an allograph: human face.

Hieroglyph: mũhe ‘face’ (Santali) mũhã̄ = the quantity of iron produced at one time in a native smelting furnace of the Kolhes; iron produced by the Kolhes and formed like a four-cornered piece a little pointed at each end; kolhe tehen me~ṛhe~t mūhā akata = the Kolhes have to-day produced pig iron(Santali) Rebus: mūhā 'ingot'; Compound formation: mleccha-mukha (Skt.) = milakkhu ‘copper’ (Pali)

Santali glosses
Wilhelm von Hevesy wrote about the Finno-Ugric-Munda kinship, like "Munda-Magyar-Maori, an Indian link between the antipodes new tracks of Hungarian origins" and "Finnisch-Ugrisches aus Indien". (DRIEM, George van: Languages of the Himalayas: an ethnolinguistic handbook. 1997. p.161-162.) Sumerian-Ural-Altaic language affinities have been noted. Given the presence of Meluhha settlements in Sumer, some Meluhha glosses might have been adapted in these languages. One etyma cluster refers to 'iron' exemplified by meD (Ho.). The alternative suggestion for the origin of the gloss med 'copper' in Uralic languages may be explained by the word meD (Ho.) of Munda family of Meluhha language stream:

Sa. <i>mE~R~hE~'d</i> `iron'.  ! <i>mE~RhE~d</i>(M).
Ma. <i>mErhE'd</i> `iron'.
Mu. <i>mERE'd</i> `iron'.
  ~ <i>mE~R~E~'d</i> `iron'.  ! <i>mENhEd</i>(M).
Ho <i>meD</i> `iron'.
Bj. <i>merhd</i>(Hunter) `iron'.
KW <i>mENhEd</i>
@(V168,M080)

— Slavic glosses for 'copper'
Мед [Med]Bulgarian
Bakar Bosnian
Медзь [medz']Belarusian
Měď Czech
Bakar Croatian
KòperKashubian
Бакар [Bakar]Macedonian
Miedź Polish
Медь [Med']Russian
Meď Slovak
BakerSlovenian
Бакар [Bakar]Serbian
Мідь [mid'] Ukrainian[unquote]
Miedź, med' (Northern Slavic, Altaic) 'copper'.  

One suggestion is that corruptions from the German "Schmied", "Geschmeide" = jewelry. Schmied, a smith (of tin, gold, silver, or other metal)(German) result in med ‘copper’.

A lexicon suggests the semantics of Panini's compound अयस्--काण्ड [p= 85,1]  m. n. " a quantity of iron " or " excellent iron " , (g. कस्का*दि q.v.)( Pa1n2. 8-3 , 48)(Monier-Williams).


From the example of a compound gloss in Santali, I suggest that the suffix -kANDa in Samskritam should have referred to 'implements'. Indus Script hieroglyphs as hypertext components to signify kANDa 'implements' are: kANTa, 'overflowing water' kANDa, 'arrow' gaNDa, 'four short circumscript strokes''rhonoceros'.

Hieroglyph: gaṇḍá4 m. ʻ rhinoceros ʼ lex., °aka -- m. lex. 2. *ga- yaṇḍa -- . [Prob. of same non -- Aryan origin as khaḍgá -- 1: cf. gaṇōtsāha -- m. lex. as a Sanskritized form ← Mu. PMWS 138]1. Pa. gaṇḍaka -- m., Pk. gaṁḍaya -- m., A. gãr, Or. gaṇḍā.2. K. gö̃ḍ m.,S. geṇḍo m. (lw. with g -- ), P. gaĩḍā m., °ḍī f., N. gaĩṛo, H. gaĩṛā m., G. gẽḍɔ m., °ḍī f., M. gẽḍā m.Addenda: gaṇḍa -- 4. 2. *gayaṇḍa -- : WPah.kṭg. geṇḍɔ mirg m. ʻ rhinoceros ʼ, Md. genḍā ← (CDIAL 4000) காண்டாமிருகம் kāṇṭā-mirukam , n. [M. kāṇṭāmṛgam.] Rhinoceros; 
கல்யானை. খাঁড়া (p. 0277) [ khān̐ḍ়ā ] n a large falchion used in immolat ing beasts; a large falchion; a scimitar; the horny appendage on the nose of the rhinoceros.গণ্ডক (p. 0293) [ gaṇḍaka ] n the rhinoceros; an obstacle; a unit of counting in fours; a river of that name.গন্ডার (p. 0296) [ ganḍāra ] n the rhinoceros.(Bengali. Samsad-Bengali-English Dictionary) गेंडा [ gēṇḍā ] m ( H) A rhinoceros. (Marathi)

Rebus: H.gaṇḍaka m. ʻ a coin worth four cowries ʼ lex., ʻ method of counting by fours ʼ W. [← Mu. Przyluski RoczOrj iv 234]S. g̠aṇḍho m. ʻ four in counting ʼ; P. gaṇḍā m. ʻ four cowries ʼ; B. Or. H. gaṇḍā m. ʻ a group of four, four cowries ʼ; M. gaṇḍā m. ʻ aggregate of four cowries or pice ʼ.Addenda: gaṇḍaka -- . -- With *du -- 2: OP. dugāṇā m. ʻ coin worth eight cowries ʼ.(CDIAL 4001)

Rebus: *gaṇḍāsi ʻ sugarcane knife ʼ. [gaṇḍa -- 2, así -- ]Bi. gãṛās°sā ʻ fodder cutter ʼ, °sī ʻ its blade ʼ; Bhoj. gãṛās ʻ a partic. iron instrument ʼ; H. gãṛāsī f., °sā m. ʻ knife for cutting fodder or sugarcane ʼ (→ P. gãḍāsā m. ʻ chopper for cutting fodder &c. ʼ).(CDIAL 4004) gaṇḍa2 m. ʻ joint of plant ʼ lex., gaṇḍi -- m. ʻ trunk of tree from root to branches ʼ lex. 2. *gēṇḍa -- . 3. *gēḍḍa -- 2. 4. *gēḍa -- 1. [Cf. kāˊṇḍa -- : prob. ← Drav. DED 1619]
1. Pa. gaṇḍa -- m. ʻ stalk ʼ, °ḍī -- f. ʻ sugarcane joint, shaft or stalk used as a bar ʼ, Pk. gaṁḍa -- m., °ḍiyā -- f.; Kt. gäṇa ʻ stem ʼ; Paš. lauṛ. gaṇḍīˊ ʻ stem, stump of a tree, large roof beam ʼ (→ Par. gaṇḍāˊ ʻ stem ʼ, Orm. goṇ ʻ stick ʼ IIFL i 253, 395), gul. geṇḍū, nir. gaṇīˊ, kuṛ. gã̄ṛo; Kal. urt. gəṇ ʻ log (in a wall) ʼ, rumb. goṇ (st.gōṇḍ -- ) ʻ handle ʼ, guṇḍík ʻ stick ʼ; Kho. (Lor.) gongonu, (Morgenstierne) gɔ̄ˋn ʻ haft of axe, spade or knife ʼ (or < ghaná -- 2?); K. gonḍugrọ̆nḍu m. ʻ great untrimmed log ʼ; S. ganu m.ʻ oar, haft of a tool ʼ, °no m. ʻ sweet stalks of millet ʼ; P. gannā m. ʻ sugarcane ʼ (→ H. gannā m.), Bi. gaṇḍā, H. gã̄ṛā m., M. gã̄ḍā m. -- Deriv. Pk. gaṁḍīrī -- f. ʻ sugarcane joint ʼ; Bhoj. gãṛērī ʻ small pieces of sugarcane ʼ; H. gãḍerī f. ʻ knot of sugarcane ʼ; G. gãḍerī f. ʻ piece of peeled sugarcane ʼ; -- Pk. gaṁḍalī -- ʻ sugarcane joint ʼ; Kal. rumb. gaṇḍau (st. °ḍāl -- ) ʻ ancestor image ʼ; S. g̠anaru m. ʻ stock of a vegetable run to seed ʼ.2. Ku. gino ʻ block, log ʼ; N. gĩṛ ʻ log ʼ, gĩṛo ʻ piece of sugarcane ʼ (whence gẽṛnugĩṛ° ʻ to cut in pieces ʼ); B. gẽṛ ʻ tuber ʼ; Mth. gẽṛī ʻ piece of sugarcane chopped ready for the mill ʼ.3. Pk. geḍḍī -- , giḍḍiā -- f. ʻ stick ʼ; P. geḍī f. ʻ stick used in a game ʼ, H. geṛī f. (or < 4).4. N. girgirrā ʻ stick, esp. one used in a game ʼ, H. gerī f., geṛī f. (or < 3), G. geṛī f.*gaṇḍāsi -- ; *agragaṇḍa -- , *prāgragaṇḍa -- .Addenda: gaṇḍa -- 2: S.kcch. gann m. ʻ handle ʼ; -- WPah.kṭg. gannɔ m. ʻ sugar -- cane ʼ; Md. gan̆ḍu ʻ piece, page, playing -- card ʼ.(CDIAL 3998)


Rebus: kāˊṇḍa (kāṇḍá -- TS.) m.n. ʻ single joint of a plant ʼ AV., ʻ arrow ʼ MBh., ʻ cluster, heap ʼ (in tr̥ṇa -- kāṇḍa -- Pāṇ. Kāś.). Pa. kaṇḍa -- m.n. ʻ joint of stalk, stalk, arrow, lump ʼ; Pk. kaṁḍa -- , °aya -- m.n. ʻ knot of bough, bough, stick ʼ; Ash. kaṇ ʻ arrow ʼ, Kt. kåṇ, Wg. kāṇ,, Pr.kə̃, Dm. kā̆n; Paš. lauṛ. kāṇḍkāṇ, ar. kōṇ, kuṛ. kō̃, dar. kã̄ṛ ʻ arrow ʼ, kã̄ṛī ʻ torch ʼ; Shum. kō̃ṛkō̃ ʻ arrow ʼ, Gaw. kāṇḍkāṇ; Bshk. kāˋ'nʻ arrow ʼ, Tor. kan m., Sv. kã̄ṛa, Phal. kōṇ, Sh. gil. kōn f. (→ Ḍ. kōn, pl. kāna f.), pales. kōṇ; K. kã̄ḍ m. ʻ stalk of a reed, straw ʼ (kān m. ʻ arrow ʼ ← Sh.?); S. kānu m. ʻ arrow ʼ, °no m. ʻ reed ʼ, °nī f. ʻ topmost joint of the reed Sara, reed pen, stalk, straw, porcupine's quill ʼ; L. kānã̄ m. ʻ stalk of the reed Sara ʼ, °nī˜ f. ʻ pen, small spear ʼ; P. kānnā m. ʻ the reed Saccharum munja, reed in a weaver's warp ʼ, kānī f. ʻ arrow ʼ; WPah. bhal. kān n. ʻ arrow ʼ, jaun. kã̄ḍ; N. kã̄ṛ ʻ arrow ʼ, °ṛo ʻ rafter ʼ; A. kã̄r ʻ arrow ʼ; B. kã̄ṛ ʻ arrow ʼ, °ṛā ʻ oil vessel made of bamboo joint, needle of bamboo for netting ʼ, kẽṛiyā ʻ wooden or earthen vessel for oil &c. ʼ; Or. kāṇḍakã̄ṛ ʻ stalk, arrow ʼ; Bi. kã̄ṛā ʻ stem of muñja grass (used for thatching) ʼ; Mth. kã̄ṛ ʻ stack of stalks of large millet ʼ, kã̄ṛī ʻ wooden milkpail ʼ; Bhoj. kaṇḍā ʻ reeds ʼ; H. kã̄ṛī f. ʻ rafter, yoke ʼ, kaṇḍā m. ʻ reed, bush ʼ (← EP.?); G. kã̄ḍ m. ʻ joint, bough, arrow ʼ, °ḍũ n. ʻ wrist ʼ, °ḍī f. ʻ joint, bough, arrow, lucifer match ʼ; M. kã̄ḍ n. ʻ trunk, stem ʼ, °ḍẽ n. ʻ joint, knot, stem, straw ʼ, °ḍī f. ʻ joint of sugarcane, shoot of root (of ginger, &c.) ʼ; Si. kaḍaya ʻ arrow ʼ. -- Deriv. A. kāriyāiba ʻ to shoot with an arrow ʼ.kāˊṇḍīra -- ; *kāṇḍakara -- , *kāṇḍārā -- ; *dēhīkāṇḍa -- Add.Addenda: kāˊṇḍa -- [< IE. *kondo -- , Gk. kondu/los ʻ knuckle ʼ, ko/ndos ʻ ankle ʼ T. Burrow BSOAS xxxviii 55]S.kcch. kāṇḍī f. ʻ lucifer match ʼ?kāṇḍakara 3024 *kāṇḍakara ʻ worker with reeds or arrows ʼ. [kāˊṇḍa -- , kará -- 1]L. kanērā m. ʻ mat -- maker ʼ; H. kãḍerā m. ʻ a caste of bow -- and arrow -- makers ʼ.*kāṇḍārā ʻ bamboo -- goad ʼ. [kāˊṇḍa -- , āˊrā -- ]Mth. (ETirhut) kanār ʻ bamboo -- goad for young elephants ʼ kāˊṇḍīra ʻ armed with arrows ʼ Pāṇ., m. ʻ archer ʼ lex. [kāˊṇḍa -]H. kanīrā m. ʻ a caste (usu. of arrow -- makers) ʼ.(CDIAL 3024-3026)

An insight in the orthography of Indus Script hieroglyphs is the matching of orthographic components with the semantics of the message in Meluhha (Prakritam).

A unique example is the deployment of an ellipse (also as a rhombus or parenthesis) to signify the semantics of mūhā '(metal) ingot'. An allograph also signifies the semantics: mũhe ‘face’.

Semantics: mūhā mẽṛhẽt 'iron smelted by the Kolhes and formed into an equilateral lump a little pointed at each of four ends.' Matching orthography of a rhombus or ellipse: 

A Rakhigarhi seal presents an alternative orthographic representation of the 'split ellipse': 

((

That this innovation signifies rebus kaNDa 'arrow' is reinforced by the phonetic determinant of 'arrow' used in the hieroglyph-multiplex, resulting in the new 'sign' shown below:

On this hieroglyph-multiplex, one parenthesis is FLIPPED  to create a new circumgraph of two orthographic components: 
 Right parenthesis

( Left parenthesis

Note: The splitting of the ellipse 'ingot' into Right and Left parethesis and flipping the left parenthesis (as a mirror image) may be an intention to denote cire perdue casting method used to produce the metal swords and implements.

An alternative hieroglyph is a rhombus or ellipse (created by merging the two forms: parnthesis PLUS fipped parenthesis) to signify an 'ingot': mũhã̄ = the quantity of iron produced at one time in a native smelting furnace of the Kolhes; iron produced by the Kolhes and formed like a four-cornered piece a little pointed at each end (Munda).

This circumgraph of right-curving and left-curving parentheses encloses an 'arrow' hieroglyph PLUS a 'notch'. 

Hieroglyph: kANDa 'arrow' Rebus: kaṇḍ 'fire-altar' (Santali) kāṇḍa 'tools, pots and pans and weapons' (Marathi)

This gloss is consistent with the Santali glosses including the word khanDa:

Hieroglyph: खााडा [ kāṇḍā ] m A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon) (Marathi) Rebus: kāṇḍa 'tools, pots and pans and metal-ware' (Marathi)

What the hieroglyph-multiplex seeks to convey is that the seal as a metalwork catalogue documents the process of making kāṇḍa 'metal implements' from the fire-altar kaND signified by the arrow AND circumfix of split parentheses with one parenthesis presented as a unique flipped configuration. Thus the hieroglyph-multiplex is an orthographic reinforcement of the two other hieroglyphs signified on the Rakhigarhi seal; the two other hieroglyphs are: kANDa 'rhinoceros'; kANDa 'arrow'. Thus, all the three signifiers on the Indus Script inscription of Rakhigarhi seal are a proclamation of the production of metal implements (from ingots). There is also a Meluhha (Prakritam) gloss khaṁḍa which means 'a sword'. It is possible that the concluding sign on the inscription read from left to right signifies 'sword'.

Thus, the Rakhigarhi seal inscription can be read in Prkritam:  khaṁḍa 'sword' PLUS खााडा [ kāṇḍā ] 'metal implements', more specifically, recorded as a Santali compound expression:

*khaṇḍaka3 ʻ sword ʼ. [Perh. of same non -- Aryan origin as khaḍgá -- 2]
Pk. khaṁḍa -- m. ʻ sword ʼ (→ Tam. kaṇṭam), Gy. SEeur. xai̦o, eur. xanroxarnoxanlo, wel. xenlī f., S. khano m., P. khaṇḍā m., Ku. gng. khã̄ṛ, N. khã̄ṛokhũṛo (Xchuri < kṣurá -- ); A. khāṇḍā ʻ heavy knife ʼ; B. khã̄rā ʻ large sacrificial knife ʼ; Or. khaṇḍā ʻ sword ʼ, H. khã̄ṛā, G. khã̄ḍũ n., M. khã̄ḍā m., Si. kaḍuva.(CDIAL 3793).
Figure 4: (A) Seal RGR 7230 from Rakhigarhi. (B) The side of the seal where surface has partially worn away revealing the black steatite beneath. (C) A swan black steatite debris fragment from Harappa.


An ingot may be signified by an ellipse or parenthesis of a rhombus. It may also be signified by an allograph: human face.

Hieroglyph: mũhe ‘face’ (Santali) mũhã̄ = the quantity of iron produced at one time in a native smelting furnace of the Kolhes; iron produced by the Kolhes and formed like a four-cornered piece a little pointed at each end; kolhe tehen me~ṛhe~t mūhā akata = the Kolhes have to-day produced pig iron (Santali) Rebus: mūhā 'ingot'; Compound formation: mleccha-mukha (Skt.) = milakkhu ‘copper’ (Pali)

See:Previous report http://asi.nic.in/pdf_data/rakhigarhi_excavation_report_new.pdf Excavations at Rakhigarhi 1997 to 2000 (Dr. Amarendranath)

Rakhigarhi seal with the carving of a tiger is reported by Prof. Shinde of Deccan College.

Here is a decipherment using the rebus-metonymy layered Indus Scipt cipher in Meluhha language of Indian  sprachbund (language union):kul ‘tiger’ (Santali); kōlu id. (Telugu) kōlupuli = Bengal tiger (Telugu) 

कोल्हा [ kōlhā ] कोल्हें  [kōlhēṃ] A jackal (Marathi) 

Rebus: kol, kolhe, ‘the koles, iron smelters speaking a language akin to that 

of Santals’ (Santali) kol ‘working in iron’ (Tamil)



 I suggest that the language spoken by the Sarasvati's children was Meluhha 

(Mleccha), a spoken, vernacular version of Vedic chandas. This may also be 

called Proto-Prakritam, not unlike Ardhamaadhi identified by Jules Bloch in 

his work: Formation of Marathi Language.
A three-centimetre seal with the Harappan script. It has no engraving of any animal motif.
Source: http://www.frontline.in/arts-and-culture/heritage/harappan-surprises/article6032206.ece

See:

http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2015/05/what-did-harappans-eat-how-did-they.html

http://asi.nic.in/pdf_data/rakhigarhi_excavation_report_new.pdf



kuire bica duljad.ko talkena, they were feeding the furnace with ore. In this Santali sentence bica denotes the hematite ore. For example, samobica,  'stones containing gold' (Mundari) meṛed-bica 'iron stone-ore' ; bali-bica, iron sand ore (Munda). mẽṛhẽt, meḍ ‘iron’(Munda. Ho.)

Meluhha rebus representations are: bica ‘scorpion’ bica ‘stone ore’ (hematite).

pola (magnetite), gota (laterite), bichi (hematite). kuṇṭha munda (loha) a type of hard native metal, ferrous oxide. 

See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2013/06/asur-metallurgists.html
See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2014/09/catalogs-of-pola-kuntha-gota-bichi.html#!  Hieroglyph: pōḷī, ‘dewlap' पोळ [ pōḷa ] m A bull dedicated to the gods, marked with a trident and discus, and set at large (Marathi) Rebus: pola (magnetite)


ḍaṅgra 'bull' Rebus: ḍāṅgar, ḍhaṅgar ‘blacksmith’ (Hindi). 
. See:http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.com/2013/06/asur-metallurgists.html  Magnetite a type of iron ore is called POLA by the Asur (Meluhha).

Reading the Indus writing inscriptions on both sides of bun-shaped lead ingots of Rakhigarhi

The Indus writing inscriptions relate to cataloging of metalwork as elaborated by the following rebus-metonymy cipher and readings in Meluhha (Indian sprachbund):

Hieroglyphs (from l.): body, linear stroke, notch, corner, U plus notch, rim of jar

meD 'body' kATi 'body stature' Rebus: meD 'iron' kATi 'fireplace trench'. Thus, iron smelter.

koDa 'one' Rebus: koD 'workshop'

खांडा [ khāṇḍā ] m  A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon). (Marathi) Rebus: khāṇḍā ‘tools, pots and pans, metal-ware’.

kanac 'corner' Rebus: kancu 'bronze'
baTa 'rimless pot' Rebus: baTa 'furance'
kanka, karNika 'rim of jar' Rebus: karNi 'supercargo'; karNika 'account'.

Hieroglyphs: rhombus (as circumgraph) + spoked wheel PLUS a pair of 'bodies' (twins)



dula 'pair' Rebus: dul 'cast metal'; meD 'body' kATi 'body stature' Rebus: meD 'iron' kATi 'fireplace trench'. Thus, iron smelter.

A spoked wheel is ligatured within a rhombus: kanac 'corner' Rebus: kancu 'bronze'; eraka 'nave of wheel' Rebus: eraka 'copper, moltencast'
Figure 14: Side (A) and top (B) views of a lead ingot inscribed with Harappan characters. Detailed images of the top (C) and bottom (D) inscriptions.





Figure 1: Steatite sources of the Greater Indus region and Harappan steatite trade networks.










Figure 6: (A) Unicorn seal fragment #6304. (B) Detail of the grayish-green steatite of the seal's interior


Figure 9: Agate-carnelian nodule fragments and flakes from Rakhigarhi





Figure 18: Lead and silver artifacts from Rakhigarhi compared to South Asian lead and lead-silver sources.


Figure 29: Saddle quern (left) and fragment (right) composed of a deep red sandstone of unknown origin.
Figure 30: Hematite cobbles/nodules of unknown origin. Geologic provenience studies of Rakhigarh's stone and metal artifact assemblage are ongoing or in the planning stages.


Figure 31: Rakhigarhi grindingstone acquisition networks



Figure 32: Rakhigarhi stone and metal sources and acquisition networks identified in this study. Potential, but as of yet unconfirmed, copper, gold and chert source areas are also indicated.


http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2015/11/indus-script-dhatu-scarf-on-rhinoceros.html

 

Mirror: http://tinyurl.com/q959btx
Rakhigarhi seal. See for decipherment of hieroglyph-multiplexes : http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2015/11/rakhigarhi-seal-evidence-for.html This monograph discussed the decipherment of the inscription as a metalwork catalogue of swords, ingots and metal implements. This seal also shows a scarf on the neck of the rhinoceros or boar. This hieroglyph is read as:  mirhhẽ ʻboarʼrebus: merhd 'iron ore'.

kāṇṭāmṛgam is a Malayalam gloss which reinforces the 'rhinoceros' as a -mṛgam 'wild animal'. It is possible that the hieroglyph shown on the Rakhigarhi was read as: kāṇṭāmṛga.


The hieroglyph-multiplexes on the seal are depicted with such orthographic precision to render the semantics describing the products: ingots, swords, metal implements.


Hence, the proclamation on the inscription may be seen as a description of swords, weapons, metal implements made of hard alloy metal.


Hieroglyph: dhaṭu 'scarf': *dhaṭa2dhaṭī -- f. ʻ old cloth, loincloth ʼ lex. [Drav., Kan. daṭṭi ʻ waistband ʼ etc., DED 2465]Ku. dhaṛo ʻ piece of cloth ʼ, N. dharo, B. dhaṛā; Or. dhaṛā ʻ rag, loincloth ʼ, dhaṛi ʻ rag ʼ; Mth. dhariā ʻ child's narrow loincloth ʼ.*dhaṭavastra -- .Addenda: *dhaṭa -- 2. 2. †*dhaṭṭa -- : WPah.kṭg. dhàṭṭu m. ʻ woman's headgear, kerchief ʼ, kc. dhaṭu m. (also dhaṭhu m. ʻ scarf ʼ, J. dhāṭ(h)u m. Him.I 105).(CDIAL 6707)

Rebus: dhatu 'ore (esp. of red colour); dhatu = mineral (Santali): dhāˊtu n. ʻ substance ʼ RV., m. ʻ element ʼ MBh., ʻ metal, mineral, ore (esp. of a red colour) ʼ Mn., ʻ ashes of the dead ʼ lex., ʻ *strand of rope ʼ (cf.tridhāˊtu -- ʻ threefold ʼ RV., ayugdhātu -- ʻ having an uneven number of strands ʼ KātyŚr.). [√dhā]Pa. dhātu -- m. ʻ element, ashes of the dead, relic ʼ; KharI. dhatu ʻ relic ʼ; Pk. dhāu -- m. ʻ metal, red chalk ʼ; N. dhāu ʻ ore (esp. of copper) ʼ; Or. ḍhāu ʻ red chalk, red ochre ʼ (whence ḍhāuā ʻ reddish ʼ; M. dhāūdhāv m.f. ʻ a partic. soft red stone ʼ (whence dhā̆vaḍ m. ʻ a caste of iron -- smelters ʼ, dhāvḍī ʻ composed of or relating to iron ʼ); -- Si.  ʻ relic ʼ; -- S. dhāī f. ʻ wisp of fibres added from time to time to a rope that is being twisted ʼ, L. dhāī˜ f.(CDIAL 6773)

In this decipherment, an important hieroglyph-component was missed out. It relates to the 'scarf' shown on the neck of the rhinoceros.

Santali glosses.


Origin of the gloss med 'copper' in Uralic languages may be explained by the word meD (Ho.) of Munda family of Meluhha language stream:

Sa. <i>mE~R~hE~'d</i> `iron'.  ! <i>mE~RhE~d</i>(M).

Ma. <i>mErhE'd</i> `iron'.

Mu. <i>mERE'd</i> `iron'.

  ~ <i>mE~R~E~'d</i> `iron'.  ! <i>mENhEd</i>(M).

Ho <i>meD</i> `iron'.

Bj. <i>merhd</i>(Hunter) `iron'.

KW <i>mENhEd</i>

@(V168,M080)


— Slavic glosses for 'copper'

Мед [Med]Bulgarian

Bakar Bosnian

Медзь [medz']Belarusian

Měď Czech

Bakar Croatian

KòperKashubian

Бакар [Bakar]Macedonian

Miedź Polish

Медь [Med']Russian

Meď Slovak

BakerSlovenian

Бакар [Bakar]Serbian

Мідь [mid'] Ukrainian[unquote]


Miedź, med' (Northern Slavic, Altaic) 'copper'.  

One suggestion is that corruptions from the German "Schmied", "Geschmeide" = jewelry. Schmied, a smith (of tin, gold, silver, or other metal)(German) result in med ‘copper’.

L. mirhõ°hũ, pl. °hẽ m. ʻ boar ʼ (mirhõ ʻ ravine deer ʼ for *mirũ < *mr̥garūpa -- ?).mr̥gá -- usu. is ʻ markhor ʼ in Dard. AO viii 306.Wg. mreč ʻ ibex ʼ


مته matœh, s.m. (6th) A wild boar. Sing. and Pl.See سډر and سرکوزي(Pashto) 

10271 *mr̥gasūkara ʻ wild boar ʼ. [mr̥gá -- , sūkará -- ]L. mirhõ°hũ, pl. °hẽ m. ʻ boar ʼ (mirhõ ʻ ravine deer ʼ for *mirũ < *mr̥garūpa -- ?).10272 *mr̥gahana2 ʻ act of hunting ʼ. [mr̥gá -- , hana -- ]Kal.rumb. mrū̃*ln ʻ shooting, hunting ʼ.10273 *mr̥gahanakamr̥gahan(a) -- m. ʻ hunter ʼ MBh. [mr̥gá -- , hana -- ]Tor. mīṅg ʻ leopard ʼ (rather than < mr̥gá -- ); S. muhāṇo m. ʻ one of a class of fishermen and boatmen ʼ, L. mohāṇā m., °ṇī f.10274 *mr̥gākāra ʻ shaped like a deer ʼ. [mr̥gá -- , ākāra -- ]Sh.pales. mayāˊro m. ʻ oorial ʼ, koh. mãyāˊro m. ʻ deer ʼ, gil. (Lor.) maiāro ʻ wild animal of goat or sheep type (including markhor, ibex and oorial) ʼ. -- Or < *mr̥gatara -- ʻ animal like a deer ʼ, for formation cf. aśvatará -- ʻ mule ʼ.10270 *mr̥garūpa ʻ animal ʼ. [mr̥gá -- , rūˊpa -- ]S. mirū̃ m. ʻ wild animal ʼ.mr̥gáśiras -- n. ʻ 3rd or 5th lunar mansion ʼ AV. [mr̥gá -- , śíras -- ]10264 mr̥gá m. ʻ wild animal, deer ʼ RV. 2. mr̥gī -- f. ʻ doe ʼ R. 3. *mr̥gā -- .1. Pa. maga -- , miga -- m. ʻ deer ʼ, Aś.shah. mruga -- , man. mriga -- , kāl. miga -- , gir. maga -- , NiDoc. mr̥ga, Dhp. mruya -- , muya -- , Pk. mia -- , maya -- m.; Tor. mīṅg ʻ leopard ʼ (but mr̥gá -- usu. is ʻ markhor ʼ in Dard. AO viii 306. -- Poss. < *mr̥gahanaka -- ); Phal. mriṅga -- čhōl ʻ markhor kid ʼ; Sh. brĭṅ m. ʻ bird ʼ NTS ii 269; WPah. bhal. mig, pl. miggã̄ n. ʻ wild goat ʼ (< *mirga -- < mr̥gá -- ?); Si. muvā, obl. pl. muvan ʻ deer ʼ, miyulā EGS 134.2. Pa. migī -- f. ʻ doe ʼ, Pk. migī -- , maī -- f.; Paš.kch.  f. ʻ mountain goat ʼ, ar. bleaṭo ʻ ibex or markhor ʼ.3. Kal.rumb. mū̃ru ʻ female ibex ʼ; Kho. múru f. ʻ mountain goat ʼ.10265 *mr̥gacī ʻ small animal, bird ʼ. [mr̥gá -- ]Ash. niṅasäˊ ʻ bird, sparrow ʼ NTS ii 269, Wg. nĩgaċá, Kt. mŕəṅéċ (→ Wkh. miṅgás IIFL ii 529), Pr. nĩj̈e; -- Wg. mreč ʻ ibex ʼ, Pr. murčū NTS xvii 278.10267 *mr̥gadr̥ti ʻ deer -- skin ʼ. [mr̥gá -- , dŕ̊ti -- ]Kho. muriri ʻ ibex skin ʼ.(CDIAL)


See: காண்டாமிருகம் kāṇṭā-mirukam , n. [M. kāṇṭāmṛgam.] Rhinoceros; 

கல்யானை. The suffix -mṛga is cognate with mirhhẽ ʻboarʼ rebus:  merhd 'iron ore',metallic (red) ore.

Chola dynasty, around AD 900. British Museum Asia OA 1955.10-18.1 Ht. 138 cm.  "The iconography is explained by a narrative of competition for status among the gods. Brahma and Vishnu were arguing over who was the most powerful, when a huge shaft of fire appeared between them, that appeared to have no top or bottom. They went to investigate. Vishnu in his boar incarnation dug down into the earth, seen at the base of the sculpture. Meanwhile, Brahma flew into the sky on his vehicle, the Hamsa bird, seen at the top. When neither could find either top or bottom they realized that the column of fire was more powerful than either of them. Its identity was revealed to them when Siva appeared out of the shaft, and they bowed down to Siva as the most powerful deity. Siva stands in an oval of flames wearing a tall crown and holding his distinctive attributes, the deer and axe. This image combines the aniconic form of Siva as a linga with the human image of the god with multiple arms, such as Nataraja or Dakshinamurti. Images of Lingodbhava are popular in Tamil Nadu and Shaiva temples normally have an image of this deity on the exterior of the rear or west wall of the main sanctum."


Dallas Museum of Art
VISHNU AS VARAHADATE 10TH CENTURY DEPARTMENT Asian DIMENSIONS OVERALL: 56 X 26 X 10 1/4 IN. (142.24 X 66.04 X 26.04 CM) MEDIUM  Sandstone  HTTPS://WWW.DMA.ORG/COLLECTION/ARTWORK/ASIAN/VISHNU-VARAHA
See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2011/07/varaha.html 

 
See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2015/11/cosmic-dancer-indus-script-cipher-metal.html

http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.com.ar/2015/09/indus-script-cipher-and.html
The chronology of Hindu tradition from the days of Atharva Veda is that iconic form of Mahesvara Siva emerges out of the aniconic Skambha (linga) or pillar of light and fire. What we find in the seven Sivalingas of Harappa is the aniconic form. Sivalinga appeared as a flame. Brahma, as hamsa, searches for the end in the heavens. Vishnu, as Varaha, searches for the beginning in the bowels of the earth. This Lingodbhava narrative is in many Puranas. 

Appar, Shaiva saint of the 7th century, provides a similar narrative for this Lingodbhava. Tirugnana Sambandar refers to Brahma and Vishnu who set out on a search and comprehend Siva as the nature of light. 

I submit that the most abiding form of worship is that which is displayed architecurally in Amaravati where Naga venerate the Skambha, the fiery pillar of light with the adornment of Srivatsa as the capital. The Srivatsa is a Indus Script hieroglyph of a pair of fish-tails: dula 'pair' Rebus: dul 'cast metal'  Kur. xolā tailMalt. qoli id. (DEDR 2135) The hooded snake which adorns as headgear is also read rebus: kula 'hooded snake' M. khoḷ f. ʻ hooded cloak ʼ(CDIAL 3942) A. kulā ʻ winnowing fan, hood of a snake ʼ(CDIAL 3350) Rebus: kol 'working in iron' kolle 'blacksmith' kolhe 'smelters'. 
Naga worshippers of fiery pillar, Amaravati stup  Smithy is the temple of Bronze Age: stambha, thãbharā fiery pillar of light, Sivalinga. Rebus-metonymy layered Indus script cipher signifies: tamba, tã̄bṛā, tambira 'copper' 
Railing crossbar with monks worshiping a fiery pillar, a symbol of the Buddha, , Great Stupa of Amaravati

http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2015/05/smithy-is-temple-of-bronze-age-stambha_14.html
Railing crossbar with monks worshiping a fiery pillar, a symbol of the Buddha,



Varaha, sandstone, Sanchi

Varaha, Udayagiri

Varaha

Gupta, Early 5th century AD 
Cave 5, Udayagiri, Madhya Pradesh, India.This large (4m, or 13 feet, high) relief sculpture is one of the icons of Indian art. It is carved into a shallow niche and protected by an overhang, but is otherwise open to the outside, where there was originally a water tank.

The relief depicts Varaha, the boar incarnation of Vishnu, rescuing the Earth Goddess (Bhu Devi, also called Prithvi) from the engulfing Ocean. Varaha lifts Bhu Devi on his massive shoulder, his foot subduing a naga who folds his hands in submission and adoration, while gods and sages surround Varaha in recognition of the miracle. A circular lotus flower appears above the god's head.

Technically this image is called a nara-varaha, or man-boar, since it has a man's body and a boar's head. The relief may have a political meaning in addition to the mythological one; it is said to be an allegory of the unification of India under Chandragupta II.







Khajuraho, świątynia Varaha (trzecie wcielenie boga Vishnu jako dzika).

Varaha Temple (the 3rd incarnation of Vishnu as boar).


Varaha

Gupta, Early 5th century AD 
Cave 5, Udayagiri, Madhya Pradesh, India.
This large (4m, or 13 feet, high) relief sculpture is one of the icons of Indian art. It is carved into a shallow niche and protected by an overhang, but is otherwise open to the outside, where there was originally a water tank.

The relief depicts Varaha, the boar incarnation of Vishnu, rescuing the Earth Goddess (Bhu Devi, also called Prithvi) from the engulfing Ocean. Varaha lifts Bhu Devi on his massive shoulder, his foot subduing a naga who folds his hands in submission and adoration, while gods and sages surround Varaha in recognition of the miracle. A circular lotus flower appears above the god's head.

Technically this image is called a nara-varaha, or man-boar, since it has a man's body and a boar's head. The relief may have a political meaning in addition to the mythological one; it is said to be an allegory of the unification of India under Chandragupta II.

Varaha

Gupta, Early 5th century AD 
Cave 5, Udayagiri, Madhya Pradesh, India.

One of the many excellences of this relief is its appealing combination of power and tenderness. Varaha's massive body subdues the naga without crushing it, and uplifts the Earth goddess who affectionately clings to his muzzle.

The figure on a lotus pedestal, at the left side of the photo beside Varaha's leg, holds the stem of the lotus that appears above Varaha's head. Bhu Devi also is supported by a lotus plant.


Sculpture of Varaha from Khajuraho

Varaha Mandapam Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu, India


VISHNU VARAHA SAVING THE GODDESS EARTH FROM THE FLOOD, MANDAPA OF VARAHA 7TH CENTURY, MAMALLAPURAM, TAMIL NADU, INDIA



Lord Varaha and Bhu devi
Udaygiri Caves, Madhya Pradesh, Gupta period

The Sampradaya Sun - Independent Vaisnava News - Feature Stories - February 2009: "Feb 05, CANADA (SUN) — February 6th is the auspicious Appearance Day of Lord Varaha, the Boar incarnation.

O Kesava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, 
who have assumed the form of a boar! All 
glories to You! The earth, which had become 
merged in the Garbhodaka Ocean at the 
bottom of the universe, sits fixed upon the tip of Your tusk like a spot upon the moon."
Sri Dasavatara Stotra, 3rd Sloka



Varaha in the Vedic Literature Lord Varaha is glorified in virtually all of the major Puranas (the Vedic histories), which describe His different descents over the ages. In this kalpa (day of Brahma), Lord Varaha appeared twice. The first time He appeared from Brahma's nostril with a white (sveta) complexion, and He saved the Earth after the previous devastation. Hence, He is called Sveta-Varaha and this kalpa is named after Him -- the Sveta-Varaha-kalpa.

Later He appeared in a dark color from the ocean to save the Earth after she had been violated by the demon Hiranyaksha. During this incarnation, LordVaraha reinstated the Earth in her proper orbit and killed the demon. The Varaha of the popular dasavatara ("the ten incarnations") refers to this, Lord Varaha's second appearance.

In addition to the Puranas, references abound in the Vedic literature. The most elaborate glorification of the Varaha-avatara occurs in Srimad Bhagavatam, wherein Srila Vyasadeva specifically glorifies the Lord's transcendental activities during His numerous descents in this world. These narrations culminate in the description of God's original form as Sri Krishna.

Following are the chapter titles (13-19) from the Srimad Bhagavatam, Third Canto dealing with Varaha-katha:

13. The Appearance of Lord Varaha
14. Pregnancy of Diti in the Evening
15. Description of the Kingdom of God
16. The Two Doorkeepers of Vaikuntha, Jaya and Vijaya, Cursed by the Sages
17. Victory of Hiranyaksha Over All the Directions of the Universe
18. The Battle Between Lord Boar and the Demon Hiranyaksha
19. The Killing of Hiranyaksha
"O expert and thoughtful men, relish the Srimad Bhagavatam, the mature fruit of the desire tree of Vedic literatures. It emanated from the lips of Sri Sukadeva Gosvami. Therefore this fruit has become even more tasteful, although its nectarean juice, was already relishable for all, including liberated souls."

Verses in Praise of Sri Varaha

When Lord Varaha appeared He declared: For the benefit of all, I shall bring back to her former place the earth, who has the girdle of the oceans, whose limbs are overrun by all kinds of creatures and who has disappeared. I shall kill the naughty Hiranyaksha, an offspring of Diti. (Mahabharata 12.236.71-73)

The supreme enjoyer of all sacrifices accepted the incarnation of a boar for the welfare of the earth. He lifted the earth from the nether regions of the universe. (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.7)

When the unlimitedly powerful Lord assumed the form of a boar as a pastime, just to life the planet earth which was drowned in the great ocean of the universe called Garbhodaka, the first demon (Hiranyaksa) appeared and the Lord pierced him with the tusk. (Srimad Bhagavatam 2.7.1)

When her child falls in a well, the mother because of excessive parental affection (vatsalya) jumps in and saves it. Similarly when earth (prthivi) was sinking in the underworld, the Lord took the form of a boar and in the twinkling of an eye dived in and brought her out. (Sri Pillan's Tiruvaymoli 7.5.5)

To rescue the earth He appeared during the Svayambhuva-manvantara, from Brahma's nostril, and during the Caksusa-manvantara, He appeared from the water. Lord Varaha, the best of tusked beasts, appears to kill Hiranyaksa and rescue the earth. Sometimes Varaha is a wild animal of the forest and sometimes He is a domestic animal. Sometimes He is dark as a raincloud and sometimes He is as white as the moon. In this way, smrti-sastra describes two gigantic forms of Lord Varaha, the form of Vedic sacrifices. Maitreya Muni described Lord Varaha's pastimes at two different times as if they happened at the same time. (Srila Rupa Gosvami's Laghu-bhagavatamrta 1.3.10-12,17)

O Keshava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of a boar! All glories to You! The earth, which had become immersed in the Garbhodaka Ocean at the bottom of the universe, sits fixed upon the tip of Your tusk like a spot upon the moon. (Sri Jayadeva's Dasavatara-stotra 3)

O Boar-bodied, foe of the demon (Hiranyaksha), holder of the earth (on the tip of the tusk), possessor of excellent limbs (serving as means of sacrifice), I salute You. (Sri Madhvacharya's Dvadasha-Stotra 4.4)

yad roma-randhra-paripurti-vidhav adaksa 
varaha-janmani babhvur amI samudrah 
tam nama natham aravinda-drzam yazodaa
pani-dvayantara-jalaih snapayam babhuva
"Although in His Varaha incarnation, many oceans could hardly even fill the Lord's hair follicles, Yashodamayi bathed that same lotus-eyed Lord (i.e, Shri Krishna) with just the water contained in her two joined palms." -- Krishna-karnamritam, 2.27

Varaha-tirthas

There are many places where Lord Varaha performed His transcendental pastimes here on this earth, including:

The Mahabharata 3.81.15 mentions a Varaha-tirtha in Haryana State where Lord Vishnu appeared as Varaha.
At the place known as Soronksetra Lord Varaha picked up the earth on His tusk. This place is located 100 km northeast of Mathura in the Etah district and was visited by Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
After killing the demon Hiranyakasipu, He rested at Vishrama-ghat in Mathura and spoke the Varaha Purana to Mother Earth.
In Ramana-reti (Vrindavana, Mathura District) is Varaha-ghat where Lord Krishna revealed His Varaha form to the gopis. The Bhakti-ratnakara (Fifth Wave) mentions a similar event having occurred in a village known as Varahara in Vrindavan.
Once when Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited His devotee Murari Gupta, He revealed His form as Lord Varaha in Navadvipa, West Bengal. (See Caitanya-bhagavata Madhya-khanda 3)
By visiting these holy places and remembering the Lord, one receives the blessings of Lord Varaha.


Source: Avatara.org



Varaha Upanishad
Translated by K. Narayanasvami Aiyar

Om! May He protect us both together; may He nourish us both together; May we work conjointly with great energy, May our study be vigorous and effective; May we not mutually dispute (or may we not hate any).

Om! Let there be Peace in me! Let there be Peace in my environment! Let there be Peace in the forces that act on me!

CHAPTER I

The great sage Ribhu performed penance for twelve Deva (divine) years. At the end of the time, the Lord appeared before him in the form of a boar. He said: “Rise, rise and choose your boon”. The sage got up and having prostrated himself before him said: “O Lord, I will not, in my dream, wish of thee those things that are desired by the worldly. All the Vedas, Shastras, Itihasas and all the hosts of other sciences, as well as Brahma and all the other Devas, speak of emancipation as resulting from a knowledge of thy nature. So impart to me that science of Brahman which treats of thy nature.”

Then the boar-shaped Bhagavan (Lord) said:

1. Some disputants hold that there are twenty-four Tattvas (principles) and some thirty-six, whilst others maintain that there are ninety-six.

2. I shall relate them in their order. Listen with an attentive mind. The organs of sense are five, viz., ear, skin, eye and others.

3. The organs of action are five, viz., mouth, hand, leg and others. Pranas (vital airs) are five; sound and other (viz., rudimentary principles) are five.

4. Manas, Buddhi, Chitta and Ahankara are four; thus those that know Brahman know these to be the twenty-four Tattvas.

5. Besides these, the wise hold the quintuplicated elements to be five, viz., earth, water, fire, Vayu and Akasa;

6. The bodies to be three, viz., the gross, the subtle and the Karana or causal; the states of consciousness to be three, viz., the waking, the dreaming and the dreamless sleeping.

7-8. The Munis know the total collection of Tattvas to be thirty-six (coupled with Jiva). With these Tattvas, there are six changes, viz., existence, birth, growth, transformation, decay and destruction.

9. Hunger, thirst, grief, delusion, old age and death are said to be the six infirmities.

10. Skin, blood, flesh, fat, marrow and bones are said to be the six sheaths. Passion, anger, avarice, delusion, pride and malice are the six kinds of foes.

11. Vishva, Taijasa and Prajna are the three aspects of the Jiva. Sattva, Rajas and Tamas are the three Gunas (qualities).

12. Prarabdha, Sanchita and Agamin are the three Karmas. Talking, lifting, walking, excreting and enjoying are the five actions (of the organs of action);

13. And there are also thought, certainty, egoism, compassion, memory (functions of Manas, etc.,), complacency, sympathy and indifference;

14. Dik (the quarters), Vayu, Sun, Varuna, Ashvini Devas, Agni, Indra, Upendra and Mrityu (death); and then the moon, the four-faced Brahma, Rudra, Kshetrajna and Ishvara.

15-16. Thus these are the ninety-six Tattvas. Those that worship, with devotion, me of the form of boar, who am other than the aggregate of these Tattvas and am without decay are released from Ajnana and its effects and become Jivanmuktas.

17. Those that know these ninety-six Tattvas will attain salvation in whatever order of life they may be, whether they have matted hair or are of shaven head or have (only) their tuft of hair on. There is no doubt of this.”

Thus ends the first Chapter of Varaha Upanishad.

CHAPTER II

1. The great Ribhu (again) addressed the Lord of Lakshmi of the form of boar thus: “O Lord, please initiate me into the supreme Brahma-Vidya (or science).”

2-3. Then the Lord who removes the miseries of his devotees being thus questioned, answered thus: “Through (the right observance of) the duties of one’s own caste and orders of life, through religious austerities and through the pleasing of the Guru (by serving him rightly), arise to persons the four, Vairagya, etc. They are the discrimination of the eternal from the non-eternal; indifference to the enjoyments of this and the other worlds;

4-5(a). The acquisition of the six virtues, Sama, etc., and the longing after liberation. These should be practised. Having subdued the sensual organs and having given up the conception of ‘mine’ in all objects, you should place your consciousness of ‘I’ in (or identify yourself with) me, who am the witness Chaitanya (consciousness).

5(b)-7(a). To be born as a human being is difficult - more difficult it is to be born as a male being - and more so is it to be born as a Brahmana. Even then, if the fool does not cognise through the hearing, etc., of Vedanta, the true nature of the Sachchidananda (of Brahman) that is all-pervading and that is beyond all caste and orders of life, when will he obtain Moksha?

7(b)-8. I alone am happiness. There is none other. If there is said to be another, then it is not happiness. There is no such things as love, except on my account. The love that is on account of me is not natural to me. As I am the seat of supreme love, that ‘I am not’ is not.

9. He who is sought after by all, saying “I should become such”, is myself, the all-pervading. How can non-light affect Atman, the self-shining which is no other than the light whence originates the words ‘I am not light’.

10-12(a). My firm conviction is whoever knows for certain that (Atman) which is self-shining and has itself no basis (to rest upon), is one of Vijnana. The universe, Jiva, Ishvara, Maya and others do not really exist, except my full Atman.

12(b)-13(a). I have not their characteristics, Karma which has Dharana and other attributes and is of the form of darkness and Ajnana is not fit to touch (or affect) me, who am Atman, the self-resplendent.

13(b)-14(a). That man who sees (his) Atman which is all-witness and is beyond all caste and orders of life as of the nature of Brahman, becomes himself Brahman.

14(b)-15(a). Whoever sees, through the evidence of Vedanta, this visible universe as the Supreme Seat which is of the form of light, attains Moksha at once.

15(b)-16(a). When that knowledge which dispels the idea that this body (alone) is Atman, arises firmly in one’s mind as was before the knowledge that this body (alone) is Atman, then that person, even though he does not desire Moksha, gets it.

16(b)-17(a). Therefore how will a person be bound by Karma, who always enjoys the bliss of Brahman which has the characteristics of Sachchidananda and which is other than Ajnana ?

17(b)-18. Persons with spiritual eyes see Brahman, that is the witness of the three states that has the characteristics of be-ness, wisdom and bliss, that is the underlying meaning of the words ‘Thou’ (Tvam) and ‘I’ (Aham) and that is untouched by all the stains.

19. As a blind man does not see the sun that is shining, so an ignorant person does not see (Brahman). Prajnana alone is Brahman. It has truth and Prajnana as its characteristics.

20. By thus cognising Brahman well, a person becomes immortal. One who knows his own Atman as Brahman, that is bliss and without duality and Gunas (qualities) and that is truth and absolute consciousness is not afraid of anything.

21. That which is consciousness alone which is all-pervading, which is eternal, which is all-full, which is of the form of bliss and which is indestructible, is the only true Brahman.

22-23(a). It is the settled determination of Brahma-Jnanis that there is naught else but that. As the world appears dark to the blind and bright to those having good eyes, so this world full of manifold miseries to the ignorant is full of happiness to the wise.

23(b)-24(a). In me, of the form of boar, who am infinite and the Bliss of absolute Consciousness, if there is the conception of non-dualism, where then is bondage? And who is the one to be emancipated?

24(b)-25(a). The real nature of all embodied objects is ever the absolute Consciousness. Like the pot seen by the eyes, the body and its aggregates are not (viz., do not really exist).

25(b)-26. Knowing, as Atman, all the locomotive and fixed worlds that appear as other than Atman, meditate upon them as ‘It I am’. Such a person then enjoys his real nature. There is no other to be enjoyed than one-Self.

27. If there is anything that is, then Brahman alone has that attribute. One who is perfect in Brahma-Jnana, though he always sees this established universe, does not see it other than his Atman.

28-30. By cognising clearly my form, one is not trammelled by Karma. He is an undaunted person who by his own experience cognises as his own real nature all (the universe and Brahman) that is without the body and the organs of sense - that is the all-witness - that is the one noumenal Vijnana, that is the blissful Atman (as contrasted with Jivatma or the lower self) and that is the self-resplendent. He is one that should be known as ‘I’ (myself). O Ribhu, may you become He.

31. After this, there will be never any experience of the world. Thereafter there will always be the experience of the wisdom of one’s own true nature. One who has this known fully Atman has neither emancipation nor bondage.

32. Whoever meditates, even for one Muhurta (48 minutes) through the cognition of one’s own real form, upon Him who is dancing as the all-witness, is released from all bondage.

33. Prostrations - prostrations to me who am in all the elements, who am the Chidatma (viz., Atman of the nature of wisdom) that is eternal and free and who am the Pratyagatman.

34-35. O Devata, you are I. I am you. Prostrations on account of myself and yourself who are infinite and who are Chidatma, myself being the supreme Isha (Lord) and yourself being Shiva (of a beneficent nature). What should I do? Where should I go? What should I reject?

36. (Nothing, because) the universe is filled by me as with the waters on the universal deluge. Whoever gives up (fondness) love of the external, love of the internal and love of the body and thus gives up all associations, is merged in me. There is no doubt about it.

37. That Paramahamsa (ascetic) who, though living in the world, keeps aloof from human congregation as from serpent, who regards a beautiful woman as a (living) corpse and the endless sensual objects as poison and who has abandoned all passion and is indifferent towards all objects is no other than Vasudeva, (viz.,) myself.

38. This is Satya (Truth). This is nothing but truth. It is truth alone that is now said. I am Brahman, the truth. There is naught else but I.

39. (The word) ‘Upavasa’ (lit., dwelling near) signifies the dwelling near (or union) of Jivatma and Paramatman and not (the religious observance as accepted by the worldly of) emaciating the body through fasts.

40. To the ignorant, what is the use of the mere drying up of the body? By beating about the hole of a snake, can we be said to have killed the big snake within.

41. A man is said to attain Paroksha (indirect) wisdom when he knows (theoretically) that there is Brahman; but he is said to attain Sakshatkara (direct cognition) when he knows (or realises) that he is himself Brahman.

42. When a Yogin knows his Atman to be the Absolute, then he becomes a Jivanmukta.

43. To Mahatmas, to be always in the state ‘I am Brahman’ conduces to their salvation. There are two words for bondage and Moksha. They are ‘mine’ and ‘not mine’.

44. Man is bound by ‘mine’, but he is released by ‘not mine’. He should abandon all the thoughts relating to externals and so also with references to internals. O Ribhu, having given up all thoughts, you should rest content (in your Atman) ever.”

45. The whole of the universe is caused through Sankalpa alone. It is only through Sankalpa that the universe manifests. Having abandoned the universe, which is of the form of Sankalpa and having fixed your mind upon the Nirvikalpa (one which is changeless), meditate upon my abode in your heart.

46. O most intelligent being, pass your time in meditating upon me, glorifying me in songs, talking about me to one another and thus devoting yourself entirely to me as the Supreme.

47. Whatever is Chit (consciousness) in the universe is only Chinmatra. This universe is Chinmaya only. You are Chit. I am Chit; contemplate upon the worlds also as Chit.

48-49(a). Make the desires nil. Always be without any stain. How then can the bright lamp of Atmic Vijnana arising through the Vedas be affected by the Karma arising from the ignorance of the actor and the agent?

49(b)-50(a). Having given up not-Atman and being in the world unaffected by it, delight only in the Chinmatra within, ever intent on the One.

50(b)-51(a). As the Akasa of the pot and that of the house are both located in the all-pervading Akasa, so the Jivas and Ishvara are only evolved out of me, the Chidakasa (the one Akasa of universal consciousness).

51(b)-52(a). So that which did not exist before the evolution of Atmas (Jiva) (and Ishvara) and that which is rejected at the end (viz., universal deluge) is called Maya by Brahma-Jnanis through their discrimination.

52(b)-53(a). Should Maya and its effects (the universe) be annihilated, there is no state of Ishvara, there is no state of Jiva. Therefore like the Akasa without its vehicle, I am the immaculate and Chit.

53(b)-54. The creation, sentient as well as non-sentient from Ikshana (thinking) to Pravesha (entry) of those having the forms of Jivas and Ishvara is due to the creation (or illusion) of Ishvara; while the Samsara (worldly existence) from the waking state to salvation is due to the creation of Jiva.

55. So the Karmas ordained in the sacrifice (called) Trinachaka (so called after Nachiketas of Katha Upanishad) to Yoga are dependent upon the illusion of Ishvara; while (the systems from) Lokayata (atheistical system) to Sankhya rest on the illusion of Jiva.

56. Therefore aspirants after salvation should never make their heads enter into the field of controversy regarding Jiva and Ishvara. But with an undisturbed mind, Tattvas of Brahman should be investigated.

57. Those who do not cognise the Tattva of the secondless Brahman are all deluded persons only. Whence (then) is salvation to them? Whence then is happiness (to them) in this universe?

58. What if they have the thoughts of the superiority and inferiority (of Ishvara and Jiva)? Will sovereignty and mendicancy (experienced by a person) in the dreaming state affect him in his waking state?

59. When Buddhi is absorbed in Ajnana, then it is termed, by the wise, sleep. Whence then is sleep to me who have not Ajnana and its effects?

60. When Buddhi is in full bloom, then it is said to be the Jagrat (waking state). As I have no changes, etc., there is no waking state to me.

61. The moving about of Buddhi in the subtle Nadis constitutes the dreaming state. In me without the act of moving about, there is no dreaming.

62. Then at the time of Sushupti when all things are absorbed, enveloped by Tamas, he then enjoys the highest bliss of his own nature in an invisible state.

63. If he sees everything as Chit without any difference, he alone is an actual Vijnani. He alone is Shiva. He alone is Hari. He alone is Brahma.

64. This mundane existence which is an ocean of sorrow, is nothing but a long-lived dream, or an illusion of the mind or a long-lived reign of the mind. From rising from sleep till going to bed, the one Brahman alone should be contemplated upon.

65. By causing to be absorbed this universe which is but a superimposition, the Chitta partakes of my nature. Having annihilated all the six powerful enemies, through their destruction become the non-dual One like the scent-elephant.

66. Whether the body perishes now or lasts the age of moon and stars, what matters it to me having Chit alone as my body? What matters it to the Akasa in the pot, whether it (the pot) is destroyed now or exists for a long time.

67. While the Slough of a serpent lies cast off lifeless in its hole, it (the serpent) does not evince any affection towards it.

68. Likewise the wise do not identify themselves with their gross and subtle bodies. If the delusive knowledge (that the universe is real) with its cause should be destroyed by the fire of Atma-Jnana, the wise man becomes bodiless, through the idea ‘It (Brahman) is not this; It is not this’.

69. Shastras, the knowledge of reality (of the universe) perishes. Through direct perception of truth, one’s fitness for action (in this universe) ceases. With the cessation of Prarabdha (the portion of the past Karma which is being enjoyed in this life), the destruction of the manifestation (of the universe) takes place. Maya is thus destroyed in a three-fold manner.

70. If within himself no identification (of Jiva) with Brahman takes place, the state (of the separateness) of Jiva does not perish. If the non-dual one is truly discerned, then all affinities (for objects) cease.

71. With the cessation of Prarabdha (arising from the cessation of affinities), there is that of the body. Therefore it is certain that Maya perishes thus entirely. If it is said that all the universe is, that Brahman alone is that is of the nature of Sat.

72. If it is said that the universe shines, then it is Brahman alone that shines. (The mirage of) all the water in an oasis is really no other than the oasis itself. Through inquiry of one’s Self, the three worlds (above, below and middle) are only of the nature of Chit.

73. In Brahman, which is one and alone, the essence of whose nature is absolute consciousness and which is remote from the differences of Jiva, Ishvara and Guru, there is no Ajnana. Such being the case, where then is the occasion for the universe there? I am that Brahman which is all full.

74. While the full moon of wisdom is robbed of its lustre by the Rahu (one of the two nodes of the moon) of delusion, all actions such as the rites of bathing, alms-giving and sacrifice performed during the time of eclipse are all fruitless.

75. As salt dissolved in water becomes one, so if Atman and Manas become identified, it is termed Samadhi.

76. Without the grace of a good (perfect) guru, the abandonment of sensual objects is very difficult of attainment; so also the perception of (divine) truth and the attainment of one’s true state.

77. Then the state of being in one’s own self shines of its own accord in a Yogin in whom Jnana-Sakti has dawned and who has abandoned all Karmas.

78. The (property of) fluctuation is natural to mercury and mind. If either mercury is bound (or consolidated) or mind is bound (or controlled), what then on this earth cannot be accomplished?

79. He who obtains Murchchha cures all diseases. The dead are brought to life again. He who has bound (his mind or mercury) is able to move in the air. Therefore mercury and mind confer upon one the state of Brahman.

80. The master of Indriyas (the organs) is Manas (mind). The master of Manas is Prana. The master of Prana is Laya (absorption Yoga). Therefore Laya-Yoga should be practised.

81. To the Yogins, Laya(-Yoga) is said to be without actions and changes. This Laya (absorption) of mind which is above speech and in which one has to abandon all Sankalpas and to give up completely all actions, should be known through one’s own (experience).

82. As an actress, though subject (or dancing in harmony) to music, cymbals and other musical instruments of time, has her mind intent upon he protection of the pot on her head, so the Yogin, though intent for the time being upon the hosts of objects, never leaves off the mind contemplating on Brahman.

83. The person who desires all the wealth of Yoga should, after having given up all thoughts, practise with a subdued mind concentration on Nada (spiritual sound) alone.” Thus ends the second Chapter of Varaha Upanishad.

CHAPTER III

1. “The One Principle cannot at any time become of manifold forms. As I am the partless, there is none else but myself.

2. Whatever is seen and whatever is heard is no other than Brahman. I am that Para-Brahman, which is the eternal, the immaculate, the free, the one, the undivided bliss, the non-dual, the truth, the wisdom and the endless.

3. I am of the nature of bliss; I am of undivided wisdom; I am the supreme of the supreme; I am the resplendent absolute Consciousness. As the clouds do not touch the Akasa, so the miseries attendant on mundane existence do not affect me.

4. Know all to be happiness through the annihilation of sorrow and all to be of the nature of Sat (be-ness) through the annihilation of Asat (not-be-ness). It is only the nature of Chit (Consciousness) that is associated with this visible universe. Therefore my form is partless.

5. To an exalted Yogin, there is neither birth nor death, nor going (to other spheres), nor returning (to earth); there is no stain or purity or knowledge but (the universe) shines to him as absolute Consciousness.

6. Practise always silence ‘I am (viz., that you yourself are) Para-Brahman’ which is truth and absolute Consciousness, which is undivided and non-dual, which is invisible, which is stainless, which is pure, which is second-less and which is beneficent.

7. It (Brahman) is not subject to birth and death, happiness and misery. It is not subject to caste, law, family and Gotra (clan). Practise silence - I am Chit, which is the Vivarta-Upadana (viz., the illusory cause) of the universe.

8. Always practise silence - I am (viz., you are) the Brahman, that is the full, the secondless, the undivided consciousness which has neither the relationship nor the differences existing in the universe and which partakes of the essence of the non-dual and the supreme Sat and Chit.

9. That which always is and that which preserves the same nature during the three periods of time, unaffected by anything, is my eternal form of Sat.

10. Even the state of happiness which is eternal without Upadhis (vehicles) and which is superior to all the happiness derivable from Sushupti is of my bliss only.

11. As by the rays of the sun, thick gloom is soon destroyed, so darkness, the cause of rebirth is destroyed by Hari (Vishnu) Viz., the sun’s lustre.

12. Through the contemplation and worship of my (Hari’s) feet, every person is delivered from his ignorance. The means of destroying deaths and births is only through the contemplation of my feet.

13. As a lover of wealth praises a wealthy man, so if with earnestness a person praises the Cause of the universe, who will not be delivered from bondage?

14. As in the presence of the sun the world of its-own accord begins to perform its actions, so in my presence all the worlds are animated to action.

15. As to the mother-of pearl, the illusory conception of silver is falsely attributed, so to me is falsely attributed through Maya this universe which is composed of Mahat, etc.

16. I am not with those differences that are (observable) in the body of low caste men, the body of cow, etc., the fixed one’s, the bodies of Brahmanas and others.

17. As to a person, even after being relieved from the misconception of the directions, the (same misconception of) direction continues (as before), just so is to me the universe though destroyed by Vijnana. Therefore the universe is not.

18. I am neither the body nor the organs of sense and action, nor Pranas, Nor Manas, nor Buddhi, nor Ahankara, nor Chitta, nor Maya, nor the universe including Akasa and others.

19. Neither am I the actor, the enjoyer, nor he who causes the enjoyment. I am Brahman that is Chit, Sat and Ananda alone and that is Janardana (Vishnu).

20. As, through the fluctuation of water, the sun (reflected therein) is moved, so Atman arises in this mundane existence through its mere connection with Ahankara.

21. This mundane existence has Chitta as its root. This (Chitta) should be cleansed by repeated effort. How is it you have your confidence in the greatness of Chitta?

22. Alas, where is all the wealth of the kings! Where are the Brahmanas? Where are all the worlds? All old ones are gone. Many fresh evolutions have occurred.

23. Many Crores of Brahmas have passed away. Many kings have flitted away like particles of dust. Even to a Jnani, the love of the body may arise through the Asura (demoniacal) nature. If the Asura nature should arise in a wise man, his knowledge of truth becomes fruitless.

24. Should Rajas and others generated in us be burnt by the fire of discriminative (divine) wisdom, how can they germinate again?

25. Just as a very intelligent person delights in the shortcomings of another, so if one finds out his own faults (and corrects them) who will not be relieved from bondage?

26. O Lord of Munis, only he who has not Atma-Jnana and who is not an emancipated person, longs after Siddhis. He attains such Siddhis through medicine, (or wealth), Mantras, religious works, time and skill.

27. In the eyes of an Atma-Jnani, these Siddhis are of no importance. One who has become an Atma-Jnani, one who has his sight solely on Atman, and one who is content with Atman (the higher Self) through (his) Atman (or the lower self), never follows (the dictates of) Avidya.

28. Whatever exists in this world, he knows to be of the nature of Avidya. How then will an Atma-Jnani who has relinquished Avidya be immersed in (or affected by) it.

29. Though medicine, Mantras, religious work, time and skill (or mystical expressions) lead to the development of Siddhis, yet they cannot in any way help one to attain the seat of Paramatman.

30. How then can one who is an Atma-Jnani and who is without his mind be said to long after Siddhis, while all the actions of his desires are controlled?”

Thus ends the third Chapter of Varaha Upanishad.

CHAPTER IV

On another occasion Nidagha asked Lord Ribhu to enlighten him as to the characteristics of Jivanmukti. To which Ribhu replied in the affirmative and said the following: “In the seven Bhumikas (or stages of development of wisdom) there are four kinds of Jivanmuktas. Of these the first stage is Subhechcha (good desire); the second is Vicharana (inquiry); the third is Tanumanasi (or pertaining to the thinned mind); the fourth is Sattvapatti (the attainment of Sattva); the fifth is Asamsakti (non-attachment); the sixth is the Padartha-Bhavana (analysis of objects) and the seventh is the Turya (fourth or final stage). The Bhumika which is of the form of Pranava (Om) is formed of (or is divided into) Akara - ‘A’, Ukara - ‘U’, Makara - ‘M’ and Ardha-Matra. Akara and others are of four kinds on account of the difference of Sthula (gross) Sukshma (subtle), Bija (seed or causal) and Sakshi (witness). Their Avasthas are four: waking, dreaming, dreamless sleeping and Turya (fourth). He who is in (or the entity that identifies itself with) the waking state in the gross Amsa (essence or part) of Akara is named Vishva; in the subtle essence, he is termed Taijasa; in the Bija essence, he is termed Prajna; and in the Sakshi essence, he is termed Turya.

He who is in the dreaming state (or the entity which identifies itself with the dreaming state) in the gross essence of Ukara is Vishva; in the subtle essence, he is termed Taijasa; in the Bija essence, is termed Prajna; and in the Sakshi essence, he is termed Turya.

He who is in the Sushupti state in the gross essence of Makara is termed Vishva; in the subtle essence, Taijasa; in the Bija essence, he is termed Prajna; and in the Sakshi essence, he is termed Turya.

He who is in Turya State in the gross essence of Ardha-Matra is termed Turya-Vishva. In the subtle, he is termed Taijasa; in the Bija essence, he is termed Prajna; and in the Sakshi essence, he is termed Turya-Turya.

The Turya essence of Akara is (or embraces) the first, second and third (Bhumikas or stages of the seven). The Turya essence of Ukara embraces the fourth Bhumika. The Turya essence of Makara embraces the fifth Bhumika. The Turya essence of Ardha-Matra is the sixth stage. Beyond this, is the seventh stage.

One who functions in the (first) three Bhumikas is called Mumukshu; one who functions in the fourth Bhumika is called a Brahmavit; one who functions in the fifth Bhumika is called a Brahmavidvara; one who functions in the sixth Bhumika is called a Brahmavidvariya; and one in the seventh Bhumika is called a Brahmavidvarishtha.

With reference to this, there are Slokas. They are:

1. Subhechcha is said to be the first Jnana-Bhumi (or stage of wisdom); Vicharana, the second; Tanumanasi, the third;

2. Sattvapatti, the fourth; then come Asamsakti as the fifth, Padartha-Bhavana as the sixth and Turya as the seventh.

3. The desire that arise in one through sheer Vairagya (after resolving) ‘Shall I be ignorant? I will be seen by the Shastras and the wise’ (or ‘I will study the books and be with the wise’) - is termed by the wise as Subhechcha.

4. The association with the wise and Shastras and the following of the right path preceding the practice of indifference is termed Vicharana.

5. That stage wherein the hankering after sensual objects is thinned through the first and second stages is said to be Tanumanasi.

6. That stage wherein having become indifferent to all sensual objects through the exercise in the (above) three stages, the purified Chitta rests on Atman which is of the nature of Sat is called Sattvapatti.

7. The light (or manifestation) of Sattva-Guna that is firmly rooted (in one) without any desire for the fruits of actions through the practice in the above four stages is termed Asamsakti.

8-9. That stage wherein through the practice in the (above) five stages one, having found delight in Atman, has no conception of the internals or externals (though before him) and engages in actions only when impelled to do so by others is termed Padartha-Bhavana, the sixth stage.

10. The stage wherein after exceedingly long practice in the (above) six stages one is (immovably) fixed in the contemplation of Atman alone without the difference (of the universe) is the seventh stage called Turya.

11. The three stages beginning with Subhechcha are said to be attained with (or amidst) differences and non-differences. (Because) the universe one sees in the waking state he thinks to be really existent.

12. When the mind is firmly fixed on the non-dual One and the conception of duality is put down, then he sees this universe as a dream through his union with the fourth stage.

13. As the autumnal cloud being dispersed vanishes, so this universe perishes. O Nidagha, be convinced that such a person has only Sattva remaining.

14. Then having ascended the fifth stage called Sushuptipada (dreamless sleeping seat), he remains simply in the non-dual state, being freed from all the various differences.

15-16(a). Having always introvision though ever participating in external actions, those that are engaged in the practice of this (sixth stage) are seen like one sleeping when fatigued (viz., being freed from all affinities).

16(b). (Lastly) the seventh stage which is the ancient and which is called Gudhasupti is generally attained.

17. Then one remains in that secondless state without fear and with his consciousness almost annihilated where there is neither Sat nor Asat, neither self nor not-self.

18. Like an empty pot in the Akasa, there is void both within and without; like a filled vessel in the midst of an ocean, he is full both within and without.

19. Do not become either the knower or the known. May you become the Reality which remains after all thoughts are given up.

20. Having discarded (all the distinctions of) the seer, the sight and the seen with their affinities, meditate solely upon Atman which shines as the supreme Light.

21. He is said to be a Jivanmukta (emancipated person) in whom, though participating in the material concerns of the world, the universe is not seen to exist like the invisible Akasa.

22. He is said to be a Jivanmukta, the light of whose mind never sets or rises in misery or happiness and who does not seek to change what happens to him (viz., either to diminish his misery or increase his happiness).

23. He is said to be a Jivanmukta who though in his Sushupti is awake and to whom the waking state is unknown and whose wisdom is free from the affinities (of objects).

24. He is said to be a Jivanmukta whose heart is pure like Akasa, though acting (as it) in consonance to love, hatred, fear and others.

25. He is said to be a Jivanmukta who has not the conception of his being the actor and whose Buddhi is not attached to material objects, whether he performs actions or not.

26. He is said to be a Jivanmukta, of whom people are not afraid, who is not afraid of people and who has given up joy, anger and fear.

27. He is said to be a Jivanmukta, who though participating in all the illusory objects, is cool amidst them and is a full Atman, (being) as if they belonged to others.

28. O Muni, he is said to be a Jivanmukta, who having eradicated all the desires of his Chitta, is (fully) content with me who am the Atman of all.

29. He is said to be a Jivanmukta, who rests with an unshaken mind in that all pure abode which is Chinmatra and free from all the modifications of Chitta.

30. He is said to be a Jivanmukta in whose Chitta do not dawn (the distinctions of) the universe, I, he, thou and others that are visible and unreal.

31. Through the path of the Guru and Shastras, enter soon sat - the Brahman that is immutable, great, full and without objects - and be firmly seated there.

32. Shiva alone is Guru; Shiva alone is Vedas; Shiva alone is Lord; Shiva alone is I; Shiva alone is all. There is none other than Shiva.

33. The undaunted Brahmana having known Him (Shiva) should attain wisdom. One need not utter many words as they but injure the organ of speech.

34. (The Rishi) Suka is a Mukta (emancipated person). (The Rishi) Vamadeva is a Mukta. There are no others (who have attained emancipation) than through these (viz., the two paths of these two Rishis). Those brave men who follow the path of Suka in this world become Sadyo-Muktas (viz., emancipated) immediately after (the body wear away);

35. While those who always follow the path of Vamadeva (i.e., Vedanta) in this world are subject again and again to rebirths and attain Krama (gradual) emancipation, through Yoga, Sankhya and Karmas associated with Sattva (Guna).

36. Thus there are two paths laid down by the Lord of Devas (viz.,) the Suka and Vamadeva paths. The Suka path is called the bird’s path; while the Vamadeva path is called the ant’s path.

37-38. Those persons that have cognised the true nature of their Atman through the mandatory and prohibitory injunctions (of the Vedas), the inquiry into (the true meaning of) Maha-Vakyas (the sacred sentences of the Vedas), the Samadhi of Sankhya Yoga or Asamprajnata Samadhi and that have thereby purified themselves, attain the supreme seat through the Suka path.

39-40. Having, through Hatha-Yoga practice with the pain caused by Yama, postures, etc., become liable to the ever recurring obstacles caused by Anima and other (Siddhis) and having not obtained good results, one is born again in a great family and practises Yoga through his previous (Karmic) affinities.

41. Then through the practice of Yoga during many lives, he attains salvation (viz.,) the supreme seat of Vishnu through the Vamadeva path.

42. Thus there are two paths that lead to the attainment of Brahman and that are beneficent. The one confers instantaneous salvation and the other confers gradual salvation. To one that sees (all) as the one (Brahman), where is delusion? Where is sorrow?

43. Those that are under the eyes of those whose Buddhi is solely occupied with the truth (of Brahman) that is the end of all experience are released from all heinous sins.

44. All beings inhabiting heaven and earth that fall under the vision of Brahmavits are at once emancipated from the sins committed during many Crores of births.” Thus ends the fourth Chapter of Varaha Upanishad.

CHAPTER V

Then Nidagha asked Lord Ribhu to enlighten him as to the rules (to be observed) in the practice of Yoga. Accordingly He (the Lord) said thus:

1. “The body is composed of the five elements. It is filled with five Mandalas (spheres). That which is hard is Prithvi (earth), one of them; that which is liquid is Apas;

2. That which is bright is Tejas (fire); motion is the property of Vayu; that which pervades everywhere is Akasa. All these should be known by an aspirant after Yoga.

3. Through the blowing of Vayu-Mandala in this body, (there are caused) 21,600 breaths every day and night.

4. If there is a diminution in the Prithvi-Mandala, there arise folds in the body; if there is diminution in the essence of Apas, there arises gradually greyness of hair;

5. If there is diminution in the essence of Tejas, there is loss of hunger and lustre; if there is diminution in the essence of Vayu, there is incessant tremor;

6. If there is diminution in the essence of Akasa, one dies. The Jivita (viz., Prana) which possesses these elements having no place to rest (in the body) owing to the diminution of the elements, rises up like birds flying up in the air.

7. It is for this reason that is called Udyana (lit., flying up). With reference to this, there is said to be a Bandha (binding, also meaning a posture called Udyana-Bandha, by which this flight can be arrested). This Udyana-Bandha is to (or does away with) death, as a lion to an elephant.

8. Its experience is in the body, as also the Bandha. Its binding (in the body) is hurtful. If there is agitation of Agni (fire) within the belly, then there will be caused much of pain.

9. Therefore this (Udyana-Bandha) should not be practised by one who is hungry or who has urgency to make water or void excrement. He should take many times in small quantities proper and moderate food.

10. He should practise Mantra-Yoga. Laya-Yoga and Hatha-Yoga, through mild, middling and transcendental methods (or periods) respectively. Laya, Mantra and Hatha-Yogas have each (the same) eight subservients.

11-12(a). They are Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi.

12(b)-13(a). (Of these), Yama is of ten kinds. They are non-injury, truth, non-coveting, continence, compassion, straightforwardness, patience, courage, moderate eating and purity (bodily and mental).

13(b)-14. Niyama is of ten kinds. They are Tapas (religious austerities), contentment, belief in the existence of God or Vedas, charity, worship of Ishvara (or God), listening to the expositions of religious doctrines, modesty, a (good) intellect, Japa (muttering of prayers) and Vrata (religious observances).

15-16. They are eleven postures beginning with Chakra. Chakra, Padma, Kurma, Mayura, Kukkuta, Vira, Svastika, Bhadra, Simha, Mukta and Gomukha are the postures enumerated by the knowers of Yoga.

17. Placing the left ankle on the right thigh and the right ankle on the left thigh and keeping the body erect (while sitting) is the posture “Chakra”.

18. Pranayama should be practised again and again in the following order, viz., inspiration, restraint of breath and expiration. The Pranayama is done through the Nadis (nerves). Hence it is called the Nadis themselves.

19. The body of every sentient being is ninety-six digits long. In the middle of the body, two digits above the anus and two digits below the sexual organ, is the centre of the body (called Muladhara or sacral plexus).

20-21. Nine digits above the genitals, there is Kanda of Nadis which revolves oval-shaped, four digits high and four digits broad. It is surrounded by fat, flesh, bone and blood.

22. In it, is situate a Nadi-Chakra (wheel of nerves) having twelve spokes. Kundali by which this body is supported is there. 23. It is covering by its face the Brahmarandhra (viz., Brahma’s hole) of Susumna. (By the side) of Susumna dwell the Nadis Alambusa and Kuhuh.

24. In the next two (spokes) are Varuna and Yasasvini. On the spoke south of Susumna is, in regular course, Pingala.

25. On the next two spokes, are Pusha and Payasvini. On the spoke west of Susumna is the Nadi called Sarasvati.

26. On the next two spokes are Sankhini and Gandhari. To the north of Susumna dwells Ida;

27-28. In the next is Hastijihva; in the next is Visvodara. In these spokes of the wheel, the twelve Nadis carry the twelve Vayus from left to right (to the different parts of the body). The Nadis are like (i.e. woven like the warp and woof of) cloth. They are said to have different colours.

29-30. The central portion of the cloth (here the collection of the Nadis) is called the Nabhi Chakra (navel plexus). Jvalanti, Nadarupini, Pararandhra and Susumna are called the (basic) supports of Nada (spiritual sound). These four Nadis are of ruby colour. The central portion of Brahmarandhra is again and again covered by Kundali.

31-33(a). Thus ten Vayus move in these Nadis. A wise man who has understood the course of Nadis and Vayus should, after keeping his neck and body erect with his mouth closed, contemplate immovably upon Turyaka (Atman) at the tip of his nose, in the centre of his heart and in the middle of Bindu and should see with a tranquil mind through the (mental) eyes, the nectar flowing from there.

33(b)-34. Having closed the anus and drawn up the Vayu and caused it to rise through (the repetition of) Pranava (Om), he should complete with Sri Bija. He should contemplate upon his Atman as Sri (or Parasakti) and as being bathed by nectar.

35. This is Kalavanchana (lit., time illusion). It is said to be the most important of all. Whatever is thought of by the mind is accomplished by the mind itself.

36. (Then) Agni (fire) will flame in Jala (water) and in the flame (of Agni) will arise the branches and blossoms. Then the words uttered and the actions done regarding the universe, are not in vain.

37. By checking the Bindu in the path, by making the fire flame up in the water and by causing the water to dry up, the body is made firm.

38. Having contracted simultaneously the anus and Yoni (the womb) united together, he should draw up Apana and unite with it Samana.

39. He should contemplate upon his Atman as Shiva and then as being bathed by nectar. In the central part of each spoke, the Yogin should commence to concentrate Bala (will or strength).

40. He should try to go up by the union of Prana and Apana. This most important Yoga brightens up in the body the path of Siddhis.

41. As dam across the water serves as an obstacle to the floods, so it should ever be known by the Yogins that the Chhaya of the body is to (Jiva).

42. This Bandha is said of all Nadis. Through the grace of this Bandha, the Devata (goddess) becomes visible.

43. This Bandha of four feet serves as a check to the three paths. This brightens up the path through which the Siddhas obtained (their Siddhis).

44. If with Prana is made to rise up soon Udana, this Bandha checking all Nadis goes up.

45. This is called Samputa-Yoga or Mula-Bandha. Through the Practising of this Yoga, the three Bandhas are mastered.

46. By practising day and night intermittingly or at any convenient time, the Vayu will come under his control.

47. With the control of Vayu, Agni (the gastric fire) in the body will increase daily. With the increase of Agni, food, etc., will be easily digested.

48. Should food be properly digested, there is increase of Rasa (essence of food). With the daily increase of Rasa, there is the increase of Dhatus (spiritual substances).

49. With the increase of Dhatus, there is the increase of wisdom in the body. Thus all the sins collected together during many Crores of births are burnt up.

50. In the centre of the anus and the genitals, there is the triangular Muladhara. It illumines the seat of Shiva of the form of Bindu.

51. There is located the Parasakti named Kundalini. From that seat, Vayu arises. From that seat, Agni becomes increased.

52. From that seat, Bindu originates and Nada becomes increased. From that seat, Hamsa is born. From that seat, Manas is born.

53. The six Chakras beginning with Muladhara are said to be the seat of Sakti (Goddess). From the neck to the top of the head is said to be the seat of Sambhu (Shiva).

54. To the Nadis, the body is the support (or vehicle); to Prana, the Nadis are the support; to Jiva, Prana is the dwelling place; to Hamsa, Jiva is the support;

55. To Sakti, Hamsa is the seat and the locomotive and fixed universe. Being without distraction and of a calm mind, one should practise Pranayama.

56. Even a person who is well-skilled in the practice of the three Bandhas should try always to cognise with a true heart that Principle which should be known and is the cause of all objects and their attributes.

57. Both expiration and inspiration should (be stopped and made to) rest in restraint of breath (alone). He should depend solely on Brahman which is the highest aim of all visibles.

58. (The giving out of) all external objects is said to be Rechaka (expiration). The (taking in of the) spiritual knowledge of the Shastras is said to be Puraka (inspiration) and (the keeping to oneself of) such knowledge is said to be Kumbhaka (or restraint of breath).

59. He is an emancipated person who practises thus such a Chitta. There is no doubt about it. Through Kumbhaka, it (the mind) should be always taken up and through Kumbhaka alone it should be filled up within.

60. It is only through Kumbhaka that Kumbhaka should be firmly mastered. Within it is Parama-Shiva. That (Vayu) which is non-motionless should be shaken again through Kantha-Mudra (throat-posture).

61-62. Having checked the course of Vayu, having become perfect in the practice of expiration and restraint of breath and having planted evenly on the ground the two hands and the two feet, one should pierce the four seats through Vayu through the three Yogas. He should shake Mahameru with the (aid of) Prakotis (forces) at the mouth of Vayu.

63. The two Putas (cavities) being drawn, Vayu throbs quickly. The union of moon, sun and Agni should be known on account of nectar.

64. Through the motion of Meru, the Devatas who stay in the centre of Meru move. At first in his Brahma-Granthi, there is produced soon a hole (or passage).

65. Then having pierced Brahma-Granthi, he pierces Vishnu-Granthi; then he pierces Rudra-Granthi.

66-67(a). Then to the Yogin comes Vedha (piercing) through his liberation from the impurities of delusion, through the religious ceremonies (performed) in various births, through the grace of Gurus and Devatas and through the practice of Yoga.

67(b)-68. In the Mandala (sphere or region) of Susumna (situated between Ida and Pingala), Vayu should be made to rise up through the feature known as Mudra-Bandha. The short pronunciation (of Pranava) frees (one) from sins; its long pronunciation confers (on one) Moksha.

69-70. So also its pronunciation in Apyayana or Pluta Svara (tone). He is a knower of Veda, who through the above-mentioned three ways of pronunciation knows the end of Pranava which is beyond the power of speech, like the never ceasing flow of oil or the long-drawn bell-sound. The short Svara goes to Bindu. The long Svara goes to Brahmarandhra; the Pluta to Dvadasanta (twelfth centre). The Mantras should be uttered on account of getting Mantra Siddhis.

71-72(a). This Pranava (OM) will remove all obstacles. It will remove all sins. Of this, are four Bhumikas (states) predicated, viz., Arambha, Ghata, Parichaya and Nishpatti.

72(b)-73(a). Arambha is that state in which one having abandoned external Karmas performed by the three organs (mind, speech and body), is always engaged in mental Karma only.

73(b)-74(a). It is said by the wise that the Ghata state is that in which Vayu having forced an opening on the western side and being full, is firmly fixed there.

74(b). Parichaya state is that in which Vayu is firmly fixed to Akasa, neither associated with Jiva nor not, while the body is immovable.

75. It is said that Nishpatti state is that in which there take place creation and dissolution through Atman or that state in which a Yogin having become a Jivanmukta performs Yoga without effort.

Whoever recites this Upanishad becomes immaculate like Agni. Like Vayu, he becomes pure. He becomes freed from the sin of drinking alcohol. He becomes freed from the sins of the theft of gold. He becomes a Jivanmukta. This is what is said by the Rig-Veda. Like the eye pervading the Akasa (seeing without effort everything above), a wise man sees (always) the supreme seat of Vishnu. The Brahmanas who have always their spiritual eyes wide open praise and illuminate in diverse ways the spiritual seat of Vishnu. OM, thus is the Upanishad.”

Thus ends the fifth Chapter of Varaha Upanishad.

Om! May He protect us both together; may He nourish us both together; May we work conjointly with great energy, May our study be vigorous and effective; May we not mutually dispute (or may we not hate any).

Om! Let there be Peace in me! Let there be Peace in my environment! Let there be Peace in the forces that act on me!

Here ends the Varaha Upanishad belonging to the Krishna-Yajur-Veda.

Varaha Dwadasi

Appearance day of Varaha
Transcendental Varaha gallery



Lord Varaha, Bhopal Museum

Temple carving, Java



Varaha in Durga temple, Aihole

Varaha in a temple carving, Belur

Carved stela, Varaha, 18 c. Tibet

Varaha, wood carving, Chennai Museum



Varaha Rescuing Bhu Devi. Brooklyn museum. Northern India (Rajasthan), circa 1000. Schist, 33 x 17 1/4 x 6 in. (83.8 x 43.8 x 15.2 cm). Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, The Avery Brundage Collection, B62S15+

Cosmic Varaha. Brooklyn Museum. Northern India (Rajasthan), 12th century. Black phyllite, 21 3/4 x 29 1/2 x 12 1/2 in. (55.3 x 75 x 31.8 cm). The James W. and Marilynn Alsdorf Collection



Varaha Rescuing Bhu Devi. Southern India (Kerala), circa 14th–15th century. Bronze, 13 x 7 3/4 x 5 1/8 in. (33 x 19.7 x 13 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Paul E. Manheim, 78.259.1

Varaha paintings as saviour of the earth (Brooklyn Museum).

Varaha murti, avatar of Vishnu

Varaha in Khajuraho Vamana temple

Varaha Narasimha cave Sri Varaha Narasimha Swamy Cave (Krodha Narasimha Swamy) is just few minutes away from the main temple, Sri Ahobileshwara Narasimha swamy in Upper Ahobilam. It houses 3 deities, one from them is Lord Varaha keeping Mother Earth on his noose with a lion tail on his back, representing the Narasimha lila to be part of the whole story. 



Coin with Varaha (Vishnu Avatar) on a Pratihara coin 850-900 CE (British Museum)



Varaha temple, Mahabalipuram



Mythologically, the third incarnation of Vishnu was in the form of Varaha, the Boar. There are a number of temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the aspect of this incarnation. One of such famous temples is at Tiruvadantai, 27 miles from Chennai towards south on the way to Mahabalipuram. 

The main deity is 3m (9 ft) tall and is called "Sri Lakshmi Adi Varaha". He is also known as "Sri Nritya Kalyana Perumal'. The Lord holds a conch in his upraised right hand and the disc in his left. The name of the Goddess is "Akhilavalli Ammal". The Goddess is seated over the left thigh of Lord Vishnu in his Varaha aspect, His left hand encircling Her waist, while Her feet are held in His lower right hand palm. Only the right leg of Varahaswami is touching the floor. 

The deity is decorated with a garland formed of 108 saligrams around the neck. The legend goes that one Hariseka Maharaj, the ruling chief of Mahabalipuram, possessed this garland originally. He was a great devotee of Adi Varahaswami and it was his daily routine to visit the temple and pay homage. When he became old and was physically unable to move, he presented the garland to the presiding deity. 

There are four Utsavamurtis (processional deities), namely, Nitya - kalyanaswami, Kottukar, Palpo Perumal and Spathanaperam. On festive occasions the processional deities are taken around the temple. 



Once upon a time there lived a sage named Kalava at Tiruvadantai. He had 360 daughters. Tiruvadantai was a great city in those days and had 360 Agraharam (streets where Brahmins lived). As the sage was greatly honoured and respected, one daughter was taken up by each of the 360 streets to be respectfully maintained and looked after. Time rolled on. In due course, when the girls came of age it became a great anxiety for the sage how to get them married suitably. Praying fervently, the sage resigned himself to God. 

Lord Vishnu elected to take the form of a 'Brahmachari' (bachelor) and appeared in the first Agraharam and broached the subject of marriage with the first daughter and then married her. It is customary with newly married Hindu couples to visit the village temple and pay their homage to the presiding deity and receive blessings for their future life. When the Brahmachari visited the local Varahaswami temple with his newly - wedded wife, he and his wife both mysteriously vanished in the sanctum sanctorum. 

On the second day, Vishnu again took the form of another Brahmachari and proposed marriage with the second daughter in the second Agraharam and married her too. After marriage when the couple visited the local temple they too disappeared. Likewisely, mysteriously, a new Brahmachari used to be performed with one of Kalava Maehashi's 360 daughters. And when the newly married couples visited the Varahaswami temple, they just vanished. 

When all the 360 girls vanished in this manner, the episode reached Maharshi Kalava. He was bewildered and agitated and wanted to know from God Himself the whereabouts of his daughters and sons-in-law. 

When the Sage entered the, sanctum sanctorum of the temple with the object of knowing from the Lord's mouth the where abouts of his daughters, Lord Vishnu appeared before him as Varaha, the Boar, holding all the 360 daughters on lap. Lord Varahaswami embraced all the 360 daughters of Maharshi with his left hand and pressed all the 360 souls into single soul of Lakshmi, His consort, making her sit on his raised thigh. The merging of the souls of his daughters with that of Goddess Lakshmi enlightened the Sage. 

The sage was greatly elated that Goddess Lakshmi considered him fit enough to be her father. As the marriage episode continued day after day for the 360 days of the year, the presiding deity was fondly named "Nityakalyanaswami" (Nitya means daily, Kalyana means marriage). Gradually the place gained in importance. 



Varaha, Jagannatha temple, Puri. Archaeological Survey of India Collections, taken by Poorno Chander Mukherji in the 1890s.



Varaha, 6th cent. cave temple, Badami

Varaha, Kailasanatha temple, Ellora

Varaha
Mahakuta, Deccan
7th C.

Cave Two Badami has Vishnu's varaha, or boar, avatar




Bronze Varaha, Tamil Nadu 15th cent.

Varaha, Halebidu

Simhachalam - Sri Varaha Narasimhaswamy Temple,Near Visakhapatnam,Andhra Pradesh



Varaha, Belur

The Story of VARAHA Avatar 

In VARAHA Avatar, Lord Vishnu incarnates himself as a boar in this world. A demon Hiranyaksha, had prayed for Lord Brahma and got awarded a boon that no beast nor man nor god could kill him. But somehow from the list of beasts the name of boar was missing. This proved to be his lacunae. He then started a campaign of plunder across the worlds. He pushed the world to the Pataal loka, or the under of the sea. He stole the Vedas, the holy scriptures from the Lord Brahma, while he was asleep and performed huge atrocities. To retrieve the Vedas and to save the world the Lord Vishnu assumed the role of a boar and brought out the earth from the under of the ocean, using its two tusks. It then killed Hiranyaksha and retrieved the Vedas from the asura and brought it back to the safe custody of the Lord Brahma.

Nava Torana Temple of Varaha at Khor in Neemach, Madhya Pradesh

ThirukKalvanoor - Sri Aadhi Varaha Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram

Sri Lakshmi Varahaswamy, Nithyakalyanar kovil, Varaha Kshetram, Thiruvidandai, Chennai (One of 108 divyadesam).



Sri Bhu Varaha Swamy, Sreemushnam temple, Chidambaram
Image result for snout of a hogचषाल n. the snout of a hog MaitrS. i , 6 , 3.
Varaha - Ellora cave XIV
Ellora Cave XIV. चषालः caṣāla in front of the Mother Earth.

 Varaha cave temple, Mamallapuram, a photo from the 1860's चषालः caṣāla in front of the Mother Earth.

Varaha, Deogarh. 6th cent. चषालः caṣāla in front of, holding up the Mother Earth.

Varaha. Vikramasila wall carving. चषालः caṣāla in front of, holding up the Mother Earth. His foot controls a nAga as the Earth is lifted up from the Ocean.

Varaha. Khajuraho.
Varaha - Badami cave III
Badami Cave III. चषालः caṣāla in front of the Mother Earth.
Varaha - Badami cave IIIVarAha's चषालः caṣāla in front of the Mother Earth.
Udayagiri Varaha. Close-up photograph of the snout.चषालः caṣāla in front of the Mother Earth.
Varaha - Udayagiri
Udayagiri VarAha's चषालः caṣāla in front of the Mother Earth.
Varaha - Badami cave II
Badami Cave II. VarAha's चषालः caṣāla in front of the Mother Earth.

Image result for Date: 10th century Medium:Sandstone Geographic Location: India Dimensions: Height: 55 in. (139.7 cm) Credit Line: Dallas Museum of Art, gift of David T. Owsley via the Alvin and Lucy Owsley Foundation and the Alconda-Owsley Foundation, E.E. Fogelson and Greer Garson Fogelson Fund, General Acquisitions Fund, Wendover Fund, and gift of Alta Brenner in memory of her daughter Andrea Bernice Brenner-McMullen Object Number: 2002.25


Image result for Date: 10th century Medium:Sandstone Geographic Location: India Dimensions: Height: 55 in. (139.7 cm) Credit Line: Dallas Museum of Art, gift of David T. Owsley via the Alvin and Lucy Owsley Foundation and the Alconda-Owsley Foundation, E.E. Fogelson and Greer Garson Fogelson Fund, General Acquisitions Fund, Wendover Fund, and gift of Alta Brenner in memory of her daughter Andrea Bernice Brenner-McMullen Object Number: 2002.25
  
Image result for Date: 10th century Medium:Sandstone Geographic Location: India Dimensions: Height: 55 in. (139.7 cm) Credit Line: Dallas Museum of Art, gift of David T. Owsley via the Alvin and Lucy Owsley Foundation and the Alconda-Owsley Foundation, E.E. Fogelson and Greer Garson Fogelson Fund, General Acquisitions Fund, Wendover Fund, and gift of Alta Brenner in memory of her daughter Andrea Bernice Brenner-McMullen Object Number: 2002.25
  
Image result for Date: 10th century Medium:Sandstone Geographic Location: India Dimensions: Height: 55 in. (139.7 cm) Credit Line: Dallas Museum of Art, gift of David T. Owsley via the Alvin and Lucy Owsley Foundation and the Alconda-Owsley Foundation, E.E. Fogelson and Greer Garson Fogelson Fund, General Acquisitions Fund, Wendover Fund, and gift of Alta Brenner in memory of her daughter Andrea Bernice Brenner-McMullen Object Number: 2002.25
  
Image result for Date: 10th century Medium:Sandstone Geographic Location: India Dimensions: Height: 55 in. (139.7 cm) Credit Line: Dallas Museum of Art, gift of David T. Owsley via the Alvin and Lucy Owsley Foundation and the Alconda-Owsley Foundation, E.E. Fogelson and Greer Garson Fogelson Fund, General Acquisitions Fund, Wendover Fund, and gift of Alta Brenner in memory of her daughter Andrea Bernice Brenner-McMullen Object Number: 2002.25
  
Image result for Date: 10th century Medium:Sandstone Geographic Location: India Dimensions: Height: 55 in. (139.7 cm) Credit Line: Dallas Museum of Art, gift of David T. Owsley via the Alvin and Lucy Owsley Foundation and the Alconda-Owsley Foundation, E.E. Fogelson and Greer Garson Fogelson Fund, General Acquisitions Fund, Wendover Fund, and gift of Alta Brenner in memory of her daughter Andrea Bernice Brenner-McMullen Object Number: 2002.25
  
Image result for Date: 10th century Medium:Sandstone Geographic Location: India Dimensions: Height: 55 in. (139.7 cm) Credit Line: Dallas Museum of Art, gift of David T. Owsley via the Alvin and Lucy Owsley Foundation and the Alconda-Owsley Foundation, E.E. Fogelson and Greer Garson Fogelson Fund, General Acquisitions Fund, Wendover Fund, and gift of Alta Brenner in memory of her daughter Andrea Bernice Brenner-McMullen Object Number: 2002.25
  
Image result for Date: 10th century Medium:Sandstone Geographic Location: India Dimensions: Height: 55 in. (139.7 cm) Credit Line: Dallas Museum of Art, gift of David T. Owsley via the Alvin and Lucy Owsley Foundation and the Alconda-Owsley Foundation, E.E. Fogelson and Greer Garson Fogelson Fund, General Acquisitions Fund, Wendover Fund, and gift of Alta Brenner in memory of her daughter Andrea Bernice Brenner-McMullen Object Number: 2002.25
 
Image result for Date: 10th century Medium:Sandstone Geographic Location: India Dimensions: Height: 55 in. (139.7 cm) Credit Line: Dallas Museum of Art, gift of David T. Owsley via the Alvin and Lucy Owsley Foundation and the Alconda-Owsley Foundation, E.E. Fogelson and Greer Garson Fogelson Fund, General Acquisitions Fund, Wendover Fund, and gift of Alta Brenner in memory of her daughter Andrea Bernice Brenner-McMullen Object Number: 2002.25
S. Kalyanaraman
Sarasvati Research Center
January 7, 2016


चषालः caṣāla on octagonal Sivalinga -- as Yupa, fiery pillar of light in a smelting process

$
0
0

In continuation of the following references attesting yupa in sama yaga, the cognate shapes of octagonal sivalinga are presented juxtaposed to the archaeological evidence of a fire-altar from Binjor together with an octagonal brick:
Galagesvara temple of Galaganatha. An octagonal pillar -- Yupa.

 

http://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-%C5%9Batapatha-br%C4%81hma%E1%B9%87a-part-ii/d/doc63259.html

Syena-citi: A Monument of Uttarkashi  The first layer of  one kind of śyenaciti or falcon altar described in the Śulbasūtras, made of 200 bricks of six shapes or sizes, all of them adding up to a specified total area. 

Distt.EXCAVATED SITE -PUROLA Geo-Coordinates-Lat. 30° 52’54” N Long. 77° 05’33” E Notification No& Date;2742/-/16-09/1996The ancient site at Purola is located on the left bank of river Kamal. The excavation yielded the remains of Painted Grey Ware (PGW) from the earliest level alongwith other associated materials include terracotta figurines, beads, potter-stamp, the dental and femur portions of domesticated horse (Equas Cabalus Linn). The most important finding from the site is a brick alter identified as Syenachiti by the excavator. The structure is in the shape of a flying eagle Garuda, head facing east with outstretched wings. In the center of the structure is the chiti is a square chamber yielded remains of pottery assignable to circa first century B.C. to second century AD. In addition copper coin of Kuninda and other material i.e. ash, bone pieces etc and a thin gold leaf impressed with a human figure tentatively identified as Agni have also been recovered from the central chamber. http://asidehraduncircle.in/uttarkashi.html 


See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2011/11/syena-orthography.html śyena, orthography, Sasanian iconography. Continued use of Indus Script hieroglyphs.


https://www.scribd.com/doc/66268543/The-heroic-theft-myths-from-Rgveda-and-the-Ancient-Near-East-David-M-Knipe-1967

Relief with Ekamukha linga. Mathura. 1st cent. CE (Fig. 6.2). This is the most emphatic representation of linga as a pillar of fire. The pillar is embedded within a brick-kiln with an angular roof and is ligatured to a tree. Hieroglyph: kuTi 'tree' rebus: kuThi 'smelter'. In this composition, the artists is depicting the smelter used for smelting to create mũh 'face' (Hindi) rebus: mũhe 'ingot' (Santali) of mēḍha 'stake' rebus: meḍ 'iron, metal' (Ho. Munda). मेड (p. 662) [ mēḍa ] f (Usually मेढ q. v.) मेडका m A stake, esp. as bifurcated. मेढ (p. 662) [ mēḍha ] f A forked stake. Used as a post. Hence a short post generally whether forked or not. मेढा (p. 665) [ mēḍhā ] m A stake, esp. as forked. 2 A dense arrangement of stakes, a palisade, a paling. मेढी (p. 665) [ mēḍhī ] f (Dim. of मेढ) A small bifurcated stake: also a small stake, with or without furcation, used as a post to support a cross piece. मेढ्या (p. 665) [ mēḍhyā ] a (मेढ Stake or post.) A term for a person considered as the pillar, prop, or support (of a household, army, or other body), the staff or stayमेढेजोशी (p. 665) [ mēḍhējōśī ] m A stake-जोशी; a जोशी who keeps account of the तिथि &c., by driving stakes into the ground: also a class, or an individual of it, of fortune-tellers, diviners, presagers, seasonannouncers, almanack-makers &c. They are Shúdras and followers of the मेढेमत q. v. 2 Jocosely. The hereditary or settled (quasi fixed as a stake) जोशी of a village.मेंधला (p. 665) [ mēndhalā ] m In architecture. A common term for the two upper arms of a double चौकठ (door-frame) connecting the two. Called also मेंढरी घोडा. It answers to छिली the name of the two lower arms or connections. (Marathi)

मेंढा mēṇḍhā ] A crook or curved end rebus: meḍ 'iron, metal' (Ho. Munda) 



A terracotta cake is a piṇḍa पिण्ड [p=625,2] m. (rarely n.) any round or roundish mass or heap , a ball , globe , knob , button , clod , lump , piece (cf. अयः-. , मांस- &c ) RV. (only i , 162 , 19 and here applied to lumps of flesh) TS. S3Br.&c; n. ( L. ) iron; steel (Monier-Williams. Samskritam). What archaeometallurgical functions were served by the terracotta cakes offered as piṇḍa पिण्ड in fire-altars? One possibility is that the terracotta cakes (of circular and triangular shapes) served the functions of piṇḍikawhich is a support base for the Sivalinga which is a divine impeller of the cosmic dance of transmutation occurring in a fire-altar.   A skambha linking heaven and earth, a fiery pillar of light. The following three ricas of Rigveda also refer to and explain the metaphor of skambha as a prop which upholds heaven and earth; RV 9.89.6 places it in the context of purification of Soma, reinforcing the possibility that the Skambha signified the impeller of the purification process of yajna -- a process which is replicated in the purification of metals in a smelter/funace/fire-altar:10.111.05 Indra, the counterpart of heaven and earth, is cognizant of all sacrifices, he is the slayer of S'us.n.a; he spread out the spacious heaven with the sun (to light it up); best of proppers, he propped up (the heaven) with a prop. [Propped up the heaven with a prop: Satyata_ta_ = that which is stretched out by the true ones, the gods; or, ta_ti as a suffix, that which is true, i.e., heaven]. 9.074.02 The supporter of heaven, the prop (of the earth), the Soma-juice who, widely spreading, filling (the vessels), flows in all directions-- may he unite the two great worlds by his own strength; he has upheld them combined; (may he) the sage (bestow) food upon (his worshippers). [The prop of the earth: cf. RV. 9.089.06; may he unite: yaks.at = sam.yojayatu; a_vr.ta = by its own unaided strength].9.089.06 The prop of heaven, the support of earth-- all beings (are) in his hands; may (Soma) the fountain (of desires) be possessed of horses for you (his) adorer; the filament of the sweet-flavoured (Soma) is purified for (the sake of winning) strength.  http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2015/12/archaeometallurgy-of-cementation.html   

Linga with One Face of Shiva (Ekamukhalinga), Mon–Dvaravati period, 7th–early 8th century. Thailand (Phetchabun Province, Si Thep) Stone; H. 55 1/8 in.
Octagonal form of ViSNubhAga and the occurrence of pancamukhalinga is consistent with the tradition of pancaloha 'five dhAtu or five mineral alloy' images as utsavaberas.
Ekamukhalinga from JaiyA, National Museum, Bangkok. The shape is as described in Satapatha Brahmana, 

quadrangular base, octagonal middle, caSAla at the top (made of wheat straw paste).

Ekamukhalinga from Vat Sak Sampou

“The JaiyA ekamukhalinga is divided into three parts in accordance with the prescriptions in the Siva Agamas. The base, BrahmabhAga, is cubic in form and is 47.8 cms. High. The middle section, the ViSNubhAga, is octagonal in shape and is approximately 43 cm. High. The topmost section, the RudrabhAga, is cylindrical and is approximately 51 cms high, while the superimposed face measures 29.5 cms from the bottom of the chin to the top of the jaTA. The two lower sections of the linga would not normally be visible, since they would be enclosed in the pedestal (pIThikA)...One of the singular features of these pre-Angkorian mukhalingas is the fusing of the jaTA with the filet on the gland of the RudrabhAga (fig.2)...There is, however, an ekamukhalinga from Vat Sak Sampou (fig. 3) which displays a coiffure which is very muh like that worn on the JaiyA linga.” (O'Connor, SJ, 1961, An ekamukhalinga from Peninsular Siam,  The Journal of the Siam Society. The Siam Society. pp. 43-49).

Clay sealing
Malwa, clay sealing
Weight:  4.48 gm., Dimensions: 20x15 mm.
Railed yupa (sacrificial post) with side decorations and
 a Brahmi legend below reading khadasa
Reference: Pieper collection
Thanks to Shailendra Bhandare for the correct reading. According to Bhandare the legend refers to the worship of Skanda; similar objects pertaining to the Skanda cult have been reported from regions of Malwa, Vidarbha and the Deccan.
The coin hieroglyphs signify iron ore smelting in a mint. 
Pa. kandi (pl. -l) necklace, beads. Ga. (P.) kandi (pl. -l) bead, (pl.) necklace; (S.2) kandiṭ bead. (DEDR 1215) Rebus: Tu. kandůka, kandaka ditch, trench. Te. kandakamu id. Konḍa kanda trench made as a fireplace during weddings. Pe. kandafire trench. Kui kanda small trench for fireplace. Malt. kandri a pit. (DEDR 1214)

Dotted circle is a cross-section of a strand of rope: S. dhāī f. ʻ wisp of fibres added from time to time to a rope that is being twisted ʼ, L. dhāī˜ f. Rebus: dhāˊtu n. ʻsubstance ʼ RV., m. ʻ element ʼ MBh., ʻ metal, mineral, ore (esp. of a red colour)ʼ; dhāūdhāv m.f. ʻ a partic. soft red stone ʼ(Marathi) धवड (p. 436) [ dhavaḍa ] m (Or धावड) A class or an individual of it. They are smelters of iron (Marathi) gaNDa 'four' (DEDR 1215) Rebus: kanda 'fire-altar'. Thus, the Ujjain hieroglyph of four joined dotted circles signifies a fire-altar for mineral ore. poLa 'zebu' Rebus: poLa 'magnetite ore' sangaDa 'lathe, portabe furnace' Rebus: sanghAta 'adamantine glue', sangara 'proclamation'; mēḍhā m A stake, esp. as forked. Rebus: mẽṛhẽt, meḍ 'iron' (Munda.Ho.) med 'copper' (Slavic languages) 





Syenaciti. Fire-altar. sēṇa 'eagle' rebus: sena 'thunderbolt' (weapon)

Procedure fo vājapeya soma yaga

SBr. 5.1.2.12-18

12. He then touches the wheat (top-piece)[8], with,
[Page 33] 'We have gone to the light, O ye gods!' for he who offers the Vājapeya, indeed goes to the light.
13. And as to why he touches the wheat: wheat is food, and he who offers the Vājapeya, wins food, for vāja-peya is the same as anna-peya (food and drink): thus whatever food he has thereby won, therewith now that he has gone to that supreme goal, he puts himself in contact, and possesses himself of it,--therefore he touches the wheat (top-piece).
14. He then rises by (the measure of) his head over the post, with, 'We have become immortal!' whereby he wins the world of the gods.
15. Thereupon, while looking in the different directions, he mutters (Vāj. S. IX, 22), 'Ours be your power, ours your manhood and intelligence ours be your energies!' For he who offers the Vājapeya wins everything here, winning as he does Prajāpati, and Prajāpati being everything here;--having appropriated to himself the glory, the power, and the strength of this All, he now lays them within himself, makes them his own: that is why he mutters, while looking in the different directions.
16. They throw up to him bags of salt; for salt means cattle, and cattle is food; and he who offers theVājapeya wins food, for vāja-peya is the same as anna-peya: thus whatever food he thereby has gained, therewith now that he has gone to the supreme goal, he puts himself in contact, and makes it his own,--therefore they throw bags of salt up to him.
17. They (the pieces of salt) are done up in aśvattha [Page 34] (ficus religiosa) leaves: because Indra on that (former) occasion called upon the Maruts staying on the Aśvattha tree[9], therefore they are done up in aśvattha leaves. Peasants (viś) throw them up to him, for the Maruts are the peasants, and the peasants are food (for the nobleman): hence peasants throw them up. There are seventeen (bags), for Prajāpati is seventeenfold: he thus wins Prajāpati.
18. Thereupon; while looking down upon this (earth), he mutters, Homage be to the mother Earth! homage be to the mother Earth!' For when Bṛhaspati had been consecrated, the Earth was afraid of him, thinking, 'Something great surely has he become now that he has been consecrated: I fear lest he may rend me asunder[10]!' And Bṛhaspati also was afraid of the Earth, thinking, 'I fear lest she may shake me off!' Hence by that (formula) he entered into a friendly relation with her; for a mother does not hurt her son, nor does a son hurt his mother.
http://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-%C5%9Batapatha-br%C4%81hma%E1%B9%87a-part-iii/d/doc63270.html#note-t-36191


Binjor attests Vedic River Sarasvati as a Himalayan navigable channel en route to Persian Gulf 

The fire altar, mahavedi for vajapaya shows an octagonal brick as detailed in the Satapatha Brahmana for Vajapeya and other Soma yaga.


S Kalyanaraman


Sarasvati Research Center January 7, 2016

'Drug-terror nexus' in Pathankot. NaMo, nationalise kaalaadhan.

$
0
0
Friday , January 8 , 2016 |

'Drug-terror nexus' in Pathankot

IF ONLY THIS WAS DONE ON JANUARY 1 
Security forces scour Bhullaechak Colony near Tibri Cantonment in Gurdaspur, less than 50km from Pathankot, on Thursday after a farmer said on Wednesday that he saw two men in army fatigues moving in a suspicious manner. The army and police are carrying out joint combing operations. “We are not taking any chance. All vehicles and people, in and around the area, are being physically checked,” Gurdaspur senior superintendent of police Gurpreet Singh Toor said. (PTI)
New Delhi, Jan. 7: The militants who attacked the Pathankot Air Force base tapped into drug-smuggling channels to carry out the raid, according to an assessment in the security establishment in New Delhi.
The security agencies are also probing an explosive element: whether one of the two squads of attackers, carrying heavy weapons, was "sheltered" inside the base, an executive familiar with the security assessment said.
The investigation is taking into account the nature of the terrain around the Shakargarh Bulge through which the Ravi river flows in and out of Pakistan bordering northern Punjab. Long stretches of the international boundary in the zone are not fenced.
The region has a history of being used to traffic contraband drugs. Local officials have been bribed by smugglers.
In the marriage of narcotics smuggling and terrorism, one line of investigation is probing whether a Punjab security official was lured into being an accomplice of the attackers.
He may have been lured by a combination of money and flesh but when he went to receive the consignment, the "package" turned out to be a gang of gun-wielding terrorists. That made him turn chicken and report to a superior with a half-truth, not the full story, the investigators suspect.
These disclosures were made when a security assessment was shared with a handful of journalists, including this correspondent, to challenge a perception that there was doubtful synergy in the chain of command during the Pathankot operation.
The alleged nexus between the drug mafia and politicians in Punjab has been a festering issue in the past few years. The Congress has consistently accused the Parkash Singh Badal government, which is partnering the BJP, of being hand in glove with drug cartels.
Last year Jagdish Singh Bhola, a former DSP, was booked in a Rs 600-crore synthetic drug scam. Bhola had named Bikram Singh Majithia, the state's revenue minister as well as the younger brother of Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, the daughter-in-law of chief minister Badal.
Bhola had alleged that the drug trade was being run with the minister's patronage. Majithia's name figured in the Enforcement Directorate's chargesheet filed in Delhi's Patiala House court in February last year. According to the chargesheet, Majithia received Rs 35 lakh from a key accused as "election fund" between 2007 and 2012.
Majithia had denied his involvement in the scam, saying it was a conspiracy to malign him and the state government.
Central security agencies suspect druglords aided and abetted by a section of Punjab police and politicians have been providing logistics support to militants as soon as they cross the border, less than 30km from Pathankot.
Contacted today by this newspaper, Punjab education minister Daljit Singh Cheema refused to comment.
The border region is notorious for its heroin trails. In 2014, the BSF seized 370kg of heroin from the area. Till August last year, the seizure was 240kg.
Pathankot used to be part of Gurdaspur district but was later carved out as a separate district.
Surrounded by paddy fields, most of the villages in both districts are well connected to cities by roads. Amid multi-storey houses that suggest a certain degree of prosperity, one facility stands out in Pathankot town: a drug de-addiction centre.
Most of the occupants are said to be aged between 18 and 25. "During the militancy in the 1980s, thousands of young people were killed and reported missing. Now, the drug trade is killing the young," Manjit Singh, a primary school teacher in Pathankot, said.
Official perspective
In order to tackle the terrorists, the government deep-selected army commandos below the age of 30 years serving with the National Security Guard (NSG) and flew them to Pathankot.
Maj. Gen. Dushyant Singh, the inspector-general (operations) of the NSG, was deliberately placed in command because he had served in the region and also because he was the senior-most of the operational officers. Nine columns of the army were also deployed.
The review of the operations so far says the army and the NSG shared responsibility. Just as the NSG does not have equipment - like Cassipir mine-protected vehicles and BMPs (troop-carriers armed with cannons) - the army does not have some of the specialised weapons with the NSG, such as stun grenades. They were asked to pool in resources.
Air Marshal S.B. Deo, the western air chief, was asked to coordinate the movement of forces to limit casualties that could have occurred in the event of crossfires. The coordination was required because of multiple agencies that were deployed in the same counter-terrorist mission.
"Everyone was doing what he was best at. You cannot call it a mistake of planning or decision-making," the executive familiar with the assessment said, presenting a perspective from within the security establishment.
"There may have been a fault in training or execution. The first advantage in such a situation is always with the attacker. So after they attacked the DSC (Defence Security Corps) and killed them, we knew where they were and we confined them to a small space. Often, you have to take a decision. And the decision was taken promptly on January 1 itself. Everyone was on board. Right or wrong, we cannot be faulted for being indecisive," said the executive.
The assessment regards the operations on the night of January 2 as crucial. These were conducted after Union home Minister Rajnath Singh had tweeted (and later deleted the tweet) that five militants had been killed and that operations were drawing to a close. In reality, four had been killed by then but their bodies had not been taken into custody.
The force commander was advised to switch on all floodlights, including the headlights of vehicles, inside the base. The forces were also asked to open fire every 15 minutes or so through the night, whether they spotted the attackers or not.
The next firefight was also near the DSC guardroom, which showed that the tactic worked. "The idea was to tell the terrorists that we are here and we want you to know that we are here," said the executive.
Additional reporting by Imran Ahmed Siddiqui in Pathankot

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160108/jsp/frontpage/story_62779.jsp#.Vo7-0lR97IU

Yupa as flagpost, Indus Script evidences of proclamation from Girsu, Ancient Near East to Candi Sukuh, Ancient Far East

$
0
0
Mirror: http://tinyurl.com/z2uzntd
I suggest that yupa inscriptions and yupa found in archaeological sites of Kalibangan and Binjor (in fact, in almost every single site of the civilization) are flags hoisted as proclamations of metalwork signified by Somayaga in the Vedic tradition. 
This Vedic tradition exemplified by flasposts is seen in an extensive civilizational contact area from Haifa, Israel to Hanoi, Vietnam which is, in effect, the Ancient Maritime Tin Road which preceded by 2 millennia, the Ancient Silk Road. The Tin Road linked the tin belt of the world with the regions which demanded tin to create tin-bronzes during the urban revolution unleashed by the Bronze Age.

This is an addendum to http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2016/01/casala-on-octagonal-sivalinga-as-yupa.html  

A flagpost is  proclamation. sangaDa 'lathe''portable furnace' as a device in front of the one-horned young bull is also sangara 'proclamation'. 

The significance of the yupa with caSAla in a somayaga gets replicated, as an abiding Indus Script hieroglyph-multiplex hypertext, on many artifacts from an extensive contact zone from the Ancient Near East to Ancient Far East. 

The tradition of processions of flagposts with hieroglyphs atop continued in Sumer/ Mesopotamia as may be seen from the following example:
 



Cylinder seal with kneeling nude heroes, ca. 2220–2159B.C.; Akkadian Mesopotamia Red jasper; H. 1 1/8 in. (2.8 cm), Diam. 5/8 in. (1.6 cm) (L.1992.23.5)
"Four representations of a nude hero with six sidelocks of hair appear on this cylinder seal. Each wears a three-strand belt with a tassel. In all cases, the hero kneels on one knee and with both hands holds up a gatepost standard in front of his raised leg. Two vertical lines of inscription, one placed before a hero and another placed behind a second hero, give the name as Shatpum, son of Shallum, but do not provide an official title. Placed vertically in the field, a serpent appears behind one hero. In the spaces between the tops of the standards are four symbols: a sun disk, a lunar crescent, a fish, and a vase with flowing streams of water."
The heroes carrying the standard are signified by six curls on hair.
baTa 'six' rebus: bhaTa 'furnace' meDh 'curl' rebus: meD 'iron (metal)'.
Cylinder seal with kneeling nude heroes, ca. 2220–2159 b.c.; Akkadian  Mesopotamia Red jasper H. 1 1/8 in. (2.8 cm), Diam. 5/8 in. (1.6 cm)  Metropolitan Museum of Art - USA
Four flag-posts(reeds) with rings on top held by the kneeling persons define the four components of the iron smithy/forge.  

The key hieroglyph is the hood of a snake seen as the left-most hieroglyph on this rolled out cylinder seal impression. I suggest that this denotes the following Meluhha gloss: 

Hierogyph: A. kulā 'hood of serpent' Rebus: kolle 'blacksmith'; kolhe 'smelter' kol 'working in iron'

Alternative: paṭam n. < phaṭa. ‘cobra's hood’  phaṭa n. ʻ expanded hood of snake ʼ MBh. 2. *phēṭṭa -- 2. [Cf. phuṭa -- m., °ṭā -- f., sphuṭa -- m. lex., °ṭā -- f. Pañcat. (Pk. phuḍā -- f.), sphaṭa -- m., °ṭā-- f., sphōṭā -- f. lex. and phaṇa -- 1. Conn. words in Drav. T. Burrow BSOAS xii 386]1. Pk.  phaḍa -- m.n. ʻ snake's hood ʼ, °ḍā -- f., M. phaḍā m., °ḍī f.2. A. pheṭ,  phẽṭ. (CDIAL 9040). Rebus: ‘sharpness of iron’: padm (obl.padt-) temper of iron (Kota)(DEDR 3907); patam ‘sharpness, as of the edge of a knife’ (Tamil) Alternative complementary reading: <naG bubuD>(Z)  {N} ``^cobra''.  |<naG> `?'.  ^snake.  *IA<naG>.  ??is IA form <naG> or <nag>?  #23502. nāgá1 m. ʻ snake ʼ ŚBr. 2. ʻ elephant ʼ BhP. [As ʻ ele- phant ʼ shortened form of *nāga -- hasta -- EWA ii 150 with lit. or extracted from nāga -- danta -- ʻ elephant tusk, ivory ʼ < ʻ snake -- shaped tusk ʼ].
1. Pa. nāga -- m. ʻ snake ʼ, NiDoc. nāǵa F. W. Thomas AO xii 40, Pk. ṇāya -- m., Gy. as.  JGLS new ser. ii 259; Or. naa ʻ euphem. term for snake ʼ; Si. nay,nayā ʻ snake ʼ. -- With early nasalization *nāṅga -- : Bshk. nāṅg ʻ snake ʼ. -- Kt. Pr. noṅ, Kal. nhoṅ ʻ name of a god < nāˊga -- or ← Pers. nahang NTS xv 283. 2. Pa. nāga -- m. ʻ elephant ʼ, Pk. ṇāya -- m., Si. nā. śiśunāka -- . (CDIAL 7039) Rebus: nāga2 n. ʻ lead ʼ Bhpr. [Cf. raṅga -- 3] Sh. naṅ  m. ʻ lead ʼ  (< *nāṅga -- ?), K. nāg m. (< *nāgga -- ?).(CDIAL 7040) cf. annaku, anakku 'tin' (Akkadian) நாகம் nākam  Black lead; காரீயம். (பிங்.) 9. Zinc; துத்தநாகம். (பிங்.) 10. A prepared arsenic; பாஷாணவகை (Tamil).

There is a possibility that the hieroglyph was intended to convey the message of an alloying metal like lead or tin or zinc which had revolutionised the bronze age with tin-bronzes, zinc-copper brass and other alloys to substitute for arsenical copper to make hard weapons and tools.  It is instructive that zinc was called tuthunāg which might have referred to the sublimate of zinc and calamine collected in the furnaces in Zawar. See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2014/02/metallurgists-of-mewad-meluhha.html


The leftmost hieroglyph shows ingots in a conical-bottom storage jar (similar to the jar shown on Warka vase (See Annex: Warka vase), delivering the ingots to the temple of Inanna). Third from left, the overflowing pot is similar to the hieroglyph shown on Gudea statues. Fourth from left, the fish hieroglyph is similar to the one shown on a Susa pot containing metal tools and weapons. (See Susa pot hieroglyphs of bird and fish: Louvre Museum) Hieroglyph: meṇḍā ʻlump, clotʼ (Oriya) On mED 'copper' in Eurasian languages see Annex A: Warka vase).

(similar to the jar shown on Warka vase (See Annex: Warka vase), delivering the ingots to the temple of Inanna). Third from left, the overflowing pot is similar to the hieroglyph shown on Gudea statues. Fourth from left, the fish hieroglyph is similar to the one shown on a Susa pot containing metal tools and weapons. (See Susa pot hieroglyphs of bird and fish: Louvre Museum) Hieroglyph: meṇḍā ʻlump, clotʼ (Oriya) 

On mED 'copper' in Eurasian languages:

Wilhelm von Hevesy wrote about the Finno-Ugric-Munda kinship, like "Munda-Magyar-Maori, an Indian link between the antipodes new tracks of Hungarian origins" and "Finnisch-Ugrisches aus Indien". (DRIEM, George van: Languages of the Himalayas: an ethnolinguistic handbook. 1997. p.161-162.) Sumerian-Ural-Altaic language affinities have been noted. Given the presence of Meluhha settlements in Sumer, some Meluhha glosses might have been adapted in these languages. One etyma cluster refers to 'iron' exemplified by meD (Ho.). The alternative suggestion for the origin of the gloss med 'copper' in Uralic languages may be explained by the word meD (Ho.) of Munda family of Meluhha language stream:
Sa. <i>mE~R~hE~'d</i> `iron'.  ! <i>mE~RhE~d</i>(M).
Ma. <i>mErhE'd</i> `iron'.
Mu. <i>mERE'd</i> `iron'.
  ~ <i>mE~R~E~'d</i> `iron'.  ! <i>mENhEd</i>(M).
Ho <i>meD</i> `iron'.
Bj. <i>merhd</i>(Hunter) `iron'.
KW <i>mENhEd</i>
@(V168,M080)
http://www.ling.hawaii.edu/austroasiatic/AA/Munda/ETYM/Pinnow&Munda
— Slavic glosses for 'copper'
Мед [Med]Bulgarian
Bakar Bosnian
Медзь [medz']Belarusian
Měď Czech
Bakar Croatian
KòperKashubian
Бакар [Bakar]Macedonian
Miedź Polish
Медь [Med']Russian
Meď Slovak
BakerSlovenian
Бакар [Bakar]Serbian
Мідь [mid'] Ukrainian[unquote]
Miedź, med' (Northern Slavic, Altaic) 'copper'.  
One suggestion is that corruptions from the German "Schmied", "Geschmeide" = jewelry. Schmied, a smith (of tin, gold, silver, or other metal)(German) result in med ‘copper’. 

Four flag-posts(reeds) with rings on top held by the kneeling persons define the four components of the iron smithy/forge

Hieroglyph: staff: మేడెము [ mēḍemu ] or మేడియము mēḍemu. [Tel.] n. A spear or dagger. ఈటె, బాకు. The rim of a bell-shaped earring, set with ems.రాళ్లుచెక్కిన౛మికీ అంచుయొక్క పనితరము. "క ఓడితినన్నన్ వారక మేడెముపొడుతురె." BD. vi. 116.


Hieroglyph: meṇḍa 'bending on one knee': మండి [ maṇḍi ] or మండీ manḍi. [Tel.] n. Kneeling down with one leg, an attitude in archery, ఒక కాలితో నేలమీద మోకరించుటఆలీఢపాదముमेट [ mēṭa ] n (मिटणें) The knee-joint or the bend of the knee. मेटेंखुंटीस बसणें To kneel down. Ta. maṇṭi kneeling, kneeling on one knee as an archerMa. maṇṭuka to be seated on the heels. Ka. maṇḍi what is bent, the knee. Tu. maṇḍi knee. Te. maṇḍĭ̄ kneeling on one knee. Pa. maḍtel knee; maḍi kuḍtel kneeling position. Go. (L.) meṇḍā, (G. Mu. Ma.) minḍa knee (Voc. 2827). Konḍa (BB) meḍa, meṇḍa id.  Pe. menḍa id.  Manḍ.  menḍe id.  Kui menḍa id.  Kuwi (F.) menda, (S. Su. P.) menḍa, (Isr.) meṇḍa id. Cf. 4645 Ta. maṭaṅku (maṇi-forms). / ? Cf. Skt. maṇḍūkī- part of an elephant's hind leg; Mar. meṭ knee-joint. (DEDR 4677) Rebus: mẽṛhẽt, meḍ 'iron' (Mu.Ho.)


Hieroglyph: எருவை eruvai European bamboo reed. See கொறுக்கச்சி. (குறிஞ்சிப்.) Rebus: 817 Ta. eruvai blood, (?) copper. Ka. ere a dark-red or dark-brown colour, a dark or dusky colour; (Badaga) erande sp. fruit, red in colour. Te. rēcu, rēcu-kukkaa sort of ounce or lynx said to climb trees and to destroy tigers; (B.) a hound or wild dog. Kol. resn a·te wild dog (i.e. *res na·te; see 3650). Pa. iric netta id. Ga.(S.3rēs nete hunting dog, hound. Go. (Ma.) erm ney, (D.) erom nay, (Mu.) arm/aṛm nay wild dog (Voc. 353); (M.) rac nāī, (Ko.) rasi ney id. (Voc. 3010). For 'wild dog', cf. 1931 Ta. ce- red, esp. the items for 'red dog, wild dog'.


patākā f. ʻ flag ʼ MBh. 2. paṭākā -- f. lex. 3. *phaṭākā -- . [Prob. ← a non -- Aryan word containing p(h)aṭ aryanized with t EWA ii 200] 1. Pa. patākā -- f. ʻ flag ʼ. 2. Pa. paṭāka -- n., Pk. paḍāga -- m., paḍāyā -- , paḍāiā -- f., mh. paḍāha -- m.; G. paṛāi f. ʻ paper kite ʼ.

3. Kal.rumb. phŕā ʻ flag ʼ; Or. phaṛkā (perh. influenced by Or. phaṛa -- phaṛa ʻ with a sudden movement ʼ s.v. *phaṭ -- ). Addenda: patākā -- . 2. paṭākā -- : S.kcch. paṛāī f. ʻ paper kite ʼ.(CDIAL 7726)

mūhā mẽṛhẽt 'iron smelted by the Kolhes and formed into an equilateral lump a little pointed at each of four ends.' (Note ingots in storage pot superfixed on the crucible hieroglyph).

paTam 'snake hood' Rebus: padm 'sharpness' paṭa ‘hood of snake’. Rebus: padm ‘tempered, sharpness (metal)’. nāga 'serpent' Rebus: nāga 'lead (alloy)'


Ta. paṭam instep. Ma. paṭam flat part of the hand or foot. Pe. paṭa key palm of hand. Manḍ. paṭa kiy id.; paṭa kāl sole of foot. Kuwi. (Su.) paṭa nakipalm of hand. (DEDR 3843)
పదును (p. 0710) [ padunu ] or పదను padunu. [Tel. పది+ఉను.] Temper, sharpness, whetting,  Go. (ASu.) padnā sharpness. Konḍa padnu being ready for use (as oilseed being preparèd for pressing), sharpening (of knife by heating and hammering). Ta. patamsharpness (as of the edge of a knife),Ko. padm (obl. padt-) temper of iron.(DEDR 3907)

Ta. patam cobra's hoodMa. paṭam id. Ka. peḍe id. Te. paḍaga id. Go. (S.) paṛge, (Mu.) baṛak, (Ma.) baṛki, (F-H.) biṛki hood of serpent (Voc. 2154). / Turner, CDIAL, no. 9040, Skt. (s)phaṭa-, sphaṭā- a serpent's expanded hood, Pkt. phaḍā- id. For IE etymology, see Burrow, The Problem of Shwa in Sanskrit, p. 45.(DEDR 45 Appendix) phaṭa n. ʻ expanded hood of snake ʼ MBh. 2. *phēṭṭa -- 2. [Cf. phuṭa -- m., °ṭā -- f., sphuṭa -- m. lex., °ṭā -- f. Pañcat. (Pk. phuḍā -- f.), sphaṭa -- m., °ṭā -- f., sphōṭā -- f. lex. and phaṇa -- 1. Conn. words in Drav. T. Burrow BSOAS xii 386] 1. Pk. phaḍa -- m.n. ʻ snake's hood ʼ, °ḍā -- f., M. phaḍā m., °ḍī f. 2. A. pheṭphẽṭ.(CDIAL 9040)






Hieroglyph: मेढा (p. 665) [ mēḍhā ] A twist or tangle arising in thread or cord, a curl or snarl.(Marathi. Molesworth)Rebus: mẽṛhẽt, meḍ 'iron' (Mu.Ho.)


The top of each of the four posts is signified by an 'octagonal' (?) vajra rebus: 'thunderbolt weapon'. The flagpost also has a ring comparable to the ring described for a Somayaga Yupa in Satapatha Brahmana. Somayaga is a Soma सं-√ स्था a [p=1121,2]A1. -तिष्ठते ( Pa1n2. 1-3 , 22 ; ep. and mc. also P. -तिष्ठति ; Ved. inf. -स्थातोस् A1pS3r. ) , to stand together , hold together (pf. p. du. -तस्थान्/ए , said of heaven and earth) RV.  ; to build (a town) Hariv.  ; to heap , store up (goods) VarBr2S. occupation , business , profession W.
Shapes of Yupa: A. Commemorative stone yupa, Isapur – from Vogel, 1910-11, plate 23; drawing based on Vedic texts – from Madeleine Biardeau, 1988, 108, fig. 1; cf. 1989, fig. 2); C. Miniature wooden yupa and caSAla from Vaidika Samsodana Mandala Museum of Vedic sacrificial utensils – from Dharmadhikari 1989, 70) (After Fig. 5 in Alf Hiltebeitel, 1988, The Cult of Draupadi, Vol. 2, Univ. of Chicago Press, p.22)

Isapur Yupa inscription (102 CE, dated in year 24 in Kushana king Vasishka's reign) indicates performance of a sattra (yajna) of dvadasarAtra, 'twelve nights'. (Vogel, JP, The sacrificial posts of Isapur, Annual Report of the Archaeological Survey of India, 1910-11: 40-8).The Isapur yupa is comparable to the ring and vajra atop the flagpost of Jasper cylinder seal. http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2016/01/octagonal-yupo-bhavati-satapatha.html
(See the comparable orthography of the vajra carried by Vajrapani on a sculptural frieze from Peshawar).


Relief narrating the visit of Buddha and Vajrapani to an ascetic. From Hoti Mardan Guide Mess, Peshawar, n. 2066, 2nd-3rd cent. CE c. http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2015/12/binjor-fire-altar-with-octagonal-yasti.html

This is an announcement of four shops, पेढी (Gujarati. Marathi). पेंढें rings Rebus: पेढी shop.āra ‘serpent’ Rebus; āra ‘brass’. kara'double-drum' Rebus: kara'hard alloy'.
Specific materials offered for sale/exchange in the shop are: hard alloy brass metal (ayo, fish); lokhaṇḍ(overflowing pot) metal tools, pots and pans, metalwarearka/erka  copperkammaa (a portable furnace for melting precious metals) coiner, mint  Thus, the four shops are: 1. brass alloys, 2. metalware, 3. copper and 4. mint (services).
erãguḍu bowing, salutation (Telugu) iṟai (-v-, -nt-) to bow before (as in salutation), worship (Tamil)(DEDR 516). Rebus: eraka, eaka any metal infusion (Kannada.Tulu) eruvai ‘copper’ (Tamil); ere dark red (Kannada)(DEDR 446).
puṭa Anything folded or doubled so as to form a cup or concavity; crucible. Alternative: ḍhālako = a large metal ingot (G.) ḍhālakī = a metal heated and poured into a mould; a solid piece of metal; an ingot (Gujarati)
Allograph: ढाल [ ḍhāla ] f (S through H) The grand flag of an army directing its march and encampments: also the standard or banner of a chieftain: also a flag flying on forts &c. ढालकाठी [ ḍhālakāṭhī ] f ढालखांब m A flagstaff; esp.the pole for a grand flag or standard. 2 fig. The leading and sustaining member of a household or other commonwealth. 5583 ḍhāla n. ʻ shield ʼ lex. 2. *ḍhāllā -- . 1. Tir. (Leech) "dàl"ʻ shield ʼ, Bshk. ḍāl, Ku. ḍhāl, gng. ḍhāw, N. A. B. ḍhāl, Or. ḍhāḷa, Mth. H. ḍhāl m.2. Sh. ḍal (pl. °le̯) f., K. ḍāl f., S. ḍhāla, L. ḍhāl (pl. °lã) f., P. ḍhāl f., G. M. ḍhāl f. WPah.kṭg. (kc.) ḍhāˋl f. (obl. -- a) ʻ shield ʼ (a word used in salutation), J. ḍhāl f. (CDIAL 5583).

They are four Glyphs: paṭākā ‘flag’ Rebus: pāṭaka, four quarters of the village.

kã̄ḍ reed Rebus: kāṇḍa ‘tools, pots and pans, metal-ware’. 
1. Pk. kamaḍha -- , °aya -- m. ʻ bamboo ʼ; Bhoj. kōro ʻ bamboo poles ʼ. 2. N. kāmro ʻ bamboo, lath, piece of wood ʼ, OAw.  kāṁvari ʻ bamboo pole with slings at each end for carrying things ʼ, H. kã̄waṛ°arkāwaṛ°ar f., G. kāvaṛf., M. kāvaḍ f.; -- deriv. Pk. kāvaḍia -- , kavvāḍia -- m. ʻ one who carries a yoke ʼ, H. kã̄waṛī°ṛiyā m., G. kāvaṛiyɔ m. 3. S. kāvāṭhī f. ʻ carrying pole ʼ, kāvāṭhyo m. ʻ the man who carries it ʼ. 4. Or. kāmaṛā°muṛā ʻ rafters of a thatched house ʼ; G. kāmṛũ n., °ṛī f. ʻ chip of bamboo ʼ, kāmaṛ -- koṭiyũ n. ʻ bamboo hut ʼ. 5. B. kāmṭhā ʻ bow ʼ, G. kāmṭhũ n., °ṭhī f. ʻ bow ʼ; M. kamṭhā°ṭā m. ʻ bow of bamboo or horn ʼ; -- deriv. G. kāmṭhiyɔ m. ʻ archer ʼ. 6. A. kabāri ʻ flat piece of bamboo used in smoothing an earthen image ʼ. 7. kã̄bīṭ°baṭ°bṭī,  kāmīṭ°maṭ°mṭī,  kāmṭhīkāmāṭhī f. ʻ split piece of bamboo &c., lath ʼ.(CDIAL 2760). kambi f. ʻ branch or shoot of bamboo ʼ lex. Pk. kaṁbi -- , °bī -- , °bā -- f. ʻ stick, twig ʼ, OG. kāṁba; M. kã̄b f. ʻ longitudinal division of a bamboo &c., bar of iron or other metal ʼ. (CDIAL 2774). कंबडी [ kambaḍī ] f A slip or split piece (of a bamboo &c.)(Marathi)
The rings atop the reed standard: पेंढें [ pēṇḍhēṃ ] पेंडकें [ pēṇḍakēṃ ] n Weaver's term. A cord-loop or metal ring (as attached to the गुलडा of the बैली and to certain other fixtures). पेंडें [ pēṇḍēṃ ] n (पेड) A necklace composed of strings of pearls. 2 A loop or ring. Rebus: पेढी (Gujaráthí word.) A shop (Marathi)Alternative: koiyum [ko, koṭī  neck] a wooden circle put round the neck of an animal (Gujarati) Rebus:ācāri koṭṭya = forgekammārasāle (Tulu)

Six curls shown on the hairstyle of carriers of flagposts:

Allograph: The six curls on the kneeling person’s head denote an copper-brass smelter:

erugu = to bow, to salute or make obeisance (Telugu) Rebus: eraka ‘copper’.
Glyphs: six (numeral) + ring of hair: आर [ āra ] A term in the play of इटीदांडू,--the number six. (Marathi) आर [ āra ] A tuft or ring of hair on the body. (Marathi) Rebus:  arā ‘brass’.

मेढा mēḍhā A twist or tangle arising in thread or cord, a curl or snarl. (Marathi) Rebus: meḍ ‘iron’ (Ho.)bha‘six (hair-curls)’ Rebus: bhaa  ‘furnace’.  

saman = to offer an offering, to place in front of; front, to front or face (Santali) Rebus: samobica, stones containing gold (Mundari) samanom = an obsolete name for gold (Santali) [bica ‘stone ore’ (Munda):meṛed-bica = iron stone ore, in contrast to bali-bica, iron sand ore (Munda]
"... head and torso of a human but the horns, lower body and legs of a bull...Baked clay plaques like this were mass-produced using moulds in southern Mesopotamia from the second millennium BCE. British Museum. WCO2652Bull-manTerracotta plaque. Bull-man holding a post. Mesopotamia, ca. 2000-1600 BCE." 
Terracotta. This plaque depicts a creature with the head and torso of a human but the horns, lower body and legs of a bull. Though similar figures are depicted earlier in Iran, they are first seen in Mesopotamian art around 2500 BC, most commonly on cylinder seals, and are associated with the sun-god Shamash. The bull-man was usually shown in profile, with a single visible horn projecting forward. However, here he is depicted in a less common form; his whole body above the waist, shown in frontal view, shows that he was intended to be double-horned. He may be supporting a divine emblem and thus acting as a protective deity.
Old Babylonian, about 2000-1600 BCE From Mesopotamia Length: 12.8 cm Width: 7cm ME 103225 Room 56: Mesopotamia
Baked clay plaques like this were mass-produced using moulds in southern Mesopotamia from the second millennium BCE. While many show informal scenes and reflect the private face of life, this example clearly has magical or religious significance.
Hieroglyph carried on a flagpost by the blacksmith (bull ligatured man: Dhangar 'bull' Rebus: blacksmith'): karava 'pot with narrow neck' karNaka 'rim of jar' Rebus: kharva 'nidhi, wealth, karba 'iron'; karNI 'supercargo' karNIka 'scribe'.

Archaeologically attested yupa. 
Girsu (Tlloh) archaeological find. 11 ft. tall copper plated flagpost. This may relate to a period when 
Girsu (ca. 2900-2335 BCE) was the capital of Lagash at the time of Gudea. http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2015/08/indus-script-unravels-announcement-of.html
A soldier and a Mari dignitary who carries the standard of Mari. Detail of a victory parade, from the Ishtar temple, Mari, Syria. 2400 BCE Schist panel inlaid with mother of pearl plaques. Louvre Museum.
One reedpost has a 'scarf' hieroglyph ligatured at the top (the context of metalwork is seen from a 'fish' hieroglyph: aya 'fish' Rebus: aya 'metal'). This reedost is seen on Warka vase. Another reedpost has a 'ring' hieroglyph ligatured at the top.  This flagpost is seen on a jasper cylinder seal.

Such a flagpost is seen on a Gudea cup, held by Mus-hussu (dragon):

On this cylinder seal, the flagposts with rings are shown together with hieroglyphs of: a person carrying an antelope (like the hioeroglyph shown on Shu-ilishu Meluhha translator cylinder seal), overflowing water, fishes, crucible, mountain range, sun (Source: http://enenuru.net/html/gal/urukprocexpl.htm)

The context of metalwork is seen from the 'scarf' hieroglyph: dhatu 'scarf' Rebus: dhatu 'mineral'. 

The context of a smithy/forge is seen from the 'ring' hieroglyph: koiyum [ko, koṭī  neck] a wooden circle put round the neck of an animal (Gujarati)  Rebus: ācāri koṭṭya = forge, kammārasāle (Tulu)

Two types of flagposts are seen in some Ancient Near East artifacts in the context of metalwork: 1. reedpost with scarf; and 2. reedpost with ring. 

Hieroglyph: Ta. eruvai European bamboo reed; a species of Cyperus; straight sedge tuber. Ma. eruva a kind of grass.(DEDR 819) Rebus: Ta. eruvai blood, (?) copper. Ka. ere a dark-red or dark-brown colour, a dark or dusky colour (DEDR 817)

The reedpost with scarf occurs in a pair: dula 'pair' Rebus: dul 'cast metal' and denotes the warehouse which receives ingots of cast metal.

The reedpost with ring occurs on a jasper cylinder seal with four holders of four reedposts. The holders have six locks of hair as semantic determinatives.  Hieroglyph: पेंडें [ pēṇḍēṃ ] n (पेड) A loop or ring.Rebus:  पेठ or पेंठ (p. 527) [ pēṭha or pēṇṭha ] f ( H) A manufacturing or trading town, an emporium, a mart: also a markettown.  pēṭhpēṭaka 'caravanserai'. The hieroglyph multiplexed signify a caravensarai from a trading emporium or trading town of copper, metal implements and products from smithy/forge.

Hieroglyph: baTa 'six' Rebus: bhaTa 'furnace'.

Hieroglyph: मेढा (p. 665) [ mēḍhā ] A twist or tangle arising in thread or cord, a curl or snarl.(Marathi. Molesworth)Rebus: mẽṛhẽt, meḍ 'iron' (Mu.Ho.). Thus the hieroglyph multiplex signifies iron furnace. 

On the jasper cylinder seal the four reedpost holders (with six hair curls) are signified by semantic determinatives of four hieroglyphs: 1. crucible PLUS storage pot of ingots, 2. sun, 3. narrow-necked pot with overflowing water, 4. fish 

A hooded snake is on the edge of the composition. (The dark red color of jasper reinforces the semantics: eruvai 'dark red, copper' Hieroglyph: eruvai 'reed'; see four reedposts held. 

1. Hieroglyph: OP. koṭhārī f. ʻ crucible ʼ(CDIAL 3546) Rebus: koṭhār 'treasury, warehouse'
2. Hieroglyph: arka 'sun' (Kannada) Rebus: arka, eraka 'copper'
3. Hieroglyph: overflowing pot: lokhaNDa 'overflowing pot' Rebus: lokhANDa 'metalware, pots and pans of metal, metal implements'
4. Hieroglyph: aya 'fish' Rebus: aya 'iron' ayas 'metal' (Rigveda)

Thus, the four holders of four reedposts with attached ring display metalwork of a smithy/forge announcing metal implements, iron, copper and iron.


On many hierolyph multiplexes, water-buffalo (rã̄go) is associated with kANDa 'overflowing water'. The rebus renderings are: rāṅgā khaNDA 'zinc alloy implements'. The semantics of khaNDa 'implements' is attested in Santali: me~r.he~t khaNDa 'iron implements'. 

Santali glosses

A lexicon suggests the semantics of Panini's compound अयस्--काण्ड [p= 85,1]  m. n. " a quantity of iron " or " excellent iron " , (g. कस्का*दि q.v.)( Pa1n2. 8-3 , 48)(Monier-Williams).


From the example of a compound gloss in Santali, I suggest that the suffix -kANDa in Samskritam should have referred to 'implements'. Indus Script hieroglyphs as hypertext components to signify kANDa 'implements' are: kANTa, 'overflowing water' kANDa, 'arrow' gaNDa, 'four short circumscript strokes'.

Hieroglyph: kāṇḍam காண்டம்² kāṇṭam, n. < kāṇḍa. 1. Water; sacred water; நீர். துருத்திவா யதுக்கிய குங்குமக் காண் டமும் (கல்லா. 49, 16). Rebus: khāṇḍā ‘metal tools, pots and pans’ (Marathi) 

Hieroglyhph: <lo->(B)  {V} ``(pot, etc.) to ^overflow''.  See <lo-> `to be left over'.  @B24310.  #20851. <lo->(B)  {V} ``to be ^left over, to be ^saved''.  Caus. <o-lo->.  @B24300.  #20861.(Munda etyma)

Rebus: loh ‘copper’ (Hindi) 

The hieroglyph multiplex clearly refers to the metal tools, pots and pans of copper.  लोहोलोखंड [ lōhōlōkhaṇḍa ] n (लोह & लोखंड) Iron tools, vessels, or articles in general.रुपेशाई लोखंड [ rupēśāī lōkhaṇḍa ] n A kind of iron. It is of inferior quality to शिक्केशाईलोखंड [ lōkhaṇḍa ] n (लोह S) Iron. लोखंडाचे चणे खावविणें or चारणें To oppress grievously. लोखंडकाम [ lōkhaṇḍakāma ] n Iron work; that portion (of a building, machine &c.) which consists of iron. 2 The business of an ironsmith. लोखंडी [ lōkhaṇḍī ] a (लोखंड) Composed of iron; relating to iron. 2 fig. Hardy or hard--a constitution or a frame of body, one's हाड or natal bone or parental stock. 3 Close and hard;--used of kinds of wood. 4 Ardent and unyielding--a fever. 5 लोखंडी, in the sense Hard and coarse or in the sense Strong or enduring, is freely applied as a term of distinction or designation. Examples follow. लोखंडी [ lōkhaṇḍī ] f (लोखंड) An iron boiler or other vessel. लोखंडी जर [ lōkhaṇḍī jara ] m (लोखंड & जर) False brocade or lace; lace &c. made of iron.लोखंडी रस्ता [ lōkhaṇḍī rastā ] m लोखंडी सडक f (Iron-road.) A railroad. 

See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2015/08/ancient-near-east-rosetta-stones-of.html


Alternative: ḍhālako = a large metal ingot (G.) ḍhālakī = a metal heated and poured into a mould; a solid piece of metal; an ingot (Gujarati)
Allograph: ढाल [ ḍhāla ] f (S through H) The grand flag of an army directing its march and encampments: also the standard or banner of a chieftain: also a flag flying on forts &c. ढालकाठी [ ḍhālakāṭhī ] f ढालखांब m A flagstaff; esp.the pole for a grand flag or standard. 2 fig. The leading and sustaining member of a household or other commonwealth. 5583 ḍhāla n. ʻ shield ʼ lex. 2. *ḍhāllā -- . 1. Tir. (Leech) "dàl"ʻ shield ʼ, Bshk. ḍāl, Ku. ḍhāl, gng. ḍhāw, N. A. B. ḍhāl, Or. ḍhāḷa, Mth. H. ḍhāl m.2. Sh. ḍal (pl. °le̯) f., K. ḍāl f., S. ḍhāla, L. ḍhāl (pl. °lã) f., P. ḍhāl f., G. M. ḍhāl f. WPah.kṭg. (kc.) ḍhāˋl f. (obl. -- a) ʻ shield ʼ (a word used in salutation), J. ḍhāl f. (CDIAL 5583).

The yupa shown next to the dancing Ganesa on Candi Sukuh frieze is also comparable to the Yupa held on Jasper cylinder seal.

Spoked-wheel standard, safflower hierolyph. Fire-altar pedestal of Tukulti-Ninurta I, 1243-1208 BCE Ishtar temple, Assur. Shows the king standing flanked by two standard-bearers; the standard has a spoked-wheel hieroglyph on the top of the staffs and also on the volutes of the altar frieze. http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2014/02/wheel-meluhha-bronze-age-hieroglyph-of.html करंडा [karaṇḍā] A clump, chump, or block of wood. 4 The stock or fixed portion of the staff of the large leaf-covered summerhead or umbrella. करांडा [ karāṇḍā ] m C A cylindrical piece as sawn or chopped off the trunk or a bough of a tree; a clump, chump, or block.

करडी karaḍī ] f (See करडई) Safflower: also its seed.

Rebus: karaḍa 'hard alloy' of arka 'copper'. Rebus: fire-god: @B27990.  #16671. Remo <karandi>E155  {N} ``^fire-^god''.(Munda)

Glyphic element: erako nave; era = knave of wheel. Glyphic element: āra ‘spokes’. Rebus: āra ‘brass’ as in ārakūṭa (Skt.) Rebus: Tu. eraka molten, cast (as metal); eraguni to melt (DEDR 866) erka = ekke (Tbh. of arka) aka (Tbh. of arka) copper (metal); crystal (Ka.lex.) cf. eruvai = copper (Ta.lex.) eraka, er-aka = any metal infusion (Ka.Tu.); erako molten cast (Tu.lex.) Glyphic element: kund opening in the nave or hub of a wheel to admit the axle (Santali) Rebus: kunda ‘turner’ kundār turner (A.); kũdār, kũdāri (B.); kundāru (Or.); kundau to turn on a lathe, to carve, to chase; kundau dhiri = a hewn stone; kundau murhut = a graven image (Santali) kunda a turner's lathe (Skt.)(CDIAL 3295). 


arká1 m. ʻ flash, ray, sun ʼ RV. [√arc] Pa. Pk. akka -- m. ʻ sun ʼ, Mth. āk; Si. aka ʻ lightning ʼ, inscr. vid -- äki ʻ lightning flash ʼ.(CDIAL 624) அருக்கன் arukkaṉ, n. < arka. Sun; சூரி யன். அருக்க னணிநிறமுங் கண்டேன் (திவ். இயற். 3, 1).(Tamil) agasāle ‘goldsmithy’ (Kannada) అగసాలి [ agasāli ] or అగసాలెవాడు agasāli. n. A goldsmith. కంసాలివాడు. (Telugu) erka = ekke (Tbh. of arka) aka (Tbh. of arka) copper (metal); crystal (Kannada) cf. eruvai = copper (Tamil) eraka, er-aka = any metal infusion (Ka.Tu.); erako molten cast (Tulu) Rebus: eraka = copper (Ka.) eruvai = copper (Ta.); ere - a dark-red colour (Ka.)(DEDR 817). eraka, era, er-a = syn. erka, copper, weapons (Ka.) erka = ekke (Tbh. of arka) aka (Tbh. of arka) copper (metal); crystal (Kannada) akka, aka (Tadbhava of arka) metal; akka metal (Te.) arka = copper (Skt.) erako molten cast (Tulu)  

At the head of each nome was a nomarch. Each ruler Menes claims unification of nomes demonstrated on standards carried in processions holding aloft hieroglyphs on flagposts. 
Image result for meluhha processionm0490, m0491 
Nahal Mishmar arsenical-copper artifacts (with hieroglyphs), 4th millennium BCE.

 Flagposts on boat. Dong Son bronze drum hieroglyphs.

Processions with flagposts was a signature tune of the metalworkers of the Bronze Age in an extensive area stretching from Haifa, Israel to Hanoi, Vietnam.


S. Kalyanaraman
Sarasvati Research Center
January 8, 2016

Global scholarly community gobbledegook -- Radha Rajan. NaMo, nationalise kaalaadhan.

$
0
0
Radha Rajan's comment (January 20, 2016):

"We of the global scholarly community make an urgent appeal that justice be done in the most recent case of caste discrimination in Indian higher education....."
This is the open letter which a gang of self-righteous and downright hypocritical academics have written to the viuce chancellor of the Hyderabad university. These gangsters ca;ll themselves "global scholarly community" which is self-proclaimed polite for global generic church funded university teaching staff. You will see from the names listed below this letter that american teaching staff in american universities are in the forefront of tilting at indian windmills.

Let me point friends on this list to a brilliant book titled - A Little Matter of Genocide: Holocaust and Denial in the Americas from 1492 to the Present. By Ward Churchill.

This and David Stannard's book on the American genocide of native americans are the best on this issue.
This bunch of so called scholars must tell me where were they when all america, including its universities, its polity and even the judiciary hounded Ward Churchill because as David Stannard pointed out in his foreword to Chirchill's book on native amenrican genocide, Ward Churchill is treading on powerful corns. Ward Chuirchill had independent views on the history of his people and independent views about the white race. He had such views aboutseptember 11. I lost my nephew to September 11 but I will be the first to admit that there is probably more to September 11 than is being talked or written about.

But Ward Chirchill questi0ned the popilar version and horror of horrors he did as emionent scholar sitting inside an american university.
America had to silence Ward Chirchill and had to silence hiom by defaming and discrediting him as scholar. The entire might of white america descended on ward Chirchill and finished him. All that poor pathetic America could find against Ward Chirchill was plagiarism for god's sake and his university tenure was taken away from him.
Julain Assange had to be discredited and defamed and America found a bi9mbo to say she was raped by Assange. So ward Chiurchill is finished with plagiarism accusation and Assange is finished with accusation of rape. 
I would like some newspaper, some news channel some online news portal to carry if they dare, the story of Ward Chiurchill's persecution in America. 
And these thugs which write to the vice chancellor of the Hyderabad university let them show me the letter they write to the university of colorado in Boulder protesting Churchill's persecution.


The Double Tragedy In Rohith Vemula’s Suicide: Dalitism Has Become The New Brahminism
Dalitism is heading in a new direction imbibing exclusivism and chauvinism that is beyond criticism, just like Brahmanism in ancient times. Any criticism makes you a casteist.
R Jagannathan
Jagannathan is Editorial Director, Swarajya. He tweets at @TheJaggi.

The tragic suicide of Rohith Vemula, a bright student of the University of Hyderabad who was suspended for allegedly being involved in campus violence, shows nobody in a good light. The BJP, whose ministers appear to have sought action against the students who may have roughed up an ABVP activist, cannot escape some degree of moral responsibility for Vemula’s suicide, even though they would not have had any inkling about the mental state he was in when he took his own life. The least they can do is show true contrition. Nor can the vice-chancellor who finally acted against the students’ escape scrutiny. Or the members of the Ambedkar Students’ Association (ASA) who seem to have been over-belligerent in their actions on campus. Or, for that matter, the ABVP.
But the biggest indictments must be reserved for two phenomena: the politics of Dalitism that actually is little more than rabid casteism clothed in the garb of radical activism, and the political voyeurism set off by Vemula’s suicide. This is evident from the empty posturing by everyone from Rahul Gandhi to Arvind Kejriwal to Mamata Banerjee, who now think Vemula is a good stick to beat the BJP with. The hypocrisy of it all is evident from the fact that it is Vemula’s Dalit identity that brought them or their representatives to Hyderabad.
Consider how these politicians have actually done precisely the thing that Vemula lamented. In his suicide note, Vemula said that he didn’t want responsibility for his death attributed to anybody, and – even more significantly – he regretted that “the value of a man was reduced to his immediate identity and nearest possibility. To a vote. To a number. To a thing. Never was a man treated as a mind.”
But this is precisely what the politicians are doing – reducing Vemula to a Dalit victim, “to a vote”, “to a thing”. Vemula is not a human tragedy for them, but a Dalit one. Period.
From all accounts, Vemula was not someone trying to wear his Dalit identity on his sleeve; he got his university admission through merit and not an SC quota. But a Dalit is what he has been reduced to. Ambedkar would have been proud of Vemula’s achievements, obtained through personal effort and interest. But what his death has achieved is a descent of political vultures feeding on his tragedy.
This is also a good time to look at where Dalit campus politics is headed. On the Hyderabad campus and also more recently at IIT, Madras, Dalit associations have been busy trying to provoke Hindus with deliberate pretences of loving beef (which is fine, they are free to do so), with intellectuals like Kancha Ilaiah loudly seeking the demise of Hinduism itself. This is also the logic of the Ambedkar-Periyar association, with modern-day Dalits reducing the fight against casteism to a fight against Hinduism.
Ambedkar, despite his own bitter experiences with upper caste oppression, was for the “annihilation of caste” and not the annihilation of Hinduism. But modern-day hate-mongers like Ilaiah think the two are one and the same thing. This is like saying that since virulent jihadism is a major offshoot of radical Islam, Islam itself must be shut down.

Ambedkar, who used logic and reason to arrive at all his conclusions about caste and various religions, at one point suggested inter-dining and inter-caste marriages as the solution to casteism but probably moved away from this position since it would have involved forcing individuals to do something that they may not want. He was thus a true liberal. Instead, he saw urbanisation and market forces as the natural enemies of casteism. This is why he exhorted Dalits to move to urban areas. He had a positive attitude towards capitalism.
History has proved him right, for today the biggest dent in casteist attitudes is being made by rapid urbanisation and market economics. In crowded urban areas, you seldom think caste in your official attitudes and market forces ensure that merit is given precedence over kinship and nepotism. In most metros, caste is relevant only in arranged marriages, where it is entirely human to do so. In economic areas, Ambedkar’s true intellectual successors are the now growing breed of Dalit capitalists and small businessmen who take pride in the fact they can now give jobs to even the upper castes, and not be beholden to them. They are defeating caste by showing they can succeed on their own efforts. This was also Vemula’s attitude, who wanted nothing more than to become the next Carl Sagan.
Unfortunately, Ambedkar did not reckon with the negative fallout of first-past-the-post electoral politics, where a 30-35 percent minority vote can win you an election. So the political system has tended to reinforce caste identities rather than undermine them.
On the positive side, all political parties now court the Dalit vote, and Ambedkar is now the only national icon cutting across all party lines. But radical Dalitists, instead of lauding this trend, want to confine Ambedkar to merely a Dalit icon.
It is unfortunate the Dalits have reduced Ambedkar – whose real place in history should be as one of India’s greatest public intellectuals, humanists and social emancipators – to a private property of Dalits.
The deliberate erection of the Dalit identity in today’s social discourse as inviolable and non-critiquable is no different from the creation of the Brahmin identity in ancient times. Dalits are the new Brahminists of modern day India. Ambedkar, a humanist, would not have approved of the direction in which Dalitism is heading – a new kind of exclusivism and chauvinism that is beyond criticism. Any criticism makes you a casteist.


Smritiji has in her Media meet has smashed bogus arguments of Christian missionary driven affluent "Dalit" rabble rousers and their lies

Rohith Vemula’s death not a matter of caste battle: Smriti Irani

  • HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
  •  |  
  • Updated: Jan 20, 2016 16:53 IST

HRD minister Smriti Irani said on Wednesday the death of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula was unfortunate but caste had no role in it.

“This is not a Dalit versus non-Dalit issue as being projected by some to ignite passion,” Irani said in Delhi while rejecting allegations that her ministry had put pressure on Hyderabad Central University to suspend Vemula.
“The document which is being circulated as Rohith Vemula’s suicide does not mention any name or MP or minister,” Irani said in response to allegations that Union minister Bandaru Dattatreya got the student suspended and accused him of being “anti-national”.
Vemula ended his life on Sunday in the University of Hyderabad after his suspension following an alleged clash with a leader of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, which is affiliated to the RSS. BJP leaders are concerned that the nationwide outrage over the suicide may seriously affect its electoral strategy.
“The document which is being circulated as Rohith’s suicide note does not mention any MP, any university official or an organization,” Irani told a news conference.
“A group of students allegedly attacked another student; we have ascertained that this is not a Dalit vs non-Dalit confrontation,” she said. “The students challenged the order of suspension from hostel, HC refused to put a stay on the order,” she added.
“My request is to be extremely responsible, I will not comment on unsubstantiated reports,” Irani said to questions over a caste angle in Vemula’s suicide.

TTP claims Bacha Khan University attack, 21 killed

$
0
0
January 20, 2016
PESHAWAR: Unidentified gunmen entered Bacha Khan University in Khyber Pakhtunkha’s Charsadda town Wednesday and opened fire on students and faculty members as they gathered at the school for a poetry recital to commemorate the death anniversary of the activist and leader whom the school is named after.
The mastermind of the APS Peshawar attack, Omar Mansoor, of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed the attack through a post on his Facebook page, adding that four attacker were sent to the university.
As the military announced the end of the clearance operation, mass casualties were feared in the attack reminiscent of the deadly December 2014 terrorist attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar which left over 140 dead — most of them students.
Sources added that the four attackers were wearing suicide vests but were killed by security forces' before they could detonate their explosives.
Key updates:
  • Police confirm 21 dead
  • Military says 4 attackers killed, gunfire over
  • Armed assailants scaled university walls and opened fire
  • Multiple blasts were heard along with continuous heavy gunfire
  • 3,000 students enrolled at university

Clearance operation underway

Military spokesperson Lt.Gen Asim Bajwa said four attackers have been killed. Security personnel, including SSG personnel went inside the school to control the situation.
Security forces cordoned off a one-storey house, situated around a kilometre from the university's boundary wall, where three terrorists were believed to be holed up. It was later declared clear by military personnel.
The terrorists gave stiff resistance to security forces as they engaged in an operation to clear the school over several hours. Intelligence sources said eight to 10 terrorists were inside the school, adding that they were between 18 and 25 years old, were wearing civilian clothes and had their faces covered.
A security official is pictured at the site of the attack holding an RPG — DawnNewsA security official is pictured at the site of the attack holding an RPG — DawnNews
The families of students lined up outside the school. Journalists and all other non-essential personnel were asked to stay back in order to not interfere with the ongoing security operation. Up to 20 ambulances entered the university to rescue the injured.

Provincial Minister Shah Farman told journalists 54 security guards were stationed at the university. He said around 200 people were present in the examination hall all of whom were rescued and "timely action by police and army has prevented large scale damage".

21 killed

“The death toll in the terrorist attack has risen to 21,” regional police chief Saeed Wazir told AFP without specifying if that included the four militants the army stated it had killed.
He said the operation had ended and security forces were clearing the area, with most of the student victims shot dead at a hostel for boys on the campus.
The medical superintendent at District Headquarter Hospital, Charsadda confirmed 18 dead. DHQ Charsadda's officials also stated that casualties had cuts on the bodies, probably inflicted from a sharp-edged weapon.
An Edhi volunteer earlier said he had seen the bodies of at least 15 persons.
One Rescue 1122 official said, "The boys section [of the hostel] has been affected. Victims have mostly been hit by bullets."
A man consoles a relative of a victim from the university attack — DawnNewsA man consoles a relative of a victim from the university attack — DawnNews
"Around 90 per cent of the area has been cleared. Over 70 per cent students have been rescued."
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) provincial spokesperson Shaukaut Yousafzai said between 50 to 60 people were wounded. He added there was no prior threat about an attack.
At least three to four security guards were injured, an eye-witness who managed to come out of the premises said. The Associated Press quoted police as saying gunmen killed an assistant professor and a student in the attack.
Dr Syed Hamid Hussain, an assistant professor who was killed in the attack — DawnNewsDr Syed Hamid Hussain, an assistant professor who was killed in the attack — DawnNews
DIG Saeed Wazir confirmed that two students and assistant professor Dr Hamid, who taught organic chemistry at the school, have been killed in the attack.
“All students have been evacuated from the hostels, but militants are still hiding in different parts of the university and some students and staff are stuck inside,” Wazir said.
Television footage showed soldiers entering the campus as ambulances lined up outside the main gate and anxious parents consoled each other.
Security personnel pictured outside the university — ReutersSecurity personnel pictured outside the university — Reuters
A rescue official talking to DawnNews quoted a rescued student as claiming that 60 to 70 students had been shot in the head by the attackers. The student added that the attack is reminiscent of the Army Public School Peshawar attack.
The claim could not be independently verified.

Eyewitness: 'The attackers were just like us'

A student speaking to DawnNews said the attackers who has penetrated the building appeared to be young.
"The attackers were like us ─ they were very young. They carried AK-47 guns. They wore jackets like the forces do... We were in the hostel sleeping as we don't have classes.
"There are no classes at the university currently, there may be around 200-300 students in the hostel."
A view of the Bacha Khan University — courtesy university Facebook pageA view of the Bacha Khan University — courtesy university Facebook page
"There was firing between attackers and security forces. After everything was over, the army men knocked on our room and told us we were safe."

Eyewitness: 'I saw a militant firing'

Geology student Zahoor Ahmed said he had tried to leave his hostel after hearing shots fired.
“(We) were stopped by our chemistry lecturer who advised us to go inside.
He was holding a pistol in his hand,” he said.
“Then I saw a bullet hit him. I saw two militants were firing. I ran inside and then managed to flee by jumping over the back wall, “

Eyewitness: 'Attackers took positions'

According to one eyewitness who escaped the university, the attackers had taken position at the entry points of the school. "I saw three attackers engaged in an exchange of fire with security guards of the university. One was positioned at the roof, another near the corner and the third near the wall."
"We rescued the university's guards and then I saw the attackers engage the arriving police party."
Attackers are believed to be on the second and third floors of the campus buildings.
Shabir Khan, a lecturer in the English department, said he was about to leave the hostel for the department when firing began.
“Most of the students and staff were in classes when the firing began,” Khan said. “I have no idea about what's going on but I heard one security official talking on the phone to someone and said many people had been killed and injured.”

Eyewitness: 'My friend was killed'

A student speaking to DawnNews said two security personnel were killed. "A hostel friend of mine was killed, two security personnel were killed as well."
"The gunmen attacked the registrar office. Our professor was killed, his name is Hamid. Some students have also been killed. A friend of mine was so scared he jumped from the university building."

Eyewitness: 'We had no firearms to protect ourselves'

A computer science student who was rescued from the university said the poetry recital event to commemorate Bacha Khan's death anniversary was to begin at 10:30am.
"The university [security] on common days is enough to perplex students. They have five security checks. But the security is only for students and not VIPs," he said.
"In the beginning, there was just firing. There were attackers in the stairwell. We had no arms to counter them."
"In the Pushto Department and Computer Science blocks I saw at least three attackers."

Emergency imposed at hospitals

Rescue officials say some 50 students were rescued from the premises.
Out of these 50, five students were injured and have been shifted to District Headquarters Hospital, Charsadda for treatment. An emergency has been imposed in all hospitals in the town.
A view of military personnel at the Bacha Khan University. — DawnNewsA view of military personnel at the Bacha Khan University. — DawnNews
Snipers have taken position around the premises, with monitoring being provided by aerial assets.

'University not adequately secured'

An eyewitness rescued from the university said the university was not adequately secured, especially at the backside of the building, which had low boundary walls.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Member of Provincial Assembly Arshad Ali told Dawnnews that the attackers entered the university after scaling its walls.
MPA Fazal Shakoor, who was elected from Charsadda, says army contingents have also arrived at the scene and that firing is continuing.
Former provincial health minister Shaukat Yousafzai speaking at the site said, "This is a frontline province. We are fighting Pakistan's war in this province."
"This is international terrorism. This province is a target of terrorism. We are making full efforts to combat terrorism and it has dropped. The backs of terrorists have been broken and they are breathing their last. This stunt is an attempt to breathe life into their cause."
Soldiers gather outside Bacha Khan University where an attack by militants took place, in Charsadda. -ReutersSoldiers gather outside Bacha Khan University where an attack by militants took place, in Charsadda. -Reuters
Eyewitnesses report having heard three blasts inside the university.
The state-run PTV quotes DSP Charsadda as saying that three armed men entered the university premises and opened fire. Television reports added that a large contingent of security forces had reached the site.
A helicopter of the Pakistan Army is monitoring the situation from the air. — DawnNewsA helicopter of the Pakistan Army is monitoring the situation from the air. — DawnNews
Speaking to DawnNews via telephone, a woman inside the university says intense firing is underway. The woman asked for help, saying assistance be sent to the premises.
The attack on the university comes on the death anniversary of Bacha Khan and it began as a mushaira (poetry recitation) was underway at the premises. Around 3,000 students are enrolled at the university.
“There are male and female staff members and students on the campus,” Fazal Raheem Marwat, the university vice chancellor, said, adding he had been on his way to work when he was informed of the attack.
A wounded person is being rescued from the Bacha Khan University.— DawnnewsA wounded person is being rescued from the Bacha Khan University.— Dawnnews
Security forces had earlier conducted search operations in adjoining areas and claimed that four wanted men had been arrested. Weapons and army and police uniforms were also recovered from the arrested men.
A map of the attack siteA map of the attack site
Charsadda is a district in Pakistan’s northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and has been a scene of several militant attacks during the past decade. The region is mostly rural in its makeup and lies 40 kilometres from Peshawar.

Condemnations pour in

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a statement issued from Zurich said he is "deeply grieved" over the attack at the university.
"Those killing innocent students and citizens have no faith and religion," the statement said. "We are determined and resolved in our commitment to wipe out the menace of terrorism from our homeland."
The prime minister is in Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan said, "I will visit Charsadda and the attack site to review the situation. I will review if we are at fault or not."
"We are all on the same page, the whole nation stood united after the APS attack."
The PTI chairman added that they have also asked KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak to return as soon as possible from England.

Attack was feared

Rumours of possible terrorist attacks on schools had been circulating in Peshawar and surrounding rural areas over the last week, forcing some schools to close educational institutions early.
District administration had directed some schools to close their campuses for one day (last Saturday) insisting there were reports of possible terrorist attacks on them.

Video updates

Pakistan Army soldiers reach the university where the attack is underway and a number of staff and students are believed to be held hostage

A telephone operator with the university who was rescued by security forces speaks to the media.

An eye-witness told DawnNews the firing began around 9:15 am and attackers managed to enter the premises of the university from the back walls.
A rescue official told DawnNews ambulances under police and army supervision were engaged in rescuing people inside the varsity. PTI provincial spokesperson Shaukaut Yousafzai said 'terrorists are breathing their last and wanted to pull something in their last days'
http://www.dawn.com/news/1234200/ttp-claims-bacha-khan-university-attack-21-killed

TTP claims Bacha Khan University attack, 21 killed

TTP claims Bacha Khan University attack, 21 killed

Military says four terrorists have been killed, university premises secure. Attack claimed by mastermind of APS.
UPDATED ABOUT A MINUTE AGO
RELATED

Why CPI(M) is cosying up to Congress in West Bengal -- Kanchan Gupta. Ideological, political bankruptcy combine

$
0
0

Why CPI(M) is cosying up to Congress in West Bengal

The Leftist party is hoping that the Grand Old Party doesn’t ally with Mamata Banerjee's TMC.  

|   20-01-2016
Social gatherings, for instance wedding receptions, or for that matter birthday parties and memorial prayer services, in Lutyens' Delhi are invariably power shows meant to demonstrate the clout of the host.
The higher the number of politicians, bureaucrats, businessmen, fixers and Bollywood stars who put in a fleeting appearance before moving on to the next show, the greater the clout of the host.
Assessment
Hence, there is little social chit-chat among the guests, apart from exchanging unfelt pleasantries. The arrivistes chase the rich and famous for a selfie, politicians and fixers use the crowd cover to fix deals, journalists strain their ears to pick up chatter or simply chat up those in the know, hoping to grab a story. All the while tens of scores of eyes shiftily dart around, trying to find a pretty face to pose with, a power daddy to cut a deal, a politician game for a gossip session.
It was at one such gathering, ostensibly a wedding reception where the bride and the groom stood with plastic smiles on a red velvet-draped stage while the who's who of India's movers and shakers hugged and air-kissed each other in a swirling mass of designer apparel, that I ran into an old friend, once a student leader and now a CPI(M) MP.
Together we stood out like a pair of sore thumbs in our shabby clothes and scuffed shoes.
So we fled to a corner of the sprawling lawn, and had a delightful adda over piping hot kebabs served by liveried waiters who would look suspiciously at us before proffering the platter. Clearly we did not belong, but neither did we care.
To cut a long story short, he gave me a no-frills assessment of the coming Assembly election in West Bengal. The essence of what he told me can be summed up in one sentence: On its own, the Left did not have a ghost of a chance to win the election but if the Congress were not to join hands with the Trinamool Congress, the result could be disastrous for chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
The CPI(M)'s own assessment is that the TMC's assured vote-share at the moment hovers around 35 to 37 per cent. The bulk of this support comes from the state's Muslim voters who, after a free run for five years with no attempt by the administration to halt the rising tide of Islamism, are unlikely to break with Mamata. A third of West Bengal's voters are Muslims; in several constituencies they are way above the 33 per cent mark.
If the CPI(M) MP's assessment is to be believed, the Hindu voter has begun to drift away from the TMC: how far is a question to which he had no answer.
Alliance
To win the election Mamata needs an additional 10-12 per cent votes, and that could be ensured if the Congress were to ally with the TMC. In 2011, they contested the Assembly election as allies, sweeping the polls with 48.54 per cent vote-share.
The TMC won 184 seats, the Congress 42. The Left, with 41.12 per cent vote share, won 62 seats. In the Lok Sabha election of 2014, there was no TMC-Congress alliance. With 39 per cent vote-share, the TMC won 34 seats. The Left, with 29 per cent vote share, got two seats. A resurgent BJP's 16 per cent vote-share did the Left in.
It is anybody's guess as to where the BJP stands in West Bengal today. Between the summer of 2014 and that of 2016, the Modi wave has receded, though Narendra Modi's popularity ratings could still be higher than others.
In West Bengal, a listless state BJP leadership, widely perceived as "compromised", has clearly failed to maintain the surge of 2014, leave alone add to it. Local elections have seen the party decimated, including in Asansol, one of the two constituencies where the BJP won in 2014.
The Asansol MP, a minister in the Modi government, has been spotted singing at TMC events.
If the BJP were to return to its pre-2014 vote-share, the 2011 election would become the benchmark for projecting 2016 results. In any event Assembly polls follow a trajectory of their own, as Bihar (and before that Delhi) has shown. It is in this context that weaning the Congress away from the TMC becomes important for the CPI(M).
This would explain Mohammed Salim, MP and Politburo member, calling on the Congress to go with the Left. That was further elaborated by former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee: "Everyone has to stand up to the Trinamool. We are now asking the Congress too... Which side are you on?"
Bankruptcy
The answer cannot be an easy one. The Congress will be fighting the Left in Kerala where too, Assembly election is due this year. Foes in Kerala cannot be allies in West Bengal.
That's a no-brainer. What the Marxists are really appealing for is that the Congress should not join hands with the TMC. Meanwhile, Mamata, who dumped the Congress soon after the 2011 election and gambled on a four-way vote split in 2014, has initiated a rapprochement with the Congress. Her personal relations with Congress president Sonia Gandhi are excellent. So are relations between Sonia Gandhi and CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury. What happens next is Rahul Gandhi's guess.
Politics is a strange beast that devoured ideology long ago. Why else would the CPI(M) be knocking at the door of its "Enemy Number One" as a supplicant? In 1998 the CPI(M) had grandly declared: "The Congress party has degenerated both politically and organisationally. It is a party in decline." The wheel turned half circle when the CPI(M) collaborated with the Congress during the UPA-I years.
It has now turned full circle with an ideologically-bankrupt party pathetically appealing for help from a politically-bankrupt party. Politics is also a multiple-trick circus. We may yet witness two parties in terminal decline winning a three-legged race in West Bengal. After Bihar, everything is possible.

Writer

Kanchan GuptaKANCHAN GUPTA @kanchangupta
The writer is a political commentator.
http://www.dailyo.in/politics/west-bengal-mamata-banerjee-tmc-congress-cpim-muslims-sitaram-yechury-sonia-gandhi-asansol-bjp/story/1/8554.html

Data mining of Indus Script Corpora evidences 10 major advances in Bronze Age metallurgy

$
0
0
Mirror: http://tinyurl.com/gnzoaag

Many innovations and advances can be identified in history of metallurgy. The objective of this note is NOT to identify the chronological sequences or the precise locations where such advances or innovations were first archaeologically identified. 


According to the evidence provided by deciphered Indus Script Corpora dated ca. 2500 BCE (from ca. 3300 BCE to 1900 BCE), I submit a list of ten major advances in ancient metallurgy documented and identified. On top of this list is the invention (ca. 3300 BCE) of Indus Script Cipher to create metalwork catalogues as documented data archives which have helped in data mining to identify metallurgical advances beyond the Chalcolithic (English /ˌkælkəlˈlɪθɪk/; Greek: χαλκός khalkós, "copper" and λίθος líthos, "stone") phase into the Bronze Age of ca. 4th millennium BCE:










1. Identity of three dhAtu 'mineral elements' (Fig. 1)

2. Creation of hard metal by pyrolysis/carburization using , 'wheat chaff' as vajra atop of an octagonal yupa or kambha, leading to production of vajra sanghAta 'adamantine glue' (or carburization of wrought iron into crucible steel) (Fig.2)

3. Creation of hard metal by process of mixing mineral elements and processes of cementation/cupellation with the intermediation of bones (Fig.3)

4. Identification of zinc and tin as minerals (Fig.4 Zinc, Fig.5 Tin)
5. Identification of magnetite, hematite and laterite as ferrous minerals (Fig.6 magnetite, Fig. 7 hematite, Fig. 8 laterite)
6. Cire perdue (lost-wax) casting method which constituted an advance over casting in stone molds or use of anvil to forge implements (Fig.9, Fig. 10)
7. ayas, ams'u (ancu) in Soma yaga signified by octagonal skambha (Fig. 4)
8. kammaTa 'coiner, mint' work to create copper tablets as documentation and print media by transferance of ferrous oxide pigments (Fig.11)

9. Cosmic dancer as a parallel creation process for transmutation of earth and stones into metals; hence, kole.l 'temple' replicated in kole.l 'smithy, forge' (Fig. 12, 13, 14)

10. Shaping metal implements, tools, weapons paralleling and improving upon forms and functions of lithic- chalro-lithic tools (Fig.15)



Brahma Siva and Vishnu as a lingam, Kashmir sculpture (Unprovenanced) Remarkable features of this sculpture are the quadrangular base of the Skambha (as linga). I submit that the inscribed 'arrow' is an Indus Script hieroglyph. kaNDa 'arrow' rebus: khaNDa 'implements' with the intermediation of kambha 'pillar' (and चषालः caṣāla, 'wheat chaff' to carburize and harden wrought iron).Image result for trefoil mohenjodaro
Fig. 1 Trefoil signifies tri-dhAtu 'three strands' rebus: 'three minerals' Maybe, magnetite, hematite, laterite (This is surmised because of the unique Indus Script hieroglyphs which signify these minerals subjected to smelter/furnace processes.).Image result for bijnor altar

Image result for bijnor altarFig. 2 Binjor Soma Yaga Kunda with an octagonal yupa (perhaps with a caSAla, vajra on top as 'wheat chaff' as described in Satapatha Brahmana)

(See discussions in the embedded article by Atalkar et al. 2006.)

Fig 3 Kalibangan Soma Yaga Kunda wih a quadrangular base of yupa (bones were found)










Fig. 4 h182A,B Tablet with indus script. Five svastika hieroglyphs  dasta 'five' (Kafiri) rebus: jasta, sattva 'zinc'

Image result for tin ingot haifa

Fig. 5 Tin ingots discovered in Haifa with Indus Script hieroglyphs Inscribed tin ingot with a moulded head, from Haifa (Artzy, 1983: 53). (Michal Artzy, 1983, Arethusa of the Tin Ingot, Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, BASOR 250, pp. 51-55) Face on this tin ingot: mũhe ‘face’ (Santali) Rebus: mũh ‘ingot’ (Santali). The three hieroglyphs are: ranku 'antelope' Rebus: ranku 'tin' (Santali) ranku 'liquid measure' Rebus: ranku 'tin' (Santali). = cross (Te.); dhatu = mineral (Santali) Hindi. dhānā ‘to send out, pour out, cast (metal)’ (CDIAL 6771). [The 'cross' or X hieroglyph is incised on all three tin ingots found in a shipweck in Haifa.This could also denote vajra, as signified in Vajrapani sculptures] 

Fig. 6 Nausharo. Storage jars painted with zebu (hieroglyph) tied to a post, near a tree poLa ‘zebu, bull dedicated to the gods’ Rebus: poLa ‘magnetite’. Hieroglyph: baa 'quail'; bhaa 'furnace' (G.); baa 'a kind of iron' (Gujarati.) 

Fig. 7 Samarra bowl Scorpion as hieroglyph. Six women, curl in hair, six scorpions. 

bhasix ; rebus: bhafurnace. मेढा [mēhā] A twist or tangle arising in thread or cord, a curl or snarl (Marathi). S. mī˜hī f., °ho m. ʻ braid in a woman's hair ʼ, L. mē̃hī f.; G. mĩlɔ, mi° m. ʻbraid of hair on a girl's forehead ʼ (CDIAL 10312). मेंढा [ mēṇḍhā ] A crook or curved end (of a stick, horn &c.) and attrib. such a stick, horn, bullock.मेढा [ mēhā ] A twist or tangle arising in thread or cord, a curl or snarl. Rebus: mē̃ iron (Mu.) meha M. mehi F.twisted, crumpled, as a horn; meha deren a crumpled horn (Santali) bichā 'scorpion' (Bengali. Oriya) rebus: bicha 'hematite' bicha, bichā ‘scorpion’ (Assamese) Rebus: bica ‘stone ore’ (Mu.) sambr.o bica = gold ore (Mundarica) meed-bica = iron stone ore, in contrast to bali-bica, iron sand ore (Mu.lex.) 

Cylindr seal with a zebu, scorpion, man, snake, and tree. Enstatite. H. 2.6 cm (1 in.); Dia 1.55 cm (3/ 3/8 in.). Mesopotamia, Ur, U 16220 Lte 3rd millennium BCE. Scorpion as hieroglyph,bicha rebus bicha: 'hematite' together with poLa 'zebu' rebus: poLa 'magnetite'

Image result for faience tablet leafless bharatkalyan97Fig. 8 Rectangle with a pair of 12 dots on Harappa faience tablet; deciphered: metalcasting artisans Hieroglyph: गोटा [ gōṭā ] 'roundish pebble' Rebus 1: खोट (p. 212) [ khōṭa ] f A mass of metal (unwrought or of old metal melted down); an ingot or wedge. Rebus 2: goTa 'laterite (ferrous ore)' dula 'pair' rebus: dul 'cast metal' कारु [ kāru 'twelve' Rebus: 'artisans'
Fig. 9 cire perdue. bronze. Woman with a lamp.
Image result for dong son bronze drumImage result for dong son bronze drumFig. 10 cire perdue. Dong Son bronze drum tympanum with Indus script hieroglyphs kamaTha 'frog' rebus: kammaTa 'coiner, mint' kanka 'heron' rebus: kanga 'brazier. These remarkable artifacts indicate the possibility of a Tin Road Maritime Route which extended from Hanoi (Tin belt of Mekong river) to Haifa ca. 4th millennium BCE, preceding the Silk Road of ancient times.
Image result for copper tablets indusFig. 11 Copper tablets inscribed with Indus Script hieroglyphs signify kamaDha 'archer' rebus: kammaTa 'coiner, mint' loa 'ficus' rebus: loh 'copper' kamaTha 'crab' rebus: kammaTa 'coiner, mint' dato 'claws' rebus: dhatu 'mineral' dula 'pair' rebus: dul 'cast metal'

Image result for skambha ekamukha linga bhutesvarFig. 12 One of six sivalingas found in Harappa. 
Image result for skambha ekamukha linga bhutesvarFig. 13 Ekamukha linga atop a smelter with tree in background kuTi 'tree' rebus: kuThi 'smelter' 
Fig. 14 Veneration of Sivalinga as Skambha, yupa fiery pillar of light. Amaravati sculptural frieze.
Fi. 15 Sheffield of Ancient Near East. Metalware catalog in London News Illustrated, November 21, 1936.A 'Sheffield of Ancient India: Chanhu-Daro's metal working examples.
S. Kalyanaraman
Sarasvati Research Center
January 20, 2016
Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, Vol. 5(2), April 2006, pp. 259-262 Preparation and testing of herbal adamantine glue as described in Brhatsamhita
P S Atalkar1, Y B Baraskar1, P P Holey2, J Y Deopujari3 & S A Mandavgane1*
1Priyadarshini Institute of Engineering & Technology, Near CRPF, Shivangaon, Nagpur 440 019, Maharashtra;
2Laxminarayan Institute of Technology, Nagpur 440010;3Dhanvantari Hospital, Dharampeth, Nagpur 440 010, Maharashtra
E-mail: mandavgane@rediffmail.com
Received 16 December 2004; revised 28 May 2005
Brhatsamhita of Varaha-Mihira (5-6th century AD) describes the materials and methods of cementing material in chapter Vajralepa. This chapter describes three different ways of adamantine glue preparations using either metal alloys or animal matters using herbal components. Although detailed information about the procedure and composition of adamantine glue from metal alloys or animal matters is given, no such detailed information is available regarding preparation of herbal adamantine glue. In this study, an attempt has been made to get the optimum composition and efficient procedure for preparation of herbal glue. The methodology suggested is found to give maximum bond strength of 97 KPa. The adamantine glue is ecofriendly and hygienic. The study may provide useful insight into the chemistry of green cement. There were ample uses of glue in the temple architecture of that period, the remains of which bear testimony to the strength of these cements.
Key words: BrhatsamhitaVaraha-Mihira, Adamantine glue, Green cement, Herbal glue
IPC Int. Cl.8: C09H3/00, C09J11/00

Scientist all over the world are making efforts to develop novel synthetic methods, reaction conditions, analytical tools, catalysts and processes under the new paradigm of green chemistry. Green chemistry is an innovative use of feed stock reagents, solvents, products or byproducts that have potential or proven hazards to the environment and public health. Thus, green chemistry is a fundamental and important tool in accomplishing pollution prevention by using chemistry in benign way. This modern approach clearly reflects in traditional Indian science and philosophy, such as scripture Brhatsamhita compiled by Varahmihir in 325 BC1Varahmihir is one of the greatest scientists of ancient India, who has contributed in as many as 108 disciplines.

One of the disciplines in Brhatsamhita is adamantine glue called  Vajralepa. Brhatsamhita describes several preparations of Vajralepa, which means coatings as strong as thunder bolt. The subject of preparation of adamantine glue is closely connected with that of construction of temples, mansions, etc. as it was very essential for fixing idols, and in constructing walls when cement and other modern materials were unknown. Even now, the glue known as Astabandha is prepared in temple premises for fixing images of God. The ancient scripture on engineering and technology refers three main formulations of adamantine glue, i.e. using metals and alloys, animal matters and herbal.

 Adamantine glue using metal:


The cement, Vajra-sanghata is to be compounded of 8 parts of lead, 2 parts of bell metal and 1 part of brass, melted and poured hot. It is stated that when this type of cement is applied to temple, etc. they last for around thousand years. Vajra-sanghata means, composition as hard as thunderbolt.

 

Adamantine glue using animal matter:


This type of glue is called as Vajratala, which is constituted by horns of cows, buffaloes and goats, hair of donkeys, buffalo-hide, cowhide, neem fruits, apples and myrrh. This mixture is boiled and reduced to eighth of its original volume.

Adamantine glue using herbal material:


The process for preparation of Vajralepa consists of making a concentrated aqueous extract of finely ground fruits, seeds, flowers and barks of plants rich in gummy and resinous substances by boiling and reducing the decoction to one eighth of original volume. This is then mixed up with naturally occurring resins and resinous substances and made into paste. The paste is heated and applied to walls of temples and houses. This cement is believed to make things on which it is applied lasts for thousand years. In some preparations of Vajralepa, addition of mercury has also been recommended.

 

Methodology


Another reference of herbal adamantine glue is mentioned in Shloka 3 and 4. The glue was use in construction of temples, mansions, windows, walls and wells, as well as in fixing Siva’s emblems and idols of Gods.

The details of the contents of the herbal adamantine glue are depicted in shloka 3 but the optimum proportion is not mentioned. These two shlokas are explored in detail in this paper. Efforts are made to optimize the composition of the glue making use of the components given in shloka 3.

Composition, chemical constituents and biological activities of the raw materials have been discussed2-7.

Amlaka (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.)

The chemical constituents of Amlaka are galic acid, tanic acid, resin, sugar, albumin, cellulose and minerals, mainly calcium. Since it contains resinous material and calcium, it contributes to strength of the glue.

Bilwa (Aegle marmelos Correex Roxb.)

Bilva is found all over India. The fruit contains 4.6% sugars, 9% tannin in the pulp and 20% in the rind. The seeds yield bitter fatty oil (11.9%), the gummy mucous substance surrounding seeds serves as good adhesive. It is more abundant in young fruits. When mixed with lime, it is utilized as cement and the mixture sets firmly and rapidly.

Kapittha (Feronia limonia Swingle)

The tree is found all over India. Pulp contains a large quantity of lime and iron therefore when used in cementing material imparts strength.

Madanfal (Randia spinosa Poir)

Madanfal trees get ripen in cold season. Owing to high tannin content, the fruits are highly astringent. The fruits extract exhibit excellent insecticidal, and insect repellent properties. The fruits are used as colour intensifier in calico printing.

Madhuka (Cynometra ramiflora Linn.)

Madhuka flowers are rich sources of sugar and contain appreciable amount of calcium. It also contains Betaine and salts of maleic, succinic acid and essential oil.

Tinduka (Diospyros paniculata Dalz.)

Tinduka is used as fish poison. It mainly conatin pectin (50%), tannin (15%), hexacosane, hexacosanol, monohydroxyl ketone, lupeol, and sallic acid. Pectin shows astringency, which is helpful for glue.

Neemba (Azadirachta Indica A. Juss.)

It is common all over India. It is reputed to posses anthelmintic and insecticidal properties.

Manjistha (Rubia cordifolia Linn.)

Its root contains resinous matter, gum, colouring matter, and salts of lime. These properties of Manjistha makes it vital constituent of adamantine glue.

Nagfala (Canthium parviflorum Lam.)

It has medicinal properties. The fruits are sweet, and also called as Shikari meva.

 

Guggulu (Commiphora mukul Engl.)

The gum resin is obtained by incision in the bark. Each plant yields about 1.5-2 lb of the product, which is collected in cold seasons. The resin contains 4.65% foreign matter, and 1.45% aromatic essential oils besides gum and resin.

Kapitthaparni (Boswellia serrata Roxb.)

It is a gum resin known as Indian olibanum and used as incense. The oil is used for paint making, which dries within 24 hrs. Varnishes prepared with one part rosin and 1-2 parts turpentine oil, when applied to wood, dry slowly to a clear bright hard coat.

Laksha (Cateria lacca)

Laksha (Lac) is the excreta of the insects. Lac is found to be the major component contributing to the strength of the materials. It is resinous protective exudation of tiny insect parasitic on certain trees cultivated as a source of scarlet dye, and hard resin. It is subsidiary cash crop in many parts of India. Eighty per cent of world production of Lac comes from India.
Shellac (purified lac) is employed in admixture with resin, baryles, kaolin, pigments, etc. in preparation of sealing wax. Shellac reacts with vegetable oil fatty acid, and glycerin is used as a base for varnishes, which on baking yield pliable waterproof films on cloth, and soft films on metals and paper dish. Hydrolyzed shellac yields plastic compositions suitable for steam- jointing, bottle lopping and cork sealing.

 

Rasa (Commiphora roxburghii Engl.)

It contains resin-myrrh (27-50%) and gum (30-60%). The constituents like calcium phosphate, and calcium carbonate of Rasa gives strength when used in cementing material.

Sarjarasa (Vateria indica Linn.)

The bark contains tannic principles. It is a natural resin contributing to the strength of the adamantine glue. It is resin from tree sal, which is a large sub-deciduous tree. Under average conditions a sal tree has height of 18-30m and a girth of 1.8-2.1 m. On tapping, the sal tree yields an oleoresin known as sal dammar or Bengal dammar. The resin is rough, stalactite, brittle, pieces 16-25 cu cm in size, pale creamy yellow in colour, nearly opaque, and having a faint resinous-balsamic odour.

Since, shloka 3 and 4 do not give any clear methods of preparation of glue, three methods tried are:
All the materials are taken in equal proportion by weight. Manjishtha, Madanfal, Nagbala, and Madhika are soaked in water for overnight before mixing with other materials. The mixture is ground into fine paste. The glue thus obtained is somewhat sticky but on drying it does not show any binding property.
In the second method, equal proportion of aqueous extract (1:8) of all the materials are taken. Each material is added one by one successively in decoction. The product thus obtained does not show any binding property.

In the third attempt, the decoction of all the materials except resinous material (group B in Table 1) is carried in the ratio 1:4. The resinous materials are added to the mixture at the end. The product thus obtained has non-measurable binding property.

Table 1 Detail of raw materials

S No
Sanskrit name
Botanical name
Common name/parts used

1
Gruhdhooma
-
Soot
A
2
Amlaka
Emblica officinalis
Amla, anwla (fruit)
3
Bilwa
Aegle marmelos
Bel fala (fruit)
4
Kapittha
Feronia limonia
Kabit, Kawath (fruit)
5
Madanfal
Randia spinosa
Madan fala (fruit)
6
Madhuka
Cynometra ramiflora
Mahua, Moha (fruit)
7
Tinduka
Diospyros paniculata
Tendu falatembhurni(fruit)
8
Neemba
Azadirachta indica
Neem (leaves)
9
Manjistha
Rubia cordifolia
Manjistha (stem)
10
Nagfala
Canthium parviflorum
Bagbala (bark of the shrub)
11
Guggulu
Commiflora mukul
Guggul (resin)
B
12
Kapitthaparni

Kunduru (resin)
13
Laksha

Lakh, lac (resin)
14
Rasa

Raktabol, Hirabol(resin)
15
Sarjarasa

Ral (resin)

From the above three experiments, it is observed that the third approach could yield good result with the modifications in composition. It was decided to change the composition of resins (group B in Table 1) keeping the non-resinous materials (Table 1, Group A), in equal proportions. The efficient process of preparation of Vajralepa consisted of following steps:
The raw materials (Table 1) are sun dried. Dried materials are ground, uniform mixing of materials result in a product of uniform particle size. Dried raw materials are ground. Care was taken while grinding resinous materials like lac, hirabol, and ral. The ground raw material was then screened using 60-80 meshes. The finely powdered raw material except resinous material is taken in a stainless steel container and digested with raw material in water (1:3). The mixture is boiled under constant stirring to get uniform paste and concentrated extract of the finely ground fruits, leaves and bark of the plants. The naturally occurring resins, and resinous material except lac are mixed with the hot paste obtained. The paste is once again heated to make the resin to go into the mixture. Lac is heated separately, and the molten lac is mixed with the hot paste. The final mixture, the adamantine glue is ready for application.

 

Results and discussion


Using the mentioned procedure different formulations of adamantine glue were prepared and analyzed at Geotech Services, Nagpur (ISO 9001) on Universal Testing Machine. Varied proportion of resinous material was to study its effect on the strength of glue. Different compositions used and their strength has been presented (Table 2). Equal proportion of materials (Table 1, Group A) was taken; to improve the strength, the proportion of resinous material (Table 1, Group B) varied from 2 to 4 times, keeping rest constant. Variation of strength with change of composition has been shown (Fig.1). Maximum strength was obtained for the last composition. In the composition, resinous materials (A) was taken three times the non-resinous material (B). To find the key resinous component in glue composition, lac was taken three times than other resinous material, which was taken in equal proportion and three times that of rest non resinous material, i.e. lac was taken nine times than that of rest non resinous material. The strength of the adamantine glue thus prepared was found to be around 10 KPa.

Table 2 Detail of compositions
Trail No
Composition
Strength
1
A and B in equal weight proportion
10880.00 N/m2
2
A: 2B
21767.39 N/m2
3
A: 3B
39598.76 N/m2
4
A: 4B
31324.00 N/m2


(Not included) Fig. 1 Strength v/s compositions of adamantine glue
 Conclusion

The procedure explained in the paper for the preparation of herbal adamantine glue, as mentioned in Brhatsamhita was found to be highly efficient. The higher proportion of resinous material maximizes the strength. Among the resinous material, lac was found to play a key component role; higher percentage of lac in the composition led to higher the strength of the glue.


 

References



    1      Bhat M R, Brhatsamhita of Varahmihira (text with translation), (M Banarsidass, New Delhi), 1981.
    2      Nadkarni K M, Indian Materia Medica, 2 Vols, 3rd Edn, (Popular Book Depot, Bombay & Dhootapapeshwar Prakashan Ltd), 1954.
    3      Anonymous, The Wealth of India –A Dictionary of Indian Raw Materials and Industrial Products- Raw Material Series, Vol. I-IX, 1948-1975, revised series I-X, (Publications and Information Directorate, CSIR, New Delhi), 1988.
    4      Pullaiah T, Medicinal plants in India, Vol.1-2, (Regency Publications, New Delhi), 2002.
    5      Irfaan Khan, Role of biotechnology in medicinal and aromatic plants, Vol I-III, (Ukaaz Publications, Hyderabad), 2001.
    6      Duke J A, Bogenschutz-Godwin M J, Duke P A, CRC Handbook of Medicinal Plants, 2nd Edn, (CRC Press, Boca Ratton, Florida, USA), 2002.
    7      Chopra R N, Nayar S L & Chopra I C, Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants, (Publications and Information Directorate, CSIR, New Delhi), 1956.


Data mining of Indus Script hieroglyph clusters names Bronze Age professionals: damgar 'merchant, khār 'smith', ṭhākur ʻblacksmithʼ খোন্দকার 'farmer' in कोंड 'hamlets'

$
0
0

Data mining of Indus Script hieroglyph clusters names Bronze Age professionals: damgar'merchant, khār'smith', ṭhākurʻblacksmithʼ খোন্দকার 'farmer' in कोंड 'hamlets'. The composite anthropomorph of a crocodile, ram, one-horned young bull signifies this combined professionalism of farming, metalwork and seafaring trade (boatman). [A synonym for ram is meDha 'ram' rebus: med'drummer, boatman, basketmaker'; meD 'iron' med 'copper' (Slavic languages)].mēda m. ʻ a mixed caste, any one living by a degrading occupation ʼ Mn. [→ Bal. d ʻ boatman, fisher- man ʼ. -- Cf. Tam. metavar ʻ basket -- maker ʼ &c. DED 4178]Pk. mēa -- m., mēī -- f. ʻ member of a non -- Aryan tribe ʼ; S. meu m. ʻ fisherman ʼ (whence miāṇī f. ʻ a fishery ʼ), L.  m.; P. meũ m., f. meuṇī ʻ boatman ʼ. -- Prob. separate from S. muhāṇo m. ʻ member of a class of Moslem boatmen ʼ, L. mohāṇā m., °ṇī f.: see *mr̥gahanaka -- . (CDIAL 10320).

An important official named in a cuneiform text was 'chief of merchants' (LU rab tamkaru). (Jonas Carl GreenfieldZiony ZevitSeymour GitinMichael Sokoloff, 1995, Solving Riddles and Untying Knots: Biblical, Epigraphic, and Semitic Studies in Honor of Jonas C. GreenfieldEisenbrauns, p. 527). The gloss tamkaru is cognte damgar (Akkadian) and also ṭhākur ʻblacksmithʼ.)

These professionals constitute the bhāratam janam blessed by  Rishi 
Visvamitra in Rigveda (RV 3.53.12). They are Sarasvati's children since 80# of the archaeological sites of the civilization which are a continuum of Vedic culture signified by yupa (see octagonal yupa found in Binjore Soma Yaga yajna kunda) are found in Vedic River Sarasvati Basin in Northwest Bharatam.

Wheat chaff on Yupa as caSAla: *kuṇḍaka ʻ husks, bran ʼ.Pa. kuṇḍaka -- m. ʻ red powder of rice husks ʼ; Pk. kuṁḍaga -- m. ʻ chaff ʼ; N. kũṛo ʻ boiled grain given as fodder to buffaloes ʼ, kunāuro ʻ husk of lentils ʼ (for ending cf.kusāuro ʻ chaff of mustard ʼ); B. kũṛā ʻ rice dust ʼ; Or. kuṇḍā ʻ rice bran ʼ; M. kũḍā, kõ° m. ʻ bran ʼ; Si. kuḍu ʻ powder of paddy &c.(CDIAL 3267) Rebus: kuṇḍa 'vedic altar, fire place, yagashala'.

Two professionals are signified by a composite hieroglyph-multiplex signified on a bronze artifact as a composite anthropomorphic metaphor with hieroglyphs: crocodile, ram, one-horned young bull. Each hieroglyph component in the multiplex has a history in Indus Script Corpora signifying metalwork catalogues.
An animal-headed anthropomorph. A clipped enlargement of the Indus Script 'inscription' from the photograph.

1. Smith, turner, engraver, merchant

kāru 'crocodile' (Telugu) Rebus: kāruvu 'artisan' (Telugu) khār 'blacksmith' (Kashmiri)
tagara 'ram' (Kannada) Rebus: damgar 'merchant' (Akkadian) tagara 'tin' (Kannada) The semantics of damana 'blowing with bellows' links with the dam- prefix in: damgar 'merchant' (Akkadian), perhaps a merchant of products out of the furnace/smelter.

2. Farmer, producer of crops, who live in circular hamlets कोंड [ṇḍa] (Marathi) kɔṛi f. ʻ cowpenʼ (Gondi)

Hieroglyph: khoṇḍ, kõda 'young bull-calf' Rebus 1: kũdār ‘turner’. कोंद kōnda ‘engraver, lapidary setting or infixing gems’ (Marathi) Rebus 2: kuḍu śūdra, farmer (Kannada); n crop (রবিখন্দ). ̃কার, খোন্দকার n. a producer of crops, a farmer; a (Mus lim) title of honour awarded to wealthy farmers.kara, khondakara n. a producer of crops, a farmer; a (Mus lim) title of honour awarded to wealthy farmers (Bengali).कोंड [ṇḍa] A circular hamlet; a division of a मौजा or village, composed generally of the huts of one caste.



Image result for processions bharatkalyan97Image result for processions bharatkalyan97
Frieze of a mosaic panel Circa 2500-2400 BCE Temple of Ishtar, Mari (Tell Hariri), Syria Shell  and shale André Parrot excavations, 1934-36 AO 19820

These inlaid mosaics, composed of figures carved in mother-of-pearl, against a background of small blocks of lapis lazuli or pink limestone, set in bitumen, are among the most original and attractive examples of Mesopotamian art. It was at Mari that a large number of these mosaic pieces were discovered. Here they depict a victory scene: soldiers lead defeated enemy captives, naked and in chains, before four dignitaries.

A person is a standard bearer of a banner holding aloft the one-horned young bull which is the signature glyph of Indus writing. The banner is comparable to the banner shown on two Mohenjo-daro tablets of standards held up on a procession including a standard signifying a one-horned young bull. See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2013/06/ancient-near-east-art-indus-writing.html

Bulls emerging out of a cowshed. This is a metaphor for a temple, a smithy: kole.l Signifiers: erava 'reed' rebus: eraka 'moltencast copper'.mēda 10320 mēda m. ʻ a mixed caste, any one living by a degrading occupation ʼ Mn. [→ Bal. d ʻ boatman, fisher- man ʼ. -- Cf. Tam. metavar ʻ basket -- maker ʼ &c. DED 4178]
Pk. mēa -- m., mēī -- f. ʻ member of a non -- Aryan tribe ʼ; S. meu m. ʻ fisherman ʼ (whence miāṇī f. ʻ a fishery ʼ), L.  m.; P. meũ m., f. meuṇī ʻ boatman ʼ. -- Prob. separate from S. muhāṇo m. ʻ member of a class of Moslem boatmen ʼ, L. mohāṇā m., °ṇī f.: see *
mr̥gahanaka -- .

మేడము (p. 1034) [ mēḍamu ] mēḍamu. [Tel.] n. Joining,union, కూడిక. A fight, battle, యుద్ధము. మేడముపొడుచు mēdamu-poḍuṭsu. v. n. To fight a battle. యుద్ధముచేయు, కోడిమేడము a cock fight.

1655 Ta. kuṭi house, abode, home, family, lineage, town, tenants; kuṭikai hut made of leaves, temple; kuṭical hut; kuṭicai, kuṭiñai small hut, cottage; kuṭimai family, lineage, allegiance (as of subjects to their sovereign), servitude; kuṭiy-āḷ tenant; kuṭiyilār tenants; kuṭil hut, shed, abode; kuṭaṅkar hut, cottage; kaṭumpu relations. Ma.kuṭi house, hut, family, wife, tribe; kuṭima the body of landholders, tenantry; kuṭiyan slaves (e.g. in Coorg); kuṭiyān inhabitant, subject, tenant; kuṭiññil hut, thatch;kuṭil hut, outhouse near palace for menials. Ko. kuṛjl shed, bathroom of Kota house; kuṛm family; kuḍḷ front room of house; kuṛḷ hut; guṛy temple. To. kwïṣ shed for small calves; kuṣ room (in dairy or house); kuḍṣ outer room of dairy, in: kuḍṣ was̱ fireplace in outer room of lowest grade of dairies (cf. 2857), kuḍṣ moṇy bell(s) in outer section of ti· dairy, used on non-sacred buffaloes (cf. 4672); kuṛy Hindu temple; ? kwïḏy a family of children. Ka. kuḍiya, kuḍu śūdra, farmer; guḍi house, temple; guḍil, guḍalu, guḍisalu, guḍasalu, guḍasala, etc. hut with a thatched roof. Koḍ. kuḍi family of servants living in one hut; kuḍië man of toddy-tapper caste. Tu.guḍi small pagoda or shrine; guḍisalů, guḍisilů, guḍsilů, guḍicilů hut, shed. Te. koṭika hamlet; guḍi temple; guḍise hut, cottage, hovel. Kol. (SR) guḍī temple. Pa. guḍitemple, village resthouse. Ga. (Oll.) guḍi temple. Go. (Ko.) kuṛma hut, outhouse; (Ma.) kurma menstruation; (Grigson) kurma lon menstruation hut (Voc. 782, 800); (SR.) guḍi, (Mu.) guḍḍi, (S. Ko.) guṛi temple; guḍḍī (Ph.) temple, (Tr.) tomb (Voc. 1113). Kui guḍi central room of house, living room. / Cf. Skt. kū˘ṭa-, kuṭi-, kū˘ṭī- (whence Ga. (P.) kuṛe hut; Kui kūṛi hut made of boughs, etc.; Kur. kuṛyā small shed or outhouse; Malt. kuṛya hut in the fields; Br. kuḍ(ḍ)ī hut, small house, wife), kuṭīkā-, kuṭīra-, kuṭuṅgaka-, kuṭīcaka-, koṭa- hut;kuṭumba- household (whence Ta. Ma. kuṭumpam id.; Ko. kuṛmb [? also kuṛm above]; To. kwïḍb, kwïḍbïl [-ïl from wïkïl, s.v. 925 Ta. okkal]; Ka., Koḍ., Tu.kuṭumba; Tu. kuḍuma; Te. kuṭumbamu; ? Kui kumbu house [balance word of iḍu, see s.v. 494 Ta. il]). See Turner, CDIAL, no. 3232, kuṭī-, no. 3493, kōṭa-, no. 3233, kuṭumba-, for most of the Skt. forms; Burrow, BSOAS 11.137. 
kōṭa3 m. ʻ hut, shed ʼ lex. [← Drav. T. Burrow TPS 1945, 95: cf. kuṭī -- ]
G. kɔṛi f. ʻ cowpen ʼ.(CDIAL 3493)

2049 Ta. koṭi banner, flag, streamer; kōṭu summit of a hill, peak, mountain; kōṭai mountain; kōṭar peak, summit of a tower; kuvaṭu mountain, hill, peak; kuṭumisummit of a mountain, top of a building, crown of the head, bird's crest, tuft of hair (esp. of men), crown, projecting corners on which a door swings. Ma. koṭi top, extremity, flag, banner, sprout; kōṭu end; kuvaṭu hill, mountain-top; kuṭuma, kuṭumma narrow point, bird's crest, pivot of door used as hinge, lock of hair worn as caste distinction; koṭṭu head of a bone. Ko. koṛy flag on temple; koṭ top tuft of hair (of Kota boy, brahman), crest of bird; kuṭ clitoris. To. kwïṭ tip, nipple, child's back lock of hair. Ka. kuḍi pointed end, point, extreme tip of a creeper, sprout, end, top, flag, banner; guḍi point, flag, banner; kuḍilu sprout, shoot; kōḍu a point, the peak or top of a hill; koṭṭu a point, nipple, crest, gold ornament worn by women in their plaited hair; koṭṭa state of being extreme; koṭṭa-kone the extreme point; (Hav.) koḍi sprout; Koḍ.koḍi top (of mountain, tree, rock, table), rim of pit or tank, flag. Tu. koḍi point, end, extremity, sprout, flag; koḍipuni to bud, germinate; (B-K.) koḍipu, koḍipelů a sprout; koḍirè the top-leaf; koṭṭu cock's comb, peacock's tuft. Te. koḍi tip, top, end or point of a flame; koṭṭa-kona the very end or extremity. Kol. (Kin.) koṛi point. Pa.kūṭor cock's comb. Go. (Tr.) koḍḍī tender tip or shoot of a plant or tree; koḍḍi (S.) end, tip, (Mu.) tip of bow; (A.) koḍi point (Voc. 891). Malt. qoṛg̣o comb of a cock; ?qóru the end, the top (as of a tree). Cf. 2081 Ta. koṇṭai and 2200 Ta. kōṭu.

2081 Ta. koṇtai tuft, dressing of hair in large coil on the head, crest of a bird, head (as of a nail), knob (as of a cane), round top. Ma. koṇṭa tuft of hair. Ko. goṇḍ knob on end of walking-stick, head of pin; koṇḍ knot of hair at back of head. To. kwïḍy Badaga woman's knot of hair at back of head (< Badaga koṇḍe). Ka. koṇḍe, goṇḍe tuft, tassel, cluster. Koḍ. koṇḍe tassels of sash, knob-like foot of cane-stem. Tu. goṇḍè topknot, tassel, cluster. Te. koṇḍe, (K. also) koṇḍi knot of hair on the crown of the head. Cf. 2049 Ta. koṭi. / Cf. Skt. kuṇḍa- clump (e.g. darbha-kuṇḍa-), Pkt. (DNM) goṇḍī- = mañjarī-; Turner, CDIAL, no. 3266; cf. also Mar. gōḍā cluster, tuft.
3266 kuṇḍa3 n. ʻ clump ʼ e.g. darbha -- kuṇḍa -- Pāṇ. [← Drav. (Tam. koṇṭai ʻ tuft of hair ʼ, Kan. goṇḍe ʻ cluster ʼ, &c.) T. Burrow BSOAS xii 374]
Pk. kuṁḍa -- n. ʻ heap of crushed sugarcane stalks ʼ; WPah. bhal. kunnū m. ʻ large heap of a mown crop ʼ; N. kunyũ ʻ large heap of grain or straw ʼ, baṛ -- kũṛo ʻ cluster of berries ʼ.
 3267 *kuṇḍaka ʻ husks, bran ʼ.
Pa. kuṇḍaka -- m. ʻ red powder of rice husks ʼ; Pk. kuṁḍaga -- m. ʻ chaff ʼ; N. kũṛo ʻ boiled grain given as fodder to buffaloes ʼ, kunāuro ʻ husk of lentils ʼ (for ending cf.kusāuro ʻ chaff of mustard ʼ); B. kũṛā ʻ rice dust ʼ; Or. kuṇḍā ʻ rice bran ʼ; M. kũḍā, kõ° m. ʻ bran ʼ; Si. kuḍu ʻ powder of paddy &c. ʼ
Addenda: kuṇḍaka -- in cmpd. kaṇa -- kuṇḍaka -- Arthaś.
2199 Te. kōḍiya, kōḍe young bull; adj. male (e.g. kōḍe dūḍa bull calf), young, youthful; kōḍekã̄ḍu a young man. Kol. (Haig) kōḍē bull. Nk. khoṛe male calf. Konḍakōḍi cow; kōṛe young bullock. Pe. kōḍi cow. Manḍ. kūḍi id. Kui kōḍi id., ox. Kuwi (F.) kōdi cow; (S.) kajja kōḍi bull; (Su. P.) kōḍi cow. DED(S) 1823.
2200 Ta. kōṭu (in cpds. kōṭṭu-) horn, tusk, branch of tree, cluster, bunch, coil of hair, line, diagram, bank of stream or pool; kuvaṭu branch of a tree; kōṭṭāṉ, kōṭṭuvāṉrock horned-owl (cf. 1657 Ta. kuṭiñai). Ko. ko·ṛ (obl. ko·ṭ-) horns (one horn is kob), half of hair on each side of parting, side in game, log, section of bamboo used as fuel, line marked out. To. kwidir (obl. kwidi-) horn, branch, path across stream in thicket. Ka. kōḍu horn, tusk, branch of a tree; kōr̤ horn. Tu.kōḍů, kōḍu horn. Te. kōḍu rivulet, branch of a river. Pa. kōḍ (pl. kōḍul) horn. Ga. (Oll.) kōr (pl. kōrgul) id. Go. (Tr.) kōr (obl. kōt-, pl. kōhk) horn of cattle or wild animals, branch of a tree; (W. Ph. A. Ch.) kōr (pl. kōhk), (S.) kōr (pl. kōhku), (Ma.) kōr̥u (pl. kōẖku) horn; (M.) kohk branch (Voc. 980); (LuS.) kogoo a horn. Kui kōju (pl. kōska) horn, antler. Cf. 2049 Ta. koṭi.
खाण्डव [p= 339,1] N. of a forest in कुरु-क्षेत्र (sacred to इन्द्र and burnt by the god of fire aided by अर्जुन and कृष्ण MBh. Hariv. BhP. i , 15 , 8 Katha1s. )Ta1n2d2yaBr. xxv , 3 TA1r.
ఖాండవము (p. 0344) [ khāṇḍavamu ] khānḍavamu. [Skt.] n. The name of a grove sacred to Indra. ఇంద్రునియొక్క ఒకానొకవనము.
n crop (রবিখন্দ). ̃কার, খোন্দকার n. a producer of crops, a farmer; a (Mus lim) title of honour awarded to wealthy farmers.kara, khondakara n. a producer of crops, a farmer; a (Mus lim) title of honour awarded to wealthy farmers.


khōdd 3934 *khōdd ʻ dig ʼ. 2. *khōḍḍ -- . 3. *kōḍḍ -- . 4. *gōdd -- . 5. *gōḍḍ -- . 6. *guḍḍ -- . [Poss. conn. with khudáti ʻ thrusts (penis) into ʼ RV., prákhudati ʻ futuit ʼ AV.; cf. also *khōtr -- , *kōtr -- ]
1. P. khodṇā ʻ to dig, carve ʼ, khudṇā ʻ to be dug ʼ; Ku. khodṇo ʻ to dig, carve ʼ, N. khodnu, B. khodākhudā, Or. khodibākhud°; Bi. mag. khudnī ʻ a kind of spade ʼ; H. khodnā ʻ to dig, carve, search ʼ, khudnā ʻ to be dug ʼ; Marw. khodṇo ʻ to dig ʼ; G. khodvũ ʻ to dig, carve ʼ, M. khodṇẽ (also X khānayati q.v.). -- N. khodalnu ʻ to search for ʼ cf. *khuddati s.v. *khōjja -- ?
2. B. khõṛā ʻ to dig ʼ or < *khōṭayati s.v. *khuṭati.
3. B. koṛākõṛā ʻ to dig, pierce ʼ, Or. koṛibā ʻ to cut clods of earth with a spade, beat ʼ; Mth. koṛab ʻ to dig ʼ, H. koṛnā.
4. K. godu m. ʻ hole ʼ, g° karun ʻ to pierce ʼ; N. godnu ʻ to pierce ʼ; H. godnā ʻ to pierce, hoe ʼ, gudnā ʻ to be pierced ʼ; G. godɔ m. ʻ a push ʼ; M. godṇẽ ʻ to tattoo ʼ.
5. L. goḍaṇ ʻ to hoe ʼ, P. goḍṇāgoḍḍī f. ʻ hoeings ʼ; N. goṛnu ʻ to hoe, weed ʼ; H. goṛnā ʻ to hoe up, scrape ʼ, goṛhnā (X kāṛhnā?); G. goḍvũ ʻ to loosen earth round roots of a plant ʼ.
6. S. guḍ̠aṇu ʻ to pound, thrash ʼ; P. guḍḍṇā ʻ to beat, pelt, hoe, weed ʼ.
Addenda: *khōdd -- . 1. S.kcch. khodhṇū ʻ to dig ʼ, WPah.kṭg. (Wkc.) khódṇõ, J. khodṇu.
2. *khōḍḍ -- : WPah.kc. khoḍṇo ʻ to dig ʼ; -- kṭg. khoṛnõ id. see *khuṭati Add2.
Composite copper alloy anthropomorphic Meluhha hieroglyphs of Haryana and Sheorajpur: fish, markhor, crocodile, one-horned young bull


Oxford English Dictionary defines anthropomorphic: "a. treating the deity as anthropomorphous, or as having a human form and character; b. attributing a human personality to anything impersonal or irrational."

The copper anthropomorph of Haryana is comparable to and an elaboration of a copper anthropomorph of Sheorajpur, Uttar Pradesh. Both deploy Meluhha hieroglyphs using rebus-metonymy layered cipher of Indus writing. 
The hieroglyhs of the anthropomorphs are a remarkable archaeological evidence attesting to the evidence of an ancient Samskritam text, Baudhāyana śrautasūtra.
Baudhāyana śrautasūtra 18.44 which documents migrations of Āyu and Amavasu from a central region:
pran Ayuh pravavraja. tasyaite Kuru-Pancalah Kasi-Videha ity. etad Ayavam pravrajam. pratyan amavasus. tasyaite Gandharvarayas Parsavo ‘ratta ity. etad Amavasavam
Trans. Ayu went east, his is the Yamuna-Ganga region (Kuru-Pancala, Kasi-Videha). Amavasu went west, his is Gandhara, Parsu and Araṭṭa.
Ayu went east from Kurukshetra to Kuru-Pancala, Kasi-Videha. The  migratory path of Meluhha artisand in the lineage of Ayu of the Rigvedic tradition, to Kasi-Videha certainly included the very ancient temple town of Sheorajpur of Dist. Etawah (Kanpur), Uttar Pradesh.
Haryana anthropormorph (in the Kurukshetra region on the banks of Vedic River Sarasvati) deploys hieroglyphs of markhor (horns), crocodile and one-horned young bull together with an inscription text using Indus Script hieroglyphs. The Sheorajpur anthropomorph deploys hieroglyphs of markhor (horns) and fish. The astonishing continuity of archaeo-metallurgical tradition of Sarasvati-Sindhu (Hindu) civilization is evident from a temple in Sheorajpur on the banks of Sacred River Ganga. This temple dedicated to Siva has metalwork ceilings !!!
Both anthropomorph artefacts in copper alloy are metalwork catalogs of dhokara kamar 'cire perdue(lost-wax) metal casters'.
Hieroglyhph: eraka 'wing' Rebus: eraka, arka 'copper'.In 2003, Paul Yule wrote a remarkable article on metallic anthropomorphic figures derived from Magan/Makkan, i.e. from an Umm an-Nar period context in al-Aqir/Bahla' in the south-western piedmont of the western Hajjar chain. "These artefacts are compared with those from northern Indian in terms of their origin and/or dating. They are particularly interesting owing to a secure provenance in middle Oman...The anthropomorphic artefacts dealt with...are all the more interesting as documents of an ever-growing body of information on prehistoric international contact/influence bridging the void between south-eastern Arabia and South Asia...Gerd Weisgerber recounts that in winter of 1983/4...al-Aqir near Bahla' in the al-Zahirah Wilaya delivered prehistoric planoconvex 'bun' ingots and other metallic artefacts from the same find complex..." 
In the following plate, Figs. 1 to 5 are anthropomorphs, with 'winged' attributes. The metal finds from the al-Aqir wall include ingots, figures, an axe blade, a hoe, and a cleaver (see fig. 1, 1-8), all in copper alloy. 
Fig. 1: Prehistoric metallic artefacts from the Sultanate of Oman: 1-8  al-Aqir/Bahla'; 9 Ra's al-Jins 2, building vii, room 2, period 3 (DA 11961) "The cleaver no. 8 is unparalleled in the prehistory of the entire Near East. Its form resembles an iron coco-nut knife from a reportedly subrecent context in Gudevella (near Kharligarh, Dist. Balangir, Orissa) which the author examined some years ago in India...The dating of the figures, which command our immediate attention, depends on two strands of thought. First, the Umm an-Nar Period/Culture dating mentioned above, en-compasses a time-space from 2500 to 1800 BC. In any case, the presence of “bun“ ingots among the finds by nomeans contradicts a dating for the anthropomorphic figures toward the end of the second millennium BC. Since these are a product of a simple form of copper production, they existed with the beginning of smelting in Oman. The earliest dated examples predate this, i.e. the Umm an-NarPeriod. Thereafter, copper continues to be produced intothe medieval period. Anthropomorphic figures from the Ganges-Yamuna Doab which resemble significantly theal-Aqir artefacts (fig. 2,10-15) form a second line of evidence for the dating. To date, some 21 anthropomorphsfrom northern India have been published." (p. 539; cf. Yule, 1985, 128: Yule et al. 1989 (1992) 274: Yule et al 2002. More are known to exist, particularly from a large hoard deriving from Madarpur.)


Fig. 2: Anthropomorphic figures from the Indian Subcontinent. 10 type I, Saipai, Dist. Etawah, U.P.; 11 type I, Lothal, Dist. Ahmedabad,Guj.; 12 type I variant, Madarpur, Dist. Moradabad, U.P.; 13 type II, Sheorajpur, Dist. Kanpur, U.P.; 14 miscellaneous type, Fathgarh,
Fig. 2: Anthropomorphic figures from the Indian Subcontinent. 10 type I, Saipai, Dist. Etawah, U.P.; 11 type I, Lothal, Dist. Ahmedabad,Guj.; 12 type I variant, Madarpur, Dist. Moradabad, U.P.; 13 type II, Sheorajpur, Dist. Kanpur, U.P.; 14 miscellaneous type, Fathgarh,Dist. Farrukhabad, U.P.; 15 miscellaneous type, Dist. Manbhum, Bihar.
The anthropomorph from Lothal/Gujarat (fig. 2,11), from a layer which its excavator dates to the 19 th century BCE. Lothal, phase 4 of period A, type 1. Some anthropomorphs were found stratified together with Ochre-Coloured Pottery, dated to ca. 2nd millennium BCE. Anthropomorph of Ra's al-Jins (Fig. 1,9) clearly reinforces the fact that South Asians travelled to and stayed at the site of Ra's al-Jins. "The excavators date the context from which the Ra’s al-Jins copper artefact derived to their period III, i.e. 2300-2200 BCE (Cleuziou & Tosi 1997, 57), which falls within thesame time as at least some of the copper ingots which are represented at al-Aqir, and for example also in contextfrom al-Maysar site M01...the Franco-Italian teamhas emphasized the presence of a settled Harappan-Peri-od population and lively trade with South Asia at Ra's al-Jins in coastal Arabia. (Cleuziou, S. & Tosi, M., 1997, Evidence for the use of aromatics in the early Bronze Age of Oman, in: A. Avanzini, ed., Profumi d'Arabia, Rome 57-81)."
"In the late third-early second millennium, given the presence of a textually documented 'Meluhha village' in Lagash (southern Mesopotamia), one cannot be too surprised that such colonies existed 'east of Eden' in south-eastern Arabia juxtaposed with South Asia. In any case, here we encounter yet again evidence for contact between the two regions -- a contact of greater intimacy and importance than for the other areas of the Gulf."(Paul Yule, 2003, Beyond the pale of near Eastern Archaeology: Anthropomorphic figures from al-Aqir near Bahla' In: Stöllner, T. (Hrsg.): Mensch und Bergbau Studies in Honour of Gerd Weisgerber on Occasion of his 65th Birthday. Bochum 2003, pp. 537-542).
See: Weisgerber, G., 1988, Oman: A bronze-producing centre during the 1st half of the 1st millennium BCE, in: J. Curtis, ed., Bronze-working centres of western Asia, c. 1000-539 BCE, London, 285-295.
With curved horns, the ’anthropomorph’ is a ligature of a mountain goat or markhor (makara) and a fish incised between the horns. Typical find of Gangetic Copper Hoards.  At Sheorajpur, three anthropomorphs in metal were found. (Sheorajpur, Dt. Kanpur. Three anthropomorphic figures of copper. AI, 7, 1951, pp. 20, 29).
One anthropomorph had fish hieroglyph incised on the chest of  the copper object, Sheorajpur, upper Ganges valley,   ca. 2nd millennium BCE,   4 kg; 47.7 X 39 X 2.1 cm. State Museum,   Lucknow (O.37) Typical find of Gangetic Copper Hoards. miṇḍāl markhor (Tor.wali) meḍho a ram, a sheep (G.)(CDIAL 10120) Rebus: meḍh ‘helper of merchant’ (Gujarati) meḍ iron (Ho.) meṛed-bica = iron stone ore, in contrast to bali-bica, iron sand ore (Munda) ayo ‘fish’ Rebus: ayo, ayas ‘metal. Thus, together read rebus: ayo meḍh ‘iron stone ore, metal merchant.’


A remarkable legacy of the civilization occurs in the use of ‘fish‘ sign on a copper anthropomorph found in a copper hoard. This is an apparent link of the ‘fish’ broadly with the profession of ‘metal-work’. The ‘fish’ sign is apparently related to the copper object which seems to depict a ‘fighting ram’ symbolized by its in-curving horns. The ‘fish’ sign may relate to a copper furnace. The underlying imagery defined by the style of the copper casting is the pair of curving horns of a fighting ram ligatured into the outspread legs (of a warrior).


The center-piece of the makara symbolism is that it is a big jhasa, big fish, but with ligatured components (alligator snout, elephant trunk, elephant legs and antelope face). Each of these components can be explained (alligator: manger; elephant trunk: sunda; elephant: ibha; antelope: ranku; rebus: mangar ‘smith’; sunda ‘furnace’; ib ‘iron’; ranku ‘tin’); thus the makara jhasa or the big composite fish is a complex of metallurgical repertoire.)

One nidhi was makara (syn. Kohl, antimony); the second was makara (or, jhasa, fish) [bed.a hako (ayo)(syn. bhed.a ‘furnace’; med. ‘iron’; ayas ‘metal’)]; the third was kharva (syn. karba, iron).
Title / Object:anthropomorphic sheorajpur
Fund context:Saipai, Dist. Kanpur
Time of admission:1981
Pool:SAI South Asian Archaeology
Image ID:213 101
Copyright:Dr Paul Yule, Heidelberg
Photo credit:Yule, Metalwork of the Bronze in India, Pl 23 348 (dwg)
Saipal, Dist. Etawah, UP. Anthropomorph, type I. 24.1x27.04x0.76 cm., 1270 gm., both sides show a chevron patterning, left arm broken off (Pl. 22, 337). Purana Qila Coll. Delhi (74.12/4) -- Lal, BB, 1972, 285 fig. 2d pl. 43d



From Lothal was reported a fragmentary Type 1 anthropomorph (13.0 pres. X 12.8 pres. X c. 0.08 cm, Cu 97.27%, Pb 2.51% (Rao), surface ptterning runs lengthwise, lower portion slightly thicker than the edge of the head, 'arms' and 'legs' broken off (Pl. 1, 22)-- ASI Ahmedabad (10918 -- Rao, SR, 1958, 13 pl. 21A)

The extraordinary presence of a Lothal anthropomorph of the type found on the banks of River Ganga in Sheorajpur (Uttar Pradesh) makes it apposite to discuss the anthropomorph as a Meluhha hieroglyph, since Lothal is reportedly a mature site of the civilization which has produced nearly 7000 inscriptions (what may be called Meluhha epigraphs, almost all of which are relatable to the bronze age metalwork of India).

http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2014/01/meluhha-hieroglyphs-snarling-iron-of.html

"Anthropomorphs occur in a variety of shapes and sizes (Plate A). The two basic types dominate, as defined by the proportions in combination with certain morphological features. All show processes suggestive of a human head, arms and legs. With one exception (no. 539) all are highly geometricising and flat. Fashioned from thick metal sheeting, these artifacts have stocky proportions and are patterned on both sides with elongated gouches or dents which usually are lengthwise oriented. Sometimes, however, the patterning is chevroned or cross-hatched. Significantly, the upper edge of the 'head' shows no thickening, as is the case of type H anthropomorphs. Examples have come to light at mid doab and a broken anthropomorph from distant Lothal as well. The only stratified example derives from Lothal, level IV. height range. 23.2-24.1cm; L/W: 0.65 - 0.88: 1; weight mean: 1260 gm." (Yule, Paul, pp.51-52).
"Conclusions..."To the west at Harappa Lothal in Gujarat the presence of a fragmentary import type I anthropomorph suggests contact with the doab." "(p.92)

The Sheorajpur anthropomorph (348 on Plate A) has a 'fish' hieroglyph incised on the chest

Hieroglyphs: tagara ‘ram’ (Kannada) Rebus: damgar ‘merchant’ (Akk.) Rebus: tagara ‘tin’ (Kannada)


Ta. takar sheep, ram, goat, male of certain other animals (yāḷi, elephant, shark). பொருநகர் தாக்கற்குப் பேருந் தகைத்து (குறள், 486).Ma. takaran huge, powerful as a man, bear, etc. Ka. tagar, ṭagaru, ṭagara, ṭegaru ram. Tu. tagaru, ṭagarů id. Te. tagaramu, tagaru id. / Cf. Mar. tagar id. (DEDR 3000). Rebus 1:tagromi 'tin, metal alloy' (Kuwi) takaram tin, white lead, metal sheet, coated with tin (Ta.); tin, tinned iron plate (Ma.); tagarm tin (Ko.); tagara, tamara, tavara id. (Ka.) tamaru, tamara, tavara id. (Ta.): tagaramu, tamaramu, tavaramu id. (Te.); ṭagromi tin metal, alloy (Kuwi); tamara id. (Skt.)(DEDR 3001). trapu tin (AV.); tipu (Pali); tau, taua lead (Pkt.); tū̃ tin (P.); ṭau zinc, pewter (Or.); tarūaum lead (OG.);tarv (G.); tumba lead (Si.)(CDIAL 5992). Rebus 2: damgar ‘merchant’.

ṭhākur ʻblacksmithʼ: ṭhakkura m. ʻ idol, deity (cf. ḍhakkārī -- ), ʼ lex., ʻ title ʼ Rājat. [Dis- cussion with lit. by W. Wüst RM 3, 13 ff. Prob. orig. a tribal name EWA i 459, which Wüst considers nonAryan borrowing of śākvará -- : very doubtful]Pk. ṭhakkura -- m. ʻ Rajput, chief man of a village ʼ; Kho. (Lor.) takur ʻ barber ʼ (= ṭ° ← Ind.?), Sh. ṭhăkŭr m.; K. ṭhôkur m. ʻ idol ʼ ( ← Ind.?); S. ṭhakuru m. ʻ fakir, term of address between fathers of a husband and wife ʼ; P. ṭhākar m. ʻ landholder ʼ, ludh. ṭhaukar m. ʻ lord ʼ; Ku. ṭhākur m. ʻ master, title of a Rajput ʼ; N. ṭhākur ʻ term of address from slave to master ʼ (f. ṭhakurāni), ṭhakuri ʻ a clan of Chetris ʼ (f. ṭhakurni); A. ṭhākur ʻ a Brahman ʼ, ṭhākurānī ʻ goddess ʼ; B. ṭhākurāniṭhākrān°run ʻ honoured lady, goddess ʼ; Or. ṭhākura ʻ term of address to a Brahman, god, idol ʼ, ṭhākurāṇī ʻ goddess ʼ; Bi. ṭhākur ʻ barber ʼ; Mth. ṭhākur ʻ blacksmith ʼ; Bhoj. Aw.lakh.ṭhākur ʻ lord, master ʼ; H. ṭhākur m. ʻ master, landlord, god, idol ʼ, ṭhākurāinṭhā̆kurānī f. ʻ mistress, goddess ʼ; G. ṭhākor°kar m. ʻ member of a clan of Rajputs ʼ,ṭhakrāṇī f. ʻ his wife ʼ, ṭhākor ʻ god, idol ʼ; M. ṭhākur m. ʻ jungle tribe in North Konkan, family priest, god, idol ʼ; Si. mald. "tacourou"ʻ title added to names of noblemen ʼ (HJ 915) prob. ← Ind.
Addenda: ṭhakkura -- : Garh. ṭhākur ʻ master ʼ; A. ṭhākur also ʻ idol ʼ(CDIAL 5488)

Hieroglyphs, allographs: ram, tabernae montana coronaria flower: तगर [ tagara ] f A flowering shrub, Tabernæ montana coronaria. 2 n C The flower of it. 3 m P A ram. (Marathi)

*tagga ʻ mud ʼ. [Cf. Bur. t*lg*l ʻ mud ʼ] Kho. (Lor.) toq ʻ mud, quagmire ʼ; Sh. tăgāˊ ʻ mud ʼ; K. tagöri m. ʻ a man who makes mud or plaster ʼ; Ku. tāgaṛ ʻ mortar ʼ; B. tāgāṛ ʻ mortar, pit in which it is prepared ʼ.(CDIAL 5626). (Note: making of mud or plaster is a key step in dhokra kamar's work of cire perdue (lost-wax) casting.)
krəm backʼ(Kho.) karmāra ‘smith, artisan’ (Skt.) kamar ‘smith’ (Santali) 


A clipped enlargement of the 'inscription' from the photograph of composite anthropomorph

It appears that the inscription is composed of Indus Script hieroglyphs and no Brahmi letters can be discerned. Hopefully, Prof. Naman Ahuja's response to my request will provide for a transcript with sharper visibility.

According to the curaorf, Naman Ahuja, the inscription in Brahmi reads  “King/Ki Ma Jhi [name of king]/ Sha Da Ya [form of god]” and according to the curator, “looks unmistakably like the Hindu god Varaha”. The Uttar Pradesh archaeological department has accepted this as an antique piece and dates it to the second to the first millennium BCE.

The hieroglyphs of the inscription include the following, possible metalwork catalog:

Hieroglyph: baraḍo = spine; backbone (Tulu) Rebus: baran, bharat ‘mixed alloys’ (5 copper, 4 zinc and 1 tin) (Punjabi)

 Rim-of-jar hieroglyph:  karNIka 'rim of jar' (Samskritam); kanka ‘rim of jar’ (Santali) Rebus:  karṇaka‘scribe’ (Skt.) Alternative: khanaka ‘mineworker’ (Sanskrit) Rebus: karNI 'supercargo'.
The hieroglyph appears to be two cartwheels and axle rod of the cart-frame. Hieroglyph: sal = wedge joining the parts of a solid cart wheel (Santali) Rebus: sal 'workshop' (Santali)

loa 'fig leaf; Rebus: loh '(copper) 






















Image from  from The Art Newspaper

The remarkable artifact 30 cm tall, 2 kg., is said to have been found under the foundation of a home in Haryana. It was in display in Brussels and later in Delhi in September 2014.


Description which appeared in The Art Newspaper reads: “The figure has a cast relief on its chest of a unicorn-like animal, similar to motifs found on seals of the Harappa culture, which thrived until around 1900 BCE.” 

The inscription above this creature; according to the curator  Naman Ahuja  the inscription represents “a combination of Harappan signs and Brahmi letters.” 

I have requested Prof. Naman Ahuja for a photograph with legible reading of the inscription. From the photographs which appeared in The Art Newspaper and Business Standard report,  It appears to have some Indus Script hieroglyphs.

S. Kalyanaraman
Sarasvati Research Centre
May 3, 2015

Art curator Naman Ahuja is making art more accessible
Curator Naman Ahuja has brought high art down from its pedestal so that it can be enjoyed by one and all
In contrast to the handful of schoolchildren, art students and academics normally, this is the first time that hordes of visitors from all walks of life — defence personnel, ladies in chiffons with manicured talons, big fat Indian families — are enthusing about the art on display as part of the exhibition titled The Body in Indian ArtAn animal-headed anthropomorph http://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/naman-ahuja-is-mastering-the-art-of-reaching-out-114092501180_1.html
Fish sign incised on  copper anthropomorph, Sheorajpur, upper Ganges valley,   ca. 2nd millennium BCE,   4 kg; 47.7 X 39 X 2.1 cm. State Museum,   Lucknow (O.37) Typical find of Gangetic Copper Hoards. miṇḍāl markhor (Tor.wali) meḍho a ram, a sheep (G.)(CDIAL 10120) Rebus: meḍh ‘helper of merchant’ (Gujarati) meḍ iron (Ho.) meṛed-bica = iron stone ore, in contrast to bali-bica, iron sand ore (Munda) ayo ‘fish’ Rebus: ayo, ayas ‘metal. Thus, together read rebus: ayo meḍh  ‘iron stone ore, metal merchant.’

ayo ‘fish’ (Mu.); rebus: ayo ‘metal’ (Gujarati); ayas ‘alloy’ (Sanskrit) ayo kanka ‘fish+ rim-of-jar’ rebus: metal (alloy) account (kaṇakku) scribe

A remarkable combined (ligatured) hieroglyph is reported by N. Ganesan. (I have requested for details of provenience). The hieroglyphs are: 1. crocodile; 2. one-horned young bull; 3. anthropomorph (with ram's curved horns, body and legs resembling a person)

The rebus readings of the composite hieroglyph may be suggested: 

1. khoṇḍ, kõda 'young bull-calf' Rebus: kũdār ‘turner’. कोंद kōnda ‘engraver, lapidary setting or infixing gems’ (Marathi)
2. kāru 'crocodile' (Telugu) Rebus: kāruvu 'artisan' (Telugu) khār 'blacksmith' (Kashmiri)
3. tagara 'ram' (Kannada) Rebus: damgar 'merchant' (Akkadian) tagara 'tin' (Kannada) The anthropomorph 'ram' hieroglyph together with incised 'fish' hieroglyph reads: tagara ayo 'metal alloy (with tin)'. This was the stock-in-trade of the artisan/merchant damgar.

These rebus readings may explain the deployment of 'crocodile' hieroglyph on the Dholavira tablet:
See:  http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2014/01/meluhha-metallurgical-roots-and-spread.html  


Dholavira molded terracotta tablet with Meluhha hieroglyphs written on two sides. 


Hieroglyphs: karnaka ‘rim of jar’. eraka ‘upraised arm’. dhokra ‘decrepit woman with breasts hanging down’. kara ‘crocodile’. dhangar ‘bull’; dhagaram ‘buttock’. adaren ‘lid’. khanda ‘notch’. kot ‘curved’. sal ‘splinter’. dula ‘pair’.
Rebus readings:
Side 1: kole.l ‘smithy’; kot-sal ‘alloy furnace’; adaren khanda ‘native metal tools, pots and pans’; dul ‘metal casting’; kanka ‘scribe’.
Side 2: khar ‘blacksmith, artisan’; dhokra ‘cire perdue’ metal casting; dhangar ‘smith’; eraka ‘copper’ 

Hieroglyph: Ku. ḍokro, ḍokhro ʻ old man ʼ; B. ḍokrā ʻ old, decrepit ʼ, Or. ḍokarā; H. ḍokrā ʻ decrepit ʼ; G. ḍokɔ m. ʻ penis ʼ, ḍokrɔ m. ʻ old man ʼ, M. ḍokrā m. -- Kho. (Lor.) duk ʻ hunched up, hump of camel ʼ; K. ḍọ̆ku ʻ humpbacked ʼ perh. < *ḍōkka -- 2. Or. dhokaṛa ʻ decrepit, hanging down (of breasts) ʼ.(CDIAL 5567). M. ḍhẽg n. ʻ groin ʼ, ḍhẽgā m. ʻ buttock ʼ. M. dhõgā m. ʻ buttock ʼ. (CDIAL 5585). 

Rebus: dhokra  ‘cire perdue’ casting metalsmith.
Hieroglyph: krəm backʼ(Khotanese)(CDIAL 3145) Rebus: karmāra ‘smith, artisan’ (Skt.) kamar ‘smith’ (Santali)

*kamra ʻ the back ʼ. Kho. krəm ʻ the back ʼ (NTS ii 262 < *kūrma -- 2 with?).*kamra -- [Cf. Ir. *kamaka -- or *kamraka -- ʻ back ʼ in Shgh. čůmč ʻ back ʼ, Sar. čomǰ EVSh 26](CDIAL 2776)

 Rebus: dhokra kamar 'artisan caster using lost-wax technique'

Alternative reading: buttock:  dhokra kula 'dhokra caster caste or family'

Tu. kulligè the buttocks. Kol. (Kin.) kūla buttock; (SR.) kulā hip. Go. (A. Mu.) kūla, (Ma.) kulla, (G. Hislop) kula buttock (Voc. 835); (ASu.) kūlā id. / Turner,CDIAL, no. 3353, (DEDR30) *kulla1 ʻ neck, back, buttock ʼ. Pk. kulla -- , kōla -- m. ʻ neck ʼ, kulla -- m.n. ʻ buttock ʼ; L. kullhā m. ʻ that part of a bullock's hump on which yoke rests ʼ; P. kullā m. ʻ hip, buttock ʼ; H. kulā m. ʻ hip, buttock, waist ʼ; G. kulɔ m. ʻ hip, buttock ʼ; M. kulākullā°āṇākulhā°āṇā m. ʻ buttock ʼ, kolẽ n. ʻ hump of buffalo ʼ. -- B. kolā ʻ having an inflated throat ʼ? -- Si.kulala ʻ neck ʼ? (CDIAL 3353).

Rebus: 
3330 kúla n. ʻ herd, troop ʼ RV., ʻ race, family ʼ Pāṇ., ʻ noble family ʼ Mn., ʻ house ʼ MBh.
Pa. kula -- n. ʻ clan, household ʼ, Pk. kula -- n.m. ʻ family, house ʼ; Dm. kul ʻ house ʼ; Sh. (Lor.) d*lda -- kul ʻ grandfather's relations ʼ; K. kŏl m. ʻ family, race ʼ; S. kurum. ʻ tribe, family ʼ, L. kull m., P. kul f.; WPah. bhad. kul n. ʻ sub -- caste, family ʼ; N. A. B. kul ʻ clan, caste, family ʼ, Or. kuḷa, OMth. kula; H. kul m. ʻ herd, clan, caste, family ʼ, Marw. kul; G. kuḷ n. ʻ family, tribe ʼ, M. kūḷ n., °ḷī f.; OSi. -- kolaṭ dat. ʻ family ʼ; -- Si. kulaya ʻ family, caste ʼ ← Pa. or Sk. -- Deriv. Or. kuḷā ʻ of good family ʼ,akuḷā ʻ illegitimate (of birth) ʼ. (CDIAL 3330).

Rebus: dhokra kula

Glosses attesting to ayo 'fish' and rebus readings:

Indian mackerel Ta. ayirai, acarai, acalai loach, sandy colour, Cobitis thermalis; ayilai a kind of fish. Ma. ayala a fish, mackerel, scomber; aila, ayila a fish; ayira a kind of small fish, loach (DEDR 191) Munda: So. Ayo `fish'. Go. ayu `fish'. Go <ayu> (Z), <ayu?u> (Z),, <ayu?> (A) {N} ``^fish''. Kh. kaDOG `fish'. Sa. Hako `fish'. Mu. hai(H) ~ haku(N) ~ haikO(M) `fish'. Ho haku `fish'. Bj. hai `fish'. Bh.haku `fish'. KW haiku ~ hakO |Analyzed hai-kO, ha-kO (RDM). Ku. Kaku`fish'.@(V064,M106) Mu. ha-i, haku `fish' (HJP). @(V341) ayu>(Z), <ayu?u> (Z)  <ayu?>(A) {N} ``^fish''. #1370. <yO>\\<AyO>(L) {N} ``^fish''. #3612. <kukkulEyO>,,<kukkuli-yO>(LMD) {N} ``prawn''. !Serango dialect. #32612. <sArjAjyO>,,<sArjAj>(D) {N} ``prawn''. #32622. <magur-yO>(ZL) {N} ``a kind of ^fish''. *Or.<>. #32632. <ur+GOl-Da-yO>(LL) {N} ``a kind of ^fish''. #32642.<bal.bal-yO>(DL) {N} ``smoked fish''. #15163. Vikalpa: Munda: <aDara>(L) {N} ``^scales of a fish, sharp bark of a tree''.#10171. So<aDara>(L) {N} ``^scales of a fish, sharp bark of a tree''.

aya = iron (G.); ayah, ayas = metal (Skt.) aduru native metal (Ka.); ayil iron (Ta.) ayir, ayiram any ore (Ma.); ajirda karba very hard iron (Tu.)(DEDR 192). Ta. ayil javelin, lance, surgical knife, lancet.Ma. ayil javelin, lance; ayiri surgical knife, lancet. (DEDR 193). aduru = gan.iyinda tegadu karagade iruva aduru = ore taken from the mine and not subjected to melting in a furnace (Ka. Siddhānti Subrahmaṇya’ Śastri’s new interpretation of the AmarakoŚa, Bangalore, Vicaradarpana Press, 1872, p.330); adar = fine sand (Ta.); ayir – iron dust, any ore (Ma.) Kur. adar the waste of pounded rice, broken grains, etc. Malt. adru broken grain (DEDR 134).  Ma. aśu thin, slender;ayir, ayiram iron dust.Ta. ayir subtlety, fineness, fine sand, candied sugar; ? atar fine sand, dust. அய.³ ayir, n. 1. Subtlety, fineness; நணசம. (__.) 2. [M. ayir.] Fine sand; நணமணல. (மலசலப. 92.) ayiram, n.  Candied sugar; ayil, n. cf. ayas. 1. Iron; 2. Surgical knife, lancet; Javelin, lance; ayilavaṉ, Skanda, as bearing a javelin (DEDR 341).Tu. gadarů a lump (DEDR 1196)  kadara— m. ‘iron goad for guiding an elephant’ lex. (CDIAL 2711). অয়সঠন [ aẏaskaṭhina ] a as hard as iron; extremely hard (Bengali) अयोगूः A blacksmith; Vāj.3.5. अयस् a. [-गतौ-असुन्] Going, moving; nimble. n. (-यः) 1 Iron (एति चलति अयस्कान्तसंनिकर्षं इति तथात्वम्नायसोल्लिख्यते रत्नम्Śukra 4.169. अभितप्तमयो$पि मार्दवं भजते कैव कथा शरीरिषु R.8.43. -2 Steel. -3 Gold. -4 A metal in general. ayaskāṇḍa 1 an iron-arrow. -2 excellent iron. -3 a large quantity of iron. -_नत_(अयसक_नत_) 1 'beloved of iron', a magnet, load-stone; 2 a precious stone; ˚मजण_ a loadstone; ayaskāra 1 an iron-smith, blacksmith (Skt.Apte) ayas-kāntamu. [Skt.] n. The load-stone, a magnet. ayaskāruḍu. n. A black smith, one who works in iron. ayassu. n. ayō-mayamu. [Skt.] adj. made of iron (Te.) áyas— n. ‘metal, iron’ RV. Pa. ayō nom. sg. n. and m., aya— n. ‘iron’, Pk. aya— n., Si. ya. AYAŚCŪRṆA—, AYASKĀṆḌA—, *AYASKŪṬA—. Addenda: áyas—: Md. da ‘iron’, dafat ‘piece of iron’. ayaskāṇḍa— m.n. ‘a quantity of iron, excellent iron’ Pāṇ. gaṇ. viii.3.48 [ÁYAS—, KAA ́ṆḌA—]Si.yakaḍa ‘iron’.*ayaskūṭa— ‘iron hammer’. [ÁYAS—, KUU ́ṬA—1] Pa. ayōkūṭa—, ayak m.; Si. yakuḷa‘sledge —hammer’, yavuḷa (< ayōkūṭa) (CDIAL 590, 591, 592). cf. Lat. aes , aer-is for as-is ; Goth. ais , Thema aisa; Old Germ. e7r , iron ;Goth. eisarn ; Mod. Germ. Eisen.
Glyph: *ḍaṅgara1 ʻ cattle ʼ. 2. *daṅgara -- . [Same as ḍaṅ- gara -- 2 s.v. *ḍagga -- 2 as a pejorative term for cattle] 1. K. ḍangur m. ʻ bullock ʼ, L. ḍaṅgur, (Ju.) ḍ̠ãgar m. ʻ horned cattle ʼ; P. ḍaṅgar m. ʻ cattle ʼ, Or.ḍaṅgara; Bi. ḍã̄gar ʻ old worn -- out beast, dead cattle ʼ, dhūr ḍã̄gar ʻ cattle in general ʼ; Bhoj. ḍāṅgar ʻ cattle ʼ; H. ḍã̄gar, ḍã̄grā m. ʻ horned cattle ʼ.2. H. dã̄gar m. = prec. (CDIAL 5526)


A count of six locks of hair on the bearded person in the middle, flanked by – holding apart -- two one-horned young bulls. Personified as bull-man (bearded  person ligatured to the back of a bovine) battles with lions. (Mesopotamia. Cylinder seal)

Many examples of Meluhha hieroglyphs present a person ligatured to bovine features. The same pattern is repeated in hundreds of Akkadian/Sumerian/Elam/Persian Gulf cylinder seals. These are Meluhha hieroglyphs denoting rebus a smith. In the example of Pict-103 presented below, the smith is a dhokra kamar, a smith engaged in lost-wax casting. The same hieroglyph as shown on Pict-103 (Mohenjo-daro seal) is repeated on a Dholavira molded terracotta tablet.
Hieroglyph of dhokra kamar (which compares with a hieroglyph on Pict-103 Mohenjodaro seal) shown together with the 'long-snouted crocodile' hieroglyph on a Dholavira molded terracotta tablet.

Standing person with horns and bovine features (hoofed legs and/or tail). Variants:
On Pict-89, a person is holding a bow in one hand and an arrow or an uncertain object in the other.
On PIct-90the person with is shown holding a staff or mace on his shoulder.
On h714At Icon of a person has bull's legs and a raised club.
On Pict-103 Horned female with breasts hanging down, with a tail and bovine legs standing near a tree fisting a horned tiger rearing on its hindlegs. 

Ka. koṇḍe, goṇḍe tuft, tassel, cluster (DEDR 2081) Rebus: kŏnḍ क्वंड् or kŏnḍa क्वंड । कुण्ड m  a deep still spring (El., Gr.Gr. 145); (amongst Hindūs) a hole dug in the ground for receiving consecrated fire(Kashmiri) bha‘six (hair-knots)’; rebus: bhaa  ‘furnace’. kõdā खोंड [ khōṇḍa ] m A young bull, a bullcalf. (Marathi) Rebus: A. kundār, B. kũdār, °ri, Or. kundāru; H. kũderā m. ʻone who works a lathe, one who scrapesʼ, °rī f.,  kũdernā ʻ to scrape, plane, round on a lathe ʼ.(CDIAL 3297). Thus, kũdār kŏnḍ  ‘turner furnace (consecrated fire). మేడము mēḍamu ] mēḍamu. [Tel.] n. Joining,union, కూడిక. A fight, battle, యుద్ధము (Telugu) Rebus: meḍ ‘iron’ (Ho.)

koṭe meṛed = forged iron, in contrast to dul meṛed, cast iron (Mundari)

Ta. koṭi creeper, umbilical cord. Ma. koṭi creeper, what is long and thin, umbilical cord, etc. Ko koṛycreeper; koc binding (for firewood, etc.) made from plant. To. kwïṛy creeper. Koḍ. koḍi ele betel leaf. Pe.goḍi creeper. Manḍ. kuṛi id. Cf. 1678, esp. Kur. kuḍḍā. Ta. koṭi banner, flag, streamer; kōṭu summit of a hill, peak, mountain; kōṭai mountain; kōṭar peak, summit of a tower; kuvaṭu mountain, hill, peak;kuṭumisummit of a mountain, top of a building, crown of the head, bird's crest, tuft of hair (esp. of men), crown, projecting corners on which a door swings.Ma. koṭi top, extremity, flag, banner, sprout; kōṭu end; kuvaṭuhill, mountain-top; kuṭuma, kuṭumma narrow point, bird's crest, pivot of door used as hinge, lock of hair worn as caste distinction; koṭṭu head of a bone. Ko. koṛy flag on temple; koṭ top tuft of hair (of Kota boy, brahman), crest of bird; kuṭ clitoris.To. kwïṭ tip, nipple, child's back lock of hair. Ka. kuḍi pointed end, point, extreme tip of a creeper, sprout, end, top, flag, banner; guḍi point, flag, banner;kuḍilu sprout, shoot; kōḍu a point, the peak or top of a hill; koṭṭu a point, nipple, crest, gold ornament worn by women in their plaited hair; koṭṭa state of being extreme; koṭṭa-kone the extreme point; (Hav.) koḍi sprout; Koḍ.koḍi top (of mountain, tree, rock, table), rim of pit or tank, flag. Tu. koḍi point, end, extremity, sprout, flag; koḍipuni to bud, germinate; (B-K.) koḍipu, koḍipel&uring; a sprout; koḍirè the top-leaf; koṭṭu cock's comb, peacock's tuft. Te.koḍi tip, top, end or point of a flame; koṭṭa-kona the very end or extremity.Kol.(Kin.)koṛi point. Pa. kūṭor cock's comb. Go. (Tr.) koḍḍī tender tip or shoot of a plant or tree; koḍḍi (S.) end, tip, (Mu.) tip of bow; (A.) koḍi point (Voc. 891). Malt. qoṛg̣o comb of a cock; ? qóru the end, the top (as of a tree).(DEDR 2049) Cf. 2081 Ta. koṇṭai and 2200 Ta. kōṭu. (DEDR 2050)

Ta. koṭi. / Cf. Skt. kuṇḍa- clump (e.g. darbha-kuṇḍa-), Pkt. (DNM) goṇḍī- = mañjarī-; Turner, CDIAL, no. 3266; cf. also Mar. gōḍā cluster, tuft. (DEDR 2081) 

koḍ = place where artisans work (G.) .) ācāri koṭṭya ‘smithy’ (Tu.) कोंडण [ kōṇḍaṇa ] f A fold or pen. (Marathi) koṭṭil cowhouse, shed, workshop, house; Malt. koṭa hamlet. / Influenced by Skt. goṣṭha-. (DEDR 2059). kūṭam = workshop (Tamil); கோட்டம் kōṭṭam,n. <kōṣṭha. 1. Room, enclosure; அறைசுடும ணோங்கிய நெடு நிலைக் கோட்டமும் (மணி. 6, 59). 2. Temple; கோயில்கோழிச் சேவற் கொடியோன் கோட்டமும் (சிலப். 14, 10). koṭe meṛed = forged iron (Mu.) meḍ ‘iron’ (Ho.) dul meṛed, cast iron (Mu.) koṭe ‘forged metal’ (Santali) கொட்டுக்கன்னார் koṭṭu-k-kaṉṉār , n. < கொட்டு² +. Braziers who work by beating plates into shape and not by casting; செம் படிக்குங் கன்னார். (W.) koṭṭamu, koṭṭama. [Tel.] n. A pent roofed chamber or house as distinguished from ‘midde' which is flat-roofed. Pounding in a mortar. A stable for elephants or horses, or cattle  A. i. 43. [ koṭṭāmu ] koṭṭāmu. [Tel.] n. A pent roofed house. [ koṭṭaruvu ] koṭṭaruvu. [Tel.] n. A barn, a grain store.  [koṭāru],  [Tel.] n. A store, a granary. A place to keep grain, salt, &c. కొఠారు [ koṭhāru ] Same as [ koṭhī ] koṭhī. [H.] n. A bank. A mercantile house or firm (Telugu) kṓṣṭha2 n. ʻ pot ʼ Kauś., ʻ granary, storeroom ʼ MBh., ʻ inner apartment ʼ lex., aka -- n. ʻ treasury ʼ, ikā f. ʻ pan ʼ Bhpr. [Cf. *kōttha -- , *kōtthala -- : same as prec.?] Pa. koṭṭha -- n. ʻ monk's cell, storeroom ʼ, aka<-> n. ʻ storeroom ʼ; Pk. koṭṭha -- , kuṭ, koṭṭhaya -- m. ʻ granary, storeroom ʼ; Sv. dāntar -- kuṭha ʻ fire -- place ʼ; Sh. (Lor.) kōti (ṭh?) ʻ wooden vessel for mixing yeast ʼ; K.kōṭha m. ʻ granary ʼ, kuṭhu m. ʻ room ʼ, kuṭhü f. ʻ granary, storehouse ʼ; S. koṭho m. ʻ large room ʼ, ṭhī f. ʻ storeroom ʼ; L. koṭhā m. ʻ hut, room, house ʼ, ṭhī f. ʻ shop, brothel ʼ, awāṇ. koṭhā ʻ house ʼ; P. koṭṭhā, koṭhām. ʻ house with mud roof and walls, granary ʼ, koṭṭhī, koṭhī f. ʻ big well -- built house, house for married women to prostitute themselves in ʼ; WPah. pāḍ. kuṭhī ʻ house ʼ; Ku. koṭho ʻ large square house ʼ, gng.kōṭhi ʻ room, building ʼ; N. koṭho ʻ chamber ʼ, ṭhi ʻ shop ʼ; A. koṭhā, kõṭhā ʻ room ʼ, kuṭhī ʻ factory ʼ; B. koṭhāʻ brick -- built house ʼ, kuṭhī ʻ bank, granary ʼ; Or. koṭhā ʻ brick -- built house ʼ, ṭhī ʻ factory, granary ʼ; Bi.koṭhī ʻ granary of straw or brushwood in the open ʼ; Mth. koṭhīʻ grain -- chest ʼ; OAw. koṭha ʻstoreroom ʼ; H. koṭhā m. ʻ granary ʼ, ṭhī f. ʻ granary, large house ʼ, Marw. koṭho m. ʻ room ʼ; G. koṭhɔ m. ʻ jar in which indigo is stored, warehouse ʼ, ṭhī f. ʻ large earthen jar, factory ʼ; M. koṭhā m. ʻ large granary ʼ, ṭhī f. ʻ granary, factory ʼ; Si. koṭa ʻ storehouse ʼ. -- Ext. with -- ḍa -- : K. kūṭhürü f. ʻ small room ʼ; L. koṭhṛī f. ʻ small side room ʼ; P. koṭhṛī f. ʻ room, house ʼ; Ku. koṭheṛī ʻ small room ʼ; H. koṭhrī f. ʻ room, granary ʼ; M.koṭhḍī f. ʻ room ʼ; -- with -- ra -- : A. kuṭharī ʻ chamber ʼ, B. kuṭhrī, Or. koṭhari; -- with -- lla -- : Sh. (Lor.)kotul (ṭh?) ʻ wattle and mud erection for storing grain ʼ; H. koṭhlā m.,  f. ʻ room, granary ʼ; G. koṭhlɔ m. ʻ wooden box ʼ kōṣṭhapāla -- ,  *kōṣṭharūpa -- , *kōṣṭhāṁśa -- , kōṣṭhāgāra -- ; *kajjalakōṣṭha -- , *duvārakōṣṭha-, *dēvakōṣṭha -- , dvārakōṣṭhaka -- .Addenda: kṓṣṭha -- 2: WPah.kṭg. kóṭṭhi f. ʻ house, quarters, temple treasury, name of a partic. temple ʼ, J. koṭhā m. ʻ granary ʼ, koṭhī f. ʻ granary, bungalow ʼ; Garh. koṭhu ʻ house surrounded by a wall ʼ; Md. koḍi ʻ frame ʼ, <-> koři ʻ cage ʼ (X kōṭṭa -- ). -- with ext.: OP. koṭhārī f. ʻ crucible ʼ, P. kuṭhālī f., H.kuṭhārī f.; -- Md. koṭari ʻ room ʼ.(CDIAL 3546) kōṣṭhapāla m. ʻ storekeeper ʼ W. [kṓṣṭha -- 2, pāla -- ] M. koṭhvaḷā m. (CDIAL 3547) 3550 kōṣṭhāgāra n. ʻ storeroom, store ʼ Mn. [kṓṣṭha -- 2, agāra -- ] Pa. koṭṭhāgāra -- n. ʻ storehouse, granary ʼ; Pk. koṭṭhāgāra -- , koṭṭhāra -- n. ʻ storehouse ʼ; K. kuṭhār m. ʻ wooden granary ʼ, WPah. bhal. kóṭhār m.; A. B. kuṭharī ʻ apartment ʼ, Or. koṭhari; Aw. lakh. koṭhār ʻ zemindar's residence ʼ; H. kuṭhiyār ʻ granary ʼ; G. koṭhār m. ʻ granary, storehouse ʼ, koṭhāriyũ n. ʻ small do. ʼ; M. koṭhār n., koṭhārẽ n. ʻ large granary ʼ, -- rī f. ʻ small one ʼ; Si. koṭāra ʻ granary, store ʼ.kōṣṭhāgārika -- .Addenda:  kōṣṭhāgāra -- : WPah.kṭg. kəṭhāˊr, kc. kuṭhār m. ʻ granary, storeroom ʼ, J. kuṭhār, kṭhār m.; -- Md. kořāru ʻ storehouse ʼ ← Ind. (CDIAL 3550). kōṣṭhāgārika m. ʻ storekeeper ʼ BHSk. [Cf. kōṣṭhā- gārin -- m. ʻ wasp ʼ Suśr.: kōṣṭhāgāra -- ] Pa. koṭṭhāgārika -- m. ʻ storekeeper ʼ; S. koṭhārī m. ʻ one who in a body of faqirs looks after the provision store ʼ; Or. koṭhārī ʻ treasurer ʼ; Bhoj. koṭhārī ʻ storekeeper ʼ, H. kuṭhiyārī m. Addenda: kōṣṭhāgārika -- : G. koṭhārī m. ʻ storekeeper ʼ. kōṣṭhin -- see kuṣṭhin -- Add2. (CDIAL 3552) Ta. koṭṭakai shed with sloping roofs, cow-stall; marriage pandal; koṭṭam cattle-shed; koṭṭil cow-stall, shed, hut; (STD) koṭambe feeding place for cattle.Ma. koṭṭil cowhouse, shed, workshop, house. Ka. koṭṭage, koṭige, koṭṭige stall or outhouse (esp. for cattle), barn, room.  Koḍ.  koṭṭï shed.  Tu.koṭṭa hut or dwelling of Koragars; koṭya shed, stall. Te. koṭṭā̆mu stable for cattle or horses; koṭṭāyi thatched shed. Kol. (Kin.) koṛka, (SR.) korkācowshed; (Pat., p. 59) konṭoḍihenhouse. Nk. khoṭa cowshed. Nk. (Ch.)  koṛka id.  Go. (Y.) koṭa, (Ko.) koṭam (pl. koṭak) id. (Voc. 880); (SR.) koṭka shed; (W. G. Mu. Ma.) koṛka, (Ph.) korka, kurka cowshed (Voc. 886); (Mu.) koṭorla, koṭorlished for goats (Voc. 884). Malt. koṭa hamlet. / Influenced by Skt. goṣṭha-.  (DEDR 2058) கொட்டகைkoṭṭakai, n. < gōṣṭhaka. [T. koṭṭamu, K. koṭṭage, Tu. koṭya.] Shed with sloping roofs, cow-stall, marriage-pandal; பந்தல் விசேடம்கொட்டகைத் தூண்போற் காலிலங்க (குற்றாகுற. 84, 4). கொட்டம் koṭṭam, n. House; வீடுஒரு கொட்டம் ஒழிச்சுக் குடுத்துருங்கோ (எங்களூர், 47). கோட்டம்² kōṭṭam, n. < kōṣṭha. 1. Room, enclosure; அறைசுடும ணோங்கிய நெடு நிலைக் கோட்டமும் (மணி. 6, 59). 2. Temple; கோயில்கோழிச் சேவற் கொடியோன் கோட்டமும் (சிலப். 14, 10). Koṭṭhaka1 (nt.) "a kind of koṭṭha," the stronghold over a gateway, used as a store -- room for various things, a chamber, treasury, granary Vin ii.153, 210; for the purpose of keeping water in it Vin ii.121=142; 220; treasury J i.230;ii.168; -- store -- room J ii.246; koṭthake pāturahosi appeared at the gateway, i. e. arrived at the mansion Vin i.291.; -- udaka -- k a bath -- room, bath cabinet Vin i.205 (cp. Bdhgh's expln at Vin. Textsii.57); so also nahāna -- k˚ and piṭṭhi -- k˚, bath -- room behind a hermitage J iii.71; DhA ii.19; a gateway, Vin ii.77; usually in cpd. dvāra -- k˚ "door cavity," i. e. room over the gate: gharaŋ satta -- dvāra -- koṭṭhakapaṭimaṇḍitaŋ "a mansion adorned with seven gateways" J i.227=230, 290; VvA 322. dvāra -- koṭṭhakesu āsanāni paṭṭhapenti "they spread mats in the gateways" VvA 6; esp. with bahi: bahi -- dvārakoṭṭhakā nikkhāmetvā "leading him out in front of the gateway" A iv.206; ˚e thiṭa or nisinna standing or sitting in front of the gateway S i.77; M i.161, 382; A iii.30. -- bala -- k. a line of infantry Ji.179. -- koṭṭhaka -- kamma or the occupation connected with a storehouse (or bathroom?) is mentioned as an example of a low occupation at Vin iv.6; Kern, Toev. s. v. "someone who sweeps away dirt." (Pali)

குடி¹-த்தல் kuṭi-, 11 v. tr. cf. kuḍ. [K. kuḍi, M. kuṭi.] 1. [T. kuḍucu.] To drink, as from a cup, from the breast; பருகுதல்கடலைவற்றக் குடித்திடுகின்ற செவ்வேற் கூற்றம் (கந்தபுதாரக. 183). 3232 kuṭī—f. ‘hut’ MBh., ṭikā— f. Divyāv., ṭīkā— f. Hariv. [Some cmpds. have ṭa(ka)—: ← Drav. EWA i 222 with lit.: cf.kōṭa—3] Pa. kuṭī—, ṭikā— f. ‘single—roomed hut’; Pk.kuḍī— f., ḍaya— n. ‘hut’; Gy. pal. kúri ‘house, tent, room’, as. kuri, guri ‘tent’ JGLS New Ser. ii 329; Sh. kúi ‘village, country’; WPah.jaun. kūṛo house’; Ku. kuṛī, ṛo ‘house, building’, ghar—kuṛī  house and land’, gng. kuṛ ‘house’; N. kur‘nest or hiding place of fish’, kuri ‘burrow, hole for small animals’, kaṭ—kuro ‘small shed for storing wood’; B. kuṛiyā‘small thatched hut’; Or. kuṛī, ṛiā ‘hut’; H. kuṛī f. ‘fireplace’; M. kuḍī f. ‘hut’; Si. kiḷiya ‘hut, small house’. WPah.kṭg. krvṛi f. ‘granary (for corn after threshing)’; Garh. kuṛu ‘house’; — B. phonet. kũṛ  (CDIAL 3232) kuṭumba— n. ‘household’ ChUp. 2. kuṭumbaka— m. Daś. 1. Pa. kuṭumba—, ṭimba— n. ‘family, riches’; Pk.kuḍuṁba—, ḍaṁba— n. ‘family’, S. kuṛmu m., Ku. gng.kū̃m; H. kuṛum—codī f. ‘incest’. 2. P.kunbā m. ‘kindred, caste, tribe’; WPah. jaun. kuṇbā ‘family’; A. kurmā, f. āni ‘a connexion by mar- riage’; H. kuṛmā, kumbā, kunbā m. ‘family, caste, tribe’. (CDIAL 3233) குடி&sup4; kuṭi, n. cf. kuṭi. [M. kuṭi.] 1. Ryot; குடியானவன்கூடு கெழீஇய குடிவயினான் (பொருந. 182). 2. Tenants; குடியிருப்போர். 3. Subjects, citizens; ஆட்சிக்குட்பட்ட பிரசைகள்மன்னவன் கோனோக்கி வாழுங் குடி (குறள், 542). 4. Family; குடும்பம்ஒருகுடிப்பிறந்த பல்லோருள்ளும் (புறநா. 183). 5. Lineage, descent; கோத்திரம். (பிங்.) 6. Caste, race; குலம். (பிங்.) 7. House, home, mansion; வீடுசிறுகுடி கலக்கி (கந்தபுஆற்று. 12). 8. Town, village; ஊர்குன்றகச்சிறுகுடிக் கிளை யுடன் மகிழ்ந்து (திருமுரு. 196). 9. [T. K. kuṭi.] Abode, residence; வாழ்விடம்அடியாருள்ளத் தன்பு மீதூரக் குடியாக்கொண்ட (திருவாச. 2, 8). Ta.kuṭi (-pp-, -tt-) to drink, inhale; n. drinking, beverage,drunkenness; kuṭiyaṉ drunkard. Ma. kuṭi drinking, water drunk after meals, soaking; kuṭikka to drink, swallow; kuṭippikka to give to drink, soak; kuṭiyandrunkard. Ko. kuṛy- (kuṛc-) to drink (only in: uc kuṛy- to drink urine, i.e. to be humbled). To. kuḍt- (only 2nd stem) to drink (in song; < Badaga or Ta.). Ka. kuḍi to drink, inhale; n. drinking; kuḍisu to cause to drink; kuḍika, kuḍaka drinker, drunkard; kuḍita, kuḍata drinking, a draught; kuḍu, kuḍiyuvike drinking.Koḍ. kuḍi- (kuḍip-, kuḍic-) to drink. Tu. kuḍcuni to drink excessively, swallow liquor; kuḍcel, kuḍicel;drunkenness; kuḍcele, kuḍicele drunkard. Te. kuḍucu to eat, suck, drink, enjoy, suffer;kuḍupu to feed, suckle, cause to eat, enjoy, or suffer; n. eating, food, enjoying, suffering; kuḍupari one who eats, enjoys, or suffers; kuḍi right, right-hand;kuḍiti the washings of rice, split pulse, etc., used as a drink for cattle. Cf. 1658 Ko. guṛakn. / Cf. Skt. kuṭī- intoxicating liquor. (DEDR 1654) Ta. kuṭi house, abode, home, family, lineage, town, tenants; kuṭikai hut made of leaves, temple; kuṭical hut; kuṭicai, kuṭiñai small hut, cottage;kuṭimai family, lineage, allegiance (as of subjects to their sovereign), servitude; kuṭiy-āḷ tenant;kuṭiyilār tenants; kuṭil hut, shed, abode; kuṭaṅkar hut, cottage; kaṭumpu relations. Ma. kuṭi house, hut, family, wife, tribe; kuṭima the body of landholders, tenantry; kuṭiyan slaves (e.g. in Coorg);kuṭiyāninhabitant, subject, tenant; kuṭiññil hut, thatch; kuṭil hut, outhouse near palace for menials. Ko.kuṛjl shed, bathroom of Kota house; kuṛm family; kuḍḷ front room of house; kuṛḷ hut; guṛy temple. To.kwïṣ shed for small calves; kuṣ room (in dairy or house); kuḍṣ outer room of dairy, in: kuḍṣ was̱ fireplace in outer room of lowest grade of dairies (cf. 2857), kuḍṣ moṇy bell(s) in outer section of ti· dairy, used on non-sacred buffaloes (cf. 4672); kuṛy Hindu temple; ? kwïḏy a family of children. Ka. kuḍiya, kuḍu śūdra, farmer; guḍi house, temple; guḍil, guḍalu, guḍisalu, guḍasalu, guḍasala, etc. hut with a thatched roof.Koḍ. kuḍi family of servants living in one hut; kuḍië man of toddy-tapper caste. Tu. guḍi small pagoda or shrine; guḍisal;, guḍisil;, guḍsil;, guḍicil; hut, shed. Te. koṭika hamlet; guḍi temple; guḍise hut, cottage, hovel. Kol. (SR) guḍī temple. Pa. guḍi temple, village resthouse. Ga. (Oll.) guḍi temple. Go. (Ko.) kuṛmahut, outhouse; (Ma.) kurma menstruation; (Grigson) kurma lon menstruation hut (Voc. 782, 800); (SR.) guḍi, (Mu.) guḍḍi, (S. Ko.) guṛi temple;  guḍḍī (Ph.) temple, (Tr.) tomb (Voc. 1113). Kui guḍi central room of house, living room. / Cf. Skt. kū˘ṭa-, kuṭi-, kū˘ṭī- (whence Ga. (P.) kuṛe hut; Kui kūṛi hut made of boughs, etc.; Kur. kuṛyā small shed or outhouse; Malt. kuṛya hut in the fields; Br. kuḍ(ḍ)ī hut, small house, wife), kuṭīkā-, kuṭīra-, kuṭuṅgaka-, kuṭīcaka-, koṭa- hut; kuṭumba- household (whence Ta. Ma.kuṭumpam id.; Ko. kuṛmb [? also kuṛm above]; To. kwïḍb, kwïḍbïl [-ïl fromwïkïl, s.v. 925 Ta. okkal]; Ka., Koḍ., Tu. kuṭumba; Tu. kuḍuma; Te. kuṭumbamu; ? Kui kumbu house [balance word of iḍu, see s.v. 494 Ta. il]). See Turner, CDIAL, no. 3232, kuṭī-, no. 3493, kōṭa-, no. 3233, kuṭumba-, for most of the Skt. forms; Burrow, BSOAS 11.137. (DEDR 1655)

Ta. koṭiṟu pincers. Ma. koṭil tongs. Ko. koṛ hook of tongs. / Cf. Skt. (P. 4.4.18) kuṭilikā- smith's tongs.(DEDR 2052).

meṭ sole of foot, footstep, footprint (Ko.); meṭṭu step, stair, treading, slipper (Te.)(DEDR 1557). Rebus:मेढ ‘merchant’s helper’ (Pkt.); m. an elephant-keeper Gal. (cf. मेठ).  Ta. mēṭṭi haughtiness, excellence, chief, head, land granted free of tax to the headman of a village; mēṭṭimai haughtiness; leadership,excellence.   Ka. mēṭi loftiness, greatness, excellence, a big man, a chief, a head, head servant.mēti. n. Lit: a helper. A servant, a cook, a menial who cleans plates, dishes, lamps and shoes, &c. (Eng. ‘mate’) మేటి [ mēi ] or మేటరి mēi [Tel.] n. A chief, leader, head man, lord (Telugu) மேட்டி mēṭṭi, n. Assistant house-servant; waiting-boy (Tamil) meḍ  ‘body’, ‘dance’ (Santali)  மெட்டு¹-தல் meṭṭu-, v. tr. cf. நெட்டு-. [K. meṭṭu.] To spurn or push with the foot; காலால் தாக்குதல். நிகளத்தை மெட்டி மெட்டிப் பொடிபடுத்தி (பழனிப்பிள்ளைத். 12). (Tamil) meṭṭu ‘to put or place down the foot or feet; to step, to pace, to walk (Ka.); meṭṭisu ‘to cause to step or walk, to cause to tread on’ (Ka.) meḍ ‘dance’ (Santali); meḍ ‘iron’ (Ho.)

talka sole of foot; tala, tola sole of shoe (Santali) talka = palm of the hand, ti talka (Santali.lex.) ti = the hand, arm (Santali.lex.) Rebus: talika = inventory, a list of articles, number, to count, to number; hor.ko talkhaetkoa = they are counting the people; mi~hu~ merom reak talikako hataoeda = they are taking the number of the cattle (Santali.lex.)

H. khũdalnā ʻ to trample under foot ʼ → M. khũdaḷṇẽ ʻ to tread mortar, treat roughly, shake and toss ʼ ; S.kcch. khūndhṇū ʻ to trample ʼ; M.khurãdaḷṇẽkhurũd° ʻ to trample, crush ʼ.(CDIAL 3717)

http://www.scribd.com/doc/157792471/Yule-Paul-A-Harappan-Snarling-Iron-from-Chanhu-daro-Antiquity-62-1988-pp-116-118



About a temple in Sheorajpur with metal ceiling

Could this be the work of dhokra kamar? this is an amazing structure by any standards as a ceiling of a S'iva temple called Kereshwar in Shivrajpur, a village on the banks of Ganga.
Many bronze artifacts are also venerated in the temple.

I hope some researcher will find out the sources for these bronze/brass marvels which echoe the anthropomorph of ancient India?
Sheorajpur anthropomorph with 'fish' hieroglyph and 'markhor' horns hieroglyph. ayo'fish' Rebus: ayo 'iron, metal' (Gujarati) miṇḍāl markhor (Tor.wali) meḍho a ram, a sheep (Gujarati)(CDIAL 10120) Rebus: meḍ 'iron' (Ho.)

Prima facie, it appears that these are products of dhokra kamar 
metalworkers

NB: Some historical notes:
Pratihara emperor, Mihir Bhoja, has ruled in nearby Kanpur since nearby Kannuaj was the capital of Parihar. At Shivrajpur, 20 km from the Kanpur Central railway station, there is an ancient temple built by Chandel Raja Sati Prasad. The history of the temple and architecture needs further investigations and researches.



 Nahal Mishmar hoard also had a copper alloy U-shaped vessel comparable in shape to the one shown on Meluhha standard as a crucible or portable furnace. The zig-zag shaped decoration on the copper vessel is comparable to the zig-zag shape shown on the 'gimlet' ligature on Meluhha standard (Mohenjo-dao seal m008). The zig-zag pattern shows the circular motion of the lathe --sangaḍa --Drawing showing three components of  Meluhha standard device: scepter, portable furnace, gimlet (lathe) juxtaposed to a standard in the Nahal Mishmar hoard of lost-wax castings. See, in particular, the three components of the Meluhha standard shown on Mohenjo-daro seal m008.
Mohenjo-daro seal m008 and variants of flagposts on Meluhha standard. (Note: Meluhha refers to mleccha vernacular language of the people of Indus-Sarasvati also called Harappa-Mohenjo-daro or Indus Valley Civilization Sets of Meluhha hieroglyphs refer to Indus script discussed in my book. Thus, Meluhha, mleccha vernacular of India is clearly attested in 4400 BCE at Nahal Mishmar.)

Executive Summary

This monograph suggests that the Nahal Mishmar standard is comparable to the Meluhha standard which carried hieroglyphs in a trade-guild procession. This complements the following blogpost: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2014/01/meluhha-dhokra-art-from-5th-millennium.html   



Meluhha: spread of lost-wax casting in the Fertile Crescent. Smithy is the temple. Veneration of ancestors.

This blogpost compared Nahal Mishmar hoard with Meluhha artifacts, and in particular two Meluhha seals with inscriptions from Dholavira and Mohenjo-daro demonstrating the dhokra was a Meluhha word for cire perdue (lost-wax) casting method evidenced by Nahal Mishmar copper hoard and that dhokra metal casting is practiced even today in many parts of India

The hieroglyphs carried on the Meluhha standard represented the tools-of-trade and denoted professional competence of the Meluhha lapidary-smithy artisans as the artisans transited from the chalcolithic to true bronze-age with competence in creating metal alloys and cast objects using the lost-wax casting method as demonstrated by the over 429 copper alloy objects discovered in Nahal Mishmar (ca. 4400 BCE).

The shape of this standard compares with the standard which holds the 'standard device' often shown in front of one-horned young bull on many Meluhha (Indus script) inscriptions. 

The Meluhha standard holds two devices on top: 1. bowl-shaped crucible or portable furnace; 2. gimlet (lathe) There are two Mohenjo-daro tablets which show the Meluhha standared carried by a standard-bearer in a procession with three other standard-bearers bearing the standards of 'one-horned young bull', 'scarf', 'spoked nave of wheel'. 

The argument in the context of Indus writing is that these are Meluhha hieroglyphs read rebus . The readings are: sangad, 'lathe, portable furnace' rebus: 'entrustment articles of guild'; konda 'young bull' rebus: konda 'turner'; dhatu 'scarf' rebus: dhatu 'ore'; eraka 'nave of wheel'; ara 'spoke of wheel' rebus: eraka 'copper casting' ara 'brass (alloy)'.

Title of artifact: Procession with gods, musicians, animals and snake-god Marduk, 12th cent. b.C., from Susa (Sometimes also referred to as 'unfinished kudurru'). Location: Louvre


  • Unfinished" Kudurru
    Kassite period, attributed to the reign of Melishipak (1186-1172 BC)
    Susa (where it had been taken as war booty in the 12th century BC)
  • Limestone J. de Morgan excavations Sb 25
  • The royal art of the Middle-Elamite period

    “Shilhak-Inshushinak was one of the most brilliant sovereigns of the dynasty founded by Shutruk-Nahhunte in the early 12th century BC. Numerous foundation bricks attest to his policy of construction. He built many monuments in honor of the great god of Susa, Inshushinak. The artists of Susa in the Middle-Elamite period were particularly skilled in making large bronze pieces. Other than the Sit Shamshi, which illustrates the complex technique of casting separate elements joined together with rivets, the excavations at Susa have produced one of the largest bronze statues of Antiquity: dating from the 14th century BC, the effigy of "Napirasu, wife of Untash-Napirisha," the head of which is missing, is 1.29 m high and weighs 1,750 kg. It was made using the solid-core casting method. Other bronze monuments underscore the mastery of the Susa metallurgists: for example, an altar table surrounded by snakes borne by divinities holding vases with gushing waters, and a relief depicting a procession of warriors set above a panel decorated with engravings of birds pecking under trees. These works, today mutilated, are technical feats. They prove, in their use of large quantities of metal, that the Susians had access to the principal copper mines situated in Oman and eastern Anatolia. This shows that Susa was located at the heart of a network of circulating goods and long-distance exchange.”[i]
     
  • Beneath the rings of the serpent that lies coiled around the top of the kudurru, the principal deities of the pantheon are represented in symbolic form. Below them is a cortege of animals and deities playing musical instruments. Walls and crenellated towers surround a space left blank for an inscription that was never carved. A horned serpent, symbol of the god Marduk, is coiled round the base.

    An anepigraphic kudurru

    This kudurru is one of a number of Mesopotamian works found in Susa. They were brought there by the Elamite king Shutruk-Nahhunte (late 12th century BC) as part of the spoils of his victorious campaigns in Mesopotamia. Kudurrus are characteristic of the Kassite Dynasty. They are decorated with bas-relief carvings, generally consisting of divine symbols and a text recording the details of royal gifts of land or privileges granted by the king to high-ranking dignitaries or members of his family. In this case, the decoration is divided into three registers, delineated at the top and base by two huge horned serpents. The lower register, where the text was to have been carved, is empty, although the surface was carefully prepared to receive the inscription: there are four polished zones demarcated by walls. Two of these zones are carved with horizontal lines ready for the cuneiform script.

    Divine symbols

    The word 'kudurru' is an Akkadian term meaning a boundary stone. However, contrary to what this name suggests, kudurrus were in fact stored in temples. Although they were primarily legal documents, their iconography provides a precious record of the religious life of the rulers who commissioned them. The upper register depicts the symbols associated with the principal deities of the Mesopotamian pantheon. Their order reflects the accepted hierarchy of the gods. The first triad consists of the three great deities: Anu, the sky god; Enlil, the earth god; and Ea, the god of Apsu, the body of fresh water on which the earth was believed to float. The second level represented the astral deities: Sin, the moon god, and his two children Shamash, the sun god, and Ishtar, the planet Venus. Immediately below them are the deities most in favor in the 2nd millennium BC. Marduk and his animal attribute - a horned dragon named Mushussu - are given pride of place, reflecting the theological desire to establish a universal god for Babylon, the capital of Mesopotamia. The iconographic style of this stele is very close to that of the kudurrus dating from the reign of King Melishihu (1186-1172 BC). This kudurru can thus be dated to the same period.

    An unusual procession

    While it was usual for kudurrus to be carved with a succession of divine symbols, in this case the carvings on the middle register are most unusual. They depict a procession of eight figures, all carrying bows and wearing the horned crowns that mark them out as gods. Seven of the figures are bearded gods, playing the lute and accompanied by animals. A goddess playing the tambourine and possibly dancing follows them. Although such friezes were very popular during the Kassite period, this composition is remarkable, even unique, in that it is most unusual to find two separate representations of the gods - one symbolic, one anthropomorphic - on the same monument. The ruler who commissioned the kudurru must have had a particular reason for including the procession as well as the more conventional symbolic representation. Unfortunately, this reason remains a mystery. The procession may refer to a ritual involving the minor deities, probably the protectors of animals. The figures may also possibly be foreign deities. Whatever the truth of the matter, the long lock of hair hanging from their headdress indicates that they are marginal figures in the classical pantheon.

    Bibliography

    L'empire du temps : mythes et créations, catalogue d'exposition du musée du Louvre, Éditions de la Réunion des musées nationaux, 2000, p. 44, cat. n 14.
    La cité royale de Suse : découvertes archéologiques en Iran conservées au musée du Louvre, catalogue d'exposition, Éditions de la Réunion des musées nationaux, 1994, pp. 178-180, fig. 116.
    Louvre, antiquités orientales : guide du visiteur, Éditions de la Réunion des musées nationaux, 1997.
  • Statuette of a god wearing a coiled serpent and mounted on a chariot
    End of the Sukkalmah period, 16th-15th century BC
    Susa
  • Copper
  • J. de Morgan excavations
    Sb 2824
This god riding a chariot has the ears of a bull and a long beard edged with twisted locks, which enables us to identify him as Nergal, the Mesopotamian god of the devastating summer sun, sometimes associated with the Underworld. He is depicted here in a procession. His tiara headdress is crowned with a snake, a benevolent animal in Elamite mythology. This objects reflects the great skill of the Iranian metallurgists. It is part of a group of twenty-six objects found at the Susa acropolis.

A god with bull's ears

Sitting astride his chariot, the god is dressed in a kaunakes, a ruffled cloak in the Mesopotamian style. This garment was traditionally attributed to divine figures, while human beings customarily wore thin, draped fabrics. The figure is of human appearance but has the ears of a bull. This detail, along with the long beard divided into two separate parts edged with twisted locks, are the characteristics of the Mesopotamian death-god, Nergal, widely represented in Elam. This god of sickness and death was often portrayed in the form of terra-cotta figurines in Babylonia in the early 2nd millennium. However, none have been found at Susa. Holding a branch, the god is here shown in a procession, on the occasion of a religious feast of a visit to a deceased person. Texts attest to a funerary prayer that was addressed to a chariot-borne protector-god.

The snake, symbol of the forces of the underworld

The figure's tiara headdress is in the shape of a conical skull cap, formed in fact by a coiled snake whose head, facing right, is visible at the top. The presence of the snake places this figurine among the various images of the Elamite "snake god." This reptile, seen as a benevolent animal symbolizing the chthonic world and forces of the underworld, is a common motif in the art of ancient Iran. In the 2nd millennium, it was particulary associated with a god of uncertain identity known as the "god with snake and gushing water." Often shown coiled up, the snake was depicted with the god in various ways, notably on the latter's throne or headdress. Over time, its appearance evolved into that of a mythological creature, first a snake with a human head, later a dragon-snake.

A marked taste for metallurgy

The Susians were excellent metallurgists. This statuette is part of a series of twenty-six items found on the acropolis at Susa in 1904 near the temple of Inshushinak. Today, all are kept in the Louvre Museum. Some were plated with gold, like the figurine of the god with the golden hand (sb2823). The god and the chariot were each made in one casting, using the solid casting method. The metal of the chariot is more heterogeneous, however.

Bibliography

Borne interactive du département des Antiquités orientales.
Miroschedji Pierre de, "Le dieu élamite au serpent", in Iranica antiqua, vol. 16, 1981, Gand, ministère de l'Éducation et de la Culture, 1989, p. 20, pl. IV, fig. 1.
Tallon Françoise, "Un aspect de la métallurgie du cuivre à Suse. La petite statuaire au IIe millénaire", in Iranica Antiqua, vol. 24, 1989, Gand, ministère de l'Éducation et de la Culture, 1989, p. 123, pl. I, fig. 2.


 
The Susa panels show the standard bearers ligatured to the buttock of a bovine. This characteristic ligaturing style showing bovine features such as hindlegs of bovine, or bovine horns or tails, is also seen on Meluhha artifacts (seals and tablets).

Mohenjo-daro tablets. Standing person with horns and bovine features (hoofed legs and/or tail).
Pict-87 Standing person with horns and bovine features (hoofed legs and/or tail).
 Harappa tablets. Pict-85, Pict-86 Standing person with horns and bovine features (hoofed legs and/or tail).

Pict-90: Standing person with horns and bovine
 features holding a staff or mace on his shoulder.

Mohenodaro seal. Pict-103 Horned (female with breasts hanging down?) person with a tail and bovine legs standing near a tree fisting a horned tiger rearing on its hindlegs. 
These Susa panels of molded bricks were used to decorate the facade of the exterior temple on the Susa hill. This monument, dedicated to royal worship under the Shutrukid dynasty, was commissioned by the kings of this dynasty. Begun by Kutir-Nahunte (c. 1710 BCE), the work was completed by Shilhak-Inshushinak. The panels feature alternating figures of bull-men protecting a palm tree and Lama goddesses, also considered as protective divinities.
  • Panels of molded bricks
    Mid 12th century BC
    Apadana mound, Susa
  • Baked clay
    H. 1.355 m; W. 0.375 m
  • Excavations led by Roland de Mecquenem 1913¿21; panels sb19575¿19577 were restored thanks to the Philip Morris Jury Prize, 1991
    Sb 2732, Sb 2733, Sb 2734, Sb 2735, Sb 14390, Sb 14391, Sb 19575, Sb 19576, Sb 19577 

A temple in honor of the Elamite Shutrukid dynasty

The king Shilhak-Inshushinak rebuilt the two great temples at Susa. The high temple on the acropolis was dedicated to Inshushinak, the great god of the Susian Plain. The exterior sanctuary, built on the Apadana mound, where Darius was to build his palace six centuries later, was primarily used for the royal worship of the Shutrukid dynasty, to which this king belonged. These panels of molded bricks were used to decorate the facade of the monument. Inscriptions half-way up the panels describe the circumstances of its construction. Kutir-Nahunte, brother of Shilhak-Inshushinak, ordered the erection of the building and its decoration with molded bricks, but died before seeing the project through. Shilhak-Inshushinak resumed and completed the work.

Goddesses and mythological creatures, protectors of nature and men

On the panels, the figure of a bull-man protecting a palm tree alternates with a Lama goddess. The bull-man, traditional guardian of temple gates, represented a combination of human genius and the strength and power of the bull. The bull-man is here shown wearing a tiara with several tiers of horns, a divine attribute. In Mesopotamian mythology, this figure is the acolyte of the sun-god Shamash. Pictured with a stylized palm tree, he evokes the crucial role of the sun in plant life. The date palm was a key element in Mesopotamian mythology, a major source of inspiration in Iranian thought. The date palm symbolized plant life as a whole: in a landscape of plains, where agricultural income was of the utmost importance, plant life was at the center of human concerns. The tree's thin palms suggest the rays of the sun that warm them. The Lama goddess, also considered a protective divinity, guarded the effigies of the royal family. The goddess is shown with arms raised in the traditional gesture of blessing. Thus, worshippers were welcomed by reassuring figures who ensured the serenity of the divine dwelling and the dynastic chapel.

The Mesopotamian influence

The terra-cotta bricks were molded. This type of architectural decoration had already been used in Mesopotamia, at Uruk, in the Kassite period, on the facade of the temple dedicated to the goddess Inanna. The method of production of these decorative elements and the figures represented on them show the strong influence of the Mesopotamian culture on the neighboring region of Elam. Several pictorial details are Iranian, however, such as the two lines marking the knees of the bull-men and the inscriptions in Elamite script.

Bibliography

Amiet Pierre, Élam, Auvers-sur-Oise, Archée éditeur, 1966, p. 390, fig. 296 et 299.
Amiet Pierre, Suse : 6 000 ans d’histoire, Paris, Éditions de la Réunion des musées nationaux, coll. « Monographies des musées de France », 1988, pp. 98-99, fig. 57.
Benoit Agnès, Art et archéologie : les civilisations du Proche-Orient ancien, Paris, Éditions de la Réunion des musées nationaux, coll. « Manuels de l’École du Louvre », 2003, pp. 360-361, fig. 181.
Borne interactive du département des Antiquités orientales.


The doctrine notes that the Meluhha vernacular of the bronze age artisans can be found in the languages of Indiansprachbund (linguistic area)



Agrawal, D.P., R.V. Krishnamurthy and Sheela Kusumgar 1978. "On the affiliation of the Daimabad Bronzes: Some fresh data" Paper presented at the International Archaeometry Symposium, Bonn, March 1978.

And:

Agrawal, D.P., Krishnamurthy, R.V., Kusumgar, Sheela 1979. "Fresh chemical data and the cultural affiliation of the Daimabad bronzes" in Proceedings of the 18th international symposium on archaeometry and archaeological prospection, Bonn, 14-17 March 1978; Archaeo-Physika, Band 10, Rheinisches Landesmuseum Bonn, pp. 8-13.

Abstract from Agrawal et. al. 1979: "A hoard of copper images -- comprised of a chariot driver, a bull, a rhino, and an elephant -- was accidentally discovered at Daimabad, Maharashtra. Total weight of these four pieces put together exceeds 65 kilograms. There is a controversy about their affinity: whether they belong to the Indus Civilization (Harappan), Chalcolithic, or some other culture. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was performed on several Harapan, Chalcolithic artifacts, and on these so-called Daimabad bronzes. A comparison of the metal composition shows that they do not belong to the proto-historic cultures at all. The complete absence of tin and negligible amounts of lead in the Daimabad bronzes and the general presence of these metals in the Harappan artifacts do not allow any affinity between the two. Daimabad (Ahmednagar district) in Maharashtra is a known Chalcolithic site, datable to the middle of the second millennium B.C. It was excavated by Deshpande and Sali. From the excavations they sent us a few copper artifacts which were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry to determine the percentages of bismuth, iron, nichel, lead, antimony, and tin. Arsenic measurements are omitted here as if it was not possible to use a N2O flame for this purpose." 

Anyway M K Dhavalikar 1997 (1999). Indian Protohistory, still sustains his position of Harappan origin of the bronzes:

"The exact find spot (of the bronze models) was examined by S.R. Rao (1978: 62) who confirmed that the bronzes belonged to the Late Harappan phase (ca. 2000-1800 BC). The calibrated dates would be ca. 
2200-2000 BC which would place it in the Late Mature Harappan phase. The next problem relates to the authorship of the bronzes. DP Agrawal (1978: 45) has questioned their antiquity on the basis of 
the presence of arsenic which, according to him, is absent in artifacts from chalcolithic sites in the Deccan...It has been observed that 'The hardness of most of the copper objects found at Harappa has been shown on analysis to be due to a high arsenic content. The presence of this arsenic is believed to be accidental, being indigenous to the copper deposits from which the ores were extracted rather than secondarily introduced' (Coghlan 1951: 44-45). Lamberg-Karlovsky (1967: 151) therefore rightly argues that 'We must not disregard the possibility, however, that the smiths recognised the advantages of an ore with arsenic in it for producing a arder, 
less brittle tool'. In the light of evidence of Harappan artifacts, we are of the opinion that the Daimabad bronzes may originally have been Harappan, that is, from Harappa proper, and that they were probably imported into the Deccan. Arsenical alloying is also most significant in the Copper Hoards from the Ganga-Yamuna doab (Agrawal 

et al 1978)..." (p. 168) 

See: http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/pdf_files/121/1218186467.pdf  Dhavalikar, M.K., 1982. Daimabad bronzes. In: Possehl, G.L. (ed.), Harappan civilization: a contemporary perspective. Warminster, Aris & Phillips -: pp. 362-366 










http://www.indologica.com/volumes/vol08-09/vol_08-09_art30_mode.pdf Mode, Heinz, The four quadrupeds. Reflections on Indian animal preference


Processions of animals shown on Ancient Near East artifacts and Indus inscriptions.








h1973B h1974B Two tablets. One side shows a person seated on a tree branch, a tiger looking up, a crocodile on the top register and other animals in procession in the bottom register.
          Glyph: seven: eae ‘seven’ (Santali); rebus: eh-ku ’steel’ (Ta.)

खांडा [ khāṇḍā ] m  A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon). Rebus: khāṇḍa ‘tools, pots and pans, and metal-ware’. Alternative: aṭar ‘a splinter’ (Ma.) aṭaruka ‘to burst, crack, sli off,fly open; aṭarcca ’ splitting, a crack’; aṭarttuka ‘to split, tear off, open (an oyster) (Ma.); aḍaruni ‘to crack’ (Tu.) (DEDR 66) Rebus: aduru ‘native, unsmelted metal’ (Kannada) Alternative: sal ‘splinter’ Rebus: sal ‘artisan’s workshop’.

  
ayo 'fish' Rebus: ayas 'metal'. kaṇḍa 'arrow' Rebus: khāṇḍa ‘tools, pots and pans, and metal-ware’. ayaskāṇḍa is a compounde word attested in Panini. The compound or glyphs of fish + arrow may denote metalware tools, pots and pans.
  

G. khuṇ f., khū˘ṇɔ m. ʻ corner ʼ.2. S. kuṇḍa f. ʻ corner ʼ; P. kū̃ṭ f. ʻ corner, side ʼ (← H.). (CDIAL 3898) Phal. Khun ʻ corner ʼ; H. khū̃ṭ m. ʻ corner, direction ʼ (→ P. khũṭ f. ʻ corner, side ʼ); G. khū̃ṭṛī f. ʻ angle ʼ. Rebus: khū̃ṭ  'guild, community'.

Kolhes; iron produced by the Kolhes and formed like a four-cornered piece a little pointed at each end; mūhā  me~r.he~t = iron smelted by the Kolhes and formed into an equilateral lump a little pointed at each end; kolhe tehen me~r.he~tko mūhā akata = the Kolhes have to-day produced pig iron (Santali.lex.)
Thus the message conveyed by the text is that the metalware -- ayaskāṇḍa -- is of guild, community workshop --  khū̃ṭ sal.

h1966A h1966B 1.     Glyph: ‘bull’: ḍhangra ‘bull’. Rebus: ḍhangar ‘blacksmith’.pattar 'trough' Rebus: pattar 'guild'. dula 'pair, likenes' Rebus: dul 'cast metal. Thus the hieroglyphs denote pattar 'guild' of blacksmiths, casters of metal.
pasara 'quadrupeds' Rebus: pasra 'smithy' (Santali)

1. a tiger, a fox on leashes held by a man kol 'tiger' Rebus: kol 'working in iron, alloys' lo ‘fox’ (WPah.) Rebus: lōha ʻmetalʼ (Pali) 

2. a procession of boars (rhinoceros?) and tiger in two rows kāṇṭā 'rhinoceros. Rebus: āṇḍa ‘tools, pots and pans and metal-ware’ (Gujarati)

3. a stalk/twig, sprout (or tree branch) kūdī, kūṭī bunch of twigs (Sanskrit) Rebus: kuṭhi ‘smelting furnace‘ (Santali)


Thanks to Abdallah Kahil for the line drawing which clearly demonstrates that the narrative is NOT 'a hunting with dogs or herding boars in a marsh environment.' Traces of hieroglyphs are found on both sides of the tablet which also contains a proto-cuneiform inscription. It is noteworthy that cuneiform evolved TOGETHER WITH the use of Indus writing hieroglyphs on tablets, cylinder seals and other artifacts. I wish every success for efforts at decoding proto-elamite script using Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) System (see below).


Fig. 24 Line drawing showing the seal impression on this tablet. Illustration by Abdallah Kahil. Proto-Cuneiform tablet with seal impressions. Jemdet Nasr period, ca. 3100-2900 BCE. Mesopotamia. Clay H. 5.5 cm; W.7 cm.  The blurb of Metropolitan Museum of Art says "The seal impression depicts a male figure guiding two dogs on a leash and hunting or herding boars in a marsh environment."

Boar or rhinoceros in procession. Cylinder seal impression: Rhinoceros, elephant, lizard (gharial?).Tell Asmar (Eshnunna), Iraq. IM 14674; glazed steatite. Frankfort, 1955, No. 642; Collon, 1987, Fig. 610. 

A group of animal hieroglyphs (including tiger/jackal, rhinoceros/boar) are show on many tablets with Indus writing : m2015Am2015Bm2016Am1393tm1394tm 1395Atm1395Bt


m1431B
m1431A, B, C, E and Text 2805 Row of animals in file (a one-horned bull, an elephant and a rhinoceros from right); a gharial with a fish held in its jaw above the animals; a bird (?) at right. Pict-116: From R.—a person holding a vessel; a woman with a platter (?); a kneeling person with a staff in his hands facing the woman; a goat with its forelegs on a platform under a tree. [Or, two antelopes flanking a tree on a platform, with one antelope looking backwards?]

koḍe ‘young bull’ (Telugu) खोंड [ khōṇḍa ] m A young bull, a bullcalf. Rebus: kõdā ‘to turn in a lathe’ (B.) कोंडण [kōṇḍaṇa] f A fold or pen. (Marathi) ayakāra ‘ironsmith’ (Pali)[fish = aya (G.); crocodile = kāru (Te.)]baṭṭai quail (N.Santali) Rebus: bhaṭa = an oven, kiln, furnace (Santali) baṭhi furnace for smelting ore (the same as kuṭhi) (Santali) bhaṭa = an oven, kiln, furnace; make an oven, a furnace; iṭa bhaṭa = a brick kiln; kun:kal bhaṭa a potter’s kiln; cun bhaṭa = a lime kiln; cun tehen dobon bhaṭaea = we shall prepare the lime kiln today (Santali); bhaṭṭhā (H.) bhart = a mixed metal of copper and lead; bhartīyā= a barzier, worker in metal; bhaṭ, bhrāṣṭra = oven, furnace (Skt.) mẽhẽt bai = iron (Ore) furnaces. [Synonyms are: mẽt = the eye, rebus for: the dotted circle (Santali.lex) baṭha [H. baṭṭhī (Sad.)] any kiln, except a potter’s kiln, which is called coa; there are four kinds of kiln: cunabat.ha, a lime-kin, it.abat.ha, a brick-kiln, ērēbaṭha, a lac kiln, kuilabaṭha, a charcoal kiln; trs. Or intrs., to make a kiln; cuna rapamente ciminaupe baṭhakeda? How many limekilns did you make? Baṭha-sen:gel = the fire of a kiln; baṭi [H. Sad. baṭṭhi, a furnace for distilling) used alone or in the cmpds. arkibuṭi and baṭiora, all meaning a grog-shop; occurs also in ilibaṭi, a (licensed) rice-beer shop (Mundari.lex.) bhaṭi = liquor from mohwa flowers (Santali)

Stone vase from Mesopotamia
Late Uruk period, about 3400-3200 BCE. Ht. 1.2 cm. It shows a bull, goat and ram.

Pict-97: Person standing at the center pointing with his right hand at a bison facing a trough, and with his left hand pointing to the sign  
2841  Obverse: A tiger and a rhinoceros in file. Pict-48 A tiger and a rhinoceros in file

kola 'tiger' Rebus: kol 'working in iron, alloy of 5 metals - pancaloha'. ibha 'elephant' Rebus ibbo 'merchant'; ib 'iron'. kāṇḍa 'rhimpceros'  Rebus:khāṇḍa ‘tools, pots and pans, and metal-ware’.  The text on m0489 tablet: loa 'ficus religiosa' Rebus: loh 'copper'. kolmo 'rice plant' Rebus: kolami 'smithy, forge'. dula 'pair' Rebus: dul 'cast metal'. Thus the display of the metalware catalog includes the technological competence to work with minerals, metals and alloys and produce tools, pots and pans. The persons involved are krammara 'turn back' Rebus: kamar 'smiths, artisans'. kola 'tiger' Rebus: kol 'working in iron, working in pancaloha alloys'. పంచలోహము pancha-lōnamu. n. A mixed metal, composed of five ingredients, viz., copper, zinc, tin, lead, and iron (Telugu). Thus, when five svastika hieroglyphs are depicted, the depiction is of satthiya 'svastika' Rebus: satthiya 'zinc' and the totality of 5 alloying metals of copper, zinc, tin, lead and iron.

Akkadian cylinder seal, showing kneeling heroes. Around 2200 BCE.
The argument: hieroglyphs for a catalog of a smithy/forge

Provenience: Khafaje Kh. VII 256 Jemdet Nasr (ca. 3000 - 2800 BCE) Frankfort, Henri: Stratified Cylinder Seals from the Diyala Region. Oriental Institute Publications 72. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, no. 34. Mythological scene: tailless lion or bear standing erect behind tree; two goats feeding at other side of tree; another tree, with bird in branches, behind monster; three-lowered buildings with door at left side; watercourse along bottom of scene. Gray limestone. 4.1x3.5cm.[i]


The cylinder seal is a catalog of a smithy: copper, iron alloy smith, turner, hard alloy metal tools, pots and pans.


The two animals are: markhor, antelope. miṇḍāl 'markhor' (Tōrwālī) meḍho a ram, a sheep (Gujarati)(CDIAL 10120); rebus: mẽṛhẽt, meḍ 'iron' (Munda.Ho.) mr̤eka, melh 'goat' (Telugu. Brahui) Rebus: melukkha 'milakkha, copper'.


करडणें or करंडणें [ karaḍaṇē or ṅkaraṇḍaṇēṃ ] v c To gnaw or nibble; to wear away by biting (Marathi). Rebus: karaḍa 'hard alloy'.  karaḍa 'duck' Rebus: karaḍa 'hard alloy' karaḍa 'wave' Rebus: karaḍa 'hard alloy' karaḍa  'panther' Rebus: karaḍa 'hard alloy'. khōṇḍa 'leafless tree' (Marathi). Rebus: kõdā'turner' (Bengali) kole.l 'temple' Rebus: kole.l 'smithy'. khōṇḍa A tree of which the head and branches are broken off, a stock or stump: also the lower portion of the trunk—that below the branches. (Marathi) Rebus 1: kõdā 'to turn in a lathe' (Bengali) Rebus 2: koḍ 'workshop' (Gujarati) Glyh of flowing water: kāṇḍa 'flowing water' Rebus: kāṇḍā 'metalware, tools, pots and pans'.Thus, the entire hieroglyphic composition of the cylinder seal is a smithy catalog: 


karaḍ
 'nibbling' karaḍa  'duck' karaḍa 'wave' karaḍa  'panther' all connoting reinforcing, Rebus: karaḍa 'hard alloy'  and work of kõdā'turner' in kole.l 'smithy, temple' producing: kāṇḍā 'metalware, tools, pots and pans'.

Cylinder seal with kneeling nude heroes, ca. 2220–2159 b.c.; Akkadian  Mesopotamia Red jasper H. 1 1/8 in. (2.8 cm), Diam. 5/8 in. (1.6 cm)  Metropolitan Museum of Art - USA 
Four flag-posts(reeds) with rings on top held by the kneeling persons define the four components of the iron smithy/forge.  This is an announcement of four shops, पेढी (Gujarati. Marathi). पेंढें 'rings' Rebus: पेढी 'shop'.āra 'serpent' Rebus; āra 'brass'. karaḍa 'double-drum' Rebus: karaḍa 'hard alloy'.
Specific materials offered for sale/exchange in the shop are: hard alloy brass metal (ayo, fish); lokhaṇḍ (overflowing pot) 'metal tools, pots and pans, metalware'; arka/erka   'copper'; kammaṭa (a portable furnace for melting precious metals) 'coiner, mint'  Thus, the four shops are: 1. brass alloys, 2. metalware, 3. copper and 4. mint (services).
erãguḍu bowing, salutation (Telugu) iṟai (-v-, -nt-) to bow before (as in salutation), worship (Tamil)(DEDR 516). Rebus: eraka, eṟaka any metal infusion (Kannada.Tulu) eruvai 'copper' (Tamil); ere dark red (Kannada)(DEDR 446).
puṭa Anything folded or doubled so as to form a cup or concavity; crucible. Alternative: ḍhālako = a large metal ingot (G.) ḍhālakī = a metal heated and poured into a mould; a solid piece of metal; an ingot (Gujarati)
Allograph: ढाल [ ḍhāla ] f (S through H) The grand flag of an army directing its march and encampments: also the standard or banner of a chieftain: also a flag flying on forts &c. ढालकाठी [ ḍhālakāṭhī ] f ढालखांब m A flagstaff; esp.the pole for a grand flag or standard. 2 fig. The leading and sustaining member of a household or other commonwealth. 5583 ḍhāla n. ʻ shield ʼ lex. 2. *ḍhāllā -- . 1. Tir. (Leech) "dàl"ʻ shield ʼ, Bshk. ḍāl, Ku. ḍhāl, gng. ḍhāw, N. A. B. ḍhāl, Or. ḍhāḷa, Mth. H. ḍhāl m.2. Sh. ḍal (pl. °le̯) f., K. ḍāl f., S. ḍhāla, L. ḍhāl (pl. °lã) f., P. ḍhāl f., G. M. ḍhāl f. WPah.kṭg. (kc.) ḍhāˋl f. (obl. -- a) ʻ shield ʼ (a word used in salutation), J. ḍhāl f. (CDIAL 5583).
They are four Glyphs: paṭākā 'flag' Rebus: pāṭaka, four quarters of the village.
kã̄ḍ reed Rebus: kāṇḍa 'tools, pots and pans, metal-ware'.
1. Pk. kamaḍha -- , °aya -- m. ʻ bamboo ʼ; Bhoj. kōro ʻ bamboo poles ʼ. 2. N. kāmro ʻ bamboo, lath, piece of wood ʼ, OAw.  kāṁvari ʻ bamboo pole with slings at each end for carrying things ʼ, H. kã̄waṛ°arkāwaṛ°ar f., G. kāvaṛf., M. kāvaḍ f.; -- deriv. Pk. kāvaḍia -- , kavvāḍia -- m. ʻ one who carries a yoke ʼ, H. kã̄waṛī°ṛiyā m., G. kāvaṛiyɔ m. 3. S. kāvāṭhī f. ʻ carrying pole ʼ, kāvāṭhyo m. ʻ the man who carries it ʼ. 4. Or. kāmaṛā°muṛā ʻ rafters of a thatched house ʼ; G. kāmṛũ n., °ṛī f. ʻ chip of bamboo ʼ, kāmaṛ -- koṭiyũ n. ʻ bamboo hut ʼ. 5. B. kāmṭhā ʻ bow ʼ, G. kāmṭhũ n., °ṭhī f. ʻ bow ʼ; M. kamṭhā°ṭā m. ʻ bow of bamboo or horn ʼ; -- deriv. G. kāmṭhiyɔ m. ʻ archer ʼ. 6. A. kabāri ʻ flat piece of bamboo used in smoothing an earthen image ʼ. 7. kã̄bīṭ°baṭ°bṭī,  kāmīṭ°maṭ°mṭī,  kāmṭhīkāmāṭhī f. ʻ split piece of bamboo &c., lath ʼ.(CDIAL 2760). kambi f. ʻ branch or shoot of bamboo ʼ lex. Pk. kaṁbi -- , °bī -- , °bā -- f. ʻ stick, twig ʼ, OG. kāṁba; M. kã̄b f. ʻ longitudinal division of a bamboo &c., bar of iron or other metal ʼ. (CDIAL 2774). कंबडी [ kambaḍī ] f A slip or split piece (of a bamboo &c.)(Marathi)
The rings atop the reed standard: पेंढें [ pēṇḍhēṃ ] पेंडकें [ pēṇḍakēṃ ] n Weaver's term. A cord-loop or metal ring (as attached to the गुलडा of the बैली and to certain other fixtures). पेंडें [ pēṇḍēṃ ] n (पेड) A necklace composed of strings of pearls. 2 A loop or ring. Rebus: पेढी (Gujaráthí word.) A shop (Marathi) Alternative: koṭiyum [koṭ, koṭī  neck] a wooden circle put round the neck of an animal (Gujarati) Rebus: ācāri koṭṭya = forge, kammārasāle (Tulu)

The four hieroglyphs define the four quarters of the village smithy/forge: alloy, metalware, turner's lathe-work, cruble (or, ingot).
ayo 'fish' Rebus: ayo 'metal, alloy'
కాండము [ kāṇḍamu ] kānḍamu. [Skt.] n. Water. నీళ్లు (Telugu) kaṇṭhá -- : (b) ʻ water -- channel ʼ: Paš. kaṭāˊ ʻ irrigation channel ʼ, Shum. xãṭṭä. (CDIAL 14349).
lokhãḍ 'overflowing pot' Rebus:  ʻtools, iron, ironwareʼ (Gujarati)
arká1 m. ʻ flash, ray, sun ʼ RV. [√arc] Pa. Pk. akka -- m. ʻ sun ʼ, Mth. āk; Si. aka ʻ lightning ʼ, inscr. vid -- äki ʻ lightning flash ʼ.(CDIAL 624) அருக்கன் arukkaṉ, n. < arka. Sun; சூரி யன். அருக்க னணிநிறமுங் கண்டேன் (திவ். இயற். 3, 1).(Tamil) agasāle 'goldsmithy' (Kannada) అగసాలి [ agasāli ] or అగసాలెవాడు agasāli. n. A goldsmith. కంసాలివాడు. (Telugu) erka = ekke (Tbh. of arka) aka (Tbh. of arka) copper (metal); crystal (Kannada) cf. eruvai = copper (Tamil) eraka, er-aka = any metal infusion (Ka.Tu.); erako molten cast (Tulu) Rebus: eraka = copper (Ka.) eruvai = copper (Ta.); ere - a dark-red colour (Ka.)(DEDR 817). eraka, era, er-a = syn. erka, copper, weapons (Ka.) erka = ekke (Tbh. of arka) aka (Tbh. of arka) copper (metal); crystal (Kannada) akka, aka (Tadbhava of arka) metal; akka metal (Te.) arka = copper (Skt.) erako molten cast (Tulu)
Alternative: kunda 'jasmine flower' Rebus: kunda ʻa turner's latheʼ. kundaṇa pure gold. 
The image could denote a crucible or a portable furnace: kammaṭa 'coiner, mint, a portable furnace for melting precious metals (Telugu) On some cylinder seals, this image is shown held aloft on a stick, comparable to the bottom register of the 'standard device' normally shown in front of a one-horned young bull. Alternatives: puṭa Anything folded or doubled so as to form a cup or concavity; crucible. Ta. kuvai, kukai crucible.  Ma. kuva id.  Ka. kōve  id. Tu. kōvè id., mould. (DEDR 1816). Alternative: Shape of ingot: దళము [daḷamu] daḷamu. [Skt.] n. A leaf. ఆకు. A petal. A part, భాగము.  dala n. ʻ leaf, petal ʼ MBh. Pa. Pk. dala -- n. ʻ leaf, petal ʼ, G. M. daḷ n.(CDIAL 6214). <DaLO>(MP)  {N} ``^branch, ^twig''.  *Kh.<DaoRa>(D) `dry leaves when fallen', ~<daura>, ~<dauRa> `twig', Sa.<DAr>, Mu.<Dar>, ~<Dara> `big branch of a tree', ~<DauRa> `a twig or small branch with fresh leaves on it', So.<kOn-da:ra:-n> `branch', H.<DalA>, B.<DalO>, O.<DaLO>, Pk.<DAlA>.  %7811.  #7741.(Munda etyma) Rebus: ḍhālako = a large metal ingot (G.) ḍhālakī = a metal heated and poured into a mould; a solid piece of metal; an ingot (Gujarati).







It is certain that the design known as the animal file motif is extremely early in Sumerian and Elamitic glyptic; in fact is among the oldest known glyptic designs.

A characteristic style in narration is the use of a procession of animals to denote a professional group. The grouping may connote a smithy-shop of a guild --pasāramu
Mohenjo-daro seal m417 six heads from a core.śrēṇikā -- f. ʻ tent ʼ lex. and mngs. ʻ house ~ ladder ʼ in *śriṣṭa -- 2, *śrīḍhi -- . -- Words for ʻ ladder ʼ see śrití -- . -- √śri]H. sainī, senī f. ʻ ladder ʼ; Si. hiṇi, hiṇa, iṇi ʻ ladder, stairs ʼ (GS 84 < śrēṇi -- ).(CDIAL 12685). Woṭ. Šen ʻ roof ʼ, Bshk. Šan, Phal. Šān(AO xviii 251) Rebus: seṇi (f.) [Class. Sk. Śreṇi in meaning “guild”; Vedic= row] 1. A guild Vin iv.226; J i.267, 314; iv.43; Dāvs ii.124; their number was eighteen J vi.22, 427; VbhA 466. ˚ -- pamukha the head of a guild J ii.12 (text seni -- ). — 2. A division of an army J vi.583; ratha -- ˚ J vi.81, 49; seṇimokkha the chief of an army J vi.371 (cp. Senā and seniya). (Pali)

This denotes a mason (artisan) guild -- seni -- of 1. brass-workers; 2. blacksmiths; 3. iron-workers; 4. copper-workers; 5. native metal workers; 6. workers in alloys.

The core is a glyphic ‘chain’ or ‘ladder’. Glyph: kaḍī a chain; a hook; a link (G.); kaḍum a bracelet, a ring (G.) Rebus: kaḍiyo [Hem. Des. kaḍaio = Skt. sthapati a mason] a bricklayer; a mason; kaḍiyaṇa, kaḍiyeṇa a woman of the bricklayer caste; a wife of a bricklayer (G.)

The glyphics are:
1.     Glyph: ‘one-horned young bull’: kondh ‘heifer’. kũdā‘turner, brass-worker’.
2.     Glyph: ‘bull’: ḍhangra ‘bull’. Rebus: ḍhangar ‘blacksmith’.
3.     Glyph: ‘ram’: meḍh ‘ram’. Rebus: meḍ ‘iron
4.         Glyph: ‘antelope’: mr̤eka ‘goat’. Rebus: milakkhu ‘copper’. Vikalpa 1: meluhha ‘mleccha’ ‘copper worker’. Vikalpa 2: meṛh ‘helper of merchant’.
5.         Glyph: ‘zebu’: khũ ‘zebu’. Rebus: khũṭ ‘guild, community’ (Semantic determinant of the ‘jointed animals’ glyphic composition). kūṭa joining, connexion, assembly, crowd, fellowship (DEDR 1882)  Pa. gotta ‘clan’; Pk. gotta, gōya id. (CDIAL 4279) Semantics of Pkt. lexeme gōya is concordant with Hebrew ‘goy’ in ha-goy-im (lit. the-nation-s). Pa. gotta -- n. ʻ clan ʼ, Pk. gotta -- , gutta -- , amg. gōya -- n.; Gau.  ʻ house ʼ (in Kaf. and Dard. several other words for ʻ cowpen ʼ > ʻ house ʼ: gōṣṭhá -- , Pr. gūˊṭu ʻ cow ʼ; S. g̠oṭru m. ʻ parentage ʼ, L. got f. ʻ clan ʼ, P. gotargot f.; Ku. N. got ʻ family ʼ; A. got -- nāti ʻ relatives ʼ; B. got ʻ clan ʼ; Or. gota ʻ family, relative ʼ; Bhoj. H. got m. ʻ family, clan ʼ, G. got n.; M. got ʻ clan, relatives ʼ; -- Si. gota ʻ clan, family ʼ ← Pa. (CDIAL 4279). Alternative: adar ḍangra ‘zebu or humped bull’; rebus: aduru ‘native metal’ (Ka.); ḍhangar ‘blacksmith’ (H.)
6.     The sixth animal can only be guessed. Perhaps, a tiger (A reasonable inference, because the glyph ’tiger’ appears in a procession on some Indus script inscriptions. Glyph: ‘tiger?’: kol ‘tiger’.Rebus: kol ’worker in iron’. Vikalpa (alternative): perhaps, rhinocerosgaṇḍa ‘rhinoceros’; rebus:khaṇḍ ‘tools, pots and pans and metal-ware’. Thus, the entire glyphic composition of six animals on the Mohenjodaro seal m417 is semantically a representation of a śrḗṇi, ’guild’, a khũ , ‘community’ of smiths and masons.
This guild, community of smiths and masons evolves into Harosheth Hagoyim, ‘a smithy of nations’.

 A person is a standard bearer of a banner holding aloft the one-horned young bull which is the signature glyph of Indus writing. The banner is comparable to the banner shown on two Mohenjo-daro tablets. 
See: 
http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2013/06/ancient-near-east-bronze-age-legacy_6.html Ancient Near East bronze-age legacy: Processions depicted on Narmer palette, Indus writing denote artisan guilds

http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2013/06/ancient-near-east-art-indus-writing.html

 kōḍu horn (Kannada. Tulu. Tamil) खोंड [khōṇḍa] m A young bull, a bullcalf. (Marathi) Rebus: कोंड [kōṇḍa] A circular hamlet; a division of a मौजा or village, composed generally of the huts of one caste. खोट [khōṭa] Alloyed--a metal (Marathi).


 
Frieze of a mosaic panel Circa 2500-2400 BCE Temple of Ishtar, Mari (Tell Hariri), Syria Shell  and shale André Parrot excavations, 1934-36 AO 19820

These inlaid mosaics, composed of figures carved in mother-of-pearl, against a background of small blocks of lapis lazuli or pink limestone, set in bitumen, are among the most original and attractive examples of Mesopotamian art. It was at Mari that a large number of these mosaic pieces were discovered. Here they depict a victory scene: soldiers lead defeated enemy captives, naked and in chains, before four dignitaries.

A victory scene

The pieces that make up this shell mosaic composition were found scattered on the floor of the Temple of Ishtar, and therefore the reconstruction of the original panel is based on guesswork, all the more so in that the shell pieces are missing. The shell figures were arranged on a wooden panel covered with a layer of bitumen. The whole composition was organized in several registers, and the frame of the panel was emphasized by a double red and white line of stone and shell. The spaces between the figures were filled by small tiles of gray-black shale. The panel depicts the end of a battle, with soldiers leading their stripped and bound captives before dignitaries. The soldiers wear helmets, carry spears or adzes, and are dressed in kaunakes (fleecy skirts or kilts) and scarves. The dignitaries wear kaunakes and low fur hats, and each carries a long-handled adze on the left shoulder. Their leader appears to be a shaven-headed figure: stripped to the waist and wearing kaunakes, he carries a standard showing a bull standing on a pedestal. The lower register, on the right, features traces of a chariot drawn by onagers, a type of wild ass.

The art of mosaic

Many fragments of mosaic panels were discovered in the temples of Mari. Used to decorate the soundboxes of musical instruments, "gaming tables," or simple rectangular wooden panels, the pieces of mosaic seen here were like scattered pieces of a jigsaw puzzle when they were found. Mosaic pictures were particularly prized in Mesopotamia. Fragments can be found in Kish, Tello, and Tell Asmar, in Mesopotamia, and in Ebla, Syria, where these extremely fragile works of art did not survive the destruction of the buildings in which they were housed. Only the Standard of Ur (Mesopotamia) has been preserved, an object which offers many points of comparison with the present work, since one side of this artifact is devoted to the theme of war. We know that the fragments discovered at Mari were manufactured locally, for the workshop of an engraver using mother-of-pearl was found in the palace. By the delicacy of their carving and engraving, the mother-of-pearl figures produced in this capital of a kingdom on the Middle Euphrates distinguish it from other centers of artistic production; they sometimes even surpass works of art produced in the Mesopotamian city of Ur. One of the distinctive features of Mari is the diversity of the scenes depicted: battles and scenes of offerings made to the gods, religious scenes with priests and priestesses, and sacrifices of rams.These scenes provide us with invaluable insights into the social, political, and religious life of Mari.

Bibliography
Contenau G., Manuel d'archéologie orientale depuis les origines jusqu'à Alexandre : les découvertes archéologiques de 1930 à 1939, IV, Paris : Picard, 1947, pp. 2049-2051, fig. 1138
Parrot A., Les fouilles de Mari, première campagne (hiver 1933-1934), Extr. de : Syria, 16, 1935, paris : P. Geuthner, pp. 132-137, pl. XXVIII
Parrot A., Mission archéologique de Mari : vol. I : le temple d'Ishtar, Bibliothèque archéologique et historique, LXV, Paris : Institut français d'archéologie du Proche-Orient, 1956, pp. 136-155, pls. LVI-LVII Author: Iselin Claire
Meluhha (mleccha) lexemes and rebus readings:
Stalk: காண்டம் kāṇṭam , n. < kāṇḍa. 1. Water; sacred water; நீர். துருத்திவா யதுக்கிய குங்குமக் காண் டமும் (கல்லா. 49, 16). 2. Staff, rod; கோல். (சூடா.) 3. Stem, stalk; அடித்தண்டு. (யாழ். அக.) 4. Arrow; அம்பு. (சூடா.) 5. Weapon; ஆயுதம். (சூடா.) Collection, multitude, assemblage; திரள். (அக. நி.) கண்டானுமுண்டானும் kaṇṭāṉumuṇṭ- āṉum, n. Redupl. of கண்டானும். Household utensils, great and small, useful and useless; வீட்டுத் தட்டுமுட்டுகள். கண்டானு முண்டானும் இத் தனை எதற்கு? Loc. Alternative 1:  aḍaru twig; aḍiri small and thin branch of a tree; aḍari small branches (Ka.); aḍaru twig (Tu.)(DEDR 67). Rebus:aduru ‘native, unsmelted metal’ (Kannada) aduru ‘gan.iyinda tegadu karagade iruva aduru’, that is, ore taken from the mine and not subjected to melting in a furnace (Kannada) Alternative 2: kūdī, kūṭī bunch of twigs (Skt.lex.) kūdī (also written as kūṭī in manuscripts) occurs in the Atharvaveda (AV 5.19.12) and Kauśika Sūtra (Bloomsfield’s ed.n, xliv. Cf. Bloomsfield, American Journal of Philology, 11, 355; 12,416; Roth, Festgruss an Bohtlingk, 98) denotes it as a twig. This is identified as that of Badarī, the jujube tied to the body of the dead to efface their traces. (See Vedic Index, I, p. 177). Rebus: kuṭhi ‘smelting furnace‘ (Santali)

pasaramu, pasalamu ‘an animal, a beast, a brute, quadruped’ (Telugu); rebus: pasra ‘smithy’ (Santali). 

Boar. Allograph: ‘rhinoceros’: gaṇḍá4 m. ʻ rhinoceros ʼ lex., °aka -- m. lex. 2. *ga- yaṇḍa -- . [Prob. of same non -- Aryan origin as khaḍgá --1: cf. gaṇōtsāha -- m. lex. as a Sanskritized form ← Mu. PMWS 138]1. Pa. gaṇḍaka -- m., Pk. gaṁḍaya -- m., A. gãr, Or. gaṇḍā. 2. K. gö̃ḍ m., S. geṇḍo m. (lw. with g -- ), P. gaĩḍā m., °ḍī f., N. gaĩṛo, H. gaĩṛā m., G. gẽḍɔ m., °ḍī f., M. gẽḍā m.Addenda: gaṇḍa -- 4. 2. *gayaṇḍa -- : WPah.kṭg. geṇḍɔ mirg m. ʻ rhinoceros ʼ, Md. genḍā ← H. (CDIAL 4000). காண்டாமிருகம் kāṇṭā-mirukam , n. [M. kāṇṭāmṛgam.] Rhinoceros; கல்யானை. (Tamil) Rebus: kāṇḍa ‘tools, pots and pans and metal-ware’ (Gujarati)


kol ‘tiger, jackal’ (Kon.) Rebus: kol ‘iron’ (Ta.)

lo ‘fox’ (WPah.) rebus: lōha ʻmetalʼ (Pali) 

kul ‘tiger’ (Santali); kōlu id. (Te.) kōlupuli = Bengal tiger (Te.)Pk. Kolhuya -- , kulha — m. ʻ jackal ʼ < *kōḍhu -- ; H.kolhā, °lā m. ʻ jackal ʼ, adj. ʻ crafty ʼ; G. kohlũ, °lũ n. ʻ jackal ʼ, M. kolhā, °lā m. krōṣṭŕ̊ ʻ crying ʼ BhP., m. ʻ jackal ʼ RV. = krṓṣṭu — m. Pāṇ. [√kruś] Pa. koṭṭhu -- , °uka — and kotthu -- , °uka — m. ʻ jackal ʼ, Pk. Koṭṭhu — m.; Si. Koṭa ʻ jackal ʼ, koṭiya ʻ leopard ʼ GS 42 (CDIAL 3615). कोल्हा [ kōlhā ] कोल्हें [ kōlhēṃ ] A jackal (Marathi) Rebus: kol ‘furnace, forge’ (Kuwi) kol ‘alloy of five metals, pañcaloha’ (Ta.) Allograph: kōla = woman (Nahali) 


Rebus: kol , n. < கொல்-. Working in iron; கொற்றொழில். 4. Blacksmith; கொல்லன். கொல்லன் kollaṉ , n. < கொல்². [M. kollan.] Blacksmith; கருமான்மென்றோன் மிதியுலைக் கொல்லன் (பெரும்பாண். 207). கொற்றுறை koṟṟuṟai , n. < கொல்² + துறை. Blacksmith's workshop, smithyகொல்லன் பட் டடைகொற்றுறைக் குற்றில (புறநா. 95). கொற்று¹ koṟṟu , n. prob. கொல்-. 1. Masonry, brickwork; கொற்றுவேலைகொற்றுள விவரில் (திரு வாலவா. 30, 23). 2. Mason, bricklayer; கொத் தன்Colloq. 3. The measure of work turned out by a mason; ஒரு கொத்தன் செய்யும் வேலை யளவுஇந்தச் சுவர் கட்ட எத்தனை கொற்றுச் செல்லும்?

lōpāka m. ʻa kind of jackalʼ Suśr., lōpākikā -- f. lex. 1. H. lowā m. ʻfoxʼ.2.  Ash.  ẓōkižōkī  ʻfoxʼ, Kt. ŕwēki, Bashg. wrikī, Kal.rumb. lawák: < *raupākya -- NTS ii 228; -- Dm. rɔ̈̄pak ← Ir.? lōpāśá m. ʻfox, jackalʼ RV., lōpāśikā -- f. lex. [Cf. lōpāka -- . -- *lōpi -- ] Wg. liwášälaúša ʻfoxʼ, Paš.kch. lowóċ, ar. lṓeč ʻjackalʼ (→ Shum.  lṓeč NTS xiii 269), kuṛ. lwāinč; K. lośulōhlohulôhu ʻporcupine, foxʼ.1. Kho.  lōw  ʻfoxʼ, Sh.gil. lótilde;i f., pales. lṓi f., lṓo m., WPah.bhal. lōī f.,  lo m.2. Pr. ẓūwī  ʻfoxʼ.(CDIAL 11140-2).Rebus: lōhá ʻred, copper -- colouredʼ ŚrS., ʻmade of copperʼ ŚBr., m.n. ʻcopperʼ VS., ʻironʼ MBh. [*rudh -- ] Pa. lōha -- m. ʻmetal, esp. copper or bronzeʼ; Pk. lōha -- m. ʻironʼ, Gy. pal. li°, lihi, obl. elhás, as. loa JGLS new ser. ii 258; Wg. (Lumsden) "loa"ʻsteelʼ; Kho. loh ʻcopperʼ; S. lohu m. ʻironʼ, L. lohā m., awāṇ. lōˋā, P. lohā m. (→ K.rām. ḍoḍ. lohā), WPah.bhad. lɔ̃u n., bhal. lòtilde; n., pāḍ. jaun. lōh, paṅ. luhā, cur. cam. lohā, Ku. luwā, N. lohu, °hā, A. lo, B. lo, no, Or. lohā, luhā, Mth. loh, Bhoj. lohā, Aw.lakh. lōh, H. loh, lohā m., G. M. loh n.; Si. loho,  ʻ metal, ore, iron ʼ; Md. ratu -- lō ʻ copper lōhá -- : WPah.kṭg. (kc.) lóɔ ʻironʼ, J. lohā m., Garh. loho; Md.  ʻmetalʼ. (CDIAL 11158).


Pre-cuneiform tablet with seal impressions
Read on a write-up on the proto-cuneiform tablet... [quote] Administrative tablet with cylinder seal impression of a male figure, hunting dogs, and boars, 3100–2900 B.C.; Jemdet Nasr period (Uruk III script)

Mesopotamia ClayH. 2 in. (5.3 cm) Purchase, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Gift, 1988 (1988.433.1) ON VIEW: GALLERY 402   Last Updated April 26, 2013  In about 3300 B.C., writing was invented in Mesopotamia, perhaps in the city of Uruk, where the earliest inscribed clay tablets have been found in abundance. This was not an isolated development but occurred during a period of profound transformation in politics, the economy, and representational art. During the Uruk period of the fourth millennium B.C., the first Mesopotamian cities were settled, the first kings were crowned, and a range of goods—from ceramic vessels to textiles—were mass-produced in state workshops. Early writing was used primarily as a means of recording and storing economic information, but from the beginning a significant component of the written tradition consisted of lists of words and names that scribes needed to know in order to keep their accounts. Signs were drawn with a reed stylus on pillow-shaped tablets, most of which were only a few inches wide. The stylus left small marks in the clay which we call cuneiform, or wedge-shaped, writing.
This tablet most likely documents grain distributed by a large temple, although the absence of verbs in early texts makes them difficult to interpret with certainty. [unquote] http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1988.433.1

 The imagery of the cylinder seal records information. A male figure is guiding dogs (?Tigers) and herding boars in a reed marsh. Both tiger and boar are Indus writing hieroglyphs, together with the imagery of a grain stalk. All these hieroglyphs are read rebus in Meluhha (mleccha),of Indian sprachbund in the context of metalware catalogs of bronze age. kola 'tiger'; rebus: kol 'iron'; kāṇḍa 'rhino'; rebus: kāṇḍa 'metalware tools, pots and pans'. Ka. (Hav.) aḍaru twig; (Bark.) aḍïrï small and thin branch of a tree; (Gowda) aḍəri small branches. Tu. aḍaru twig.(DEDR 67) Rebus: aduru gan.iyinda tegadu karagade iruva aduru = ore taken from the mine and not subjected to melting in a furnace (Ka. Siddhānti Subrahmaṇya’ Śastri’s new interpretation of the AmarakoŚa, Bangalore, Vicaradarpana Press, 1872, p.330) Alternative rebus: If the imagery of stalk connoted a palm-frond, the rebus readings could have been: 

Ku. N. tāmo (pl. ʻ young bamboo shoots ʼ), A. tām, B. tã̄bā, tāmā, Or. tambā, Bi tã̄bā, Mth. tām, tāmā, Bhoj. tāmā, H. tām in cmpds., tã̄bā, tāmā m. (CDIAL 5779) Rebus: tāmrá ʻ dark red, copper -- coloured ʼ VS., n. ʻ copper ʼ Kauś., tāmraka -- n. Yājñ. [Cf. tamrá -- . -- √tam?] Pa. tamba -- ʻ red ʼ, n. ʻ copper ʼ, Pk. taṁba -- adj. and n.; Dm. trāmba -- ʻ red ʼ (in trāmba -- lac̣uk ʻ raspberry ʼ NTS xii 192); Bshk. lām ʻ copper, piece of bad pine -- wood (< ʻ *red wood ʼ?); Phal. tāmba ʻ copper ʼ (→ Sh.koh. tāmbā), K. trām m. (→ Sh.gil. gur. trām m.), S. ṭrāmo m., L. trāmā, (Ju.) tarāmã̄ m., P. tāmbā m., WPah. bhad. ṭḷām n., kiũth. cāmbā, sod. cambo, jaun. tã̄bō (CDIAL 5779) tabāshīr तबाशीर् । त्वक््क्षीरी f. the sugar of the bamboo, bamboo-manna (a siliceous deposit on the joints of the bamboo) (Kashmiri)

Fig. 24 Line drawing showing the seal impression on this tablet. Illustration by Abdallah Kahil.
Proto-Cuneiform tablet with seal impressions. Jemdet Nasr period, ca. 3100-2900 BCE. Mesopotamia. Clay H. 5.5 cm; W.7 cm. 

Source:  Kim Benzel, Sarah B. Graff, Yelena Rakic and Edith W. Watts, 2010, Art of the Ancient Near East, a resource for educators, New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art 

http://www.metmuseum.org/~/media/Files/Learn/For%20Educators/Publications%20for%20Educators/Art%20of%20the%20Ancient%20Near%20East.pdf




Late Uruk and Jemdet Nasr seal; ca. 3200-3000 BC; serpentine; cat.1; boar and bull in procession; terminal: plant; heavily pitted surface beyond plant

Daimabad bronzes as artisan guild repertoire hieroglyphs




A seal was found in Daimabad (1400 BCE) with the unique glyph of a rimmed, short-necked jar.  This is the most frequently deployed hieroglyph in the entire set of Indus writing corpora of about 7000 inscriptions. Read rebus in relation to copper metalwork and engraving. Was an identifier of karṇaka, a scribe. kaṇḍa  kanka ‘Rim of jar’ (Santali); rebus: kaṇḍa = a furnace, altar (Santali); kan- ‘copper’ (Ta.) Hence, kaṇḍa  kanka ‘copper furnace’. Rim of jar = kanka, karṇaka Rebus: karṇaka ‘account scribe’.

Two remarkable sets of bronze artifacts were found at Daimabad:

Daimabad bronze chariot. c. 1500 BCE. 22X52X17.5 cm. related to a metalwork guild. 
A repertoire of four hieroglyphs (cart, buffalo, rhinoceros and elephant) are read rebus as related to the guild of artisans engaged in metal casting and in

1. stone-work, 2. alloy metal tools, pots and pans and 3. merchants of iron ore.

Buffalo on four-legged platform attached to four solid wheels 31X25 cm.; elephanton four-legged platform with axles 25 cm.; rhinoceros on axles of four solid wheels 25X19 cm. (MK Dhavalikar, 'Daimabad bronzes' in: Harappan civilization, ed. by GL Possehl, New Delhi, 1982, pp. 361-6; SA Sali, Daimabad 1976-1979, New Delhi, 1986).







Harappa. This copper chariot was found by M.S. Vats, the Director of the ASI, at Harappa. ca. 3000 BCE

Blacksmith Guild engaged in hard alloy casting

ḍangar 'bull' Rebus ḍhangar 'blacksmith'.

kāṭhī = body, person; kāṭhī the make of the body; the stature of a man (Gujarati) Rebus: khātī  ‘wheelwright’ (H.)

dula ‘pair’ (Kashmiri); rebus: dul ‘cast metal’ (Mu.) 

Hieroglyph: <sagaR>(P)  {N} ``^cart''.  *Mu.<sagaR>, ~<sagRi>, Ho<sagRi> `id.', Sa.<sagaR> `wheel, cart', H.<sAggARA> `cart', O.<sOgORO>.  %28221.  #28021.<sogoR>(B)  {N} ``^cab, ^cart''.  *Des.  @B27380.  #36351. <sAgARa>(L)  {N} ``bullock cart''.  #57340.Ju<sagaR>(P)  {N} ``^cart''.  *Mu.<sagaR>, ~<sagRi>, Ho<sagRi> `id.', Sa.<sagaR> `wheel, cart', H.<sAggARA> `cart', O.<sOgORO>. śákaṭa n. (m. R.) ʻ cart ʼ ŚāṅkhŚr., śakaṭīˊ -- f. RV., śakaṭiká -- adj. Pāṇ.gaṇa, °kā -- f. ʻ small cart ʼ Mr̥cch. 1. Pa. sakaṭa -- m.n. ʻ cart, waggon, cartload ʼ, Pk. sagaḍa -- , sayaḍa -- n., saaḍha -- m.n., sagaḍī -- , °ḍiyā -- f.; OSi. (Brāhmī) hakaṭahakaḍayahaḍa ʻ a measure of capacity ʼ, Si. yāḷa ʻ cart ʼ.2. K. hagoru m. ʻ cart ʼ; B. sagṛā ʻ bullock -- cart ʼ, Or. sagaṛa (sagaṛiā ʻ driver of a cart ʼ); Bi. sāgaṛsaggaṛā ʻ smaller cart ʼ, Mth. sagaṛ; H. saggaṛsagaṛ m. ʻ cart ʼ, sagṛī f. ʻ small cart ʼ.3. S. chakiṛo m. ʻ cart ʼ; P.chakṛāchikṛā m. ʻ large two -- wheeled bullock -- cart ʼ; B. chakṛāśakṛā ʻ cart ʼ; Or. chakaṛa ʻ hackney carriage ʼ; Bi. chakaṛā ʻ large cart ʼ, Mth.chakkaṛchakṛī; H. chakṛā m. ʻ twowheeled bullock -- cart ʼ; G. chakṛũ n., °ṛɔ m. ʻ cart ʼ; M. sākḍā m. ʻ the box of a load -- cart ʼ. †śakaṭin -- m. ʻ owner of a cart ʼ Kathās. [śákaṭa -- ]S.kcch. chaṛyo m. ʻ passenger ʼ?(CDIAL 12236)சகடக்கால் cakaṭa-k-kāl, n. < சகடம்¹ +. Cart-wheel, carriage-wheel; வண்டிச் சக்கரம். சகடக்கால் போல வரும் (நாலடி, 2).சகடம்¹ cakaṭam, n. < šakaṭa. 1. Cart, wheeled conveyance drawn by cattle, carriage, chariot; வண்டி. பல்கதிர் முத்தார் சகடம் (சீவக. 363). 2. Car; தேர். சகட சக்கரத் தாமரைநாயகன் (கந்தபு. காப்பு. 1). 3. See சகடயூகம். சகடமாம் வெய்ய யூகமும் (பாரத. எட்டாம். 3). 4. The 4th nakṣatra. See உரோகிணி. (பிங்.) 5. Wheel; சக்கரம். (சங். அக.)சகடு cakaṭu, n. < šakaṭa. 1. [M. cakaṭu.] Cart; வண்டி. பெருஞ்சகடு தேர்காட்ட (பெரியபு. திருநா. 6).சகடை¹ cakaṭan. See சகடு, 1. (புறநா. 60, 8, உரை.)(Tamil) Pa. cakur-tol cattleshed. Ga. (S.2sakkī (pl. -l) bull; (P.) sakkil (pl.) bullocks.(DEDR 2267)

Allograph: sangaḍa ‘lathe’ (Marathi)

Rebus 1: : jangaḍ ‘entrusted articles on approval basis’.Rebus 2: sangaḍa ‘association’ (guild). Rebus 2: sangatarāsu ‘stone cutter’ (Telugu). Rebus 3: sangar ‘fortification wall’ (Pushto).


Hieroglyph: <barad>(D)  {NA} ``^bullock used for carrying or dragging carts''.  *@.  #2631.Kh<barad>(D)  {NA} ``^bullock used for carrying or dragging carts''.

Rebus: barada, barda, birada = a vow (Gujarati) Rebus: baran, bharat (5 copper, 4 zinc and 1 tin)(P.B.)

1. stone-work, 2. alloy metal tools, pots and

 pans and 3. merchants of iron ore.



Image:  Harappan - Buffalo, from Mohenjo-Daro, Indus Valley, PakistanBuffalo. Mohenjo-daro.
Buffalo. Daimabad bronze. Prince of Wales Museum, Mumbai.

ran:gā ‘buffalo’; ran:ga ‘pewter or alloy of tin (ran:ku), lead (nāga) and antimony (añjana)’(Santali) 

kaṭái ʻ buffalo calf ʼ(Gaw.) kāṭo ʻ young buffalo bull ʼ (Kumaoni) (CDIAL 2645).

kāṛā ‘buffalo’ bull (Tamil) khaḍā ‘nodule (ore), stone’ (Marathi)Alternative: கண்டி kaṇṭi buffalo. Rebus: kāḍ ‘stone oregaḍa ‘large stone mould’. Glyph: kuṇḍī ‘crooked buffalo horns’ (Lahnda.) Rebus: kuṇḍī = chief of village (Prakrit).The artisan is kundakara— m. ‘turner’ (Skt.); H. kũderā m. ‘one who works a lathe, one who scrapes’ (CDIAL 3297).ḍabe, ḍabea ‘large horns, with a sweeping upward curve, applied to buffaloes’ (Santali) Rebus: ḍab, ḍhimba, ḍhompo ‘lump (ingot?)’, clot, make a lump or clot, coagulate, fuse, melt together (Santali)


Hieroglyphs, read rebus:Rhinoceros: gaṇḍá4 m. ʻ rhinoceros ʼ lex., °aka -- m. lex. 2. *ga- yaṇḍa -- . [Prob. of same non -- Aryan origin as khaḍgá --1: cf. gaṇōtsāha -- m. lex. as a Sanskritized form ← Mu. PMWS 138]1. Pa. gaṇḍaka -- m., Pk. gaṁḍaya -- m., A. gãr, Or. gaṇḍā. 2. K. gö̃ḍ m., S. geṇḍo m. (lw. with g -- ), P. gaĩḍā m., °ḍī f., N. gaĩṛo, H. gaĩṛā m., G. gẽḍɔ m., °ḍī f., M. gẽḍā m. WPah.kṭg. geṇḍɔ mirg m. ʻ rhinoceros ʼ, Md. genḍā ← H. (CDIAL 4000).காண்டாமிருகம் kāṇṭā-mirukam , n. [M. kāṇṭāmṛgam.] Rhinoceros; கல்யானை. (Tamil) Rebus: khāṇḍa ‘tools, pots and pans, and metal-ware’.  

badhi ‘castrated boar’ <boRia>(A)  {N} ``^boar''.  #5620.<badia>  {N} ``^boar''.  *De.<baria>(M) `pig(G), boar(M)'.  @N0749. bar.ae 'blacksmith' (Mundarica) A carpenter వడ్లవాడు.(Telugu) badhoe ‘worker in wood and iron

Elephant ‘ibha’. Rebus: ibbo (merchant of ib ‘iron’)ibha ‘elephant’ (Skt.) Rebus: ibbho 'merchant' (cf.Hemacandra, Desinamamala, vaṇika). ib ‘iron’ (Santali) karibha ‘elephant’ (Skt.); rebus: karb ‘iron’ (Ka.)

కరటి [ karaṭi ] karai. [Skt.] n. An elephant. ఏనుగు (Telugu) Rebus: kharādī ‘ turner’ (Gujarati)

Were the Daimabad artisan guilds carrying these bronze models as standards in processions on a festival day celebrating their work and advertising their professional metallurgical competence?

In the context of a study of Daimabad artifacts, an exquisite comparative Study of Iranian and Indian Dancing Figures Painted on Pottery as an Indicator of Agricultural Ritual by Dr. Ozra Rounaghy is appended.

Soma and alchemy

Excess of soma intoxicates and dismembers Indra. The body began to ‘flow out’ resulting in every kind of creature, plant and metal. ‘From his navel, his life-breath flowed out and became lead, not iron, not silver; from his seed his form flowed out and became gold.’ (SB xii,7,1,7). In Zath-sparam, x,2, Gayomart died and ‘the eight kinds of mineral of metallic nature came forth from his different members, namely, gold, silver, iron, brass, tin, lead, quicksilver, and diamond; and gold, in virtue of its perfection, issued from actual life and from the seed.’ (A. Christensen, 1918, Le premier home e le premier roi dans l’histoire legendaire des Iraniens, Uppsala, I, p. 25; loc. cit  Mircea Eliade, The forge and the crucible: the origins and structure of alchemy, Univ. of Chicago Press, 1978, p.69.) 

Kavi smith

“In the Iranian tradition the Kavi smith was the ancestor of the Kavya dynasty; one day he ‘had fixed his leather apron to the end of a lance and I this way had raised the standard of revolt against the dragon-king. The simple skin apron became the royal banner of Iran.’(Altheim, Attila, French trans., Paris, 1952, p.33. The word kavay also means ‘wise’, ibid., p. 126, Mircea Eliade, The forge and the crucible: the origins and structure of alchemy, Univ. of Chicago Press, 1978, pp.85-86).

Asur community in India


“The Agaria are a tribal community that have inhabited the Central Indian region and their name comes from the word aag or fire. The Agaria were less numerous in the Ranchi plateau but had become incorporated with the Asurs of the region. Lohars are a group of communities who work on iron and they may have either a tribal or a non-tribal origin…In the Santal Paraganas, they trace their origin from Birbhum, Manbhum or Burdwan, as well as from Magahi…In fact, the word Munda (as a tribe of this region is called) also means a ball of iron…In Birbhum, the iron smelters included Santals, Bonyahs and Kols. Such activity was part-time and seasonal and was combined with agriculture. ‘Iron earth’ was obtained either from the surface or by digging small shafts under the ground. The extraction was normally in the open, but the smelting houses were like blacksmith’s workshops and run by Kol-lohars, who were a non-agricultural group. They were in contact with iron merchants and received advances from them. There wee also others who sold it to others and carried to iron markets called aurangs. (Dasgupta, PC, 1997, The excavations at Pandu Rajar Dhibi, F. Raymond Allchin and Dilip K. Chakrabarti, eds., A sourcebook of Indian archaeology, vol. II, New Delhi, Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd., pp. 200-205). In Bihar and Jharkhand, such iron-smelting was an ancient craft in the Rajahal Hills, Palamu-Ranchi and Dhalbhum-Singhbhum regions. Many tribals participated. In the Rajmahals it was the Kols, who were migrants with hunting as a subsidiary occupation or even some agriculture. Then, there were the Agaria/Asura of Ranchi and Chotanagpur, the Cheros and Bhoktas of Palamau, Hos and Kharis of Dhalbhum, Korahs and Nyahs of Bhagalpur district, often on their way to becoming settled agriculturists. They handed over iron to the Lohars for cash. In the Rajmahal hills and Santal Paraganas there were larger forges and indications of organized, large-scale and long-term smelting of iron also, leading to fundamental specialization and blacksmith colonies. In Orissa, Patuas and Juangs creted iron of the best quality. In Bonai it was done by the Kols, probably from Singhbhum…In Darjeeling, iron was manufactured but not smelted by the Kamins. In Khasia hills it was done by the Garos, Khasis and Nagas, though this region had features different from that of the Chotanagpur…Tripathi and Mishra (Tripathi, Vibha and Arun K. Mishra, 1997, Understanding iron technology: An ethnographic model, Man and Environment 22 (1): 59-67) also studied the iron-making communities in detail and found out that the Mahuli garias produced white iron which was used for preparing weapons. A high grade iron was also produced by the Parsa group of Agarias as well as the Kamis of Darjeeling…Munda mythology refers to the Asuras as being killed by their gods, the variety of Asura sites and their graveyards. Roy (Roy, Sarat Chandra, 1926. The Asurs – Ancient and modern, Journal of the Bihar and Orissa Research Society 12: 243-285) claims that the preent-day Asurs took up the name of this ancient group and its iron-smelting. These Asurs are divided into three kinds: there are the Soika Asurs, also called Agarias or Agaria Asurs (the iron-smelters), the Birjias who have also taken up plaiting bamboo baskets, etc. with iron-smelting and the Jait Asurs who live in villages, smelt iron and manufacture ploughshares and other rude iron implements…iron-smelting Agarias are also found in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh sttes…A further division among the Birjias are those who anoint their brides and bridegrooms only with oil (Telia Birjias) and those who use vermilion as well as oil (Sinduraha Birjias). The Asurs seem to have similar practices with the Mundas and the Birjias seem to have clan as well as individual totems. They now practice only cremation of the dead and there is no urn-burial. However, such burial is seen among the Hos and Mundas...  ”(Ghosh, A., 2008, Prehistory of the Chotanagpur region, Part 4. Ethnoarchaeology, rock art, iron and he asuras in: The Internet Journal of Biological Anthropology, Volume 3, Number 1) http://ispub.com/IJBA/3/1/5134 See: Chakrabarti, Dilip K., 1993, Archaeology of Eastern India, Chotanagpur plateau and West Bengal, New Delhi, Munshiram Manoharlal. Chakrabarti, Dilip K. and Nayanjot Lahiri, 1993-1994. The iron age in India. The beginning and consequences, Puratattva No. 24: 12-33.

Barae of India

“Although their physique, their language and their customs generally point to a Kolarian origin, they constitute a separate caste, which the Mundas consider as inferior to themselves, and the Baraes accept their position with good grace, the more so as no contempt is shown to them. …In every Munda village of some size there is at least one family of Baraes…The ordinary village smith is versed in the arts of iron-smelting, welding and tempering, and in his smithy, which is generally under one of the fine old large trees that form the stereotyped feature of the Mundari village, are forged from start to finish, all the weapons and the instruments and implements the Mundas require. There are of course individuals who succeed better than others in the making of arrows and various kinds of hunting-axes and these attract customers from other villages… they dig the kut.i (smelting furnace), they prepare and lay the bamboo tubes through which the air is driven from the bellows to the bottom of the furnace, they re-arrange the furnace after the lump of molten metal has been removed from it, and then the smith starts transforming it into ploughshares, hoes, yoking hooks and rings, arrow-heads, hunting axes of various shapes and sizes, wood axes, knives, his own implements, ladles, neat little pincers to extract thorns from hands and feet, needles for sewing mats and even razors. Formerly, he was also forging swords…susun-kanda(dancing-sword)…If it appears too bold to attribute the invention of iron smelting and working to some of the aboriginal inhabitants of this, in many respects so richly blessed part of India (Chota Nagpur), it is certain that no land in the world is better qualified to push man to this invention. The excavations made recently (in 1915) by Mr. Sarat Chandra Roy, the author of the Mundas and their Country have shown conclusively, that it was inhabited by man in the stone age, the copper age and the early iron age. Baraes are also found in the villages of Jashpur, Barwai, Biru, Nowagarh, Kolebira and Bano from which the Mundas have been either driven out by the Hindus or crowded out by the Uraons. There they have adopted the Sadani dialect but retained their own social and religious customs. In the districts named above they are called lohar or loha_ra, but in Gangpur they go under the name of Kamar. These Kamars are animists like the Lohars, but they use tanned hides for their single bellows, which they work by bulling, like the blacksmiths in Europe. The Lohars say that is is on account of this that they do not intermarry or eat with them any more. Baraes, Kamars and Lohars must not be confounded with the Aryan blacksmiths also called Lohars. These latter differ not only in race from the first but also in their methods of working. The Aryan blacksmith does not smelt iron, and uses only the single-nozzled hand bellows. He is met with only in such Chota Nagpur villages, where colonies of Hindu or Mohammedan landlords, merchants, money-lenders and native policement require his services, especially to get their bullocks and horses shod…The account the Baraes, Lohars and Kamars generally give of themselves is as follows: they say that they descend from Asura and Asurain, i.e., Asur and his wife, and that they were originally of one and the same caste with the Mundas. In this the Mundas agree with them… If the iron smelters and workers of the legend really belonged to the Munda race then their trade and art must in the beginning have given them a prominent position, such as is held in some ancient races by smiths…Like the Mundas they formerly burnt their dead, the bones of those dying out of their original village were carried back to it in a small earthen vessel into which some pice were placed, and this was then dashed to pieces against a rock in a river…Like the Mundas they practise ancestor worship in practically the same forms. Like them they worship Sin:bon:ga, whom the Lohars call Bhagwan… They also worship Baranda Buru whom the Sadani-speaking lohars call Bar Pahari…bar.ae-ili = the rice beer which has been brewed by the whole village, one pot per house, in honour of the Barae, and is drunk with him, at the end of the year; bar.ae-kud.lam = a country-made hoe, bar.ae-mer.ed = country-smelted iron; in contrast to cala_ni mer.ed, imported iron; bar.ae-muruk = the energy of a blacksmith.” (Mundari.lex., Encyclopaedia Mundarica, Vol. II, pp. 410-419).

Comparative Study of Iranian and Indian Dancing Figures Painted on
                Pottery as an Indicator of Agricultural Ritual

                                 Dr. Ozra Rounaghy                                      
                         Art and Architecture Faculty
                             Archaeology Department
                 Bu Ali Sina University, Hamadan, IRAN
                      Ozrarounaghy2002@yahoo.com

Introduction
       The Neolithic/Chalcolithic period represented a settled, food-producing way of life with limited use of copper. There was a very slow and gradual change from food collection to food production that took several millenia. Methods of food collecting such as hunting, fishing, and gathering of plants/fruits were gradually replaced by animal husbandry and agriculture. Although agriculture seems to have come late to India, it was one of the first regions in the world to give birth to civilization.

        Agriculture-based Neolithic settlements have been known for decades from sites like Rana Ghundai and Kili Ghul Mohammed in the hilly terrain of Baluchistan. Their beginning was dated to the fourth millenium B.C. However, excavations at Mehrgarh by the French Archaeological Mission to Pakistan under the direction of Jean-Francois Jarrige since 1974, have pushed back the antiquity of settled village life in the subcontinent to the seventh millenium B.C. The have also provided excellent evidence of technology, economy, material culture and social organization of the pioneering farmers of South Asia. During the last two millenia (5,000-3,000 B.C.) northwestern India witnessed not only a transition from the Neolithic to the Chalcolithic stage but also a great expansion of agrarian settlements. After the initiation of food production, there was an increasing number of domesticated plants and animals (Shinde 2001).

Area and Era of Study
        Central India – a semi-arid region – was one of the most important regions to witness the development of early farming communities from the sixth millenium B.C. Central India is bounded by Rajasthan on the west, Uttar Pradesh on the northeast, Gujarat on the south and southwest, Maharashtra on the southeast, and Orissa on the east.

       Central India consists of two major geographical units, namely, the Malwa plateau and the Chambal valley. It includes the northeastern part of Rajasthan (Mewar region), which, in fact, is an extension of the Malwa plateau (Shinde ibid.). Central India, which is east of the Indus and south of the Ganges basins, has a dry, monsoonal climate in most regions. Early farmers raised millets and grams, rather than rice, in combination with Southwest Asian cereals. Many areas have required irrigation for successful farming, and in some of the drier regions cattle pastoralism developed. Also, there was a long-term survival of hunter-gatherers in symbiotic exchange/contact with farmers.

         The full significance of the Chalcolithic culture of central India
was first realized during excavations at Navdatoli, Khargon District, Madhya Pradesh by Prof. H. D. Sankalia. A total of 108 Chalcolithic settlements have been reported from Malwa and 106 from Mewar region of Rajasthan. The major part of this region is covered with black cotton soil, which was exploited by Chalcolithic agricultural communities.

          The Chalcolithic succeeded the Neolithic period. The general pattern of life did not change during the Chalcolithic although there were some significant developments. These developments include: 1) a marked increase in the number of settlements; 2) introduction of copper-bronze; 3) the manufacture of painted pottery; 4) diversification of tools, weapons and ornaments; and 5) improvements in architecture.

           Three different Chalcolithic cultures – Kayatha, Ahar and Malwa – have been discovered in central India. Of these cultures, Malwa has been studied in relatively great detail due to the excavations at Navdatoli. Over 600 different motifs were executed on Malwa ceramic wares, and they include primarily geometric designs such as triangles and linear patterns. In addition there are some naturalistic motifs such as animals, birds, dancing human figures and plants. The finer variety of Malwa ware found at Eran is called Eran Fabric. Painted designs include linear and geometric patterns and a few naturalistic motifs (stylized bull, deer, running dog). The important types associated with the Malwa culture are: The Indian lota with its slightly flaring mouth and round, bulbous body; the concave-sided, carinated bowl; the globular vessel with beaded rim; and the spouted jar with wide mouth, flaring rim and tubular spout.

           The painted pottery of the Malwa culture, called Malwa Ware, is very rich in forms and painted motifs. It is treated with a buff or orange slip and decorated with designs in black pigment. This ware is made of very coarse clay and is slightly ill-fired. Characteristic forms are globular pots with high neck and round base; the Indian lota with slightly flaring sides and squat, bulbous bottom; and concave, carinated bowls. In addition, there are bowls on stands, footed cups, channel-spouted cups, and a variety of lids. The repertoire of painted designs is rich and varied. Designs are mostly linear and geometric, but plants, animals, and human figures do occur – being mostly confined to the upper half of the outer surface.      

            Among the many Malwa sites, Navdatoli, located on the left bank of the Narmada River, is the largest known in the region and occupies an area of about 10 hectares. Other sites are small, ranging from one to four hectares in extent.

Analysis of the Motifs on the Pottery

             Studying prehistoric man’s creations helps us discover what was his interest in making beliefs known. Drawings of the sun, animals related to the sun (such as the eagle, lion, cow, deer, mountain goat, and birds), and other symbols can be seen on pottery. A methodical analysis and thematic classification of pottery motifs and designs for this Chalcolithic culture give the following:

1. Human figures
   A. Dancing figures
   B. Generalized figures
2. Animal figures
3. Geometric and Miscellany

The majority of pots, seals, etc. were decorated with dancing figures,  making this motif one of the most important that we may consider in the evolution of human society.

Dancing Human Figures

           Dancing is the oldest and one of the most persistent themes in Near Eastern prehistoric art. This theme spreads with agriculture into surrounding regions of the Levant, Mesopotamia, Iran, Anatolia, the Balkans, Greece, the Danube River basin, and Egypt. Dancing is found among every form of human social and economic organization – urban, rural, pastoral, hunter-gatherer, etc., etc. communities.

            Human figures painted upon the pottery of Chalcolithic cultures
were highly decorative, impressionistic, stylized, but powerfully symbolic. Dancing figures constitute the most attractive and aesthetically pleasing motif on Chalcolithic pottery. More than any other motif, they express pure joy and good feeling, and must have injected an “essence” into ancient social and religious beliefs.

           Navdatoli potters represented three basic dance forms and the interaction of figures with space, namely, 1) the circle dance, 2) the line dance – figures all in a row with their arms interlocked, and 3) dancing couples.

           Here we commence with some dancing figures found at Nagda. In this Red Ware pottery piece (see Figure 1) the potter has captured in a beautiful manner the cheer and festiveness of two dancing human figures. Solid triangles joined at the apexes form the bodies of the dancers. Straight lines denote the legs; while, a short, thick line and a filled circle depict the neck and head. Flowing festoons tied around the waists of the dancers show that every part of their body is engaged in the  rhythm and tempo of the dance. In other painted pottery from Nagda depicting dancers (seeFigure 2), one may see different body ornaments or supplementary objects.

            In Figure 3 we have a simple drawing upon a sherd of Cream-slipped Ware from Navdatoli showing dancing human figures in good spirits. The head is shown as an empty circle, the legs are in different positions, and arms are raised high. The dancers are moving in harmony.

Another version of the whole body in activity, expressing joy of the moment, is shown upon a sherd from Navdatoli (Figure 4). Legs and arms depict motion and thick lines represent the pelvis distinctly.

            Our arguments are persuasive only for some of the scenes where groups of human figures are arranged in lines or rows. Some of the best examples occur on painted ceramics of the Iranian and Indian Neolithic and Chalcolithic. In Figure 5 all the human figures are somewhat similar except for those where the painted lines are thinner. The figures stand with interlocked arms in a straight row – possibly demonstrating a traditional dance or a ritual dance connected with agriculture. Although the depiction is crude and the heads/faces are indicated only by solid dots, there is nonetheless a faint attempt at showing facial features, like the projection of a nose or the hairstyle. The position of the dancers is such that they form a half-circle.

              In Figure 6 we also can see dancing figures interacting with each other. The basic compositions are freestanding figures holding hands and shoulder to shoulder, but these two particular figures are shown standing apart. Both of them hold a tuft-like object in their right hands. Interestingly, the figure on the left, which has survived almost completely, wears a short skirt or like garment. In all probability the figure is female and is a clear example of gender identification.  
    
              Dance is created out of culturally understood symbols within social and religious contexts, and it conveys information as ritual, ceremony and entertainment. Figures 7 and 8 depict dancing of communities – not just one or two individuals. For dance to communicate, its audience must understand the cultural conventions dealing with human movement in time and space.

              In Figure 9 the position of the bodies, the arms and legs in particular, indicates the dance gesture, which is obviously a highly dynamic movement and a very skillful dance step. Empty circles depict
the heads, and thin lines going obliquely upwards from the shoulders suggest arms. The figure on the left seems to be a female facing left.She is being lifted into the air by her partner.

              Figure 10 is from Navdatoli Phase II. We observe that it is a standard raised on either a table or platform – the top of which is either an anthropomorphic head or a globular pot. On the right side of this pole
(as seen by the viewer) there are two projections that might be long, flowing pieces of cloth; while, on the left side there are two shorter projections.

              If we compare Figure 11 (from Cheshmeh Ali) and Figure 12
(from Daimabad), we will note that way the legs have been depicted are similar and unique. Male and female dancing bodies are shown in an obvious festive mood, and these depictions are more realistic compared to the Navdatolian dancing figures. The entire body is rhythmically engaged. A spike is shown on a male’s head; whereas, a similar projection is behind the head of a female. In Figure 11 the dancing figures are linked hand-to-hand in a line –  just like the Navdatolian figures. If we accept the possibility of ancient interaction between Iranian and Indian peoples, then we can understand these similar portrayals of shape and perhaps meaning.

            Contrast the manner in which the legs are depicted in Figures 11 and 12 with the legs in Figure 13 (a row of stylized people engaged in a group dance) and Figure 14 (a degenerate depiction of a row of birds). The latter painted sherds are from Tepe Hissar. The similarity of the human and animal depictions from Tepe Hissar suggest a close relationship and development of animal domestication – a condition also suggested by Figure 15. Here is shown a ceramic vessel with two horizontal panels. The upper register is painted with a human figure and stylized deer, peacocks, etc. to either side that are paying obeisance to the central human figure. The entire vessel is so richly decorated that we are led to believe it may have been intended for use during a ritual.

             Another motif that supports a continuity of cultural traditions straight from Harappa with various phases of the western Indian Chalcolithic is one that shows an anthropomorphic figure on the left and a strange animal figure to the right (Figure 16). The figure may be identifiable as a male panther.

Other Dancing Figures

            Dancing is not limited to human beings. As a means of communication, it has been observed among insects (the bee dance), birds, and various mammals. Ancient human dancers probably mimicked the movements of birds and animals in an attempt to acquire or depict their unconscious grace and freedom of form and motion.

A. Dancing Peacocks

            The peacock is an elegant and regal bird and rightfully is the subject of the potter who paints it on his vessels. This bird was used symbolically by Indian potters and artists at different times in the past. In India the peacock was believed to have a thousand “eyes” among its feathers. Peacocks are considered to be birds of protection and guarding, and is thought to be protection of the psychic self (Bosch 1994). Large numbers of peacocks have been depicted at Navdatoli representing numerous styles, viz., the impressionistic mode, abstract, geometrical, filled-in highly bold work, thin line decoration, etc. The majority of peacocks from Navdatoli, however, are in line work.

              The bird has a distinct identity of its own. The peacock brings harmony and joy to mind. It is majestic and proud with much expression particularly when the male bird walks around and dances to the female during courting. It reminds us of the celebration of life. For example. Figure 17 depicts the joyous expression of this favorite bird of the Kayathians. Its feathers are in straight lines with dots on part of the body. It appears to be the archetypal peacock dancing in the rain (Wakankar 1967).

              Figure 18 shows an elegant, prideful dancing peacock from Navdatoli that has been painted on Cream-slipped Ware of Phase I. The peacock appears to be looking backwards, its head turned around gracefully. Dots are shown along the outline of the bird. Another graceful peacock, also painted upon Cream-slipped Ware from Nadatoli, Phase I, is given in Figure 19. The crossed dumb-bell design behind the bird might be a symbol of the sun.

              Among the grouped peacocks (Figures 20-24) may be seen a number of symbols for natural things, such as the sun, flying birds, and a possible honeycomb (to the right of Figure 20) that may depict prosperity and sunshine. A highly stylized peacock faces a rising sun. The peacock in Figure 21 is carrying something in its beak. This depiction is solid and a bold abstraction on Malwa Ware of Navdatoli Phase III. Note the flying bird in the background of Figure 22, the symbol may express happiness. The stylized peacock shown on a pot of Malwa Ware, Phase II at Navdatoli (Figure 23) is in a linear mode with exaggeratedly extended neck and body with feathers and legs indicated by a checkering. The plume on the head ends in dots. The bird
stands near a honeycomb pattern that is a symbol for sunshine and prosperity.

B. Other Birds

              Figure 25 shows in a very aesthetic manner slender, stylized cranes all in a line on a sherd of Burnished Red-slipped Metallic Ware from Phase II, Navdatoli. The lines under the cranes suggest that they are standing at waterside.

              A row of quacking birds (ducks?, geese?) Is shown on a potsherd of Jorwe Ware (Figure 26). The upturned heads and open mouths convey happiness and good cheer.

C. Dancing Antelopes

              According to J. E. Cirlot in his Dictionary of Symbols, the goat symbolizes male fertility, and mountain peaks represent the active male sexual aspect of nature or malkuth. Each ancient tribe considered the mountain goat to be the symbol of one of the natural, beneficial elements. For example, in Lorestan it symbolized the sun. Sometimes also it symbolized rain as in ancient times the moon was linked to rain; while, the sun was associated with heat and dryness. There was also a connection between the mountain goat’s twisted horns and the crescent-shaped moon, and it was believed that mountain goat horns could bring about rainfall. In ancient Shush and Elam the mountain goat was a symbol of prosperity and a god of vegetation. The transformation of gods into animals makes drawings of them sacred, and they became a subject for ancient artists and potters.

             The antelope was a favorite subject of the Chalacolithic artist as it possibly symbolized fertility. Chalcolithic artists also may have been attracted to antelopes because of their aesthetic form with graceful limbs and sleek, flowing horns. Antelopes were painted on pottery at Navdatoli, Songaon, Dangawada, Nevasa, and Nagda.

              Figure 27 depicts a circle of antelopes in motion in a most artistic manner. The figures are drawn with fine lines very aesthetically.The depiction is rhythmic and cheerful with beautiful horns and four (or more) straight legs (Banerjee 1986).

              Another way of depicting antelopes is shown in Figure 28 where solid triangles touching at an apex have been used for their bodies on pottery from Inamgaon. Two pairs of antelopes have been painted against a relatively well-decorated background. They are walking in a circle and impart a festive, cheerful feeling.

              There are similar representations of antelopes on the Chalcolithic pottery of Iran (site of Sialk) dated much older than the depictions on ceramics of the central Indian Chalcolithic. It is quite likely that this concept traveled from the Persian Gulf via the Harappan region to central India. (See grouped Figures 29-31, 32-34, 35-37) These regions share a semi-arid environment where rainfall is erratic. It is not unlikely that both dancing human beings and animals are connected with rain-making festivals. People may have prayed for rain and hence used these symbols on their pottery in order to find favor with the gods who controlled rain. Some use of these symbols may also be connected with harvesting of crops, celebrations of the changing seasons,  rites of fertility, and general prosperity or good fortune. Traditional practices of these sorts still occur today across parts of India and Iran.
             

                                     References Cited

Banerjee, N. R.
       1986 Nagda Excavation Report. Delhi.
Bosch, F. D. K.
       1994 The Golden Germ: An Introduction to Indian Symbolism.
Shinde, V. S.
       2001 Chalcolithic phase in Western India (including Central India
                and the Deccan Region. K. Paddayya (ed.) Recent Trends in
                Indian Archaeology. ICHR publication. New Delhi.
Wakankar, V. S.
       1967 Kayatha Excavation Report. Vikram University Journal.
                 Ujjain.

Captions and Figures


Figure 1. Dancing human figure, Nagda.



Figure 2. Dancing human figures, Nagda.



Figure 3. Dancing human figures, Navdatoli.



Figure 4. Dancing human figures, Navdatoli.



Figure 5. Dancing human figures, Navdatoli.



Figure 6. Dancing human figures, Navdatoli.



Figure 7. Circle of dancing human figures, Navdatoli.



Figure 8. Line of dancing human figures, Navdatoli.



Figure 9. Dancing human couple, Navdatoli II.



Figure 10. Standard on a platform (or dancing human figure?), Navdatoli II.



Figure 11. Human dancing figures, Cheshmeh Ali.



Figure 12. Male figure, Daimabad Phase V.



Figure 13. Dancing figures, Tepe Hissar.



Figure 14. Dancing bird figures, Tepe Hissar.



Figure 15. Dancing human and animal figures, Daimabad Phase I.



Figure 16. Dancing human and animal figures.



Figure 17. Dancing peacock, Kayatha Period III.



Figure 18. Dancing peacock, Cream-slipped Ware, Navdatoli Phase I.



Figure 19. Peacock, Navdatoli Phase I.



Figures 20 to 24. Group of peacocks and associated symbols.



Figure 25. A row of slender cranes, Navdatoli Phase II.



Figure 26. A row of quacking birds, Inamgaon.



Figure 27. Dancing antelopes, Nagda Period I.



Figure 28. Late Jorwe Ware, Inamgaon Period III.



Figures 29 to 31. Dancing antelopes group, Harappan Wares in Sind.



Figures 32 to 34. Harappan Ware in South Baluchistan.



Figures 35 to 37. Chalcolithic pottery from Iran-Bampur and Sialk.


Captions for Figures 1-37:

Figure 1. Dancing human figure, Nagda.
Figure 2. Dancing human figures, Nagda.
Figure 3. Dancing human figures, Navdatoli.
Figure 4. Dancing human figures, Navdatoli.
Figure 5. Dancing human figures, Navdatoli.
Figure 6. Dancing human figures, Navdatoli.
Figure 7. Circle of dancing human figures, Navdatoli.
Figure 8. Line of dancing human figures, Navdatoli.
Figure 9. Dancing human couple, Navdatoli II.
Figure 10. Standard on a platform (or dancing human figure?),
                 Navdatoli II.
Figure 11. Human dancing figures, Cheshmeh Ali.
Figure 12. Male figure, Daimabad Phase V.
Figure 13. Dancing figures, Tepe Hissar.
Figure 14. Dancing bird figures, Tepe Hissar.
Figure 15. Dancing human and animal figures, Daimabad Phase I.
Figure 16. Dancing human and animal figures.
Figure 17. Dancing peacock, Kayatha Period III.
Figure 18. Dancing peacock, Cream-slipped Ware, Navdatoli Phase I.
Figure 19, Peacock, Navdatoli Phase I.
Figure 20-24. Group of peacocks and associated symbols.
Figure 25. A row of slender cranes, Navdatoli Phase II.
Figure 26. A row of quacking birds, Inamgaon.
Figure 27. Dancing antelopes, Nagda Period I.
Figure 28. Late Jorwe Ware, Inamgaon Period III.
Figures 29-31. Dancing antelopes group, Harappan Wares in Sind.
Figures 32-34. Harappan Ware in South Baluchistan.
Figures 35-37. Chalcolithic pottery from Iran-Bampur and Sialk.


http://asaa-persimmonpress.com/number-26-iranian-indian-dancing-figures-painted-pottery.html
Animals in procession: Two gazelles (antelopes?), stalks, two tigers
Two eagles, sprout between

 

 Base for a ritual offering, carved with animals Elamite period, mid-3rd millennium BC Tell of the Acropolis, Susa, Iran Bituminous rock H. 19 cm; Diam. 11 cm Jacques de Morgan excavations, 1908 Lions and gazelles passant; eagles protecting their young Sb 2725

This base for a ritual offering is made of bitumen. This material was plentiful throughout the Middle East, but only in Susa was it used in sculpture. The object is carved with big cats, gazelles, and eagles. The theme of the eagle spreading its wings to protect its young was found only in Iran and also features on painted ceramics of the same period. 

Bitumen: a plentiful material used in an unusual manner

This object in the form of a truncated cone is a base for a ritual offering. It is carved from bituminous rock, found throughout the region but used in sculpture only in Susa. It was used to make vases similar to this object (Louvre, Sb2726), and later, in the early years of the 2nd millennium BC, vases carved with bas-relief decorations and an animal's head in high relief (Louvre, Sb2740). The shape of this object - a truncated cone - is similar to other pieces made of chlorite and dating from the same period. The mortise at the top of the cone and the unfinished lip suggest that the object originally had a second part that fitted on top of the cone. However, the precise purpose of the object remains a mystery.

The animal carvings

The cone is carved with two registers separated by a narrow strip. The upper register is decorated with two gazelles calmly grazing on vegetation, represented by stalks between each animal. Alongside the two gazelles are two big cats, almost certainly lions, with their backs to each other. Their stylized manes are shown as vertical strips, reminiscent of those of the woolen Mesopotamian garments known as kaunakes. Their tails are raised horizontally over their backs, similar to depictions of lions on cylinders from Uruk or Susa. Their heads are depicted in geometrical form. All four animals are shown in profile. The artistic desire to create a scene and a landscape imbued with life is also evident in two cylinders from Uruk and Khafaje. 
The lower register shows two highly stylized eagles, upright, as if resting on their tail feathers. Their wings and talons are spread to protect the chicks beneath them. These eagles differ somewhat from the usual representation of eagles as the attribute of the Sumerian god Ningirsu, where the birds are depicted with a lion's head, holding two lion cubs, which are shown face on.

Mythological creatures or carvings of local wildlife?

Eagles were a major theme in Susian and Mesopotamian art. This depiction of an eagle resting on its tail feathers is also found in ceramics, glyptics, and perforated plaques dating from the 3rd millennium BC. However, unlike Mesopotamian eagles, Susian eagles never resembled composite animals. Likewise, Mesopotamian eagles had a mythological dimension, which was absent from Susian portrayals of the bird. In Susa, eagles were simply considered ordinary birds of prey.

Bibliography

Amiet Pierre, Élam, Auvers-sur-Oise, Archée, 1966, p. 166, fig. 119.
Les quatre grandes civilisations mondiales. La Mésopotamie entre le Tigre 
et l'Euphrate, cat. exp., Setagaya, musée d'Art, 5 août-3 décembre 2000, Fukuoka, musée d'Art asiatique, 16 décembre 2000-4 mars 2001, Tokyo, NHK, 2000, pp. 214-215. Author: Herbin Nancie http://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/base-ritual-offering-carved-animals



Late Uruk and Jemdet Nasr seal; ca. 3200-3000 (?) BC; marble; cat.3;  loop bore; an antelope with two tigerss, one with head turned. kola 'tiger' Rebus: kol 'working in iron'. tagara 'antelope' Rebus: tagara 'tin'. krammara 'head turned back' Rebus: kamar 'smith, artisan'.

Cylinder seal and impression: cattle herd at the cowshed. White limestone, Mesopotamia, Uruk Period (4100 BC–3000 BC). Louvre Museum.


Bronze dish found by Layard at Nimrud: circular objects are decorated by consecutive chains of animals following each other round in a circle. A similar theme occurs on the famous silver vase of Entemena. In the innermost circle, a troop of gazelles (similar to the ones depicted on cylinder seals) march along in file; the middle register has a variety of animals, all marching in the same direction as the gazelles. A one-horned bull, a winged griffin, an ibex and a gazelle, are followed by two bulls who are being attacked by lions, and a griffin, a one-horned bull, and a gazelle, who are all respectively being attacked by leopards. In the outermost zone there is a stately procession of realistically conceived one-horned bulls marching in the opposite direction to the animals parading in the two inner circles. The dish has a handle. (Percy S.P.Handcock, 1912, Mesopotamian Archaeology, London, Macmillan and Co., p. 256).
Cylinder seal and impression: cattle herd in a wheat field. Limestone, Mesopotamia, Uruk Period (4100 BC–3000 BC). kuṇḍa n. ʻclumpʼ (Sanskrit) A phonetic determinant of the young bull kõdā  खोंड [ khōṇḍa ] m 'A young bull, a bullcalf'. (Marathi) read rebus: kũderā m. ʻone who works a lathe'. Alternative: The cob is kolmo ‘seeding, rice-plant’(Munda) rebus: kolami ‘smithy’;  (Telugu) 
 



Mudhif and three reed banners. A cow and a stable of reeds with sculpted columns in the background. Fragment of another vase of alabaster (era of Djemet-Nasr) from Uruk, Mesopotamia. Limestone 16 X 22.5 cm. AO 8842, Louvre, Departement des Antiquites Orientales, Paris, France. Six circles decorated on the reed post are semantic determinants of Glyph: bhaṭa ‘six’. Rebus: bhaṭa ‘furnace काँड् । काण्डः m. the stalk or stem of a reed, grass, or the like, straw. In the compound with dan 5 (p. 221a, l. 13) the word is spelt kāḍ. The rebus reading of the pair of reeds in Sumer standard is: khānḍa ‘tools,  pots  and  pans and metal-ware’.

Quadrupeds exiting the mund (or mudhif) are pasaramu, pasalamu ‘an animal, a beast, a brute, quadruped’ (Telugu) పసరము [ pasaramu ] or పసలము pasaramu. [Tel.] n. A beast, an animal. గోమహిషహాతి.

Rebus: pasra = a smithy, place where a black-smith works, to work as a blacksmith; kamar pasra = a smithy; pasrao lagao akata se ban:? Has the blacksmith begun to work? pasraedae = the blacksmith is at his work (Santali.lex.) pasra meṛed, pasāra meṛed = syn. of koṭe meṛed = forged iron, in contrast to dul meṛed, cast iron (Mundari.lex.) పసారము [ pasāramu ] or పసారు pasārdmu. [Tel.] n. A shop. అంగడి. Allograph: pacar = a wedge driven ino a wooden pin, wedge etc. to tighten it (Santali.lex.) Allograph: pajhar 'eagle'.




A Toda temple in Muthunadu Mund near Ooty, India. For example, on a cylinder seal from Uruk, a professional group of workers in a smithy are shown as a procession of young bull calves and other quadrupeds emerging out of the smithy. 

 Kur. xolā tailMalt. qoli id.(DEDR 2135) The 'tail' atop the reed-structure banner glyph is a phonetic determinant for kole.l 'temple, smithy'. Alternative: pajhaṛ = to sprout from a root (Santali); Rebus: pasra‘smithy, forge’ (Santali)

m0702 Text 2206 Glyph 39, a glyph which compares with the Sumerian mudhif or Toda munda structure.  
[Kannada. kōḍu] Tusk; யானை பன்றிகளின் தந்தம்மத்த யானையின் கோடும் (தேவா. 39, 1). Rebus: खोट [khōṭa] A lump or solid bit (as of phlegm, gore, curds, inspissated milk); any concretion or clot. (Marathi) Rebus: L. khoṭf. ʻ alloy, impurity ʼ, °ṭā ʻ alloyed ʼ, awāṇ. khoṭā ʻ forged ʼ; P. khoṭ m. ʻ base, alloy ʼ  M.khoṭā ʻ alloyed ʼ, (CDIAL 3931) 

kole.l = smithy (Ko.) Rebus: Kuwi (F.) kolhali to forge. Koḍ. kollë blacksmith. (DEDR 2133).


Reading 1: kole.l = smithy, temple in Kota village (Ko.) Rebus 1: Ta. kol working in iron, blacksmith; kollaṉ blacksmith. Ma. kollan blacksmith, artificer.  Ka. kolime, kolume, kulame, kulime, kulume, kulme fire-pit, furnace; (Bell.; U.P.U.) konimi blacksmith; (Gowda) kolla id. Koḍ. kollë blacksmith. Te. kolimi furnace. Go. (SR.) kollusānā to mend implements; (Ph.) kolstānā, kulsānā to forge; (Tr.) kōlstānā to repair (of ploughshares); (SR.) kolmi smithy (Voc. 948). Kuwi (F.) kolhali to forge. (DEDR 2133). Rebus 2: Ko. kole·l smithy, temple in Kota village.To. kwala·l Kota smithy (DEDR 2133).

Reading 2: goṭ = the place where cattle are collected at mid-day (Santali); goṭh (Brj.)(CDIAL 4336). Goṣṭha (Skt.); cattle-shed (Or.) koḍ = a cow-pen; a cattlepen; a byre (G.) कोठी cattle-shed (Marathi) कोंडी[ kōṇḍī ] A pen or fold for cattle. गोठी [ gōṭhī ] f C (Dim. Of गोठा) A pen or fold for calves. (Marathi) Cattle Byres c.3200-3000 B.C. Late Uruk-Jemdet Nasr period. Magnesite. Cylinder seal. In the lower field of this seal appear three reed cattle byres. Each byre is surmounted by three reed pillars topped by rings, a motif that has been suggested as symbolizing a male god, perhaps Dumuzi. Within the huts calves or vessels appear alternately; from the sides come calves that drink out of a vessel between them. Above each pair of animals another small calf appears. A herd of enormous cattle moves in the upper field. Cattle and cattle byres in Southern Mesopotamia, c. 3500 BCE. Drawing of an impression from a Uruk period cylinder seal. (After Moorey, PRS, 1999, Ancient materials and industries: the archaeological evidence, Eisenbrauns.)

 Text 1330 (appears with zebu glyph). Shown as exiting the kole.l 'smithy' arekol 'blaksmiths' and kũderā 'lathe-workers'.

The young bulls emerging from the smithy. kõdā  खोंड [ khōṇḍa ] m A young bull, a bullcalf. (Marathi) Rebus 1: kọ̆nḍu or  konḍu ।  कुण्डम् m. a hole dug in the ground for receiving consecrated fire (Kashmiri)Rebus 2: A. kundār, B. kũdār, °ri, Or. kundāru; H. kũderā m. ʻ one who works a lathe, one who scrapes ʼ, °rī f., kũdernā ʻ to scrape, plane, round on a lathe ʼ.(CDIAL 3297).

खांडा [ khāṇḍā ] m  A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon). Rebus: khāṇḍa ‘tools, pots and pans, and metal-ware’. kole.l = smithy (Ko.) Rebus: Kuwi (F.) kolhali to forge. Koḍ. kollë blacksmith. (DEDR 2133). 

ayo 'fish' Rebus: ayas 'metal'.

kuṭila ‘bent’; rebus: kuṭila, katthīl = bronze (8 parts copper and 2 parts tin) [cf. āra-kūṭa, ‘brass’ (Skt.) (CDIAL 3230) kuṭi— in cmpd. ‘curve’ (Skt.)(CDIAL 3231). 

kanka 'rim of jar' Rebus: karṇika 'accountant'. kul -- karṇī m. ʻvillage accountantʼ (Marathi); karṇikan id. (Tamil) கணக்கு kaṇakku, n. cf. gaṇaka. [M. kaṇakku] 1. Number, account, reckoning, calculation, computation (Tamil) 

Rebus: ‘to engrave, write; lapidary’: <kana-lekhe>(P)  {??} ``??''.  |.  Cf. <kana->.  %16123.  #16013. <lekhe->(P),,<leke->(KM)  {VTC} ``to ^write''.  Cf. <kana-lekhe>.  *Kh.<likhae>, H.<lIkhAna>, O.<lekhIba>, B.<lekha>; Kh.<likha>(P), Mu.<lika>.  %20701.  #20541. (Munda etyma) Kashmiri:khanun खनुन् । खननम् conj. 1 (1 p.p. khonu for 1, see s.v.; f. khüñü  to dig (K.Pr. 155, 247; L. 459; Śiv. 59, 746, 994, 143, 1197, 1214, 1373, 1754; Rām. 343, 958, 1147, 1724; H. xii, 6); to engrave (Śiv. 414, 671, 176; Rām. 1583). khonu-motu खनुमतु; । खातः perf. part. (f. khüñümüʦü)  dug (e.g. a field, or a well); engraved. mŏhara-khonu म्वहर-खनु; or (Gr.M.) mŏhar-kan । मुद्राखननकारुः m. a seal-engraver, a lapidary (El. mohar-kand). -wöjü । *अङ्गुलिमुद्रा f. a signet-ring.
DEDR 1170 Ta. kaṇṭam iron style for writing on palmyra leaves. Te. gaṇṭamu id.
DEDR 1179 Kur. kaṇḍō a stool. Malt. kanḍo stool, seat. గడమంచె gaḍa-manche. n. A wooden frame like a bench to keep things on. గంపలు మొదలగువాటిని ఉంచు మంచె.
 

There three reed decorations atop the mudhif (or, Toda mund). kã̄ḍ 1 काँड् । काण्डः m. the stalk or stem of a reed, grass, or the like, straw. In the compound with dan 5 (p. 221a, l. 13) the word is spelt kāḍ. Rebus: khāṇḍa ‘tools, pots and pans, and metal-ware’. 

Sumerian mudhif facade, with uncut reed fonds and sheep entering, carved into a gypsum trough from Uruk, c. 3200 BCE. This trough was found at Uruk, the largest city so far known in southern Mesopotamia in the late prehistoric period (3300-3000 BC). The carving on the side shows a procession of sheep (a goat and a ram)
  

CARVED GYPSUM TROUGH FROM URUK. Two lambs exit a reed structure. A bundle of reeds (Inanna’s symbol) can be seen projecting from the hut and at the edges of the scene.
 The British Museum. WA 120000, neg. 252077 Part of the right-hand scene is cast from the original fragment now in the Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin




A cylinder seal with zebu and lion, Sibri {Jarrige)



Akkadian cylinder seal, showing kneeling heroes.

S. Kalyanaraman
Sarasati Research Center
January 11, 2014

PS: http://www.scribd.com/doc/198824278/Meluhha-examples-of-processions-of-hieroglyphs-as-artisan-repertoire-lists Meluhha examples of processions of hieroglyphs as artisan repertoire lists

See:

Beck, Pirhiya, Notes on the style and iconography of the chalcolithic hoard from Nahal Mishmar (Chapter 3) in:Albert Leonard, Jr., & Bruce Beyer Williams, ed., 1989, Essays in ancient civilization presented to Helene J. Kantor,  Studies in ancient oriental civilization No. 47, Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, pp. 39-54 http://oi.uchicago.edu/pdf/saoc47.pdf

Ziffeer, Irit, 2007, A note on the Nahal Mishmar crown, in: Jack Cheng, Marian H. Feldman, eds., Ancient near eastern art in context: studies in honor of Irene J. Winter by her students, BRILL., pp. 47-67 Irit Ziffeer presents motifs comparable to the architectural model of Naham Mishmar crown:

This is complemented by explaining the pair of birds perched on the edge of the crown, as Meluhha hieroglyphs:

dula 'pair' rebus: dul 'cast metal'
Glyph: karaḍa ‘aquatic bird, duck’

Rebus: करडा [karaḍā] Hard from alloy--iron, silver &c. (Marathi) kharādī ‘ turner’ (Gujarati) karaḍo –kār : an artisan-turner who works on a lathe – on hard alloys (Gujarati)









lo 'nine' (phonetic determinant: loa 'ficus religiosa') rebus: loh 'copper, metal' PLUS खांडा [ khāṇḍā ] A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon. Thus, together: लोखंडकाम [ lōkhaṇḍakāma ] n Iron work; that portion (of a building, machine &c.) which consists of iron. 2 The business of an ironsmith. An alternative reading is possible to read the hieroglyph: chain, link (a loop emanating out of the notched vessel ending in rings): dama ʻchain, ropeʼ; dhamaka 'blacksmith' (Samskritam) Hence, lōkhaṇḍa PLUS dhamaka 'iron work blacksmith or iron smith'.

Rings on neck, one horn on young bull reinforce the phonetics of: 
कोंद kōnda ‘young bull' Rebus: कोंद kōnda ‘engraver, lapidary setting or infixing gems’ (Marathi)

The standard held on a post over which the entire hieroglyhph multiplex is superscripted may be a stylized rendering of the 'lathe-cum-portable furnace' device that frequently occurs in front of the one-horned young bull: saghaḍī, śaghaḍi = a pot for holding fire (G.) sãghāṛɔ m. ‘lathe’ (G.) 

Variant rebus readings are suggested in the context of the metalwork: 

Rebus: san:gatarāśū = stone cutter (Sindhi.) jangaḍ iyo ‘military guard who accompanies treasure into the treasury’; san:ghāḍiyo, a worker on a lathe (Gujarati.) sanghar 'fortification' (Pashto) sanghAta 'collection' (Pali) sanghAta 'adamantine glue' (Samskritam). The last semantics indicates that the blacksmith had competence in working with cementite or metal alloys.

The text of the inscription includes 'fish' hieroglyph: 

The first hieroglyph on the text read from r: 
kole.l 'temple' rebus: kole.l 'smithy'
kaNDa 'arrow' rebus: khaNDa 'excellent iron'
aya 'fish' rebus: aya, ayas 'iron, metal' (Gujarati.Rigveda)
खांडा [ khāṇḍā ] A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon.(Kashmiri) खांडा (p. 202) [ khāṇḍā ] m A kind of sword, straight, broad-bladed, two-edged, and round-ended. (Marathi) Thus, Panini: ayaskANDa 'excellent iron'. khāṇḍā derived from lōkhaṇḍakāma can thus be translated as 'metalware, tools, pots and pans'.

kanac 'corner' rebus: kancu 'bronze' PLUS  vaTTa 'circle' Ara 'spoke' Together vaThAra 'quarter of town'

Thus, the pictorial motif consisting of hieroglyph multiplex PLUS text inscription:

Pictorial: lōkhaṇḍa PLUS dhamaka 'iron work blacksmith or iron smith' PLUS  कोंद kōnda ‘engraver, lapidary setting or infixing gems’ 
Text: kolel kaNDa ayaskANDa kancu vaThAra 'quarter of town for smithy, excellent iron, metalware, bronze'.

Thus, the message of the Mohenjo-daro seal m0296 is a reference to a quarter of town for metalwork and metalcrafts by blacksmith and engraver-lapidary setting or infixing gems.

lo 'nine' (Santali); no 'nine' (Bengali); on-patu (Tamil). loa 'species of fig tree, ficus glomerata, the fruit of ficus glomerata (Santali) Rebus: lo 'iron' (Assamese, Bengali); loa 'iron' (Gypsy); lauha 'made of copper or iron', metal, iron (Skt.); lohakaara 'coppersmith, ironsmith' (Pali); lohaara 'blacksmith' (Pt.); lohaLa id. (Oriya); loha 'metal, esp. copper or bronze' (Pali); copper (VS); loho, lo 'metal, ore, iron' (Si.); loha luTi 'iron utensils and implements' (Santali)  loa 'iron' (Mu.)Re(B),,(B) {N} ``^iron''. Pl. <-le>(Munda etyma)

dol 'likeness, picture, form' (Santali). Rebus: dul 'cast iron' (Santali) dul ‘to cast metal in a mould’ (Santali) dul meṛeḍ cast iron (Mundari. Santali)

san:ghāḍo, saghaḍī (G.) = firepan; saghaḍī, śaghaḍi = a pot for holding fire (G.)sãghāṛɔ m. ‘lathe’ (G.) Rebus: san:gatarāśū = stone cutter (S.) jangaḍ iyo ‘military guard who accompanies treasure into the treasury’; san:ghāḍiyo, a worker on a lathe (G.)
kod. 'one horn'; kot.iyum [kot., kot.i_ neck] a wooden circle put round the neck of an animal (G.)kamarasa_la = waist-zone, waist-band, belt (Te.)kot.iyum [kot., kot.i_ neck] a wooden circle put round the neck of an animal (G.) [cf. the orthography of rings on the neck of one-horned young bull]. ko_d.iya, ko_d.e = young bull; ko_d.elu = plump young bull; ko_d.e = a. male as in: ko_d.e du_d.a = bull calf; young, youthful (Te.lex.) ko_d.iya, ko_d.e young bull; adj. male (e.g., ko_d.e du_d.a bull calf), young, youthful; ko_d.eka~_d.u a young man (Te.); ko_d.e_ bull (Kol.); khor.e male calf (Nk.); ko_d.i cow; ko_r.e young bullock (Kond.a); ko_d.i cow (Pe.); ku_d.i id. (Mand.); ko_d.i id., ox (Kui); ko_di cow (Kuwi); kajja ko_d.i bull; ko_d.i cow (Kuwi)(DEDR 2199). kor.a a boy, a young man (Santali) go_nde bull, ox (Ka.); go_da ox (Te.); konda_ bull (Kol.); ko_nda bullock (Kol.Nk.); bison (Pa.); ko_nde cow (Ga.); ko_nde_ bullock (Ga.); ko_nda_, ko_nda bullock, ox (Go.)(DEDR 2216). Rebus: kot. 'artisan's workshop'.(Kuwi)kod. = place where artisans work (G.lex.) kō̃da कोँद । कुलालादिकन्दुः f. a kiln; a potter's kiln (Rām. 1446; H. xi, 11); a brick-kiln (Śiv. 133); a lime-kiln. -bal -बल् । कुलालादिकन्दुस्थानम् m. the place where a kiln is erected, a brick or potter's kiln (Gr.Gr. 165)(Kashmiri) 

ko_nda bullock (Kol.Nk.); bison (Pa.)(DEDR 2216). Rebus: कोंद kōnda ‘engraver, lapidary setting or infixing gems’ (Marathi) Grierson takes the word कन्दुः (Skt.) to be a cognate of kaNDa 'pot' rebus: kaNDa 'fire altar' (Santali) 

Thus, the yung bullock or young ox glyph seems to be an allograph of 'rim-of-jar' glyph in Indus Script corpora. When two bullocks are juxtaposed, the semantics of pairing point to dol 'likeness, pair'(Kashmiri); rebus: dul 'cast iron'(Santali) Thus, the pair of young bullocks or oxen are read rebus: dul kō̃da 'two bullocks'; rebus: casting furnace or kiln'.

koḍiyum ‘heifer’ (G.). Rebus: koṭ ‘workshop’ (Kuwi) koṭe = forge (Santali)kōḍiya, kōḍe = young bull (G.)Rebus: ācāri koṭṭya ‘smithy’ (Tu.)

अखोटा [ akhōṭā ] m A groove or channel notched (as around a peg or stick) for a rope; also a sliding or running groove. 2 A projecting point, a snag. v लाग.

खांडा [ khāṇḍā ] A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon.(Kashmiri) खांडा (p. 202) [ khāṇḍā ] m A kind of sword, straight, broad-bladed, two-edged, and round-ended. (Marathi) Thus, Panini: ayaskANDa 'excellent iron'.

लोखंडकाम [ lōkhaṇḍakāma ] n Iron work; that portion (of a building, machine &c.) which consists of iron. 2 The business of an ironsmith.

Hieroglyph:  dama ʻ chain, rope ʼ (Si.): dāˊman1 ʻ rope ʼ RV. 2. *dāmana -- , dāmanī -- f. ʻ long rope to which calves are tethered ʼ Hariv. 3. *dāmara -- . [*dāmara -- is der. fr. n/r n. stem. -- √2]1. Pa. dāma -- , inst. °mēna n. ʻ rope, fetter, garland ʼ, Pk. dāma -- n.; Wg. dām ʻ rope, thread, bandage ʼ; Tir. dām ʻ rope ʼ; Paš.lauṛ. dām ʻ thick thread ʼ, gul. dūm ʻ net snare ʼ (IIFL iii 3, 54 ← Ind. or Pers.); Shum. dām ʻ rope ʼ; Sh.gil. (Lor.) dōmo ʻ twine, short bit of goat's hair cord ʼ, gur. dōm m. ʻ thread ʼ (→ Ḍ. dōṅ ʻ thread ʼ); K. gu -- dômu m. ʻ cow's tethering rope ʼ; P. dã̄udāvã̄ m. ʻ hobble for a horse ʼ; WPah.bhad. daũ n. ʻ rope to tie cattle ʼ, bhal. daõ m., jaun. dã̄w; A. dāmā ʻ peg to tie a buffalo -- calf to ʼ; B. dāmdāmā ʻ cord ʼ; Or. duã̄ ʻ tether ʼ, dāĩ ʻ long tether to which many beasts are tied ʼ; H. dām m.f. ʻ rope, string, fetter ʼ, dāmā m. ʻ id., garland ʼ; G. dām n. ʻ tether ʼ, M. dāvẽ n.; Si. dama ʻ chain, rope ʼ, (SigGr) dam ʻ garland ʼ. -- Ext. in Paš.dar. damaṭāˊ°ṭīˊ, nir. weg. damaṭék ʻ rope ʼ, Shum.ḍamaṭik, Woṭ. damṓṛ m., Sv. dåmoṛīˊ; -- with -- ll -- : N. dāmlo ʻ tether for cow ʼ, dã̄walidāũlidāmli ʻ bird -- trap of string ʼ, dã̄waldāmal ʻ coeval ʼ (< ʻ tied together ʼ?); M. dã̄vlī f. ʻ small tie -- rope ʼ.2. Pk. dāvaṇa -- n., dāmaṇī -- f. ʻ tethering rope ʼ; S. ḍ̠āvaṇuḍ̠āṇu m. ʻ forefeet shackles ʼ, ḍ̠āviṇīḍ̠āṇī f. ʻ guard to support nose -- ring ʼ; L. ḍã̄vaṇ m., ḍã̄vaṇī,ḍāuṇī (Ju. ḍ̠ -- ) f. ʻ hobble ʼ, dāuṇī f. ʻ strip at foot of bed, triple cord of silk worn by women on head ʼ, awāṇ. dāvuṇ ʻ picket rope ʼ; P. dāuṇdauṇ, ludh. daun f. m. ʻ string for bedstead, hobble for horse ʼ, dāuṇī f. ʻ gold ornament worn on woman's forehead ʼ; Ku. dauṇo m., °ṇī f. ʻ peg for tying cattle to ʼ, gng. dɔ̃ṛ ʻ place for keeping cattle, bedding for cattle ʼ; A. dan ʻ long cord on which a net or screen is stretched, thong ʼ, danā ʻ bridle ʼ; B. dāmni ʻ rope ʼ; Or. daaṇa ʻ string at the fringe of a casting net on which pebbles are strung ʼ, dāuṇi ʻ rope for tying bullocks together when threshing ʼ; H. dāwan m. ʻ girdle ʼ, dāwanī f. ʻ rope ʼ, dã̄wanī f. ʻ a woman's orna<-> ment ʼ; G. dāmaṇḍā° n. ʻ tether, hobble ʼ, dāmṇũ n. ʻ thin rope, string ʼ, dāmṇī f. ʻ rope, woman's head -- ornament ʼ; M. dāvaṇ f. ʻ picket -- rope ʼ. -- Words denoting the act of driving animals to tread out corn are poss. nomina actionis from *dāmayati2.3. L. ḍãvarāvaṇ, (Ju.) ḍ̠ã̄v° ʻ to hobble ʼ; A. dāmri ʻ long rope for tying several buffalo -- calves together ʼ, Or. daũ̈rādaürā ʻ rope ʼ; Bi. daũrī ʻ rope to which threshing bullocks are tied, the act of treading out the grain ʼ, Mth. dã̄mardaũraṛ ʻ rope to which the bullocks are tied ʼ; H. dã̄wrī f. ʻ id., rope, string ʼ, dãwrī f. ʻ the act of driving bullocks round to tread out the corn ʼ. -- X *dhāgga<-> q.v.. Brj. dã̄u m. ʻ tying ʼ.*dāmara -- : Brj. dã̄wrī f. ʻ rope ʼ.(CDIAL 6283)

Rebus: dam 'blast of furnace' (Kashmiri): dhamá in cmpds. ʻ blowing ʼ Pāṇ., dhamaka -- m. ʻ blacksmith ʼ Uṇ.com. [√dham]Pa. dhama -- , °aka -- m. ʻ one who blows ʼ, Pk. dhamaga<-> m.; K. dam m. ʻ blast of furnace or oven, steam of stewing ʼ; -- Kho. Sh.(Lor.) dam ʻ breath, magical spell ʼ ← Pers. dam. dhamana n. ʻ blowing with bellows ʼ lex. [√dham]
K. damun m. ʻ bellows ʼ. -- Ash. domótilde; ʻ wind ʼ (→ Pr. dumūˊ), Kt. dyīmi, Wg. damútildemacr;, Bashg. damu; Paš.lauṛ. dāmāˊn, kuṛ. domón, uzb. damūn ʻ rain ʼ (< ʻ *storm ʼ → Par. dhamāˊn ʻ wind ʼ IIFL i 248): these Kaf. and Dard. forms altern. < dhmāna -- ?(CDIAL 6732) dam 1 दम् । क्षणमात्रकालः, प्राणनिरोधः, अतिधर्मबाधा, योगक्षेमनिर्वाहः, निमज्जनम् m. (sg. abl. dama 1 दम; pl. dat. daman 1 दमन्, spelt damn in K.Pr. 46; for daman 2 see s.v.; for 3, 4 see damun 1, 2; with suff. of indef. art. damāh दमाह् 
q.v., s.v.), breath, vital air, life, the breath of life (K.Pr. 67, Rām. 15, 17); breath or blast (of a furnace or oven); stewing or simmering over a slow fire, braising; a moment, an instant (YZ. 1, 216, Śiv. 133, Rām. 898, 113)(Kashmiri) धमनी (p. 433) [ dhamanī ] f S A small tube through which to puff the fire. 2 Any tubular vessel of the body, as an artery, a vein, a nerve.(Marathi).


S. Kalyanaraman
Sarasvati Research Center
January 21, 2016

Using satellite imagery to reveal the course of an extinct river below the Thar Desert in the Indo-Pak region -- AK Gupta et al, 2011, IJRS

$
0
0
Using satellite imagery to reveal the course of an extinct river below the Thar Desert in the Indo-Pak region A. K. Gupta , J. R. Sharma & G. Sreenivasan To cite this article: A. K. Gupta , J. R. Sharma & G. Sreenivasan (2011) Using satellite imagery to reveal the course of an extinct river below the Thar Desert in the Indo-Pak region, International Journal of Remote Sensing, 32:18, 5197-5216, DOI: 10.1080/01431161.2010.495093 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01431161.2010.495093




















https://www.scribd.com/doc/296145423/Using-satellite-imagery-to-reveal-the-course-of-an-extinct-river-below-the-Thar-Desert-in-the-Indo-Pak-region-A-K-Gupta-J-R-Sharma-G-Sreeniva

A clean shave for radicalism. Police as barbers. Police in Tajikistan shave nearly 13,000 people's beards in 'radicalism' battle -- Al jazeera

$
0
0
radical
ˈradɪk(ə)l/ adjecive
  1. 1.
    (especially of change or action) relating to or affecting the fundamental nature of something; far-reaching or thorough.
  2. 2.
    characterized by departure from tradition; innovative or progressive.
    "the city is known for its radical approach to transport policy"

How radical can one get? Roots of beards have to be tackled, will mere shaving remove growth or even progress?

Kalyanaraman

Tajikistan shaves 13,000 beards in 'radicalism' battle
Police says more than 160 shops selling headscarves are also closed as part of a fight against "foreign" influences.
21 Jan 2016 08:11 GMT | TajikistanAsiaReligion
Police in Tajikistan have shaved nearly 13,000 people's beards and closed more than 160 shops selling traditional Muslim clothing last year as part of the country's fight against what it calls "foreign" influences.
Bahrom Sharifzoda, the head of the south-west Khathlon region's police, said at a press conference on Wednesday that the law enforcement services convinced more than 1,700 women and girls to stop wearing headscarves in the Muslim-majority Central Asian country.
The move is seen as part of efforts to battle what authorities deem "radicalism". 
Tajikistan's secular leadership has long sought to prevent a spillover of what it sees as unwelcome traditions from neighbouring Afghanistan. 
Last week, the country's parliament voted to ban Arabic-sounding "foreign" names as well as marriages between first cousins.
The legislation is expected to be approved by President Emomali Rahmon, who has taken steps to promote secularism and discourage beliefs and practices that he sees as foreign or a threat to stability of Tajikistan, Radio Liberty said.


In September, Tajikistan's Supreme Court banned the country's only registered Islamic political party, the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan.
Rahmon has ruled Tajikistan since 1994 and his current presidential term is expected to end in 2020.
In December, the parliament granted the president and his family life-long immunity from prosecution, giving Rahmon the title "Leader of the nation" and officially designating him "the founder of peace and national unity of Tajikistan".
The country of 7.1 million people has struggled with poverty and instability since independence from the Soviet Union more than two decades ago. It remains heavily dependent on Russia where majority of Tajik people go for work.
According to unofficial estimates, there are more than 2,000 Tajiks fighting in Syria.

Source: Al Jazeera And DPA

Tajikistan has struggled with poverty and instability since independence more than two decades ago [File: Igor Kovalenko/EPA]

To check radical Islamism, Tajikistan cops shave 13,000 men's beards

TNN | Jan 21, 2016, 02.12 PM IST
Preisdent of Tajikistan Imamali Rakhmon
New Delhi: A report by Al Jazeera on Thursday said police in the central Asian Muslim-majority country also convinced more than 1,700 women to stop wearing headscarves in measures seen as the secular leadership's efforts to prevent influences from neighbouring Afghanistan.

Last week, Tajikistan's parliament banned Arab-sounding names, and marriages between first cousins, otherwise allowed in Islam.

Last year, Tajikistan's Supreme Court banned the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan - its only registered Islamic political party - following months of violence which the government blamed on radical Islam.


President Imomali Rakhmon, who has been ruling since 1994, is likely to ratify the new laws which seek to promote secularism and discourage foreign influences. Rahmon's current term ends in 2020.
 


Rakhmon, 63, who was a state farm boss in the Soviet era, has gradually consolidated his power during 23 years of rule over the predominantly Muslim nation of eight million that went through a 1992-97 civil war in which tens of thousands died.


Tajikistan's parliament is also considering a proposal to allow Rakhmon to run for an unlimited number of terms, cementing his grip on power as others have done in the Central Asian region.


The main opposition force, the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan, failed to win any seats in parliament in the election last March and has since been outlawed by Rakhmon's government, with its leaders accused of plotting a coup.

ഞാൻ എന്നാ ഭാരടിയാൻ I am Indian -- KK Muhammed, archaeologist exposes commie 'historians' who misled Muslims on Ram Mandir

$
0
0
Jan 21, 2016 08:13 IST

Left historians connived with extremists, mislead Muslims on Babri issue, says archaeologist in new book


by KA Antony
Twenty four years after the demolition of Babri Masjid, a former archaeologist has come out with the allegation that Left historians like Irfan Habib and Romila Thapar had thwarted an amicable settlement to the Babri Masjid issue. The allegation made by Dr KK Muhammed, former Regional Director(North) of Archaeological Survey of India, in his autobiography titled  Njan Enna Bharatiyan (I an Indian) in Malayalam also claim that remains of a Hindu temple were found during the excavation made by a team of archaeologists headed by Professor BB Lal, then director general of the Archaeological Survey of India during 1976-77, in which he was also a member.
The autobiography released on Sunday has become a debating point among historians in Kerala. While renowned historian MGS Narayanan fully agree with Muhammed, Left centric historians like Dr KN Panikkar dubbed the arguments raised by the author as baseless and aimed at giving leverage to the BJP which is making all out efforts to open an account in Kerala assembly in the upcoming election.
The cover of the book Njan Enna Bharatiyan by KK Muhammed.
The cover of the book Njan Enna Bharatiyan by KK Muhammed.
Besides blaming the Left wing historians for failing to reach an amicable settlement in the Babri Masjid issue, the book also brings to focus the longstanding rift between historians supporting the Marxist view and others opposed to it.
Talking to Firstpost on his claims made in the book, Muhammed said the the action committee held several meetings under the leadership of Irfan Habib, the then chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research. "The Babri issue would have been settled long ago if the Muslim intelligentsia had not fallen prey to the brain washing by the Leftist historians. A set of historians including Romila Thapar, Bipin Chandra and S Gopal argued that there was no mention of the dismantling of the temple before 19th century and Ayodhya is Bhudhist-Jain centre. They were supported by historians Irfan Habib,RS Sharma, DN Jha, Suraj Ben and Akthar Ali," he said.
"It was they who connived with the extremist Muslim groups to derail all attempts to find an amicable solution to the Masjid issue. Some of them even took part in several government-level meetings and supported the Babri Masjid Action Committee," he said.
Muhammed endorses in his book that a temple existed at the site of the Babri Masjid based on the unearthing of temple pillars during the excavation under Professor Lal in 1978. In the chapter "Whatever I learned and said are nothing but historical truth", Muhammed says that he got a chance to be part of an excavation team led by Lal in 1978. He was a student at the School of Archaeology in New Delhi at that time.
"We found not one but 14 pillars of a temple at the Babri Masjid site. All these pillars had domes carved on them. The domes resembled those found in temples belonging to 11th and 12th century. In the temple architecture domes are one of the nine symbols of prosperity. It was quite evident that the Masjid was erected on the debris of a temple. I went on writing to several English dailies in those days about the finding. Only one news paper published my view and that too in the letters to Editor column," says the book.
According to Muhammed that the Left historians even tried to mislead the Allahabad High Court on the issue. Even after the court had pronounced its verdict Irfan and his team were not ready to accept the truth. They simply questioned the logicality of the verdict. He said he knew Proffesor Irfan Habib from his Aligarh University days. "He always went to the extent of stifling the voices of those who disagreed with him. After all historians are mere historians, it is we the archaeologists who provide them the data," he said adding that even Qutub Minar and Taj Mahal were built on the debris of Hindu temples.
After his retirement from the ASI in 2012 , Muhammed is working as the director of Aga Khan Trust project in Hyderabad.
Asked if his book would not fan up communal hatred, Muhammed sounded negative. "I do not think so. Besides, communalism in Hindu religion is not fundamental in nature but a spontaneous reaction. Godhra was such an instance of such a reaction," he said.
Professor MGS Narayanan, former chairman of Indian Council of Historical Research(ICHR), said Muhammed is perhaps right about his claim on the existence of a Hindu temple at the disputed site. " Many mosques and monuments were erected on sites where temples existed earlier. I also agree with what Muhammed has said about Prof. Irfan. It was during his tenure as chairman of ICHR the democratic functioning of the institution was destroyed. It very difficult to work with him. I have my own bitter experiences. It was he and his team that had branded me an RSS man. It was he and his team that turned Jawaharlal Nehru University and the ICHR in to a den of Marxist historians," MGS said.
Dr KN Panikkar, who belongs to the Marxist school of historiography, said he was yet to see the book."But I very much doubt the intention and timing of the book. The book comes at a time when the Sangh Parivar is getting ready for another 'silanyas'. His (Muhammed's ) claims are new. He had made this claim even earlier. But his claims are not based on any scientific findings. As for his criticism against Irfan Habib and others, some people like him have been doing this for quite some time. I need not defend Habib. Everybody knows how great a scholar the man is," he said.
KP Sethunath, a student of history and journalist said, "I have not read the book fully. But whatever information available from the extracts that appeared in various news papers appears to me more of an allegation than a scholarly repudiation of the position adopted by a group of eminent historians of India. Muhammed's attempt to reduce a complex issue such as the Babri Masjid dispute into a mere conspiracy of few individuals appears quite silly and shallow. Babri Masjid assumed a sinister character in the background of the opportunist politics played by the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in the Shah Bano case. To circumvent the court verdict he tried to appease the Muslim fundamentalists by a constitutional amendment to nullify the court verdict. The VHP used the same to spread the theory of minority appeasement and the Sangh Parivar looking for a new opening for the BJP reduced to a 2-member party in the parliament in the 1984 elections. Everybody knows that the Gandhi government played into the hands of the Parivar by opening the gates of the closed mosque for poojas," he said.
Sethunath is of the opinion that Muhammed's charges against historians such as Romila Thapar, Bipin Chandra, RS Sharma and Irfan Habib will not stand the scrutiny of serious scholarship. "It is also a known fact that the places now referred as Ayodhya had vestiges of Jaina- Budha influences. Many of the mosques and monuments on the debris of makeshift places of worship used by the Indian community. Muhammed is an eminent archaeologist but his outlook is totally against the concept of history and archaeology pursued by Dr Thapar and Habib. Instead raising allegations he can better go for a healthy discourse on the issue," he said.

National Herald to be re-launched -- Omar Rashid

$
0
0
Published: January 21, 2016 19:54 IST | Updated: January 21, 2016 19:54 IST  

National Herald to be re-launched

Associated Journals to be converted into a non-profit entity

Even as the Congress top leadership is embroiled in a major controversy over it, the defunct newspaper National Herald would be re-launched, its publishers said on Thursday. Its sister newspapers, the Quami Awaz (Urdu) and Navjeevan (Hindi), would also be revived, the shareholders of its publishers Associated Journals Limited, decided in a meeting in Lucknow.

AJL would also be converted into a non-profit entity, a Section-8 company, announced Motilal Vora, Congress treasurer and Managing Director of AJL, after an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of shareholders.

Mr. Vora said the resolutions passed were not in any way connected to the National Herald case. “All members of the company considered and approved the resolutions, which were taken in pursuance of the revival plans of the company since 2010. This decision of the EGM in essence formalises this larger purpose for which the company was founded in the first place,” Mr. Vora said.

Mr. Vora is one of the seven persons summoned by a Delhi Court in the National Herald case.

Five resolutions were passed in the meeting, which was attended by 32 members, after the company placed advertisements in newspapers last month.

Telecom engineer Sam Pitroda and senior Congress leaders Gulam Nazi Azad, Sheila Dixit, Jitin Prasada and Oscar Fernandez were present.

AJL was established in 1937 by the first Prime Minister of the country Jawaharlal Nehru. National Herald faced financial troubles several times over the years and in 2008 ceased to operate.

Under the Companies Act, 2013, a Section-8 company is a venture established "for promoting commerce, art, science, sports, education, research, social welfare, religion, charity, and protection of environment or any such other object" and profits from such a company's activities, as well as any other income earned by it, can be used only for promoting the objectives of the company.

The general secretary of the AJL Employees' Union, Dilip Sinha, had given a call for disrupting the meeting as their demand of compensating the staff of the Lucknow unit at par with the New Delhi office. Former employees of the AJL have been on a relay hunger strike demanding compensation.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/national-herald-to-be-relaunched/article8135615.ece?homepage=true&css=print

Deficient Sunanda sample a cover up? -- Pramod Kumar Sinch, Pioneer

$
0
0
Sunanda Pushkar- Law is clear if Medical Report states that death by poison, it does not need to identify exact type. 

Noose tightens.

DEFICIENT SUNANDA SAMPLE A COVER-UP?

Friday, 22 January 2016 | Pramod Kumar Singh | New Delhi
There appears to be a criminal cover-up in the sensational Sunanda Pushkar murder case as the investigating agency sent insufficient amount of biological specimens to the laboratory of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States.
The low quantity of exhibits did not help the forensic sciences experts of the FBI Laboratory at Quantico, Virginia, and as a result they could not reach any conclusion to determine the presence of radioactive substances in the body of Sunanda Pushkar, wife of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. However, the FBI confirmed Sunanda died of Alprazolam poisoning.
“Due to limited volume and generally degraded nature of the biological specimens submitted, quantisation of the identified drugs was not performed. Item 11(blood), this sample was received with low volumes, high viscosity and was degraded,” the report prepared by Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Sciences Unit (CBRNSU) of the FBI sent to the Ministry of  Home Affairs (MHA) stated.
“The testing indicates that there were no significant sources of radioactivity that may have been caused by the presence of detectable levels of Polonium 210,” the supplementary report signed by Acting Director Mary D Rodriguez  further stated.  The 16-page FBI report, a copy of which is with The Pioneer, paints a sordid picture of the mishandling of the investigation in the murder mystery.
The FBI reported the presence of  Lidocaine which is an antiarrhythmic drug for the heart, and may cause fatality if administered intravenously. This requires further legal investigation as there was presence of injection mark on the body of the deceased. There have been reported cases of homicide by Lidocaine poisoning.
The advanced forensics report sent to the FBI has exposed the lax and criminally inefficient upkeep of vital forensic exhibits in the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory (CFSL) and Forensic Sciences Laboratory (FSL) attitude.
The report prepared by the Medical Board of the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) questioned the haphazard and callous handing of the vital forensic evidences by the CFSL and FSL.
“This is a grave issue of concern for our legal investigation system and the legal/scientific sanctity of the viscera examination, which raises serious medical and legal apprehension about the quality of  Forensic Lab report/supervision of  legal investigation/accountability to maintain legal sanctity/custody of biological evidences in cases of death investigation”, the AIIMS report said.
“It creates doubt/lacunae in reference to various legal cases where the pangs of justice, hinge upon the findings of viscera examination report and the same is required to be examined. An appropriate legal remedial measures/action need to be instituted in this case as well as in the general interests of investigation/natural justice delivery system”, the report further stated.
“The CFSL Delhi as well as FSL Delhi had been supplied with the post-mortem report which clearly mentioned about cause of death due to poisoning and hence specific request was made to analyse the presence of Alprazolam. The viscera was analysed at CFSL and FSL. However, both of them could not detect the presence of Alprazoalm and gave negative report even when the various viscera/blood samples of the deceased were fresh with the sufficient amount of viscera, it said.
 “The FBI lab at Virginia detected Alprazolam even after a period of more than one and half years that too not only in one sample but in all the viscera samples such as stomach and its contents, spleen, liver section, half of each kidney, blood sample as well as clothing, bed cover and bed sheet”, the report mentioned.
“The Medical Board is highly afraid that this case of deceased Sunanda Pushkar may have led to a complete botched up scenario in absence of FBI report”, the AIIMS stated while questioning the capabilities of the CFSL and FSL.
As a matter of record, the Delhi Police had sent viscera (stomach, intestine, kidney, spleen), blood sample, lower and upper wearing clothes of Sunanda Pushkar, white colour bed sheet, bed cover used by Sunanda (Room No : 345 of Hotel Leela) to the FBI.
 FBI had responded to the Delhi Police with various test reports on August 5, Sept 9 and November 6 - 2015. All sent to AIIMS Medical Board on Dec 9, 2015. All communications between the FBI and the Delhi Police were done through the  MHA. Also, 18 photos of crime scene were sent to the FBI.
In every item FBI found Alprazolam - the content of the Alparax tablet.  “27 tablets inside her body…total 2 strips of 15 each in room and 3 unused.”  Apart from Alprozolam (tablets Alprax, Xnax), the FBI also found Hydroxychloroquine (Plaqeunil, HCQS-200) - prescription for anti-malarial drug - also used to reduce inflammation in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. They also found Lidocaine - local anesthetic item used for minor surgery.
 Radiological Protection Department of the FBI Lab also inspected the items supplied by the FBI. The levels of possible contamination are less than values in the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
For Thallium analysis - heavy metal analysis, snake venom and photo-labile poisons could not be performed as the  FBI said the materials were degraded in nature and in limited volume.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/todays-newspaper/deficient-sunanda-sample-a-cover-up.html

Sensational twist to Sunanda’s death probe: Attempt was made to derail investigation

 

New Delhi

Areport of the medical board of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) that went into the findings of the Sunanada Pushkar’s viscera test by the United State’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), has made the sensational claim that there was an attempt to “botch” up the investigation so that the correct cause of the death could not be established.
Due to limited volume and generally degraded nature of the biological specimens submitted, quantization of the identified drugs was not performed…
FBI report
Among other things that raise serious questions about the way the Delhi police handled the investigation after Sunanda’s death on January 17, 2014, was the shoddy preservation of the most crucial piece of evidence—viscera.

According to the AIIMS report, the police sent `degraded’ and insufficient quantity of viscera that came in the way of the FBI to track several possible substances that might have been used to kill Sunanda. The report has quoted the FBI lab findings (page 4) to drive home this point. The relevant portion of the FBI report said, “Due to limited volume and generally degraded nature of the biological specimens submitted, quantization of the identified drugs was not performed. Item 11(blood), this sample was received with low volumes, high viscosity and was degraded”.

The report prepared by Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Sciences Unit (CBRNSU) of the FBI further said, “The testing indicates that there was no significant sources of radioactivity that may have been caused by the presence of detectable levels of Polonium 210”.

The AIIMS report has made a scathing comment on the way the police preserved the viscera sample and suspects there may have been a motive to botch up the probe. “This is a grave issue of concern for our legal investigation system and the legal/ scientific sanctity of the viscera examination, which raises serious medical and legal apprehensions about the quality of Forensic Lab report/supervision of legal investigation/accountability to maintain legal sanctity/ custody of biological evidences in cases of death investigation”, the AIIMS report said.

“It creates doubt/ lacunae in reference to various legal cases where the pangs of justice, hinges upon the findings of viscera examination report and the same are required to be examined. An appropriate legal remedial measures/action need to be instituted in this case as well as in the general interests of investigation/natural justice delivery system”, the report further stated.

“The Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) Delhi as well as FSL Delhi had been supplied with the Post-Mortem report which clearly mentioned about cause of death due to poisoning and hence specific request was made to analyze the presence of Alprazolam. The viscera were analyzed at CFSL and FSL. However both of them could not detect the presence of Alprazoalm and gave negative report even when the various viscera/blood samples of the deceased were fresh with the sufficient amount of viscera, it said.
The million dollar question is who was trying to derail the investigation and to save whom. The AIIMS report has pointed the finger at Congress MP and Sunanda’s husband Shashi Tharoor for trying to mislead the investigation by making the doctors believe that Sunanda suffered from the deadly lupus disease.
https://performancegurus.net/sensational-twist-to-sunandas-death-probe-attempt-was-made-to-derail-investigation/

Sunanda’s death probe: Attempt was made to derail investigation via perfg1--why CNN IBN lying there was no Polonium?

Assets case: Karnataka appeal in Supreme Court interference in TN's affairs, says Jayalalithaa. NaMo, nationalise kaalaadhan.

$
0
0
Published: January 22, 2016 03:02 IST | Updated: January 22, 2016 03:32 IST  

Assets case: Karnataka appeal in Supreme Court interference in TN’s affairs, says Jayalalithaa

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday.
The Hindu
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday.

“Only Tamil Nadu has exclusive jurisdiction to file special leave petition”.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursday launched a full frontal attack on the authority of the Karnataka government to move the Supreme Court against her acquittal in a disproportionate assets case, labelling it as an “interference in the internal affairs of Tamil Nadu” and a violation of the federal scheme enshrined in the Constitution.
In a six-page document, she questioned the locus standi of the Karnataka government in filing a special leave petition or an appeal in the apex court for an alleged offence which took place in Tamil Nadu.
The Chief Minister invoked Article 162 of the Constitution, which prescribes that the executive power of the State Executive is co-extensive with that of the State Legislature.
In her affidavit which highlighted the major points which will be argued in defence of her liberty during the Supreme Court hearings scheduled to start from February 2, Ms. Jayalalithaa said, “Karnataka has no legislative power in respect of the affairs of the State of Tamil Nadu and consequently has no power to prosecute the alleged offender in the Supreme Court for offences committed in Tamil Nadu against the State of Tamil Nadu.”
Opening up a legal Pandora’s Box on how far a State government to whom a case is transferred for fair trial by the Supreme Court can proceed, the Chief Minister argued that Karnataka got a role as “prosecutor” in the case only after the Supreme Court transferred the corruption case to it on November 18, 2004.
If not for this transfer order, Karnataka had no involvement in the corruption case. It was neither the de facto complainant nor the de jure aggrieved party. No crime under the Prevention of Corruption Act or the Indian Penal Code has been committed against Karnataka.
The transfer to Karnataka, she said, was for the specific purpose of conducting a fair trial, and that goal has now been achieved. There is nothing further left for the State of Karnataka to do in this case.
Ms. Jayalalithaa argued that only Tamil Nadu has the “exclusive jurisdiction” to file the special leave petition or appeal against the Karnataka High Court judgment of acquittal on May 11, 2015 as she is a “public servant of the State of Tamil Nadu”. She questioned the locus standi of DMK leader K. Anbazhagan and BJP leader Subramanian Swamy to involve themselves in the Supreme Court appeals.
The Chief Minister invoked Article 162 of the Constitution, which prescribes that the executive power of the State Executive is co-extensive with that of the State Legislature.
“Karnataka has no legislative power in respect of the affairs of the State of Tamil Nadu and consequently has no power to prosecute the alleged offender in the Supreme Court for offences committed in Tamil Nadu against the State of Tamil Nadu,” Ms. Jayalalithaa contended.
The Chief Minister asked why the Supreme Court should entertain Karnataka's petition under Article 136 of the Constitution (special leave to appeal by the Supreme Court) when the prosecution had completely failed to prove the gravamen of the charges of criminal conspiracy, abetment and possession of disproportionate assets against the accused.
Ms. Jayalalithaa contends why income tax assessments relied on by the High Court after conscious evaluation and testing on the basis of testimonies of several witnesses should now be re-opened.
The Chief Minister further asked the Supreme Court why it should now review findings of fact already determined by the High Court, including that there is no cogent evidence to show that N. Sasikala, J. Elavarasi and V.N. Sudhakaran got their wealth through Ms. Jayalalithaa.
Ms. Jayalalithaa asked whether Karnataka was entitled to maintain the petition against the High Court's judgment setting aside the confiscation of assets of five companies which the prosecution alleged were owned by the accused persons. That too when there was no charge levelled under the Benami Prohibition Act.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/assets-case-karnataka-appeal-in-supreme-court-interference-in-tns-affairs-says-jayalalithaa/article8136585.ece?homepage=true&css=print

Grow beards, grow antibiotic bacteria living on men's faces -- Mishal Husain, BBC

$
0
0
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03g12z8 (0:49)

Beards hide antibiotic and can be good for your health

20 January 2016 Last updated at 12:52 GMT
A test of beards found that some bacteria species can produce natural antibiotics living on men's faces.
Dr Adam Roberts told Today presenter Mishal Husain about the research and whether the bacterial species can produce natural antibiotics.

Is there a disease-fighting antibiotic in your beard?

A test of beards found that some bacteria species can produce natural antibiotics living on men's faces.
Dr Adam Roberts told presenter Mishal Husain about the research and whether the bacterial species can produce natural antibiotics.

Release date:


Duration:

49 seconds

Delhi on alert after driver of hijacked Pathankot taxi found dead

$
0
0
Published: January 22, 2016 11:15 IST | Updated: January 22, 2016 13:21 IST  

Country-wide terror raids: NIA picks up eight suspects

The National Investigation Agency's headquarters in New Delhi.
PTI
The National Investigation Agency's headquarters in New Delhi.

Simultaneous bomb blasts across the country planned; explosive substances seized from suspect in Hyderabad.

A network reportedly connected to the Islamic State and planning to carry out simultaneous bomb blasts across the country was busted by the National Investigative Agency (NIA) on Friday.
While four persons were picked up from Hyderabad in Telangana, several more were detained from Rajasthan and Karnataka in raids conducted on Thursday night. Members of the network, which decided to carry out terror attacks at public places, planned to make Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) on their own.
The NIA drive is said to be spread pan-India including Bengaluru, Tumakuru and Hyderabad, sources added.
Explosive substances were seized from Nafeez of Tolichowki in Hyderabad. He was among the four picked up by NIA with the help of local intelligence officials here.
The network was formed by associates of some persons involved in terror activities like Farahtullah Ghori from Telangana. Some of them are reportedly operating from abroad, say the police.
They formed the network and planned to strike on the eve of Republic Day. The NIA registered a case at Delhi and conducted raids at different places including Bengaluru on Thursday night.
Four more arrested in Karnataka
Four more youths were picked up from Karnatana – two from Jakkasandra, Bengaluru, and one each from Mangaluru and Tumakuru.
The four youths were picked up for their suspected links to Islamic State (IS) in a special operation that was carried out simultaneously in the three cities at around 2 am on Friday morning.
A senior police official confirmed the NIA operation in the three cities in the state and said that the four picked up were known to each other and were working in tandem.
Their online activity is said to have been monitored for nearly six months now and no credible information is available as to what triggered the intervention of security forces at this juncture.
City police sources said that they also wanted to interrogate the suspects to see if there is any connection to the IS linked threat letter to the French Consulate in the city.
Terror suspect from Tumakuru, Syed Mujahid Hussain (33) is a wholesale fruit merchant. Syed Mujahid Hussain is the only son of Syed Hussain, a retired assistant tahsildar and a retired school teacher of Poor House colony in Tumakuru city. His father claimed that his son is innocent.
He also accused the NIA of searching their house without a search warrant. He alleged that they seized four Qurans, photographs, photo albums, news papers, four mobile phones and Rs.3 33 lakh in cash.
Mangaluru suspect a diploma holder
The suspect picked from Mangaluru is 25-year-old diploma holder.
Sources in the police told The Hindu that Najmul Huda was secured from his residence in Permude village, near Bajpe, within Mangaluru police commissionerate limits.
Huda, son of a Moulvi in the local mosque, had completed diploma in polymer technology from government Karnataka Polytechnic in Mangaluru. Though he joined RV College of Engineering, Bengaluru, to pursue BE in chemical engineering, he left the course halfway and came back to Mangaluru, sources said.

The NIA personnel were completing certain formalities and preliminary inquiry is on in Mangaluru.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/countrywide-network-of-terror-suspects-busted/article8139019.ece?homepage=true


Delhi on alert after driver of hijacked Pathankot taxi found dead

  • Hindustan Times, HT Correspondent
  •  |  
  • Updated: Jan 22, 2016 14:18 IST


Delhi Police released images of the suspects on Twitter (Delhi Police Twitter Handle)

Delhi police on Friday issued an alert after the driver of a taxi allegedly hijacked by three unidentified men from Pathankot was found murdered, sparking security concerns in the midst of a nationwide crackdown on suspected Islamic State terrorists.
Police released photographs of suspects and details of the vehicle through its official Twitter handle saying the Maruti Alto was hired by three unidentified men on January 20.
The driver of the vehicle, identified as Vijay Kumar, was later found dead at the Kalta bridge in Kangra, police said. Police in Himachal Pradesh, where the vehicle was registered, said the Alto was not registered with any travel agency.


(Delhi Police Twitter Handle )


What sent police into a tizzy was the fact that earlier this month terrorists had killed the driver of another vehicle they had hired before attacking the Pathankot airbase.
“There is no need to panic but we urge people to stay alert. Citizens should inform the police control room if they see any suspicious activity around them,” said deputy commissioner of police Rajan Bhagat said.
The alert came amidst heightened security in the Capital ahead of the Republic Day celebrations to be attended by French President Francois Hollande as the chief guest.
Police sources said the top brass of the police have called a meeting at the India Gate lawns later on Friday to discuss the security details at the vital installations around New Delhi.
Police have already made India Gate and Rajpath out of bounds for vehicles and tourists.
This year, police closed movement of vehicles on Rajpath early in the wake of numerous intelligence reports about possible terror attacks.
“We are taking no chances. We are not allowing anyone to park their cars near India Gate. The lawns have been closed. We are not allowing tourists to stand on the road for long. They can take pictures and leave quickly,” said a senior police officer.
The fresh terror alert came amid raids across the country by sleuths of the National Investigation Agency (NIA)in search of suspected Islamic State terrorists, sources said.
At least six suspected terrorists were detained from different places including Bangalore, the sources added.
Authorities have tightened security across major cities following a flurry of intelligence reports warning that militants could target everything from busy malls to millions of pilgrims visiting the Ardh Kumbh.
Extra paramilitary forces were deployed in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, where the French consulate on Thursday received a letter warning against its president’s presence at the Republic Day celebrations.
Police are investigating the source of the letter which said Francoise Hollande should cancel his trip to India beginning Sunday.
Separately, police also arrested four men in Uttarakhand on Wednesday on suspicion of planning an attack in Delhi. Security officials said the four had been under surveillance for several months after their online activities drew suspicion, including contacts with people in territory in Iraq and Syria controlled by the Islamic State group.
Police said the men had also been planning strikes in Haridwar, where thousands of devotees are now gathered for the Ardh Kumbh festival.
In Panaji, Goa Police have stepped up security in the state and were investigating a postcard received by the State Secretariat and warning to harm Prime Minister Narendra Modi and defence minister Manohar Parrikar.
In Mumbai, the police are yet to trace six mysterious paragliders who were seen near the city’s coast on January 13. Authorities said they have taken the incident seriously because of a 2010 intelligence report that the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba had procured 50 paragliders from Europe and was conducting a training in Pakistan to launch an aerial attack.

Ek naujawan bete Rohith...maa-Bharti ne apna ek laal khoya -- NaMo. Jeevema s'aradah s'atam, NaMo, work for Indian Ocean Solar Commonwealth, abhyudayam for millions of naujawan

$
0
0
  1. Jab ye khabar milti hai ki mere desj ke ek naujawan bete Rohith ko atmahatya karne ke liye mazboor hona padha..cntd: PM Modi
  2. Uske parivar par kya beeti hogi. Maa-Bharti ne apna ek laal khoya- PM Narendra Modi
    Embedded image permalink
  3. Kaaran apni jagah par honge, Rajneeti apni jagah par hogi, lekin sachaayi ye hai ki maa-Bharti ne apna ek laal khoya (Rohith Vemula)-PM Modi

On 26 December 2011, the then Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, inaugurated Vasan’s 100th eyecare centre at Karaikudi in Tamil Nadu. -- Livemint . Playing God: "...even God cannot create what we did in such a short time."

$
0
0

A comment: NaMo, nationalise kaalaadhan.


Kalyanaraman

What really happened at Vasan Healthcare?

The inside story of how Vasan Healthcare, once a prized unicorn, valued at more than $1 billion, imploded

A file photo a Vasan eye care centre in Delhi. Photo: Bloomberg
A file photo a Vasan eye care centre in Delhi. Photo: Bloomberg
Mumbai/Chennai: At half-past seven on the morning of 1 December 2015, two cars pulled up outside 199, St Mary’s Road, in Alwarpet, a South Chennai neighbourhood that still has a few bungalows in what is increasingly becoming a city of apartments.
A man alighted from one of the cars and told the guard at 199, itself a bungalow, that he and his colleagues were from the income-tax (I-T) department. The guard, obviously flustered—a visit from the taxman isn’t a daily affair, and definitely not in St Mary’s Road—alerted the inmates of the house over the intercom and let the tax officials in.
The house belonged to A.M. Arun, founder of Vasan Healthcare Pvt. Ltd, one of India’s best known eyecare hospital chains.
Arun’s son, Yudish, 18, opened the door, as his father walked down the stairs from the first floor.
“Dr. Arun, we are from the income-tax office,” said a man flashing his ID card.
“Fine sir,” said Arun, 47, who has the habit of calling almost everyone sir.
“We have come for a search operation.”
“Fine sir. We will cooperate.”
In all, 10 officials entered the bungalow, men and women. And they began looking—for cash, jewellery, land records, property holdings, bank documents or any incriminating document that would suggest suppressed or undisclosed income. For the next 10 hours, the officers searched and took copious notes, picking up documents every once in a while and asking questions. They looked everywhere—inside the cupboards, inside suitcases, under the bed, feeling the inside of mattresses, in the kitchen cabinets… everywhere—turning the house upside down.
At 10am, another joint team of seven I-T and directorate of enforcement officials landed up at Vasan Healthcare’s office in Mylapore, Chennai. They stayed longer—one-and-a-half days.
The news spread fast. Almost everyone started connecting the dots like they always do, eager to unearth conspiracies that may or may not exist—friendship with a politician, black money, tax evasion, unlawful gains.
After all, Vasan Healthcare had imploded—losses, a mountain of debt, court cases to wind up the company and pending dues to suppliers.
The issue had been simmering for a while. Allegations had been aired of Arun’s closeness to Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union minister of finance P. Chidambaram. Of Karti having used Vasan Healthcare to launder black money.
A few months before the raid, in September, in a series of articles in The New Indian Express, S Gurumurthy, a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ideologue and Chennai-based chartered accountant, alleged that Chidambaram received black money through Vasan, which he and his son owned through front companies, specifically Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt. Ltd (more on this later). In August, a notice from the I-T department had arrived at Arun’s father-in-law V. Dwarakanathan’s house and another at Vasan’s headquarters.
A.M. Arun, founder of Vasan Healthcare. Photo: Sharp Image/Mint
A.M. Arun, founder of Vasan Healthcare. Photo: Sharp Image/Mint
Chidambaram issued a statement of denial in response to the allegations.
He said: “Let me say clearly that the entire report is false, malicious and part of a political campaign against members of the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government or individuals belonging to the Congress party.
“Neither I, my son nor any member of my family have any equity or investment or economic interest in the company concerned.”
He added: “I would like to say through this statement that the media must be responsible and truthful. Carrying false and malicious reports without independent verification will certainly attract the provisions of law and I shall not hesitate to place the matter in the hands of my lawyers to take appropriate action under law.”
And then came the December operation by the tax department which Chidambaram described as a “malicious onslaught” by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the centre.
In Chennai, talk about the raids ranged from the generous, “Arun may have done it” to the harsh, ‘Of course, he is guilty”.
What actually happened at Vasan is an extraordinary story. This is that story. Of how Vasan Healthcare, once a unicorn and darling of the healthcare industry, a jewel in the crown of marquee venture capital (VC) funds Sequoia Capital India Advisors Pvt. Ltd and GIC Pte. Ltd (formerly Government of Singapore Investment Corporation) fell from grace.
This is the story of a company’s lust for growth and valuation, which took precedence over any sort of financial discipline—all of it exacerbated by a board that allowed the problems to fester for years. This is the story of an entrepreneur who micromanaged everything. It is also the story of collateral damage when entrepreneurs cosy up to politicians and, when the tide runs out, are caught in the cross fire of political vendetta.
Alagappan, who was on Vasan’s board till August 2015, had first cautioned Arun to stop at 125 centres. Photo: Sharp Image/Mint
Alagappan, who was on Vasan’s board till August 2015, had first cautioned Arun to stop at 125 centres. Photo: Sharp Image/Mint
Above all, this is a cautionary tale.
This story is based on several accounts from people who have known Arun, or have been associated with Vasan. A few agreed to speak on record, including Arun himself and M.A. Alagappan, former executive chairman of the Murugappa Group, who was on the board of Vasan till August 2015. But many requested not to be identified, considering the I-T and directorate of enforcement investigation into the company’s affairs.
Mint reached out to Karti Chidambaram. In a text message he said: “I have no comments to make on speculations. I am neither a shareholder nor a director of the company.”
Even as Arun’s troubles with the I-T department started, he kept his investors, both Sequoia and GIC, in the dark.
In an emailed response to a detailed set of questions, Sequoia said: “Sequoia Capital India has been closely following recent developments regarding Vasan Healthcare. These developments include allegations of wrongdoing by Vasan Healthcare and a related governmental investigation. Investment funds associated with Sequoia Capital India hold a minority interest in Vasan Healthcare and have always advocated that Vasan Healthcare operate entirely within the law. Previously, VT Bharadwaj, a Managing Director of Sequoia Capital India Advisors Private Limited, served as Sequoia Capital India’s designee on the Vasan Healthcare Board of Directors. During his tenure on the Board, he demanded that management of Vasan Healthcare conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations. Sequoia Capital India fully supports the related governmental investigation, has adopted a policy of full compliance with that investigation, and has dutifully responded to governmental inquiries received to date.”
Bharadwaj resigned from the board of Vasan in November last year. In a strongly worded letter, he chided Arun for not keeping the investors in the loop when the company received summons, for significant delays in filing the company’s audited financials and for failure to clear its dues with vendors, among several issues. “The conduct of the company and the concerned officials in handling this issue clearly lacked in meeting the requisite corporate governance norms,” he said. Mint has seen a copy of the letter sent on 18 November.
GIC did not respond to a detailed questionnaire sent on 6 January. Arjun Gupta, head of portfolio and head of consumer and healthcare at GIC, did not respond to an e-mail sent to him. Gupta resigned from the Vasan’s board in November. Highlighting similar issues as Bharadwaj did, Gupta wrote in his resignation letter: “My well-earned reputation in the market developed with a lot of hard work and commitment on my part, has been put at risk by the Company and I have been exposed to unwanted letters/ communications from third parties and press in the capacity of a director of the Company.” Mint has seen a copy of the letter sent on 23 November.
To understand the Vasan story, one has to travel back in time to 2008, when Sequoia discovered a tiny bootstrapped start-up in Trichy, led by a gregarious, grassroots entrepreneur.
The McDonald’s of healthcare
The business case for an eyecare hospital is excellent. All human beings need to take good, proper care of their eyes. With age, more so. Be it surgery for cataracts or eye diseases, eyesight correction or plain vanilla spectacles, vision is of paramount importance. A World Health Organization report published in 2012 stated that India has an estimated 12 million blind people and an additional 456 million people who require vision correction. In 2008, single specialty healthcare in India was estimated to be an $80 billion market. Almost all of it virgin territory, thanks to the lack of public or private hospitals.
Except, Vasan Healthcare was in the thick of it.
How it got there can only be called an example of serendipity. In its earlier avatar, Vasan ran pharmacies and multi-specialty centres where it conducted lab tests, such as ultrasound and endoscopy. Businesses which Arun dabbled in after inheriting a chain of pharmacy stores from his father A. Murugiah, who died when Arun was just 19 years old, in 1988.
Vasan started out as Vasan Medical Hall, a pharmacy store, in 1947 in Trichy. In 2002, the company entered into a technical collaboration with Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital, a renowned eye clinic in Chennai that was set up in 1994. The collaboration resulted in an eyecare hospital in Trichy. Soon enough though, Arun figured that it was the eyecare business that excited him the most and the one with the brighter future. So he started expanding it, opening more centres.
In the next six years, Vasan set up seven new centres. In March 2007, the company entered Chennai, the home turf of Dr. Agarwal, by acquiring Prem’s Eye Clinic (a premier eye clinic) for Rs.3.5 crore. Arun convinced K. Premraj, the founder of Prem’s Eye Clinic, to come on board as chief mentor. He did. By March 2008, Vasan had clocked revenue of Rs.45 crore, with a network of 14 centres, almost all of them in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. That’s when Sequoia Capital came calling.
The VC firm was impressed.
Existing eyecare use case: check.
Daycare model, with low capital investment, no need for beds and lavish infrastructure: check.
Non-real estate model: check.
High margin in eye surgeries: check.
High margin in selling spectacles and lens: check.
Good doctors such as Premraj: check.
Bootstrapped start-up: check.
Grassroots entrepreneur with a real back story: check.
What was not to like?
Eyecare hospitals are of three types—tertiary (large centre, takes about Rs.8-10 crore to set up), secondary (medium sized centre, takes about Rs.4-5 crore to set up) and primary (small centre, takes about Rs.1-3 crore to set up). All centres can do cataract operations. All of them sell spectacles and lenses, the so-called optical business. Complicated surgeries go to secondary and tertiary centres. Margins on the smallest to the most difficult surgeries and the optical business is anywhere between 30% and 50%.
Sequoia’s Bharadwaj, in a letter sent on 18 November 2015, chided Arun for not keeping investors in the loop.
Sequoia’s Bharadwaj, in a letter sent on 18 November 2015, chided Arun for not keeping investors in the loop.
A simple cataract operation on one eye costs about Rs.18,000. Purely at an Ebitda (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) level, a hospital can make about Rs.5,000 per eye for a surgery. For 10 cataract surgeries, every day of the year, for one eye: Rs.1.8 crore. For 50 surgeries every day of the year, for one eye: Rs.9.1 crore. Bottom-line: 50 patients walking into an eyecare hospital every day is a good number.
In September 2008, Sequoia initiated due diligence. It brought in Grant Thornton to audit the books, Amarchand Mangaldas for legal and Ernst & Young for commercial diligence. At the same time, it commissioned a consumer survey to understand the demand for eyecare and Vasan’s perception in the market.
As part of the exercise, Sequoia also carried out a KYC (know your customer) check on large shareholders in Vasan. The name Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt. Ltd cropped up—promoted by an individual named Chinnabala Nageswara Reddy and two other directors (Ravi Visvanathan and Padma Visvanathan), the firm held a 5% stake in the company. Their association with Vasan went back a few years to when Arun was running the pharmacy business.
No red flags were raised. Everything checked out fine; Sequoia was excited by the business model and the entrepreneur. After due diligence, which lasted about four months, in February 2009, the firm invested Rs.50 crore in Vasan Healthcare. Sequoia’s Bharadwaj was named to the board.
Inside Vasan, the mood was jubilant. While ambitious, Arun, even in his wildest dreams, hadn’t fathomed that a marquee VC firm like Sequoia would invest in his company. With Rs.50 crore on the table, he now started dreaming big. The top team at Vasan went on an off-site to Yercaud, a hill station in Tamil Nadu, to strategize and plan. There, they decided to expand to 100 centres by 2015. We can do this, was the conclusion. Let’s build the McDonald’s of healthcare in India.
Whatever could go wrong? Part 1
With every centre that Vasan added, Sequoia’s appetite for the company grew. In 2009 alone, the company grew at a frenetic pace to add 28 new centres. It expanded to Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and started going deeper in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. In February 2010, WestBridge Capital India Advisors Pvt. Ltd (formerly part of Sequoia) invested Rs.50 crore in Vasan. K.P. Balaraj of WestBridge was named to the board.
By March 2010, Vasan’s revenue grew to Rs.158 crore (compared with Rs.95 crore in March 2009). The company recorded a handsome Ebitda of Rs.54 crore. Profit after tax (PAT) was Rs.25.6 crore.
A few months later, in October 2010, Sequoia reached out to Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt. Ltd to buy out its equity stake in the company. Advantage wasn’t interested. After a few rounds of negotiations, Advantage sold a partial stake (30,000 of the 150,000 shares it held in the company) to Sequoia at Rs.7,500 per share—a significant premium, considering that Advantage had acquired the shares at Rs.100 each.
Vasan was doing well. Unlike other eyecare hospitals, it helped that Vasan invested in marketing, most importantly a sustained television campaign. Patients started flocking to its centres. For instance, on the first day that Vasan opened a centre in Ramanathapuram (Tamil Nadu) and Thalassery (Kerala), more than 100 patients showed up. People had heard of Vasan from their relatives in the big cities, or seen the TV ads. Centres in Dindigul and Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu and Thalassery in Kerala reached Ebitda break-even in just two months of opening. It was a similar story for the other centres, most of them registering an Ebitda break-even in less than a year.
For Arun, this was a significant validation of his business model. It is another matter altogether that instead of being content, he started fretting.
That’s because 2010 was the year that VC firms discovered the theme and potential of single specialty hospitals. So they started putting money in eyecare. New Delhi-based Centre for Sight raised funding from Matrix Partners. Eye-Q Vision received funding from Helion Venture Partners and Nexus Venture Partners. Watching from the sidelines, Arun was concerned that if he left the North India territory open for competitors, it would be a setback for Vasan. He wanted to grow and go after his competitors.
At the time, it seemed like the right thing to do, because Vasan’s aggressive growth had played out well. In March 2011, Vasan’s revenue doubled to Rs.310 crore. Ebitda, too, grew 2X to Rs.96 crore. PAT was Rs.37 crore. Arun also strengthened the composition of the board of the company by bringing in Alagappan. Alagappan picked up a small stake by investing Rs.2 crore and was happy to be Arun’s sounding board.
In Arun’s mind, the logic for expanding to the rest of the country was simple. Once a Vasan centre was opened, patients would come. The network would grow. The brand would grow. The revenue would grow. And valuation would increase and everyone would make money.
What could go wrong? he reasoned.
The investment from WestBridge and the company’s Ebitda only increased Arun’s confidence. The target of 100 centres was within reach. He wanted to get there as quickly as possible. In October 2011, Vasan entered east India, opening two flagship centres at Salt Lake City and Howrah in Kolkata.
On the day of inauguration of the branch at Salt Lake City, all of three patients walked in.
Vasan started advertising in newspapers: “Doctors from Chennai are coming to your city”. The number went up for a few days and then dwindled. The company invested in marketing once again. Another round of TV campaigns were aired. Real patients, real stories. “I am happy with Vasan.”
Even as all this was happening, Arun and the existing investors started wondering if the theme of single specialty hospitals would play out in other fields, such as dentistry. Arun and Premraj took it upon themselves to prove that it would. Almost immediately, a plan was drawn up to open Vasan dental hospitals. Not one but 11 of them. And so, even as Vasan was entering new territories, it entered a completely different line of business.
But there was only so much cash available. To bridge the shortage in capital, Vasan started borrowing—mostly short-term loans from banks and non-banking financial institutions. For every loan, Arun pledged his properties as collateral. In his mind, he was confident of coming good on the repayment, thanks to the quick Ebitda break-even of his new centres.
As 2011 was drawing to a close, the mood inside Vasan was celebratory. At its corporate headquarters, a cake was cut for the opening of every new centre. On 26 December 2011, the then Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, inaugurated Vasan’s 100th eyecare centre at Karaikudi in Tamil Nadu.
Doctors from Chennai travelled to every new centre to conduct the first surgery. Arun himself would be on calls with his operations team in the field almost all the time, working late into the night. It was around this time that Vasan found interest from another marquee investor.
Enter GIC.
Whatever could go wrong? Part II
By March 2012, Vasan had grown into a giant in the eyecare business. That year, it recorded revenue of Rs.451 crore, Ebitda ofRs.79 crore, and PAT of Rs.9.5 crore. That was 4X growth in revenue in just three years. It had a network of 103 eye hospitals and 27 dental centres.
GIC was excited to come on board. And it wanted to invest $100 million (around Rs.500 crore then). Not a penny less.
Vasan went to town with the news. The press lapped up the story. At the time, $100 million was the largest private equity investment in healthcare. Arun and Vasan Healthcare became the toast of the town. After one interaction with Arun, Michael Moritz, the legendary investor and chairman of Sequoia Capital, called him “a tornado of energy”.
Less than 10% of GIC’s investment finally came into Vasan itself. Both Sequoia and Arun saw GIC’s investment as an opportunity to make some money. For themselves. Both did a secondary sale, selling their shares to GIC. No fresh shares were issued. Sequoia and Arun pocketed Rs.170 crore each. A few top officials and doctors, who had equity stock options, also cashed out. Of GIC’s Rs.500 crore investment, only Rs.90 crore made its way into Vasan. And Arjun Gupta of GIC was named to the board.
One explanation for this is that the board didn’t want to say no to GIC but also realized that Vasan didn’t need $100 million.
Arun’s appetite for growth now knew no bounds. He had a fascination for numerology—he wanted to open 11 new centers on 11 November 2011 (11/11/11). When that didn’t happen, he opened 11 new centres on 11 November 2012.
Life at the top at Vasan had become increasingly stressful. Premraj, who turned 60 and was in the habit of flying to every new centre to conduct the first surgery, started feeling that he was getting too old for that life. “My stomach was full,” he said. “I had worked for 35 years, my children were settled abroad, so when I turned 60, I could feel my age. My body couldn’t take the travel anymore, going to distant centres, staying there for four or five days, it was getting very tiring. So I decided to retire.”
Initially Arun resisted, asking Premraj to hang on for some time but in January 2013, Premraj moved to Coimbatore.
Meanwhile, Vasan kept growing. In the period between March 2012 and March 2013, the company added 40 new eyecare centres, expanding to Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat and Maharashtra. The company also went international, opening centres in West Asia (Dubai and Abu Dhabi) and Sri Lanka. By March 2013, Vasan had grown to a total of 170 centres. With very little equity capital at hand (and this is where the GIC investment would have helped, had it come to the company), Vasan was relying almost entirely on debt to fund the expansion. As of March 2013, Vasan’s debt ballooned to almost Rs.800 crore.
It was then that Alagappan cautioned Arun for the second time. He had first cautioned Arun to stop at 125 centres, but Arun had persisted. At 170, the board put its foot down. No more.
“I only wish Arun had taken my advice,” said Alagappan. “I first told him to stop at 125 but he didn’t adhere to my advice. I told him not to go abroad till the domestic market was settled because then everybody’s concentration in the company would be on the overseas markets. I’d seen that in my experience with companies. To a large extent he took my observations in this matter but as a first-generation entrepreneur, Arun saw the valuation and he wanted to grow further. I told him, at least stop at 148 but before I could say Jack, it went to 175.”
Even as all this was happening, investors started getting the feeling that Vasan had a much graver challenge than debt. Its centres in the north, east and west were taking a much longer time to break even. Quite a few had been around for a year and they were far from being Ebitda-profitable. The investors dug deeper and realized that most of the new centres had been built at a far higher cost compared with the centres in south India. The cost of rentals, cost of putting up the furniture and decor (standard Vasan look and feel) was far higher, even as fewer patients were coming in.
To make things worse, Vasan’s centres in south India, especially in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, had started cannibalizing each other.
The board took up the matter with Arun. Perhaps the market in south India was saturated, it told him. Too many players, too many centres. Arun’s response: far from it. Give it time. All centres will break even, it’s just a matter of some time, he argued.
As of March 2014, Vasan’s revenue grew to Rs.728 crore. Ebitda was Rs.131 crore. But the company made a loss of Rs.50.3 crore. And it had debt of Rs.1,200 crore.
It had 200 centres.
The alarm bells were going off.
‘I made a mistake’
It is 11 January 2016. We’ve been waiting for Arun for over two hours now at Vasan Healthcare’s corporate office in Chennai. As the hours have passed, we’ve moved—in sync with his schedule of arrival—from the reception to inside the office to outside the chairman’s cabin and finally at around 7:30pm, inside the chairman’s office.
The room is freezing, white and has a curious decor combining contemporary furniture and gods and goddesses.
There are Stanley white leather sofas at one end, a Bang & Olufsen television hanging from the ceiling above it and a Piguet wall clock next to it. Bang opposite the sofa is the chairman’s large working table. On it are several random knick-knacks, pens, paper notes, a Montblanc watch, a Mac desktop on the left and two stacks of business and leisure magazines on the far right. Just behind the chairman’s chair, the wall is adorned with pictures of all sorts and forms of gods and goddesses—Shiva, Lakshmi, Ganesha, Murugan, Shirdi Sai Baba and many more. On the right is a bookcase filled with books : Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty, Barack Obama’s Dreams From My Father, Jugaad InnovationThe Secret toWinning BigUnlimited PowerWinning by Jack Welch, Business @ The Speed of Thought by Bill Gates, The Pocket Oxford English DictionaryGood to Great by Jim Collins and several others.
At 7:40pm, Arun walks in. He is dressed in a white shirt, beige corduroy trousers and brown loafers.
White is a colour the man likes. He usually wears white shirts and white trousers.
“Sorry, I’m late. There was just too much traffic. I was thinking of going home but then I knew you would be waiting. So I came here just for you.”
No. No problem. Not at all. Thanks for taking the time.
“Have you had something to eat? Drink?”
Yeah. We had coffee.
(Rings a bell. His assistant comes in.)
“Coffee? Tea? Juice, you want juice? Garlic bread? Yes. Get them some garlic bread.”
(The assistant leaves)
“Now, what story are you writing?”
What happened at Vasan? You know, it was a unicorn, valued at more than $1 billion and it all went wrong…
“See, nothing went wrong. There was a turbulence of cash flow. (It was a) temporary issue. I made a mistake. But anybody can make a mistake. We expanded rapidly. In 2012, we were in four states with 100 centres. In 2014, we were in 19 states with 200 centres. There was expansion and cash loss; how can you sustain the business? How can you support 200 centres? I don’t mean to say this but even God cannot create what we did in such a short time.”
Whatever could go wrong? Part III
By mid-2014, it was clear that Vasan needed intervention. At Rs.1,200 crore, the debt was too high. It had started affecting the company. So much so that Arun was spending almost all his time juggling finances and fire-fighting on repayments. In May 2014, the board decided to do something about it and arrived at a decision to go for a rights issue. Arun put in Rs.170 crore, Sequoia Rs.80 crore and GIC Rs.100 crore. Vasan Healthcare was valued at Rs.3,000 crore.
The investors had a simple plan in mind. Along with Arun, they would take the money and sit across the table with Corporation Bank and retire a huge loan of Rs.180 crore. In return, Corporation Bank would release a clutch of Arun’s property (worth Rs.150-odd crore), which it had held as collateral. Arun would then sell the property and invest the money back in Vasan. Simple enough.
What actually happened is this. Corporation Bank said no. Vasan had a working capital loan running with the bank, so just to be sure that everything was in order, the bank would continue to hold the property as collateral.
Even as all this was happening, Vasan started getting suitors from the healthcare sector across the world—specifically Malaysian conglomerate Sime Darby Group and South African hospital chain Netcare. Both were interested in picking up a large stake in Vasan, valuing the company at more than $1 billion. To the tune of almost Rs.7,000 crore. A unicorn. Newspapers caught a whiff of the deal and started reporting on the impending transaction. The Economic Times reported on 28 July 2014, quoting people with knowledge of the matter, that around 51% would be sold, with the promoter also selling a part of his stake. Talks progressed, especially with Netcare, but then it all came to a standstill on a simple point.
There was no balance sheet.
What are the numbers? And where are they?
This is at the crux of Vasan’s implosion. Vasan grew from 14 to 200 centres in just three years of operations, but there were no financial controls. At the board level, there was no concept of plans, budgets and approvals. Whatever Arun would present would sail through. If not, he would cajole his way through. If there was a variance in the amount that had been spent, no red flags were raised. The board believed that Vasan was a growth company, a start-up, and convinced itself that adding controls would hinder growth. Their logic: after all, it is a promoter-driven company.
In its simplest form, what is financial control? It is delegation of decision making to spend money and be accountable for it if something goes awry. At Vasan, there was only one person who called the shots—Arun. In the three years of unhindered growth, he micro-managed everything, from operations to finance to marketing. That level of micro-management reflected in the organization. In three years, Vasan had failed to implement SAP, or Systems Applications Products, an enterprise software system. There was too much cash floating in the system—sometimes dues to vendors and doctors were settled in cash. To add to it, Vasan had failed to deposit with the government tax deducted at source (TDS) of Rs.19.22 crore that it had deducted from the salaries of its employees in 2012.
And then there was the far bigger problem of Arun—whenever he was running short of money, he would borrow and put it in the company.
“There were a lot of transactions between Arun and the company,” said Alagappan. “He had invested a lot of his own money. He was borrowing outside and putting it in the company. Then money was going back to him, going in dribs and drabs. That is why getting the balance sheet out took time. The auditors became much more cagey. If he had got the balance sheet out on time then the current problem would not have arisen.”
In the second half of 2014, board meetings of Vasan became infrequent and moved from the company’s headquarters to the Taj hotel. In the meetings, it was evident that Arun’s entire focus was on making repayments for loans, juggling supplier payments, re-negotiating loans and getting the balance sheet out. The more time it took, the more jittery investors became. By the end of 2014, it became clear that there would be no external investment.
Almost everyone could see the writing on the wall. Vasan was headed for a free fall.
What’s bad must only get worse
As 2015 began, Vasan was taken to court on its TDS default. For about a month, its bank accounts were frozen. Cheques that the company had issued to vendors bounced. Everybody was spooked and started reaching out to the company. First, the emails went unanswered. Then the calls were ignored. Finally, left with no option, suppliers and landlords started dropping by at Vasan’s headquarters to collect their dues. When Arun was not reachable—and he was never available in early 2015—suppliers started calling the investors. From as little as Rs.25 lakhs to Rs.200 crore, money was due to a lot of people—landlords, equipment manufacturers, those who had supplied frames and medicines.
At Vasan’s headquarters, a lucky few vendors got their money. Most others received empty assurances and post-dated cheques. A few thought of suing the company but then dropped the idea, considering the legal costs involved. Some did eventually take the company to court.
Even as all this was happening, a few mezzanine funds approached Vasan. They were attracted by the company’s Ebitda profits and mooted the idea of retiring the company’s debt in return for a 22-23% return on investment and a little equity. Arcus Capital was one of the funds that initiated due diligence for such a deal. It brought in Deloitte India to carry out a complete commercial audit. But yet again, this proved to be a non-starter.
A balance sheet is the first port of call for any investment and at Vasan, even till February 2015, there was no sign of the balance sheet for the year ended 31 March 2014.
By this time, Vasan had run out of options. Most banks in Chennai had already loaned it money. The company had retired more than Rs.400 crore of debt, thanks to the rights issue, but its debt was still too high. So were the dues to suppliers. It was only a matter of time before board members started resigning.
In Chennai, Vasan’s implosion became a subject of intense gossip. Whatever happened at Vasan?
In September 2015, Gurumurthy wrote a series of articles on Vasan in the New Indian Express, alleging that Vasan was actually a conduit for routing money to former finance minister Chidambaram and his family and that it was partly owned by Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt. Ltd—which in turn was owned by Ausbridge Holdings and Investments Pvt. Ltd, a company where Karti Chidambaram was a director.
Mint looked into the antecedents of Advantage and Ausbridge. According to Registrar of Companies filings, on 25 March 2011, Ausbridge Holdings bought 200,000 shares (amounting to a 66% equity stake) in Advantage Strategic. According to a May 2012 report in the Economic Times on the business interests of Karti Chidambaram, he was a director at Ausbridge at the time. He is no more a director at the company and it is not known when he quit.
Advantage Strategic did not respond to an email with a detailed set of questions sent on 6 January. Ravi Visvanathan, the director of the company, declined to comment.
‘I have done no wrong’
We have been chatting with Arun for a while. It is past 8pm at Vasan’s office, which is now deserted except for Arun’s assistant and one supplier still waiting in the board room to negotiate payment of his dues. Arun is doing most of the talking.
He believes he can come out of the hole that, ironically, he himself dug.
The problem was caused by expansion, the funding of the expansion and a miscalculation on when the new centres would break even, he explained.
“In 2012 March, when GIC invested Rs.500 crore, the company was present only in south India, in four states. We had 103 clinics in four states. The revenue run rate per month when GIC invested was Rs.57 crore in four states. In 2013-14, in just two years, we added 100 clinics across 15 new states. Money was spent in marketing, capital expenses in putting the hospital, interest of the loans, repayment of term loans—you can’t do that by magic. Where there was a mismatch was we thought clinics would break even like south India. We had to fund the cash loss, fund the loans which we had taken for the older clinics and the newer ones.”
Things will get better, he promised.
He must believe that, because he has restarted coming to the office regularly.
“I have tasted all rough weather, have understood the strength of my business. We have learnt what to do, what not to do,” he says.
Among the dos, he rattles off financial reporting, governance, professional management system, building a team where the leaders can take decisions, people empowered to execute the passion of the founder.
Among the don’ts: no micro-managing. “If I do everything myself, it gets diluted. It becomes too many things, it doesn’t work.”
His plan is to downsize 35 centres, address the cash-flow mismatch, improve the quality of financial reporting, and get back on track. There’s still about Rs.450 crore of debt, Rs.140 crore due to suppliers (which don’t include Vasan’s past dues to two of its largest suppliers—Essilor and Alcon India. Right now, Vasan is working on a cash-and-carry arrangement with them, making weekly or monthly payments).
Then, there are the investigations by the tax department and the enforcement directorate. The investigation is on and Arun has been visiting the I-T office almost twice every week. When Mint reached out to an official at the I-T department, he refused comment on the status of the investigation.
Arun thinks he can handle these too. “I have done no wrong,” he says.
“Going forward I think I am in the best of my times.”
Tarun Shukla in New Delhi contributed to this story.

The God that failed. An editor resigns, another editor resigns. Left in a media churn.

$
0
0
After being  signatory at No. 75, N. Ram also doubles-up as a forwarder of the letter signed by 101 fellow-travellers. There is no mention of Malini Parthasarathi's resignation as Editor-in-Chief of the Hindu on January 5, 2016, an event which occurred just 10 days ahead of the forward.

Left in Bharatam is in a media churn as one wishes happy 50th anniversary for EPW caught in the mud-slinging as the churn is nothing like the narrative of samudra manthanam to write home about.

I am reminded of notes on ideological and political bankruptcy combine at http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2016/01/why-cpim-is-cosying-up-to-congress-in.html

Maybe, the throes of the God that failed.

Kalyanaraman

Published: January 15, 2016 18:50 IST | Updated: January 16, 2016 08:50 IST  

Readers, contributors express concern over EPW Editor's resignation

C. Rammanohar Reddy
C. Rammanohar Reddy

101 longstanding readers and contributors of the social science journal have written to the trustees of the Sameeksha Trust.

Longstanding readers, contributors and admirers of the Economic & Political Weekly, the social science journal-cum-magazine published from Mumbai, have written to the trustees of the Sameeksha Trust expressing concern at the resignation of its Editor, Dr. Rammanohar Reddy. The 101 signatories of the letter have said that it would be “profoundly unfortunate if such dedication, personal sacrifice, and unstinting effort from an extremely successful Editor were to end in an unhappy and ungracious parting of the ways.”
Here is the full text of the letter with a forwarding note to the trustees from N. Ram, Chairman, Kasturi & Sons Ltd.:

January 15, 2016
To the Trustees of the Sameeksha Trust
1. Deepak Nayyar (Chairman of the Board of Trustees)
2. DN Ghosh (Managing Trustee)
3. Romila Thapar
4. Andre Beteille
5. Deepak Parekh
6. Rajeev Bhargav
7. Jean Dreze*
8. Rammanohar Reddy (ex-officio)
Dear Trustees,
I write to forward the letter on behalf of the undersigned 101 longstanding readers, admirers, and friends of the Economic & Political Weekly (EPW), proud members of the “EPW community” that has benefited from the existence and flourishing of this high-quality publication that will soon be celebrating its Golden Jubilee. We have a vital stake in EPW maintaining its democratic, progressive, and independent character. We wish to raise, directly with the Board of Trustees of the Sameeksha Trust, our serious concerns over recent developments, the unusual circumstances that have led an upstanding and outstanding Editor of EPW to announce that he is resigning from his position as Editor and severing all links with the institution. As our letter makes clear, we are addressing you in constructive spirit, in the hope and expectation that our concerns and suggestions will be taken on board, and acted upon, in the decisions made by the Board of Trustees in the days ahead. We would be grateful if we could receive from the Board a considered response to our concerns and the issues we have raised in our letter.
With our best regards,
N. Ram


January 15, 2016
Letter to the Trustees of Sameeksha Trust
Dear Trustees,
We write to you today as longstanding admirers of EPW and as proud members of the “EPW community” that has benefited from the existence of this unique and high-quality journal. We wish to express our concern at what we have heard of the unusual circumstances in which the incumbent Editor of the Economic and Political Weekly, Dr. Rammanohar Reddy, who had decided to step down in April 2016 but had agreed to continue as Editor-in-Chief or in some other position as requested by the Board of Trustees, has chosen to formally announce that he is resigning from his position as Editor and severing all links with the institution.
In our view, Ram Reddy’s decision to accept the role of Editor at a crucial juncture in the history of the journal, despite the considerable personal (and economic) sacrifice it involved, was only the first indication of his commitment to the journal and its objectives. In the eleven years since then, he has succeeded in transforming the journal into a consistently excellent and contemporary periodical, which is widely seen as an internationally unrivalled journal –- one that combines fine scholarship with social conscience. He has done much to streamline organisational functioning, significantly improve and diversify journal content, stabilise the journal’s financial position, mobilise additional resources to expand editorial staff and enable EPW to have its own office, give EPW a strong online presence with commercially marketed archival access, and strengthen the EPW Research Foundation. In sum, Ram Reddy as Editor did an exceptional job of re-energizing and contemporizing EPW at a time when many felt it was showing its age and at risk of losing its edge. All this he did in a self- effacing and accommodating style that has won him respect and admiration across ideological lines. It would indeed be profoundly unfortunate if such dedication, personal sacrifice, and unstinting effort from an extremely successful Editor were to end in an unhappy and ungracious parting of the ways between him and the EPW Board of Trustees.
We understand that the Board had questioned the appropriateness of his efforts to produce a set of volumes and a documentary to commemorate the completion in 2016 of fifty years of the journal’s existence, even though he had organised the required funding from outside. In addition, he had been excluded from any role in the future governance of the journal and also kept out of the formal process of finding a successor, even though he clearly is the person most thoroughly involved with and informed about the editorial and financial conditions and requirements of the journal, and therefore conscious of its future needs. We believe that involving him as a member of the Board of Trustees would be a natural next step following his retirement, and one that would be widely welcomed in the broader community of contributors and readers of EPW. We therefore sincerely request the Board of Trustees to reconsider its decisions in this regard, so that all of us feel secure about the future of the journal and can participate with full enthusiasm in the celebrations to mark the fifty years of EPW’s existence. We propose that Ram Reddy be asked to take up and continue the activities he had planned to celebrate this anniversary. We also strongly urge that he be included and given a role in the process of selecting the new Editor, and that such a selection be done in an open and transparent manner with all Trustees invited to be part of that process. We believe that in the interests of continuity and to build on the achievements registered during his tenure, it would be ideal if Ram Reddy is persuaded to take on a role in the transition to a new editorial regime and in the future governance of the EPW, preferably as a Trustee.
The progressive and democratic character and legacy of the EPW all suggest that once they appoint the Editor, the Chairman and Trustees of Sameeksha Trust, who are non-executive Trustees, must scrupulously respect his or her editorial independence and judgment and must not seek to exercise hands-on control over the way EPW is managed and run, as long as the Editor keeps the Board of Trustees informed. The EPW is in effect a public institution, not only because it receives substantial support from public sources like the Reserve Bank of India, the UGC and the ICSSR, but because, as Ram Reddy puts it in his letter announcing his departure, finally, “it is the larger ‘EPW community’ of writers, readers, staff, and a large circle of associates that has looked after it through good times and bad and helped it grow.”
We are all deeply committed to maintaining the democratic, progressive, and independent character of the EPW. It is in that spirit that we write to you: in the hope and expectation that these suggestions will be taken on board in the decisions that you make in the days ahead.
In addition, we would be happy to help in any way that we can and that you find appropriate. We recall that within a few years of his taking over, Ram had a very fruitful brainstorming session with some members of the ‘EPW community’ on the future directions which EPW could take. We believe that such a meeting might be extremely useful in the current context, and if you choose to call such a meeting with some of us, we would be happy to attend.
With regards,
1. Itty Abraham, National University of Singapore
2. Dilip Abreu, Princeton University, USA
3. Isher Ahluwahlia, Chairperson, Indian Council for Research into International Economic Relations, Delhi
4. Montek Singh Ahluwahlia, Former Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Government of India
5. Sabina Alkire, George Washington University, USA
6. Venkatesh Athreya, former Professor, Bharatidasan University, Tamil Nadu
7. Amiya Kumar Bagchi, Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata
8. Abhijit Banerjee, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
9. Pranab Bardhan, University of California, Berkeley, USA
10. Amita Baviskar, Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi University
11. Rana P. Behal, Delhi University
12. Aditya Bhattacharjea, Delhi School of Economics, Delhi University
13. Neeladri Bhattacharya, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
14. Sabyasachi Bhattacharya, Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata
15. Akeel Bilgrami, Columbia University, New York, USA
16. Sugata Bose, Harvard University, USA
17. Achin Chakraborty, Director, Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata
18. Pinaki Chakraborty, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi
19. C. P. Chandrasekhar, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
20. Partha Chatterjee, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Kolkata
21. Sudip Chaudhuri, Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata
22. Anuradha Chenoy, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
23. Kamal Mitra Chenoy, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
24. Angus Deaton, Princeton University, USA
25. Ashwini Deshpande, Delhi School of Economics, Delhi University
26. Satish Deshpande, Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi University
27. Ritu Dewan, Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, Mumbai
28. Biswajit Dhar, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
29. Navroz Dubash, Centre for Policy Research, Delhi
30. Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Ashoka University, Delhi
31. Rajmohan Gandhi, University of Illinois, USA
32. Jayati Ghosh, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
33. Ramachandra Guha, historian, writer, Bangalore
34. Irfan Habib, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh
35. K. N. Harilal, Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram
36. Barbara Harriss-White, Oxford University, UK
37. Zoya Hasan, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
38. Neeraj Hatekar, Director, Department of Economics, University of Mumbai
39. Himanshu, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
40. Christophe Jaffrelot, Director, CERI, Universite Sciences Po, Paris
41. Devaki Jain, economist, Delhi
42. Praveen Jha, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
43. T. Jayaraman, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
44. Surinder Jodhka, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
45. Mary E. John, Centre for Women’s Development Studies, Delhi
46. Chitra Joshi, Delhi University
47. Kalpana Kannabiran, Director, Council for Social Development, Hyderabad
48. K. P. Kannan, Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram
49. S. Mahendradev, Director, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai
50. Mukul Kesavan, Jamia Millia Islamia University, Delhi
51. Sushil Khanna, Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata
52. Sunil Khilnani, Kings College, London
53. Atul Kohli, Princeton University, USA
54. K. L. Krishna, Delhi School of Economics, Delhi
55. N. Krishnaji, economist, Hyderabad
56. Maithreyi Krishnaraj, researcher, Mumbai
57. Sashi Kumar, Chairman, Media Development Foundation, Chennai
58. Kalyani Menon-Sen, researcher, Delhi
59. Shireen Moosvi, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh
60. Chandan Mukherjee, Ambedkar University, Delhi
61. Rinku Murgai, The World Bank, New Delhi
62. Dilip Nachane, Indira Gandhi Institute for Development Research, Mumbai
63. R. Nagaraj, Indira Gandhi Institute for Development Research, Mumbai
64. S. Narayanan, former Ambassador of India to WTO
65. Pulin Nayak, Delhi School of Economics, Delhi
66. Parthapratim Pal, Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata
67. Suhas Palshikar, University of Pune, Pune
68. Rohini Pande, Harvard University USA
69. S. Parasuraman, Director, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
70. Prabhat Patnaik, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
71. Utsa Patnaik, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
72. Seeta Prabhu, economist, Mumbai
73. Srinath Raghavan, Centre for Policy Research, Delhi
74. Indira Rajaraman, Member, Central Board of Governors, RBI
75. N. Ram, Chairman, Kasturi & Sons Ltd, The Hindu group of newspapers, Chennai
76. M.V. Ramana, Princeton University, USA
77. T. T. Rammohan, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
78. Mahesh Rangarajan, Ashoka University, Delhi
79. Vikas Rawal, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
80. Amit Shovon Ray, Director, Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram
81. Partha Ray, Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata
82. D. Narasimha Reddy, Institute of Human Development, New Delhi
83. Tirthankar Roy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London
84. E. A. S. Sarma, former Secretary, Government of India
85. Abhijit Sen, former Member, Planning Commission, Government of India
86. Pronab Sen, Chairman, National Statistical Commission
87. Mihir Shah, former Member, Planning Commission, Government of India
88. Dipa Sinha, Ambedkar University Delhi
89. Atul Sood, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
90. Ravi Srivastava, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
91. S. Subramaniam, Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai
92. Padmini Swaminathan, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Hyderabad
93. S. K. Thorat, Chairman, ICSSR, New Delhi
94. Jeemol Unni, Director, Institute of Rural Management, Anand
95. A. Vaidyanathan, Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai
96. Achin Vanaik, Delhi University
97. K. Velupillai, economist, Stockholm, Sweden
98. K. Venugopal, former Secretary, Government of India
99. M. Vijayabaskar, Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai
100. Robert Wade, London School of Economics and Political Science, London
101. Yogendra Yadav, Swaraj Abhiyan
*Response from Jean Dreze
Apropos today's letter to the board of the Sameeksha Trust signed by 101 eminent scholars, this is to clarify that I share their concerns and have submitted my resignation from the board over this issue, effective from 31 March 2016.
Jean Dreze

Viewing all 11035 articles
Browse latest View live


<script src="https://jsc.adskeeper.com/r/s/rssing.com.1596347.js" async> </script>