Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Celestial melodies...!

Every leaf
Is flushed with green sap and spirit
And the throats of the birds
Ring out with celestial melodies
This pathway so shy and bashful
Saves the girdle of chastity
Winding carefully her half-blossomed
youth
From meeting the delicate grassy hug
As should a girl in garment wet

The delicate silver dream
Dreamt by the blue sky
And the swaying and swinging green
Flouring of the crop
Is throbbing
In my formidable embrace-
One vast embrace !
���

Your laughter is scattered
upon the whole earth my dear
It's become the cream of sandal !
And your hair do
Is gone helter skelter
Along the blowing wind
I have become a cloud
In these mysterious woods
I know not in whose tender arms
I am slowly being captured
���

Leafless tree
Is doused and bathed
As a barren erotic relation
Looking down at this rain shower
In the puddle underfoot
For a distance....
Rather cheerless
Of life incessant.

The rain never stops
It keeps pouring
In a sonorous rhythm
And the fortuitous monsoon sonata
Resonates constantly
Through my heart
Through our sweet whispers

My misty, dreamy love,
Sometimes it's you
Who comes in the form of the monsoon
And I wrap you around my body
On some still damp morn
With my heart saturated.... reborn !
���

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Don't get soaked today...


Why does it always rain on me? The 100sq-m 'Rain Room' allows curious visitors to stand under a downpour in semi-darkness


 1.

How fabulous
This life is…
Subtle like gorgeous cloud
And akin to a mystical evening
Which has been blown by
the south west wind
So enigmatic… 


Like the ever evasive grasp
Of a flighty

Whimsical damsel
She is sometimes little known
Sometimes better known
Yet unknown !!!
¨¨¨
2.


Your eyes are brimming with tears !
O my girl, look at the sky overhead
Weeping with its infinite eyes
And look at the dispassionate ocean too
Try sometime if you please
To feel the storm
In my deep
You shall then realize 
How painful it is
To deceive one’s tear
falling in one’s own eyes
And yet struggle
To stand upright
Through the very tumbling plight
No ! it serves no one right
To fall by little woes
Or let disappointments
Deceit and unfair measure
To break you, my dear !
¨¨¨ 


3.


Now there’s no time
For brooding on remorse
The sun is setting
And the road is winding away
O mind, do not tarry now
Frenzied by the calls from the past
For the knack of deception
Even whilst the end has come
Continues to be Time’s!
¨¨¨
4..


Don't get soaked today
Don't get drenched in rain
The clouds are thick
And monstrous...

Just be in my intense 
Embrace
Rather than daring 
the calamities my Love!


(Translated by MNr. Raj Supe from my original work "Parjanyasukta)

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Dusk Kissed this evening!





1.

Come ….
Today we shall roll
Over and over
On this green and velvety turf
Blue clemency is streaming
From the sky above … for us !
There ! 

Those beady drops
The crests of green blades
But wait … touch ‘em not ….
let ‘em also look at the world
Sweetheart ….
Hold your breath
Its time the dusk
Kissed this evening!


2.

When I see the humble evening
at the dusk
standing there damp and wet
the shadows of my pensive mind
are cast away
and an ancient songs
Unknowingly trickles from the lips
Nothing makes sense ….
Who am I ? where do I belong ? …
For do whom I exist ? 


3.

Wait
Let the sky dash down now
Then sing the song of innocent sky
With your delicate lips
O naïve dear !
These moments are meant
For witnessing this celebration
In speechlessness
They are not the birds
To be captured in words!


4.
 
Someone, God knows why and how
Who is whispering through these atoms …
So full of sentience?

Enthralled, I try to understand
This eternal existence …
Like my being !
But sky still overcast
And dewy eyes are raining in torrents
Slowly and slowly, the rain will stop
The clouds of feelings will clear out
Then the dispassionate blue sky
Shall reveal itself to me
Forever !


5.

Sometimes I am all stirred up
And I fall into the tumultuous medley
Agonized by the cruel worldly chum
I keep collapsing
But the churning goes on
In its indefatigable velocity
And my collapsing
Is also a part of it ! 


6.

The birds are chirping …
That’s the innocent sparkling
Of your laughter
I look around bemused
And see all the stooping shadows
Of the past
In the sunshine of the rainbow
I grow misty once again
Lost in myself!



(From my anthology "Monsoon Sonata" translated by Mr. Raj Supe from my original Marathi "Parjanyasukta"

Pasaydan...Universal anthem by Saint Dnyaneshvar!



And now the Lord
Breathing through His entire creation…
Be pleased
Of my
Sacred hymns
And shall bless me with thus:


Let the evilous thoughts
Be wiped out
Off every heart
To befriend with
The hearts genuine
Be all engaged
In good deeds…forever!

Shroud of dark befallen on
The deprived souls
May get to an permanent end
By the brilliance of
The Sun of the self-righteousness
And all the beings breathing should attain
They desire!

Be it a great gathering
The whole universe
Of devotees
Of the Lord
A scene so sacred
True hearts meeting
The pure hearts!

Be all among the
Dense divine trees
Those Fulfill every desire
And in the country of the
Enlightened souls
Each speaking oceans full
Of the nectar!

As if spotless moon
And the Sun pouring no heat
Such are all the souls as if
Eternal relations!

And so all be so contented
And fulfilled from all quarters
Eternally devoted to the
Lord Creator!

And so all be happy
Reading this sacred text
Be able to conquer evil with good
With assured permanence!

So this be my blessing
O Lord
With which this humble Dnyandeva
Is delighted!

-Saint Dnyaneshvar
"Dnyaneshvari"

(Translated by me original "Pasaydan from Dnyaneshvari.) 

When I see the humble evening...


(Painting by Daniel Well)


1.

Just once ….


I experience of that tender caress

That soft touch !

And for my sake

It seemed as though

the clouds split

the meaning of life

Then I received my summons

From this rich quarters

And the heart started ringing incessantly

With the Monsoon Sonata!

2.

This cloud burst

Is sage-hearted

For those

Who live in god’s righteous light

My heart is streaming out

From this cloud !

I am viewing the subtle rain drop

Upon my tender lips

And in my eyes

And in every other eye

There’s a new monsoon

The whole world seems to have

Become cloud-laden

And rainy today !


3.


Oh my dearest rain princess

Secure yourself in my embrace

Be perfumed by my intense love

Let your little jingling bells clink

upon the silken leaves,

in rains wink...

Let your warmth and affection stream

From the dark corners of your eyes

In this cold and breezy dream

Keep humming in all my parts

Give lips to every breath of mine...!

5.

When I see the humble evening

at the dusk

standing their damp and wet

the shadows of my pensive mind

are cast away

and an ancient songs

Unknowingly trickles from the lips

Nothing makes sense ….

Who am I ? where do I belong ? …

For do whom I exist ?

6. 

Wait

Let the sky dash down now

Then sing the song of innocent sky

With your delicate lips

O naïve dear !

These moments are meant

For witnessing this celebration

In speechlessness

They are not the birds

To be captured in words!


(From my anthology "Monsoon Sonata" translated by Mr. Raj Supe from \original marathi "Parjanyasukta)

Friday, June 7, 2013

The dainty lilies.......

 

The dainty lilies
are laughing innocently
like a new-born child
the soft and pliant wind
is planting kisses
and swelling and racing
To the horizons
The clouds too are swell
And on their lips too
A delicate, lovely smile has sparkled!

��� 

I stand here wrapped in clouds
On the far shore of the horizon !
The thrilling verdure of the earth
Has become my bosom
And it hails out to me : 

"You are mine
Albeit, in you alone I abide!"
Today, why do I see
My own stir
In every atom of nature ? 

���

Who are these heavenly courtesans
Visible to me ?
The notes of which unknown song
Are ringing in my ears ?
Why rhythm is impelling me
To string this metrical composition ?

The clouds are brimful 
The rain is pouring
Which great bard
Hums in my ears
This wordless song ? 

��� 

Today the earth is giving birth
To weird notes
Everything is as though enchanted
And blossomed
In a single soul...

The fellowship trickling
From plants and shrubs
Has left me spellbound
In country suburbs

The minds thirsty
Full of tremulous anxiety !
But of what consoling sorrow
Does the heart show !

Brother, the sky weighs upon me
And I am myself perplexed
At the rain in me !

���

(From my Anthology "Monsoon Sonata", translated by Mr. Raj Supe from original Marathi "Parjanyasukta")

Thursday, June 6, 2013

That maiden of tender parts...!

 

 1.

That maiden of tender parts 
Is leaning, oh so well arched ! 
Her lips upon the bowed canopy 
of clouds wisely earmarked 
And this delicate verse 
Caught in the cloud’s arms 
And the rain pouring on me 
Whispering an easy song : 
“Glory to love ! Glory to hearts strong !” 

2.

The rain bursting 
from the clouds 
And I say 
“Come brother … Get wet ! ” 
Such benign rain 
Might not issue again 
And if you stay aloof 
Your old age thirst 
will sulk under the roof !

3.

In this little pond 
The sky is stealing 
A look at itself 
The way lord peeps 
At his spirit 
In my little eyes human!

4.

Come …. 
Today we shall role 
Over and over 
On this green and velvety turf 
Blue clemency is streaming 
From the sky above … for us ! 
There ! Those beady drops 
The crests of green blades 
But wait … touch ‘em not …. 
let ‘em also look at the world 
Sweetheart …. 
Hold your breath 
Its time the dusk 
Kissed this evening!

5.

The dainty lilies 
Are laughing innocently 
Like a new-born child 
The soft and pliant wind 
Is planting kisses 
And swelling and racing 
To the horizons 
The clouds too are swell 
And on their lips too 
A delicate, lovely smile has sparkled! 

(From my Anthology "Monsoon Sonata")

Translation of my original Marathi "Parjanya sukta" by Mr. Raj Supe

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

A cloud burst !

A cloud burst 
solemn and serious 
will issue 
from the cluster of clouds 
in soul forms 
And 
We shall drench ourselves in self delight 

Sometime 
that day will come… 
But in the meanwhile 
let’s sing the monsoon Sonata!

¨¨¨ 

Water-harmonica is resonating 
On the shores of the sky 
And the anklets jingling 
At the feet of the horizons high 
To its rhythm are approaching 
Group of graceful clouds well nigh 
And my eyes in tremulous anxiety 
Feast upon this bounty 

This is the very first day of rains ! 

¨¨¨ 

The Monsoon Sonata is intoxicated 
it’s the song of the liberated heart 
of frothing rivers and unbounded sea 
it is the cherished intent 
Come brothers … come all 
And fill the cup of your heart 
with notes of this rain hymn 
Trickling drop after drop !
---

In the heart of the earth 
Countless green sprouts hold sway 
As though through those prodigious lips 
The earth’s singing today 
The dusky sky 
Thrilled to the core 
Spins gay birds 
And it wafts high and low 
an aerial encore 

Thus it is that the whole sum 
Is today tuned to a hum 


(From my anthology "Monsoon Sonata")


Friday, May 24, 2013

Enraged Sun!




Burying all signs of
Delicacies
Culture of hypocrite’s flourishes in
Impotent pomp
Yet rotten blood rushes through their veins
In hollow achievements!

The earth has transmuted to a hell!

Sun rises, ashamed,
To hide his face behind scarce cloud- specks
Or sky churning
Smoke emitting chimneys
Can not withhold rays
What to do?


Throng of languid shadows
Keeps on surging forth
Breathing in stink of
Pent-up ambitions
Neither they can weep nor the Sun
Over their fall
What a destiny!

Sun must has to course
His way through
Caressing entire world
With his infinite fingers of rays
No matter how much filth
Stains his soul
Making him furious…frustrated…
Heart exploding in anguish…
Still he must course…
Just can not hide his face or cease to be
Infinity is a curse!

In fact he seeks a heart
Little alike of human
That can make his heart stronger
To neglect his own heart
Or like the philosophers he wants to be
Those can justify all heinous acts
Or of those poets
Those can trade emotions so easily!

But it is not destined to happen.
He must rise perpetually
Must struggle with his own-self
Must course through the space
No matter how enraged he is
Or sorry he is
Below his divinity
Exchange of cursed insanity
Is at crescendo
He must hide his face
Behind the horizons…!

On the Brink of Death!

 



(My Novel “On the Brink of Death”, set on the backdrop of Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination was published at the hands of late Balasaheb Thackeray in 2002 at Mumbai. Following is the speech that I had delivered at that memorable moment.)


Hon’ble Hindu Hriday samrat, Thackeray Saheb, my dear brother Vinod Sonawani, and friends,

This is a proud moment for me to have released my first English Novel at the hands of a personality that always have fought all his life against injustice, for the national interests and have been an inspiring force for numerous youth of this country. I have not enough words to express my gratitude towards Mr. Thackeray.

I have been writing for last 20 years in Marathi, have handled variety of genres, Marathi soil gave me lot of love for my literary endeavors, the critics always have encouraged my probe in to the various aspects that concern not only the life but fundamentals of life. Very recently I began writing in English to address larger masses, to share my views and perspectives with them. The present novel is outcome of this effort.

Why I chose this subject to write my first novel in English has certain background. I am not a politically motivated person. The assassination of Mr. Rajiv Gandhi shocked entire nation when the news was broke. The way assassins chose to kill a person was brutal, inhuman and obnoxious. Using the human souls to kill the human souls was something unheard of in our country. It was an example to what extremity ethnic and political hatred could reach. It was a cowardly attack demanding vengeance, from the country and for the country. But we always have been too a tolerant. Tolerance becomes questionable at some times and this was a perfect case when the human life is abused in the form of political assassinations. Ten years ago I was too a young man but it provoked me when I was frantically going through the various news reports and stories. Special Investigation Team was desperate to unearth the culprits. Many people committed suicides before the SIT would get hold of them or when they were in custody. This was a macabre scene to come across. As if human life had lost its importance, its value. Good or bad, every person has right to live, no one is above this law that rules the entire universe. The young chaps could end up with their lives with a cyanide pill. Fanaticism saw its vicious dance before and aftermath of the gruesome assassination. As if it was only Rajiv Gandhi who was against their movement…a movement that had the history of brutal bloodbath. 

Assassinations of leaders always do tend to change the course of the time, established national policies and they are in order to give a way to the newcomers that can sympathize with the assassins or the people those have supported the assassins, this or that way. It appeared that LTTE had to avenge Rajiv Gandhi for his attempt to send peacekeeping forces in Sri Lanka. His attempts to end up ethnic violence in neighboring country were taken as a threat to the people of Indian origin and their covert supporters, not only from Sri Lanka but from Indian soil as well. Indian Peace Keeping forces were defeated on the soils of Sri Lanka, a mighty force…from the bunch of fanatics. It was unbelievable. Actually it was not a fight at all, as if everything was pre-planned, some one else was meddling in this issue.

True and I agree that Tamil’s in Sri Lanka have been oppressed beyond limits. True from the independence they have been treated like lapers. True that the ethnicity from the Sinhali’s was seeded to have a monstrous future. True that many a organizations chose to the violent path to secure lost rights of the Tamil. Rise of LTTE or Prabhakaran was phenomenal, it was not only based on the hatred for Sinhali’s but on the dead bodies of his own opponent tamil militant organizations. He organized support from Indian base as well. He opened numerous training camps on Indian soil. Tamilnadu Government this or that way always have sympathized with this man. Till this date the fact continues because the dream of Mahanadu was sowed in the some crook fractions on the basis of ethnicity.  Dravid v/s Aryan’s controversy flared up during the rise of LTTE.

The question is whether LTTE has really to do something with Dravid ego? Or is it only a polito-militant organisation that can use every tool, a tool of emotions, sentiment to feed its unsatiable hunger of power? A power that can rule the lives of the innocents, turn them in to the death machines, in the beasts no matter how many are going to die.

LTTE has nothing to do with Tamil problem. LTTE is an ordinary militant organization breathing over the fuel of Tamil sentiment. The leaders so easily fool common people. The promises of tomorrow they give many a times are false.
  
But people chose to live on hopes…that is the human fallacy that has been exploited by their own fellow men.

Assassination of Mr. Gandhi, at least for me didn’t look the way it was being put forth. Was it avenge of enraged militant group or whether it possessed other dimensions that are noticed but neglected only because there was nothing they could do about it? Repercussions of assassination of national leader to know not would be immaturity that I hated to trust. Prabhakaran is or never was a fool. He couldn’t afford to be a fool, India could have avenged the assassination. But still he dared.

These all aspects intrigued me. I was set on my own mission.  Was in south and in Sri lanka for over six months meeting people, ex or imprisoned militants at Vellakkam Jail. The facts that appear in morning papers not always are the facts that I began to believe. Truth sometimes shocks you. I slowly formed the opinion that CIA used LTTE as a pawn in brutal assassination of Mr. Gandhi.

I have no proofs that could be presented before any court of law. It might have happened with the Special Investigation Team as well. But the results of Indian polity that have changed its course drastically from the day of Mr. Gandhi’s assassination stand as a support to this allegation. The Indo-American romance, India’s signing treaties to take India to globalization and beginning to re-consider its stand over nuclear strategies, Is a proof if at all we call it a proof are all aftermath of Mr. Gandhi’s assassination. Killing Mr. Gandhi LTTE earned nothing visible, but US gained lot many a things as a result. What I would like to say is many times the things appear, as a truth is not the truth. This novel is my attempt to put forth the truth the way I feel.

I am an author, not a secret agent that is empowered by authorities to find something that could make them to look in to the angle the way I see or find. I used my liberty to write a novel, a novel where the author creates characters that undergo the evils of destiny. They fall in particular frame of time that designs their destiny. The hopes, aspirations and to be someone in the society they live in with their good and bad intents always is a challenge to an author. Imagination, reality and would be realities is always a challenging raw material before an author that makes him write. 

                                                   (Cover of second edition of the novel...)
 
I would reiterate the fact that India is a so-called sovereign country. We are so easily sold. We buy everything that is foreign. We humble so easily before the International pressures. Our national pride is nothing but a farce, many a times. The common scams, frauds, blatant trampling of values is what the modern India is. It is a shame one must realize. The common man not only now becoming victim of these rascality’s but the worrying fact is he too now wants to be a part of these scamming class.

The present novel is not mere a thriller on the backdrop of an assassination of Indian leader, this actually is saga of the torments innocents when they has to go through a political turmoil and risk of life.

I would quote a great man this earth ever had produced, Maharshi Vyasa who said,
“Urdhw bahu virommesh…na kaschit shrunoti mam…” he said, with both my hands spread in unbearable agonies, I urge upon you why not listen to me…why not tread the path of righteousness that takes you to the realms of truth, earnings, desires and liberation in its all togetherness. I know everybody has forgotten the eternal truth. I know our soul is on sale to the demons.

This is what I had to say through this novel and I hope I could do it at the best of me.

Thanks.

PS: I was happy the day Prabhakaran was killed! 

 In brief about the Novel...

 Rajeev Gandhi, the former prime minister of India, is brutally assassinated by a LTTE human bomb. 

The culprits are on the run, trying to escape the cluthces of SIT whose noose is tightening with ever passing day, and the main suspect, Sivrasan, is about to be caught. 

Krishan is on his way to Jaffna when he gets the blow of his life. The LTTE has declared him a traitor. 

And then...unfolds a chilling saga of human persistence, macabre political games and heinous internatioinal conspiracies.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Ancient Indian coins and symbolism



Prior to the Buddhist era, unfortunately, no written records are available to throw light on the socio-political history of ancient India. Puranic texts are loaded with myths and heavy corruption, making them mostly unreliable. The Vedic religious texts though boast of their religious supremacy, the physical proofs speak otherwise. Let’s have a look at the ancient coinage that were found in various excavations to try to know what could be the religious beliefs of those times.

India was divided into about 16 Mahajanapada’s in ancient times. Every Mahajanpada would be a group of Janpada’s (small kingdoms or Republics) spread within the Mahajanpada’s. Till rise of the Nanda dynasty (5th Century BC) and later on the Mauryan dynasty, the system prevailed to some extent.  The coins found from almost every Mahajanpada prior to approx. 350 BC, bear no letters hence it is impossible to know the names of the issuers of the coins. But from banker-marks punched on the coins indicate that coins of different denominations (weights) used to be issued by individual bankers (Shreni or Nigam) of those times, and not the rulers.

A most significant factor that can be observed from those coins is that every Mahajanpada coin bear a unique symbol, no matter who the banker is. The symbols used by Maha Janpadas are diverse in nature, have been retained over time, at the least from the seventh century BC till the third century BC.  The symbolism doesn't seem changed over the period of almost four hundred years despite political upheavals.

This continuance of the coin symbolism in every Mahajanapada for such a long time suggests that the commercial system was comfortably stable. The religious ideas show continuity. Also, it suggests that every Maha Janpada was represented by a specific symbol punched over the coin.

Symbolism is an ancient trait of mankind. Symbolism reflects the faiths, beliefs of the people who invented them. The pagan symbolism had mystic values. Certain shapes, figures, geometrical signs played a vital role in religious practices of those times all over the world. In India, especially in pre-Vedic Tantric (Occult) Religion, which is flowing uninterrupted till today, symbolism had greater importance over texts or idols.  Shivlingam too is an ancient symbol worshiped from 3500 BC at the least, which became the foundation of the Agamic (Tantra) religion of India. Most of the religious ritualistic practices were associated with male-female sexual organs that were considered to be divine for their ability of reproduction.

Let us have a look at the ancient coins and the significance of the symbols embedded into them.

Gandhara Janpada:

Gandhara was a part of India in ancient times, stretching from modern northwest Pakistan to Kabul, till it was conquered by Darius in the sixth century BCE. We have no clue as to who issued the coins, still, the carbon dating confirms that the various coins were issued from 7th century BC till 350 BCE.


The coins of the earlier time are peculiar in shape, not round, but silver bent bars having punch-marks of two six-petalled flowers at both ends of the coin with bankers mark in the middle. There also are square and oblong coins as well having a single six-petalled flower of the same design. The flower signs are peculiar, having the dotted round with trident-shaped petals. The reverse side of the coins is blank.

Gandhara was close to or part of the Indus valley civilization. We can trace back the similar six-petalled flowers at Kot Dijji excavations (2600 BC) those are found on the seals and pottery. It does only suggest that every neighboring civilization shares some or other way the concepts of mutual likes. Finding the provenance of any becomes unscientific and contrary to the development history of the human civilizations. 

Finding six-petalled flowers, petals having trident shape on all the coins found in Gandhara Janpada, suggests that the symbol represented geographical identity as well represented religious beliefs of the region.

Six-petalled flowers in Shaivait tradition since ancient times have been a symbol of the female sexual organ. The presence of trident-shaped petals also suggests the presence of the Tantrik Shaivait tradition of those times. This symbol cannot be confused with Sun motif. Dotted circle and sprouting six petal like tridents indicate the fertility symbol.
  
Kuntala Janpada

Kuntala region was located between present South Maharashtra and the north part of the Karnataka. The coins found in this region are dated from sixth century to 450 Century BCE. The coins have a dotted circle at the center having attached a triskelion design above between the two angular shapes having solid dots on the head.  



A circle having a solid dot at the center represents a sun motif that is in use even today as a logo by corporate houses, but two angular shapes having a solid dot on the head connected to the circle suggests otherwise. Scholars call it “Pulley” design. However, if looked carefully it doesn’t represent pulley. The presence of triskele between the dotted angular shapes doesn’t suggest other being pulley design.

The triskele above represents constant motion or revolution. Not exactly the same, but triskelic symbols are found in Celtic paganism and in Indus valley civilization also. However, no symbol similar to this has been found elsewhere, hence makes it unique. However there must be close connection between both the symbols and maybe representing some occult religious practice of those times, which is unknown to us so far.
  
Kuru Janpada
  
Kuru Janpada is famous from ancient times. This region is located around modern Delhi. Many historical episodes have been unfolded on this land. However, Janpada coins found here belong to the period from 450 to 350 BC.

On the coins found in this region bear dotted Triskelion sign. Triskelion sign is an ancient sign used by almost all the ancient cultures like Celtic, Gaulish etc. However, finding the sign on the coin with a unique design makes the symbol an indigenous development. 


On few coins we find the Three Arrow sign as well on the reverse side of the coin. As you can see the arrows are attached to the dotted circle in a symmetric arrangement. Also, you can notice Y signs between the arrows.

Although Triskelion signs mostly represent constant motion or spirit, the present sign is not similar to the sign present on Kuntal coins. We do not know for sure what these signs meant to the people of those times. But the sign seems to have been in use since the Indus culture era. But looking at the unique set of human mind the way it works, the sign may mean the same thing…perpetuity …constant motion and continuation of human life through reproduction.

Three arrow sign having three Y signs placed between the arrows make another unique symbol not to find elsewhere. The dotted circle is a common feature as we have seen on Kuntal and Gandhara coins, the petals or angular objects or arrows or triskeles make them unique symbols. Three arrow sign too is unique because of Y shapes present within the corpus of the sign.

Dotted circles normally are considered to be sun signs but with the geometry, that symbol makes with attached objects like arrows it doesn't seem to be a sun sign.
  
Magadha Janpada

Magadha Janpada, present Bihar, is rich with its history and culture, has given birth to two religions like Jainism and Buddhism. The coins found here dates back from the 7th century BC till the 5th century BC.

The coins bear various signs. The central sign on the Coin is a dotted circle surrounded by three arrows and three circles. Other punches are sun sign, Pipal sign, Moon sign, dotted triangle or circle with handle sign. A dotted circle with an arrow sign is common on all signs suggesting it's being the symbol of the region.


The distinct feature is the three arrow signs found on some Kuru coins and the three arrow signs on the Magadha coins are quite different in arrangement. Sun sign is clear enough on every coin suggesting sun worship cult was dominant in Magadha region in those times. Maga people have been ancient inhabitants of the Magadh region and like others were alien to Vedic culture.

Though it has been tried to prove that Maga people migrated to India from central Asia, there has been no physical proof so far to prove this claim. Anyway, sun worship had been Magadha’s oldest tradition. Vedic literature finds mention of Kikata (Magadhi) people as foreigners to their culture and religious practices. 

Shakya Janpada

Shakya (or Vajji/Licchavi) Janpada was located at the northern region of Indo-Nepal. In the Shakya dynasty Lord Buddha was born hence it would be interesting to see what symbol Shakya used to represent their identity.

Shakya Coins date back to the sixth century BC to 450 Century BC. The coins are too crude, having no particular shape, but every coin bears a Pentagonal symbol.



Pentagon is a symbol that almost every ancient civilization (and even at present) has used in their occult practices. Pentagon not only suggests geometric perfection but represents the five basic elements in occultism as well as in ancient science. According to Sankhya philosophers Earth, Water, Wind, Energy and space are the five elements that make the universe.  In Shaivait Occultism too five-style worship of the Goddess was widely practiced. A similar thought, like Sankhya’s, about five elements can be traced in Greek science and even in Freemason occultism of Europe. It also has been the symbol of the underground womb in Egyptian iconography. In later Buddhist Gnosticism also we find the pentagram symbol.
  
Saurashtra Janpada

Saurashtra coins too date back from 6th century BC to 4th Century BC. The unique feature of the Saurashtra coin is most of the coins have been punched with an image of the fertility goddess. Also elephant and bull signs too are found on many coins.


  
Fertility Goddess symbol we find on abundant seals found in Indus valley civilization. If we look carefully at the headdress of the deity is quite similar to the mother goddess’s images of Indus culture. The image is normally attributed to “Shakti”. Bull and Elephant symbols too have been abundantly found in Indus civilization, those represent male productive prowess. 

We thus can infer that the flow of Indus valley civilization was continued uninterruptedly till the fourth century BC.
  
Conclusion:

Every region (Maha Janpada) used some occultic unique symbol (motif) to represent its identity. 

The symbols, at the least in the five cases discussed above, though diverse in nature, still possess one similarity that the presence of a centrally dotted circle, pentacle or triangle. This indicates the thought process of the civilization as a whole being unique.

The symbols moreover represent Gnosticism prevailing in the civilizations of those times along with non-Vedic Shiva-Shakti (fertility) worship.

we have seen on every triangle, petal or pentagram centrally a solid dot is positioned. In Shaivait occultism (Yogic practice) centered dot signifies the focalized energy and its intense concentration. It can be envisaged as a kind of energy deposit which can in turn radiate energy under other forms.


The presence of the trident and arrows, weapons of Shiva suggests non-Vedic Shaivait religious practices of those times.

There seems no influence of Vedic religious thought and practices in any symbolism on the coins, as it doesnt show any way that the Vedicism had influenced local cultures and religion that had rooted in ancient tantras. 

Hence considering Vedas as the source of modern Hinduism is wrong. had it been the case, we would have noticed Vedic influence in the symbolism that represented people and regions! 

We also are going to have a look in the next chapters at the coinage of later times till the second century AD to understand whether symbolism changed with the introduction of the monarchist political system and what was the language being used in those times. 


Also, we have observed that many symbols like the triskele, six petal flower, and the pentagram with few others are found in ancient paganism worldwide. Though there are slight differences in the design, the striking resemblance shows that to some extent inner force of the human mind works similarly, no matter how geographically far apart. The same thing applies to the languages which reflect in some common words across the civilizations.  

We cannot attribute the similarities in the symbolism worldwide to borrowings or exchanges as symbolism is an innate expression of the human being that carries its unique identity. Though symbols are same, the meaning or purpose attached to it may differ from one region to the other and also may change with time. This applies to the languages also. We find similar words in many languages but the meaning of those words vary from people to people.  

If language too is made of vocal symbols, the same applies to it also. It needs no single source for the evolution of any group of languages. Independent Evolution Theory, related to geo-geographic surroundings, which I am proposing for the species, symbols and languages only can answer the vital questions that still keep us baffling about our ancient civilizations and remote past. Same time, giving any credit to the Vedics for the early evolution of modern Hindu religion goes against the material proofs and hence such very wrong-founded notions are needed to be discarded. The fact is Hindu religion always was heavily dependent on Tantras and not Vedas. 

We will discuss more on this in the next installment!

-Sanjay Sonawani

 (Image Courtesy: coinindia.com)