Vivvo CMS 4.1 http://www.india-forum.com/ ©2007 Spoonlabs d.o.o. http://www.india-forum.com/files.php?file= http://www.india-forum.com/ http://www.india-forum.com/indian_history/The-Swami,-The-Priest-And-The-Rediscovery-Of--The-Indian-Tra-096.html Indian History Wed, 30 Jan 2008 06:40:17 +0000 Rather than replying to every point in Chitra Raman?s response, I will take up some of the general points, which I think are relevant to the Indian American community at large. First, let me say I am impressed by the dynamism present in this community: in spite of a snow storm, many travelled from far away to attend the Princeton Junction workshop and share their reflections on the future of the Indian traditions in the U.S. [1] In spite of the demands of daily life, Indian Americans find the time and energy to engage in intellectual debates about the nature of their traditions. In spite of the discrimination and "religion oppression" [2] faced by them, there is a general sense of optimism about the future of these traditions. http://www.india-forum.com/indian_history/Deeds-Of--The-Bahmanid-Sultans-009.html Indian History Sat, 10 Sep 2005 11:34:00 +0000 The Bahmanid sultans were amongst the most monstrous Islamic rulers in world history. While people talk of the massacres of Timur-i-lang in Inner Asia as epitomizing the violence of Islamic regimes, the violence of the Bahamanids is hardly touched upon. We shall briefly outline some of the acts of these Sultans, which represent one of the most blood stained phases on Indian history. It is hardly surprising given the current political proclivities in India that this period of history is not properly described. We shall confine ourselves here to the core Bahmanid dynasty and not the five successor Sultanates of the later period. As KAN Shastri mentions, there were few among the line of 18 Sultans, who were not drunkards or debauchees and their courts were teeming with Islamic adventurers from all over the Moslem world (compare with modern terrorist havens in Pakistan and now Iraq) seeking fortune in Jihad and pleasures derived from the riches of India.The Bahmanid sultans were amongst the most monstrous Islamic rulers in world history. While people talk of the massacres of Timur-i-lang in Inner Asia as epitomizing the violence of Islamic regimes, the violence of the Bahamanids is hardly touched upon. We shall briefly outline some of the acts of these Sultans, which represent one of the most blood stained phases on Indian history. It is hardly surprising given the current political proclivities in India that this period of history is not properly described. We shall confine ourselves here to the core Bahmanid dynasty and not the five successor Sultanates of the later period. As KAN Shastri mentions, there were few among the line of 18 Sultans, who were not drunkards or debauchees and their courts were teeming with Islamic adventurers from all over the Moslem world (compare with modern terrorist havens in Pakistan and now Iraq) seeking fortune in Jihad and pleasures derived from the riches of India. The condition of Hindus in their reign was very pitiable as explicitly mentioned by the Russian observer Athanasius Nikitin who visited during the late Sultanate period. http://www.india-forum.com/indian_history/The-Ashvina-Stuti-And-Indra-Stuti:-A-Study-Of--Two-Hymns-Fro-077.html Indian History Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:34:11 +0000 Thursday, 02 June 2005 A study of two hymns from the mahAbhArata. All Indic language words are provided in the ITRANS format: http://www.aczoom.com/itrans/ http://www.india-forum.com/indian_history/The-Mythology-Of-The-Sword-076.html Indian History Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:20:58 +0000 nakula the 4th pANDava asked the kuru grandsire on his arrowy death bed about the origin of the sword. nakula said that he believed that the sword was a superior weapon and even if one lost his bow or horse or chariot one could still defend himself against mace and spear wielders if one were a good swordsman.nakula the 4th pANDava asked the kuru grandsire on his arrowy death bed about the origin of the sword. nakula said that he believed that the sword was a superior weapon and even if one lost his bow or horse or chariot one could still defend himself against mace and spear wielders if one were a good swordsman. http://www.india-forum.com/indian_history/Ramaraya-And-The-Battle-Of-Talikota-075.html Indian History Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:18:19 +0000 One of the most fateful events in Hindu history was the battle of Talikota that occurred during the time of Ramaraya who was the de facto ruler of Vijayanagar. Several attempts have been made by secularist writers to paint Ramaraya as a villain and downplay his eventful reign.One of the most fateful events in Hindu history was the battle of Talikota that occurred during the time of Ramaraya who was the de facto ruler of Vijayanagar. Several attempts have been made by secularist writers to paint Ramaraya as a villain and downplay his eventful reign. He did commit miscalculations in different directions: 1) He killed many of Hindu Nayakas and replaced them by his own clansmen resulting in considerable discontent amongst the Hindu elite. He seized power through intrigue from the clan of Krishnadeva Raya and made himself the principal ruler of the Vijayaganagar Empire, displeasing many of the chiefs. 2) In a manner similar to the modern Indian state, he went against the age-old policy of the Vijayanagara state in recruiting Moslem soldiers indiscriminately in his army. 3) He destroyed the traditional Hindu civil service officials to place his own favorites and henchmen in their place. But he was by no means a slouch when it came to defending the Hindu Dharma at a very critical junction. http://www.india-forum.com/indian_history/The-post-Talikota-Struggle-074.html Indian History Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:15:00 +0000 After the fall of Vijayanagar, some historians believe that Tirumala, the brother of Ramaraya made an attempt to revive the city but failed. It is believed that there was a conflict between him and his nephew Pedda Tirumala over the control of the city and hence he decided to abandon it.After the fall of Vijayanagar, some historians believe that Tirumala, the brother of Ramaraya made an attempt to revive the city but failed. It is believed that there was a conflict between him and his nephew Pedda Tirumala over the control of the city and hence he decided to abandon it. With the Vijayanagar army in shambles, Ramaraya?s nepotism at the expense of traditional Hindu civil officers left the whole kingdom in a state of chaos. Moslem horsemen roved over the countryside extorting money and goods from the people. There was also a profusion of robberies and plundering operations by gangs of warlords in the Telugu country. In the Tamil country Nayakas of Madurai, Tanjavur and Gingee established independent kingdoms, which to a great extant restored local stability in these regions. It took Tirumala a whole six years to restore civil administration and rebuild an army. He attacked Portuguese horse traders and seized horses from them to raise a cavalry. He made Penukonda his capital and started heavily fortifying it to prepare for a major defensive war. http://www.india-forum.com/indian_history/Somadeva-Of-Aravidu-And-The-Freedom-Struggle-073.html Indian History Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:11:57 +0000 Around 1326 Mohammed ibn Tughlaq dispatched dispatched two Turkic ghazis Maliq Zada with an army from Gujarat and Majir Abu Rija from Devagiri to wage a jihad on kampiladeva rAja of Kampili. After the rAja and his son, along with their allies the chiefs harihara, bukka and their brothers made a valiant attempt to stave off the Islamic armies from the strong fort of Kummata. Twice the Tughlaq armies were repulsed by the Hindu forces. But in the third attempt the siege drew long and the Hindus ran out of provisions and had to forfeit the fort and continue the defense of the land from the fort of Hosadurga. But Hosadurga was not well stocked and after a month the Hindus had to take on the Islamic armies in an open battle. In the battle that followed kampiladeva and his son were slain while harihara and bukka were arrested and sent to Delhi as prisoners. The head of kampilideva was stuffed with straw and paraded around to put the fear of Allah into the people. Maliq Zada in the mean time marched against Vira ballAla of the Hoysala kingdom, while Tughlaq was destroying the Kohli settlements near Pune. Tughlaq then dispatched Maliq Muhammad to wage a Jihad on Kurnool, Anegondi, Raichur and Mudgal. These provinces were captured by the Ghazi and the Hindu population was slaughtered indiscriminately. http://www.india-forum.com/indian_history/Sultans-in-Svarga-[Hindu-heaven]-072.html Indian History Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:08:30 +0000 A poet rAmarAja-bhuShaNa in the Vijayanagara court composed this generous account for the Moslem tyrants who met their end at kR^ishNadeva rAya's hand: "O kR^iShNa rAya, the foremost of heroes! Some proud and mighty Moslem kings killed by you in battle have arrived in svarga [1]. Here they caused the devas to smile in amusement by their salaaming and addressing bR^ihaspati as pIr, indra as suratrANa, and indrANi as bIbI." http://www.india-forum.com/indian_history/The-Saura-Mata-Or-The-Sect-Of-Surya-071.html Indian History Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:05:33 +0000 In bR^ihatsamhita 60.19 varAhamihira states that sUrya should be worshipped by installing idols of his and they should be worshipped by specialized priests called magAchAryas. http://www.india-forum.com/indian_history/Raja-Bhoja:-The-Glory-and-Tragedy-Of-The-Setting-Hindu-Sun-070.html Indian History Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:01:22 +0000 The paramAra rAjpUts are supposed to have arisen from the sacrificial pit on arbuda parvata, which was the source of many kShatriyas who were generated by the devas for the destruction of the turuShkas and mlechChas who were a pestilence on Aryavarta. In historical reality paramAras were a subsidiary branch of the rAShTrakUTas, who were appointed as governors of central India in mAlava province by the main ruling branch. The paramAra rAjputs founded the notable city of dhArA in central India, which remained their capital until its ultimate conquest. It was here that their greatest king and a remarkable genius, bhoja rAja came to power by 1000 AD and ruled for more than half a century. He was the son of sindhurAja, who was notable conqueror, who defeated the chAlukyas, hUNas and shilaharas of the Konkan region. bhoja's path was similar to other great Hindu rulers of the time engaged in wasteful intercine struggles for supremacy. We get some glimpses of his remarkable life from the apocryphal biography bhoja prabandhaM. Early in his career, just before he came to power, bhoja was afflicted by a tumor in his brain which used to cause him intense head aches. Two learned brahmin brothers from the school of Ujjain, who were pre-eminent surgeons of the era, performed a surgery on his brain and relieved him of his tumor. The description of the surgery that survives suggests that they artificially induced a coma with a special preparation known as the sammohini and then opened his skull to remove the tumor. He was then brought back to consciousness with another drug. India-Forum - Discussion forum on Hinduism, Indian Culture, Indian History ,Indian Politics ,Indian Business, Strategic Security, Internation Affairs.