05-04-2007, 12:02 AM
Not directly relevant to the thread, and yet...
<span style='color:red'>Valmiki and Homer â A Critical Study of the alleged Greek influence on Ramayana</span> By Sri K. V. Ramakrishna Rao
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The controversy was initiated by Rev. D. C. Boyd1, by translating an article of Albrecht Weber, a Professor at Berlin, written in German. D. C. Boyd brought out the Weberâs conclusions in Indian Antiquary (Vol.I, 1872) as follows:
1. The entire narrative of the exile itself has to a large extent, been developed out of germs furnished by Buddhistic legends.
2. In the existing condition of the text, however, we find unmistakable indications that the influence of Greece upon India was already firmly established.
3. It is possible that in addition of these two elements (namely the abduction of Sita and the siege of Lanka) by Valmiki, we should recognize the influence of an acquaintance with the Homeric saga cycle.
4. The work of Valmiki can hardly date earlier than this (i.e, about the beginning of the Christian era).
K. T. Telang read a paper before the Studentâs Literary and Scientific Society, Bombay on September 2, 1872 refuting the above points. M. Krishnamachariar3 (1937) and others too pointed out the fallacies in such hypotheses. However, they were not publicized like the Weberâs writings. After that, many western and Indian scholars proceeded in the lines of Weber and filled the libraries with their hypotheses and theories, thereby, the modern Indian mind is still haunted and daunted by their writings. R. C. Dutt, H. Jacobi, Lassen, Monier Williams, H. H. Wilson, J. C. Chatterjee, M, V. Kibe, P. E. Pargiter, C. V. Vaidya, H. D. Sankalia, S. N. Vyas, and host of historians, archaeologists and sociologists have though delved on the subject, they have almost decided the issue by accepting the Greek influence. Therefore, the Homeric / Greek sources are analyzed here to find out the facts and review the issue in the right perspective.
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<span style='color:red'>Valmiki and Homer â A Critical Study of the alleged Greek influence on Ramayana</span> By Sri K. V. Ramakrishna Rao
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The controversy was initiated by Rev. D. C. Boyd1, by translating an article of Albrecht Weber, a Professor at Berlin, written in German. D. C. Boyd brought out the Weberâs conclusions in Indian Antiquary (Vol.I, 1872) as follows:
1. The entire narrative of the exile itself has to a large extent, been developed out of germs furnished by Buddhistic legends.
2. In the existing condition of the text, however, we find unmistakable indications that the influence of Greece upon India was already firmly established.
3. It is possible that in addition of these two elements (namely the abduction of Sita and the siege of Lanka) by Valmiki, we should recognize the influence of an acquaintance with the Homeric saga cycle.
4. The work of Valmiki can hardly date earlier than this (i.e, about the beginning of the Christian era).
K. T. Telang read a paper before the Studentâs Literary and Scientific Society, Bombay on September 2, 1872 refuting the above points. M. Krishnamachariar3 (1937) and others too pointed out the fallacies in such hypotheses. However, they were not publicized like the Weberâs writings. After that, many western and Indian scholars proceeded in the lines of Weber and filled the libraries with their hypotheses and theories, thereby, the modern Indian mind is still haunted and daunted by their writings. R. C. Dutt, H. Jacobi, Lassen, Monier Williams, H. H. Wilson, J. C. Chatterjee, M, V. Kibe, P. E. Pargiter, C. V. Vaidya, H. D. Sankalia, S. N. Vyas, and host of historians, archaeologists and sociologists have though delved on the subject, they have almost decided the issue by accepting the Greek influence. Therefore, the Homeric / Greek sources are analyzed here to find out the facts and review the issue in the right perspective.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->