SaleOmnibus Box Set
B.B LAL (Set Of 7 Books): Indraprastha| Historicity of the Mahabharta| The Rigvedic People| Rama| The Homelands of the Aryans| How Deep are the Roots of Indian Civilization| The Sarasvati flows on
Publisher:
Aryan Books International
| Author:
B.B. Lal
| Language:
English
| Format:
Omnibus/Box Set (Hardback)
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- Indraprastha :- In Delhi, as one moves southwards from the Pragati Maidan, along the Mathura Road, one sees on the left the fortification walls of Purana Qila. These were built by Humayun/Sher Shah along the periphery of a 10-metre high mound. In the revenue records the site is mentioned as Indrapat and local tradition identifies it with Indraprastha of the Mahabharata times. Keen to find out the truth, in 1954-55 the author laid out a trench in the southern part of the mound and found shards of the Painted Grey Ware which is the characteristic ceramic industry met with at all the sites associated with the Mahabharata story. This discovery was confirmed by subsequent excavations as well. These excavations revealed that from the Mahabharata times (circa 1000 bce), the site continued to be occupied up to the British times —a span of 3000 years. Thus, Indraprastha is the earliest and longest-lived city of Delhi. The book presents this glorious panorama. Contents Acknowledgements List of Illustrations I. Introductory II. Indraprastha in Inscriptions I. Chandravati Copper Plate Inscription II. Naraina Stone Inscription III. Sarban Stone Inscription III. Asokan Rock Edict IV. Indraprastha in Literature I. In the Mahabharata II. In the Jatakas III. In Indraprastha Mahatmya V. The Excavations Introductory Period I Period II Period III. Sunga, from Circa 200 bce to the Beginning of the Common Era. Period IV. Saka-Kushan, 1st-3rd Cent. ce Period V. Gupta Period, 4th-6th Cent. ce Period VI. Post-Gupta – Pre-Rajput Period (7th-9th Cent. ce) Period VII. Rajput Period, 10th-12th Cent. ce Period VIII. Sultanate Period, 13th-15th Cent. ce Period IX. Mughal Period, 16th-19th Cent. ce Period X. British Period (Mid-19th Cent. – 1947 ce) VI. Historicity of the Mahabharata VII. Seeing is Believing Bibliography Index
- Historicity of the Mahabharta :- To the faithful, everyday mentioned in the Mahabharata is true to the very letter, whereas the skeptic holds that h e epic is nothing more than a mere figment of imagination. How , then, can one ascertain the truth? It is here that archaeology comes to our rescue.
IN 1951-52, Professor B.B. Lal excavated the key-site of Hastinapura, situated on the bank of the Ganga, in Merut district o f Uttar Pradesh. Over here he encountered in the lower levels a settlement which was distinguished by a characteristic pottery called the painted Grey Ware, assignable to circa 1100-800 BCE. This PGW Culture has since been discovered at all the Mahabharata sites a feature which binds them together.
Further, the excavation revealed that a heavy flood in the Ganga destroyed a considerable portion of the Painted Grey Ware settlement at Hastinapura. This archaeological evidence is duly corroborated by the vayu Purnan which states: “When the city of Hastinpura is carried away by the Ganga, Nichksu will abandon it and dwell in Kausambi.”
The shifting of the capital from Hastinapura to Kausambi is, in turn, supported by the fact that in the lowest levels of Kausambi has been encountered the same kind of degenerated Painted Grey Ware as had begun to appear at Hastinapura prior to its destruction by the flood.
Thus, the combined evidence of archaeology and literature duly establishes that the Mahabharata is not a figment of imagination but has a basis in historical reality. At the same time, it is on record that the epic underwent eleven time inflation-from 8,800 to 1,00,000 verses- and hence it is difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff. But let not the precious wheat be thrown away with the chaff. - The Rigvedic People:- Based on archaeological and literary evidence, the author, an internationally renowned archaeologist, concludes that the Vedic people were themselves the Harappans, were Indigenous and neither `Invaders’ nor `Immigrants’.
- Rama:- The recent controversy about the Rama Setu has offered an opportunity to certain individuals to question even the historicity of Rama. Their approach is quite ingenious. If the very existence of Rama as a real-life person is denied, the question of there having been a Setu associated with him automatically does not arise. In this context, one can’t help quoting the learned Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu who recently raised two very interesting questions, namely “Who is this Rama?” and “From which engineering college did he graduate?” This booklet seeks to present archaeological facts, nothing but hard facts, in regard to the three more or less allied topics, viz. : (i) `Was Rama a figment of the imagination of poet called Valmiki, or is there any evidence to suggest that he may have been a historical figure?`; (ii) `Was there a temple in the Jama-Bhumi area at Ayodhya, prior to the construction the Babari Mnsjid?`; and (iii) `What are the `credentials` of Rama Setu
- The Homelands of the Aryans:- For well over seven decades two theories have been blinding our vision of India`s past, viz. that (i) there was an `Aryan Invasion` of India; and (ii) the invaders destroyed the Hrappan civilization which became extinct. Resurrecting the `Aryan Invasion/ Migration` theory, a stalwart writes: `One Thing seems certain; the speakers of Vedic sanskrit came from elsewhere. This conclusion comes from ——-Indo-European words for trees which are species such as birch, Scotch pine, linden, alder and oak. These are plants from a temperate environment and the fact that their names are shared among the early languages of the family suggests a homeland in this environment. About Author : A World- renowned archaeologist,,the author was the Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India from 1968 to 1972. In the latter year, when he was only 51, he took voluntary retirement to pursue his research programmes independently. First he joined Jiwaji University, Gwalior, as a Professor and later the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, of which he was also the Director. Professor Lal`s excavations cover a very wide range- from palaeolithic times to early historical. Contents : Preface Acknowledgements List Of Illustrations Introduction The Flora The Fauna The Bearing Of The Foregoing Data On The Aryan Homeland Debate —— Bibliography Index…
- How Deep are the Roots of Indian Civilization:- Since 1997 Professor Lal has published four books dealing with various aspects of the archaeology of ancient India and the Vedic literature. But all these were research-oriented. He thus felt that there was a need to address the common reader. Hence the present book. Professor Lal tells the reader, with ample photographic illustrations, that almost every aspect of Indian culture is deeply rooted in the past, which is at least 5,000 years old. He then gives an integrated picture of the civilization of those days – variously called the Harappan, Indus or Indus-Sarasvati Civilization. Thereafter he deals with the ethnicity of the authors of this great civilization. With solid arguments, he refutes the theories that there was an ‘Aryan Invasion’ of India, which destroyed the Harappan Civilization or that there was an immigration of the (BMAC) people from Central Asia. He demonstrates that in all likelihood the Harappans themselves were the Vedic people and were indigenous. Further, archaeological and literary evidences combine to suggest that some time in the second millennium BCE a section of the Vedic people themselves emigrated westwards to Iran and even up to Turkey, contributing their mite to the local culture. It is hoped that the reader will enjoy going through this book. pp. xxii + 150 ; 33 col. Illustrations ; 71 Figures & Maps ; Bibliography ; Index
- The Sarasvati flows on:- This book deals with two major controversies relating to India’s past. First. It has been asserted by many scholars, both Indian and foreign, that the Sarasvati mentioned in the Rigveda is the Helmand of Afghanistan. The author examines the entire Rigvedic evidence and demonstrates that it goes counter to aforesaid assumption. On the other hand, there are compellin geographical data in the Rigveda itself which unambiguously show that the Rigvedic Sarasvati is none other than the present-day Sarasvati-Ghaggar combine which flows through Haryana and Panjab. Though now it dries up near Sirsa, the dry bed, sometimes as much as 8 kilometers in width as picked up with Landsat imagery, shows that anciently it continued all the way down to the Rann of Kachchha. Second. It has no less vociferously been orchestrated that the Aryans “invaded” India, as result of which the Harappan Civilization became “extinct’. The author shows that there is no evidence whatsoever to suggest any invasion, much less by the Aryans. On the contrary, there is ample evidence to demonstrate that many of the present-day cultural traits are rooted in the Harappan Civilization. Thus, you should not feel surprised if you travelled 4500 years back in time to a Harappan settlement and found a lady busy applying sindura (vermilion) to her manga (line of partition of the hair on the head), or a farmer ploughing his field in the same criss-cross pattern as do the Haryanavis or Rajasthanis today. If you wanted to place an ‘order’ for tanduri rotis, you could very well do so with a Kalibanganite 4800 years ago. Yogic asanas, which have new-found lovers even in the west, were as much a pride of the Harappans. Or, should you feel like being greeted with a namaste, a Harappan would be only too glad to oblige you. The soul of India lives on!…
Description
- Indraprastha :- In Delhi, as one moves southwards from the Pragati Maidan, along the Mathura Road, one sees on the left the fortification walls of Purana Qila. These were built by Humayun/Sher Shah along the periphery of a 10-metre high mound. In the revenue records the site is mentioned as Indrapat and local tradition identifies it with Indraprastha of the Mahabharata times. Keen to find out the truth, in 1954-55 the author laid out a trench in the southern part of the mound and found shards of the Painted Grey Ware which is the characteristic ceramic industry met with at all the sites associated with the Mahabharata story. This discovery was confirmed by subsequent excavations as well. These excavations revealed that from the Mahabharata times (circa 1000 bce), the site continued to be occupied up to the British times —a span of 3000 years. Thus, Indraprastha is the earliest and longest-lived city of Delhi. The book presents this glorious panorama. Contents Acknowledgements List of Illustrations I. Introductory II. Indraprastha in Inscriptions I. Chandravati Copper Plate Inscription II. Naraina Stone Inscription III. Sarban Stone Inscription III. Asokan Rock Edict IV. Indraprastha in Literature I. In the Mahabharata II. In the Jatakas III. In Indraprastha Mahatmya V. The Excavations Introductory Period I Period II Period III. Sunga, from Circa 200 bce to the Beginning of the Common Era. Period IV. Saka-Kushan, 1st-3rd Cent. ce Period V. Gupta Period, 4th-6th Cent. ce Period VI. Post-Gupta – Pre-Rajput Period (7th-9th Cent. ce) Period VII. Rajput Period, 10th-12th Cent. ce Period VIII. Sultanate Period, 13th-15th Cent. ce Period IX. Mughal Period, 16th-19th Cent. ce Period X. British Period (Mid-19th Cent. – 1947 ce) VI. Historicity of the Mahabharata VII. Seeing is Believing Bibliography Index
- Historicity of the Mahabharta :- To the faithful, everyday mentioned in the Mahabharata is true to the very letter, whereas the skeptic holds that h e epic is nothing more than a mere figment of imagination. How , then, can one ascertain the truth? It is here that archaeology comes to our rescue.
IN 1951-52, Professor B.B. Lal excavated the key-site of Hastinapura, situated on the bank of the Ganga, in Merut district o f Uttar Pradesh. Over here he encountered in the lower levels a settlement which was distinguished by a characteristic pottery called the painted Grey Ware, assignable to circa 1100-800 BCE. This PGW Culture has since been discovered at all the Mahabharata sites a feature which binds them together.
Further, the excavation revealed that a heavy flood in the Ganga destroyed a considerable portion of the Painted Grey Ware settlement at Hastinapura. This archaeological evidence is duly corroborated by the vayu Purnan which states: “When the city of Hastinpura is carried away by the Ganga, Nichksu will abandon it and dwell in Kausambi.”
The shifting of the capital from Hastinapura to Kausambi is, in turn, supported by the fact that in the lowest levels of Kausambi has been encountered the same kind of degenerated Painted Grey Ware as had begun to appear at Hastinapura prior to its destruction by the flood.
Thus, the combined evidence of archaeology and literature duly establishes that the Mahabharata is not a figment of imagination but has a basis in historical reality. At the same time, it is on record that the epic underwent eleven time inflation-from 8,800 to 1,00,000 verses- and hence it is difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff. But let not the precious wheat be thrown away with the chaff. - The Rigvedic People:- Based on archaeological and literary evidence, the author, an internationally renowned archaeologist, concludes that the Vedic people were themselves the Harappans, were Indigenous and neither `Invaders’ nor `Immigrants’.
- Rama:- The recent controversy about the Rama Setu has offered an opportunity to certain individuals to question even the historicity of Rama. Their approach is quite ingenious. If the very existence of Rama as a real-life person is denied, the question of there having been a Setu associated with him automatically does not arise. In this context, one can’t help quoting the learned Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu who recently raised two very interesting questions, namely “Who is this Rama?” and “From which engineering college did he graduate?” This booklet seeks to present archaeological facts, nothing but hard facts, in regard to the three more or less allied topics, viz. : (i) `Was Rama a figment of the imagination of poet called Valmiki, or is there any evidence to suggest that he may have been a historical figure?`; (ii) `Was there a temple in the Jama-Bhumi area at Ayodhya, prior to the construction the Babari Mnsjid?`; and (iii) `What are the `credentials` of Rama Setu
- The Homelands of the Aryans:- For well over seven decades two theories have been blinding our vision of India`s past, viz. that (i) there was an `Aryan Invasion` of India; and (ii) the invaders destroyed the Hrappan civilization which became extinct. Resurrecting the `Aryan Invasion/ Migration` theory, a stalwart writes: `One Thing seems certain; the speakers of Vedic sanskrit came from elsewhere. This conclusion comes from ——-Indo-European words for trees which are species such as birch, Scotch pine, linden, alder and oak. These are plants from a temperate environment and the fact that their names are shared among the early languages of the family suggests a homeland in this environment. About Author : A World- renowned archaeologist,,the author was the Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India from 1968 to 1972. In the latter year, when he was only 51, he took voluntary retirement to pursue his research programmes independently. First he joined Jiwaji University, Gwalior, as a Professor and later the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, of which he was also the Director. Professor Lal`s excavations cover a very wide range- from palaeolithic times to early historical. Contents : Preface Acknowledgements List Of Illustrations Introduction The Flora The Fauna The Bearing Of The Foregoing Data On The Aryan Homeland Debate —— Bibliography Index…
- How Deep are the Roots of Indian Civilization:- Since 1997 Professor Lal has published four books dealing with various aspects of the archaeology of ancient India and the Vedic literature. But all these were research-oriented. He thus felt that there was a need to address the common reader. Hence the present book. Professor Lal tells the reader, with ample photographic illustrations, that almost every aspect of Indian culture is deeply rooted in the past, which is at least 5,000 years old. He then gives an integrated picture of the civilization of those days – variously called the Harappan, Indus or Indus-Sarasvati Civilization. Thereafter he deals with the ethnicity of the authors of this great civilization. With solid arguments, he refutes the theories that there was an ‘Aryan Invasion’ of India, which destroyed the Harappan Civilization or that there was an immigration of the (BMAC) people from Central Asia. He demonstrates that in all likelihood the Harappans themselves were the Vedic people and were indigenous. Further, archaeological and literary evidences combine to suggest that some time in the second millennium BCE a section of the Vedic people themselves emigrated westwards to Iran and even up to Turkey, contributing their mite to the local culture. It is hoped that the reader will enjoy going through this book. pp. xxii + 150 ; 33 col. Illustrations ; 71 Figures & Maps ; Bibliography ; Index
- The Sarasvati flows on:- This book deals with two major controversies relating to India’s past. First. It has been asserted by many scholars, both Indian and foreign, that the Sarasvati mentioned in the Rigveda is the Helmand of Afghanistan. The author examines the entire Rigvedic evidence and demonstrates that it goes counter to aforesaid assumption. On the other hand, there are compellin geographical data in the Rigveda itself which unambiguously show that the Rigvedic Sarasvati is none other than the present-day Sarasvati-Ghaggar combine which flows through Haryana and Panjab. Though now it dries up near Sirsa, the dry bed, sometimes as much as 8 kilometers in width as picked up with Landsat imagery, shows that anciently it continued all the way down to the Rann of Kachchha. Second. It has no less vociferously been orchestrated that the Aryans “invaded” India, as result of which the Harappan Civilization became “extinct’. The author shows that there is no evidence whatsoever to suggest any invasion, much less by the Aryans. On the contrary, there is ample evidence to demonstrate that many of the present-day cultural traits are rooted in the Harappan Civilization. Thus, you should not feel surprised if you travelled 4500 years back in time to a Harappan settlement and found a lady busy applying sindura (vermilion) to her manga (line of partition of the hair on the head), or a farmer ploughing his field in the same criss-cross pattern as do the Haryanavis or Rajasthanis today. If you wanted to place an ‘order’ for tanduri rotis, you could very well do so with a Kalibanganite 4800 years ago. Yogic asanas, which have new-found lovers even in the west, were as much a pride of the Harappans. Or, should you feel like being greeted with a namaste, a Harappan would be only too glad to oblige you. The soul of India lives on!…
About Author
A world-renowned archaeologist, Prof. B.B. Lal was the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India from 1968 to 1972. In the latter year he took voluntary retirement to pursue his research programmes independently. His publications include over 150 seminal research papers, published in scientific journals, both in India and abroad: USA, UK, France, Italy, Russia, Egypt, Afghanistan, Japan, etc. In 1994, Prof. Lal was awarded D. Litt. (Honoris causa) by Institute of Archaeology, St. Petersburg, Russia. The same year he presided over World Archaeological Congress. He has been Chairman and member of several committees of UNESCO. In 1982, Mithila Visvavidyalaya honoured him with the title of Mahamahopadh
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