Tuesday, May 24, 2016

ASOKA- History of Greatest warrior on earth

Ashoka - He was an Ideal Ruler, who dedicated himself to the victories of righteousness
"All men are my children. I am like a father to them. As every father desires the good and the happiness of his children, I wish that all men should be happy always."
These are the words of an emperor who lived two thousand and three hundred years ago.
This emperor was Ashoka (also called ‘Devanampriya Priyadarshi’). The wheel in the abacus of the pillar which he erected as a memorial at Saranath now adorns the national flag of free India.
The rock inscription of Devanampriya Priyadarshi were being discovered all over India for centuries. But for a long time the identity of this ‘Devanampriya Priyadarshi’ remained a puzzie.
One day in the year 1915 near a village called Maski in Raichur District of Karnataka, a rock inscription was discovered on a hill. In this inscription for the first time the name of Ashoka was found with titles like Devanampriya and Priyadarshi. It was then certain that Devanampriya Priyadarshi was no othe than Ashoka.
The Mauryan Emperor, whose name shone like a very bright star in the history of the world, and whom the world honors and lovers ven two thousand years after his death.
Ashoka was the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya. Chandragupta was the first ruler of the Mauryan Empire. He ruled for about twenty four years, and then, seeking peace of mind, handed over the reigns of his empire to his son, Bindusara. This Bindusara was the father of Ashoka.
Subhadrangi was the mother of Ashoka. She was the daughter of a poor man of Champakanagar.
As a boy Ashoka was not only active also mischievous. He was a skilful hunter. From the time of Chandragupta Maurya the hunting expedition of the Emperor and the royal family was a splendid sight.
Ashoka was not handsome. But no prince excelled him in valour, courage, dignity, love of adventure and ability in administration. Therefore even as a prince Ashoka was loved and respected by his subjects and by his ministers. Bindusara discovered the ability of his son quire early and, when Ashoka was still young, appointed him Governor of Avanti.
Ujjain was the capital of Avanti. It was a beautiful city, and the home of knowledge, wealth and art. Within a few days of taking over the administration of Avanti, Ashoka became an excellent statesman. It was when he was in this city he married Shakya Kumari, the beautiful daughter of a merchant of Vidishanagar. She gave birth to two children, Mahendra and Sanghamitra.
Ashoka’s valour, courage and wisdom were soon tested. The citizens of Taxila rose in revolt against the rule of Magadha. Bindusara’s eldest son, Susheema could not put down the rebellion. Bindusara sent Ashoka to suppress the revolt. Ashoka did not have enough forces but yet moved towards the city boldly.
A suprising thing happened. The citizens of Taxila never thought of fighting against Ashoka. They gave him a grand welcome.
They pleaded, "We do not hate either Bindusara or the royal family. The wicked ministers are responsible for our revolt. We misunderstood you because of their evil advice. We are not rebels. Please forgive us."
Ashoka understood the real situation and punished those responsible for the revolt. He stayed there for some days and gave the people some advice in simple and beautiful words. When complete peace had been established in the city, Ashoka returned to his province.
Days and years passed.
Bindusara grew old. His body became weak. His health declined. 
Among his ministers one minister by name Radhagupta was prominent. He and the others began to think about the future welfare of the empire.
Bindusara’s eldest son was Susheema. According to custom he should have succeeded to the throne.
But the rovolt of Taxila had exposed his weakness.
Besides, he had begun to behave with insolence.
The council of ministers felt that the empire would suffer and lose peace and prosperity and that there would be no justice in the land if Susheema was crowned king. Therefore they sent word to Ashoka that his father was ill and that he should rush to the bed side of his sick father.
Emperor Bindusara had won the title ‘Amitraghatha’ (one who strikes those who are unfriendly). He had annexed the area between the east coast and the west coast in south India and extended his empire. He ruled over this empire for twenty-five years and died in 272 B.C. Ashoka who had come to Pataliputra from Ujjain at the request of Radhagupta, the Chief Minister, was crowned king of Magadha after the death of his father.
What happened after this is not very clear. Perhaps Susheema heard the news of his father’s deth and feared that Ashoka might be crowned King; he probably came from Taxila with a large army. He came prepared to fight if necessary. But he was killed even as he was attempting to gain an entrance to the city.
There is a story that Ashoka had all his brothers killed for the sake of the kingdom. There is no historical basis for this story. Ashoka has spoken affectionately about his brothers in his rock inscriptions.
The fifth day of the third month Jyestamasa of the year 268 B.C. was the auspicious day on which Ashoka ws crowned king. Pataliputra was gaily decorated.
The auspicious time fixed for the coonation arrived. Auspicious music Sounded. Young and radiant Ashoka entered the court, surrounded by his bodyguards. The heir to the throne of Magadha bowed to the throne and ascended it. As the priests chanted sacred verses, the heir was adorned with the appropriate symbols of royalty and the crown was placed on his head. The citizens of Pataliputra rejoiced that the empire was blessed with an able ruler.
Ashoka was a very intelligent statesman. He ruled over Magadha wisely and ably. The council of ministers and officers of state were obedient, dutiful and able. Therefore peace and plenty brightened the land.
Happiness makes man forget how time passes.
Eight years passed without anyone realizing it.
Ashoka became the lord of a vast empire. But Kalinga, a small state (now called Orissa), remained independent, beyond Ashoka's empire.
Kalinga was a rich and fertile land between the Godavari and the Manhandi. The people of Kalinga were patriots and loved freedom. They were ready to fight and die in defense of their motherland.
During Ashoka's grandfather's time the Kalinga army had only 60,000 infantry, 1,000 cavalry and 700 elephants. During Bindusara's reign and at the beginning of Ashoka's reign Kalinga must have improved its armed forces considerably.
The mighty Magadha army marched towards Kalinga. Ashoka himself went at the head of his vast army.
The Kalinga army resisted the Magadha army and fought bravely. They were not afraid even of death. But their valor and sacrifices were in vain and finally it accepted defeat.
Ashoka won a glorious victory.
'What Have I done!
True, Ashoka was victorious and Kalinga was his.
What was the price of this victory?
Ashoka who led the army saw the battlefield with his own eyes.
As far as his eye could see he saw only the corpses of elephants and horses, and the limbs of soldiers killed in the battle. There were streams of blood. Soldiers were rolling on the ground in unbearable pain. There were orphaned children. And eagles flew about to feast on the dead bodies.
Not one or two but hundreds of terrible sights greeted Ashoka's eyes. His heart was broken with grief and shame.
He felt unhappy over the victory, which he had won at the cost of so much suffering. 'What a dreadful deed have I done? I was the head of a vast empire, but I longed to subjugate a small kingdom and caused the death of thousands of soldiers; I widowed thousands of women and orphaned thousands of children. With these oppressive thoughts in his minds he could not stay there any longer. He led his army back towards Pataliputra with a heavy heart.
Ashoka became the lord of Kalinga as he had wished. But the victory brought him not joy but grief. The sights of grim slaughter he had seen dimmed the pride of victory. Whether Ashoka was resting, sleeping or awake, the scenes of agony and death he had seen on the battlefield haunted him at all times; he could not have peace of mind even for a moment.
Ashoka understood that the flames of war not only burn and destroy on the battlefield but spread to other fields and destroy many innocent lives. 
The suffering caused by war does not end on the battlefield; it continues to poison the minds and lives of the survivors for a long time. At this time Ashoka was at the height of his power; he was the head of a vast empire; he had no equal in wealth or armed strength. And yet the Kalinga war, which was his first war, also became his last war! The power of arms bowed before the power of Dharma (righteousness).
Ashoka swore that he would never again take to arms and that he would never again commit such a crime against humanity. And it proved to be the oath of a man of iron would.
In the history of the world, many kings have sworn not to fight again, after they had been defeated. 
But how many kings have been moved by pity in the hour of victory and laid down arms?
Perhaps there has been only one such king in the history of the whole world-Ashoka.
'The victory of Dharma brings with it love and affection. Devanampriya believes that, however small may be the love gained by its victory, it brings ample reward in the other world."
This is what Ashoka has said in one of his inscriptions.
The teaching of Buddha brought peace to Ashoka who was haunted by memories of the agony he had seen in Kalinga.
Buddha's message of nonviolence, kindness and love of mankind appealed to the unhappy Ashoka. A disciple of Buddha, Upagupta initiated him into Buddhism. From that day Ashoka's heart became the home of compassion, right living, love and nonviolence. He gave up hunting and eating meat. He put an end to the killing of animals for the royal kitchen. Realizing that it was not enough if he lived a righteous life, he proclaimed that all his subjects also should live a life of righteousness.
'Of all victories, the victory of Dharma is the noblest. One may win a piece of land by fighting a war. But by kindness, love and pity one can win the hearts of people. The sharp point of the sword spills blood; but from Dharma springs the fountain of love. The victory won by arms brings fleeting joy but the victory of Dharma brings lasting joy'-Ashoka realized this truth. So he taught his subjects this lesson:
'All people should live a life of truthfulness, justice and love. Respect your parents. Treat your teachers and relatives with affection. Be modest in their presence. Give charity. Do not be unkind to animals. No one should think that he end his religion are the greatest. All religions preach the same virtues. Just as it is bad to indulge in self-praise and slandering others, it is bad to condemn other religions. Respect for other religions brings glory to one's own religion.'
Ashoka did not think of the good of only his subjects; he thought of the good of all mankinds'. He wished to win the hearts of people and to serve the world through religion and through goodwill and good action. He decided to dedicate his energy and all his powers and wealth to this goal.
The first thing that Ashoka did to spread righteousness among his people was to undertake a pilgrimage. It took place two years after the Kalinga war. His pilgrimage started with his visit to Sambodhi, the holy place where Gauthama, the Buddha breathed his last. He visited other holy places during the pilgrimage. Ashoka has explained in his own words the purpose of his pilgrimage. 'To meet Brahmins and Shramanas and to give gifts to them. To meet the elders and to honor them with gifts of gold. To meet people and to preach the law of Dharma and to discuss Dharma.' These were the important objects.
Ashoka was not content with visiting holy places. He believed that the message of Dharma should not become stagnant like standing water. He wanted it to spread within India and outside, too. He wanted the people of the world to bathe in its pure steam and purify themselves. Therefore he undertook a great task which could would be enduring. He got the laws of Dharma engraved on rocks and stone pillars both inside and outside the country. These inscriptions related to Dharma, social ethics and moral living. Ashoka himself has proclaimed that his desire was that his message should reach the people of all lands and enable them to follow and propagate the Dharma for the welfare of the world. Such inscriptions can be seen even today both in India and outside. In India they have been discovered in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and at Siddapura of Chitradurga District, Koppala and Maski in Raichur District of Karnataka. Outside India they have been found in Peshawar District in Pakistan as well as near Khadahar in Afghanistan and on the borders of Nepal.
We read in history about many kings who put up inscriptions about their invasions, charities, donations and the extension of their territories. But it is only Ashoka who got inscriptions carved on rocks and pillars, which lead people from untruth to truth, from death to immortality and from darkness to light. To this day they are like lights of wisdom. The laws of Dharma are like the seeds of virtue sown in the hearts of the people. They are steps leading to salvation.
In order to foster greater understanding regarding Dharma, Ashoka took a bold and firm step. He wished to show that all religions teach the same path of virtue. In one of his inscriptions Ashoka says, 'We must respect the followers of other religions in every way. By doing so we can help the growth of our religion and we can help other religions also. If we act in a different way it will harm our religion and also other religions. The man who wants his religion to spread rapidly and honors only his religion and speaks ill of other religions will harm the interests of his own religion. The power of all religions should grow. Devanampriya does not consider charity and worship more important than this.' He appointed officers called 'Dharma - Mahamatras' in order to spread these ideas among the people. These officers met people of different religions and lived among them; they helped to remove the mistaken ideas they had about other religions and to know what was good in them. Often the money set apart for religious purposes was spent otherwise. Sometimes though it seems to have been spent for religious purpose, selfish people pocket it. It was the duty of the Dharma - Mahamatras to see that the money meant for religious purposes was spent properly. They toured the empire and visited the courts of justice also. They set right the errors in the conduct of affairs and in the awards of punishments. Such officers do not seem to have been appointed anywhere else in the history of the world. Besides these, other officers also toured the empire once in five years according to the orders of the emperor and spread the Dharma among the people.
After seventeen years of Ashoka's rule, unfortunately difference of opinion arose among the Buddhist monks and there was a split. There were many lazy and bad monks given to evil ways. These willful sanyasins were a curse to Buddhism. Buddhism was, therefore, losing its power. Ashoka felt unhappy over this. In order to save Buddhism for total eclipse and to increase its influence, Ashoka threw out many lazy monks from the Buddhist fold. He invited the worthy and the serious - minded monks to Ashokarama in Pataliputra for a conference. Moggaliputra Tishya presided over the conference attended by the Buddhist monks from the Four Corners of the country. Ashoka sat with the great teaches and sent for each Bhikshu and asked him, "What did Lord Buddha teach?" He discussed many things with them. After long discussions what Lord Buddha had taught came out clearly and unambiguously.
Buddhism gained a new strength from this conference. Ashoka unline other kings did not send his armies to foreign lands to conquer them. He who declared that the victory of Dharma was the real victory, he sent Buddhist monks to other lands to spread the light he had received from Buddhism. He sent Buddhist preachers to Syria, Egypt, Macedonia, Burma and Kashmir. To Ceylon (Srilanka) he sent his own children Mahendra and Sanghamitra. As a result off this, Buddhism spread to all countries in East Asia.
In the twentieth year of his reign, Ashoka undertook his second pilgrimage with his daughter and Upagupta. This we learn from his inscriptions. During this pilgrimage he visited the ruins of Vaishali and the places where Buddha used to rest. From Vaishali Ashoka traveled east and came to Ramagrama. He visited the stoopa at Ramagrama built by a king who had collected and preserved the sacred bones of Buddha after his death. Later he also visited Lumbini, Kapilavastu, Shravanti, Gaya and other holy places. Wherever he went he caused pillars and stoopas to be erected in memory of his visit. They remind us even today of the visit of Ashoka to those holy places.
There is one such memorial pillar at Sarnath. On the top of a stone pillar about fifty feet high there are beautifully carved figures of four standing lions. The figures of the lions are now to be seen in the official emblem of the government of free India, and the Ashoka Chakra adorns the national flag of India. In this way the government of India has paid a deserving tribute to the ideal king, Ashoka. But unfortunately the pillar at Sarnath is broken and mutilated. So we can see only fragments of the pillar. Of the eighty-four thousand stoopas said to have been built by Ashoka, the stoopa at Sanchi is both famous and splendid. To this day this fifty-four feet stoopa stands on a high pedestal and forms a semicircle. Besides these stoopas and pillars, Ashoka built cave dwellings, rest houses and Buddha Viharas in large numbers. They not only proclaim Ashoka's teachings but also are examples of the splendid architecture of those days.
There have been many emperors in the history of India but few that ruled over such a vast empire as Ashoka's. His empire extended over a large part of India and Afghanistan and Beluchistan beyond the Northwest province and Nepal in the North, as well as the Bengal, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and a large part of Karnataka of today. The inscriptions discovered in these parts prove this.
Though Pataliputra was the capital of the vast empire, for the proper administration of his empire, Ashoka divided his empire into four provinces. Malava, Punjab, Dakshinapatha and Kalinga. Ujjain was the capital of Punjab, Taxila of Malava, Suvarnagiri of Dakshinapatha and Kosala of Kalinga. He appointed a representative in each province. The representatives were chosen for their ability and not on the basis of birth or high connections. They enjoyed considerable freedom in the administration of their provinces.
To assist the emperor there was a council of Minsters in the capital. If the emperor wanted to make changes, he used to consult the Minsters. After the council examined the pros and cons of a proposal it was implemented. Usually the emperor accepted the decision of the council of ministers.
Chanakya (kautilya), the Chief Minister of Chandragupta Maurya, has described the daily life of the kings of that age as follows:
'The king gets up at 3 a.m. And till half past four examines various matters relating to the empire and takes decisions. He then receives the blessings of teachers and priests. Then he meets his doctors and the officials of the kitchen. He then goes to the court hall and considers from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. the revenue and the expenditure of the previous day. From 7.30 he grants interviews to persons who have come to meet the emperor on urgent matters, and examines their submissions. He retires to bathe at 9. After bath, prayer and breakfast, the emperor meets officers of the empire at 10.30 a.m. and issues instructions on many matters. At noon he meets the council of ministers and discusses matters of state. After rest between 1.30 and 3 p.m. he inspects the various divisions of the army. After this he receives reports from messengers and spies who have come from different parts of his empire and from other kingdom.'
Ashoka, who continued the ideal and the tradition of his grandfather Chandragupta, practiced in letter and spirit, the routine set down by Chanakya. Besides, Ashoka believed that the prosperity of his subjects was his prosperity; so he had appointed officers to report to him on the welfare and sufferings of the people. They were to report to him no matter what the hour was. His own order best shows his concern for the people:
"Whether I am dining or in my private apartments, asleep or engaged in some work, setting out on a journey or resting; wherever I may be and whatever the time of the day or night the officers must come and report to me about the people and their affairs. Wherever I may be I shall think about the welfare of the people and work for them." These words are enough to show Ashoka's devotion to the welfare of his people.
Ashoka defeated Kalinga in war, hadn't he? He then appointed officers to administer the kingdom. How do officers who go from the victorious state to the defeated land usually behave towards the people? They lose all sense of justice and fair play and behave proudly. They insult the defeated people. Ashoka did not want this to happen. He desired that the people of Kalinga should live in peace and honor. This was his order to the officers who were sent to Kalinga:
"I have put you in charge of thousands of people. Earn the love and affection of all those people. Whatever situation may arise treat all people alike. Be impartial in your actions. Give up rudeness, haste, laziness, and lack of interest and short temper. Nothing can be achieved if we are bored and idle. Therefore be active. If you understand how sacred your work is and behave with a sense of responsibility, you will go to heaven, and you will also repay your debt to the king who appointed you." Ashoka who treated his subjects as his children, further said, "Like a mother who gives her child to an able nurse, trusting that she would bring up the baby well. I have entrusted my subjects to your care."
Ashoka worked hard especially for the spread of education in his land. Nalanda is famous in history; it was the center of education and the University of Magadha. It is said that university of Magadha was established by Ashoka. Students of that university were very much respected. During his time trade with foreign countries was carried on by sea routes. He encouraged agriculture, trade and industries. There were canals to help irrigation. All the money paid into the Government treasury was spent for the welfare of the people.
Ashoka has big roads laid to help the growth of business and industries. For the benefit of travelers he had trees planted on both sides of the roads. Wells were dug and guest houses and rest houses were put up. There was free medical aid both for men and for animals. Ashoka is among the first in the world who built hospitals for the treatment of animals. He got medicinal plants and a variety of fruit-bearing trees from several places and planted them where they were not found. In one inscription he has expressed the wish that even the forest dwellers in his empire should live happily.
Sandalwood wears itself out to give a cool and fragrant paste to men. Sugarcane gives up its sweet juice to men and reduces itself to mere skin in the process. The candle burns itself out that others may have light. All his life Ashoka lived like the sandalwood, like the sugarcane, like the candle.
He worked hard without rest and taught the people to live a life of truthfulness, Dharma, Justice and morality. There was happiness and peace. There were social gatherings at which people of all castes and creeds gathered and enjoyed themselves without feeling of high and low.
Ashoka who was the embodiment of pity, kindness and love unfortunately had to suffer much in his old age. The reason was this-his sons, Mahendra, Kunala and Teevala were engaged in spreading Buddhism and so his grandsons Dasharatha and Samprati started quarrelling over the right of succession to the throne. Even the queens quarreled over the issue. There was one among them, Tishyarakshite who was a wicked woman. Ashoka was a monk among kings and had given up all pomp and pleasures and lived a very simple life. This did not please Tishyarakshite who loved the life of ease and comfort. All this made Ashoka sad. By this time he had grown old. Not much is known about the last ten years of his life and about his death. Some say, 'The emperor got disgusted in life and therefore he went on a pilgrimage as a Buddhist monk with his teacher, for the peace of his mind. At last he reached Taxila and stayed there. Ashoka, the beloved of Gods and men, left the earth at the age of seventy-two.'
However it is clear that Ashoka was unhappy in his old age.
The Brightest Star in the history of the world
For thirty-seven years Ashoka ruled over a vast realm as an able emperor, a skilled lawgiver, a hero who knew no defeat, a monk among the kings, a noble preacher of Dharma and as a friend of his subjects. He is unique in the history of mankind.
Ashoka has called himself 'Devanampriya' and 'Priyadarshi' in his inscriptions. 'Devanampriya' means the beloved of the Gods and 'Priyadarshi means one those appearance brings joy. These names are appropriate to Ashoka's nature. The Gods cannot but love a man of such virtues. There was no one to check him, no one to punish him if he did wrong. But he became his own teacher and checked his desires. He dedicated his life to the happiness and welfare of his people; it is no wonder that his subjects rejoiced when they saw him.
Some historians say that Ashoka followed the teachings of Buddhism so devotedly that he himself became a Buddhist monk. Though he was the emperor he probably stayed in the Viharas often. When he stayed in Viharas he must have fasted like the monk very strictly and must have rigidly observed religious practices. During his stay there he learnt the teachings of Buddha in great detail.
Ashoka passed away from this world two thousand years ago, but his empire of truthfulness, Dharma, nonviolence, compassion and love of subjects has remained an ideal for the world to this day. This empire is deathless. Therefore H.G.Wells, an English historian, has said, "In the history of the world there have been thousands of kings and emperors who called themselves 'Their Highnesses', 'Their majesties' and 'Their Exalted Majesties' and so on. They shone for a brief movement and disappeared. But Ashoka shines and shines brightly like a bright star even today." This praise is fully merited.
Author: Mohanachand Keeranagi

Monday, May 23, 2016

By citizenship from another country friendly to USA.

A person can gain citizenship by birth, marriage, employment, or in some cases by check. So where can you buy citizenship?

Sunday, May 22, 2016

15 ancient predictions coming true

mahabharat-shree-krishna
In the last section of the ancient Hindu text Bhagavata Gita, there is a list of predictions and prophecies about the dark times for the present age of Kali Yuga. The following fifteen predictions, written 5,000 years ago by Vedavyasa, are amazing because they appear so accurate.

Prediction 1

Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.1Religion, truthfulness, cleanliness, tolerance, mercy, duration of life, physical strength, and memory will all diminish day by day because of the powerful influence of the age of Kali.
– Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.1
sri-suka uvaca
tatas canu-dinam dharmah
satyam saucam ksama daya
kalena balina rajan
nanksyaty ayur balam smrtih

Prediction 2

kali-yug-quoteIn Kali Yuga, wealth alone will be considered the sign of a man’s good birth, proper behaviour, and fine qualities. And law and justice will be applied only on the basis of one’s power.
– Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.2
vittam eva kalau nṝṇāḿ
janmācāra-guṇodayaḥ
dharma-nyāya-vyavasthāyāḿ
kāraṇaḿ balam eva hi

Prediction 3

kali-yug-quote1Men and women will live together merely because of superficial attraction, and success in business will depend on deceit. Womanliness and manliness will be judged according to one’s expertise in sex, and a man will be known as a brahmana just by his wearing a thread.
– Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.3
dāmpatye ‘bhirucir hetur
māyaiva vyāvahārike
strītve puḿstve ca hi ratir
vipratve sūtram eva hi

Prediction 4

kali-yug-quote2A person’s spiritual position will be ascertained merely according to external symbols, and on that same basis, people will change from one spiritual order to the next. A person’s propriety will be seriously questioned if he do not earn a good living. And one who is very clever at juggling words will be considered a learned scholar.
– Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.4
lińgaḿ evāśrama-khyātāv
anyonyāpatti-kāraṇam
avṛttyā nyāya-daurbalyaḿ
pāṇḍitye cāpalaḿ vacaḥ

Prediction 5

kali-yug-quote3A person will be judged unholy if he does not have money, and hypocrisy will be accepted as virtue. Marriage will be arranged simply by verbal agreement, and a person will think he is fit to appear in public if he has merely taken a bath.
– Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.5
anāḍhyataivāsādhutve
sādhutve dambha eva tu
svīkāra eva codvāhe
snānam eva prasādhanam

Prediction 6

prediction-6A sacred place will be taken to consist of no more than a reservoir of waterlocated at a distance, and beauty will be thought to depend on one’s hairstyle. Filling the belly will become the goal of life, and one who is audacious will be accepted as truthful. He who can maintain a family will be regarded as an expert man, and the principles of religion will be observed only for the sake of reputation.
– Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.6
dūre vāry-ayanaḿ tīrthaḿ
lāvaṇyaḿ keśa-dhāraṇam
udaraḿ-bharatā svārthaḥ
satyatve dhārṣṭyam eva hi
dākṣyaḿ kuṭumba-bharaṇaḿ
yaśo ‘rthe dharma-sevanam

Prediction 7

prediction-7As the earth thus becomes crowded with a corrupt population, whoever among any of the social classes shows himself to be the strongest will gain political power.
– Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.7
evaḿ prajābhir duṣṭābhir
ākīrṇe kṣiti-maṇḍale
brahma-viṭ-kṣatra-śūdrāṇāḿ
yo balī bhavitā nṛpaḥ

Prediction 8

Harassed by famine and excessive taxes, people will resort to eating leaves, roots, flesh, wild honey, fruits, flowers, and seeds. Struck by drought, they will become completely ruined.
– Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.9
śāka-mūlāmiṣa-kṣaudra-
phala-puṣpāṣṭi-bhojanāḥ
anāvṛṣṭyā vinańkṣyanti
durbhikṣa-kara-pīḍitāḥ

Prediction 9

The citizens will suffer greatly from cold, wind, heat, rain and snow. They will be further tormented by quarrels, hunger, thirst, disease, and severe anxiety.
– Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.10
śīta-vātātapa-prāvṛḍ-
himair anyonyataḥ prajāḥ
kṣut-tṛḍbhyāḿ vyādhibhiś caiva
santapsyante ca cintayā

Prediction 10

The maximum duration of life for human beings in Kali Yuga will become 50 years.
– Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.11
triḿśad viḿśati varṣāṇi
paramāyuḥ kalau nṛṇām

Prediction 11

Men will no longer protect their elderly parents.
Source: Srimad Bhagavatam 12.3.42
na rakshishyanti manujah
sthavirau pitarav api

Prediction 12

In Kali-yuga men will develop a hatred for each other even over a few coins. Giving up all friendly relations, they will be ready to lose their own lives and kill even their own relatives
– Srimad Bhagavatam 12.3.41
kalau kakinike ‘py arthe
vigrihya tyakta-sauhridah
tyakshyanti ca priyan pranan
hanishyanti svakan api

Prediction 13

Uncultured men will accept charity on behalf of the Lord and will earn their livelihood by making a show of austerity and wearing a mendicant’s dress. Those who know nothing about religion will mount a high seat and presume to speak on religious principles.
–  Srimad Bhagavatam 12.3.38
sudrah pratigrahishyanti
tapo-veshopajivinah
dharmam vakshyanty adharma-jna
adhiruhyottamasanam

Prediction 14

Servants will abandon a master who has lost his wealth, even if that master is a saintly person of exemplary character. Masters will abandon an incapacitated servant, even if that servant has been in the family for generations. Cows will be abandoned or killed when they stop giving milk.
– Srimad Bhagavatam 12.3.36
patim tyakshyanti nirdravyam
bhritya apy akhilottamam
bhrityam vipannam patayah
kaulam gas capayasvinih

Prediction 15

Cities will be dominated by thieves, the Vedas will be contaminated by speculative interpretations of atheists, political leaders will virtually consume the citizens, and the so-called priests and intellectuals will be devotees of their bellies and genitals.
Source: Srimad Bhagavatam 12.3.32
dasyutkrishta janapada
vedah pashanda-dushitah
rajanas ca praja-bhakshah
sisnodara-para dvijah
From detechter.com


Saturday, May 14, 2016

Essence of his Philosophy of Advaitha-Dasa Sloki or Nirvana Dasakam- Adi Shankaracharya-Advaita Philosophy


Adi Sankara explains the essence of his Philosophy of Advaitha
in the following ten verses......Dasa Sloki or Nirvana Dasakam.
There are two stories about its origin.
One says that when Adi Sankara approached Sage Govinda Pada and requested him to make him his disciple, then it seems Govinda Pada asked the young boy, “Who are you?” and this is his reply.
Another story tells that when Sri Sankara said that he is about to leave this earth, his disciples wanted to tell them all his teachings in a summary form and this is the reply.
Swami Madhusudhana Sarawathi has written a commentary called “Sidhantha Bindu” on these ten verses.
You can hear this great stotra by clicking https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VwEr1lJSVU
Dasa Sloki or Nirvana Dasakam
Na bhoomir na thoyam na thejo na vayu,
Na Kham nendriyam vaa na thesham samooha,
Anaikanthikathwath suspthyeka siddha,
Thadekovasishta Shiva kevaloham. 1
I am not earth, I am not water.
I am not light, I am not wind,
I am not ether, I am not sense organs,
Nor am I a combination of these,
Because they don’t always exist.
I am simply Shiva the self,
For this remains even in sleep,
After everything is taken out.
Na varna , na varnasramachara dharma,
Na me dharana dhyana yogadhayopi,
Anathmasrayo aham mamadhya sahanath,
Thadekovasishta Shiva kevaloham. 2
I am not the caste, I am not the caste rules,
I am not stages of life,
I am not rules , I am not the just conduct,
I am not meditation, I am not yogic practice,
For the concept of I and me destroy all these.
I am simply Shiva the self,
For this remains even in sleep,
After everything is taken out.
Na matha pitha vaa na deva na loka,
Na veda na yagna na theertham bruvanthi,
Sushupthou nirasthadhi soonyath makathwath,
Thadekovasishta Shiva kevaloham. 3
Neither the mother nor the father.
Neither the celestial gods nor the earth,
Neither the Vedas ,nor the fire sacrifice,
Nor the holy waters, they say, exist in sleep.
But there is no void in sleep, either.
So I am simply Shiva the self,
For this remains even in sleep,
After everything is taken out.
Na sankhyam na saivam na thath pancha rathram,
Na jainam , na meemamskader matham vaa,
Visishtanubhoothya vishudhath maka thwath,
Thadekovasishta Shiva kevaloham. 4
Neither the Sankhya principle,
Nor the doctrine of Shaiva,
Not the principle of pancha rathra,
Nor the doctrine of Jainas,
Nor the principle of Meemasa,
Are Unique experiences,
For the soul is the purest known truth.,
So I am simply Shiva the self,
For this remains even in sleep,
After everything is taken out.
Na shuklam na krishnam na raktham na peetham,
Na peenam na kubjam na hruswam na deergam,
Na roopam thada jyothirakarakathwath,
Thadekovasishta Shiva kevaloham. 5
Neither white nor black,
Neither red nor yellow,
Neither large nor thin,
Neither short , nor tall,
And neither with a form is the soul,
For this soul is the form of the light,
So I am simply Shiva the self,
For this remains even in sleep,
After everything is taken out.
Na jagranna me swapnako vaa sushupthi,
Ne viswo na vaa thaijasa pragnako vaa,
Avidhyathmakathwath trayanam thureeyam,
Thadekovasishta Shiva kevaloham. 6
Neither the state of waking,
Nor the state of dream,
Nor the state of deep sleep is for me,
Neither the earthy feelings,
Nor the glorified feelings of dreams,
Nor the feeling of wakefulness in sleep am I,
For these are the souls of avidya,
And I am the fourth , the thureeya, which is beyond these,
So I am simply Shiva the self,
For this remains even in sleep,
After everything is taken out.
Na sastha na sasthram na sishyo na siksha,
Na cha thwam, na cha aham na cha ayam prapancha,
Swaroopavabadhadhi vikalapa sahishnu,
Thadekovasishta Shiva kevaloham. 7
Neither the origin of knowledge,
Nor the books of knowledge,
Neither he disciple nor the teacher,
Neither you, nor me and nor this world am I,
For this is not tolerated by innate realization,
So I am simply Shiva the self,
For this remains even in sleep,
After everything is taken out.
Na chordhwam na chadho na cha andhar na bahyam,
Na madhyam na thiryang na poorva paraddik,
Viyad vyapakathwath Akandaika roopa,
Thadekovasishta Shiva kevaloham. 8
Neither above , nor below,
Neither inside nor outside,
Neither the middle , nor the across,
Neither the east nor the west am I,
For like the all pervading ether,
I am spread everywhere,
So I am simply Shiva the self,
For this remains even in sleep,
After everything is taken out.
Api vyapakathwadhi Thathwa prayogath,
Swatha sidha bhavananya asrayathwath,
Jagat thuchamethath samastham thadanya,
Thadekovasishta Shiva kevaloham. 9
Being all pervasive and goal oriented,
Being dependent on its own nature,
Than depending on any out side thing,
This world is trivial as it is different from self.
So I am simply Shiva the self,
For this remains even in sleep,
After everything is taken out.
Na chaikam thadanyath dweetheeyam kutha syath,
Na chaa kevalathwam na vaa kevalathwam,
Na soonyam na chaa soonyamadvaidhakathwath,
Kadam sarva vedhatham sidham braveemi 10
It is not even one and how can it be two,
Neither is it unique and nor not unique,
Neither is it a vacuum nor something different from it,
For it is the essence of non dual reality
So how can I tell about what is established by all philosophy?
~ By Adi Sankara Bhagawat Pada: Translated by P.R.Ramachander via Puducode Rama Iyer Ramachander

Saturday, April 23, 2016

Varahamihira- Who discoverd Gravity before Newton

Real scientist who discovered gravity was Varahamihira (505–587 CE), a Hindu astronomer and mathematician who thought of the idea of gravity but did not give it a specific name or meaning. Varahamihira claimed that there should be a force which might be keeping bodies stuck to the earth, and also keeping heavenly bodies in their determined places.
Brahmagupta (598-670 CE), Hindu astrologer and mathematician who held the view that the earth was spherical and that it attracts things. He even compared it to elements like water and fire. He also talked about ‘gravity’ in one of his statements saying: 

Bodies fall towards the earth as it is in the nature of the earth to attract bodies, just as it is in the nature of water to flow. The Sanskrit term for gravity is Gurutvakarshan, which is an amalgam of Guru-tva-akarshan. Akarshan means to be attracted. The term Guru-tva-akarshan can be interpreted to mean, “to the attracted by the Master”. The 11th century saw the coming of another Hindu astrologer named Bhaskarachaya, also known as Bhaskara II.



Bhaskaracharya was one of the most prominent astronomers and mathematicians of the 12th century. He is also considered as the greatest mathematician from the medieval era. He is known amongst the theorist for discovering principles on astronomy and calculus. In his treatise Siddhant Shiromani he writes on planetary positions, eclipses, cosmography, mathematical techniques and astronomical equipment. He continued the efforts of Brahmagupta and also contributed to ‘Surya Siddhanta‘, an astronomical text dated around 400 A.D. In Surya Siddhant, he explains that earth has gravitational force (gurutvakarshan shakti). There is a mutual attraction between the planets and this allows them to hold themselves firmly in space. 
Surya Siddhanta is partly based on Vedanga Jyotisha, which itself might reflect traditions going back to the Indian Iron Age (around 1000 BCE). Here are some of the slokas of Bhaskaracharya that mentions how gravitation works: 

Objects fall on the earth due to a force of attraction by the earth. Therefore, the earth, planets, constellations, moon and sun are held in orbit due to this attraction. The spherical earth stands at the centre of earth in space due to the dharanatmikam sakti which prevents earth from falling away and helps it to stand firm. He also mentioned the shape of the earth while answering his daughter’s question.

Bhaskaracharya states that what we see is not the reality, Earth may appear flat but it is spherical in reality. He further explains this theory by stating: if you draw a very big circle and look at one fourth of its circumference, you see it as a straight line. But in true sense it is a circle. Similarly earth is spherical in shape. These historical mentions are the proofs that laws of gravity was first discovered in India. India is considered as a traditional country but the world is unaware of our contributions to this modern world. Our theories were used as a base for many concepts such as weather forecast, astronomy, astrology, aviation etc. India has developed some of the best mathematicians the world has ever seen. Many of these geniuses were not given credit for their work. 
Source: http://veda.wikidot.com/bhaskaracharya & Economictimes.Indiatimes.com
https://pparihar.com/2016/02/03/ancient-indian-mettalurgy/

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Death of Hindu Empire of Vijay Nagar by Secular King

भारतीय इतिहास के सबसे बड़े सेक्युलर राजा की विनाश-गाथा 
-------------------------------------------------------

जब उत्तर भारत ख़िलजी, तुग़लक़, ग़ोरी, सैयद, बहमनी और लोदी वंश के विदेशी मुसलमानों के हाथों रौंदा जा रहा था तब भी दक्षिण भारत के "विजयनगर साम्राज्य" (1336-1665) ने 300 से अधिक वर्षों तक दक्षिण मे हिन्दू अधिपत्य कायम रखा ! इसी विजयनगर साम्राज्य के महाप्रतापी राजा थे "कृष्णदेव राय" ।
बाबरनामा, तुज़के बाबरी सहित फ़रिश्ता, फ़ारस के यात्री अब्दुर्रज्जाक ने "विजयनगर साम्राज्य" को भारत का सबसे वैभवशाली, शक्तिशाली और संपन्न राज्य बताया है, जहां हिन्दू-बौद्ध-जैन धर्मामलंबी बर्बर मुस्लिम आक्रान्ताओं से खुद को सुरक्षित पाते थे । जिनके दरबार के 'अष्ट दिग्गज' में से एक थे महाकवि "तेनालीराम", जिनकी तेलगू भाषा की कहानियों को हिन्दी-उर्दू मे रूपांतरित कर "अकबर-बीरबल" की झूठी कहानी बनाई गयी ।
इसी शक्तिशाली साम्राज्य मे एक "सेक्युलर राजा रामराय" का उदय हुआ, जिस "शक्तिशाली विजयनगर साम्राज्य" पर 300 साल तक विदेशी आक्रांता गिद्ध आंख उठा कर देखने की हिम्मत नही कर सके थे, उसे एक सेक्युलर सोच ने पल भर मे खंडहर मे तब्दील कर दिया ।
राजा कृष्णदेव राय की 1529 मे मृत्यु के 12 साल बाद "राम राय" विजयनगर" के राजा बने । रामराय पडले दर्जे के सेक्युलरवादी थे, सर्वधर्मसमभाव और हिन्दू-मुस्लिम एकता मे विश्वास रखने वाले रामराय ने दो गरीब अनाथ बेसहारा मुस्लिम भाइयों को गोद लिया । इन दोनो मुस्लिम भाइयों को न सिर्फ अपने बेटे का दर्जा दिया बल्कि उनके लिये महल प्रांगण मे ही मस्जिद बनबा कर दिया ।
ऐसे राजा रामराय के शासनकाल मे "विजयनगर साम्राज्य" की सैन्य शक्ति मे कोई कमी नही आई थी, कहा जाता है उनकी सेना मे 2 लाख सिपाही थे । अकेले विजयनगर से जीत पाने मे असमर्थ मुस्लिम आक्रान्ताओं ने 1567 में "जिहाद" का नारा देकर एक साथ आक्रमण किया ।
जिहाद के नारे के साथ 4 मुसलिम राज्यों ( अहमदनगर, बीजापुर, गोलकुण्डा और बीदर ) ने एक साथ विजयनगर पर हमला किया, इस युद्ध को राक्षस-टंग़ड़ी' या "तालीकोटा का युद्ध" कहा जाता है । 4 मुस्लिम राज्यों के सम्मिलित आक्रमण के बावजूद विजयनगर युद्ध जीत चुका था पर एन मौके पर राजा रामराय के गोद लिये दोनो लड़कों ने रामराय पर पीछे से वार कर दिया और कत्ल कर दिया ।
रामराय के गोद लिये बेटों के हाथों मारे जाते ही मुस्लिम सेनयों ने भयंकर मार-काट मचा दिया, लगातार 3 दिनों तक विजयनगर के स्त्री-पुरुष-बच्चे बेदर्दी से कत्ल किये गये, जिसकी सांख्या 1 लाख से ज्यादा बताई जाती है, विजयनगर को आग लगाकर नष्ट कर दिया गया । इस प्रकार एक सेक्युलर सोच ने समृद्ध-सक्षम हिन्दू साम्राज्य का अंत कर दिया ! इसी महान साम्राज्य के खंडहरों पर खड़ा है आज का शहर "हम्पी", जिसे यूनेस्को ने विश्व धरोहर विरासत के रूप मे दर्ज किया है ।
इतिहास गवाह है --अपने माता-पिता सहित पूर्वजों के माथे के कलंक ये सेक्युलर प्राणी जन्म ही कुल-खानदान, स्वधर्म, मातृभूमि का नाश करने के लिये लेते हैं - 
History

 

Saturday, April 2, 2016

History of Phoenician- Ancient Indian descent and ancestors of current Europe

Did you know?

  • Western/Latin and other alphabets come from the Phoenician alphabet?
  • Beritus or Berytus (modern Beirut, Lebanon) had a very important School of Law in the Roman Empire?
  • The Bible is called thus because it refers to the Phoenician city of Byblos (“marketplace of papyrus or byblinos” in Greek?
    • Despite the fact that the Romans destroyed Punic Carthage in about 150 B.C., in 193 A.D. the Punic Septimius Severus became Emperor of Rome and one third the Roman Senate was made of Punic people.
    • King Solomon’s great Temple was built in the style of Tyre’s Melqart Temple by Phoenician artisans using the Cedars of Lebanon?
    • The Egyptian Pharoahs employed Phoenician cedar for their wood needs?
    • King Solomon, in his old age, became a worshipper of the Phoenician goddess Ashtarte?
    • Melchizedek, the King of Salem (King of Jerusalem) and Priest of the Most High God (El Elion), who offered bread and wine to Abraham, was Phoenician? [PP: Well,some say it was Shemhimself who founded Jerusalem & lived 600 years!]
    • The Pentateuch (Moses’ first five books, if not more, of the the Old Testament Bible, the Torah) was/were written down (transliterated) in Phoenician script?
    • Jesus Christ visited Phoenicia and among the first to believe in him was a Phoenician woman?
    • The bishops of all Phoenician cities were consecrated as bishops by the Apostles or their immediate successors?
    • Tyre, Sidon and other Phoenician
    •  Christian cities and towns provided rest-stops and shelters for the Apostles on their way to convert the world?
    • St. Jerome referred to Tyre as the place where St. Paul once knelt; and called Zarephath, Elijah’s town?
    • Phoenicians circumnavigated Africa?
    • Phoenicians were the first to use the Pole Star for navigation?
    • Phoenicians were able traders throughout the Mediterranean?
    • Phoenicians colonized the far corners of the Mediterranean from the Island of Cyprus in the East to Spain and Gibraltar including the outer Atlantic coast and North Africa in the West?
    • Britain was the Phoenicians’ secret treasure of tin where the name “Britain” may be coming from Barr (land) of Tannic (Tin)? Hence Britannia did not come from Prutani, the name applied to the Celts by the Romans, and some claim that the Celts were Phoenicians.
    • The Phoenicians reached North America BC and Punic inscriptions in Massachusetts and Iowa confirm this fact?
      • In the Iliad and the Odyssey, Homer mentions Phoenicia, Phoenicians and Phoenician cities.
      • The Phoenician possessed the science or art of dentistry as evident by the fine braces on a lower jaw of a scull?
      • The Phoenician language is still spoken today in Malta (orMaltese is a mixture of Phoenician/Punic and other Mediterranean languages) ?
      • To beef up their naval powers, conquerors employed the Phoenicians in building warship-fleets
      •  
        • The Phoenicians raised elephants on farms?
        • The first parliament ever to convene in the Middle East met in the Phoenician confederate city of Tripoli?
        • Roman Emperor Septimius Severus (193 – 211 AD) descended from early Phoenician settlers and spoke with a Phoenician accent?
        • Pythagoras was Phoenician and was initiated into the ‘Ancient Mysteries’ of the Phoenicians c. 548 B.C. and studied for about 3 years in the temples of Tyre, Sidon, and Byblos and that his father was a Phoenician merchant from Tyre?
        • Archimedes c.287 B.C.-212 B.C., Greek mathematician, physicist, and inventor, died during the Roman assault on Syracuse while designing a catapult and the Carthaginians fought on his side to defend the city.
        • Thales of Miletus (who was half Phoenician), one of the first great scientists, is said to have forecast the solar eclipse of the year 585 BC.
        • Zeno of Citium was a glowing star in the pre-Socratic age but was ridiculed in Athens for his Phoenician appearance.
        • Popes Anicetus (155 – 166 AD), John V (685-686 AD), Sergius I (687-701 AD) and Gregory III (741-752 AD) and Constantius were Phoenicians?
        • Aristotle held up the constitution of Carthage as a model.
        • Hasdrubal-Clitomachus added to Arcesilas a critical interpretation of certitude which makes him a forerunner of modern thought.
        • St. Augustine was Phoenician. He wrote “…there was a great deal of virtue and wisdom in the Punic books”.
        • St. Jerome believed Punic erotic poetry to be pernicious and described it as “lewd”.
        • Many parts of the Old Testament were plagiarized from Phoenician literature, poetry, and religion, similar to plagiarizing of the Book of Job (for example ) from Babylonian tales?
        • Phoenician sacrifice of children to the gods was copied/practiced by many Semites such as Abraham’s attempt to sacrifice his son?
        • The Phoenicians had a rough knowledge about pi (3.1416) at the time of Hiram and the building of Solomon’s Temple?
        • St. Frumentius, Phoenician from Tyre, converted Ethiopia to Christianity?
        • Mochus, a Sidonian, wrote a work on the atomic theory.

        Missionaries of Civilization

        The Phoenicians were instrumental in disseminating their form of writing which became our modern alphabet and in opening up various civilizations and cultures of the Mediterranean basin to each other. Both sciences and pseudosciences spread from Egypt and Mesopotamia to Phoenicia and Anatolia. The Phoenicians, in particular, transmitted much of this knowledge to the various lands of the Mediterranean, especially to the Greeks. The direction taken by these influences can be followed from Egypt to Phoenicia, Syria and Cyprus. The evidence comes thanks to a combination of excavated art forms that prove the direction of movement, as well as to Greek tradition. The latter lays great stress on what the early Greek philosophers learned from Egypt. Mesopotamian influence can be traced especially through the partial borrowing of Babylonian science and divination by the Hittites and later by the transmission of information through Phoenicia. The Egyptians and Mesopotamians wrote no theoretical treatises; information had to be transmitted piecemeal through personal contacts.
        Phoenician, what’s in a name?

        It is not certain what the Phoenicians called themselves in their own language; it appears to have been Kena’ani (Akkadian: Kinahna), “Canaanites.” In Hebrew the word kena’ani has the secondary meaning of “merchant,” a term that well characterizes the Phoenicians.
        The name ‘Phoenicians,’ was not what the Phoenicians called themselves but what the Greeks called them; the word means dark red in Greek and refers to the royal Tyrian purple dye that Phoenicians extracted from murex shells to dye cloth with and sold to the rich of the ancient world. The name appears in Psalm 45:14, in the phrase bat melek Ponnima (daughter of the king of the Phoenicians), which parallels bat Sor (daughter of Tyre) of verse 13. The same term, Ponnim (meaning the Phoenician language), appears in a comedy called Poenulus, by the Roman playwright T. Maccius Plautus (died 184 B.C.). TheLatin poenus (noun) and punicus (adjective), as well as Greekphoinikos, refer to the term Phoenician.

        Geography and Major Cities
        Baalbeck
        Berytus
        Byblos
        Caesarea
        Carthage
        Sidon
        Tyre
        Zarephta
        Political Structure and Colonies
        Their city states had a loose alliance and they established colonies in the far corners of the Mediterranean.
        Religion and Mythology
        They worshiped fertility gods and goddesses and their belief system was influenced by other religions in the Eastern Mediterranean and had some influence on Greek and Roman mythologies. At the beginning of the Christian era, Phoenicians were the first to accept the new faith after the Jews.
        Troubled History
        Phoenician cities, at the cross-roads of the East, were often invaded and subjugated by foreign conquerors which include Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Macedonians, Persians, and Romans, in addition to others. However, the Phoenicians were basically traders not warriors; and trade and war do not work well together.
        Creators of Alphabet
        They created a form of alphabet which evolved and was adapted by the Greeks to become the backbone of modern alphabet.
        Commerce and Other Achievements
        The Phoenicians were sea-faring traders who carried merchandise and goods across the Mediterranean. They circumnavigator Africa and used the Polar Star as a navigational guide.
        Important Visitor to Phoenicia (as opposed to invaders)
        Herodotus, historian
        Jesus Christ of Nazareth
        Saint Paul
        Saint Peter and other Apostles
        Origen, Christian scholar
        Pythagoras, mathematician and philosopher
        Others (more to come)
        Very Important Phoenicians (VIPs)
        Antipater of Sidon, Phoenician epigrammatist (150 BC – 127 BC)
        Aquilina of Byblos, Christian martyr (died in 293 A.D.)
        Barbara of Baalbeck/Heliopolis, Christian martyr (died in 237 A.D.)
        Cadmus, “Teacher of the Phoenician Alphabet”

        Christina of Tyre, Christian martyr (died in 300 A.D.)
        Dorotheus, Jurist and Professor of Roman Law
        Eusebius Bishop of Berytus (Beirut)
        Eusebius of Caesarea, Christian Icon
        Frumentius, Saint, Apostle of Abyssinia
        Hanno, Circumnavigator of Africa
        Himilco, Voyager
        Hiram the Architect, Solomon’s Temple Designer
        Jezebel Princess of Sidon and Queen of Israel (wife of King Ahab of Israel)
        John Mark Bishop of Byblos designated Bishop by St. Peter
        Pamphilus, Saint
        King Hiram of Tyre
        King Abi-Milki of Tyre
        King Ethbaal of Sidon (father of Princess Jezebel)
        King Ahiram of Byblos
        King Rib-Addi of Byblos
        King Zimrida of Sidon
        King Jabin of Hazor
        Matrona of Perge, Saint
        Mochus of Sidon wrote on the atomic theory
        Papinian, Jurist
        Perpetua and Felicity, Christian martyrs of Carthage (died in 203 A.D.)
        Philo of Byblos, Writer
        Porphyry of Tyre, Writer
        Pythagoras
        Phoenician Popes
        Sanchuniathon, Writer
        Thales of Citium
        Thales of Miletus, Astronomer
        Theodosia of Tyre, Christian martyr (died 293 A.D.)
        Ulpian, Jurist
        Zadok the Priest
        Zeno of Citium, Philosopher
        Zeno of Sidon, Philosopher
        Others (more to come)
        Phoenician Art, Crafts, Music, and Literature
        They dyed cloth which was the prized possession of the rich and worked in precious metals and ivory. Most Phoenician literature is unknown or was lost. However, second hand information and some ecclesiastical Phoenician works survive. Traces of their music may still be found in some church music today.
        The Logo or Coat of Arms ©
        The logo or Coat of Arms is my own creation and it represents Phoenician achievements and mythology. The two creatures or mythological monsters — part horse, part fish — called hippocampus come from Phoenician antiquity and represent Phoenician mythology. (The Trade link, under the subtitle Transit Trade, contains an image of a Phoenician silver coin with an impression of the hippocampus monster and a Phoenician ship.) Further, on the top of the logo, a piece of marble with Phoenician script represents Phoenician alphabet. Beneath it, the cloth represents famous Phoenician dyed cloth. At the very bottom, amphorae represent vessels which were used to carry Phoenician merchandise, as they traded about the Mediterranean.
        Why a Web page about Phoenicia?
        As a duty to my ancestors, to my national origin, to the young and old who do not know, to the old who wish to ignore the facts or like to hide them and to all those who are interested in history and cultures, I compiled this information.
        Dedication
        I dedicate this site in loving memory to my parents, Lucy and George, and to the good people of Bmakine, Souk El-Gharb, Ein El-Saiydeh, and Ein El-Rimmeneh — in the Lebanese mountains — where ever they may be.
        Acknowledgment
      • © Copyright, All rights reserved by original referenced materials and the author: http://phoenicia.org © Phoenician Canaanite Encyclopedia — ©Phoenician Encyclopedia — © Punic Encyclopedia — © Canaanite Encyclopedia — © Encyclopedia Phoeniciana, Encyclopedia Punica, Encyclopedia Canaanitica.
        Use of materials from this site are not allowed withou
        t written permission and must hyperlink back to http://phoenicia.org