Chiru Bhat | ಚಿರು ಭಟ್ Profile picture
ಕನ್ನಡಿಗ | Advocate | Ex @KannadaRepublic | Political Strategy | Nationalist | Columns & Tweets on security & politics | Kashmir Lover | Tweets are personal

Nov 17, 2020, 20 tweets

Thread.
Many asked me through DMs that why I am not tweeting on Roopa IPS issue and is it because she was a columnist in our newspaper?
No, it is because I am in my native & don't have proper network to tweet.
Adding to @TIinExile, I hav many docs in which crackers are mentioned.

Here Marathi Poet Ekanatha describes rocket & variety of fireworks called Chandrajyoti.
Below are the list of 7 types of Fireworks.
I've to point out Roopa IPS
One Haatananka is a type of Firework that can be held in the hand & emitting a glow of firey fire sparks.
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Finished? No.
Below is the chronology since 6th century as to how crackers were being used in Bhaarata.
Pls don't say these are all Chinese history. In that case you don't know about about Bhaarata at all.
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In KautukaChintamani, below materials were used in the manufacture of fireworks as found in the Sanskrit verses describing the formulas:
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Another Maharashtra Author Raamadasa refers to guns and fireworks in various writings. Following are the references in Raamadasa Samagra Grantha.
This can be found in Page 345, 588, 621, 623 and more.
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*I need to REOPEN THIS THREAD as I've got more proof*
In Tanjore Manuscript Library there is one Sanskrit work called AakashaBairava Kalpa. There, Paatala 62 deals with several entertainment(vinodas) for the king. The following passage found describing a display of Fireworks.
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In the glossary of non Sanskrit terms called RaajaVyavahaaraKosha composed by Raghunatha Pandita by order of Maratha King Shivaji, he explains the term Baana Agninalika. A tube filled with gunpowder. In AkashaBhairava Kalpa description of #Deepavali Fest is given.
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It is in this connection the King is advised to witness a display of fireworks at nightfall along with tributary princess etc. (Pic 1)
Tavernier(A.D.1676) in his TRAVELS IN INDIA refers to the use of fireworks in India and Java in the following extracts:
(Pic 2)

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Mahadji Scindia(1727-1794) informed Peshwa Savai Madhavrao as follows:
The Diwali Festival is celebrated for 4 days in Kota(Rajasthan) when lacs of lamps are lighted. Raja of Kota gives display of fireworks outside the premises of his capital. It is called Daaruchi Lanka.

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The Peshwa ordered to Mahadji to give a similar display of fireworks for his entertainment. Mahadji made all preparations within 15 days and the display was carried out on a dark night before the Peshwa and his Sardars. It took place at the foot of Parvati Hills(near Poona)

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Arrey Bhai, forget about display of fireworks. We even recorded methods of manufacturing diff., fireworks for Diwali. Small booklet by Lakshmana Pamji Khopkar mentioned few materials. Many of such ingredients are mentioned in KautukaChintamani Gajapati PrataapaRudradeva.

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Now let's see how is it in South India.
Abdur Razzaq, the ambassador from the court of Sultan Shah, who stayed in Vijayanagara from April end A.D 1443 till the 5th of Dec‌ 1443, during the term of Devaraya-2 mentions the use of fireworks in Mahanavami Festival.

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Verthema in his work TRAVELS(Argonaut Press, London 1928) writes about Malacca and Sumatra in in Captr-12. He was at Pidar(Pedir) in Sumatra. About the people of this place he observes on page 86 as below 👇

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Verthema also describes the city of Vijayanagar, it's elephants and elephant-fights. In this connection he observes in page 52 as below 👇

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The manufacture of fireworks at Vijayanagar and their display observed by Abdur Razzaq in A.D.1443 had reached the perfection by A.D.1500 as vouched by the above remarks by Verthema. 👆

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Coming back to Marathi Poet Ekanatha, he in poem RUKMINI-SWAYAMVARA which was completed in 1570A.D. gives display of fireworks in marriage procession of Rukmini and Krishna. Chapter 15 of the same book says as below. 👇 Kindly look into the words which are in bold.

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Dear @D_Roopa_IPS, We've known each other since years. Hence I just presented what I've read from book for your reference. I've got something to say from my side too.
1. No scriptures directly use particular words like "crackers", " Sivakasi", "standard pataki" etc.

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2. @TIinExile quoted from Skanda Purana and others I quoted from 1400A.D till 1900. All we mean to say is Pataki is always with us from centuries, hence cannot say it is not Hindu.
3. Beauty of Hindu Dharma is we're never dependent on one book like !zl@m.We keep on updating.
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When we make mistakes Rishis used to show us the right path through Smritis. Poets work on it to beautify it to make it more dear to common people.
4. I may be wrong anywhere. But I presented what I've got. By this, once again I got an opportunity to learn something new.

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5. No hard feelings @D_Roopa_IPS. Bcoz @TIinExile, me, u & many readers are in profit because of so much of knowledge exchange. 😍
All my points are taken from book "The History Of Fireworks In India" by PK Gode published by Indian Institute of Culture, Bengaluru
Jai Sriram
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