Indian Ascetics as observed by the Greeks in 4th century BCE
India, in the fourth century BC, and indeed , since the rise of Jainism and Buddhism in the fifth century BCE had been noted for the multiplicity of its schools and sects of ascetics.
Their forerunners were the wandering ascetics of the Vedic days , the ' Charakas', and, later, the 'Parivrajakas', followed by pre-Buddhistic sects like 'Ajvikās' ( who went about naked), the 'Nirgranthas' ( of scanty clothing) , the 'Jatilakas', and the like.
The Greeks who invaded India, under Alexander between 327-325 BCE, have left an account of their impressions on these ascetics.
The works of Arrian, Plutarch, et al provide an important information on the meetings between the Greeks and the Indian ascetics.
At the time of Alexander's invasion in 326 BCE, the Greeks saw the Indian ascetics at Taxila.
As they won't care to see Alexander, Alexander sent them a person called Onesicritus, who reports that he saw a group of ascetics 15 km from Taxila.
On being told that the Greek king wanted to learn their wisdom, one of them bluntly stated that ” no one coming in the way of European clothes could earn their wisdom.
"To do that , he must strip naked and learn to sit on the hot stones besides them.”
The leader or Guru of these ascetics is named by Greeks as Dandamis, an unbending idealist, who did not care to see Alexander even on the pain of death and sent his reply in noble words:
"God alone is the object of my homage. Alexander is not God since he must taste death. I have no fear or favour to ask. What Alexander can offer me is utter useless."
"The things that I prize are these leaves which are my house, these blooming plants, which supply me food. Having nothing which requires gardening, I have tranquil slumber, whereas had I gold to guard, that would banish sleep."
"The Brahmins neither love gold nor fear death.. "
These words truly represent the philosophy of life followed by ascetics of India in all ages up to this day, believing in 'Chittavritii nirodha, meaning. 'withdrawal of mind from the objective world of matter', as the foundation of religious life & spirituality of man.
It is to be noted that the Greeks did not find any Buddhist monks in NW India.
It is strange that Buddhism existed at least two centuries before Alexander's invasion, and yet we see no reference to Buddhists in the Greek accounts.
Either Buddhism wasn't there at all at the time in NW or the appearance & manners of its followers were not so peculiar as to enable a foreigner to distinguish them from the mass of the people.
Source: Chandragupta Maurya & his times by Dr. R. K. Mookerji
The thread would detail about the ancient city of Pātaliputra ( modern Patna).
The city has been named in various texts of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhiam, and has been known by various names such as 'Pātalaigrama', 'Pushpa-pura', 'Kusum-pura', etc.
The origin of the name of Pātaliputra is unclear.
Some scholars consider it from the word 'patali' = a species of rice known as Bignonia suaveloens.
Others consider it from son of a king named as Sudarshan.
Mycenae is an archaeological site 120 km SW of Athens.
During the late bronze Age, it was one of major centres of Greek civilization.
The period of Greek history between 1600-1100 BCE, is called 'Mycenaean' in reference to Mycenae.
Image of Lion/Lioness gate at Mycenae
At its peak in 1350 BC, the citadel and lower town had a population of 30,000 and an area of 32 hectares.
The Mycenaeans have been described in the Linear B tablets, by the Hittites in their diplomatic correspondence, and by Homer who describes it as 'rich in gold'.
Perhaps Mycenae was the strongest of all the Greek regions in those times, bounded by a loose confederation.
This confederation, perhaps sacked Troy ( Wallusia, in Hittite texts) in the Asia Minor.
This short thread would detail the origin of Gupta dynasty, laying special emphasis on first of its two kings, Sri Gupta and Ghatotkacha Gupta.
The origin of Guptas is shrouded in mystery.
Like all great empires before them, the imperial Gupta family must have had a small and obscure origin.
Some have debated that they were from the area of Benaras or Bengal, and they started out as feudatories of Kushans.
Though the available evidences are not conclusive regarding Guptas as being feudatories of Kushans, several later era Gupta inscriptions and travelogue from Chinese pilgrims like I-tsing, gives an indication as to the origins of Gupta dynasty.