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Aug 14, 2022 20 tweets 18 min read Read on X
1/ #Thread

#Sanskrit was not limited to India it was far spread upto Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam 2000 years ago let's see the reach in this #Thread
*Map not political
Src #wikiwand
#Archaeology Image
2/ The earliest surviving Sanskrit inscription is from Vo Canh inscription discovered near Nha Trang, Vietnam dates 3rd century ce
The inscription ordains grand daughter of King indicating a Matrilineal society.
#Archaeology
wikiwand.com/en/V%C3%B5_C%E…
m.phnompenhpost.com/post-plus/epig… ImageImage
3/ Yūpa Mulawarman (H!ndu king) inscription in Indonesia written by Brahm!ns in Pallava Script, Borneo, Kutai, Indonesia
Dates 4 century ce

This attests to the emergence of an Indianized state in the Indonesian archipelago.

wikiwand.com/en/Y%C5%ABpa#/… Image
4/ Kebon Kopi or 'Tapak Gajah inscription', Indonesia dating 5th century ce describes elephant ride of King Purnawarman of Tarumanagara, which is equated with Airavata, the elephant vahana (vehicle) of Indra.
#Archaeology
wikiwand.com/en/Kebon_Kopi_… ImageImage
5/ Tugu inscription in Pallava script in Sanskrit dates 5th century ce found in Batutumbuh hamlet, Tugu village, Koja, Indonesia

It describes hydraulic, irrigation and water drainage project of Chandrabhaga river by Rajadirajaguru

#Archaeology
wikiwand.com/en/Tugu_inscri… Image
6/ Cidanghiang inscription, also called Lebak inscription, from Tarumanagara kingdom, estimated to be from the 4th century CE, Banten, Indonesia
It is abt a king Purnawarman, with title vikrānta, who was worshiper of Lord Vishnu.
#Archaeology
wikiwand.com/en/Cidanghiang… ImageImage
7/ Prasasti Ciaruteun Inscription is 5th-century stone inscription discovered on the riverbed of Ciaruteun River, aWest Java, Indonesia.
The inscription states King Purnawarman is the ruler of Tarumanagara (An early H!ndu Kingdom)
#Archaeology
wikiwand.com/en/Ciaruteun_i…
#Archaeology Image
8/
Sanskrit inscription in Early Pallava script on a stone lying on the Pasir kole-angkak hill, Jambu, to the west of Bogor, Indonesia
C.5th century ce

#Archaeology
…italcollections.universiteitleiden.nl/view/item/84279 Image
9/
"Suvarnbhumi" "सुवर्णभूमि" found inscribed in 'Sanskrit' on a 7th century slab in Cambodia
#Archaeology Image
10/
Indonesian non-royal Sanskrit inscription dating 7th century describing how Sankara fulfilled his promise to his father to house a Linga 'representation of Shiva'
#archaeology
brill.com/view/journals/… ImageImage
11/
Ligor inscription is an 8th-century stone stele or inscription discovered in Ligor, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Southern Thailand Malay Peninsula.
written by Mahārāja dyāḥ Pañcapaṇa kariyāna Paṇaṃkaran, king of Shailendra dynasty
#archaeology
wikiwand.com/en/Ligor_inscr… Image
12/
Sanskrit inscription found in Trowulan, Melang dating c.966 ce
#Archaeology
journals.openedition.org/archipel/1976 ImageImage
13/ Singapore Stone inscription written in Sanskrit 10th-13th century originally stood at the mouth of Singapore river to be blown by Britishers in 1843 to widen the river pathway

#archaeology
wikiwand.com/en/Singapore_S… Image
14/
Few sanskrit writings found on pillars of Angkor Wat, Ta Nei, Kravan and Koh Ker temples Cambodia

#Archaeology
angkorphotographytours.com/blog/sanskrit-… Image
15/

More inscriptions at below link i skipped
wikiwand.com/en/Sanskrit_in…
15/
Laguna copperplate inscription is an official acquittance inscribed onto a copper plate in the Shaka year 822 (Gregorian A.D. 900).
It is the earliest known calendar-dated document found within the #Philippines
#Archaeology #philippinehistory
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laguna_Co… ImageImageImage
16/

Sawlumin inscription is one of the oldest surviving stone inscriptions in Myanmar. The slabs were mainly inscribed in Burmese, Pyu, Mon and Pali, and a few lines in #Sanskrit. the stele was founded in 1079 by King Saw Lu of Bagan.

#archaeology
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sawlumin_… Image
17/
5.1 Engraved copper sheet of Harsavarman with Sanskrit inscription K.964 found in the ancient moat of U Thong, #Thailand;
5.2. Stone inscription in Sanskrit K.1155 found at Ban Phan Dung, #Thailand
c.7-8th century

#Archaeology
researchgate.net/figure/51-Engr… Image
18/
#Sanskrit Inscription found in Brunei, a tiny nation on the island of Borneo, in 2 distinct sections surrounded by Malaysia and the South China Sea Brunei

#Archaeology
jstor.org/stable/41492843 ImageImage
19/
300 CE stone inscription in Sanskrit read
"This is a few feet like the feet of Vishnu. They are the glorious footprints of Purnawarman, the great king of the land of Taruma, the valiant king of the world.”
Bogor, Java, Indonesia
#archaeology
kris-keris.eu/page/mystiek Image

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More from @GemsOfINDOLOGY

Oct 25
When Sargon of Akkad bragged about "ships from Meluhha docking at Agade" (2334 BCE), he wasn't making it up.

The Sumerians called India by a name meaning "THE ELEVATED PLACE."

Why? Because mountains were how they FOUND us.

A thread on ancient branding. 🧵🗻
2/ Let's talk about how the Sumerians knew India as 'MELUHHA' 🧵

When Sargon of Akkad boasted (2334 BCE) about ships from Meluhha docking at Agade, he wasn't just name-dropping. The term possibly derives from Dravidian 'mel-akam' = 'elevated place.'

Why? Mountains.

Mount Meru/Sumeru wasn't just mythology—it was NAVIGATION. Ancient maritime traders crossing the Persian Gulf needed distinctive landmarks. The Harappan civilization's mountain ranges (Himalayas, Aravallis) served as crucial geographic identifiers.

Evidence? EVERYWHERE:

Harappan seals found in Ur, Babylon, Kish (2600-1900 BCE)

Gudea's records: 'translucent carnelian FROM MELUHHA'

Shortugai colony near Afghanistan lapis mines

Meluhhan interpreters living in Mesopotamian cities

The cosmic mountain of Vedic texts wasn't abstract philosophy—it was rooted in the REAL geography that made India recognizable across 2000km of ancient trade routes.

Mountains weren't just landmarks. They were BRANDS. 🗻Sumerian cuneiform tablet showing the term "Meluhha" referring to ancient India
3/ Let's start with the hard evidence. Because unlike colonial "Aryan invasion" fantasies, the Harappan-Sumerian connection is DOCUMENTED.

Sargon of Akkad (2334-2279 BCE) literally carved into stone: "Ships from Dilmun, Magan, and Meluhha dock at Agade's quays."

Not mythology. Not speculation. ROYAL INSCRIPTIONS.

Gudea of Lagash (2144-2124 BCE) was more specific: He imported "translucent carnelian" specifically FROM MELUHHA.

The Royal Cemetery at Ur? FILLED with Harappan carnelian beads using acid-etching techniques that ONLY the Harappans mastered (2600-2450 BCE).

Here's what colonial historians don't want you to know: The Harappan civilization covered 1.2 MILLION sq km. Mesopotamia? 65,000 sq km.

India wasn't the "backward" partner. We were the SUPERPOWER they desperately needed to trade with.

The evidence isn't subtle. It's OVERWHELMING.Image
Read 8 tweets
Oct 19
1/ Ever heard of Vasantsena? The legendary courtesan from Sudraka’s Sanskrit play “Mrichchhakatika” (The Little Clay Cart) – a woman who broke stereotypes & redefined love in ancient Indian drama. 🧵👇 This sculpture is on display at the National Museum, has a back and front scene - on one side the beautiful Vasantasena creeps away into the night, with her anklets hitched to her knees so that she may make no sound. She holds her arms high, using her garment to hide her identity and revealing the secret tryst she is on. Her attendant holds a parasol behind her alluding to her important position. She is the heroine of a famous Sanskrit play called Mrichchhakatika (The Little Clay Cart) Directly behind this panel is a drunk Vasantasena, youth incarnate and shown full busted, bejewelled and b...
2/ Located in Ujjayini, “Mrichchhakatika” focuses not on deities or royalty, but on everyday individuals—an altruistic yet impoverished Brahmin named Charudatta, an astute courtesan called Vasantsena, as well as ambitious politicians and street scoundrels. Image
3/ Vasantsena stands out—not as a victim or villain, but as a powerful, empathetic, and generous woman. She’s famed for her beauty AND her heart. She falls for Charudatta, a man who lost his wealth but not his virtue. Image
Read 11 tweets
Oct 11
1/ Who was Chand Bibi? Around 1550, Chand Bibi emerged as the regent for the Sultanates of Bijapur and Ahmednagar. Fluent in multiple languages, a talented artist, and a fierce warrior, she stood out as a remarkable figure during the Deccan's challenging times. #History #WomenInPowerChand Bibi Hawking with Attendants in a Landscape ca. 1700  Chand Bibi was a legendary queen of Ahmadnagar in the Deccan, who valiantly defended her fortress against the Mughal army in the sixteenth century. Her image became a popular subject in Deccani painting, and she is frequently depicted hawking, as in this work. Here she rides a white horse, whose lower half has been colored red with henna to symbolize its wading through blood (or bravery in battle). Three female attendants accompany her on foot; one holds up a ceremonial sunshade behind the queen while another leads the way ahead of...
2/ Raised in royal grandeur, the daughter of Hussain Nizam Shah I excelled in a diverse array of languages like Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Marathi, and Kannada. Her talents extended to the sitar, painting, and even the game of polo—skills that were exceptional for women of her stature during that era. #GemsOfIndologyImage
Image
3/ Ruling Bijapur:
Upon the passing of Ali Adil Shah I, Chand Bibi stepped in as regent for her young nephew, skillfully navigating several coup attempts with her unwavering resolve and tactical genius. #IndianWomen #DeccanHistory Image
Read 9 tweets
Oct 2
1️⃣ 🧵 Thread: The European Genocide of the Selk'nam — Tierra del Fuego’s Forgotten People

The Selk'nam were indigenous to the remote Tierra del Fuego archipelago in South America. Around 4,000 strong in the 1880s, within 50 years, they were nearly wiped out. Why? Because European foreigner settlers saw them as obstacles to colonization.

Tag this to your favourite european occupiers in South America #Selknam #GenocideImage
2️⃣ In 1520, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan, sailing for Spain, first saw Tierra del Fuego, naming it the "Land of Fire" due to numerous coastal fires lit by Indigenous peoples. Among them were the Selk'nam, also known as Ona or Onawo, one of the four tribes present when Europeans arrived.Image
3️⃣ Europeans unleashed a brutal campaign of extermination. The Selk'nam were hunted like animals, shot on sight. Bounties were offered for their dead bodies — reportedly 1 British pound per head. Women fetched even higher prices. #IndigenousGenocide Image
Read 11 tweets
Sep 27
1️⃣ Did you know early human societies around 5000 BCE may have had more balanced or even female-skewed populations? Archaeological sites like Escoural Cave in Portugal reveal more women than men buried, hinting at goddess-worshipping, egalitarian cultures. Imagine a world led by the divine feminine! How does that contrast with what we see today

#Thread #Patriarchy #matriarchy how it shaped the world around.Image
2️⃣ Fast forward to 3000 BCE, the Bronze Age Steppe migrations changed everything. These male-heavy migrant groups (up to 14 men for every woman!) swept across Europe, bringing patriarchal Indo-European cultures. This massive male influx reshaped societies and sidelined earlier goddess-centric beliefs. Could migration be a key driver of social change?Image
3️⃣ In ancient Mesopotamia, early female priestesses slowly lost status as patriarchal kings and male gods took over. The goddess-centered rituals gave way to male dominance—where power shifted from women to men, altering social norms deeply. History shows religion can fuel big societal shifts. Ever thought about how theology shapes social roles?Image
Read 18 tweets
Sep 19
1. Thread: The Forgotten Names of the Bay of Bengal – A Journey Through Time 🧵👇

🌊 Most people know it as the Bay of Bengal. But did you know it once had many other names? The story of this bay is as ancient, diverse, and contested as Indian heritage itself

* maps AI generated and not politicalImage
@narendramodi @PMOIndia @mygovindia @IndicMeenakshi 2. 🗺️ In Vedic and classical Indian texts, this vast water body was called "Mahodadhi" (the great ocean), "Vangasagara" (Bengal Sea), and "Purvapayodhi" (Eastern Sea). These names reflect the immense cultural and maritime legacy of the eastern coast Image
3.
🏛️ To the Greeks and Romans, it was the "Gulf of the Ganges" or "Sinus Gangeticus". These names dominated European maps for centuries, a testament to the Ganga’s spiritual and geographical prominence Image
Read 11 tweets

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