#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
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_…
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
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…
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
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
9/ "Suvarnbhumi" "सुवर्णभूमि" found inscribed in 'Sanskrit' on a 7th century slab in Cambodia #Archaeology
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/…
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…
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
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.
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
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
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
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1️⃣ 🧵 Thread: The Ancient Burial Jar Tradition from Assam to Indonesia - A Journey Through Time and Culture 👇
Did you know? Across Asia, from Northeast India to Indonesia, ancient cultures practiced fascinating burial customs using massive stone and ceramic jars to honor their dead. These burial jars reveal secrets about trade, beliefs, and connections over 2,000 years ago!
More intriguining is that these gigantic jars are made out of rock. How they achieved this feat is mysterious.
#Archaeology
2️⃣ 2/ In Assam, India, the mysterious megalithic stone jars of Dima Hasao date back to 400+ BCE. Some jars stand over 3 meters tall, carved from sandstone, placed on hilltops! The largest site — Nuchubunglo — houses 546 jars, the biggest collection worldwide yet lacking research #AssamHeritage
Key Assam Sites:
-Nuchubunglo (Bolasan): 546 stone jars - the world's largest concentration
-Hojai Dobongling (Derebore): Original site documented in 1929
-Lower Chaikam: 35 jars discovered in 2020
-Herakilo: 10 jars found during recent surveys
-Longkhai Hamrim Hading: Single weathered jar with human remains
3️⃣ Vietnamese Sa Huynh culture (500 BCE - 200 CE) is well known for their exquisite ceramic burial jars. These contained iron tools, glass beads traded all the way from India & Iran, showing an extensive ancient trade network! #SaHuynh #VietnamHistory
Notable Vietnamese Sites:
-Can Rang, Thua Thien Hue: 207 burial jars on 2,200 square meters
-Sa Huynh, Quang Ngai: Original discovery site with hundreds of jars
-Bai Coi, Ha Tinh: First peach-shaped burial jar discovered in 2008
-Long Thanh: 18 sophisticated decorated vases
1️⃣ The Archaeological Survey of India won't reveal the true story of Rohtasgarh Fort.
- Ancient Times: Legend has it that Rohtasgarh was established by Rohitashva, the son of the mythical Suryavanshi ruler Harishchandra, which inspired the area's name. However, since there are no definitive ruins from before the 7th century, its early history remains enigmatic.
Imagery AI Created
2️⃣ An ancient inscription traces back to Mahasamanta Shashankadava, believed to be connected to Shashanka, the Gauda monarch. Around the 13th century, the Khayaravala dynasty, which likely had ties to local Kharwar tribes, governed the area. A notable inscription from 1223 CE references Shri Pratapa, who triumphed over a Muslim "Yavana" force. The royal seal features a humped bull as its emblem.
3️⃣ - in 1539, the fort transitioned from Hindu rulers to Sher Shah Suri, who took over Rohtasgarh through cunning, disguising his soldiers as a party seeking asylum for his family and valuables using palanquins. under his command, the fort became a heavily fortified site housing a 10,000-man garrison. within its walls, in 1543, his general Haibat Khan erected the Jami Masjid.
1️⃣ In Goa, Hindu communities embrace an age-old custom of venerating anthills, considering them sacred representations of the Earth Goddess. Locally referred to as Sateri (Santeri), Bhoomika, Ela, among other names, these anthills are honored as symbols of mother earth's divinity. The village name "Bhoma" in Goa is rooted in this reverence, connecting back to Bhoomi (Earth). One notable example is the revered anthill in Virnoda, Goa.
2️⃣ The revered structures are termite mounds, not ant hills, as termites and ants are biologically different species. In Konkani, "ro’in" signifies anthills, which historically connects to the Austric-rooted word "Rono," meaning "full of holes."
3️⃣ For centuries, anthill veneration has been intertwined with Hindu customs surrounding events such as birth, marriage, illness, death, protection against malevolence, the consecration of temples, and ensuring prosperity. In Goa, the village of Virnoda hosts a prominent site of ancient anthill worship, and this practice is also honored at the Sateri temple in Morjim, even as some of these temples have fallen into decline.
1️⃣ # Victorian Code of Modesty: A Thread on Female Status and personal Life vs Men
## The Hidden Reality Behind Victorian "Virtue"
The Victorian era (1837-1901) created one of history's most elaborate systems of female subjugation, disguised as moral protection. While we often picture prudish women fainting at exposed ankles, the reality was a calculated legal, medical, and social framework that stripped women of personhood while claiming to honor their virtue.
This should be bookmarked for future references. RT max
2️⃣ ## The Doctrine of Separate Spheres: Biology as Destiny
Victorian society was built on the "doctrine of separate spheres"- the belief that men and women were naturally designed for completely different roles:
**Men's Domain:**
- Public sphere (politics, business, law, commerce)
- Active, rational, progressive nature
- Financial providers and decision-makers
- Natural sexual beings with legitimate desires
**Women's Domain:**
- Private sphere (home, family, religion)
- Passive, emotional, nurturing nature
- Moral guardians without sexual feelings
- Dependent beings requiring male protection
This wasn't merely social convention - Victorians believed it was **biological destiny**[4]. As one Victorian theorist declared: "The man's power is active, progressive, defensive... but the woman's power is for rule, not for battle"[5].
3️⃣
## The Victorian Code of Modesty: Control Through Clothing
### Physical Restrictions Disguised as Virtue
Victorian women's clothing literally embodied their oppression:
- **Complete body coverage:** High necklines, long sleeves, floor-length skirts
- **Multiple daily changes:** Different outfits for morning visits, afternoon activities, evening events
- **Restrictive undergarments:** Corsets so tight they caused fainting and required male assistance for movement
- **Covered extremities:** Gloves mandatory, exposed ankles scandalous
The cruel irony? Evening wear often featured low necklines and bare arms[8] - modesty was situational, serving male convenience rather than moral consistency.
### Behavioral Control Through Etiquette
Conduct manuals dictated every aspect of a lady's existence[9][10][11]:
- **"Tip her tongue with silence"** - women should be seen, not heard[9]
- **No political or religious opinions** - these were exclusively male domains
- **Avoid "jolly" behavior** - too much personality was unseemly[9]
- **Limited social activities** - theater and public gatherings could "corrupt"[9]
- **Perfect domestic submission** - entire identity centered on serving others
As one etiquette guide instructed: "Rather be silent than talk nonsense"[12], revealing the assumption that women's thoughts were inherently foolish.
AKTC is a philanthropic agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), founded in 1988 in Geneva, Switzerland, with the aim to revitalize historic cities, conserve monuments, and leverage culture for community development.
2️⃣ Who Founded AKTC?
AKTC was created by His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, the 49th hereditary Imam of the Nizari Ismaili Muslims, as part of AKDN’s broader mandate to improve welfare in Asia and Africa.
3️⃣ Why was AKTC Formed?
Its mission: To preserve and restore heritage sites, recognize architectural excellence (Aga Khan Award for Architecture), and integrate cultural revitalization into broader efforts of poverty alleviation and urban renewal in developing countries.
1/ 🧵Colonial Science & Caste: A Madras Observatory Story
How did Brahmins become human instruments of empire? A thread on caste, race, and the strange machinery of colonial astronomy in India. 👇
2/ Brahmin as Tools
The Madras Observatory served as more than just a center for astronomical study; it was where colonial science intersected with issues of caste and ethnicity. Brahmins were chosen not solely for their expertise, but for their skills in calculation, documentation, and adherence to orders. They gradually became regarded less as intellectuals and more as automated entities—akin to "human substitutes for self-recording devices."
Despite their crucial contributions, Indian assistants were often reduced to mere 'tools' or machines, with their wisdom and independence minimized in official narratives.
3/ The Observatory's social framework aimed to bolster tax assessments and required individuals who could navigate both Indian and European spheres. Thus emerged the "half-caste" computers. These intermediaries served as vital links between the two communities. Mixed-race aides were initially pivotal in calculations and teaching. However, issues of trust and racial hierarchy eventually led Europeans to dominate certain roles, causing the system to unravel.