Bhartiya parents used to impart moral education to their child's very early through stories of Panchtantra, also known as the "Five Moral Conduct," is all about.
It originated in India 5000 yrs ago and spread in the world.
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The earliest of Panchtantra tales is found from the potteries excavated in Lothal. It has stories of crows, fox and pigeons. The potteries dates at least 4500 years old when it was baked in a kiln. It survived somehow. #Archaeology IAR-Lothal
The original Panchatantra composed in Sanskrit has been lost. The earliest written surviving Pahlavi version was composed before 570 CE, while the present translation has been reconstructed from the Arabic and Syrian version
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It is said that that Sanskrit Panchatantra was written by Vishnu Sharman (1300bce-300ce) to teach Arthshastra to 3 fool son of a king called Amarashakti of Mahilaropa, Vishnu wrote five core stories.
This ver. was translated transmitted to Persia, Egypt, Syria and Europe.
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The first translation from the original Sanskrit text into Pahlavi (Middle Persian) was that of a Persian court physician named Borzui (Burzuyeh or Burzoe, 531–579). His translation, which he named Karataka and Damanaka
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Ibn al-Muqaffa Zoroastrian convert to lslam (720– c.757) expanded the moral aspect by adding the story of Dimna’s crimes, his trial, and his punishment, which were widely illustrated.
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Panchtantra migrated to the West as Christian parable of Barlaam and Josaphat
CC BY-SA 3.0
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Durgasimha’s Panchatantra (c. 1025–31 CE ) written in Kannada, the dialect native to Karnataka, and the Sanskrit Tantropakhyana (before 1200 CE ), spread to Thailand, Laos, and Indonesia. Eighteen of the stories known in India are also found in Indonesia
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Within South and East Asia, the Panchatantra was translated into the Newari language of Nepal and it is claimed that it was translated into Chinese by the last decade of the fifth century CE
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The Panchtantra tales can be found on artefacts from 2500 bce to 200 bce and on temple walls from 7 th century.
This one from a Chandraketugarh vase. A Monkey is seen riding a Crocodile.
2nd century CE.
Credit @Shubh31209361 #Archaeology#Hindutva#हिंदुत्व
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In this Tantri tale, the turtle is escaping from hunters thanks to two geese, who bear him aloft on a stick. Turtle opens its jaw to brag and falls to death
Tantri Tale. Nalanda. 7th century ce
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8th century #Panchatantra legends panels at Virupaksha Shaivism temple, Pattadakal Hindu monuments Karnataka
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The monkey crocodile friendship story ( Panchatantra written by Vishnu Sharma ) carved on the temple wall of mukteshwar , Bhubaneswar
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Kopeshver Temple, Khidrapur, 11th -12th c., shows the tale of the Tortoise and Birds
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Panchtantra Panels on Tripurantaka Temple (Tripurantakesvara or Tripurantakeshwara) was built around c. 1070 CE by the Western Chalukyas 1. Crow & Pitcher 2. Tortoise and two geese. 3. Monkey and a crocodile
This temple is in dialipilated condition now thanks 2 @ASIGoI
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Panchatantra relief at the Mendut temple, Central Java, Indonesia
A Yogi Torgoise and a Crab can be seen in this relief
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"Guide for Human Life" "Dectorium humanae vite" inspired by Giovanni, da Capua, active 13th century Compiler was published in Strasbourg in 1489. loc.gov/resource/gdcwd…
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Meeting of the jackal and the bull (Damanaka and Sanjivaka).
Executed in 1610 for Tana Sahib, the last Rajah of Golconda
The British Museum (Add. MS., 18,579)."
I remember "Moral Science" used to be impartd to primary students till 1980s. What happened later god knows?
So an essential Moral Education "Panchtantra" is now on verge of extinction and so does the Moral values.
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. 🗻
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.
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. 🧵👇
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.
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.
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 #WomenInPower
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. #GemsOfIndology
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
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 #Genocide
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.
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
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.
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?
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?
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 political
@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
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