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.
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
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.