In the pathbreaking work of Shrikanth Talegiri the relative chronology of the rig vedic mandalas have been generated using the data provided in them. My attempt in this blog is to use the data to correct the position of the mandala 2 with respect to other mandalas.
Talegiri Witzel correspondence
Before Talegiri's third book released the famous correspondence between talegiri and Harvard professorMichael witzel took place. Talegiri attributes the correspondence/argument as his inspiration for the path breaking this book. It is unfortunate that Talegiri stopped getting any feed back from the academia after his third book.
Before Talegiri's third book released the famous correspondence between talegiri and Harvard professorMichael witzel took place. Talegiri attributes the correspondence/argument as his inspiration for the path breaking this book. It is unfortunate that Talegiri stopped getting any feed back from the academia after his third book.
My attempt in this blog is to provide such a feed back to Talegiri specifically regarding the relative chronology of the mandala (book) 2.
Mandala 2 was also the argument between Witzel and Talegiri. Witzel argued that book 2 is the oldest mandala while talegiri proposed mandala (book) 6. Talegiri places book 2 after book 6,3,7 and 4.
In the blog I use the data similar to talegiri to to place book 2 after book 6 but before book 3,7 and 4.
Data supporting book 2 relative chronology
Talegiri's path breaking analysis of name and name types proved the Mittani and Zoroastrian culture was late rig vedic and not indo iranian in origin.
The following arguments uses the same analysis to place book 2 after book 6.
Lineage of kings
Only book 2 besides book 6 strictly refers to Bharatha kings before sudas. The Bharatha kings mentioned in book 2 is Divodasa. Book 6 talks of his decendant Srinjaya and interestingly also mentions Grtsamada's father Vitahavya.
Complete absense of Vitahavya and Grtsamada is any books besides 6 and 2 shows the close relationship between book 6 and 2. The story of Vitahavya and Grtsamada is mentioned in Mahabharatha. Another important charachter in Vitahavya's story is Divodasa. Book 6 mentions king Divodasa as contemporary ( 6.16.9 6.16.38 6.47.23) . Which places Grtsamada's (decendant of Vitahavya) book 2 as clear succession.
Lineage of sages
Interestingly Talegiri uses lineage of sages to refute Witzel's argument for placing book 2 before book 6. But he fails to see the Lineage of sages as close bond between both the books.
The Bharadwaja sages Suhotra and Sunahotra are not only descendants but not mentioned in any other family books. This shows the close affinity between book 6 and 2.
Interestingly only book 2 and book 6 mention no other rishi lineage besides Angiras/Bharadwaj and Bhrghu. Angiras and Bhrugu, as per Talegiri, date back to pre rig vedic Indo iranian era. This lines up with the evidence in book 2 and book 6.
Zoroastrian Tritha and Sapta sindhu
The story of Vitahavya mentions that, he took shelter under sage Bhrghu and that is were Grtsamada grew. In light of the story it makes sense if Grtsamada book 2 imbibed Bhrgu cultural terms. The bhrugu culture as per Talegiri is the pre cursor to zoroastrian culture. Bhrugu/pre zoroastrian civilization lived in the sapta sindu region in the west and trita is a zoroastrian personality.
The presence of Sapta sindhu and Trita might have subconsciously led Talegiri to put book 2 after 3,7 and 4 erroneously. But in light of the evidence of lineage and historical context from Mahabharatha the book 2 must be placed after 6.
