Documentary on Ramayana's Historicity - REALLY Interesting!

[TatTvamAsi]

I came across this documentary on the historicity of Valmiki's Ramayana.

Link: Is Rama just a Myth or really a historical Figure? Lets Find it out - YouTube

This is the first one that seems to have some solid evidence as far as establishing the historicity of the Ramayana is concerned.

One of the main things that stood out to me was the dating of Sri Rama - 5114 BCE which is over 7000 years ago.

The common understanding is that the Treta Yuga, the epoch in which the Ramayana took place, is calculated to have started more than 2 MILLION years ago (2,165,115 to be a little more precise) using the solar cycle. Most people, including myself, think that the Ramayana happened "millions" of years ago - especially given the corroborating evidence of the date of the Ram Setu bridge from RameSwaram (in South India) to Sri Lanka - which is ~1.7M years ago.

This new dating in the documentary, using astronomical systems - mostly positions of planets and nakshatrAs stated in the Ramayana itself, seems really interesting to me.

It also seems much more plausible that a strong civilization existed around 7000 and odd years ago rather than ~2M years ago.

Take a look at the video. What do you guys think?

Anyway, most people, including Hindus themselves, have been convinced by anti-Hindus that Rama and Krishna are "mythological" characters - like in a cartoon. Don't let them coerce you into disbelieving that Rama and Krishna are indeed "real" (as we are ) historical persons who walked not only this earth, but in Bharat!

 

[Kalicharan Tuvij]

pranam

Seems it will take nothing less than an Avatar to convince people today. Though even Krishna and Rama had to struggle all their lives fighting their very own people.

The reality is, today's Indians (young urban class) are filled with intense hate of Rama and Krishna.

So as you see one cannot manufacture Faith for folks who lack it. Like you see what is happening right now in Egypt.

In fact every Indian, irrespective of their religious affiliations, fully KNOWS Rama and Krishna to be historical figures.

 

[Riverwolf]

I never doubted that Rama and Krishna were likely to be based on real historical figures, as most legendary figures (Gods and men) are.

The tricky part is establishing exactly who they were in real life, and whether the existing stories about them truly reflect history. My studies never brought me to a place where I could have a solid stance on the issue of these two.

But don't confuse the label of "mythological figure" as being equivalent to, say, Biker Mice From Mars (...yes, that was a real cartoon, and it was as stupid as it sounds). A mythological figure is the absolute highest level a literary figure can possibly get, because they transcend fiction and become as real as, well, the real, and their stories last forever.

 

[Poeticus]

The reality is, today's Indians (young urban class) are filled with intense hate of Rama and Krishna.

I believe it is because of the Congress Party.

So as you see one cannot manufacture Faith for folks who lack it. Like you see what is happening right now in Egypt.

I believe it is because of the Muslim Brotherhood.

In fact every Indian, irrespective of their religious affiliations, fully KNOWS Rama and Krishna to be historical figures.

Good; they better believe. Otherwise, they shall face the wrath of Mitra-Varuna! Muahahaha!

 

[Poeticus]

A mythological figure is the absolute highest level a literary figure can possibly get, because they transcend fiction and become as real as, well, the real, and their stories last forever.

Now, where have I heard that before? Oh, that's right, from the following, muahaha:

Click me and read second paragraph muahahaha

 

[Riverwolf]

Now, where have I heard that before? Oh, that's right, from the following, muahaha:

Click me and read second paragraph muahahaha

Ah, yes, good ol' Snorri. Actually, I came up with that idea on my own, mostly.

Frankly, I think that while the old son of Sturl was on to something, he took the idea WAY too far by rebranding the mythology and fitting it into what he thought he knew of history...

Much like, how, *GASP* England did with Indian mythology! (...okay, Sturlson was doing it with his own heritage rather than one from halfway around the world, so I guess it's a bit more forgivable, then? )

 

[Ekanta]

Sathya Sai Baba dated Rama to 20.000 years ago (and Krishna 5000 as standard)... It seems a bit odd that the avatar prior to Krishna was just 2000 years earlier. The darker/shorter the yuga, the more frequent the need for an avatar it seems.
I cant really comment on the astronomical aspects of the Movie.

 

[ratikala]

namaskaram TatTvamAsi:namaste

I came across this documentary on the historicity of Valmiki's Ramayana.

Link: Is Rama just a Myth or really a historical Figure? Lets Find it out - YouTube

This is the first one that seems to have some solid evidence as far as establishing the historicity of the Ramayana is concerned.

I found this just recently under a different title with a bit more discussion about the land bridge , .... this method of computer generated dating by atrological positioning has been used to date some non hindu temple structures and sites .

what occurs to me is the given date for lord ramas apperance is 2 million years ago (aprox)....this astrological dating is giving 7000 years ago ? despite their calculations I would be enclined to go for the treta yuga date of 2 million , as there is every possibility that the planetary cycles repeat them selves and that more advanced computer generation may well prove this at some point .they will then find that they have simply identified the same positions on a later cycle .

we have been given such exact descriptions of the duration of each yuga , and considering that this exact science is based upon the day and night cycles of brahma we are being given an understanding of time cycles not yet comprehensable by modern science or computer technology .

allthough no one has yet sugested it , .. there is no reason that the land bridge to lanka could not also have been built at a much earlier date and maintained periodicaly , even raised as sea levels have risen .

One of the main things that stood out to me was the dating of Sri Rama - 5114 BCE which is over 7000 years ago.

The common understanding is that the Treta Yuga, the epoch in which the Ramayana took place, is calculated to have started more than 2 MILLION years ago (2,165,115 to be a little more precise) using the solar cycle. Most people, including myself, think that the Ramayana happened "millions" of years ago - especially given the corroborating evidence of the date of the Ram Setu bridge from RameSwaram (in South India) to Sri Lanka - which is ~1.7M years ago.

yes I am with you on the earlier date .

This new dating in the documentary, using astronomical systems - mostly positions of planets and nakshatrAs stated in the Ramayana itself, seems really interesting to me.

It also seems much more plausible that a strong civilization existed around 7000 and odd years ago rather than ~2M years ago.

but consider also that artifacts have been found at the site of the submerged dwarka that date back 32,000 years , so even when it was submerged it was a very long standing settlement .

Take a look at the video. What do you guys think?

good to see logical investigation , but I think they will find out more once they realy begin to look in to the true origins of indian civilisation .

Anyway, most people, including Hindus themselves, have been convinced by anti-Hindus that Rama and Krishna are "mythological" characters - like in a cartoon. Don't let them coerce you into disbelieving that Rama and Krishna are indeed "real" (as we are ) historical persons who walked not only this earth, but in Bharat!

no not me . I am of firm beleif that we are talking about historical events :namaste

 

[Poeticus]

namaskaram TatTvamAsi:namaste



I found this just recently under a different title with a bit more discussion about the land bridge , .... this method of computer generated dating by atrological positioning has been used to date some non hindu temple structures and sites .

what occurs to me is the given date for lord ramas apperance is 2 million years ago (aprox)....this astrological dating is giving 7000 years ago ? despite their calculations I would be enclined to go for the treta yuga date of 2 million , as there is every possibility that the planetary cycles repeat them selves and that more advanced computer generation may well prove this at some point .they will then find that they have simply identified the same positions on a later cycle .

we have been given such exact descriptions of the duration of each yuga , and considering that this exact science is based upon the day and night cycles of brahma we are being given an understanding of time cycles not yet comprehensable by modern science or computer technology .

allthough no one has yet sugested it , .. there is no reason that the land bridge to lanka could not also have been built at a much earlier date and maintained periodicaly , even raised as sea levels have risen .
yes I am with you on the earlier date .
but consider also that artifacts have been found at the site of the submerged dwarka that date back 32,000 years , so even when it was submerged it was a very long standing settlement .
good to see logical investigation , but I think they will find out more once they realy begin to look in to the true origins of indian civilisation .
no not me . I am of firm beleif that we are talking about historical events :namaste

Good post, Bhaginī!

 

[ShivaFan]

Namaste

Thanks for sharing the video, very interesting. And the knowledge about the bridge (so-called "Adam's bridge") is becoming better known by the general populace all over the world, and often used as an example that would indicate theactual historical events of the Ramayana.

Because this is becoming a popular subject, not just in India but all over the world, it comes up even in "new age" circles, though we have issues with that, and in some "discovery" type documentaries.

I only mention that, because I saw some similar presentation which also discussed the bridge (perhaps I can find the source), discussed the change in the size of continents, weather and so on which would give a more accurate picture of the conditions at the time of the Ramayana, and it also went into an analysis of star positions as a form of dating, but the date presented in this analysis was much older than only 7000 years ago.

I believe the date of only 7000 years ago is incorrect for several reasons, inclusive of the event would have been passed down in Egyptian and Mesopotamian traditions as being historically recent (viz only 7000 years ago), but I see no case made in such other traditions, only indirect references that would imply a much more ancient date.

I am glad awareness of the Ramayana is becoming popular.

And it is only to be expected, the history involved is almost written in our finger prints, our spirit, I predict no matter where we go as humans, to the next planets and galaxies, and worlds, we will bring the Ramayana with us.

Om Namah Sivaya

 

[kalyan]

First we need to understand that Krishna left around 3112 BC or something, so he should have existed from thousands of years ago! Lord Rama definitely existed around 2 million years. Dont believe all this wikipedia crap written by mostly christian affiliated authors! Just read the wiki entry for Ashwa Medha yaga and you would be surprised! Neanderthals might be a possible link for vanaras that existed in Ramayana!

 

[Ekanta]

Neanderthals might be a possible link for vanaras that existed in Ramayana!

Its just that Neanderthals (or humans) didnt exist 2 mil years ago.

 

[ratikala]

namaskaram ekanta ji :namaste

Its just that Neanderthals (or humans) didnt exist 2 mil years ago.

that is what you think because that is what you have been told

why no body belives shastra ???

one day scientists and historians will look very silly when actual material evidence is found , but those of us that have faith in shastra are not so interested in material science we are interested in what has been under our noses all this time

 

[Viraja]

Even many acclaimed scholars are of the opinion that Rama was born in 5114 BC, Ramayana happening merely 7000 years ago! Here's one such article that discusses this approach: 'Lord Ram was born in 5114 BC' - Times Of India

I agree with Ratikala ji. Sometime ago I watched a YT video of artifacts being found from submerged Dwaraka site, which is but 7 km away from present day Gujarat's coasts. And the researchers date them back to 30000 yrs away - which dates Mahabharata which happened in Dwapara yuga to 30000 yrs away. Even if we say this is ok, then Ramayana should have happened before that, in Treta yuga, dating it back to way earlier than 30000 yrs ago..

It surely must be that, time presents its astrological coincidences in a repetitive fashion, for Rama's chart details to match with a date 7000 years ago, in 5114 BC!

 

[Ekanta]

that is what you think because that is what you have been told

namaste Ratikala
As long as shastras dont mention neanderthals, yes that is what I believe.

 

[KrsnaDasa]

namaskaram ekanta ji :namaste



that is what you think because that is what you have been told

why no body belives shastra ???

one day scientists and historians will look very silly when actual material evidence is found , but those of us that have faith in shastra are not so interested in material science we are interested in what has been under our noses all this time

YES! thank you Ratikala! I am more of a traditionalist when it comes to scripture and I take them to be more real then alot of what science tells us. Mainly because we have imperfect minds, senses, etc. And therefore I doubt how accurate alot of our tech really is. If it is off by a little bit, then it can still make a difference. I guess I just have little faith in our imperfections. The truth is found deductively, find the truth from the truth.

 

[Ekanta]

That shastras mention neanderthals is an interpretation. And if the choice is between science and an interpretation... I go science. Whats next? The spagetti monster? Oh, thats faith in shastras! Its much better than science!

Ever Heard of the apologetic trap? Its when you make religion dependent on science, but science change and thus the explanation becomes obsolete. Saying that shastras mention neanderthals is exactly an apologetic trap... you explain shastras according to current science (which by nature is always incomplete).

So who is explaining the shastras according to science in reality? The one who say shastras mention neanderthals!