Evidence of mahabharata :
Shri Krishna's Dwarka submerged in
1443 BC found in india
For thousands of years, we Indians have believed in the
divinity of Shri Krishna. For us he was a Karmayogi par
excellence who gave us action oriented philosophy of life
in the form of Bhagavad Gita. But questions have
constantly haunted us as to whether Shri Krishna was a
historical character or is a mythical character and
whether war of Mahabharata was actually fought or was
it great poet Vyasa’s imagination.
Till recent past we did not have the wherewithal to
search for and establish the truth. But modern scientific
tools and techniques like computers with planetarium
softwares, advancements in archaeological and marine
archaeological techniques, earth-sensing satellite
photography and thermoluminescence dating methods, all
have made it possible to establish the authenticity and
dating of many events narrated in ancient texts like
Mahabharata. Recent archaeo-astronomical studies,
results of marine-archaeological explorations and
overwhelming archaeological evidence have established
the historicity and dating of many events narrated in the
epic Mahabharata. These have led to the conclusion that
Mahabharata War was actually fought in 1478 BC and Shri
Krishna’s Dwarka City got submerged under the sea in
1443 BC.
Astronomical Evidence - In the Mahabharata references
to sequential solar and lunar eclipses as also references
to some celestial observations have been made. Dr.
R.N.Iyengar, the great scientist of Indian Institute of
Science, Bangalore examined relevant references and
searched for the compatible dates by making use of
planetarium software (PVIS and EZC). He concluded that
most of these references were internally consistent and
that the eclipses and celestial observations of
Mahabharata belong to the period 1493 BC - 1443 BC of
Indian History. (refer Indian Journal of History of
Science/38.2/2003/77-115).
In the Mahabharata there are references to three
sequential solar eclipses and to some other planetary
positions. Reference to the first solar eclipse comes in
the Sabha Parva (79.29), graphically described by Vidur
when Pandavas start their journey to the forest on being
banished for 12 years of life in exile and one year of life
incognito after they had lost everything in the game of
dice. After 13 years of exile and incognito life, Pandavas
came back to Hastinapur and they demanded their
kingdom back but Duryodhana refused. Several efforts to
prevent war failed and war became imminent. There is a
reference to the second solar eclipse in the Bhisma Parva
(3.29), following a lunar eclipse occurring within the same
fortnight a few days before the actual war of
Mahabharata. These eclipses occurred after 14-15 years
of the first solar eclipse The epic also refers to some
unfavourable planetary positions between the second
solar eclipse and the beginning of the war on Kartika
Purnima (Bhisma Parva 3.14 to 3.19). On Kartika Krishna
Ashtami, Saturn was near Rohini and Mars was between
Jayestha and Anuradha. Twenty two days later, on Kartika
Purnima, Saturn was near Rohini, Mars was near
Jayestha, a rough planet (probably uranus) was between
Citra and Swati. Another white planet (possibly Jupiter)
had moved from Purva-bhadra to Uttar-bhadra.
Reference to the third solar eclipse comes in the Mausala
Parva (2.19 to 2.20) occurring in the 36th year of the
Mahabharata War. This was visible from the city of
Dwarka which is stated to have been subsequently
submerged under the sea. For these observations to be
internally consistent, there should had been three solar
eclipses within a period of 50 years. The first one and the
second one after a gap of 14-15 years should have been
visible from Kurukshetra whereas the third solar eclipse
should have been visible from Dwarka after 35 years of
the second one.
From references to these eclipses and celestial
observations Dr. Iyengar prepared the list of compatible
dates and concluded that these eclipses alongwith the
stated planetary positions were observable during the
period 1493 BC - 1443 BC because the planetarium
software shows that:
(i) On 19.3.1493 BC there was solar eclipse visible from
Kurukshetra.
(ii) After about 15 years, on 1st June, 1478 BC, there was
a solar eclipse visible from Kurukshetra which was
preceded by a lunar eclipse during the same fortnight on
16th May 1478 BC.
(iii) About 3 months later, there was Kartika Krishna
Ashtami on 20.9.1478 BC when Saturn was near Rohini (in
Bhar-Kritika) and Mars was between Jayestha and
Anuradha.
(iv) Three weeks later, on 12.10.1478 BC, there was
Kartika Purnima when the war actually started. On that
day, Saturn was still near Rohini (as it actually moved
from Bhar Kritt to Rohini between 1.6.1478 BC to
10.11.1478 BC). Mars was near Jayestha. Uranus, which
probably is referred to as rough planet, was between
Citra and Swati. Jupiter had moved from Purva-bhadra to
Uttar-bhadra on 12.10.1478 BC.
(v) In the 36th year after Mahabharata war in October
1478 BC, a solar eclipse could be seen from Dwarka on
7.1.1443 BC.
Thus as per archaeo-astronomical calculations,
Mahabharata War was fought in 1478 BC and Dwarka City
got submerged in 1443 BC. These conclusions arrived at
are corroborated by marine archeologists, archeologists
as well as by the historians who have analysed the
genealogy charts of rulers given in Puranas.
Marine Archaeological explorations around Dwarka - The
on-shore and off-shore explorations carried out in and
around Dwarka during last 50 years have revealed that
Dwarka was a prosperous city in ancient times which was
destroyed and reconstructed several times. The work of
great excavators like Shri Z.D.Ansari and Shri M.S.Mate
and chance discovery of temples of 9th century AD and
1st century AD buried near the present Dwarkadhish
Temple prompted setting of a Marine Archaeology Centre
jointly by National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) and
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). A project for marine
archaeological explorations in Dwarka was initiated under
the dynamic leadership of great marine archaeologist Dr.
S.R.Rao who has the distinction of being awarded “The
World Ship Trust Award” for outstanding research done
in this field.
Dr. S.R.Rao’s team consisted of expert under-water
explorers, trained diver-photographers and experienced
archaeologists. The technique of geophysical survey was
combined with the use of echo-sounders, mud-
penetrators, sub-bottom profilers and under-water metal
detectors. This team carried out twelve marine
archaeological expeditions between the year 1983 to 1992
AD and articles/antiquities recovered were sent to
Physical Research Laboratory for dating. By using
thermoluminescence, carbon dating and other modern
scientific techniques, artifacts were found to be
belonging to the period 15th century BC to 18th century
BC. In his great work “The Lost City of Dwarka”, Dr.
S.R.Rao has given graphic and scientific details of these
discoveries and artifacts. He has concluded that:
(i) The land for building the city of Dwarka had been
reclaimed from the sea between 16th to 15th century BC
and a fortified city was built on boulder packing with
outer gateway to the sea and inner gateway to Gomti
river. This corroborates the references in the Epic
Mahabharata as per which Dwarka city was built by Shri
Krishna after reclaiming the land from the sea and it was
built only a few years before the Game of Dice in 1493
BC.
(ii) The thermoluminescence dating of lustrous Redware
Pottery items found during explorations revealed that
these were 3520 years old i.e. around 16th-15th century
BC.
(iii) The most famous rectangular seal with engraved
motifs of bull, unicorn and goat found in trench UW6 in
the sea bed was dated as belonging to 16th century BC.
The seal corroborates the references made in the ancient
manuscripts that every citizen of Dwarka was required to
carry a mudra(seal) as a mark of identification.
3 animal headed mudra, votive jar and copper bell
(iv) A copper bell and a copper lota, brass-items
including U-shaped objects with holes at both ends and a
bronze bell, all were dated as belonging to 15th century
BC. Stone anchors with double holes and triangular
prismatic stone anchors recovered from under the sea
were similar to the ones found in Lothal excavations
belonging to 23rd century BC.
(v) A votive jar with seven characters inscribed was
found. Reading based on Semitic-Indus-Phonetic value
revealed that script is old Indo-Aryan and similar to the
other Indus seal inscriptions. The date assigned to this
votive jar and inscriptions is 15th-14th century BC.
(vi) Three iron nails and a stake, four potsherds and one
small bottle of iron were dated 16th-15th century BC
indicating limited use of iron.
Thus, conclusions arrived at after carrying out these
under-water archaeological explorations support and
validate the dates arrived at through astronomical
calculations. These also prove that the reconstructed city
of Dwarka was a prosperous port town and that it was in
existence for about 60-70 years in the 15th century BC
before being submerged under the sea in the year 1443
BC.
artist's view based on marine archaeological reports and
sumerged wall
Other Archaeological excavations - Most of the cities
referred to in Mahabharata e.g.Mathura, Hastinapur,
Indraprastha, Kurukshetra and Dwarka were situated in
the territories which are at present known as Haryana,
Punjab, Delhi, UP, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Extensive
excavations carried out in these areas have shown that
Indus Civilization flourished in these areas between
3400-1500 BC. The excavations carried out in Lothal in
Gujarat have proved the existence of very advanced
civilization between 2300 BC to 1600 BC. The town was
divided into the dock, the arcopolis and the industrial,
commercial, residential sectors. Artifacts recovered
include gold jewellery and copper utensils. Archaeological
surveys at Kalibhangan in Rajasthan have identified the
existence of a planned fortified city between 2500-1700
BC. Artifacts excavated include baked bricks, semi
precious stones, copper and bronze articles. Photographs
taken by American earth-sensing satellite known as
Landsat have confirmed that the river Saraswati
described in the Rigveda as flowing from the “mountain
to the sea” was indeed a great river before 2000 BC.
Archaeological explorations on the ancient beds of the
Saraswati e.g. at Kunal near Kurukshetra and at Banawali
in Punjab have confirmed the existence of highly
advanced civilisation during 3400-1500 BC. Artifacts
excavated include silver jewellery and articles made of
copper and bronze. Taken as a whole archaeological
excavations establish the continuous evolution of Sindhu-
Saraswati civilisation between 3400-1500 BC culminating
in the Mahabharata period. The inhabitants of all the
excavated places had similar ethnic features, spoke
similar languages, followed similar religious rites which
were vedic in nature, knew about horse and rice, had
advanced knowledge of mathematics, made extensive
use of copper and had discovered the use of iron. These
discoveries match with the details in the Epic as also
with the belief of the historians that the use of iron was
discovered in India in 16th century BC. The War of
Mahabharata acted as a watershed, putting an end to the
‘copper age’ and ushering in the ‘iron age’ in 15th
century BC. Archaeological excavations thus support the
conclusion that Mahabharata War was fought in 1478 BC.
Attempts have also been made to determine the year of
Mahabharata War from the details available in scriptures
and ancient texts which include Puranas. When events
are unrecorded for quite some time and they are passed
on to the succeeding generations through Shruti and
Smriti traditions, the inaccuracies and myths get mixed
with reality on account of differences in the perceptions
of different individuals. However, it is for the objective
rational individual mind to find out and differentiate facts
from fictions. Important informations, including the
genealogy charts of rulers after Yudhishtira, are available
in Srimad Bhagvatam, Matsya Puran and Vayu Purana. On
the basis of such evidence, famous historian Lord
Cunningham assigned the year 1424 BC to the War of
Mahabharata. Another historian Shri S.B.Roy in his work
‘Date of Mahabharata Battle’ also arrived at the same
conclusion by combining the literary and the astronomical
route.
All these are very important pieces of evidence which
prove that epic Mahabharata is not merely a myth but is
history and its central character Shri Krishna was a man
with extra-ordinary abilities, around whom legends were
built over the years. The common man started having
faith in the divinity of this Supreme Hero, who for them
is God incarnate.
After knowing all this, there can be no doubt in the mind
of any rational person that what has been taught to us in
our school history books is not all correct. As per our
history books, Aryans came to India from Central Asia in
their war Chariots in 15th century BC. They defeated and
destroyed the natives who were “aboriginal savages” .
According to this theory both the Vedas and the Sanskrit
language were brought into India by these Aryan
invaders. The most influential proponents of this theory
were Max Muller and William Jones who were linguists
and they arrived at this conclusion on being struck by the
affinities between Sanskrit and European languages.This
theory is not supported by any archaeological, physical or
scientific evidence. When subsequently archaeological
excavations at more than 1100 sites scattered all over
major parts of India proved beyond doubt the existence
of flourishing Indus civilization during 3400 BC to 1500 BC
then the proponents of Aryan invasion theory reacted by
suggesting that the invading Aryans had defeated the
‘Dravidian inhabitants’ of the Indus valley, least realising
that such theoretical assumption would change the
character of invading Aryans from bringers of civilisation
to destroyers of great civilisation and culture developed
by the native Indians.
The four sets of evidences referred to earlier point more
to the probability that nobody had come to India from
Central Asia or from any other place. In fact, Indo-Aryan,
kings and warriors had come to Kurukshetra in their war
Chariots from all over India to participate in the
Mahabharata War and that a whole lot of people got
killed in that war. The killers as well as the killed, the
victors as well as the vanquished, the charioteers as well
as the foot soldiers, all were Indians who had already
experienced thousands of years of prosperous and
advanced civilisation. Archaeology also records a
continuous indigenous evolution of vedic civilisation
going back to 5000 BC at sites like Mehrgarh and Koldi. It
is sad that, so far we have not known even a fraction
about our ancient civilization and cultural achievements.
Detailed factual data in our ancient texts and sanskrit
manuscripts is beckoning us to carry out further
researches. By making use of most modern scientific
instruments and techniques we must discover the true
facts about our most ancient past. If we do that, we may
be able to gather supportive evidences to reassert that
ours was the oldest civilisation in the world that
flourished in India and that our ancestors i.e. vedic
Aryans had travelled from India to various parts of Asia
and Europe to spread our knowledge, civilisation and
culture. When this is recorded we would be able to hold
our heads higher and will be able to take on the future
with greater confidence.