No Knowledge Beyond Astagiri
(The Dark and
Infinite Mountain Sunset)
West Side of ‘Ancient
Indian Geography’
As depicted by
Maharshi Valmiki
Vanam Jwala
Narasimha Rao
The Hans India
(03-03-2024)
{It is roughly calculated that the
total time taken for the sun to pass from Meru to Astagiri is said to be one
and a half hours. There exists a supreme and heavenly castle of Varuna with a
Great Hall that shines like Sun and raised by the Divine Architect Vishvakarma.
In between Meru and Astagiri, a Gigantic Date Palm Tree (Taala Vruksha) is
seen. This evidences that this area could be present-day Arabian and ancient
Persian province}-Editor Comments
The impeccable knowledge exhibited by
Maharshi Valmiki in his Sanskrit Ramayana and equally similar to that by
Vasudasa Swamy in his unmatchable and first and perhaps last of its kind
translation into Telugu titled Andhra Valmiki Ramayana, about the Geographical
Details of the Ancient Universe, many of which may now be found in Google Maps,
was simply astounding. The context was, in the ‘Kishkindha Kanda’ Sri Rama after
befriending with Monkey’s King Sugreeva, and fulfilling his desire to kill
Vali, it was the turn of Sugreeva to fulfill his promise made to Sri Rama to
find the whereabouts of Sita abducted by Ravana.
As part of this, and after sending
Monkey Chiefs to East and South, Sugreeva directed another Monkey Chief Sushena
father of Lady Tara, to search for Sita in the Western Direction. In the
process, Sugreeva described the west side topography comprising of magnificent
mountains in northwest of India, the ocean (present Arabian Sea) down south to
it, and Persian (Iran is divided into 31 provinces known as Persian Provinces) provinces.
Then sequentially the Saurashtra (Now Surat and could also be Kathiawar, a
peninsular region of Gujarat, located on the Arabian Sea coast), Bahlika (located
on the southern side of Kashmir), Candracitra (present-day Mathura or Shuura Desha)
provinces.
In the Western Quarter, encircled with
enmeshed mountains, Blest or Holy or Sacred Rivers, whose cool water flows
westward, forests of sages, mountains in forests and lands, including highly
towering mountains that are chilly are seen. From there moving towards the Western
Ocean, one can see seawater ruffled by sharks and crocodiles. Later there can
be seen, bushes of Ketaka (A tortuous evergreen tree or shrub with conspicuous leg
roots and prickly stems), Tamala (an evergreen tree the leaf of which is known
as Tejpatta or Tamalpatra or Tejpat or Malabar leaf), and a thick patch of
shrubbery with coconut trees. Moving further, the delightful cities along shore,
Muraci (Murachipattana), Jatipura, Avantee and Angalopa and forest of Alakshita
are seen.
Then at the junction of River Sindhu
with the ocean, Mouth of Indus, there was the huge Golden Mountain Hemagiri
(Could be the same as Hala Range adjacent to Southern Valleys alongside River
Sindhu), scattered with abundant gigantic trees. Flying Lions or the winged
lions Denoting Saint Mark, Power and Courage inhibit on the attractive edges of
that mountain, hauling sharks, fish, and elephant seals to their dens. Elephants
inhibiting on top of the mountain are contended, conceited, and trumpeting like
thunderous clouds, will be moving everywhere adjoining the mountain abutted by
water and nearby retreats of Flying Lions.
On seagoing or travelling in the
ocean, measuring hundred Yojanas of height peak, Mount Pariyatra, a range of
mountains in the Central India or could be of Suleiman Range, now in Pakistan
will appear. However, it is highly difficult to see it, since it will be
amazingly dazzling. The Mountain is the abode of 24 crores of huge and terrible
(Human) Gandharvas whose radiance looks like fire and who can change their
appearance as they wish. This area could even be Sulaiman Range, in and around present-day
Afghanistan and may not be the one in Vindhya Range. Hence the place could be,
what is now known as, ‘Candahar’ or Afghanistan or the ancient ‘Gandhara Dsha.’
Proceeding further in that sea past Mount
Pariyatra, another great Mountain, Vajra Dhara, standing like diamond shaped and
shining like Jewel Lapis (deep blue metamorphic rock) will appear. This
Mountain too will be spiraling tall of Hundred Yojanas, where assorted trees
and mountaineers will be spreading over it. In the fourth quarter of that ocean
from land, Mountain Chakra Vantha is there. Vishvakarma, the Divine Architect,
constructed a Thousand Spokes wheel (Sahasrara Chakra) on it. This wheel is
said to be a machine of weaponry or sub-weapons, and such spectacular
facilities are provided by Vishvakarma not only for Gods, but also to Demons,
when they were threatened by enemies. The legend was that Vishnu in the form of
Purushottama snatched this wheel weapon from the custody of Hayagriva Demon and
also Backbone of another Demon Pancajana, residing there. This Backbone, a conch-shell
is known as 'Panchajanya Conch’ handled by Vishnu.
In the sequence, after Sixty Yojanas,
Mountain Varaha with Silver Peaks, delightful cliffs and spacious caves will be
there, in void of Rain God’s abode, the ocean. The City of Naraka (Not the one
killed by Lord Srikrishna), Pragjyotisha is there, which is completely golden. Said
to be the first kingdom of Assam, this mythological area covered parts of
modern-day Assam, Bihar, West Bengal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. In the extension
of Mount Varaha, there is seen Mount Meghavanta (Sarva Souvarna), the entirely Golden
Mountain containing waterfalls and fast-moving. There, facing waterfalls of the
Mountain, roaring of elephants, wild boars, lions, and tigers will be seen.
Group of Gods coronated Lord Indra on this Mountain and hence it was known as Meghavanta.
On proceeding further, will appear,
the exuberant Range of Sixty Thousand Golden Mountains, sunny all around with
the touch of young Sun. In the midst of that Range, there is the unique and
kingly Mountain, the Mount Meru (Meru Parvata or Uttara Meru Savarni). This is also
known as Sumeru, Sineru, or Maha Meru and considered to be the center of all Physical,
Metaphysical, and Spiritual Universes as well as part of the Cosmic Ocean. Varaha,
Meghavanta and finally Meru, in sequence could also be mountain peaks of the
Zagros range, located across the Arabian Sea in Iran, extending to Iraq.
Vishv Devas, Vasavas, Adityas, Maruts,
and other celestials coming for morning prayers to Meru will abide their time
for the dusking Sun, and when they conclude worshipping him, the Sun goes to
Mount Astagiri, the Setting or Western Mountain 'Sunset' where he vanishes for
all beings for that day. The sun travels to reach the western mountain at a
speed of 10 thousand Amadas (Amada equals to either 8 or 10 miles) per one Ghadiya
(Hindu unit of time equal to 24 minutes). It is roughly calculated that the total
time taken to pass from Meru to Astagiri is said to be one and half hours. There
exists a supreme and heavenly castle of Varuna with a Great Hall, that shines like
Sun and raised by the Divine Architect Vishvakarma. In between Meru and
Astagiri, a Gigantic Date Palm Tree (Taala Vruksha) is seen. This evidences
that, this area could be present day Arabian and ancient Persian province.
This is where, Sage Meru Saavarni, an
enlightened Manu and an identical and equivalent character to Brahma resides. On
obliterating the utter darkness of all the earthly world up to here, the Sun,
will go to the Mount Astagiri and from there, no knowledge of those dark and infinite
places.
Vasudasa Swamy quoting Ancient
Geography commented here that, Valmiki makes a mention to a few places only,
most of which are mountains in the west and ends with land of the setting Sun. Obviously
the so-called famed nations of the west, belonging to Egypt, Assyria, and
Greece, despite their tall claims, had not risen to power during the time of
Valmiki. Even if they were in existence at all, proper communication was not at
established between them and the Indian Aryans.
(Courtesy: Vasudasa Swamy ‘Andhra Valmiki
Ramayana’
and Sri Desiraju Hanumanta Rao English Valmiki
Version)
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