Aryavartam
We commonly think that Aryavarta (आर्यावर्त) (ఆర్యావర్తము) signifies all of ancient India or a section of India. Aryans are a fictional human race believed to have migrated to India approximately 2500 years ago.
However, Hindu Scriptures, including the Vedas, Itihasas, Puranas, and Manusmruti, did not refer to Aryan as a Race or Jati. Our scriptures contain numerous references to clans, tribes, or communities, but do not mention any Aryan tribe. We do not find any accounts of the physical characteristics of the tribes they mention. Nonetheless, we encounter physical representations of a PERSON as a dwarf or an evil or a dark-skinned individual to illustrate his negative characteristic traits.
In the same way, the term Arya was utilized in the texts to denote a Gentleman or a Householder male exclusively. Let’s explore this idea by examining pertinent hymns from Hindu texts.
Aryan
Let’s examine the usage of the term Arya in the Vedas,
vashaT te pUShannashminpUtaavaryamaahOtaa kRuNOtu vEDhaaH
sisritaam naarvRuta prajaataa vi parvaaNi jIhataamsUtavaa u
(shloka 46, Sukta 11, kanda 1, Atharvana vedam)
वषटते पूषन्नस्मिन्पूतावर्यमाहोता कृणोतु वेधाः
सिस्रताम नारवृत प्रजाता वी पर्वाणि जिहताम्सूतवा उ
(46व श्लोका, 11व सूक्ता, 1व कंडा, अथर्वन वेद)
Meaning: Suta was performing a suzerain operation on the woman. Aryan was performing a Homa/Yajna with the assistance of a Hota, asking Goddess Pusha Devi to bless him with a healthy child
This sloka from the Atharva Veda clearly indicates that Arya was a responsible husband.
Let’s read an additional sloka from the Rig Veda,
Asme indro varuNo mitro aryama dyumnam yaChchandu mahi sharma saptathaH nO avadhram
jyotiraditErtaa vRudhO shlokam saviturmanaamahE
(hymns of Sudasu wars – Rig Ved)
अस्मे इन्द्रो वरुणो मित्रो आर्यमा द्युंनम यछ्छंतु महि शर्म
सप्रथः नौ अवध्रम ज्योतिरदितेर्ता वृधो देवस्य श्लोकं सवितुर्मनामहे
(रुग्वेदम सुदासु युद्ध सूक्त)
Meaning: After lengthy battles, Indra, Varuna, and Aryama relaxed their girdles, and everyone was joyful. They prepared to perform a Yajna in honor of Goddess Savita Devi to seek victory in the battle.
This Rig Vedic sloka indicates that Aryama was a warrior alongside others such as Indra and Varuna. If one accepts the Aryan theory, Indra and Varuna ought to be considered Aryan as well. However, that is not the case. They are distinct from Aryama.
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Max Muller
Aryanism claims that individuals of the Aryan race had white skin, prominent noses, and tall physiques. Mr. Max Müller, who introduced and/or promoted this concept (circa 1870 CE) of Aryanism, later expressed regret for his theory and claimed that the term Arya should be understood as a Language rather than a race. Max Müller passed away in 1900.
Aryan invasion theory
Later in 1947, Mr. Mortem Wheeler suggested that the Aryans had entered India and obliterated the Harappan Civilization. Later in 1960, Morten Wheeler retracted his proposal and admitted he was mistaken in his assessment. Regrettably, this Aryanism continues to be prevalent around the globe. This Aryanism continues to afflict Indian society today by segregating the people of India along the lines of caste, region, and creed.
Aryans and Vedas
Aryanists contend that the Vedas were created or authored by Aryans. However, we discover that the creators of every Sukta or Sloka in the Vedas are distinctly stated in the Vedas. There is no record stating that Vedic Rishis were part of the Aryan jati or Race.
Sage Valmiki, the author of Ramayana, refers to the three central figures, Rama, Ravana, and Hanuman, as Arya. While Aryanism asserts that Rama should be part of the Aryan race and Ravana a non-Aryan. If that is true, Rama ought to be white, yet Rama has dark skin. Likewise, Hindu deities Vishnu and Krishna are also portrayed with dark skin. Interestingly, the consorts of all these Gods possess light complexions.
Aryanism asserts that Lord Shiva was not an Aryan deity. Ravana is regarded as a non-Aryan due to his devotion to Lord Shiva. However, we overlook that Lord Rama established Shiva Lingas in several locations to purify himself from the sin of slaying Ravana-Brahma. We need to recognize that the Western race theory is nonsense in relation to ancient India. Indians, as Bharatiyas, should permanently abandon this fictional Aryan theory and strive for a harmonious existence like our ancestors.
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Indians were Bharatiyas
Vishnu Purana
The Vishnu Purana identifies Indians as Bharatiyas.
uttarE yat samudrasya himaamdrEShCha iva dakshiNam
varShee tad bhaaratam naama bhaarateeyaatraa santatiH
उत्तरे यत समुद्र्यस्य हिमाद्रेष्छइवा दक्षिणम
वर्षी तद भारतम नाम भारतीयात्र संतती:
Meaning: The region situated north of the (Indian) Ocean and south of the Himalaya mountains was referred to as Bharatavarsha, and the inhabitants born and residing there were known as Bharatiyas (Indians).
A relevant question then emerges: ‘If Aryans as a race never existed, why is Aryavarta referenced in certain scriptures?’ But Hindu texts did not claim that a specific people or race known as the Arya inhabited Aryavarta.
Aryavarta
In the performance of any Hindu ceremonies, a preliminary chant will be recited informing the relevant Deities about the Worshipper’s identity and their geographical location, as follows,
mamOpaatta duritakShayaayadvaaraa shree paramEShvara preetyartham,
SubhE SObhanE muhoorte shree mahaa viShNOraaj~jnayaapravartamaanasyaadya brahmaNaH,
dviteeya paraardhE SvEtavaraahakalpE vaivasvata manvaMtare kaliyugE prathamapaade jaMbudveepe bharatavarShE bharatakhanDE asmin vartamaana vyaavahaarika chaaMdramaanE ……saMvatsarE …ayanE.. Rutou..
ममॊपात्त दुरितक्षयायद्वारा श्री परमॆष्वर प्रीत्यर्थम,
शुभॆ शॊभनॆ मुहूर्ते श्री महा विष्णॊराज्ञ्नयाप्रवर्तमानस्याद्य ब्रह्मणः,
द्वितीय परार्धॆ श्वॆतवराहकल्पॆ वैवस्वत मन्वंतरे कलियुगॆ प्रथमपादे जंबुद्वीपे भरतवर्षॆ भरतखन्डॆ अस्मिन वर्तमान व्यावहारिक चांद्रमानॆ ……संवत्सरॆ …अयनॆ.. ऋतौ..
In this context, the location of the devotee or worshipper is referred to as Bharatavarsha, Bharatakhanda, and Jambudweepa, with no reference to Aryavarta. Thus, we can grasp that the term Aryavarta holds minimal importance in the ancient Hindu perspective.
Previously, we observed that the whole region between the Himalayas and the (Indian) Ocean was referred to as Bharatavarsh in the Vishnu Purana. However, the same measure of land was referred to as Aryavarta in other texts as well. Let’s take a look at how it is.
Boudhayana dharma sutras
To begin, we should examine the mention of Aryavarta in Boudhayana Dharma Sutras.
- Praagadarshanaat pratyaag kaalakavanaaddakshiNEna himavantamudakpaariyaatraa me tadaaryaavartam tasmin ya aachaarasya pramaaNam
(boudhaayana dharmasutra – 1.1.2.10)
- gangaayamunayOrantaramisyEkE
(boudhaayana dharmasutra – 1.1.2.11)
‘प्रागदर्षनात् प्रत्यक्कालकवनाद्दक्षिणेन हिमवन्तमुदक्पारियात्रमे तदारयावरत तस्मिन् य आचारस्स प्रमाणम् |
बौधायाना धर्मं सूत्र 1.1.2.10॥
(प्राग अदर्षनात प्रत्यग़ कालकवना द्दक्षिणेन हिमवंतम उदक्पारियात्रा मे तदार्यावर्तम तस्मिन य आचारस्य प्रमाणम – बौधायाना धर्मं सूत्र 1.1.2.10॥)
‘ग़द्भायमुनयोरन््तरमिस्येके ।। 1.1.2.11 ॥
The initial hymn of 1.1.2.10 identifies Aryavarta as the region situated between Adarshana and the location of Kalakavana. Additionally, it states that waters originating from the Himalayas flow through that nation. It claims that the inhabitants of that region sincerely adhere to all customs and traditions of Sanatana dharma.
The following hymn of 1.1.2.11 states that this location and the doab of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers are identical.
Some assert that a location named Adarshana existed where the Saraswati River vanished for the Nishadas. They assume that the current Ghaggar River is the historical Saraswati River. In my book, “A Tribute to the Ancient World of India (A Perspective on Vedic society),” I have demonstrated that contemporary Mohenjo-Daro is where the River Saraswati vanished for the Nishadas. Kalakavana has not been recognized yet.
According to the Boudhayana Dharma sutras, Aryavarta should be the territory situated between Prayag in the East and Mohenjo-Daro in the West, lying to the south of the Himalayas. This representation has resulted in the assertion that Aryavarta was located between the Himalayas and the Vindhya ranges. However, the Boudhayana Dharma Sutras explicitly state that Aryavarta is confined to the Ganga-Yamuna doab. Thus, Aryavarta ought to be limited to southern Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat.
Manusmriti
In contrast, Manusmriti states that this same region was referred to as Madhya desa (Midland).
himavadvindhyayOrmadhyam yaatpraagviShasanaadapi
ptatygEva prayaagaaShCha madhyadeShaH prakeertitaH
हिमावाद्विन्ध्य योर्मध्यम यात्प्राग्विशसनादपि
प्रत्यगेवा प्रयागाच्च मध्यादेशः प्रकीर्तितः
This refers to the territory bordered by Visasana to the West and Prayaga to the East, with the Himalayas to the North and the Vindhya Mountains to the South, known as Madhya desa (Middle country).
The following verse in the same chapter of the Manusmriti depicts Aryavarta in this way,
Aasamudraattu vai pUrvadaa samudraattu paShchimaat
tayOrEvaarantaram giryOraaryaavartam vidurbudhaaH
आसमुद्रात्तु वाई पूर्वादा समुद्रात्तु पश्चिमात
तयोरेवारंतरम गिर्योरार्यावरतम विदुर्बुधाः
This indicates that the region located south of the Himalayas and north of the Indian Ocean, separated by a mountain range (Vindhyas), was referred to as Aryavarta. Thus, the whole Indian subcontinent transforms into Aryavarta.
The Vishnu Purana regards the same region of Aryavarta mentioned in the Manusmriti as Bharatavarsha. Significantly, Vishnu Purana refers to the inhabitants of Bharatavarsha as Bharatiyas, rather than Aryans. Likewise, both the Boudhayana Dharma Sutras and the Manusmriti do not state that Aryans resided in Aryavarta. Manusmriti refers to the inhabitants of Aryavarta as Vidurbudha, signifying individuals with thoughtful minds. The Boudhayana Dharma sutras state that individuals residing there were acknowledged for their Achara, which signifies their pious disposition.
We must recognize that the whole of India, stretching from the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean, ought to be termed Aryavarta, not due to the presence of the so-called Aryan race, but because Bharatiyas resided there who diligently practiced Sanatana Dharma. There is no custom of partitioning Bharatavarsha into regional and sectarian sections. Everyone was Indian and Bharatiya.
Aryanism is a deception imposed on us by biased thinkers with prejudicial minds.