The Roots of Hinduism

Another Great Story

“…"The legendary war between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, the main story of the Mahabharata," remarks Parpola, "seems to have taken place during the latter phase [of Vedic culture] (c. 700-350 BCE)." 15 It is striking that even in the midst of this complex historical reconstruction, Parpola does note, in passing, that the Mahabharata's war is legendary. Indeed it is.…”

“…Not so Parpola. He argues that Pandu is pale because he is descended from pale Iranian horsemen, 8 who entered India as part of the second wave of the *Proto-Indo-European (PIE) invasion. 9 They con-quered the Kauravas, who had entered northern India in the first wave.…”

“…He argues that Pandu is pale because he is descended from pale Iranian horsemen, 8 who entered India as part of the second wave of the *Proto-Indo-European (PIE) invasion. 9 They con-quered the Kauravas, who had entered northern India in the first wave. To support this temporal framework, Parpola endorses the idea that the Mahabharata was originally written by the Kauravas.…”

“…These Harappan brothers were ostensibly the descendants of twin equine Vedic gods, the Ashvins, 11 who entered Harappan culture with the first PIE wave. 12 Both Rama and Krishna were said to be dark; "Krishna" means dark in Sanskrit. The Pandava Arjuna's name, by way of contrast, means silver.…”

“…The Pandava Arjuna's name, by way of contrast, means silver. 13 As further evidence that the Pandavas were Iranian, Parpola cites the fact that all five Pandavas were married to the same woman, Draupadi, in violation of Hindu law, and he quotes Herodotus on the polyandrous habits of the Iranians. 14 He thus concludes that the Kaurava kingdom corresponds closely to the early phase (c. 1,100-700 BCE) of Vedic culture.…”