The highlight of the week was an evening listening at the Union Chapel in Islington to William Dalrymple, historian weaving a rich narrative of the connection of the West to the East as “The Golden Road” – navigable sea roads and maritime trade routes” that linked Ancient India’s wealth and intellectual hegemony – from mathematics to linguistics, metallurgy, astronomy and iconography and from Rome to Indonesia and China in the Far East. This is more believable he said (than the Silk Road), as it can be traced by the map of Roman coins and as none were found in China, Chinese were agnostic about the presence of Romans. He talked about the import of ginger, indigo, spices and ivory that led to India being called the “sinkhole of metals” particularly gold from the Roman times. Indian museums are said to hold more Roman coins than any other country outside the former empire. More importantly he shows the important contribution of the Indian mathematicians primarily Brahmagupta (who invented zero in the 7th Century) which is rarely acknowledged by the West. The Arabs in the Middle East with the help of Barmakids, Buddhist scholars trained in Sanskrit, converted the complex Sanskrit texts that were in "Sutras" – cryptic and in poetry form to prose for further development, which was then brought to the western world that revolutionised them. The book also talks about the spread of Indian mythology Ramayana and Buddhism to the Far East where rulers adopted Indian modes of thought and life. They went to construct the greatest Buddhist and Hindu temples in Borobudur on Java, and at Angkor Wat in Cambodia which shows the soft power India held between 250BC and 1200AD. There are still two more talks scheduled in London at the V&A and British Library which are not to be missed for history lovers.
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#toonlogs #worldsanskritday https://lnkd.in/gG9CfJF4 https://lnkd.in/gH5RmYj https://lnkd.in/gcsA376 World Sanskrit Day Sanskrit: The Language of Knowledge The world observes Sanskrit Day every year on "Shraavana Poornima". That is the Hindu calendar's full moon day of the Shraavana month. In terms of the Gregorian calendar, it comes in August. The primary objective of the observation is to promote Sanskrit, one of India's ancient languages. Classical texts in various fields, such as Literature, Philosophy, Mathematics, and Science, were written in Sanskrit. The observation of World Sanskrit Day also celebrates Pāṇini, a great Sanskrit scholar. Many of the great works of Indian science and philosophy are written in Sanskrit. The computer-friendliness of Sanskrit makes it ideal for everyday use. Some philologists believe that languages like Latin and Greek are related to this language. Despite all its greatness and influence on cultures over millennia, the number of people who speak Sanskrit fluently is tiny. Observations like this remind the younger generation about the richness of this ancient language and evoke interest and cherish and enhance its use. National Institute of Advanced Studies Nandha Gopan
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Delve into the mind of Maharshi Kaṇāda ,an ancient indian philosopher ,one of the foremost thinkers of ancient India who is revered for his profound insights into metaphysics and natural philosophy. Kaṇāda: Unveiling the Life and Legacy of an Ancient Indian Sage Kaṇāda, also known as Kaṇabhuk or Kaṇāda Kashyap, is believed to have lived around the 6th century BCE, although the exact dates are uncertain. He is regarded as the author of the Vaiśeṣika Sūtra, one of the earliest and most influential works of the Vaiśeṣika school. The Vaiśeṣika school is one of the six classical schools of Indian philosophy, and it is primarily concerned with the study of the nature of reality and the principles that govern the physical world. Kaṇāda's philosophy is based on the concept of padārthas, which are the fundamental categories or elements of existence. According to Kaṇāda, there are seven padārthas: 1. Dravya (substance) 2. Guṇa (quality) 3. Karma (action) 4. Sāmānya (universality) 5. Viśeṣa (particularity) 6. Samavāya (inherence) 7. Abhāva (non-existence) Kaṇāda's philosophy emphasizes the importance of empirical observation and logical reasoning in understanding the nature of reality. He believed that the ultimate goal of philosophy is to achieve liberation (moksha) from the cycle of rebirth and suffering. The Vaiśeṣika school had a significant influence on the development of Indian philosophy, science, and logic, and its concepts and principles have been widely studied and debated by scholars over the centuries.
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Indian literature is a rich tapestry of philosophy, life and powers. Ancient literature is all about our Gods, a lot of people say, especially those who are not Indians or have not studied it or read it. But ancient Indian literature has a lot more to offer than just Gods. It speaks about life, Dharma- righteousness, Adharma- unrighteousness, your Karma (Your work). And among such several literature there is this one long and huge story of Mahabharata. Which transcends time and generation. Written by Lord Ganesh and Narrated by Ved Vyas. This is a story in itself, I reserve it for different posts or videos. Our scripture also inspires the new age writers with new stories. Every paragraph holds the potential of a great story. Mind you, the latest and fascinating multi-verse concept, is already there in the ancient Indian scriptures. In this video I've talked about how Mahabharata inspired me to write the Trilogy which is doing wonders for me. Check the video to find out how.
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Beyond LSJ: How to Deepen Your Understanding of Ancient Greek Source: Antigone
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📜 Unveiling the Manusmriti: The Ancient Indian Legal Text 🌏 Manusmriti, often referred to as the "Laws of Manu," is one of the most significant and oldest texts of ancient Indian jurisprudence and social philosophy. Composed in Sanskrit, it is believed to date back to around 200 BCE–200 CE. This dharmashastra outlines the rules and guidelines for various aspects of life, including ethics, governance, social conduct, and justice, offering insights into the early frameworks of Indian society. ✨ Key Highlights: Authorship: Attributed to Manu, the mythical progenitor of humanity in Hindu tradition. Content: 12 chapters containing 2,684 verses on dharma (duty), karma (action), and societal roles. Influence: Played a pivotal role in shaping the moral and legal systems of ancient India. Controversies: While celebrated for its historical significance, it has faced criticism for its views on caste and gender, which some argue perpetuated inequalities. Legacy: Manusmriti has inspired philosophical debates for centuries, influencing rulers, scholars, and reformers like Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who challenged its relevance in modern times. 🔍 Understanding the Manusmriti helps us decode the cultural and legal evolution of Bharatvarsha. It’s a reminder of how societies interpret and evolve ancient wisdom over time. 💡 Do you think ancient texts like Manusmriti still hold relevance in today’s world? Let us know your thoughts! #Manusmriti #AncientIndia #CulturalHeritage #LegalHistory #IndianPhilosophy #DharmaShastra #SocietyAndEthics #HistoryUnveiled #BharatKiVirasat #KnowYourRoots
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Onebunne, J. I. (2024). PHILOSOPHIES THROUGH AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY. Nnadiebube Journal of Philosophy, 7(2) Abstract: Philosophy is a human disciplinary enterprise established in many philosophical traditions as a world critical heritage which has birthed African Philosophical Traditions (APT) and Abrahamic (Judeo-Islamic) Philosophical Tradition (AbPT) as well as Eastern-Oriental Philosophical Traditions (EOPT) and Western Philosophical Traditions (WPT). Philosophies are products of different philosophical traditions. These philosophies acknowledged that ancient Egyptian Philosophy or African Philosophy as the oldest critical excursus springs from the oldest philosophical tradition which is the African Philosophical tradition. Equally, in the chequered history of humanity Philosophy has gained a lot of traditional, etymological, and classical definitions from scholars in their varieties of authorships. An appreciation and comparative analysis of the two most prominently succinct and precisely concise definitions of Philosophy primarily as philosophia and or fundamentally as habitus-intellectu which are within the methodological moment of hermeneutics is the thrust of this paper. Within the limits of the proposed critical analysis, the researcher appreciates habitus intellectu as very basic in the proper definition of philosophy within the bounds of unaided human reason within the limits of other philosophies in African philosophy. Keywords: Philosophy, Philosophies, African philosophy, Philosophia, habitus intellectu, philosophical traditions
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Onebunne, J. I. (2024). PHILOSOPHIES THROUGH AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY. Nnadiebube Journal of Philosophy, 7(2). Abstract: Philosophy is a human disciplinary enterprise established in many philosophical traditions as a world critical heritage which has birthed African Philosophical Traditions (APT) and Abrahamic (Judeo-Islamic) Philosophical Tradition (AbPT) as well as Eastern-Oriental Philosophical Traditions (EOPT) and Western Philosophical Traditions (WPT). Philosophies are products of different philosophical traditions. These philosophies acknowledged that ancient Egyptian Philosophy or African Philosophy as the oldest critical excursus springs from the oldest philosophical tradition which is the African Philosophical tradition. Equally, in the chequered history of humanity Philosophy has gained a lot of traditional, etymological, and classical definitions from scholars in their varieties of authorships. An appreciation and comparative analysis of the two most prominently succinct and precisely concise definitions of Philosophy primarily as philosophia and or fundamentally as habitus-intellectu which are within the methodological moment of hermeneutics is the thrust of this paper. Within the limits of the proposed critical analysis, the researcher appreciates habitus intellectu as very basic in the proper definition of philosophy within the bounds of unaided human reason within the limits of other philosophies in African philosophy.
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Orientalism incipiently referred to the intellectual and scholarly project initiated in the eighteenth century to study the Orient on the wake of the European colonial enterprise. Since this discipline started in a European context, it relied heavily on the large amount of materials produced by its medieval and renaissance forerunners, while failing to neutralize the prejudices and biases inherent thereto. These biases were particularly patent in the works of Church scholars of Medieval Christendom whose polemic studies of Islam were designed to “protect and discourage rather than to inform.” Such writings were later instrumental in “canonizing” Western views of the Middle-East and Islam. Furthermore, the institutions in charge of Oriental studies needed to represent the Orient under a less favorable light to morally justify colonialism under the guise of “White man’s burden” and “mission civilizatrice.” These representations were further reinforced by colonial art, poetry and the rise of the novel. Thus, an entire body of literature and popular culture, inspired by the dispensations of the academia, steadily infused a set of persistently negative ideas and gross generalizations about the “Oriental” as irrational, decadent, treacherous and slack. - Hamid Kbiri, PhD.
The Influence of Orientalism on American Perceptions and Policies in the Middle-East
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