Hindu Influence in Mesopotamia and Iran

By London Swaminathan

Ancient Hindus had good contacts with the people of the Middle Eastern countries and beyond even 3000 years ago. The Vedic references to several places in the Middle East and the origin of Zoroastrian religion of Iran are well researched by a number of scholars. Vedic Sanskrit names and words found in the Sumerian civilization and Persian civilization raised many questions. About 150 years ago Western scholars advocated the theory of Civilization’s Eastward March Now the scholars have reversed it and it was a westward march.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pustaka Digital Media
• Release date: Nov 1, 2022
• ISBN: 6580553509192

Book preview

C:\Users\INTEL\Desktop\Logo New\pustaka_logo-blue_3x.png

https://www.pustaka.co.in

Hindu Influence in Mesopotamia and Iran

Author:

London Swaminathan

For more books

https://www.pustaka.co.in/home/author/london-swaminathan

Digital/Electronic Copyright © by Pustaka Digital Media Pvt. Ltd.

All other copyright © by Author.

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Contents

Foreword

1. Similarities in Gilgamesh – Hindu Scriptures

2. Gilgamesh -Two Thirds Divine, One Third Human

3. More on Gilgamesh – Hindu Connection

4. Did Indra attack Ur in Sumeria?

5. Stars Show India’s Link with Greece and Iran in Vedic Period

6. River Ganges in Sumerian Culture

7. Sapta Rishis in Sumeria! Similar to Hindus!

8. More on Sumukan, Sumeria & Indus Mystery

9. Two Tamil Words show Akkadian, Sumerian Link

10. Similarities between Sumerian and Hindu Marriages

11. Rig Vedic King and Sumerian King 2600 BCE!

12. Sanskrit Interpreter in Sumerian Scelpture

13. What is Meluha? Where is it?

14. Strange Word for Poison! Mahaa- Hailikila

15. Another Strange Word ‘GONI’

16. Oldest Sanskrit Word in Inscription!

17. Sanskrit Names in Kassite Dynasty in Sumeria

18. Mushika / Phyrgian research

19. Woman comes from Vamana, i.e. Leftist

20. ‘UR’ in Rig Veda and Tamil Literature

21. Kishkinda in Patanjali

22. Vishnu in Mesopotamia

23. Sanskrit words in Sumerian culture : Sumukan Mystery

24. Hindu Kings Who Ruled Syria and Turkey!

25. SuMeru, Ku Meru, Pa Meru, Meru

26. Bernier’s Description of Peacock Throne

27. Rs.1000 Crore Indian Gem Wonder

28. India needs an Indiana Jones !

29. Parsu Mystery in Rig Veda

30. Yadava- Iran Connection

31. Parasurama - Persia/ Iran Connection

32.Why Did Parsees ‘Return’ to Gujarat?

33. India- Iran Vedic Connection

Foreword

Ancient Hindus had good contacts with the people of the Middle Eastern countries and beyond even 3000 years ago. The Vedic references to several places in the Middle East and the origin of Zoroastrian religion of Iran are well researched by a number of scholars. Vedic Sanskrit names and words found in the Sumerian civilization and Persian civilization raised many questions. About 150 years ago Western scholars advocated the theory of Civilization’s Eastward March Now the scholars have reversed it and it was a westward march. Hindus from Himalayan north to the coastal south never wrote anything about migration from outside. Whereas Sumerians and Egyptians said they came from a far-off land or island. The number of Gods, different cultures and various languages found in a small area of the Middle east proved it was a melting pot of cultures. Several people came to this place from different parts of the world. Indus Valley interpreter’s presence also is noted by several scholars. Once we agree on westward movement of Hindus, then there is scope for more research.

Over the past 11 years I have written articles on Vedic connection with Persia/Iran, Mesopotamia, Turkey and Syria. This book contains such articles with dates and the serial number of them where they first appeared. I welcome your comments on the topics discussed here.

London swaminathan

October 2022.

1. Similarities in Gilgamesh – Hindu Scriptures

There are some interesting similarities in the Mesopotamian epic of Gilgamesh and Hindu scriptures.

The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the world’s oldest epics. It is composed or sung more than a 1000 years before Homer or The Bible. Mesopotamian poets sang of the hero king Gilgamesh. In addition to the 11 tablets of the great Akkadian epic, written about 1700 BCE, there are seven Sumerian poems about G written before 2000 BCE. Like the Hindu epic Mahabharata, the story grew slowly.

The very name Gamesh can be compared with the Sanskrit words for God Kamesh and Goddess Kameswari. Even today Hindus use these names. If the similarity is with one or two names, we can dub them as co incidences. But here are more similar names and the storyline also is typically Hindu.

The Sumerian king list names Gilgamesh as the fifth king of the first dynasty of Uruk, the second after the flood. By current reckoning that will place him in about 2600 BCE

Uruk’s walls were built by Gilgamesh. This fabulous city may be Uttarakuru, the utopian city of Hindu Puranas. Arjuna and others brought gold from this city.

Uruk=Uttara Kuru?

Flood story is also in all the scriptures including Hindu Scriptures.

Gilgamesh’s father was Lugalbanda. Gilgamesh fought Agga, son of Enmaraparagesi. And King Agga came from Kish. Here there two interesting similarities. In Ramayana the word Kish-kinda is neither a Tamil nor a Sanskrit word. So the word Kish may be related to Kishkinda. Kesi ending is also seen in many Asura names.

Gilgamesh was the hero of FIVE separate Sumerian poems

1.Gilgamesh, Huwawa and the Cedar Forest

2.Gilgamesh and the Bull of Heaven

3.Gilgamesh Enkidu and the Netherworld

4.Gilgamesh and Agga

5.The Death of Gilgamesh

In the early poems Gilgamesh appears only as a king or a hero. But within few centuries he is raised to a divine status. Kings of Ur called him Brother. In Ramayana time, only seven seers (rsis) knew Rama was an incarnation of Vishnu. Later the king was raised to a Divine status.

Like we have different Ramayana versions the Babylonian version of Gilgamesh differs fom later versions.

By studying the languages and legends in West Asia we may be able to decipher the Indus- Sarasvati Valley Civilizatio script. West Asia had all the old language speakers and we hear about an interpreter from Meluha, which is identified with Indus City. ((posted by swamiindology.blogspot.com AND tamilandvedas.com))

List of Names

Now let me compare the characters found in Gilgamesh’s poems:_

Adad -god of thunder storms; may be compared with Indra of the Rig Veda

Anu – Akkadian name of the sky god; anu means atom which is found in Upanishads. Lord Vishnu isdescribed as Anu in Vishnu Sahasranama.

Anu – second son of Yayati and Sharmishtha

Anuvinda- son ofKunti’s sister Rajadhi Devi

Antum – wife of Anu, Skygod

Hindus also have similar sounding pairs: shiva=Shivani, Bhava=Bhavani, Rudra= Rudrani etc.

Anzu – Monstruous bird with the head of a lion who stole power from God Enlil, but defeated but Enlil’s son Ninurta. It is similar to Garuda Story in Hinduism.

Apsu- the fresh water under the earth; In Hinduism also water is called Apa. Veda praises Apa, the water.

2. Gilgamesh -Two Thirds Divine, One Third Human

I compared the Gilgamesh epic with Hindu scriptures yesterday. I give below more similarities. Mr Kalyanaraman has dealt with this matter in his book Aryatarangini already. But I give more comparisons.

The most striking similarity between the two cultures is the Flood Story. But it did not stop there. When Gilgamesh lost his friend Enkidu, he got scared about death. But he knew that Utnapishtim is the only survivor of the Great Floods and then he went to see him. Utnapishtim may be compared with Uttanapada, son of Manu who survived the great floods (Maha Pralaya).

Then the next striking similarity is another character called Urshnanabi, a boat man. All Hindu scriptures including Tamil Tirukkural compare the Life of birth and Death to Samsara Sagaram. Hindus always pray to cross this Ocean= Sagaram. The same image is used in Gilgamesh epic. Urna nabhi is Sanskrit is Spider. The wordmay be derived from Varuna Nabhi (Water Boat) Varuna is the God of Waters and ocean. Nabhi is Navy, Naval,Nav= boat in Sanskrit.

To Gilgamesh’s surprise, Utnapishtim appeared very old. He persuades Gilgamesh to return to Uruk city. But when Gilgamesh insisted, he told him to go to the bottom of the ocean and get a rejuvenating plant, which he did. This can be compared with two episodes in Hindu scriptures. Hanuman in Ramayana brought the rejuvenating herb from the mountain. And Devas and Asuras brought the elixir of life—Amrita—from the bottom of the ocean.

The comparison