Saturday, April 27, 2013

Earth Mysteries awaiting discovery encoded in Sanskrit



In Plato’s allegory of the cave, the principal theme is the futility of convincing others of existence of the path to enlightenment and truth. People generally suppose that they already know most of what is there to be known, and it is more so in the present times than it ever was before. The cave allegory is an excellent description of the deficiency of human knowledge base from the ancient times to the present, so long as it builds on a knowledge which essentially is defective from its foundation. 

Outside of the cave, some of the basic realizations we begin to encounter are such as the overwhelming similarities in the original names of all the places on Earth, which by further scrutiny indicates that the entire world was indeed named in one tongue at one convergent past. Another such realization that we encounter is such as how the arrangement of the heavenly constellations correspond to the mountains and water springs upon earth. Just to enumerate such basic realizations, which the ‘conventional’ sciences totally miss, however is the subject of numerous words and explanations for which scope a few words here may not even begin to cover. Any research that is worth the name however should only manifest such basic truth. 

On the coast of Eastern Africa are many river estuaries and Deltas, all of which have their names and descriptions in ancient Sanskrit. Two of these many rivers bear rather significant titles, which when investigated further narrate an extremely interesting itihasa-how it once was. The one is called the Thagana-Ruse/deception, while the other is called the Sa-baki-way to the mountain of Supreme.  The inland of the entire continent of Africa has its original names of rivers and places all in the ancient Sanskrit. The great river Nile for instance derives its name from Nai-lu, which in Sanskrit means the Lead water body. The river Niger has its name as Nai-ja, as is the correct pronunciation, meaning the lead born, Nai, or Nayee, referring to leading while lu and ja refer to water body and born respectively. Several other places Eastern Africa, and in particular the country called Kenya bear the prefix of Nai in their Sanskrit names that abide to the present. It is interesting that most of the place names in Africa have no meaning from the local languages, and even those for which a meaning may be supposedly given really have no relations of the same language to its neighbouring places. When all these names are however evaluated in ancient Sanskrit, the meaning is found for the entire countryside ranging from the least water-spring and village location, to the grandest mountains in the land. The country Kenya for instance derives its name from the Mount Kiri-Nyaga, with the denaturisation of the name solely having been the inability of the white man to correctly hear and record what he had been told. Kiri-Nyaga is the secod highest mountain of Africa, the first being Kilima-njaro. Kiri-Nyaga refers to the mountain of sacrifice, cleansing and purification, as the name yagya means, as well as the abode of the Naga, the word Nyaga being a transliteration of both. In the same Sanskrit, Njaro refers to barren ground that surrounds the Mt Kilima-njaro, which literally is the mountain surround by barren ground. Kili-ma or Kiri-ma as words denoting a mountain feature also in the lands of the Americas and literally denote the great mist cloud of water, a feature of the high elevations of land. There have been many explanations brought forth as to the meanings of these two mountain names of Africa, but none really bears any relevance as they fail to provide a linguistic association with the landscape that also neighbour them. Such names are as the Mt Meru in Tanzania, Arusha, or Karatu, which however in Sanskrit bear the meanings of High ground, Cool effective sunlight and designed land respectively. And more can be established. For the Ma-asai lands and the name description of the people who got their name from these lands are so. Ma-asai refers to desirous of water, a term that encrypts the entire lands where the pastoral community widely known as the Maasai reside. Indeed the similar ascription of the qualities and name of the land has been the epithet by which most of the communities of the world derive their identity. The Ma-ra is one such other location which literally denote the cycle of water and sun, however with the sun laughing last, to denote the meaning of pain resulting from death before maturation. Such is the cycle of the area known as the Ma-ra, where both rain and sun are in extremes and results in bitterness. A lace called Ra-ma in the bible would bear similar connotation, but with he waters probably exceeding the effects of the sun and therefore the region being designed as uplifted. Beyond the Ma-ra are several places that denotes its end such as the Mara-goli, and Mara-kwet,each each o which also are tribal identities of the people who occupy these regions. Then there is the Nandi hills, obviously from the identity of Nadi, which denote the blood veins and capillaries of he body which compare with the rivulets and springs from these hills. Kara-mo-jong  refers to the landscape resultant of the effects of sun’s heat and the low of water, and such is the land bordering Kenya and Uganda where also a tribe that goes by this identity resides. The Turkana is such other etymology, which strangely relates to the same etymology with the lands of Turkey, the Thullukana, both incidentally named from the frankincense tree that once featured both regions. The term also literally denotes the atomic component of the oil of incense, which leaves one to wonder how the ancients knew, that both these regions which bear the same name had massive petroleum oil reserves beneath their sands. Similar intentions may have been in the names of the lands of Russia and Moscow with the relation of the musk fragrance base of oil. For indeed we also have Russia as the other region of the world with significant oil reserves. 

But apologies for my digressing seeing as the subject matter was the two rivers of Eastern African coast, the Thagana, and the Sabaki. Indeed I will even restrict myself to only the latter, for the Thagana, being only a ruse meant to deter the seeker from the intended goal only branches to many tributaries, its main one being the pRagati, the progress of the ruse. In seeking the way to the Mountain of the God of Strength, one would have to follow the Sa-baki, flows through much of what is called Kamba-blanket country. The next relevant feature on its course for this discourse is the fourteen falls, so called because they form fourteen distinct falls just before one reaches the Kirima-m-bogo. This latter has been described to mean several things such as relating to buffalos in the local dialects, but in Sanskrit refers to the Mountain of God, the ever elusive destiny of all spiritual seekers of truth. Beyond this mountain, the river is generally called the Mbagathi, which is shortened or the Athi, but in reality is the Bhaga-dhi, which denotes the providence or intelligence of God. The ancients of these lands regarded these mountains with reverence as they duly deserve, but sadly, this is now not the case. This Bhaga-dhi  is split into for major tributaries, the Nai-robi, Ruiru, Thika and the Chania. Whereas each of these has their meanings in Sanskrit as well as the Hebrew for the Chania, none of the local languages give any relevant meanings to any of them, let alone to all of them. The Nai-robi  has its source from the regions that bear the same name, which is the ancient leader in all attributes of greatness. Ruiru has the source of its tributaries as Ki-ambu region which in Sanskrit literally means the source of rivers, and Ruiru as the region for the citizens’ occupation. The Dhi-ka-intelligent flow, and the Chania-encampment(hebrew) both have their min tributaries originating from the Aberdare ranges, whose original name was Nya-nda-rwa. Now, this name has an interesting semblance with Rwa-nda, land of the Nya-rwa-nda people, for both are the lands of many hills. In fact, the Rwandese acclaims their country name to mean swarm, supposedly of the hills which is their country. How these two lands should share names alliterations descriptive of similar countryside feature is a secret only the ancient language which describes the perfect creation can reveal. The Nya denotes city or tower, rwa denotes devine and nda denotes place. Rwa-nda therefore denotes divine place, as Nya-rwa-nda would denote tower or city of the divine place. Nya-nda-rwa would denote the similar but with the stress being placed on the divinity rather than the place, such as to read the tower or city of the place of divinity, or of the place divine. Considering that the waters that flow from the intelligence of God, (Bhaga-dhi) through the mountain of God (Kirima-m-bogo), and ultimately are the way to the mountain of God (Sa-baki) have their source from the ranges of these mountains, it is my conviction that these mountains ad region holds the true record of man’s past, which also is a relevant key to the future of the planet.

The Nai-robi, that which leads in all great attributes, was the most ancient centre for wisdom. The least village and all its water springs and courses are named in Sanskrit with names that denote the stages of the springs, clearly defining where human activity is scientifically acceptable along a river course and demarcates where nature ought to be left in its natural estate. Such place names as Mu-kiriti, Ruthi-mitu, Kagondo, Chiromo, Kagira, Ma-thare, Ma-thira, U-thiru, Eni,  bear no meaning in the local dialect but in Sanskrit are evidentially descriptive of limitations and otherwise of human encroachment on nature. To have such other Sanskrit names as Kinoo-beautiful, featuring prominently in the countryside of a place deep in Africa dos truly bear a significant tale. The past of the world is not that Homo-habilis and erectus tales that modern wizardly directs us to consider, a past of unintelligence and primordial beings, but was rather a perfectly created and defined past, as the Sanskrit description of the same was, which description has survived the onslaught of the ages and the evil onslaught by wicked men, to remain engraved in the landmarks of the world, narrating a story second to none, for the hills do not lie, nor does their names, nor the great treasures we would find by following this train of research, all throughout the world. The region of the Nayees would be the most ideal to begin from, and I’m not suggesting anything to do with the Nayees sects of India, although these too do hold much wisdom of relevance. The Nayees of my contention are Nai-robi, Nai-vasha and Nai-kuru in the country of Kiri-Nyaga, for as above established these lands were they that in the perfect language of creation, the cradle of civilisation is implied, as well as the great secrets of the Creator, God, for who all of creation is desirous of. Ere I digress into spiritual rhetoric, let me for now wind up by asking where else in the world we have a spring that is known as a Guru Gici, though there be other Gici rivers such as in Catalonia, and what would it be that this teacher be elucidating, him being a teacher of greatest clarity?    
                     
I have also taken the liberty to make sense of the Hebrew name for God, which incidentally the Hebrew scholars will ascribe great mystical power to, but never state any meaning to it. Featuring that the name was given to Moses at a latter time of the history of the Hebrews, whereupon the Lord had been before only been known to them as the Lord Almighty, and bearing significance that Sanskrit is the original perfect and ancient language of the Creator, deciphering the title in Sanskrit would provide a plausible meaning. The name designates He to whom universal sacrifices, purification, cleansing and sanctification belongs. Now, there is a similar connotation addressed in Yahga, the rites of purification, and the name of God amongst the people of the region of central Kenya was mainly Mwene Nyaga, in reference to He who owned the rites of purification, to who the sacrifices were offered and who it was that sanctifies and purifies. This same Mwene-Yahga incidentally would be known as Je-ho-vah in another Sanskrit description, both inferring the same attributes, which really is an interesting comparison to say the least.     

Monday, January 14, 2013

How Russia and Moscow got their names.

In my previous post, I had cited some Russian hydronyms (river names) that seem to have a Sanskrit origin. This time, I have a more intriguing finding that might seem hard to digest but difficult to refute.

Let's first take RUSSIA. Etymology online is of the view that either Russia derives its roots from the Finnish name for Sweden or it's derived from the Indo European word for 'Red' in reference to the hair colour.

I have a third theory. And in my theory, the etymology of Russia is intertwined to the origins of Moscow.
Ok, the picture to your left is that of the Siberian Musk Deer (image courtesy: Wikipedia). Largely found in the Russian Federation, Moschus moschiferus is the source for producing Musk (an aromatic substance used as a base for perfumes). The commonly known Sanskrit word for the Musk Deer is Kasturi Hiran. But there is another word. It's Rushya.

Now what does Rushya sound like? Russia, right? So is it possible that the place got its name as it was teeming with these musk deers? Hold that thought. Let's now jump to MOSCOW. Moscow derives its name from the Moskva river. And how did Moskva river get its name? Wikipedia maintains that 'origin is unknown although several theories exist'. What are these theories? The only theory I've come across is Moskva's roots lie in the Finno-Ugric word for 'dark water'.

Let me muddle the water further with a new theory. What if, the river ran through forests that reeked of musk? Plausible, right? But then if Russia is derived from Sanskrit, shouldn't Moscow have a similar linguistic origin? This is where, we have a strong piece of evidence. The word Musk is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Muska' which means 'testicle'!

So that leads us to the big question: did the Siberian Musk Deer or the Muska Rushya have a hand in giving Russia and Moscow their names?

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

How, many Russian Rivers, got their names.

The Arkaim archaelogical site in Russia has provided the world evidence of the presence of an ancient civilizaton of Indo-Aryan origins. Now, I shall provide you etymological evidence of a Sanskrit connect. At least 16 hydronyms (river names) in Russia have clear equivalent roots in Sanskrit. Let's take Volga. The broadly accepted view is that it draws its meaning from the Russian word for moisture. There's a Sanskrit word Bul (root for bulayati). It means 'to plunge//dive/submerge/emerge'. Now the ga in ganga (means 'that which moves') is a Sanskrit suffix used to connote rivers. So Volga could have been derived from Bulga. Considering the Bulgarians took their name from the river Volga, Bulga seems a credible explanation.

The stunning coincidences with 15 other rivers listed below kind of convinces me that there's a need for a deeper study into the vedic links of Russia.

Russian River NameSanskrit EquivalentSanskrit Meaning
VolgaBul-gaOne that plunges, submerges & emerges
PichoraPichchoraPipe/Flute
DvinaDwainaSecond
VisheraVisaraAbundance
VarzugaVarshaugaTorrent
VoronyaVarunyaComing from god of water
PregolyaPragalyaThat which falls off
NarvaNarbaTo move
KumaKumaLake
TereshkaTarasEnergy
KamaKamaWild
SamaraSamaraBattle
KokshagaKokahaWhite Horse
MokshaMokshaSalvation
AvachaAvachyaSouthern
LokankaLu-GangaDividing River

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

How Mississippi got its name.

Wikipedia says that the word Mississippi comes from Messipi, the French rendering of the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe or Algonquin) name for the river, Misi-ziibi (Great River). This is by and large the accepted version.

I have an alternate theory. The Anishinaabe are Indo-Americans and are migrants who branched out from Dravidian tribes at some point in the misty past. Their language has many Tamil remnants and hence, it might help to analyse their place names using Tamil.

Let's take Mississippi. When examined with Tamil goggles, Mississippi feels like MUTHSIPPI or MUTHU SIPPI. Now Muthu means pearl and Sippi is Oyster. So MUTHU SIPPI just cues 'PEARL OYSTERS'.

The sceptic mind might dismiss this claim as far-fetched. But let's study the Mississippi state. One of the rivers in Mississippi is called the PEARL RIVER. And the Mississippi river has a rich history of being a lead source for pearl farming.

Given this startling coincidence, is it possible that Mississippi was MUTHU SIPPI?

Sunday, December 16, 2012

How Canada got its name.

Anglia, Hochelaga, Norland, Superior and Victorialand were some of the names considered before some wise men chose Canada as their country's name in February 1867. Wikipedia adds that the name Canada originated around 1535 from the Saint-Lawrence Iroquoian word Kanata meaning "village", "settlement", or "land"; another contemporary translation was "cluster of dwellings".

To me, Canada has always sounded like an Indian word. The Wiki explanation kind of solved an old puzzle in my head. However, I do wish to draw your attention to a remarkable coincidence. The Sanskrit word 'Kanda' which means 'branch, chapter or cluster' seems totally synonymous with the Iroquoian 'Kanata'. Kanda is of vedic vintage and has been in currency since god-knows-when. The Indian sub-continent was often referred to as Bharata Kanda. So is it possible that Kanda gave rise to Kanata which in turn gave us 'Canada'? Me thinks, YES. As the 'Kanda' usage somehow feels more appropriate than the small land mass sense conveyed by 'Kanata'.

How Saskatchewan got its name.

Saskatchewan is Canada's fifth largest province. It takes its name from the Saskatchewan river. Legend has it that Saskatchewan means 'swift flowing river' in the Cree Indian language.

My take: Saskatchewan is a prarie province with more than 50% forest land. The -wan suffix in the name seems of Sanskrit origin. Van in Sanskrit means forest which kind of fits the profile of the land. Further, 'Kutch' in Sanskrit means 'island' and 'sas' cues 'six'. So Saskatchewan means 'the forest with six islands'. My view is the six islands in reference are the six great tribes - Algonquins (Algonquin), Atikameks (Atikamekw), Cree (Cree), Inuit (Inuktitut), Montagnais (Innu), and Naskapi (Naskapi). The only way to nail this hypothesis is to study the connection between the Cree language and Sanskrit.

Saturday, December 15, 2012

How Ottawa got its name.

Ottawa is the capital of Canada. Originally christened Bytown, it was renamed as Ottawa in 1855. Ottawa gets its name from the Ottawa river which in turn takes its name from the Ojibwe tribe 'Odawas' who happened to be located near the river. Historians somehow seem to think that 'Odawas' means 'traders' and hence that's become the officially sanctioned etymology for Ottawa.

I have a slightly different take. Yes, Ottawa owes its existence to Odawas. But 'traders' just doesn't seem logical. Ancient tribes usually name themselves after geographical markers and not their occupation. Here was a river side tribe who also indulged in trading. Why would they call themselves traders? Wouldn't they call themselves, the river people?

If for a moment, we were to assume that the Ojibwes were long-lost nomadic Dravidian tribes from India, then we'll be in a position to solve this jigsaw more elegantly. 'Odai' in Tamil means 'river'. And -va is an Indian suffix to cue origin (the Pandavas, for example, are 'those who were beget by Pandu'). So Odaiwa will mean 'river people'. And that's how I think Ottawa got its name.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

How Glass got its name.

Wikipedia says, "The term glass developed in the late Roman Empire. It was in the Roman glassmaking center at Trier, now in modern Germany, that the late-Latin term glesum originated, probably from a Germanic word for a transparent, lustrous substance."

But another entry in Wiki reads, "Indigenous development of glass technology in South Asia may have begun in 1730 BCE.Evidence of this culture includes a red-brown glass bead along with a hoard of beads dating to that period, making it the earliest attested glass from the Indus Valley locations. Glass discovered from later sites dating from 600–300 BCE displays common color."

Now the timeline of the Roman Empire is stated as between 27 BC and 476 AD. Clearly, the Indus Valley precedes the Roman empire. So glass must have been known to the Indian subcontinent much earlier than the Roman empire.

So could the word 'glass' have originated from India? Why not?

Here's my theory: There's a sanskrit word called 'Kelasa' which means 'crystal'. Incidentally, 'Kelasa' is the root word for Kailash. Mount Kailash is often referred to as the Crystal Mountain for being pure and sacred. Now doesn't 'kelasa' sound very similar to 'glass'? The red crystal beads that Wiki talks about would have been called the kelasa beads in ancient times. So may be with time, the 'kla' in kelasa became 'gla' and that's how we got glass.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

How Denmark got its name.

Conventional Theory:The etymology of the word Denmark, and especially the relationship between Danes and Denmark and the unifying of Denmark as a single kingdom, is a subject which attracts debate.[16][17] This is centred primarily around the prefix "Dan" and whether it refers to the Dani or a historical person Dan and the exact meaning of the -"mark" ending. The issue is further complicated by a number of references to various Dani people in Scandinavia or other places in Europe in Greek and Roman accounts (like Ptolemy, Jordanes, and Gregory of Tours), as well as mediaeval literature. The earliest descriptions of the origin of the word 'Denmark', describing a territory, are found in the Chronicon Lethrense (12th century), Svend Aagesen (late 12th century), Saxo Grammaticus (early 13th century) and the Ballad of Eric (mid-15th century). There are, however, many more Danish annuals and yearbooks containing various other details, similar tales in other variations, other names or spelling variations. Most handbooks derive the first part of the word, and the name of the people, from a word meaning "flat land", related to German Tenne "threshing floor", English den "cave",the -mark is believed to mean woodland or borderland.

My Take: 'Dhana' in Sanskrit means 'Meadows or lush pastures' and 'Marga' means 'way or path'. So Dhana Marga is a land leading to a lush green domain. There is evidence that agriculture took root in Denmark around 3000 BC. So is Dhana Marga = Denmark? One fact that strengthens this case is the lead river of Denmark is called Guden. Gu in Sanskrit means 'Cow', Den is the act of consuming the 'dhana' and giving something in return!

Thursday, July 12, 2012

How Kentucky got its name.

Conventional Theory: "It is generally accepted that the historic Native American tribes who hunted in what is now Kentucky referred to the region as Catawba, or some similar variant. Some have said that the land was described in this way to Daniel Boone by a native Chief. According to The Kentucky Blue Book,Dragging Canoe, a young Cherokee chief opposed to selling ancestral hunting grounds, warned the whites that they were purchasing a "dark and bloody ground." The origin of Kentucky's modern name (variously spelled Cane-tuck-ee, Cantucky, Kain-tuck-ee, and Kentuckee before its modern spelling was accepted)comes from an Iroquois word meaning "meadow lands", referring to the buffalo hunting grounds in Central Kentucky's savanna." Wikipedia.

My Take: The Iroquois Indians are of Asian genetic stock (B Haplogroup). And there is this theory that the Haplogroup B could have been from the lost continent 'Mu' which many people believe to be the cradle for India, China and Japan. Now, the spoken language of this hypothetical civilization could have either been Sanskrit or Tamil (two of the oldest languages). 'Kantaka' in both these languages meant 'thorny'. And Kantaka Kshetra meant a 'thorny field or meadow'. It is possible that the Iroquois Indians used the same root words. So my surmise is Kantaka gave us Kentucky.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

How Mozambique got its name.

Traditional Theory: "The country was named Moçambique by the Portuguese after the Island of Mozambique, derived from Musa Al Big or Mossa Al Bique or Mussa Ben Mbiki, an Arab trader who first visited the island and later lived there."

My Theory: The internet has a habit of parroting what is reflected in Wikipedia. And Wikipedia relies on sources that don't cite any basis for their theories. This Arab gentleman named 'Mossa Al Bique' urf 'Mussa Ben Mbiki' has been cited by various sources to have existed anywhere between 7th Century AD to 15th Century AD. That's a rather long time band to be taken too seriously. In such a situation, it helps to look at an alternative angle. When Vasco da Gama visited the Island of Mozambique around 1498, he saw that place teeming with Indian traders from Gujarat. So isn't it possible for Mozambique to have an Indian origin? When I googled about Gujaratis in Mozambique, this pdf showed up. It chronicles the tale of Gujarati Hindus in Portugal. There is a reference in this essay to an Ambe temple idol that was supposed to have been shipped from Mozambique to Portugal. Considering how important the Goddess Ambe or Ambica is to the Navratri loving Gujaratis, is it possible for Mozambique to have been derived from 'Moksha Ambica' (the abode of our goddess)? This is highly possible as the Isle of Mozambique was famed for its gold. Could it have been that the Gujarati traders might have stumbled upon the gold and to thank their stars, they built a huge temple for Ambica? Someone should explore this train of thought. You never know what it reveals.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

How Kathmandu got its name.

The conventional theory goes like this: "Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal is situated at about 1400M altitude in a bowl shaped valley surrounded by four major hills. Seven rivers flow through the city. The city was originally known as Kantipur (the abode of Lakshmi).Some claim that the name came from Kashta Mandap (Sanskrit for wooden structure), a three storeyed temple built in pagoda style in sixteenth century, dedicated to Gorakhnath. The structure is made entirely of wood, using no iron nails."

My theory: Kathmandu is derived from the Tamil phrase 'Kaatu Mandapam' or the Mandap made of forest trees. The Tamil connection is highly possible because Dharma Dutta of Kanchipuram is said to have built the Pasupathinath Temple in Kathmandu. Kaatu Mandap seems a closer cousin to Kathmandu than Kashta Mandap, don't you think?

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

How Kazhakstan got its name.

There are at least 4 theories floating around to explain how Kazhakstan got its name:

a) It comes from the Turkish verb qaz (to wander), because the Kazakhs were wandering steppemen
b) It derives from the Mongol word khasaq (a wheeled cart used by the Kazakhs to transport their yurts and belongings).
c) The name came from the popular Kazakh legend of the white goose (qaz means "goose", aq means "white").[18][19] In this creation myth, a white steppe goose turned into a princess, who in turn gave birth to the first Kazakh.
d) Another theory on the origin of the word Kazakh (originally Qazaq) is that it comes from the ancient Turkic word qazğaq, first mentioned on the 8th century Turkic monument of Uyuk-Turan. According to the notable Turkic linguist Vasily Radlov and the orientalist Veniamin Yudin, the noun qazğaq derives from the same root as the verb qazğan ("to obtain", "to gain"). Therefore, qazğaq defines a type of person who seeks profit and gain.

I have a new theory. My view is, Kazhakstan has a Sanskrit root. Derived from Kashak-stan. Kashak is the sanskrit word for grass. The grassy terrain of the great Kazhak steppe might have been the trigger for Indic nomads to give this name. I shall present more evidence in the coming days.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

How Brazil got its name.

Most of the theories on Brazil's etymology are fairly muddled. Wikipedia says, "Traditionally, the word "Brazil" comes from brazilwood, a timber tree that many sailors traded from Brazilian regions to Europe in the 16th century.[18] In Portuguese brazilwood is called pau-brasil, with the word brasil commonly given the etymology "red like an ember", formed from Latin brasa ("ember") and the suffix -il (from -iculum or -ilium).This theory is taught as official in schools of Brazil and Portugal." Somehow it's deeply unsatisfying. I am of the view that the tree is not distinctive enough to justify naming an entire region after it. Clearly, there's a need for an alternate theory. This is where Sanskrit can help. Bri/Bru, as we now know, means hill. And Shil or Shila means rock. What would you call a place where the terrain is predominantly rocky? Brushil, right? And that's how Brazil was born.

Friday, December 2, 2011

How Brian got his name.

Brian is of Celtic origin. Behindthename suggests that it is possibly related to the old Celtic element bre meaning hill. Now the Celts have an ancient Indian connect. Many of their words and customs are Proto-Indo-European in nature. Just like Bre in Celtic, the Bri in Sanskrit also means hill. So it is highly possible that Brian was derived from the Sanskrit Brihan which means 'hill-like' or 'as big as a hill' or by extension 'great'. This aspect of Brihan is what, we in India, are aware of, today. Brihan Mumbai for example, means Greater Mumbai. If Brihan Mumbai were a Celtic town, it would have been Brian Mumbai!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

How Reykjavik got its name.

Wikipedia has offered a rather contrived origin for Reykjavik. It goes like this: "The first permanent settlement in Iceland by Norsemen is believed to have been established in Reykjavík by Ingólfur Arnarson around AD 870; this is described in Landnámabók, or the Book of Settlement. Ingólfur Arnarson is said to have decided the location of his settlement using a traditional Viking method; by casting his high seat pillars (Öndvegissúlur) into the ocean when he saw the coastline, then settled where the pillars came to shore. Steam from hot springs in the region is said to have inspired Reykjavík's name, which loosely translates to Smoke Cove (the city is often referred to as the Bay of Smokes or Bay of Smoke)." There's no mention of the language in which smoke cove is reykjavik. Since the mind tends to associate hot springs with the place, somehow the explanation seems credible. But is it?
One look at the google map of iceland is enough to convince any Indian with a passing knowledge of Sanskrit, that most names seem to be of an indic origin. So why shouldn't Reykjavik have a Sanskrit root? Why can't it be derived from Rig Gyaanik (one who knows the rig veda) or Rig Avik (the fort of Rig Veda)? This seems highly possible as the icelandic edda is supposed to be the equivalent of the veda. Seeing this entire episode in the context of Bal Gangadhar Tilak's Arctic origin of the Vedas, I am almost tempted to ask myself: Was Reykyavik the home of the Vedas?

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

How Eindhoven, Antwerp & Rotterdam got their names.

Wikipedia says: "The name Eindhoven derives from the contraction of the regional words eind (meaning last or end) and hove (or hoeve; a section of some 14 hectares of land)." I think the name may have a vedic connect. The sixth descendant of Puru was Raudrasva. He had ten sons. Vaneyu was the last. Vaneyu (one from the forest) sounds suspiciously close to slavic deity vanja/vanya. Considering that the proto-indo-european language is said to have emerged from the Nordic regions, it is highly possible that Eindhoven is a nod to the last son of Raudra named Vanya. Incidentally, Vanya's elder brother is Varpeyu. The 'werp' in Antwerp may have something to do with Varpeyu. If so, then Ant must be a legacy of the Sanskrit Anth (meaning final, last or end)? But then, this poses a complication. If Antwerp = Anth Varpa = Land of the last son Varpeyu. And if Eindhoven = Antho Vanya = Land of the last son Vanya. Then clearly there must have been a confusion as to who was the last son. Now for all of this to have been true, Raudra must have been a great figure in Netherlands. We have evidence for this. Rotterdam is but Raudra-Dham!

How Tanganyika got its name.

Conventional wisdom says Tanganyika is derived from Swahili for 'sail'. I have another theory. Tanganyika has a very Tamil sound. And it feels like it must have been formed from 'Thanga Neekka' or 'Where gold is removed'. It's highly possible that Tamil explorers discovered gold deposits near the lake and concentrated their energies on neekifying thangam or mining out gold. So the waterway to the gold deposits became Thanga-neeka and over a period of time it morphed into the Swahili Tanganyika.

And why do I feel this is credible? Ancient Tamils did a lot of trading with East Africa. And evidence is fast emerging that much of South India's gold came from Africa. Also, Tanzania is the third big gold producer of Africa.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

How Aswan got its name.

Egypt's third largest city is said to be have been derived from the Egyptian word 'Swen' which means 'the market'. Somehow this doesn't strike a chord with me. Ashwa is the Sanskrit word for Horse. Considering, Egyptian horses are legendary, could Aswan have been the ancient breeding ground for the famed Arabian horses?

How Jerusalem got its name.

It is a recorded fact that Tamils and the ancient Hebrew people were in touch for trade. So it's highly possible for Tamil words to have seeped into the Judaic world. Wikipedia says that Jerusalem was derived from Yerushalyim.

The explanation put out doesn't have a ring of certainty. Given the unsure nature of the etymology, it might help to view it from a Tamil prism. Yeru is a Tamil word meaning to climb and Shailam means hill. So why shouldn't Jerusalem mean 'Climb the hill'? Two evidences can be adduced in support of this theory:

1. Jerusalem sits on seven hills.
2. Salem (a city in Tamil Nadu) got its name because its surrounded by hills.

Doesn't that make you go hmmmmmmmm?

UPDATE: Samanth Subramaniam has come up with an even better suggestion. Yezhu Shailam means Seven Hills. Yezhu could have been corrupted to Yeru Shailam, right?

How Iran got its name.

Iran is often cited to be a derivation of Aryan (noble one or the first one) which happens to be a sanskrit word. The 'cradle of the civilization' theory lends credence to this belief. I have an alternate view. It goes like this...

The ancients have always held that in the beginning there was a massive island named Jambudweepa. It's sub divided into 9 zones. Bharatavarshey is the Indian area. There was also one zone named Hiran Maya where the palm tree was the key source of subsistence. The people there were golden complexioned (Hiran means golden). So basically Iranians are Hiranyans.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

How Harappa got its name.

Harappa is located near the Ravi river. Since it was a river-civilization, it's highly possible that the place was designated so by the Indus people.

Now, the Indus script has been widely speculated to be of Dravidian origin. So may be it might help to see Harappa from a Dravidian prism. Which brings us to Tamil - the oldest living Dravidian language. Tamil might shed more light on how 'Harappa' the name was picked.

The thing to note is ancient Tamil didn't have the 'ha' sound. The practise was to substitute 'ha' with 'aa'. Given this background, may be HARAPPA was AARAPPA.

AARAPPA offers exciting possibilities. Because AARU in Tamil means 'River'. And AARAPPAN means 'one who lives near a river'.

May be people of the Harappan civilzation were referred to as 'AARAPANS' and over a period of the Northies started calling it HARAPPA. Sounds plausible?

NOTE: By the same logic, the Ravi river may also owe its origins to Tamil. You just have to look at the word ARUVI. It means river in Tamil and when uttered many times, it reads as RUVI or RAVI!!

Thursday, November 24, 2011

How Dennis got his name.

The name Dennis is a derivative of Dionysus which in turn may be a derivative of Daya-nisi (sanskrit/tamil for day & night or compassionate & dark). If that sounds difficult to believe, Dionysus the greek god was said to have been born in an Indian hill named Nysa!