Tag: Ancient India

National

2,000-Year-Old Tamil-Brahmi Inscriptions Discovered in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, Rewriting Ancient Maritime History

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A groundbreaking discovery may reshape our understanding of ancient maritime trade routes. Researchers have identified 2,000-year-old Tamil-Brahmi, Prakrit, and Sanskrit inscriptions within the high-security royal tombs of the Valley of the Kings in Egypt — a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its Pharaonic burials.

The findings offer compelling new evidence of maritime trade connections between ancient Tamilakam (present-day Tamil Nadu and surrounding regions) and Egypt, dating back nearly two millennia. The inscriptions are believed to belong to the period between the 1st and 3rd centuries CE — a time corresponding to the height of Indo-Roman trade.

According to reports, 30 inscriptions in Tamil-Brahmi, Prakrit, and Sanskrit were identified across six tombs in the Theban Necropolis. The site, located within ancient Thebes, is globally known for housing royal tombs including that of Tutankhamun.

The study was conducted during 2024 and 2025 by Professor Charlotte Schmid of the French School of Asian Studies (EFEO) and Professor Ingo Strauch of the University of Lausanne. The team documented inscriptions across multiple tombs, building upon the early 20th-century work of French scholar Jule Baillet, who surveyed the Valley of the Kings in 1926 and catalogued more than 2,000 Greek graffiti marks.

Commenting on the discovery, author and historian TS Krishnan noted that Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions found in Egypt are “not entirely unexpected.” He pointed to well-established maritime trade networks between ancient Tamilakam and the Mediterranean world, particularly Egypt, during the Sangam age.

Krishnan also referenced earlier discoveries, including a broken pottery shard bearing Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions found in Egypt, read as “Paanai Uri,” interpreted as “a pot hung by rope” or “suspended vessel.” The artefact is generally dated to around the 1st century CE.

The presence of Indian inscriptions inside royal Egyptian tomb complexes suggests that Indian merchants may have travelled deep into Egyptian territory, leaving behind tangible traces of cross-cultural contact.

If further authenticated and studied, this discovery could significantly expand the historical narrative of Indo-Egyptian relations and reinforce evidence of India’s extensive maritime networks during antiquity.

Aight Sky

Tracing the Path of Yoga: From Ancient India to Modern Practice

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Anupama Verma

Yoga is often associated with graceful poses and flexibility, but its origins and intentions are much deeper. This practice spans over 5,000 years, rooted in the spiritual soil of ancient India. More than a workout, yoga is a comprehensive lifestyle and philosophy designed to bring harmony to body, mind, and spirit.


From the Indus Valley to the Vedas

Archaeological evidence from the Indus Valley Civilization (circa 2700 BCE) reveals figures in meditative postures, hinting at early yogic practices. The Vedas, some of the oldest sacred texts, introduced the foundations of spiritual discipline, ritual, and devotion.

The Upanishads and Philosophical Depth

The Upanishads further explored the nature of existence, self, and the universal soul (Brahman). Concepts like breath control and inner stillness began to take shape, laying the groundwork for meditative practices that would later define yoga.

Classical Yoga and the Eight Limbs

Around 200 BCE to 200 CE, the sage Patanjali compiled the Yoga Sutras, outlining the Ashtanga or Eight Limbs of Yoga. This systematic approach to self-realization emphasizes:

  • Yama – Ethical disciplines
  • Niyama – Personal observances
  • Asana – Physical postures
  • Pranayama – Breath control
  • Pratyahara – Withdrawal of the senses
  • Dharana – Concentration
  • Dhyana – Meditation
  • Samadhi – Enlightenment

Unlike modern yoga’s focus on physicality, Patanjali’s framework is a roadmap to inner transformation.

Hatha Yoga and the Post-Classical Evolution

Between the 9th and 17th centuries, Hatha Yoga emerged as a vital system emphasizing asana, pranayama, and shatkarmas (cleansing techniques) to purify the body for spiritual awakening. Influential texts like the Hatha Yoga Pradipika shaped the practices many recognize today.

The Modern Revival and Global Spread

In 1893, Swami Vivekananda brought yoga philosophy to the West at the Parliament of the World’s Religions. Later, T. Krishnamacharya and his students (e.g., B.K.S. Iyengar, Pattabhi Jois) modernized yoga with a focus on dynamic physical postures. Their teachings sparked the contemporary yoga movement, now a worldwide phenomenon.

Yoga Today: A Global Practice with Ancient Roots

In modern wellness culture, yoga is often viewed through the lens of fitness. Yet at its heart, it remains a discipline of union—a practice integrating ethics, breath, mindfulness, and spirituality. While studios may emphasize asana, the full potential of yoga lies in embracing its eightfold path.

Yoga’s legacy is more than ancient history—it’s a living tradition that continues to evolve. Whether practiced for fitness or for spiritual growth, understanding its origins helps us honor the wisdom behind the movement.

🧘‍♀️ Embrace yoga not just as a practice, but as a way of life.

National

Keeladi Unearthed: The Ancient Tamil Urban Settlement Reshaping India’s Civilisational Narrative

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo

Hidden beneath the tranquil coconut groves of Keeladi village in Tamil Nadu lies a discovery that could rewrite Indian history. A series of archaeological excavations have unearthed artefacts and structures dating back to 580 BCE, revealing a sophisticated, literate, and urbanized civilization in South India—one that challenges long-standing assumptions about the origins and spread of ancient Indian culture.

Led by the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology, these digs have recovered more than 15,000 artefacts, including burial urns, coins, beads, terracotta pipes, and intricate brick constructions—all from just four acres of the 100-acre site. Central to the findings is the early use of Tamil Brahmi script, which some experts now argue predates the Ashokan Brahmi, previously believed to be the subcontinent’s earliest form of written communication.

Ajay Kumar, who heads the excavation team, describes Keeladi as a “literate, urban society” with evidence of planned habitation, industrial activity, and water systems. “This changes everything we thought we knew about urbanisation in southern India,” he asserts.

Yet Keeladi’s importance extends beyond archaeology. It has become a cultural and political flashpoint in the ongoing discourse around India’s historical identity. Traditionally, the Indus Valley and later Vedic civilizations—both rooted in northern and central India—have dominated the narrative. Keeladi upends this by suggesting a parallel trajectory of civilization in the south.

The implications are vast. Some believe Keeladi could be linked to the Indus Valley through shared graffiti symbols, hinting at a broader, interconnected civilizational past. Others, like Professor Ajit Kumar from Nalanda University, remain skeptical, arguing that such migration and cultural transfer were unlikely due to ancient travel limitations.

The political undertones intensified in 2017 when ASI archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishnan, who initiated the Keeladi digs, was suddenly transferred. The Tamil Nadu government accused the federal administration of undermining Tamil heritage. Subsequent delays in publishing his excavation report further fueled suspicions of cultural suppression.

Today, Keeladi stands at the crossroads of science, identity, and politics. It represents both a rediscovery of a proud Tamil past and a challenge to long-standing narratives dominated by the north. The open-air museum under construction will soon let visitors walk through trenches that could redefine Indian history.

As journalist and author Sowmiya Ashok puts it, “Keeladi reminds us that our past is not one-dimensional. It’s layered, shared, and more connected than we’ve been led to believe.”