Book Description

This is a treatise, a formal and systematic written discourse on knowledge discovery of a civilization in two domains of knowledge 1. Archaeo-metallurgical advances during Bronze Age Revolution; and 2. Invention of a writing system to document, in Meluhha (Harappa) language, technical details of these advances anchored on the imperative of supporting long-distance trade transactions by seafaring artisans and merchants. The objective of the treatise is to unravel the semantics of Dharma samjnA or Bharatiya hieroglyphs using a method of data mining. The method of data mining of Harappa Script Corpora of over 7000 inscriptions is based on the principles of tantra yukti. The doctrine of tantra yukti provides a scientific basis for reconstructing the lexis of an ancient Bharata language, Meluhha (Mleccha). The lexis (vocabulary) matches both the hieroglyphs/hypertexts and the metalwork catalogues signified by the Corpora. Since the Bronze Age Revolution increased interactions among people across space and time, many of the 25+ ancient languages of Bharata retain all spoken (parole) words and expressions in Meluhha lexis related to metalwork. This reinforces the linguistic identification of areal languages features within a linguistic union, Bharata sprachbund. Meluhha artisans are attested in cuneiform texts and as language on Shu-ilishu cylinder seal. Mleccha (cognate) language is attested in Manu (mleccha vAcas or mlecccha speech) and Mahabharata. The Great Epic also refers to mleccha rulers and people from many janapada-s of Ancient Bharata and many contact regions in Ancient Near East and Ancient Far East. The broad-spectrum coverage may be seen from the Table of Contents of this 799 page book. Tantra yukti doctrine is precisely defined for linguistic analyses and is applied to delineate the origin and formation of ancient languages of Bharata. Annex A Harappa Script inscriptions found in temple area of Mohenjo-daro (and Harappa) Annex B Dharma samjnA Corporate badges of Harappa Script Corpora, ceramic (stoneware) bangles, seals, fillets Annex C Form and function of inscribed tablets, miniature tablets Annex D Ligatures to ayo, aya 'fish' rebus: aya 'iron' ayas 'metal', meD 'body' rebus: meD 'iron' semantic modifiers as hypertexts and Harappa Script inscriptions on 240 copper tablets Annex E Clustering 'temple' hieroglyph, pictorial narratives of kneeling adorant, together with markhor and offering on a stool Annex F Multiple tablets with same inscription in Harappa signify work-in-process in circular platforms Annex G kulA 'hood of snake' as tail and Harappa Script hypertext Annex H Black ant hieroglyph Annex I Hieroglyphs of animal clusters. Mohenjo-daro m0304 (Reconstructed) Seal. A person is shown seated in 'penance' may signify Trisiras Annex J Crocodile, scorpion, disheveled hair in Harappa Script hieroglyphs signify work in bica 'haematite stone ore' Annex K Structure, form, function and significance of cashala on yupa and carburization Annex L List of Harappa Script 'text signs' Select inscriptions of Harappa Script Corpora A remarkable cultural continuum is traced from the octagonal yupa found in Binjor and authenticated in ancient Vedic texts. The Rudra bhAga of sivalingas are octagonal in shape and consistent with the adhyatmika enquiry of Skambha Sukta in Atharva Veda (X.7,8). The finds of 19 yupa inscriptions attest to the performance of Soma Samsthaa Yaga including 5 in East Borneo attributed to Mulavarman. The Binjor seal dated to ca. 2500 BCE is the stunning inscription comparable to the yupa inscriptions of historical periods. The Binjor seal documents metalwork, bahusuvarnaka (an expression used in the Epic, Ramayana, by Vamiki).