At Sanauli in the Baghpat District of Uttar Pradesh a Harappan Civilization is sleeping. This Civilization is none other than the Civilization related with Krishna. The Harappan’s burial practice carries us to the antiquity period of the Vedic rites, where deads are cremated and burned. The Rigveda 10th Mandala, 15th hymn and 14th verse, invokes ancestors who were "cremated (agnidagdhá-) and buried (ánagnidagdha-)". Again the Rigveda 10.18.17 describes a Vedic burial practice where the God Mrityu is invoked to protect and prays God Earth to cover , wrap and protect the dead just like soft wool. The entire Vedic burial practice adorns one common discipline the dead bodies are placed in north – south direction. The Harappan burial practice is brick or stone lined with wooden coffin in straight direction, buried with their jewellery, gold , copper, shell or steatite beads. The royal unmarried warriors are buried along with chariots and arms. The Vedic lineage of the Saiva school of thought follows always burial practice. Kalibangan gives a vivid example of the burial practice of the Saiva followers. Even today among the followers of the Nath Sampradaya – which is a branch of the Saiva school , burial practice is seen heading towards north – south. As per the Grihya Sutra, monks, saints, bachelor ( unmarried ) are buried not burned. Only householders are burned. Saint decide the day of Samadhi. On that day, the saint seated in lotus posture enters Mahasamadhi facing north, where it is believed that the saint is taking the last meditation. The Vedic rite of such burial ritual is followed for others who are unmarried.
The Sanauli site is the mass cremation ground of the buried warriors of the Mahabharat war ( 3138 BC ). Two such warriors are note worthy. One was Bhishma, who was buried, not burnt as he was unmarried and was associated with the the Saiva Agam school of thought. The another interesting warrior of this time is Karna. The Mahabharata records the last rite performed through Krishna, where he was buried along with Bhishma. The Mahabharata also records that it was the last wish of Karna to be buried through the hands of Krishna. After Karna's burial, two ceremonies were performed by Krishna at Surat and Karnaprayag.
The Sinauli site is situated some 100 kms from present site of Hastinapur. For the first time the Harappan site revealed complete chariot made with wood and copper. The wood has lost its appearance, with thick line of powder formed around the copper body. An artificial rendering is given here of such horse drawn chariot . The Sinauli site is a mass burial ground after the war in 3138 BC, where the active battlefield unmarried warrior, dressed as warrior with arms and chariot is buried and consigned to earth. Obviously when chariots are used, it is the same chariots found in the Mahabharata drawn with horses.
Whatever be, when my father Dr Jha came out with the Vedic Glossary on Indus Seals and latter with his learned associate Dr NS Rajaram came out with their great work The Deciphered Indus Script, the entire compass was tilted towards the Mahabharata period. Some mind’s bankrupt people seating at some prominent Universities in the west become shocked. It was difficult for them to digest the Mahabharat period (3000 BC ), before the ill designed Aryan invasion theory at 1500 BC. Some even went longer, and criticised my father’s work, as work of some Hindutva or RSS propaganda to link the period with the Mahabharata. My father remained silent then and avoided to put any comment. His reply was - wait time shall prove !
Sinauli site has given the reply.
*Birendra K Jha
birendrajha03@yahoo.com
An artificial rendering of the Harappan horse drawn chariot found at Sinauli ( Baghpat ) site.