Written by London Swaminathan
Post No. 16,298
Date uploaded in London – 12 October 2026
Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com
Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.
this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.
tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com
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Words beginning with Y continued…………………….
Yavana
Earliest reference to YAVANAS comes from Ramayana. Later Sangam Tamil literature mentioned Yavanas in six places. But neither Ramayana reference nor 2000 year old Sangam Tamil reference meant Greeks. In Tamil, it is very clear that they meant Romans from Rome, Italy who brought wine and gold in exchange of pearls and pepper (black pepper). In Ramayana and Mahabharata they meant people living in North Western India. Greeks knew India evn before Allexander’s invasion. Yavanas were shown in very bad light in Hindu literature. They were caught by the Tamil Chera (Kerala) king and punished severely because they attacked Hindu commercial ships. Tamil King tied their hands behind, shaved off their hair, and poured oil on their heads. When they apologised, they were asked to give gold and gems. Chera king got them and distributed to poets and bards according to Sangam Tamil literature. In Sanskrit books, they were shown as people eating lying down. Many references in the Mahabaharata showed them as the defeated Mlechas, a drogatory term for beef eaters and dog eaters in Sanskrit.
Yavanas in Ramayana era.—When Viswamitra showed his Kshatriya power to Vasistha Maharishi and forcefully took the Divine cow Nandini, Vasistha showed Brahmin power that can destroy rulers. From the tail of the divine cow, he created all bad armies and defeated Viswamitra. It is mentioned in Balakanda of Ramayana , Vasishtha produced Kambojas, Pahlavas, Yavanas and Sakas to counter King Vishvamitra.
Around middle ages Muslim or Non Muslim business men from the Middle East were dubbed Yavanas or Yonas.
Yavana (यवन).—General. There are many references to Yavanas and the land of Yavanas in the Purāṇas. There is a statement in Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter 85, Verse 34, that the Yavana race takes its source from Turvasu, the son of Yayāti. There is another version in Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter 174, Verse 36, that Yavanas were born from the sides of Nandinī, the Divine Cow.
(i) Arjuna’s brother Sahadeva once conquered the Yavana land. (Mahābhārata Sabhā Parva, Chapter 31, Verse 73).
(ii) Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva, Chapter 32, Verse 17, mentions that on another occasion, Nakula defeated the Yavanas.
(iii) According to Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 188, Verse 35, the world will be filled with Yavanas and other Mleccha (low class) kings.
(iv) In the course of his conquests, Karṇa once subdued the Yavanas. (Mahābhārata Vana Parva, Chapter 254, Verse 8).
(v) Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapter 19, Verse 21, mentions that king Sudakṣiṇa of Kāmboja approached Duryodhana with an “Akṣauhiṇī” along with the Yavanas, to take part in Bhārata Yuddha.
(vi) Mahābhārata, Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 9, Verse 65 states that at the time of Mahābhārata, Yavana land was part of India.
(vii) Originally Yavanas were Kṣatriyas. But they became Śūdras by the curse of Brāhmaṇas. (Mahābhārata Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 35, Verse 18).
Black Yavana /Kaala Yavana :An asura who besieged Mathurā with three crores of mlecchas; Kala Yavana ran towards Kṛiṣhṇa and Krishna tricked him to enter a cave. Black Yavana followed him and in the cave saw somebody sleeping; thought it was Kṛiṣhṇa and kicked him, when he woke up and burnt the asura to ashes by his energy. The sleeping person was Mucukunda .Thus he was vanquished by Kṛiṣhṇa. The sleeping person had got a boon to burn anyone who wakes him.
Yavanas in Mahabharata Era.—In Adi Parva, it is mentioned that a Yavana king was also present in Svayamvara of Panchali. Sabha Parva records that Nakula subjugated Yavanas, Sakas, Pahlavas, Kiratas etc. and made all of them pay tributes. Evidently, Mahabharata generally groups Yavanas with the Kambojas, Sakas and Pahlavas and indicates them to be Mlechchas/barbarians. Shanti Parva and Anushasana Parva also mentions Yavana kings. Udyoga Parva records that Yavanas, Kambojas and Sakas supported Kauravas in Mahabharata war under the leadership of Kamboja King Saddakshina.
In short, Yavanas were not Hindus, but Mlechchas, i.e.beef and dog eaters.
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Yoga
Yoga (योग).— The word yoga, the basic meaning of which is “yoking, uniting”, also derives from the same verb-root, √yuj, “to yoke, conjoin”. In the religious-spiritual sphere, its meaning obtains in the sense of meditation, concentration of the mind, and techniques pertaining to them. Controlling the mind so that it focuses on God is called Yoga.
According to Pāṇini, a 8th-century BCE Sanskrit grammarian, the term yoga can be derived from either of two roots, yujir yoga (to yoke) or yuj samādhau (to concentrate). In the context of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the root yuj samādhau (to concentrate) is considered by traditional commentators as the correct etymology.
A practical methodology attributed to sage Patañjali who taught that the means to liberation was eight-fold — aṣṭāṅga yoga. Four of the limbs apply to physical and moral development and the other four deal with meditation.
Sanskrit dictionary
[«previous (Y) next»] — Yoga in Sanskrit glossary
Yoga (योग).—[yuj bhāvādau ghañ kutvam]
1) Joining, uniting.
2) Union, junction, combination; उपरागान्ते शशिनः समुपगता रोहिणी योगम् (uparāgānte śaśinaḥ samupagatā rohiṇī yogam) Ś.7.22; गुणमहतां महते गुणाय योगः (guṇamahatāṃ mahate guṇāya yogaḥ) Kirātārjunīya 1.25; (vāṃ) योगस्तडित्तोयदयोरिवास्तु (yogastaḍittoyadayorivāstu) R.6.65.
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Yoga Vasishta
The Yoga-vasistha is believed by some Hindus to answer all the questions that arise in the human mind, and can help one to attain Moksha (liberation). It recounts a discourse of sage Vasistha to Prince Rama. The content of Vasistha’s teaching to Rama is associated with Advaita Vedanta, the illusory nature of the manifest world and the principle of non-duality.
Other names of this text are
– Vālmīki Yogavāsiṣṭha (वाल्मीकि योगवासिष्ठ) or Valmiki Yoga-vasishtha
– Mahārāmāyaṇa (महारामायण) or Maharamayana,
– Ārṣarāmāyaṇa (आर्षरामायण) or Arsharamayana,
– Vāsiṣṭharāmāyaṇa (वासिष्ठरामायण) or Vasishtharamayana,
– Yogavāsiṣṭhamahārāmāyaṇa (योगवासिष्ठमहारामायण) or Yoga-vāsiṣṭha-mahārāmāyaṇa,
– Jñānavāsiṣṭha (ज्ञानवासिष्ठ) or Jnana-vasishtha.
The complete text contains over 29,000 verses, while the short version of the text, called Laghu Yogavāsiṣṭham, contains 6,000 verses, translated into Persian by the 15th-century. This is one of the longest Hindu texts in Sanskrit after the Mahabharata, and an important text of Yoga. It consists of numerous short stories and anecdotes used to help illustrate its ideas and message.
The traditional belief is that reading this book leads to spiritual liberation. The text discusses consciousness, cosmology, nature of the universe and consciousness, the ultimate dissolution of body, the liberation of the soul and the non-dual nature of existence. It is likely that the text evolved over several centuries, reaching its current form between the 10th and 14th centuries, incorporating influences from various Indian philosophical traditions,
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Yuga
There are four yuga’s, 1. Kṛta or Satya, 2. Tretā, 3. Dvāpara, 4. Kali, of which the first three have already elapsed, while the Kali, which began at midnight between the 17th and 18th of Feb. 3102 BC. The duration of each yuga is said to be respectively 1,728,000, 1,296,000, 864,000, and 432,000 years of humanity, the descending numbers representing a similar physical and moral deterioration of men in each age.
The ages see a gradual decline of dharma, wisdom, knowledge, intellectual capability, life span, emotional and physical strength.
- Satya Yuga (Virtue reigns supreme),
- Treta Yuga (3 quarter virtue & 1 quarter sin),
- Dwapar Yuga (1 half virtue & 1 half sin),
- Kali Yuga (1 quarter virtue & 3 quarter sin).
- Kali Yuga is mentioned in Aihole inscription and Parthiva sekarapuram Tamil Inscription. One more inscription is reported from Yogabadari
This is inscribed in a copper plate (mentioning Yuga), preserved in the temple of Yogabadarī (one of the Pañcabadarī) at Pāṇḍukeśvar (Pāṇḍukeśvara). It records the grant of many pieces of land, situated in the viṣayas (districts) of Ṭaṅgaṇāpura and Antaraṅga made by king Subhikṣa in favour of three deities.
An age of the world; (the Yugas are four:-kṛta or satya, tretā, dvāpara and kali; the duration of each is said to be respectively 1,728,; 1,296,; 864.; and 432, years of men, the four together comprising 4,32, years of men which is equal to one Mahāyuga q. v.; it is also supposed that the regularly descending length of the Yugas represents a corresponding physical and moral deterioration in the people who live during each age, Krita being called the ‘golden’ and Kali or the present age the ‘iron’ age); धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय संभवामि युगे युगे (dharmasaṃsthāpanārthāya saṃbhavāmi yuge yuge) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 4.8; युगशतपरिवर्तान् (yugaśataparivartān) Ś7.34.
Geographical Spread: Inscriptions utilizing Kali Yuga calendar markers are found not only across India (such as in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Assam, and Kerala) but also internationally—such as the Sanskrit Jaiya Inscription in southern Thailand tied to King Candrabhanu of Tambralinga.
The Aihole inscription, found in a Jain temple in Karnataka, praises Chālukya king Pulakeśin II and provides key evidence for Kali Yuga’s date. However, a single reference to Bhārata has sparked controversy, with two interpretations: it refers to either Kali Yuga’s start or the Mahābhārata war’s start.
Two researchers used the Aihole inscription to date the Mahābhārata: one (Chandru Ramesh) linked Kali Yuga’s date to the war, placing it at 3101 BCE (Kali Yuga’s actual start), and another (Vedveer Arya) interpreted it as the war’s date, placing it at 3162 BCE. Both are incorrect. This article clarifies the inscription’s meaning through word-by-word analysis and allied inputs. Two verses of this inscription, numbered 33 and 34 give the date of the Jain temple built by Ravikīrti. The importance of the verse is that it gives the time in both Kali years and the Śaka years.
Latest News in year 25-11-2025:
Tamil Nadu Governor Ravi released the books “Kali Yuga Dated Inscriptions – A Basis of Indian History and Chronology (Volumes 1 & 2)”, authored by historian and epigraphist Dr. M. L. Raja, at a function attended by hundreds of historians, scholars, researchers and students.
This Raj Bhavan–led initiative draws on around 1,000 ancient inscriptions spanning over 5,000 years from across India and its neighbouring regions. By providing a credible, evidence-based chronological framework, the work strengthens efforts to decolonise India’s history, deepens civilisational understanding and gives fresh impetus to future research.
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Yupa
Yūpa.—(EI 2, 24, 33), sacrificial pillar; it was sometimes made of stone and inscribed
This Sanskrit word is found in 2000 year old Sangam Tamil literature. Yupa pillars erected after performing Yagas were found in the deepest forest of Borneo Island, now part of Indonesia. They belonged to Mula Varman and Purana Varman of fifth century CE. Tamil references are from first century CE or BCE.
Yūpa (यूप):—m. ([probably] [from] √yup; but according to, [Uṇādi-sūtra iii, 27], [from] √2. yu) a post, beam, pillar, ([especially]) a smooth post or stake to which the sacrificial victim is fastened, any sacrificial post or stake (usually made of bamboos or Khadira wood; in [Rāmāyaṇa i, 13, 24; 25], where the horse sacrifice is described, 21 of these posts are set up, 6 made of Bilva, 6 of Khadira, 6 of Palāśa, one of Uḍumbara, one of Śleṣmātaka, and one of Deva-dāru), [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.
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Yuwang suvang
Hiuen Tsang (commonly known today as Xuanzang) is pronounced roughly as “shwahn tsang” in standard Mandarin or “hyoo-en tsahng” in traditional English approximations.
Hiuen Tsang (629-645 CE) was a prominent Chinese traveller and Buddhist monk who visited India during the 7th century, significantly contributing to historical and cultural understanding. His extensive writings documented various aspects of Indian society, including religious practices, educational systems, and the prevalence of Siva worship. He is noted for his accounts of significant locations such as Nalanda and Takshashila, and for bringing valuable Buddhist teachings and artifacts back to China, influencing Buddhism’s spread in Asia; documented Indian charity practices during his expeditions, providing valuable insights into cultural and religious exchanges between China and India, highlighting the significance of altruism in both societies. When Hiuen-tsang visited India during Harsha’s reign, he found Taxila to be a dependency of Kashmir, indicating its reduced political status at that time; found shrines dedicated to local Nagas in Kashmir.
Even before Hiuen Tsang , Faxian visited India during Gupta period; after Hiuen Tsang, Chinese traveller I-tsing journeyed to India to collect sacred texts and document ancient South Asian culture, education, and medicine.
—Subham—
Tags- Chinese traveller, Yuga, Yoga, Yavana, Yoga Vasistha, HINDU DICTIONARY IN ENGLISH AND TAMIL-127; இந்து மத கலைச்சொல் அகராதி-127
