The Elamite and Tamil Connection:

By: Bipin Shah

Introduction:
The recent discoveries of Elamite seals in Iran and Mesopotamia may help us in
understanding the ancient history of India. Although, the work is still in progress at various
archeological sites but the discoveries so far are encouraging. The translation of the Elamite
seals gives some strong clues that we need to explore to fill the voids in Indian history and
that is the subject matter of this paper.
This is not to minimize what the ancient Aryans and others groups may have brought to
Indian civilization such as love for the spirituality, preference for pluralism, unified culture
and religious tolerance. All of them left some indelible marks on the present Indian culture.
The consistent lack of new discovery of Iron age Aryan archeology and or the inscriptions
comparable to Behistan of Persia restricts our knowledge and verification of only up to 3rd
century BC and raises an interesting question on Aryan geography of 6th century BC and
before. This is an important puzzle to solve for historians and archeologists.
The Rig-Veda text can be easily dated to 1800 -2000 BC but provides no clue to its geography.
The sister Avestan text also gives us some scant clues that the homeland was wintery cold but
omits the exact location. That leaves us to the mercy of linguists and theorist on the location
of urheimat (homeland).
The other puzzle that is still to be resolved is the presence of three separate language groups
living side by side for thousands of years. The Sanskrit, Tamil (Elamite) and proto-Austroloid
based tribal languages such as Munda but they have totally independent origins.
This reality cannot be ignored in overall context of profiling of the people of India. There has
not been sufficient resources or efforts spent to find out why India is the one of the rare
country in the world that enjoys this unique privilege of hosting three independently derived
languages with no roots connection except some exchange of loan words that can be called
as lingua franca . The present vast number of various regional languages and dialects
derived from these three mother languages of the past illustrate this point.
There are other civilizations with Aryan roots that have left sufficient archeology of their
existence in central Asia. The Hattusa of Hittite, the Behistan Inscription of Darius-I, in Persia
(Iran) who called themselves the Aryans.

Lion gate of Hattusa-Turkey 1200 BC Behistan Inscription of Darius-I of Iran 522 BC re carved on Semiramis
inscription.

The Aryan epic of Mahabharata places the presence of Pandavas and Kauravas near Delhi,
Haryana and Punjab, while Krishna of Lunar dynasty is placed initially near present Matura
and then to Saurashtra region near Dwarka.
How this is is possible for someone who is essentially a Persian-Medes claim himself of Kuru
dynasty (vansh), some considerable distance apart from epic story? The geographical
differences have not been reconciled. Perhaps one way to look at this, during the ancient
period, there were no national boundaries as viewed in the present context and it changed
from time to time based on the might of the ruler who conquered the territories. The
landmarks like large mountain, mighty river or barren patch of the land understood to
separate the nationality or language group.
Further investigation leads us to believe that at one time there was a common vocabulary
existed among Indo-Iranian branch of Arias as shown below in the table form. This situation
in combination with religious switch of Good and evil Gods of both the ancient people
demonstrate that their differences probably were driven by their religious views than
physical boundaries or the language itself.
Proto-Indo-Iranian
1.awa- ("horse")
2.bag3.brtr- ("brother")

Avestan(Old Persian)
Vedic Sanskrit (old Indic) English
Av, aspa
Asva
Horse
OP baj- (bji; "tribute") Bhaga, Nazrana
Tribute
OP brtar
bhrt
Brother
2

4.bm ("earth", "land") OP bmi

5.martya ("mortal, "man") OP martya
6.msa ("moon")
OP mha
7.wsara ("early")
OP vhara ("spring")
8.ta ("truth")
Av aa, OP arta
9.draug- ("falsehood")
Av druj, OP draug10sauma "pressed (juice)" Av haoma
11
Av Hapta
12

Av Hindu

bhm
Martya
Msa,Chadra
vsara
ta
druhsoma
Septa
Sindhu

EarthMortal
Moon
Morning
Truth
daugher
opium like
Seven
Indus

During Second World War, Hitler of Germany who claimed himself to be of Aryan nationality
while adopting Swastika (in inverted form) for Germany as a national symbol. His
understanding was more on racial term than other concepts of nobility, conduct and
spirituality.
Perhaps this may have inspired other colonial powers like British to claim Aryan history
through India. India in 17th century AD, became a beeline for Germans and British
archeologist, Indologists and linguists to learn Sanskrit and other derivative Prakrit languages.
With the local help, they succeeded in translating the ancient manuscripts of India that we
use as reference material as translated in English, that otherwise would have remained an
exclusive preserve of Brahmins and Royal bards.
Either this acts of colonial historians was prejudicial to Tamil speakers who are not
considered the part of Indo-European family of language or their biased was influenced by
local interpreters is not very clear. This bias had developed the understanding of the ancient
history of India in Indo-European lenses, in spite of their finds at Harrapan and Mohan-JeDaro that should have challenged that assumption or bias. There are plenty of archeological
evidence like the presence of megaliths in tribal areas of the east and various cave paintings
to suggest that India was habitated by Non-Sanskrit speakers longtime ago. The word Arya
has more to do with the way of life than just in context of the ethnicity, race or language
group.
There was and is a lack of comprehension in understanding the pre-history of India that
existed prior to Vedic time. The new discoveries of Elamite seals at the number of sites near
Susa, Iran or in the ancient province of Ilam as Iranians call it, speaks the same story for
Iran as India. Iran itself had preexisting languages and cultures prior to arrivals of Aryan
Medes and Persians.

The wide presence of Buddhist archeology in Afghanistan and eastern parts of Iran and
Pakistan is more suggestive of Indias differing geography of the past than what our current
boundary defines.
The continuous and additive efforts by Kenoyer on Indus-saraswati civilization have started
to pay some dividends in unraveling the pre-history of India. Those ancient civilizations were
more urbanized with well planned cities than nomadic Aryans could have dreamed off either
in Persia, or Mesopotamia. The Aryan archeology in Central Asia is still intact. It is becoming
much clearer that Aryan question cannot be resolved on nationalist ground or debate. For
past 50 years or more, there have been intense debates among historians and Indologists to
design a model or theory that will explain the movement of Aryans from their original
homeland.
India had become a target of testing various theories due to the presence of their oldest
surviving Aryan language-Sanskrit. Over the millennia, India has emerged as a very diversified
nation and on the surface it does not fit the assumed profile of Aryans of any Aryan theories
but there are cultural layers of Aryans found everywhere either in the various languages,
epics, the spirituality and ethics that still dominates the Indian culture.
This article will spare the readers in rehashing the old Aryan theories and debates but support
the presence of earlier pre-Vedic cultures of India.

Elamite Connection to India and Archeological Finds of Iran:

Chogha Zanbil or Dur Untash is an ancient Elamite complex in the Khuzestan province of
Iran. Dur Untash Dur-Untash, which means the castle or the city of Untash named after King
Untash Napirisha, an Elamite king. Its size and splendor was intended to honor the gods and
to manifest the power of the king. Chogha in Bakhtiari language means hill. It is one of the
few existent ziggurats in Iran, just 10 miles west of Susa, once ruled by Elamites. It is almost
4000 years old. The South western Persia prior to the invasion by Mitanni /Medes was ruled
by a group who were known as Elamites and the land around Susa in Persia was called- the
land of "ILAM", Elamites land was situated at border of Mesopotamia and Persian Gulf.
The building materials used in the construction of Chogha Zanbil was mud bricks and baked
bricks very typical of all ziggurats construction of early Mesopotamia. The monuments were
beautifully decorated with glazed baked bricks, gypsum, ornaments of faience and glass. The
bricks had Elamite cuneiform inscription characters made by human hands. The glazed
terracotta statues such as Bulls and Winged griffins guarded the entrances to the ziggurat.
Near the temples of Kiririsha and Hishmitik-Ruhuratir, kilns were found that probably were
used for the production of baked bricks and decorated materials. The ziggurat was built in
two stages and in the second phase took its multi-layered form. A wall surrounded the
Ziggurat that had the inner wall of three concentric walls. Between the inner wall and the
middle wall several temples belonging to different Elamite divinities were built.
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Dur-Untash Ziggurats of Elamite near Susa, Iran-ruins and reconstruct Model

Bull and winged griffin of Elam outside of temple

Some of the world's most ancient settlements have been excavated in the Caspian region and
on the Iranian plateau. The village life said to have begun over around 4000 BC as per
archeological evidence found in IV region. The Biblical story of Great flood is recorded and
repeated in various texts of the world in details. Rajtarangni of India that chronicles the
ancient history of Kashmir describes that the state of Kashmir was covered with the ice
sheets and was habitated by the people only after the big melt down, very similar mythology.
There have been numerous flood stories identified from ancient sources scattered around the
world. The stories that were discovered on cuneiform tablets, which comprise some of the
earliest surviving, writing, have obvious similarities. The Epic of Gilgamesh covers the similar
story as do the Hebrew bible. The deluge overthrew the land." This is the headline in all that
stories.

Bronze Age sites of Iran and Elamite Ziggurat- 10 ml southwest of Susa, Chogha Zanbil Ziggurat-Temple layout

During the Bronze Age, the Iranian plateau was bounded on the east by the Hindu Kush and
the Himalayas and on the west by the lowlands of uzestan and Mesopotamia. The people
prospered greatly, owing to rich natural resources and the overland trade routes connecting
Fertile Crescent of Indus-saraswati valley and Mesopotamia lowlands, supplemented by the
sea routes. The trade was extended through central Asia, and Afghanistan. There is evidence
that at the end of the 4th millennium B.C. settlements through-out Iran were linked in a
common cultural and Trade network that the Assyrilogists called the Proto-Elamite horizon.
With a common communication tongue, if not the script. See Map below.

Subsequently, however, distinct regional, cultural and political systems between eastern and
western Iran were developed. As these regions exhibited strong cultural continuity
throughout the Bronze Age, cultural development in each can be traced from the ProtoElamite period. Anatolia was once dominated by the ancient Elamites, who are considered
the descendants of Noah as per Biblical stories of flood. According to bible, the word Elam
derives from Elam, son of Sham and the grandson of Noah. The ancient Hebrew text also
contains the word Elam and the same word is present in the Tamil dictionary of India and also
corresponds with the Sumerian Elam (a), the Akkadian Elamtu, and the Elamite word for
themselves Haltamti. It can very well be said that the word Haltamti when reached India
in corrupted form just dropped out first three letters and with the etymology became the
word Tamti to Tamil. Mr. Prabhakaran, Tamil Tiger movement of Sri-Lanka knew his
history well when he demanded a separate homeland that he called Elam.

Elamite states were among the leading political forces of the Ancient near East around 2000
BC. The "Elamites" spread their empire to west under King Chedorlaomer. The Elamites had
struggled with the Assyrians for domination of Babylon. The great Babylonian dynasty of UR
was brought to an end about 1950 BC by the Elamites, who destroyed the city and took its
king prisoner. Many scholars believe that the Elamites empire boundaries included present
day Taxila and the areas of Baluchistan and Sindh.
Jewish Abraham had left Ur towards Cannon, when Neo-Elamite captured Ur. Jeremiah 49:36
prophesied in the Old Testament that Elam will scatter them toward four direction of wind;
7

and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come. The Elamites were
later overthrown by the Assyrians, Medes and Persians. During Akkadian period, the Elamite
remained their vassals.
Once Akkadian-Elamite took control of Taxila and sindh, they may have controlled Indussaraswati valley cities and towns or they have made an extension thereof. They always had
trade relationship during early Sumerian-Akkadian period. We do not know if Indussaraswati region was either a colony or simple extension of Elamite kingdom of the past
consisting of Elamite nationality.
This statement may chill the hearts of Aryan proponents but the history is the history and
it is driven by the truth. When Hammurabi and successors attacked Elam Empire, the survived
one from war may have fled towards IV region and then on to further south. Since they
cannot go west or North dominated by Assyrians, the eastern routes through ancient
Gedrosia and sindh known through their trade relationship was the only option and then
heading further south. Some experts also suggest another route that may have been utilized
using monsoon wind to land near the port of ancient Muziris via sea. There are no other data
to prove or disprove this hypothesis.
However, the linguistic and genetics portrays a similar supportive picture through their
analysis. Tamil language of south India most likely originated from Elam and Haplogroup plot
shows the uniformity of haplogroup stretching up to Elam land. Some Elamites may have
settled in Baluchistan. See the maps below for the reference.
All indications point to the fact that Elamites were Semites like Jews and Arabs. Their
language has relationships in the family of Arabic, Hebrew, Aramaic and proto Tamil
languages. Dravidian/Tamil has many words that are similar in Hebrew or Arabic. Similar
dialect is also used by tribes in Baluchistan. So probably there are some old links between the
Semites and Indian Dravids. Even today, the people of the extreme south of Iran and United
Arab Emirates look like south Indians.

Elamite and Aryans:

The Iron Age Iran, the land of the Behistan inscription and the Aryans has a long and rich
history. Some of the world's most ancient settlements have been excavated in the Caspian
Sea region and on the Iranian plateau. According to Avestan Text, The Aryans may have left
the Northern cold region and moved down south and first appeared around Zagros mountain
sometimes around 2000BC and split into various groups such as the Hittite (Khati),
Medes(Madhu), Mitanni (Kurmi), Vedic(Sindhic or Hindic) and the Persians (Parsus)
throughout Asia.
Indian Rig-Veda does not provide any tangible clue to the Aryan geography and Avestan
references are climate related and does not talk about specific geography. This is why we
have a heated debate for over half century to determine the homeland of Aryans (Urheimat
issue). This debate began with linguistic construct of Proto-Elam and Proto-indo-European
language groups.
Regardless of the language issue, several thousand years of sharing the common geography
made the population so intermixed that now no ancient races can be traced or explained in
its purest form unless one chooses to be ultra nationalist and narrow minded in a mixed and
a globalized world.
The recorded history of modern Iran was dominated by several powers and invaders.
According to the recorded history, the first tribes to dominate this region were the Akkadian
and Elamite, or mixture of both. Following the Elamite were the Assyrians from North
western Mesopotamia who captured Elam near Susa. The Babylonians, Medes and Persians
Aryans followed after that. This sums up over 4000 years of Elams history in central Asia.
With various invasions, the migration had to follow. The motif over the ancient Assyrian
palace in Susa records the exodus of Elamites with their Bull driven carts with no involvement
of horses.
The Assyrilogists have conveniently divided the history of Elam into three periods, spanning
more than two millennia. The period before the first Elamite period is known as the protoElamite period:
1. Proto-Elamite: (3200 BC 2700 BC based on clay tablet script)
This empire was from rivers Tigris and Euphrates. Three groups of people merged to make an
Elamite empire: The people from Ansan, Khuzestan and modern Luristan or Bakhtiari, near
Susa, Iran. The Proto-Elamite city of Susa was founded around 4000 BC in the watershed of
the river Karun (Kuru). It is considered to be the site of Proto-Elamite cultural formation and
perhaps why Darius-I, may have claimed Kuru Vansi.

10

Exodus of Elamite since they cannot go west so they went east to Baluchistan and India-Note the absence of
horse but the presence of the bull cart. Motif from Palace at Susa of Assur Ban Pal.

Elam

As you can see from the map above Zagros Mountains pass through ancient Elam and some Aryan tribes
especially Medes and Kassite assumed to be of Aryan origin already were interacting with Elam.

11

Since Mesopotamian period, the Solar deity was common in all religious tradition from east
to west, except perhaps the land of Elam and Indus- saraswati region where we still not have
found any seal depicting Surya (Sun) but we have a yogi seal or Pashupati seal that is
consistent with the popularity of Digambara Jainism, Ajivikism and Shaivism of South india.
2. Old Elamite period: (2700 BC 1600 BC)
Based on the script from Eparti dynasty, the Sumerian king of Kish conquered the kingdom of
Elam by Enmebaragesi of Mesopotamia. This period included three dynasties: A. Avan
dynasty contemporary to the Emperor Sargon of Akkad and vassal to him. Sargon tried to
make the Akkadian the official language of his empire but was not successful. Elamite went
back to their script in use after he died and the empire weakened.
L. Austin waddle, an English historian has compared Sargon of Akkad as Purana king Sagar
and his son Menes as Manu. Sargon had seven sons named (Manu) Menes and one of them is
also considered to be same as Menes of Egypt who established the second dynasty. Waddell
hypothesized by comparing and matching Vedic genealogy with Mesopotamian genealogy of
kings. This was his theoretical frame work which he outlined in his book called Makers of the
Civilization. However, some of his hypothesis may need another look in view of recent
discoveries of Mesopotamia.
During Sargons rule, Mesopotamian developed the interest in Iron, metal, woods and Ivory
and their expedition to east became more common, this can also promote the migration of
humans either for trade or just to escape the war and conflict over resources. Their domain
did stretch to Gedrosia and Sindh (IV region).
The Indus-Sarshvatis regions collapse is estimated to have occurred around 2800 BC, so
there should be no resistance from any one from sub continent in absence of any military
challenge. So the chronology and sequencing of migration of Tamil and Sanskrit speakers
may have occurred during this period. Elam finally declared independence under the last
Avan king, Kutik-Inshushinak-I (22402220 BC), and threw off the Akkadian language,
promoting in its place the brief Linear Elamite script. Kutik-Inshushinnak- I, (Shishuniak or
Shishunaga of Indian) conquered Susa and Anshan, and seems to have achieved some sort of
political unity. Around 1850 BC, Kudur-Mabug (Perhaps Indian Dashrath), apparently king of
another Akkadian state to the north of Larsa, managed to install his son, Warad-Sin (Bharat)
for 12 years on the throne of Larsa (Larka, Lanka), and Warad-Sin's brother, Rim-Sin (RamChandra), succeeded him and conquered much of southern Mesopotamia for Larsa until
dislodged by Hammurabi (The law giver). More details are available on Dr. Ranjit pals web
site cited in reference section.

12

Depiction of Larsa (Larka, Lanka)

cuneiform

Hanuman type Royal court salute Mesopotamia Larsa king List-

How this Elamite cuneiform discovery squares with Epic Ramayana is hard to Judge? The
scribe, poets and historians have their own minds to put twist and turns in the epics, and
epics are not designed to meet the historical standards. We know that Ramayana was spread
to other southeast Asian countries by Tamil speakers of India and till today Ramas victory
over Ravan is celebrated in south India, Thailand , Malaysia and Bali, Indonesia, but those
southeast Asians are not familiar with Gita or Mahabharata and do not observe any Vedic
rituals or practice. This remains a puzzle for the historians. It is suspected that The Elamite
migration may have started towards east during Sargons military campaign, and may have
continued over several centuries and Vedic Aryans followed the suit passing through land
route to east towards Baluchistan and onwards to doab of Ganges that supported the
agriculture. The Elamites having enjoyed the historical relationship may have used the sea
routes that carried them with the monsoon winds to south India.
3. Middle Elamite period: (1500 BC 1100 BC)
The Middle Elamite period began with the rise of the Anzanite dynasties around 1500 BC.
Their rule was characterized by an "Elamization" of Susa, and the kings took the title "king of
Anshan and Susa". While the first of these dynasties, the Kidinuids continued to use the
Akkadian language frequently in their inscriptions, the succeeding Igihalkids and Shutrukids
used Elamite with increasing regularity. Likewise, Elamite language and culture grew in
importance in Susiana. The Anzanite dynasty provides very little information until the
Babylonian invasion of Susa.

13

4. Neo-Elamite period: (1100 BC 539 BC)

This period was characterized by increasing influence of Assyrian and Medians of Iran.
Achaemenids Empire of Persian began in 539 BC. The later Neo-Elamite period is
characterized by a significant migration of Indo-European speaking Iranians to the Iranian
plateau from north. The Medes that included Parthians, Sagartians, Margians, Bactrians,
Sogdians etc. became very powerful around 800 BC. Among those pressuring tribes were the
Parsu, first recorded in 844 BC as living on the southeastern shore of Lake Urmiah, but who by
the end of this period would drive the remainder Elamites population out of their homes to
east and renames the Iranian Plateau as Persia. These Iranian Aryan groups at one time were
vassals of Akkadian and early Elamites.
If Asko Parpolas theory is right on Indus script, the Part of Elamite Empire or extension
thereof was already present in IV region and moved south after abandonment of the major
cities. There is no proof now as Harrapan seals and the script remain undeciphered but clues
are there when the seals are compared. The similarity of religious seals exists between those
two ancient civilizations that enabled Mr. Parpola to come to the above conclusion. He
concluded: Discoveries at Mehrgarh changed the entire concept of the Indus civilization.

Elamite Mother (Prithvi) Goddess

Elamite sacred Bull deity

14

Indus-saraswati Bull Terracotta deity

Indus-saraswati Earth (Prithvi) Goddess

The Brahui tribe of Baluchistan speaks a related version of the Tamil language. Among the
Semite people, there is a common marriage custom and that is to marry ones cousin. Arabs,
Brahui and some south Indians of Muslim faith observes this custom along with Parsee
community. Since Arabs founded Islam as Mohamed was from Saudi Arabia, this practice was
adopted by his followers throughout the world.
Some scholars claim the connection of Elamites to Tamils in earlier history of India, claiming
that ancient Indias name was "Illavart" before it was called Aryavarta.
Similarly, the state of Gujarat was called by different names during early common eras. The
northern Gujarat was called Anarat region (meaning land of non-Aryans), while southern
Gujarat was called Lata. The southern sindh was called Suvira. Saurashtra was called
Surshtra. The word Hindu was given to Indians by Persian, meaning those leaving east of
the river Sindhu. This will not charm the hearts of many who do not recognize that the word
Hindu is given to us by others. Similarly, Rajasthan was called Maru Mandal or Maru
Desh.
The linguistics believes that the language of ELAM/Elamites was a linguistic isolate among
Semite languages. "EB" and "EM" is the Semitic root word for father and mother respectively.
These gives us the origin of words for father -Abba/Baba/Bapu/Appa and for the mother is
Amba/Amma/Ma found in various languages of India. Elamites were well mixed with PersianAryans tribes and Vedic- Aryan tribes of India long time ago.
Similarly, the Semitic/Jewish word also may mean that "Abraham" means "father of all or
father of all priest and Sarah as Princess of God". Among various Semitic civilization of
15

Jews, Arabs and ancient Elam, Abraham and Sarah may have become terms equivalent to
God and divinity. For Vedic people, Brahm and Saraswati became prominent terms associated
with God and divinity. So Abraham can be equated to Brahmin and Sarah can be equated to
Saraswati by Vedic people. In addition to this the term "Asura" used in India among Tamils
and Sanskrit speakers is similar to "Asher" of Semitic language of west Asia.

Kulli plate, very similar to ancient Indus plates with two tigers facing each other and motifs similar to those of
the Nal culture of Baluchistan. A closer look at the mysterious Kuli culture of Baluchistan that both pre-dated
and was contemporaneous with ancient Indus culture, and apparently was part of an elaborate trading network
that stretched west as far as the Jiroft culture in Iran. You see the signs of moon and star like symbols but do not
appear any sun symbol.

16

Ancient Elam in Mesopotamia

The word Elam in Tamil means the homeland. This is exactly the way Elamite understood it
when they describe the areas near Susa in Western Iran as the land of Elam or Ilam. They
were contemporaries of the Egyptians, the Mitannis and the Hittites because Hittites were
the first to attack them. The Elamites concluded a major treaty with the Akkadian monarch
Naram-Sin. Elamite-Akkadian people became mixed during the early period and some of
them had Indian sounding names like Rim-Sin, Warad-Sin, Naram-Sin (Sin in Sumerian means
moon and Chandra in Sanskrit). Some have interpreted this as Ram Chandra, Bharat as Warad
Chandra or Narayan as Naram Chandra by Indians. The Elamite/Akkadian names like
Shatruk can be interpreted as Shatrughana and Shushinak as Sheshnag. The word
Siwe /Sive can be Indian Shiva and the Shaivism remains ever popular with the south
Indians.
Dr. Ranjit Pal, a Bhanadarkar Institute scholar wrote on his web site: http://ranajitpal.com/
17

Ram-Sin (also written as Rim-Sin) of Larsa was the same as Rama of Valmiki. This has been
maintained also by M.V.N. Krishna Rao at a later date. This implies that Warad-Sin who ruled
before Ram-Sin was Bharata, his half brother. T.C. Young Jr. Writes in the Cambridge Ancient
history about the peculiar role played by Kudur Mabuk, their father. He was apparently alive
when Warad Sin became king. Ram-Sin of Larsa, who is called an Elamite, is generally ignored.
The great Indian Epic Ramayana, on the other hand clearly indicates that Ram-Sin was Rama
who ruled Sumer, Elam and Indus-Saraswati. Ram-Sin was the longest reigning monarch of
Sumerian history who remains almost unnoticed due to a narrow perspective. Warad Sin
(1834-1823 B.C., middle chronology) and Ram-Sin or Rim-Sin (1822-1763 B.C.) as kings of
Larsa and Ur

Artificially Created seal motif of Ram-Sita-Laxman and Hanuman as per the Story of Ramayana

These are some observation to mull over but similarities are also too numerous to ignore for
additional research. Nebuchadnezzar himself can be interpreted with a Tamil name of
Neduncheziyan or Nedunchedianuru or Vedic Nabu.
Nebuchadnezzar-1(1126-1103 BC) said to have visited India to pay his respect to 22nd Jaina
Tirthankara Neminath on the coast of Saurashtra. The region was controlled by Yadav Krishna
at that time and was called by Andhakavrishnis as per Mahabharata. Nebuchadnezzar-1
(Vedic Nabu?) was the fourth king of the Second Dynasty of Isin and Fourth Dynasty of
Babylon. He ruled for 23 years according to the Babylonian King List C and attacked Elam to
recover cultic idol of Marduk (Sun God-Mitra, Mithra) that was stolen by earlier Elam ruler.
18

The cuneiform inscription of "Nebuchadnezzar-II regarding Esagila temple and temple A-Zida, Eldest son
th
Nabopolassar, king of Babylon praying the recovered statue of Marduk, 6 century BC from Museum in Israel.
The E temple was sacked several times during various invasions and looted. See the image of lion next to
Marduk, signifying Lion-Sun relationship similar to Bull-moon relationship.

The one of the three major language groups of India that has an apparent links to the ancient
Elamites, are the South Indian Dravidians-Tamils. If it is so, it represented their timing of
arrival in the South India prior to the arrival of Vedic Aryans in North India. In both instances,
the Harrapan civilization had been extinguished due to desiccation of soil or due to river flow
diversion or complete breakdown of trade links to Mesopotamia or other unknown climatic
events. This explains why Tamils settled in south while Aryans settled in Ganges Doab.
This research still remains the work in progress. Unfortunately, the archeological evidence
does not go beyond 3rd century BC in India and Harrapan seals in its cuneiform remain
undeciphered to test this hypothesis.
Aryans were definitely Iron Age nomadic people-settlers with chariots and horses with Grey
and black ware potteries (Harrapan used brown potteries). Aryan cultures are found in
central Asia with other tribes who called themselves Aryans and they also had their swastika
and linguistic similarities to prove it. The domestication of horses first appeared in central
Asia. Aryans performed the rituals of Asva Magha (Horse sacrifice) not common with Tamil
culture.
India and Thailand were first to domesticate elephants. IV region does have the elephant seal
but no horse seal. So, for East Asians like Chinese to stake a claim on elephant will be as
wrong as native Pre-Aryans Indians to claim the domestication of horses. The domestication
of horses occurred in central Asia and that proved to be a decisive military advantage in the
ancient world.

19

Elephant seal IV region

Two horned antelope of India

Antelope seal of IV region

Tamils and Hebrews connection:

The main Tamil-Dravidian deity was the moon god, Shiva. Throughout the Middle-East, the
ancient moon-god is considered to be the deification of Shem (and the fish-god being the
deification of Noah). Now having defined this, the prophecy of Jeremiah 49:39 could then be
viewed in different context.
One important thing to remember that proto-Elamite through middle Elamite along with
Indus Saraswati valley was Bronze Age civilization. The animal seals that were proclaimed as
the horse was turned out to be the Indian antelope. The absence of the horse in Elamite
motif (below) and Harrapan seal (above) have striking similarities and suggestive that Aryans
riding their chariot and horses had not arrived in India then.
Other similarity to be noted between Jews and Elamites were both followed Moon calendar
by adding extra month or (Adhika Mas). The Jews celebrate Hanukkah, eight day festival of
light. Hindus celebrate Diwali, five day festival of light. Oil lamp & fried food is tradition of
both festivals. YAM was considered an important deity of ancient Jewish people. Among
Hindus they light oil lamp for YAM on 1 day before Diwali and Bhai Dooj festival is also called
as YAM DOOJ. The people of Kerala celebrate the "Onam" festival in the memory of the great
mythical King "Maha Bali" he was regarded as an Asura king. The Onam is also believed to
be the birthday of Mahadeva (Shiva), the Lord of Thrikkakara (Adinath). The famous
Thrikkakara temple had 28-day-long festival introduced by Mahabalipperumal, the former
king of Kerala. Under this tradition, it is mentioned that Goddess Kali would come to see Lord
Mahadeva.
Some south Indian historians hold the view that Onam was a festival prevalent in ancient
Assyria-Elamite. They named that temple in native language as "sigurai" or Ziggurat temple
per assyrilogists. The Onam deity resembles the shape of the Onam deity Shiva Linga.
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Lord of Thrikkakara (Shiva or Adinath) of Kerala as an erect phallus

The celebrated good Assur Mahabali by south Indian can be construed as renegade
Assyrian Prince sympathetic to Elamites who migrated to India along with others. If Arya
called Asura as evil and they were supposed natives of India, we can be sure the natives will
not call them as Asura. We know also the Vedic king Sudasa who battled with Semiramis who
was an Assyrian queen of Mesopotamia.
The Assyrians who were Semitic people had their capital called "Assur" in the Mesopotamia.
Hebrew word for buffalo is Rumai and in Tamil is Erumai. Eelai is leaf in both languages.
The word Erav is the evening for Hebrew and but Night for Tamil. Some may consider this
as mere coincidence but they are too numerous to ignore.
The construction of the Jewish Temple and South Indian Temples are on the same plan. Both
have a sanctum sanctorum followed by a sanctuary and an outer court. There might have
been some relationship between the Pallava of southern India and the Pahlavas of
Mahabharata who were of Persian-Elamite origin. As outlined in my paper Genetic history of
Indian People, it is clearly established that the Dravidians were preceded in the subcontinent
by an Austro-Asiatic people. The Vedic migrants followed both of them later. The original
inhabitants may be identified with the speakers of the Munda and other tribal languages,
which are unrelated to either Indo-Aryan or Dravidian languages. This view is put forward by
Geneticist Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza. He stated his views in his book The History and
Geography of Human Genes, notwithstanding the proof of Indus-Saraswati peoples identity.
21

Plans of Minaxi Temple south India

Jewish Temple Plan

Elamite Temple Plan

In spite of these explanations, we should make every one aware that the Elamo-Dravidian
language family is a hypothesized language family that links the Dravidian languages of India
to the extinct Elamite language of ancient Elam. Similarly Indo-European Language family is
also hypothesized language family. Several Linguists including David McAlpin has been a
chief proponent of the Elamo-Dravidian hypothesis along with American Indologists Franklin
Southworth. The extinct Harrapan language observations by Asko Parpola and other
Indologists also believes that the language(s) of the Indus Valley Civilizations may also be part
of this proto-elamite branch of the family.
Various experts have various theories. The genetic data shows that the people , group and
tribes came into india and also left india thousand of years ago and that is why india has the
most complex genetic history as outlined in my previous paper on Genetic History of India.
When those different groups of people arrived they were already mixed with other groups.
The historical Nebuchadnezzar -II is credited with rebuilding great monuments of Babylon as
well as conquering Judea and putting number of Jews to captivity.

22

Trades with Elam and Mesopotamia:

Ophir of the ancient world was a famous city from which ancient Egypt, Babylon, Sumeria and
other Middle East countries imported gold, sandalwood, ivory, gems, (wild animals and birds
(peacocks, monkeys). This now seems to be a corruption of the Tamil kingdom of Oviyar. The
Oviyar may be of the ruling tribes of South India and Sri Lanka both. Ophir (as the Greeks
called it is a corrupted form of Oviyar and was an ancient kingdom of South India and Lanka.)
The trades were handled through sea route when the Ships sailed from Oviyar to Sopara near
Thane and Lothal in Gujarat and onwards to Mesopotamia.

23

Harrapan and Elamite Civilization:

Harrapan civilization is a fair debate. We do have the archeology but lacks the language to
make any connection with either the Sanskrit group or any other known cuneiform
languages. There are some strange similarities with Easter Island language off Chilean coast in
Pacific. The Indus valley script still remains a mystery of the cuneiform world until Rosetta
stone are found. Indus-saraswati or Harrapan civilization goes up to 4000 BC that existed in
cuneiform world of the Fertile Crescent. See below the time line of Harrapan civilization with
others.

Harrapan seals Indian antelope, pig, boar or deer with two types of Yogi-Shramana seals

24

Proto Elamite seals and inscription and its similarities with Harrapan seals

There was one thing in common between Elamites, Medes, Persians and Vedic people; they
hated the Assyrians who they considered barbarians of the ancient world. There is a
consistent theme that can be found in epic literatures of Ramayana (Elamite origin) and
Mahabharata (Vedic origin); their common enemies were Asura probably referring to
Assyrians who uprooted both of them from Mesopotamia. One of the most important seal of
Indus-saraswati is the seal of Yogi, or dubbed as proto Shiva seal by some. That clearly
established the origin of Shramanic tradition of India.
A man wearing a headgear is sitting in yogic posture, with an erect phallus. The Animals
figures surround him. According to many art historians, this could be the earliest
representation of Shiva, and also shows the knowledge of yoga. Seals and terracotta figurines
believed to be portraying various yogic postures.
According to historians, the mature phase of the Indus-Saraswati civilization lasted from 2600
to 1900 BC. The discoveries at Mehrgarh, Pakistan, were to further push the Proto-IV
civilization to 6,000 BC. Eminent Pakistani archaeologist, Ahmad Hassan Dani said,
Discoveries at Mehrgarh changed the entire concept of the Indus civilization.

Elamite Mother (Prithvi) Goddess

Elamite sacred Bull deity

25

Indus-saraswati Bull Terracotta deity

Dancing Girl of Harrapan for worships

Indus-saraswati Earth (Prithvi) Goddess

Bharatanatyam- Dance of fire for Shiva worships

26

Yogi seal

Bronze statue of Shramana

Proto-Bharat Natyam for the worship of Shiva:

The dancing girl figurine reminds us how the shrine of Shiva at Somnath employed many
dancing girls in the temple worship of Shiva, performing the dance rituals that can be called
now classical Bharat Natyam. Bharata Natyam in Tamil also spelled as Bharatanatyam, is a
classical Indian dance form that originated in the temples of Tamil Nadu. This further support
the hypothesis advocated here that Shiva, Shramana and temple dancing are of Elam origin
and still very popular in south India. According to Bhimdeva Solankis biography kept by Jain
Acharya Hemachandra, Gujarat king fell in love with dancing girl of Somnath Shiva shrine and
made her his queen.
Rudra worship was practiced in ancient Harrapan region of northwest near HeratAfghanistan. Rudra is another name for Shiva and is featured in Veda. It is quite possible that
west and north Asian may have adopted them in from IV region or when they were vassals of
Akkadian-elamite rulers. We find no trace of solar deity in ancient Elamite religion. The Shiva
and Bull deity was popular with ancient Semites. Since todays Hinduism is compendium of all
religious tradition of India, many deities are incorporated in a big tent of Hinduism. Now,
every Hindu in India recognizes and worships Shiva but he is more popular in South India.
During the Rajput age, Shaivism spread throughout India.
As a reality, a Hindu king was secular by nature to maintain peace and tranquility in his
kingdom and respected all the popular tradition observed by his people. The intolerance of
other religion and antagonism increased when Moslem took power in India due to their
rigidity in their belief that their religion is supreme above all. That aspect was more politically
driven than what their prophet had intended.

27

The table below describes the various stages of the Indus-Saraswati civilization:
Date range
BC

Phase______________________

7000 5500 BC Mehrgarh I (ceramic Neolithic)

5500-3300

Mehrgarh II-VI (ceramic Neolithic)

3300-2600
3300-2800

Early Indus-Saraswati
Indus-Saraswati 1 (Ravi Phase)
Indus-Saraswati 2 (Kot Diji Phase, Nausharo I,
Mehrgarh VII)
Mature Indus-Saraswati
Indus-Saraswati 3A (Nausharo II)
Indus-Saraswati 3B
Indus-Saraswati 3C
Late Indus-Saraswati (Cemetery H); Ochre colored
Potteries

2800-2600
2600-1900
2600-2450
2450-2200
2200-1900
1900-1300
1900-1700
1700-1300
1300-300

Era________________
Early Food Producing
Era
Regionalization Era
5500-2600

Integration Era

Localization Era

Indus-Saraswati 4
Indus-Saraswati 5
Painted grey-black Ware, Black-Polished-North (Iron
Indo-Gangetic Tradition
Age)

J M Kenoyer, a leading expert on Indus Valley, says, Crafts became most important for
reinforcing social and ritual status. These were efficiently controlled by new elites and
powerful merchants of the Indus cities. While the knowledge of specific craft technologies
were probably passed on from one generation to the next through kin networks and various
forms of ritual practice, the access to specific materials could have been carefully regulated
by controlling trade. At both Harappa and Nausharo, the building of massive mud brick walls
around the settlements would have been the most effective way to control the access to raw
materials. The walls and gateways would also have allowed for control of the export trade in
finished commodities.

28

Cultural Influence of India through Trades and settlements to south East Asia

Spread of Ramayana through South India

29

The greater Indias cultural zone exceeded its physical boundary and many southeastern
countries like Thailand and Cambodia used Sanskrit based names in their naming conventions
of places and individuals. This expansion of Hinduism was promulgated by Tamil speakers of
south India.

Moon, Bull Relationship with Shaivism of India:

Equally popular was the moon deity as mentioned above with Elamite and Jews and other
ancient civilization. See the list http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lunar_deities
Franoise Vallat summarized his conclusion of Elamite religion in his article: The information
furnished by archeological excavations in Persia and by cuneiform documents permit a
summary description of some aspects of Elamite religion from the end of the 3rd millennium
B.C. until the Achaemenids period. As most of this material comes from Susiana (mainly Susa,
Chogha Zanbil, and Haft Tepe), a region under strong Mesopotamian influence, it is difficult
to extrapolate specifically Elamite features. Some such features can be identified from finds
on the Persian plateau, however, particularly at Kutangun, Naqs-e Rostam, and Tal-e Malian
in Fars; Malamir in Khuzestan; and Sahdad in Kerman; and at Liyan on the Persian Gulf.
Furthermore, certain details can be drawn from Mesopotamian documents, both written and
iconographic. Analysis of the Elamite religion thus requires isolation in the Susiana
documentation of elements that are not Mesopotamian and that can be compared with what
is otherwise known from the Persian plateau and adjacent areas To separate various deities
that were common with Sumerian, Babylonian and Elam, the specificity is required and they
were found in two broad categories of ritual sites: open-air sanctuaries and buildings. In the
first category three merit special attention: Kurangun Eza/Malamir, and Naqs-e Rostam.
At Kuringun (Seidl, 1986) a relief was carved at the top of a cliff, probably in the 17th century
B.C. The principal scene includes a god seated on a throne formed by a human-headed
serpent, an animal attribute of Napirisa (not Insusinak); he holds in his hands the rod and the
disk, symbols of supreme power, from which gush forth the waters of life. He is surrounded
by seven figures, of which one goddess, wearing a horned tiara, is probably his consort,
Kiriria. To the left is another scene, perhaps from the Neo-Elamite period, of a procession
composed of three superimposed ranks of praying figures descending toward the principal
scene.

30

Kuringan defaced relief near Susa and artists sketch-Proto-Shiva God with water sprouting, & snake in the hand

Hindu Lord Shiva with River Ganga from the head, serpents on the neck and Linga-Phallus
Compare this to Elamite God found in Kuringan, Iran god seated on a throne formed by a human-headed
serpent, an animal attribute of Napirisa (not Insusinak); he holds in his hands the rod and the disk, symbols of
supreme power, from which gush forth the waters of life. Linga worship probably originates from aborigine of
India.

31

Prophet Daniel describes the great place of Susa, Iran. See a picture of a marble carving to the
right. This colossal bull adorned the capital of a pillar in a great palace hall. The animal once
supported the great wooden rafters on his neck. This work of an in grey marble was found on
the site of ancient Susa, at one time the chief city of the kingdom of Elam (Daniel 8:2)
The rock reliefs at Eza/Malamir, Iran are divided into two groups, those at Sekaf-e Salman
southwest of Eza and those at Kul-e Farah to the northwest (Berghe, 1963; De Waele, 1981).
Each includes several ritual scenes: processions, musicians, animal sacrifices, and the like. It
seems that the images preceded the accompanying inscriptions (Knig, nos. 75-76), which are
of the late Neo-Elamite period, the first half of the 6th century B.C.- See more at:
http://www.iranchamber.com/religions/articles/elamite_religion.php#sthash.aj3QEhSC.dpuf

Horned bull at Susa (Elamite Period)

Moon God Sin Elamite, Accadian & Sumerian

The Tamil migration came to Sri-Lanka with Shaivism, the religion of Elam and Indus valley.
Numerous temples are found in Sri-Lanka and south India. To get a complete list see the
bibliography at the bottom. Shaivism as practiced in India today is a composite Hindu God but
the above find from the Elamite sites describes some similarities to Hindu Shiva. Shaivism is
very popular in south India and like any other ancient civilization the god and goddesses are
integrated among various cultures. The bull has a great importance in the culture of the
Dravidians, the agriculturalist. Some Dravidians see the bull as the national animal of the
Dravidians. The bull is the symbol of manhood, pride, courage and strength in Tamil culture.
Bull was worshiped by the ancient Dravidians. Lord Shiva is the patron god of the Dravidians
and his mount is a bull named Nandi. The name Nandi, was derived from the ancient
Dravidian word Pandi (bull).

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Egyptian Apis, Isis and Ishtar of Babylon were moon deities-semite Goddess

Presence of moon God symbols and Elamite shrine in Islam (Semite)

A Bull holding a spouted vessel proto-elamite; 31002900 B.C. Iran

33

The majorities of the Dravidians are Hindus and belong mostly to Shaivism faith (Lord Shiva).
Lord Shiva and Shaivism have origins in the Proto-Dravidian culture. The ancient Dravidians
believed in the man-woman equality and the universal parents (Shiva and Parvati). Women
are often in the center of art and culture. Bharat Natyam is a good example. The Mother
Goddess religion is a major part of the Dravidian religion. Lord Shiva and some other
Dravidian gods were adopted later in Hinduism.

Funerary Head of Elamite

Elamite Inscription found in Iran

For the statue of gods in sanctum sanctorum or Shiva Lingam is made of black stone. Some
have speculated that the black stone of Medina Shrine of Prophet follows this convention
except it is a square and not a cylindrical triangle. The Shaivism was the dominant Hindu
belief of Tamils over millennia. The ancient Tamils were very close to the nature, they
worshiped animals and natural spirits. Tamils knew about various plants and their effects
what we call now southern Ayurveda. The plants were often used for medical or religious
rituals. Some religious practices of Tamils like Shramanism and exorcism by gods are not
necessarily Vedic in origin. There are many Tamil gods who are not recognized as Vedic gods.
Most of these gods belong to the group of Native gods and are not part of the Vedic religion.
The worship of ancestors and fallen hero was a part of the Tamil culture but now is popular
with all the Hindus.
Vinay Pandey writes in his blog http://www.importantindia.com/888/shaivism-the-originand-growth-of-shavism/
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The origin of Shaivism in India can be traced from very early times. It may be a legacy of the
non-Aryan religious belief of the pre-historic period. The excavations in the Indus valley have
revealed images of deities resembling Siva and phallus or Siva-lingam. However the cult of
Siva developed by the fusion of the character of many native deities, including the Vedic God
Rudra. In the Rig-Veda, Rudra is the God of destruction and storm. But in the `Yajur-Veda, a
synthesis is made between his destructive and benevolent character. Gradually Rudra rose
into importance. In the Svetasvatara Upanishad, Rudra or Siva is regarded as the Supreme
God (Manadeva) and Adinatha (fist lord) of Jaina.
Yet another writer opines that Shaivism is strong among the Tamils of Southern India and Sri
Lanka. Some traditions credit the spreading of Saivism into southern India to the great sage,
Agastya, who is said to have brought Vedic traditions along with the Tamil language.
Agastya was one of the septa Rishi who exchanged place with another Rishi in Puranic list
from time to time. Agastya is also featured in many languages of the world. Agastya (Tamil),
Agathiyar (Telugu), Agasta-Sanskrit, Anggasta-Malaya; Akkhot-Thailand is suggestive of the
spread from Tamil land to many places in Asia. Agastya is one of the Saptarishi who is
extolled at many places in the Vedas and regarded as a revered sage. Agastya is also believed
to be the author of Agastya Samhita.
Agastya connection with Rama is mentioned most among all the existing epic texts of
Ramayana, probably suggesting an Akkadian-Elamite origin. He is mentioned in the oldest
and most original existing versions of the Ramayana by Sage Valmiki, as having his abode in
the form of a hermitage in the Malaya Mountains. His main hermitage is placed by the epic
Ramayana somewhere in the western half of the Indian Ocean, further south of the so-called
Malaya Mountains, amongst a series or chain of large islands and submerged mountains. If
this story gives you any twist, it implies Elamite connection near Mesopotamia in the Gulf
region. Old Tamil literature contains several references to agam in the sense of fort, palace
or inner place. This also implies ancient Larsa or Lanka of Ramayana.
The story of the southern migration of the Velir from Dwaraka under the leadership of
Agastya is narrated by Naccinarkkiniyar in his commentary on Tolkappiyam. (Payiram; Porul,
1.34). - Dravidian Text. Agastya's legacy is also associated with the Chengannur Temple in
Kerala in South India, considered to be first built by Agasthya Muni, where he sat in
meditation. Here Siva-Parvathys idols are worshiped in the same temple. One half of the
temple is dedicated to Lord Siva and the other half behind Siva is dedicated to Goddess
Parvati.

35

Chengannur Shiva Temple

Valmiki at Dwaraka Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh

Sage Valmiki who wrote the Sanskrit version of Valmiki Ramayana in poetic form was a
robber named Ratnakar as per Uttara Kanda. Then there is a mythical story about his
salvation by Narada and he becomes the sage. The whole narrative appears to looks like the
defamation effort by mainstream Brahmins to isolate someone for separating from
established tradition. We should not be surprised if Valmiki was of non-Vedic origin. His
depiction is created below in Andhra Pradesh. As per K. d. Abhanyka who wrote an article on
Valmiki, summarizes his observation as follows:
Valmiki may not have been a Brahmin like Vasishtha. He was not a Raja (king) like
Viswamitra. He was possibly born as an Adivasi (the first aborigines of India). There are
people who say that he was a Bhil, and those who say that he was a Kirata. To the followers
of the Valmiki religion, he is the Eternal God himself. The Uttarakanda of the Ramayana
refers to him as Brahmarshi, Bhargava son of Bhriggu and gives his name as Praceta and in
some places says that he is the son of Varuna.

REFERENCES:
1. R. Ghirshman, The Ziggurat of The Choga-Zanbil, Scientific American, vol. 204, pp. 69-76,
1961
2. The Archaeology of Elam: Formation and Transformation of an Ancient Iranian State by D.
T. Potts, Cambridge University Press, 1999, ISBN 0-521-56496-4
3. Commentary to Gen. 11:19; by Abraham Ibn Ezra, M.D. Cassuto, Mi-No'a ad Avraham
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(19593), 15469;
4. The Book of Genesis (ICC, 1930), 22331; J. Skinner
5. Elamites:
http://www.iranchamber.com/religions/articles/elamite_religion.php#sthash.aj3QEhSC.dpuf
6. http://www.shaivam.org/siddhanta/toi_srilanka.htm Shiva Temples in Elam-SriLanka.
7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Shiva_temples_in_India Shiva Temples in India.
8. http://www.hattuscha.de/English/liongate.htm Hattusa

9. Potts 2004 FS Mortensen Kurangun relief - Academia.edu Kurugan relief in Iran.

10. The Arjan Tomb-crossroads between Elamite and the Persian empires, by Javier AlvarezGutenberg Archive.
11. "Agastya Legend and the Indus Civilization" by Iravatham Mahadevan
12. http://ancientindians.wordpress.com/ramayanam/valmiki-adikavi/ by K.D. Abhayanka
13. Elamites: Ancient script http://www.ancientscripts.com/elamite.html
14. A History of ancient near East by Marc Van De Mieroop, Blackwell publishing.
15. The Cambridge ancient history: Early history of Middle east, Cambridge Press.
16. Cultural Atlas of Mesopotamia and near East by Michel Roaf.
17. www.harrapa.com, Harrapan artifacts.
18. http://ranajitpal.com/- A new Non-Jonesian history of the world by Dr. Ranjit Pal.
19. Horseplay in Harappa by Steve Farmer http://www.frontline.in/fl1720/17200040.htm
20. Connection and complexities, new approach to complexities of south Asian archeology
http://www.frontline.in/fl1720/17200040.htm

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