A 6000-year-old Rama and Hanuman carving found in Mesopotamia
What does it mean for history as we know it?
The find of 6000-year-old Lord Rama and Hanuman carvings in Silemania, Iraq has changed the landscape of ancient history as we know it. People in India always believe that theirs is the oldest civilization in the world and they find their roots through multiple Vedas, Puranas, and two great epics. Ramayana and Mahabharata
I recently wrote a detailed analysis of the historicity of Mahabharata with a focus on scientifically verifiable evidence.
What this important finding does is not only cover the gap between Indian tradition and archaeology but also uncover the historic bonds that once united ancient India, Iran, and Sumer. Ram-Sin of (Larsa) to whose memory a Rama chapel was dedicated has too many similarities with Rama of the Indian epic Ramayana.
Lord Rama seems to have been popular in Mesopotamia and a Chapel of Lord Rama was found by archaeologists.
The name Ararama of Larsa may be an echo of Rama. This Ram-Chapel of Ur is the earliest known memorial to the great Rama and may have been erected by Dilmun merchants who resided nearby.
Dilmun was always mentioned in the Sumerian texts together with Magan and Melukkha and it is possible that these three states were somehow allied with each other.
Claims about the painting being of Akkadian Warrior, not Rama
There however have been claims about the painting being of an Akkadian warrior, not Lord Rama and Hanuman. The proponents of this theory say that it could be an Akkadian warrior tramping a defeated Hurrian while another Hurrian begs for mercy.
The reality is that either of the theory is difficult to prove. However, if you ever also consider additional facts in the highly authentic Sumerian king there appears a list with names as Bharat (Warad) Sin and Ram Sin.
As Sin was the Moon-god Chandra Ram Sin can be seen to be the same as Rama Chandra. Bharat Sin ruled for 12 years (1834-1822 BC), exactly as stated in the Dasaratha Jataka. The Jataka statement, “Years sixty times hundred, and ten thousand more, all told, reigned strong-armed Rama”, only means that Rama reigned for sixty years which agrees exactly with the data of Assyriologists.
Ram-Sin was the longest-reigning monarch of Mesopotamia who ruled for 60 years. The mention of the father in the inscriptions of both Warad Sin and Ram Sin is noteworthy and may point to palace intrigue. Joan Oates is not aware of the Ramayana but writes with great insight (p. 61) that Warad sin was maneuvered to the throne by his father.
In Mesopotamia, a prince normally became king only after the death of his father. Lakshmana mentioned the Bible as Lakhamar, who ruled as a great king.
A lot of coincidences for sure! All these facts before us make the whole discovery even more interesting and most definitely enough research is required to approve or disapprove of the two different theories
