Indo-Aryans

The Indo-Aryans are early inhabitants of ancient northern India , credited
with the authorship of the Vedic scriptures. They are sometimes also called
the Vedic Aryans. The term derives from the Sanskrit word " Arya". The term
also refers to the Indo-Aryan languages , a group of modern languages
descended from the Sanskrit spoken by the Indo-Aryans.
Ethnical and racial interpretations of the Vedic Aryans
See also Aryan, Arya, Aryan Invasion Theory, Dasa


In Nazi Germany, Aryan referred to blue-eyed, blond and tall Germanic
people. But this was just one of the many definitions that have been given
to the word Aryan, most of which are unrelated to the Sanskrit term Arya.
The racial interpretation of the Vedic Aryans might also have been
motivated by colonist politics.


Arya has also been interpreted by some as a term refering to only
blond-haired and blue-eyed people. But apart from about three gods ( Indra,
Rudra and Savitar, gods that are associated with the sun or with the
lightning), there is in Sanskrit literature according to Michael Witzel
only one golden-haired (hiranyakeshin) person , i.e. Hiranyakeshin, the
author of the Hiranyakeshin-Shrauta-Sutra. (J. Bronkhorst and M.M.
Deshpande. 1999; p.390) While it is possible that this person was
golden-haired, the author's name could also refer to one of the epithets of
the solar deity Vishnu. These descriptions could also be poetic allegories:
solar deities and gods associated with the sun were often described as
golden-haired. On the other hand, there are references in Sanskrit
literature where the hair of Brahmins is assumed to be black. For example,
Atharva Veda 6:137. 2-3 contains a charm for making "strong black
hairlocks" grow and in Baudhayana?s Dharma-Sutra 1:2, (also cited in
Shabara?s Bhasya on Jaimini 1:33) we read the verse ?Let him kindle the
sacrificial fire while his hair is still black?.


Some verses of the Rig Veda have been interpreted racially. Hans Hock
(1999b) studied all the occurences that were interpreted racially in
Geldner's translation of the Rig Veda and concludes that they were either
mistranslated or open to other interpretations. He writes that the racial
interpretation of the Indian texts "must be considered dubious." ( p.154)
Hock also notes that "early Sanskrit literature offers no conclusive
evidence for preoccupation with skin color. More than that, some of the
greatest Epic heroes and heroines such as Krishna, Draupadi, Arjuna, Nakula
and (...) Damayanti are characterized as dark-skinned. Similarly, the
famous cave-paintings of Ajanta depict a vast range of skin colors. But in
none of these contexts do we find that darker skin color disqualifies a
person from being considered good, beautiful, or heroic." (p.154-155)
Draupadi is also often called by the name Krsnā ("black") in the
Mahabharata.


According to another examination by Trautmann (1997) the racial evidence of
the Indian texts is soft and based upon an amount of overreading. He
concludes: "That the racial theory of Indian civilization still lingers is
a miracle of faith. Is it not time we did away with it?" ( p.213-215)


The earliest still existing commentary on the Rig Veda is the one by Sayana
(14th century). According to Romila Thapar (1999, The Aryan question
revisited), "There isn't a single racial connotation in any of Sayana's
commentaries."
Literature
J. Bronkhorst and M.M. Deshpande. 1999. Aryan and Non-Aryan in South
Asia
Bryant, Edwin: The Quest for the Origins of Vedic Culture. 2001.
Oxford University Press.ISBN 0195137779
Elst, Koenraad Update on the Aryan Invasion Debate. 1999. ISBN
8186471774 http://koenraadelst.bharatvani.org/books/ait/index.htm,
http://koenraadelst.bharatvani.org/articles/aid.html
Frawley, David The Myth of the Aryan Invasion of India, 1995. New
Delhi: Voice of India
Hock, Hans. 1999b, Through a Glass Darkly: Modern "Racial"
Interpretations vs. Textual and General Prehistoric Evidence on Arya
and Dasa/Dasyu in Vedic Indo-Aryan Society." in Aryan and Non-Aryan
in South Asia.
Schetelich, Maria. 1990, "The problem ot the "Dark Skin" (Krsna Tvac)
in the Rgveda." Visva Bharati Annals 3:244-249.
Parpola, Asko. 1988. The Coming of the Aryans to Iran and India and
the Cultural and Ethnic Identity of the Dasas.
Sethna, K.D. 1992. The Problem of Aryan Origins. New Delhi: Aditya
Prakashan.
Trautmann, Thomas R. 1997, Aryans and British India. Berkeley:
University of California Press