STATEMENT OF HYPOTHESIS 1. The hypothesis is based on the theory of coherent Catastrophism put forth by astronomers M/s. Victor Clube, Bill Napier, and David Asher. 2. The theory states that a large comet settled in the inner solar system, some 20,000 years ago, causing last mini ice age. 3. This comet disintegrated around 7000 B.C. It caused some catastrophic events on Earth, like crater formation, trenching and flooding due to Tsunami waves. 4. As a result of intense heat generated during meteoric impacts, natural glass was formed on the surface of earth. 5. A bright comet was then visible from earth. The next four millennia were a period of celestial peace and human cultural development from Stone Age to Bronze Age. 6. This comet further disintegrated around 3100 B.C. A series of 5 to 7 bright comets were visible in the sky for a period of few centuries. This disintegration also resulted in creation of a belt of asteroids and dust. This belt is known as Taurids and is still the cause of increased meteor falls in the first half of the month of November when earth intersects the Taurids orbit. 7. The orbit of Taurids is in a 7:2 resonance with planet Jupiter. The gravitational effects of this massive planet cause this orbit to rotate slowly around its own axis. 8. Because of this orbital precession, Taurids directly intersect earth's orbit after a period of around 2500 years. This is a period of destruction due to bombardment of meteors of various sizes and in different locations on earth. 9. According to the astronomers mentioned above, two such periods were around the years 2000 B.C. and 500 A.D. They have predicted that the next episode is likely to occur around the year 3000 A.D. 10. Comet Encke-P2 is the largest remnant of this celestial turmoil and is still visible through a powerful telescope. It was visible to the naked eye till the end of 18^th century. This comet completes its rotation around the Sun in 3.3 years. 11. The deductions mentioned above are based on actual observations, mathematical calculations and computer modeling. The researchers are qualified scientists and their papers are published in journals of repute. 12. For the purpose of present hypothesis, the theory put forth by these astronomers is taken to be true at its face value. The record of this celestial turmoil is available to us in different forms, but has not been looked at with the correct perspective. Following are some of the important sources. · Descriptions in Vedic Literature 1. Meteor showers, most likely to be seasonal. 2. Bright, comet like objects streaking across the sky. 3. Deification of these astral bodies. 4. Abject terror of these deities 5. Hymns and songs to pacify these deities. 6. Prayers for self protection and destruction of enemies. 7. Rituals and legends to keep these memories alive. · Abnormal geological formations in study areas 1. Formation of Dhayya ridge in planes of Punjab. 2. Presence of a large number of salt playas and salt water lakes like Sambhar and Didwana in deserts of Rajasthan. 3. Newly emerging evidence of presence of impact craters in the region extending from Saurashtra to Kasmir. 4. Disappearance of mighty Saraswati River and changed courses of rivers Yamuna and Sutlej. · Archaeological evidence available mainly from Indus culture sites 1. Evidence of destruction at Harappa. 2. Faience objects, vitreous paste and talcose faience. 3. A special type of pottery called gray-ware. 4. Stones with high specific gravity (more than 2.8) 5. Corbelled water drains found at Mohenjodaro and Harappa. 6. Burial pottery found at Harappa. The key factor that establishes a direct link between the Vedic Literature and Indus Culture is Soma. Present hypothesis claims that Soma was not a plant or herb having any kind of medicinal or intoxicating effects. In fact, it was natural glass formed during impact events. The process of making Soma juice was actually a process of creating static electrical charge on Soma particles by rubbing them on sheep skin. Earthing was provided by pouring charged Soma particles into a water trough. The static electrical energy accumulated on Soma particles, when discharged, produced sparks with sound. This, indeed, was magical. The pounded Soma was then finely ground and was used to make small moulded articles or to give a glazed coating on amulets which were supposed to have magical properties. This Soma powder was called a kind of gold, `Hiranya or Suvarna.' There are enough references in the Vedic literature which describe the procedure of making Soma. There are also some Suktas which link Soma with Hiranya and describe the manufacturing of amulets called as `Mani.' Indra was the first and brightest comet. The destruction that he had caused was awful. Salt playas and lakes in Rajasthan are probably the result of a huge Tsunami wave. Dhayya ridge in Punjab can be a result of trenching caused by a streaking-earth gazing asteroid. These, on any scale, are the mightiest of the events if they were caused by Indra. Adityas were a group of bright comets created around the year 3100 B.C. In the beginning they were seven. Mitra, Varuna and Aryaman belonged to the first group; Bhag, Pushan and Savitru constituted the second. Indra, of course, was the mightiest amongst them. Vishnu was the last of them. In his Vaman incarnation, he was dwarf and blue in colour. He went round the region thrice in rapid succession leaving destruction in its wake. Vedic literature describes this Tri-vikrama with awe and fear. Maruts were the Gods, bright and numerous. Their arrival was seasonal. They came in autumn causing terror in the minds of hapless people. Rudra, their father was of the same nature. It is clearly stated in the Vedic literature that Rudra the terrible, accompanied by his sister Ambika causes destruction in Autumn. Ashvinikumar were the twin stars who announced the reversal of Sun God's path and made him travel northwards bringing new harvests and thus renewing life. The book gives adequate (in fact, numerous) references from Vedic literature to support the above statements. The ritual of `Pravargya' as described in Vedic literature is a vivid description of distant Aditya accompanied by Maruts spreading disasters on Earth. More interesting is the raw material used and process of making the pottery required to be used in this ritual. It points directly and unmistakably to the enigmatic "Gray-Ware" found in remnants of the Indus Culture. Darshapurnamas Ishti is a sacrifice that was performed on every new and full Moon day. This was an important ritual in which baked rice was given as food to the Gods. This hypothesis establishes a link between this ritual and ancient Soma sacrifice. It is proposed that husked rice was used as a substitute for Soma. Although the ritual was suitably modified, the recitation of original chants (mantras) did not change. The meaning expressed by these chants provides the necessary link. Mahavrata is another ancient ritual described in Vedic literature. A bull or a cow was sacrificed at the end of this ritual; it also marked the end of year. A flying falcon and a swing almost touching the ground are the two important symbols, which again point to some astral disturbances. Evidence for existence of Soma is available in Indus culture. A substance named as vitreous paste is described in archaeological reports. It is a mixture of silica and metal oxides. The silica contents are generally above 80%. The substance shows a hardness of 6 on Mohr's scale. It almost always has entrapped air in the form of fine spherical bubbles. Its specific gravity varies between 2.2 to 2.5. It, thus, resembles natural impact glass in terms of all its properties including various colours. Glazed seals and moulded faience objects were probably prepared by making a powder of this vitreous paste and then using it as a moulding or coating material. Modern science has still not been able to explain satisfactorily the manufacturing process for these faience objects. There is almost no archaeological evidence about the existence of furnaces, crucibles etc. to prove that Indus faience/vitreous paste (not faience articles) was man-made. Presence of the so called `Corbelled Arch Water Drains' at Mohenjodaro and Harappa indicate that these structures were more likely to be air-raid shelters from meteoric impacts, than water drains. Their locations, lengths and constructional features are more logical and appealing to common sense if they are called shelters rather than drains. A sukta in Rig Veda describes the destruction of `Vailsthanas' by Indra. The paintings on burial pottery found at Harappa shows peacocks, bulls and some semi human figurines. Most of these figures have long plumes which in fact look more like comet tails. These pictures can be interpreted as a depiction of important features of the visible sky during those times. The Indus Unicorn can be interpreted as a representation of a group of deities- the Adityas! The banner/sign in front of this animal is a pictorial representation of `making Soma.' So far, no one appears to have computed the specific gravity of the famous `Standard Weight' stones of the Indus Culture. This simple calculation reveals that some of these stones have specific gravities ranging from 2.8 to 3.2. This, indeed, is a high value for stones which are generally labeled as chert, limestone or granite. It is possible that some of these stones are pieces of meteorites and this point needs further investigation. *** The book presents this hypothesis, quoting and explaining references from Vedic literature. It also comments on the inadequacies and errors in translation, especially of hymns related to Soma. These errors have occurred because the Translator always has presumed Soma to be a plant/herb. This book also discusses the Archaeological evidence, mainly from the sites of Mohenjodaro and Harappa. Reports published by Sir John Marshall and Sri. Madhosarup Vats are considered as primary sources. Latest research papers dealing with physical properties of faience and gray-ware are referred. Unfortunately, such papers are very few in number and they tend to raise more questions than giving satisfactory answers. With due respect to all the proponents of Aryan Homeland Theories and various scholars' claims about the antiquity and chronology of the Vedic literature, none of them are referred to in this book. I am quite aware that if the present hypothesis is found tenable then a lot of further work will have to be done. That, perhaps, will be the right time to consider and evaluate various views expressed so far on this controversial subject.