I propose a discussion on my text "India and Ancient Greece: Similar Allegories, Analogies, and Differences". The text has been published in the volume "Discourses in Greek Studies", edited by Professor Anil Kumar Singh (Indo-Hellenic Research Centre, New Delhi). In our inquiry, we aim to investigate the analogies, correspondences, and similarities between Indian Cultural Heritage and Ancient Greek philosophy. Our study deals with the Kaṭha Upaniṣad and Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad as regards Indian Cultural Heritage and with Plato’s Phaedrus as regards Ancient Greek philosophy. We will concentrate our attention on the image of the individual soul as a charioteer leading a chariot with two horses exposed in Plato’s Phaedrus. This image has strong analogies with the image of the individual contained in the Kaṭha Upaniṣad I, 3. Within this part of our analysis, we investigate the figure of the charioteer and the two horses of the chariot. We point out the difference between the souls of the human beings, on the one hand, and the souls of the gods, on the other hand. The allegory of the soul as the chariot in Plato’s Phaedrus proves to be a description of the human condition; the dimension of the earthen existence turns out to be the consequence of the imperfection of the human soul. This imperfection is connected to the absence of an adequate level of knowledge. Knowledge is, within Plato’s image of the chariot, a factor which hinders the fall of the human being in the earthen dimension. Knowledge is necessary to avoid the decadence of the human soul. Furthermore, knowledge is necessary for the soul in order that the soul can return to its original dimension. The earthen dimension is not the original dimension of the human soul; it is not a dimension in which the human soul ought to remain. The earthen dimension is a dimension which should be abandoned. The nostalgia for the authentic dimension of reality is one of the characteristics of the soul enslaved in the earthen dimension. The image of the chariot of Phaedrus has analogies with the Kaṭha Upaniṣad 1.3.3–1.3.9. Through the analysis of the Kaṭha Upaniṣad, we can observe that understanding is necessary for the human being to reach a dimension of reality which is different from the average life dimension; understanding is necessary for the individual to be free from the chain of rebirths. Constitutively, there can be a contrast between elements composing the human being, i.e. between the intellect and the senses. If the senses are not subdued to a discipline, they hinder the journey of the human being to the authentic dimension of reality. Only the development of understanding can enable the human being to train the senses in an adequate way. In this context, too, the idea is present that the human being should reach a different dimension if the human being wishes to be free from the chain of rebirths; the initial condition of the human being is a condition which should be abandoned. The average dimension in which the human being lives is not the authentic dimension of the human being. The image of the chariot introduces us, therefore, to a frame of correspondences between Plato’s Phaedrus and the Kaṭha Upaniṣad which can be listed as follows: - The average life of the human being is not the authentic dimension of the individual. - The human being is, as such, a composed entity. - Any human being has a plurality of factors in himself. - The human being is enslaved in a chain of rebirths. - The enslavement in the average life dimension is not definitive; an alternative dimension can be reached by the human being. - Only through a process of education can the human being reach the correct disposition of the intellect. - Knowledge and understanding are necessary for the human being to be able to lead his life.
One may say that it all started with the Gods – most Greek Gods lived on Mount Olympus, while Indian counterparts lived on Mount Kailash. Ambrosia in Greek Mythology and Amrita (Nectar) in Hindu Mythology was a drink of the Gods that bestowed immortality on those who drank it. Titan Helios, the Sun God rode a golden chariot across the sky that was pulled by seven bulls and Hindu deity Surya rode his flaming chariot across the sky that was pulled by seven horses.
Aryabhatta the first great mathematician and astronomer introduced to Greeks, the calculation and rotation of the Earth related to the specific stars as twenty-three hours, fifty-six minutes and 4.1 seconds (actual 23:56:4.091) and the length of the year was 365 days 6 hours, 12 minutes 30 seconds was just 3 minutes 20 seconds out of the length of the year.
The validation of claim that Indo-Greek interaction took place long before the military campaign of Alexander can be verified through ancient Greek and Sanskrit literature. Sanskrit literature suggests these people as formidable warriors and conversant with the knowledge of science that was strange to indigenous people.
Historical narrations of Indo-Greek interaction in ancient times are found in the classical Indian literature of Yuga Purana, Mahabharata and Buddhist literature. Greeks were called ‘Yavanas’ in ancient India.
These are some thoughts on the subject; wishing you success, dear Gianluigi Segalerba !!!
Very important topic I was reading the long book, REIGN OF REALISM IN INDIAN PHILOSOPHY by Raja Naga Sarma, impresive study about philosophy of the mind, it look also like ontology and epistemology in sciences, therefore very related to for example PARMENIDES..
Stephen and Carlos, while both of course are considered Aryan there is less agreement nowadays on these similarities, still I am against the idea that Greece originated these ideas and myths. Greece was part of the Middle Eastern intellectual world, which may have included India.
Still great exposition both of you!
both cultures knew the diameter of earth and many other such things as mentioned in my Book yogapsychologie
hi here we have a expresion for a bad enemy
mirta iriondo expulsed from the presidence of fadea argentina
bad and old enemy, cuban comunist she lived in Norway! JOJOJO
hasta la vista Mirta Iriondo!
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