[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989) › v2.c35.140 # An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c35.140 An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c35.140 - **Language:** English ### [v2.c35.140](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v2.c35.140) Finally one might pose the question regarding the historicity of the \*Mahābhārata vis-à-vis\* the results from Hastināpura. The epic is known to have changed its name and form, from the \*Jaya\* of 8800 verses through the \*Bhārata\* of 24000 to the \*Mahābhārata\*, of 100000 verses. The last named, as it mentions the Hūṇas, is unlikely to be earlier than the 5th century A.D. And if Kṛṣṇa was a historical figure he is unlikely to have been later than Buddha who lived in the 6th century B.C. Thus, how far can one rely on an 11-time inflated book completed at least 1100 years after the event? For an answer one has to look up to the immutable witnesses of history, viz. the mounds at Hastināpura, MATHURA, KAMPIL, AHICCHATRĀ, KURUKSHETRA, etc. All these and scores of other sites associated with the story have invariably yielded the remains of the PGW culture in their lowest levels. To cap it all, Hastināpura has given the evidence of a flood which destroyed the PGW settlement; and KAUŚĀMBĪ has yielded a degenerate painted grey ware; reminding one of the Purāṇic statement: ‘When the city of Hastināpura is carried away by the Gaṅgā, Nicaksu will abandon it and dwell in Kauśāmbī. There may therefore well have been a kernel of truth in the \*Mahābhārata\*, story and, if so, the event may be placed in the ninth century B.C. - [Previous: v2.c35.139](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v2.c35.139) - [Next: v2.c35.141](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v2.c35.141) - [Up: v2.c35](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v2.c35) ## Linked texts (1) - [Mahābhārata](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v2.c35.140](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v2.c35.140) · Pramāṇa