Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v2.c37.5

v2.c37.5

A major problem about the literary sources, specially in terms of their correlation with the archaeological data, is concerned with their dates. The problem is specially acute with the Rgveda; we cannot accept Max Müller’s proposition of 1200 BC as the date of the Rgveda, since this is the accepted date of the Mahābhārata-famed archaeological site of Hastināpura. The events of the Sarasvati river valley, as described in the Rgveda, must have taken place in the third millennium BC, witnessing a fully grown Harappan civilization. This point shall be elaborated later. We also have controversies regarding the dates of Pāṇini, Kauṭilya, Nāgārjuna, etc., on which we would submit our considered opinions.