Encyclopedia of Hinduism

xxvii

chronology

K

3600 B.C.E. to 1700 B.C.E.

¶ Indus Valley civilization, including sites at

Mohenjodaro and Harappa, prospers. Archaeo-

logical finds include a seal that some scholars

identify as a proto-Shiva.

2050

¶ Indo-Iranian people settle in Iran (Persia) and

Afghanistan.

1900

¶ Drying up of Sarasvati River due to climate

changes. End of Indus-Sarasvati culture; center

of civilization in ancient India relocates from the

Sarasvati River to the Ganges River.

1500

¶ Compilation of Rig Veda^ Samhita (the^ earliest

extant text in Hinduism).

1350

¶ At Boghaz Koy, Turkey, stone inscription of the

treaty with Mitanni lists as divine witnesses

the Vedic deities Mitra, Varuna, Indra, and the

Nasatyas (Ashvins).

1000

¶ End of compilation of the three original Vedas:^

Rig, Yajur, and Sama.

950

¶ Decline of Sanskrit as a spoken language occurs

over the next 300 years.

800 to 400

¶ Orthodox Upanishads^ are compiled.

750

¶ Prakrits (vernacular or “natural” languages)

develop among India’s various cultures, as evi-

denced from later Buddhist and Jain works.

c. 600

¶ Death of Zoroaster, founder of Zoroastrianism,

original religion of the Persians. His Zend Avesta,

holy book of that faith, has much in common

with the Rig Veda, sharing many verses.

599

¶ Birth of Mahavira Vardhamana (c. 599–527),

24th Tirthankara, Jain master who stresses veg-

etarianism, asceticism, and nonviolence.

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