The following countries comprise of Slavic nations: Belarus, Russia, Ukraine (Eastern part),Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia (Western part), Albania, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia (Southern part also known as Balkan states).
By the beginning of the 19th Century the Slavic people were under the Austrian or Russian empires. In a bid to look for their own identity they turned towards India, especially in literary and linguistic aspects. It did not take them long to discover striking similarities between the two.Interestingly even the German nation made a connection with India for its original identity.
The Sanskrit word Veda, meaning knowledge, has the same meaning in Czech, Slovak and Polish languages. According to James Cooper writing in the Sutra Journal: ‘Croatians call themselves Hrvatska which is Saraswati, Hindu goddess of knowledge. Saraswati was called Harahviti by Persians who pronounced the letter ‘S’ as ‘H’ and so the word Harahviti is actually Saraswati.’
He further says, ‘Istra is a magical region of Croatia, known as Terra Magica, ‘the magic land’. Its name comes from an equally magical source known as the Illyrians, an Indo/European civilisation which populated these lands some 4000 years ago. The regions of Istra, their islands and surrounding area, all the way to north-eastern area known as Slavonia, and down the Dalmatian coast, read like a page from a Sanskrit dictionary – Rupa – Raša – Rukavac – Kršan – Sukošan – Daruvar – Kali – Duga Uvala – Duga Resa – Isa – Siverić – Nos Kalik – Kalinić – Kalinovac – Budimir – Rajakovići – Kuje – Sava – Budva – Dvigrad – Ruda – Rava – Mandal – Radovani – Loka – Bogdanov Vrh – Predloka – Radoboj – Sveta Nedelja – Sit – Štanjel – Antignana – Grisignana – Galignana – Lisignana – Dignano – Visignano – Hvar. Spotted in isolation, they would deserve nothing more than a raised eyebrow, but seeing a number of them, and taking in consideration the similarity between the Croatian and Sanskrit languages, we can only conclude that at some time in the distant past there was a presence of Vedic India in those lands’. In Sanskrit the word Sveta means ‘light’, ‘bright’, ‘white’. From the Sanskrit Sveta we get the Croatian first names: Sveta or Svjetlana or Sveto – all of them pertaining to ‘light’, ‘bright’ and by extension ‘pure’ or ‘saintly’. Throughout Croatia we see this Sanskrit sveta in many place names such as Sveta Marija – Sveta Nedelja – Sveti Durd – Sveti Ivan – Sveti Juraj – Sveti Lovreč – Sveti Martin – Sveti Peter – Svetvinčenat. In many other Slavic nations there is the variation of the same name. In Russia it is Svetlana, in Czechoslovakia Svetla and in Bulgaria its Svetul.
In Sanskrit the other word for knowledge is jnana, from jnana we get the Greek gnosis meaning knowledge, and from gnosis we get the English word knowledge – Jna-na – Gno-sis – Kno-wledge. The word opposite of knowledge is ignorance, from Sanskrit ‘agnan’. In Croatia, on the enchanted islands of Istra, there are regions which bear this very same name, jnana. There is Grisignana – Lisignana – Galignana – Antignana – Dignano and Visignano. We find little information on these places except they are very ancient having been inhabited for over 7000 years.
Kali is an island off the coast of Istra, the name is an obvious Vedic/Hindu name, yet here it is as an island of Croatia in a land whose language is hardly distinguishable from Sanskrit. Throughout the region we also find names such as Kalinovac, Kalik and Kalinić’.
James Cooper also mentions river Drava which flows from Italy and travels through Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, and Hungary. Draven is a Sanskrit word meaning stream. Another river is called Rasa meaning liquid, juice, nectar, love and taste. Sava is also a river in Croatia, which means water pouring out.
A Croatian town named Bogdanov Vrah, meaning gift of god, comes from Sanskrit Bhaga (god) and dan (to give, gift). Bogdan and Bogdanovic are also popular Slavic names, Bogdanovic meaning ‘son of Bogdan’.
According to Cogniarchae, a cognitive archeological site: ‘The Hindu concept of Moksha (freedom from cycles of birth and death) and Svarga (heaven) mirrors similar names in Slavic legend of deities Mokosh and Svrog. The three-headed god Shiva can also be seen in Slavic countries by the name Triglav (Three headed). The four-headed figure called Zbruch in Poland matches perfectly with four-headed god Brahma. The Zbrush figure is one of the rarest artefacts of the pre-Christian Slavic era. It is displayed in the archaeological museum of Krakow, Poland’.
In the 9th Century, with the arrival of Christianity in Slavic lands, the Vedic gods like Indra became St. Andrew. Andrew is a non-Semitic, non-Hebrew name. Worship of St. Andrew with his cross was widespread in early Britain and Ireland. The cross of St. Andrew is nothing but a battle-axe or hammer symbol of Indra. It represents Indra slaying the dragon of darkness and death. Goat was the favoured animal of God Indra. Its image can be seen on many coats of arms of European nations in the form of a unicorn. The Welsh Royal regiment has had a Goat mascot since 1775. The ancient X cross of Indra is also seen on the British flag and many other flags. There are many folk traditions celebrated on St. Andrew’s Day in Slavic nations. One of them is that women looking for a good husband pray on St. Andrew’s Day on 30th November. In the Rig Veda 4, 17, 16 there are prayers to Lord Indra from men to grant them good wives! St. Andrew, who is the patron saint of Scotland, is none other than god Indra! St. Patrick of Ireland also carried a cross of Indra to create miracles. This was much before the cross got identified with the crucifix. St. Demetrius, the horse-mounted deity, came into Christianity from the Hindu horse-mounted saint Mitra. He is revered by Bulgarian, Romanians, Serbians and Macedonians. His holy day is still celebrated by the name Mitrovdan or Mitra’s day.
Strangely there have been two Slavic Vedas. One is called Perun’s Vedas, written in 26,731BC and Veda of Slavs. They have profound knowledge covering a host of issues including inter-planetary travel going back 600 thousand years. There is mention of Hindu gods like Vishnu in them. Of a compilation of 345 poems found in a Serbian monastery, 15 talk about the Indian origin of Serbia.
There is a city called Indjija in Serbia. The Germans and Slovaks call it India. Near a place called Sanad in Serbia there is a place called Bogarsh. Near the Indian city of Sanand in Gujarat there is a river called Bhagirath. Mount Athos of Serbia is known as Sveta Gora in Bulgaria, Macedonia and Serbia. In Russia it is known as Svyataya Gora. It means holy white mountain. Hindu holy scripture the Srimad Bhagvatam mentions an area known as Hiranmayavarsa. It is the abode of the supreme lord Vishnu in his tortoise form. The principal mountain range there is Sveta range, meaning white. The Rig Veda mentions a tribe called Krivi. One of the most important Slavic tribes of the 6th Century had the same name, Krivich or Kryvich.
The ancient orthodox church of Russia and Slavic people is called Ynglist. According to the Ynglist calendar the first month, September-October, is called Ramah or Ramkha. Ramah is considered as the supreme lord. A hymn in his praise says, ‘Great Ramha, one supreme creator, you are in all worlds, giving them life! We glorify you, in all our nations, temples and sanctuaries, in all our settlements, cities and villages, in all sacred groves and in all oaks, on the banks of the sacred rivers and lakes; for holy Yngly, that brings to us the light of love and joy, and illuminates our hearts and thoughts. Let all our deeds be done, for your glory, now and ever from circle to circle’ The symbol of the Ynglist church is a Swastika.
Lepenski Vir is the oldest prehistoric site in Europe found in Serbia. It is dated 9,500 years BC. They found a skeleton in the lotus or Padmasana posture. It has baffled archeologists!
The two headed eagle is on the national flag of Albania, Montenegro and Serbia. It is on the coat of arms of Russia snd Croatia. It is also the symbol of the Orthodox Christian Churches in Slavc countries. It is a symbol of great strength. The Puranas( Indian legends) mention that Lord Vishnu after killing the demon Hiranykasipu appeared as a two headed eagle to fight Lord Shiva in his form as Sharabha a eight legged powerful beast.
The Brahmins of India belong to the R1a1 haplogroup as do 60% of the people of Poland!
A Maharaja creates a special bond between the Poland and India
As the Second World War raged, Poland was trapped between Lenin’s Russia and Hitler’s Germany. Hundreds of Polish children were orphaned. Maharaja Digvijaysinhji Ranjit Singhji of Nawanagar near Jamnagar, Gujarat came to know about it and offered to host them. In 1942 around 600 Polish children, some of them Jewish, made the hazardous journey by sea and land from Siberia. On the way they were denied entry from all ports from Iran to Mumbai, which was under British rule then. When they at last arrived at Nawanagar the Maharaja personally welcomed them and said, ‘you are no longer orphans, you are guests of Balachadi palace and I am your father’. The age range of the children was 2 to 17. The malnourished and unwell children were given great medical care. An Indian doctor, Asham, learnt Polish to be able to understand the health issues of the children. The Maharaja gave the guest room of his palace as a school for the children. All children’s activities were provided, including sports and other outdoor activities. Business houses like Tata and many individuals raised over 600,000 rupees for the welfare of the children. It was a huge amount at the time. A chapel was provided as well as a Catholic priest for the spiritual needs of the children. Special care was taken to teach children about their cultural heritage. The Polish government gave Maharaja Digvijaysinhji the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland posthumously.
Another refugee centre for older people was set up in Valivade near Kolhapur, Maharashtra. Between 1942 and 1948 there were 5000 Polish refugees there. Over the period of 6 years some 20,000 refugees from many nationalities passed through the centre. A Square is named after the Maharaja in Warsaw. A small park in Warsaw’s area of Ochita is also called the Square of the, ‘Good Maharaja’. The Friends of India Education Foundation in Warsaw run schools in Bednarska and Baszynska Street which keep the arts and artefacts of India as a reminder of the refugee children who spent time in India. The school also provides free food for the refugees in the city. This event is a proud chapter in India’s history, which saved the lives of hundreds of children.
The Romany connection
The Romany people, also known as Gypsies, are people who left India between the 8th and 10th Century. They live in Serbia, Romania, Croatia, Moldova, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Hungary, Slovakia and Ukraine. In Romania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Hungary and Ukraine they are a very large minority. They brought with them music, dance, palmstry and craftsmanship. They were blacksmiths, cobblers, tinsmith, tool makers as well as horse dealers. Romany language is based on Hindi. The Spanish flamenco dance has Romany origins, which in turn comes from the Indian classical dance form Kathak.
Present day Slavic countries and India.
There is a huge interest in Slavic countries about many aspects of Indian life from India’s classical dance forms, music, yoga and much more. Hinduism is the third largest religion in Russia and in many other Slavic countries there are Hare Krishna temples and Krishna country farms. Many Hindu schools of thought have a presence in these countries. Tens of thousands of devotees from these countries go to India to visit places like Vrindavan. The Slavic and Indian people with ancient connections are reconnecting with Sanskrit as the common denominator!
Nitin Mehta
4 December 2020.
This article follows:
The Great Celtic-India Connection
The Great Maya-India Connection
The Great Greek-India Connection,
The Great Russia-India Connection
The Great German-India Connection
The Great Japan-India Connection.
The Great Ancient Egypt-India Connection.
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