The Kingdom of Vijzayanagra A. D. 1344 to 1565 A. D. 12th century. Bhâskarâchârya ... ... Jayadeva Sri Harsha, Mâgha, &c. A. D. 12th century. Sâyanâchârya ... ... A. D. 14th century. BOOK I VEDIC PERIOD. B. C 2000 TO B. C. 1400. CHAPTER I. IMMIGRATION OF THE INDO-ARYANS.-THEIR LITERATURE. THE site of the early home of the Aryans has been a subject of endless controversies among scholars. Enthusiastic and patriotic Hindu scholars will not admit that the first home of the Aryans was anywhere outside India; while equally patriotic European scholars would place the seat of the primitive Aryans on the shores of the Baltic Sea. We need hardly say that it is not our object to enter into this discussion; and we merely repeat here the theory of all moderate thinkers that the early home of the Aryans was somewhere in Central Asia. The main arguments on which this conclusion is based have been summed up by Professor Max Müller in a recent work, and we quote them for our readers : "Firstly, we have two streams of language, one tending south-east to India, and the other north-west to Europe. The point where these two streams naturally intersect, points to Asia.” Secondly, the earliest centres of civilized life were in Asia.' And we may add that the most primitive form of all Aryan languages-the nearest approach to that language which was spoken by the common ancestors of all Aryan races-is the Vedic Sanscrit of Ancient India. Thirdly, we see in later times large ethnic waves, rising from Central Asia and overwhelming Europe. Such are the Huns in the fourth and the Mongols in the thirteenth century. "Fourthly, if the migration had taken place from Europe to Asia, particularly from Scandinavia, we should naturally look in the common Aryan language for a number of words connected with maritime life.' But this is not the case. While we find common names for particular animals and birds, and even common names for animals (pasu) and birds (vi) in general, we find no names for special fishes, and no general name for fish, nor even is there a common name for the sea!" Various pictures, more or less imaginary, of the civilization of the early Aryans before they separated, have been drawn by various scholars from the slender materials of the words which are found in common use among the different Aryan nations in the world. Pictet's work in two large volumes, published in Paris in 1859-63, created a wider interest than any preceding attempt of a similar nature; and this was followed by Dr. Fick's work in 1868, and Dr. Hehn's |