Yavanas Not the Greeks.
http://satyavidya.com/yavanas.htm
Yavanas are often thought to have been Greeks by Western scholars. However, their existance does not seem that important in the ancient world, and there are many factors that show them as non-Greeks.
For a start, we note Kala-yavana, the "Dark Yavana" of the Mahabharata, who fought with Duryodhana. Whilst it may refer to his dark powers, it is possible this Dark-Yavana is of dark complexion, and perhaps pertaining to Africa - or ancient Egypt.
The two dates for Krishna are 3000BC and no later than 1500BC. So, it is less likely to be that Yavanas are the Greeks.
Moreover, Panini refers to the Yavanas around 600BC, or perhaps earlier. They appear to be related to the Kambojas, since he mentions they both were condemned to shave their heads. It shows them as related peoples. The Puranas make them decendants of the Turvashas, peoples of South-Western India.
This shows that the Yavanas were peoples that shaved their heads. It was hence, not the ancient Greeks. But, we do know for a fact, that the ancient Egyptians - an ancient culture existing at the same time as the Vedic and a Sister-culture - the Rulers shaved their heads and wore wigs, whilst the priests also shaved their heads!
We also note the Egyptians called themselves as Kam peoples, which perhaps has some relation to the Khambojas, and therefore, the Yavanas. Kam meant black - cognate to the later Kaal of the Hindus, meaning the same. The term Kala-yavana also hence comes to mind.
Are the Egyptians the Yavanas mentioned in the early Indian texts?
If so, the connection in the ancient city of Alexandria, in which Hindu and Western contact were made, could account for the famed Yavanacharya, the great Yavana-astrologer who studied Vedic astrology! He could have been an Egyptian from this region. Takshashila, in Western India, which had existed from 700BC was a University province, also attracted students from Greece and Persia, so the scholar tells us. But, what about Greece? Could not have an earlier connection between the Hindu and Egyptian schools have arisen?
Egyptians are more likely to have, and had a closer and esoteric cultural links with the Vedic than the Greeks did, and from earlier times.
The British scholar is possessed about having Greeks in India since god knows when, but does not mention the Egyptian connections with India! It is hence much more likely that the Egyptians were the Yavana peoples, referred to in Mahabharata and Ramayana, as Vedic peoples.
The Egyptians, as noted were much closer than the Greeks, and had closer relations. The land of the dead was called Manu - the same as the Vedic forefather and name for Yama, the god of the deceased, who was formally Manu.
There are other things. The Egyptian word for Pyramid was 'Mer'. Meru is the name of the pyramidal architectual style the Hindus build their temples after. Meru is the abode of Svargaloka (Heaven) in the Himalayas, and hence all temples are built to resemble Meru in this style. The Greeks did not build in such styles.
The Egyptian Sun and Supreme God is Ra, and is similar to Ram (Raam), the ancient Vedic Sun-God and avatara. Ram itself, was probably a much earlier term. Interestingly also, the syllable "Ram" (short 'a', not as aa in Raam), is mentioned (Brihadaranyaka Up.V.12) by Yajnavalkya as the syllable for Prana, relating to Food. Now, the Manipura Chakra has Ram (Rang, the bija-mantric form) as it's mantra, and relates to the Digestive system, thus food. Manipura is also the City of Gemstones chakra, relating to Delight or Bliss, which comes from Ram (pleasure, bliss).
Ram as the basis of Raam, also means the same - delight or bliss, and here as the Fire-chakra, relates to the Fire of the Sun, and hence an ancient Vedic term for the Sun as Ra, Ram or Raam. Ra also means 'To Rule' in Sanskrit.
It appears Raam as the Supreme God, must have come from a Vaishnava influence in India. Hence, the Egyptians as Yavanas, must have had a Brighu or Bhargava influence through the ancient S.Indian Sri-Vaishnava tradition - which also uses symbols, not unlike the pictographs of ancient Egypt.
To recollect, Yavana means both "fast moving" and "youthful". It is hence also related to the Bhargava seers, through Chyavana Bhargava (also called Atharvan), whose name is not only close to Yavana, but also in the Rig Veda, has his youth restored to him by the Ashwin gods!
This links the Atharvans or mystical Bhargava sages, known to practice abhichara or mysticism, with the Yavana peoples also - at least as their Gurus. It is known the Egyptians had Bhargava seers, for their Venus-based astrology and architecture;- the "Meru" or Pyramidal style of architecture in India (and indeed Vastu or architecture itself), was founded by Ushana Kavya (Asuramaya, 'Guru of the Demons'), of whom was known as Imenhotep in Egypt. Here we also link Ra, Rama and the Sri Vaishnavas*.
Interestingly, in Rig Veda, King Sudas is called "Paijavana" (VII.18.21-25), 'Son of Pijavana'. Pijavana means also (like Yavana), 'one who speeds' or a fast mover. Yavana is hence here, an adaptation of Javana, and a Vedic term referring to any great monarch, or peoples that migrated fast defeating others, or were driven from India. In this sense, the Yavanas as Egyptians, could be such a peoples, that were driven from India in Vedic times - as most certainly seems to be the case.
Here however, we see that Yavana is a term that began in India itself, for the Vedic Aryans themselves - not foreigners! But, they do appear as peoples related to ancient Indians, or Vedic Indians - which predates the Greeks, so again, points to Egypt.
In regards to the Egyptian embalming practice, we also link this with the Bhargava Ruler, King Vena, brother of Asuramaya (Imenhotep). A materialistic King, and whom Venus is named after in Rome - Vena's body was said to have been preserved as immortal by his mother, through various practices. Later, the Seers rubbed his legs, and from it were born Nishada and Prithu (King of whom the earth was so named).
Another King - Nimi of the Videha or East-Indian solar dynasty, also had his body immortalised through ancient practices. Later Videha Royals - such as Buddha, for example - built funery mounds (Stupas), which also show the idea of ancient Tombs.
Many Vedic demons as Shambara, as noted in Rig Veda, also resemble the Egyptians, as the Rig Veda criticizes them for hiding their wealth in mountains (rock-cut tombs?). The later E.Indian Ahom ruler also build Pyramidal burial mounds.
Indian texts also describe the Yavanas as great Astrologers and Vimana-makers (makers of flying vehicles), which cannot be the Greeks. But - could very well be the Egyptians - of whom were more or less a Vedic Colony or Centre to the West - and the forefathers and teachers of the Greeks, as is well-known!
Many have also stated that the abode of Asuramaya (Ushanas Kavya, Imenhotep) as Romakapura in the texts to be Rome, and the Raumyas to be Romans. However - could it not refer to the Rama or Ra-worshipping Egyptians? Raumyas referring to "people of Ra"?
It would furthur equate Egypt as a Western Vedic Centre of ancient times, and also equate them as being the Yavanas, of great astrological fame and renoun.
It is curious that Manu mentions the peoples or tribes of Asia - Shakas (Schthians), Chinas (Chinese), Kiratas (Tibetans and peoples of Central Asia), Pahlavas (Persians) - but to equate the Yavanas he mentions as Greeks, does not conform! Why are the Greeks the only significance to Hindus and mentioned with Asian tribes?
It is more likely they were the closer-related and closer culture-sharing Egyptians - just as Kirata (Tibetan) and China (Chinese and E.Asian) peoples he mentions, are well-known to have (also) shared Vedic cultural relationships, and the Chinese (like the Egyptians, or "Yavanas?"), shared their arts, sciences etc. which they preserved and cherished.
Again - the Greeks and Romans shared a less tightly and uncivilised and hence 'non-Aryan' form of civilisation, compared to the Egyptians or Chinese. I hence beleive them, if a Western peoples, to have been the Egyptians.
There is also more likelihood (since their culture, like China and SE Asia), shared closer terminology, gods and practices with the Vedic peoples - that they are mentioned in the ancient Hindu texts over the Greeks.
The Rig Veda, II.13.8, mentions a demonic king, Narmar, which may perhaps be Narmer, the first Pharoah of ancient Egypt. Vamana Purana mentions a Namar that fought with Maheshasura against the Goddess. This is only a possibility, but perhaps also, an historical mention.
This again links them with the E.Indian influence into SE Asia and China, which was previously noted, through Raja Nimi and the Solar Dynasty. Perhaps the Yavanas, or some of them, also became Buddhists like the Chinese and SE Asians did - and hence were referred to as Yavanas still around pre-Ashoka times as this also. Their Indic influences would then be contemporary with other lands as China and SE Asia, as Manu mentions.
Yavana then, perhaps meant them as "Western Vedic People", and Egypt was a deliberate "Western Takshashila" type centre set up, echoed later by the Greco-Roman influences (or borrowings) in Alexandria. Manu etc. hence mention them along with Asian peoples, as conforming to Vedic rights, although in the West - unlike (other) Western peoples.
Here, we speculate. However, as we see, there is little, - infact no evidence, that shows the Greeks as Yavanas. However, it makes Egypt appear closer to Indian and Vedic Dharma, and as Romakapura of the texts (remembering that Asuramaya who lived there founded Pyramidal Architecture - not a charactoristic of Rome).
