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Persian Words in Hinduism – Persian influence on terms used in Pre Vedic and Vedic Period

An interesting article in Cybernoon by Ruby Lilaowala, a well known columnist and writer, discusses Persian words in Hinduism especially in the Pre-Vedic and Vedic period. The article talks about similar words in Rig Veda and Zend Avesta and the Persian influence on various terms used in the Vedas.

Persian influence on terms used in Pre Vedic and Vedic Period

Some of the important inferences in the article
  • The word ‘Hindu’ is a Persian word coined by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century B.C. to describe people who lived beyond the Sindhu River (Indus), which was the eastern boundary of the ancient Persian Empire.
  • The Persians were not able to pronounce ‘S’ and Sindhu (Indus) became Hindu.
  • ‘Hoama’ in Zend Avesta became ‘Homa’ in Rig Veda.
  • ‘Shudra’ in the Hindu caste system is from Persian ‘Hatoksha’, people who joined Persians on their travels.
  • ‘Vaishya’ caste in Persian language was ‘Vastrayosh’, cattle herders.
  • Persian ‘Veeg’ for seed became Sanskrit ‘beej.’
  • ‘Ratheshwars’ were Persian warriors and this in Sanskrit became kshatriyas.
  • ‘Ahurani’ was the Persian Goddess of water and Vedic was ‘Asurani.’
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