Book Title: Jaina Archaeology Outside India
Author(s): Jineshwardas Jain
Publisher: Bharat Varshiya Digambar Jain Mahasabha

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Page 67
________________ MEXICO (MAYA CIVILIZATION) In the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico and in Gautemala, the mysterious temples and pyramids are not only the big attraction for the people but also one of the wonders. The Maya civilization came into existence around 2600 yrs before Christian era, at a time when Europe was still in the dark era and till 250 AD it was at its peak. In that period the Mayan people developed the art of writing, increased the knowledge of mathematics and also developed the modern calendar. In spite of the absence of manufacturing tools etc they established cities applying proper knowledge of architecture. According to Jaina literature, Mayan people belonged to Vidhyadhar dynasty and they lived in different parts of the world. Baron Humbolt had discovered remains of Indian civilization in American archeology. By seeing a statue of Quetzel Kotrale in Mexico, one finds a very much similarity with Lord Rishabh statue, since Quetzel statue had long hairs spread on its shoulders. Quetzel kotral was one of the ancient Angel. He was supposed to be a messenger of peace. He never liked killing of animals or of human beings. It has been found during the modern research that there were three types of civilizations in ancient America namely Maya, Inca and Aztec. Chichen, Tikal, Tulum Palenque, Itza Copen and Exmal represent the remains of this civilization. Mayan people were good agriculturist, Underground pools have been found also which were called cenotes. In such cenotes hundreds of human skeletons have been found. Probably human sacrifice was an usual practice. Usually the captives would be ritually bled, tortured and decapitated. The Mayans dominated southern Mexico and parts of Central America for some 1500 years, building advanced civilization until the Spanish conquered them 500 years ago. Cruelties done by Spanish soldiers against the Indians, shocked the priests who accompanied the Spanish army, sent a message to the crown. Tying them to stakes, cutting the breasts of many women and decapitating hands, noses and ears off the men and then throwing the women in the lakes to drown merely to amuse them were some of the ill practices. The Indians fled from all this and did not use their cops against the invading army and many died of hunger. Millions of Mayan Indians still live in this region. In spite of this the Mayan inhabitants never united against them [35]. Brutality forced 67

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