Most Ancient Aryan Society

Author(s): Ram Chandra Jain
Publisher: Institute of Bharatalogical Research Sriganganagar Rajasthan

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tutions of Gaņa and Yajña in their savage forms, advanced towards the East; alongwith a minority of Varuņa-led people. These Indra-led Irānāryans of West Asia, with hope, purposes and persistence, with a scientifically organised superior military power, invaded Bhārata with all their physical might. They are the Brahmas of history.
The growth of the numerous Gaņa organisations developed into a larger social entity, the Brahma. Brahmaņas
en pati is Ganapati, of not only one Gaņa, like Growth of the Institution of Bịhaspati, but of all the Gaņas coalesced Brahma
14 together. He is the most supreme of the Brahma, so formed by the coalescence of all the Gaņas. He is the great protector.* Agni is parent of Yajña.* Agni is Angiras. Angiras is father of Bịhaspati. Bphaspati is Brahma. Brahma, hence, is father of Yajña. Yajña, the tribal activity, does not exist without Brahma, the universal tribal collective and Bșhaspati, the tribal chief. Brahmanaspati, as later shown, is greater than Bșhaspati. We, thus, find that Brahma is an enlarged Gaņa, having enlarged tribal activity and presided over by an enlarged Ganapati.
The etymology of the word Brahma supports this view. The word Brahma derived from vBșh 'to grow great or strong, to expand, to increase." Yaşka connects it with Brhat' and 'Brdh' in the sense of 'eminent, high, enlarged.' It has its Avestan equivalent bere za nt meaning "lofty' 8. Vedic Byhantam is equivalent of Avestic 'Berezantemo. Word 'Barhis' is also derived from vběh which is equivalent to the Irānian Baresme (Barsom) thus connecting it with Brahma. Barsom and Barhis are identical terms10. Brahma, thus, appears to be an enlarged entity. As Brahmanaspati is jyeştħarāj of Brahma ; in this context, it is an enlarged society formed of smaller social units, the Gaņas.