Ajagava - the Composite Bow, Indus Valley to Ras Shamra - A puranic connection

The enclosed seal in the jpeg figure was found in the Indus Valley. It has been variously interpreted but the most likely idea that is being conveyed here is the AjaGava or the Composite Bow. The Goat and the Ox on two sides represent, the composites which when added to the yews and produce the kind of toughness and elasticity that is required to make the bow develop great tensile strength and was among the great technologies that made the great chariot wars of the Har Megiddo, Kadesh and the Mahabharata possible. (a mold of the seal is enclosed). The Composite bow shown in the seal was an important tool when coupled with the Chariot often with two warriors and trained horses. The Standard of Ur dated to 2500 BC and embedded with Lapis Lazuli depicts the full technological toolkit and the 34 ribbed horse described in the Rig Veda by the great sage Dirghatamas, more likely depicted an Arabian variety. Its cousin from the land of Balikha was very much sought after even during the times of the great Itihasas.  

There are four great bows discussed in Puranic sources, the Ajagava or Pinaka which was held by Lord Shiva, the Sarangha held by Lord Ranghanatha or Narayana, the Gandeeva held by the warrior Arjuna and Vijaya that was held by Durga and later by Karna. The exact disposition of these bows per Puranic sources slightly varies between the Puranas, with the Pinaka being broken by Lord Rama, while the Gandeeva is granted by Varuna the Lord of the Sea. These bows are all made typically by Vish wa Karma, the Divine Architect. Many claim that the "Pasupati" seal depicted in the Indus Valley is a Shaivite icon. 

The Madra/Bahlika area however receives much mention in the Puranas. While Ila ruled from Bahlika, and it is said that a brother of Kuru also ruled from there. The Puranic link tracks in the mid 1600 BC to the 1200 BC to the Middle 

East when the Mitanni with their "Hari"yan substrate dominated the Middle East and the Maryannu warriors transmitted the training of horses into the Hittite lands of Asia Minor from where another Bahlkh would emerge. While the Mitanni dominated over Ugarith, Hurro-IE Puranic sources came to dominate the area. The Legend of Keret and the Legend of Aqhat are commonly mentioned along with the more carefully read Baal Cycle. Baal it must be mentioned is linked to Lord Shiva, while is father El was linked to Brahma. The "castle for Baal" stories and his depiction holding a Thunderbolt relate to the Rudra of the Rig Veda. His consort Anat, represents the equivalent of the Goddess Durga and she is also featured prominently in thee Legend of Aqhat. 

The equivalent of Vish wa Karma, Kothar wa Khasis, makes a composite bow and is invited to spend time with Danel, the father of Aqhat. To thank Danel for his hospitality, he grants the bow to Aqhat, but Anat seeks the bow. To this Aqhat replies, 

In the Ginsberg translation, responding to Anat's request for the bow he received from Kothar wa Khasis, the Divine Craftsman, Aqhat responds,

“I vow yew tree of Lebanon,

I vow sinews of wild oxen,

I vow horns from mountain goats,

I vow from a cane forest reeds,

Give these to Kothar wa Khasis

He'll make a bow for thee”

The story ends intriguingly with the death of Aqhat and while the final part of Aqhat is said to be lost, the Bow falls to the sea. As to whether it is Anat or the God of the Sea who regains it is left open to the interpreters of Indo-Eurasian Archaeology to conjecture. 

The Mitanni link to the land of the Bahlikha and their naming of the "Hariya" is also explored in detail in the Legend of Keret which must be read in the context of the Valmiki Ramayana. The Baal Cycle must be read in the context of Shiva Puranas and understood from that basis. I have developed detailed parallels as a researcher. The important BB Lal hypothesis explored in Appendix I of his book, "The Rig Vedic People",where he quotes the Baudhayana Srautasutra,

"Ayu migrated eastwards. His (Progeny) are the Kuru Panchalas and Kasi-Videhas. Amavasu migrated westward. His progeny are the Gandhari, Parasu and Aratta. This is the Amavasva migration". The details of these migrations are as follows Aila Pururavas and Urvasi had two sons Ayu and Amavasva, ..., the latter moving westwards went over to Gandhara, Parsu and Aratta. This bifurcation was in an area that took place between the Kuru region on the east and Gandhara on the West. In other words, the scene of partition lay somewhere in the Panjab". He then show a map in Fig ApxI.2, depicting a migration westward to Aratta (the Ararat Area). Ila it must be noted here ruled from Bahlikha and the Madra/Bahlikha region produced the key link that Roman Ghirshmann found when he tied the chariot training and horns in Eastern Iran to Egyptians through the Mitanni/maryannu.

  All this is important prelude of course to the "The H-Source of the Bible", which is as important as everything else. Today, Biblical Minimalists do not believe that Abraham and other Patriarchs came from true Historical Origins. We believe that Abraham was derived from the legend around the creation of Bharat Varsha, more specifically Yayati. That there is a scriptural link needs to be openly explained and looked at with a new pair of eyes,  the idea explored through my book. 

The point in connecting these dots is clearly to open this RISA-L group to the idea of how such research does not receive publicity in Indology and Academia.