Swaveda
Indian history, plainly written.
A short daily post on Indian history — archaeology, genetics, historical linguistics, and the texts. Plus side-by-side translations of public-domain primary works. Plain language; no chest-thumping in either direction.
Plain language
Aimed at any curious reader, not the seminar room. Sanskrit / Pali / Tamil terms get a gloss on first use.
Tradition ≠ evidence
“The Mahabharata describes…” and “the Mahabharata war happened in…” are different sentences, and we don’t silently merge them.
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Latest articles
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The Weaver's Spindle at Nevasa: What Microscopic Fiber Analysis Reveals About Early Deccan Cotton Trade
Microscopic thread preserved inside copper beads at Nevasa shows how ancient Deccan households spun local cotton, supplying early Indian Ocean trade long before imperial ports flourished.
Kavya Sharma · Oct 13, 2026
The Textual Sources of Peshwa Social Policy: Epigraphy, Bakhar Narratives, and Archival Records on Late Maratha Caste Rules
How 18th-century administrative rumals, bakhars, and colonial accounts record Maratha caste enforcement, and where the primary archival record meets oral history.
Dr. Anil Patel · Oct 13, 2026
The Grammar of Veneration: Philological Footprints of Khwaja Khizr and Jhulelal in Medieval Sindhi Texts
Examining medieval Sindhi, Persian, and Sanskrit textual references reveals how epithets for Khwaja Khizr and Jhulelal evolved alongside shared Indus water worship, preserving older river cults across scripts.
Meera Iyer · Oct 13, 2026
The Pedagogy of the Purusharthas: What Textual Frameworks and Temple Architecture Reveal About Sacred and Secular Education in Early Medieval India
Scholarly debates on the erotic sculptures of Khajuraho and Konark evaluate whether these relief carvings functioned as formal visual instruction or ritual protection within the framework of canonical learning.
Devika Menon · Oct 13, 2026
The Epigraphy of Dhillika: What Early Medieval Inscriptions and Stratigraphy Reveal About Delhi
Sanskrit epigraphs like the 12th-century Bijolia rock inscription trace Delhi's name to Dhillika, matching continuous archaeological strata at Purana Qila despite debate over its link to ancient Indraprastha.
Meera Iyer · Oct 12, 2026
Recent translations
All texts →Sanskrit
Arthashastra
Chapter 150 · Book 15, Chapter 1: Paragraphical Divisions of This Treatise
Updated Jul 26, 2026
Sanskrit
Arthashastra
Chapter 149 · Book 14, Chapter 4: Remedies against the Injuries of One's Own Army
Updated Jul 26, 2026
Sanskrit
Arthashastra
Chapter 148 · Book 14, Chapter 3: The Application of Medicines and Mantras
Updated Jul 26, 2026
A note on tone
Swaveda is curious, careful, and dry. There’s no civilizational chest-thumping in either direction here — no “Vedic India invented everything,” no “everything came from outside.” If we get something wrong, tell us. We fix it visibly, with a dated note.