ABSTRACT
In ancient times the Brahmin priests were the custodians of Veda; it was their responsibility to preserve that sacred knowledge and to use it for the well-being of the entire community. The earliest evidence of urban civilization in India appeared approximately 5,000 years ago. Of course, history knows little of what was going on in those early days. Most fundamental of all is the physical character of the Indian subcontinent—the stage, so to speak, on which the great drama would take place. After merging with Eurasia, India became an integral part of its geology. For many millions of years, this varied and beautiful subcontinent evolved in a perfect state of nature. Over the ages, there must have been many waves of migrations. Civilization in the Middle East continued to flourish and spread, but in the Indus Valley it declined, and by the end of the third millennium bce the once great cities were mostly abandoned and disintegrating.
