| There were other Aryan traditions
deriving from or alternative to the Vedic like the Zoroastrian, or the
Shramana traditions that gave birth to Buddhism and Jainism.
Once the Aryan invasion idea is
given up we must recognize the diversity of Vedic and Aryan culture.
There is no need to stereotype it by race, language or even religion,
particularly when the tradition that came from it is itself very diverse.
The Puranas make the Dravidians
descendants of the Vedic family of Turvasha, one of the older Vedic
peoples. These ancient historians did not feel any need to limit the
Vedic people to one linguistic group. The Vedas portray the large region of north India which must
have been as complex culturally then as today. In fact the Puranas
regard the Chinese, Persians and other non-Indic peoples to be descendants of Vedic kings. The
Vedas see all human beings as descendants of Manu, their
legendary first man.
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