Yona
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{{otheruses4|the Pali word|the Biblical prophet|Jonah}}
{{For|the village on Guam|Yona, Guam}}
'''"Yona"''' is a [[Pāli|Pali]] word used in ancient [[India]] to designate [[Greek language|Greek]] speakers. Its equivalent in [[Sanskrit]] is the word '''"Yavana"'''. "Yona" and "Yavana" are both transliterations of the Greek word for "[[Ionians]]" (Homer ''Iāones'', older *''Iāwones''), who were probably the first Greeks to be known in the East.
Direct identification of these words with the Greeks include:
* The mention of the "Yona king [[Antiochus II|Antiochus]]" in the [[Edicts of Ashoka]] (280 BCE)
* The mention of the "Yona king [[Antialcidas]]" in the [[Heliodorus pillar]] in [[Vidisha]] (110 BCE)
* King [[Menander I|Menander]] and his bodyguard of "500 Yonas" in the [[Milinda Panha]].
* The description of Greek astrology and Greek terminology in the [[Yavanajataka]] ("Sayings of the Yavanas") (150 CE).
* The mention of "Alexandria, the city of the Yonas" in the [[Mahavamsa]], chap.29 (4th century CE).
Although the association with eastern Greeks seems to have been quite precise and systematic until the beginning of our era (other foreigners had their own descriptor, such as [[Sakas]], [[Pahlavas]], [[Kambojas]] etc...), these terms came to designate more generally "foreigners" in the following centuries.
[[Image: MenanderCoinFront.jpg|thumb|200px|The "Yona" Greek king of India [[Menander I|Menander]] ([[160 BCE|160]]–[[135 BCE]]). inscription in [[Greek language|Greek]], "BASILEŌS SOTĒROS MENANDROU" lit. "of Saviour King Menander".]]
==Old World usage==
This usage was shared by many of the countries east of [[Greece]], from the [[Mediterranean]] to [[India]]:
* [[Ancient Egypt|Egyptians]] used the word ''j-w-n(-n)-’''
* [[Assyria]]ns used the word ''Iawanu''
* [[Persians]] used the word ''Yauna'' or ''Yavanu''
* [[India]]ns - used the word ''Yavana'' in [[Mahabharata]] and other historic texts.
* In [[Biblical]] writings, the word was ''Yāvān'' (and still is, in modern [[Israel]]i [[Hebrew]] - יוון)
* In [[Arabic language|Arabic]] and [[Turkish language|Turkish]] it is ''Yunan''
* See Also [[Sanskrit]] [[Yoni]]
==Indian references==
In Indian sources, the usage of the words "Yona", "Yauna", "Yonaka", "Yavana" or "Javana" etc appears repeatedly, and particularly in relation to the Greek kingdoms which neighboured or sometimes occupied the Indian north-western territories (which is now Afghanistan or part of Pakistan) over a period of several centuries from the [[4th century BCE]] to the [[1st century CE]], such as the [[Seleucid Empire]], the [[Greco-Bactrian Kingdom|Greco-Bactrian kingdom]] and the [[Indo-Greek kingdom]].
After [[Alexander the Great|Alexander]]'s invasion, the Greek settlements had existed in eastern parts of [[Achaemenid]] empire, north-west of [[India]], as neighbors to the [[Iranian peoples|Iranian]] [[Kambojas]]. The references to the Yonas in the early [[Buddhist]] texts may be related with the same.
===Role in Buddhism===
====Edicts of Ashoka (250 BCE)====
[[Image: Asoka_Kaart.gif|thumb|200px|Buddhist [[proselytism]] at the time of king Ashoka ([[260 BCE|260]]-[[218 BCE]]).]]
Some of the better known examples are those of the [[Edicts of Ashoka]] (c. [[250 BCE]]), in which the Buddhist emperor [[Ashoka]] refers to the Greek populations under his rule. Rock [[Edicts]] V and XIII mention the Yonas (or the Greeks) along with the Kambojas and Gandharas as a subject people forming a frontier region of his empire and attest that he sent envoys to the Greek rulers in the West as far as the [[Mediterranean]], faultlessly naming them one by one. In [[Edicts of Ashoka#Proselytism beyond India|the Gandhari original of Rock XIII]], the Greek kings to the West are associated unambiguously with the term "Yona": Antiochus is referred as ''"Amtiyoko nama Yona-raja"'' (lit. "[[Antiochus II Theos|The Greek king by the name of Antiochus]]"), beyond whom live the four other kings: ''"param ca tena Atiyokena cature 4 rajani Turamaye nama Amtikini nama Maka nama Alikasudaro nama"'' (lit. "And beyond Antiochus, four kings [[Ptolemy II of Egypt|by the name of Ptolemy]], [[Antigonus II Gonatas|the name of Antigonos]], [[Magas of Cyrene|the name of Magas]], [[Alexander II of Epirus|the name Alexander]]".
====Dipavamsa and Sasanvamsa====
Other [[Buddhist]] texts such as the [[Dipavamsa]] and the [[Sasanavamsa]] reveal that after the [[Buddhist Councils|Third Buddhist Council]], the elder (thera) Mahárakkhita was sent to the Yona country and he preached Dharma among the Yonas and the Kambojas, and that at the same time the Yona elder (thera) [[Dharmaraksita]] was sent to the country of Aparantaka in western India also. Ashoka's Rock Edict XIII also pairs the Yonas with the Kambojas (''Yonakambojesu'') and conveys that the [[Brahmana]]s and [[Sramana]]s are found everywhere in his empire except in the lands of the Yonas and the Kambojas.
====Milindapanha====
Another example is that of the [[Milinda Panha]] (Chap.I), where "Yonaka" is used to refer to the great [[Indo-Greek]] king [[Menander I|Menander]] ([[160 BCE|160]]–[[135 BCE]]), and to the guard of "five hundred Greeks" that constantly accompanies him.
===Invasion of India===
The ''Vanaparava'' of [[Mahabharata]] contains verses in the form of prophecy complaining that ''"......Mlechha ([[barbaric]]) kings of the Shakas, Yavanas, Kambojas, Bahlikas etc shall rule the earth (i.e India) un-rightously in Kaliyuga..." ''<ref>Mahabharata 3.188.34-36.</ref>. This reference apparently alludes to chaotic political scenario following the collapse of [[Mauryan]] and [[Sunga]] [[Dynasty|dynasties]] in northern India and its subsequent occupation by foreign [[horde]]s of the [[Yavanas]], [[Kambojas]], [[Sakas]] and [[Pahlavas]] etc.
There are important references to the warring ''Mleccha'' hordes of the Shakas, Yavanas, Kambojas, [[Pahlava]]s etc in the ''Bala Kanda'' of the [[Valmiki]] [[Ramayana]] <ref>
:taih asit samvrita bhuumih Shakaih-Yavana mishritaih || 1.54-21 ||
:taih taih Yavana-Kamboja barbarah ca akulii kritaah || 1-54-23 ||
:tasya humkaarato jatah Kamboja ravi sannibhah |
:udhasah tu atha sanjatah Pahlavah shastra panayah || 1-55-2 ||
:yoni deshaat ca Yavanah Shakri deshat Shakah tathaa |
:roma kupesu Mlecchah ca Haritah sa Kiratakah || 1-55-3 || </ref>
Indologists like Dr H. C. Raychadhury, Dr B. C. Law, Dr Satya Shrava and others see in these verses the clear glimpses of the struggles of the Hindus with the mixed invading hordes of the barbaric Sakas, Yavanas, Kambojas, Pahlavas etc from north-west <ref>The Śakas in India, 1981, p 12, Satya Shrava; Journal, 1920, p 175, University of Calcutta. Department of Letters; India & Russia: Linguistic & Cultural Affinity, 1982, p 100, Weer Rajendra Rishi; Indological Studies, 1950, p 32, Dr B. C. Law; Political History of India from the Accession of Parikshit to the Coronation of Bimbisara, 1923, Page iii, Hemchandra Raychaudhuri; Political History of Ancient India, 1996, p 4, Raychaudhury; Indological Studies, 1950, p 4, Dr B. C. Law.</ref>. The time frame for these struggles is second century BCE downwards. Dr Raychadhury fixes the date of the present version of the Valmiki Ramayana around/after second century CE <ref>Political History of Ancient India, 1996, p 3-4.</ref>.
The other Indian records describe the [[180 BCE]] ''Yavana'' attacks on [[Saketa]], [[Panchala]], [[Mathura]] and [[Pataliputra]], probably against the [[Sunga empire]], and possibly in defense of Buddhism. The main mentions of the invasion are those by [[Patanjali]] around 150 BCE, and of the [[Yuga Purana]], which, like the Mahabharata, also describes Indian historical events in the form of a prophecy:
:''"After having conquered Saketa, the country of the Panchala and the Mathuras, the Yavanas, wicked and valiant, will reach Kusumadhvaja ("The town of the flower-standard", Pataliputra). The thick mud-fortifications at Pataliputra being reached, all the provinces will be in disorder, without doubt. Ultimately, a great battle will follow, with tree-like engines (siege engines)."''<ref>Gargi-Samhita Paragraph 5, Yuga Purana.</ref>
:''"The Yavanas (Greeks) will command, the Kings will disappear. (But ultimately) the Yavanas, intoxicated with fighting, will not stay in Madhadesa (the Middle Country); there will be undoubtedly a civil war among them, arising in their own country (Bactria), there will be a terrible and ferocious war." ''<ref>Gargi-Samhita, Yuga Purana chapter, No7.</ref>.
The ''Anushasanaparava'' of Mahabharata affirms that the country of [[Mathura]], the heartland of India, was under the joint military control of the Yavanas and the Kambojas <ref>
:tatha Yavana Kamboja Mathuram.abhitash cha ye./
:ete ashava.yuddha.kushaladasinatyasi charminah.//5
:— ''(MBH 12/105/5, Kumbhakonam Ed)'' .</ref>.
From the references noted above, it appears certain that the ''Yavana'' invasion of Majjhimadesa (''Mid India'') was jointly carried out by the Yavanas and the Kambojas. The Greek Yavanas were apparently a minority foreigners in [[India]] and naturally may have obtained, in this invasion, the [[military]] support of their good neighbors, the warlike Kambojas. The evidence from the [[Mathura Lion Capital]] inscriptions of Saka great [[Satrap]] (Mahakshatrapa) [[Rajuvula]] also lends strong credibility to this view.
The ''Mid India'' invasion was followed by almost two centuries of Yavana rule which in the light of evidence presented above, appears to have been a joint Yavana-Kamboja rule.
===Scientific abilities===
Several references in Indian literature praise the knowledge of the Yavanas or the Greeks.
The [[Mahabharata]] compliments them as "the all-knowing Yavanas" (''sarvajnaa yavanaa'')
i.e. ''"The Yavanas, O king, are all-knowing; the Suras are particularly so. The mlecchas are wedded to the creations of their own fancy."''<ref>
:sarvajnaa.yavanaa.rajan.shuraaz.caiva.vishesatah |
:mlecchah.svasamjnaa.niyataanaanukta.itaro.janah ||80||
:— ''(Mahabharata VIII.31.80)''.</ref> and the creators of flying machines that are generally called [[vimanas]]<ref>Clive Hart, "The Prehistory of Flight", (Berkeley, 1985).</ref>
The "[[Brihat-Samhita]]" of the mathematician [[Varahamihira]] says: ''"The Greeks, though impure, must be honored since they were trained in sciences and therein, excelled others....." '' <ref>
:Mleccha hi yavanah tesu samyak shastram idam sthitam
:Rsivat te api pujyante kim punar daivavid dvijah
:- ''(Brhatsamhita 2.15)'' .</ref>.
Yet another Indian text, (Gargi-Samhita), also similarly compliments the Yavanas saying: '' "The Yavanas are barbarians yet the science of [[astronomy]] originated with them and for this they must be revered like Gods"'' <ref>Gargi-Samhita, Yuga Purana Chapter.</ref>.
===Other references===
On the 110 BCE [[Heliodorus pillar]] in [[Vidisha]] in Central India, the Indo-Greek king [[Antialcidas]], who had sent an ambassador to the court of the [[Sunga]] king Bhagabhadra, was also qualified as "Yona".
The [[Mahavamsa]] also attests Yona settlement in [[Anuradhapura]] in ancient [[Sri Lanka]], probably contributing to trade between East and West.
Buddhist texts like [[Sumangala Vilasini]] class the language of the Yavanas with the Milakkhabhasa i.e ''impure language''.
==The Yonas and other northwestern invaders in Indian literature ==
The Yavanas or Yonas are frequently found listed with the [[Kambojas]], [[Saka]]s, [[Pahlava]]s and other northwestern tribes in numerous ancient Indian texts.
The [[Mahabharata]] groups the Yavanas with the Kambojas and the Chinas and calls them "Mlechchas" (Barbarians). In the Shanti Parava section, the Yavanas are grouped with the Kambojas, [[Kirata]]s, [[Saka]]s, and the [[Pahlava]]s etc and are spoken of as living the life of [[Dasyu]]s (slaves). In another chapter of the same Parava, the Yaunas, Kambojas, Gandharas etc are spoken of as equal to the "Svapakas" and the "Grddhras".
Udyogaparava of Mahabharata <ref> Mahabharata 5.19.21-23.</ref> says that the composite army of the Kambojas, Yavanas and Sakas had participated in the Mahabharata war under the supreme command of Kamboja king [[Sudakshina]]. The [[Hindu Epics|epic]] numerously applauds this composite army as being very fierce and wrathful.
Balakanda of [[Ramayana]] also groups the Yavanas with the Kambojas, Sakas, Pahlavas etc and refers to them as the military allies of [[Wise Old Man|sage]] Vishistha against [[Vedic civilization|Vedic]] king Vishwamitra <ref> Ramayana 55.2-3.</ref>. The Kishkindha Kanda of Ramayana locates the Sakas, Kambojas, Yavanas and Paradas in the extreme north-west beyond the [[Himalaya|Himavat]] (i.e. [[Hindukush]]) <ref> Ramayana 43.12.</ref>.
The Buddhist drama [[Mudrarakshasa]] by [[Visakhadutta]] as well as the [[Jain]]a works Parisishtaparvan refer to [[Chandragupta]]'s alliance with [[Himalayan]] king Parvatka. This Himalayan alliance gave Chandragupta a powerful composite army made up of the frontier martial tribes of the Shakas, Kambojas, Yavanas, Parasikas, Bahlikas etc <ref>See: Mudrarakshas, Act II.</ref> which he utilised to defeat the [[Hellenic Greece|Greek]] successors of [[Alexander the Great]] and the [[Nanda dynasty|Nanda]] rulers of [[Magadha]], and thus establishing his [[Mauryan Empire]] in northern India.
[[Manusmriti]] <ref>Manusmriti X.43-44.</ref> lists the Yavanas with the Kambojas, Sakas, Pahlavas, [[Parada]]s etc and regards them as degraded [[Kshatriya]]s (members of the warrior cast). Anushasanaparava of Mahabharata <ref>Mahabharata 13.33.23.</ref> also views the Yavanas, Kambojas, Shakas etc in the same light. Patanjali's Mahabhasya <ref>Mahabhasya II.4.10.</ref>) regards the Yavanas and Sakas as anirvasita (pure) [[Shudra]]s. Gautama-Dharmasutra <Ref> Gautama-Dharmasutra IV.21.</ref> regards the Yavanas or Greeks as having sprung from Shudra females and Kshatriya males.
The Assalayana Sutta of Majjhima Nikaya attests that in Yona and Kamboja nations, there were only two classes of people...[[Arya]]s and [[Dasa]]s...the masters and slaves, and that the Arya could become Dasa and vice versa. The Vishnu Purana also indicates that the "chatur-varna" or four class social system was absent in the lands of Kiratas in the East and the Yavanas and Kambojas etc in the West.
Numerous [[Puranic]] literature groups the Yavanas with the [[Saka]]s, Kambojas, [[Pahlava]]s and [[Parada]]s and refers to the peculiar hair styles of these people which were different from those of the [[Hindu]]s. [[Ganapatha]] on [[Panini (grammarian)|Panini]] attests that it was a practice among the Yavanas and the Kambojas to wear short-cropped hair (''Kamboja-mundah Yavana-mundah'').
Vartika of [[Katayayana]] informs us that the kings of the Shakas and the Yavanas, like those of the Kambojas, may also be addressed by their respective [[tribe|tribal]] names.
Brihat-Katha-Manjari of Kshmendra <ref>Brihat-Katha-Manjari 10.1.285-86.</ref> informs us that king [[Vikramaditya]] had unburdened the sacred earth of the [[Barbarian]]s like the Shakas, Kambojas, Yavanas, Tusharas, Parasikas, Hunas etc by annihilating these sinners completely.
The Brahmanda Purana <ref> Brahmanda Purana, Upodghata-pada, 16-17.</ref> refers to the horses born in Yavana country.
The [[Mahaniddesa]] <ref>Mahaniddesa, pp 155, 415.</ref> speaks of Yona and Parama Yona, probably referring to [[Arachosia]] as the Yona and [[Bactria]] as the Parama Yona.
==Later meanings==
The terms "Yona", "Yonaka" or "Yavana" later took on a wider meaning of Mlechchas/Barbarians and a designation to all foreign tribes or the westerners visiting India <ref>Padama Purana, Srshtikanda, 47.69-75.</ref>. Indian languages did not address the difference based on religion early on but after the arrival of [[Islam]] to the subcontinent, more than Mussalaman or [[Muslim]], appellation Yavana along with Turuka, Turuska, Tajik, and Arab came to be used for invaders professing Islam as their religion. <ref name = Aloka>{{cite book |author=Parasher-Sen, Aloka |title=Subordinate and marginal groups in early India |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford [Oxfordshire] |year=2004 |pages=p. 52 |isbn=0-19-566542-2 |oclc= |doi= |accessdate=}}</ref>
Yonaka is also the Japanese word for Midnight. The word can be broken down further into the Japanese words "Yo" (''night'') and Naka (''center, middle'' ).
==Contemporary usage==
The word Yona, or one of its derivatives, is still used by some languages to designate contemporary [[Greece]], such as in Arabic (يونان), in Hebrew (יוון), in Turkish ("[[:tr:Yunanistan|Yunanistan]]"), or the Malay and Indonesian languages ("[[:id:Yunani|Yunani]]").
==See also==
*[[Yavana Kingdom]]
*[[Greco-Buddhism]]
*[[Names of the Greeks]]
*[[History of Buddhism]]
*[[Kambojas]]
==Footnotes==
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{{reflist|2}}
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==References==
{{reflist}}
* ''The shape of ancient thought. Comparative Studies in Greek and Indian philosophies'', by Thomas Mc Evilly (Allworth Press, New York 2002) ISBN 1-58115-203-5
==External links==
*[http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/y/yonaa.htm Pali dictionary definition of "Yona"]
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''"Yona" is also a common transliteration of the Hebrew form of the given name [[Jonah]]''
[[Category:Ancient Greeks in Asia]]
[[Category:History of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Sanskrit words and phrases]]
[[Category:Pali words and phrases]]
[[el:Γιόνα]]
[[ru:Йона]]