A more than a century-old mystery that baffled everyone finally comes to an end—the Indus script has been deciphered, according to Yajnadevam, a U.S.-based cryptographer and computer programmer with interests in political theory, linguistics, ancient manuscripts, and history.

Yajnadevam claims to have used a cryptanalytic approach to decipher the script of the ancient Indians. According to him, the Indus people’s base language was Sanskrit, and the script they used was likely an ancestor of the Brahmi script. Their writing, likely invented around 4000 BC and used until 50 BC, was not limited to the Indus-Sarasvati valley; it was widely used across a large region from Iran to the Indus-Sarasvati valley, extending to Bengal and as far south as Keezhadi in southern India.

Deciphering the Indus Script

Efforts have been made to decipher the Indus script in the past. Parpola deciphered the script as Tamil, with inscriptions only two letters long and about 24 symbols interpreted, though some choices seemed arbitrary. S.R. Rao approached it as Sanskrit, comparing signs to Semitic scripts, and identified 15-20 symbols, allowing for longer inscriptions, but many symbols remained undeciphered. Many others scholars are currently engaged in deciphering the script.

Yajnadevam’s approach to understanding the Indus script is based on a straightforward, scientifically sound method that avoids complex, unproven theories. Here’s a simpler version of Yajnadevam’s steps in deciphering the Indus script:

1. Classifying the Script:
   Yajnadevam studied the symbols and noticed patterns that suggested they represented syllables or sounds, not whole words.
2. Applying Cryptography Techniques:
   He treated the symbols like a code, looking for repeating sequences and testing combinations to see if they formed meaningful patterns.
3. Using Pattern-Matching Tools:
   To find consistent patterns, he used a tool called “regular expressions,” which helped him identify and test sequences in the symbols, refining possible meanings.
4. Grouping Similar Symbols:
   He grouped symbols that looked similar, assuming they were variations of the same sign. This helped him organize the script more effectively.
5. Self-Checking Approach:
   As he tested meanings, he corrected himself if a certain interpretation didn’t fit, making adjustments until he found a logical match.
6. Testing with Different Languages:
   Since the exact language of the Indus Valley isn’t known, he tried using ancient Indian languages, like early Sanskrit and Dravidian languages, to see which made the most sense.
7. Building on What Worked:
   He used previous successful symbol interpretations to guide new ones, creating a logical flow and avoiding circular reasoning.

By following these steps, Yajnadevam was able to approach the Indus script with a mix of cryptography, pattern recognition, and logical testing, offering a structured way to decode the ancient symbols.

The Deciphered Indus Script

Yajnadevam’s decipherment shows how several linguistic and cultural elements from the Indus civilization carried on into later periods of India. The deities mentioned in the Indus inscriptions — Sun, Soma, Rudra, Indra, Agni, and constellations such as Ashlesha and Bharani — are the same as those in Vedic tradition. Symbols like the horse (ashva), Ardhanareeshwara (represented by seals with a one-breasted figure), and the pipal tree also remain significant today.

The inscriptions that have been deciphered so far can be found here.

Credibility of the Decipherment

According to Yajnadevam, the ability to read beyond the unicity distance proves that his decipherment of the Indus script is correct. This approach stands out as the only cryptanalytic decipherment, relying on established mathematical models rather than guessing sign values. It’s a complete solution where each sign and stroke has been decoded, with a step-by-step process that readers can follow. Yajnadevam’s method reads Semitic, mixed, and native Indus inscriptions, covering over 500 inscriptions, including the 50 longest ones in a grammatically correct, documented language. His work also aligns with nearly a century of research and reveals additional evidence, like reconstructed sign names and their Brahmi sound values. The continuity seen between the Indus and Brahmi scripts further supports his findings. marking it as a significant breakthrough in ancient script decipherment.

Reaction of the Western Academia

According to Yajnadevam, he reached out to Western academia, but their objections appeared to be based on assumptions rather than a thorough reading or understanding of his paper. He observed that they seemed unfamiliar with cryptographic methods, such as using brute force or arbitrary initial guesses. Some questioned why certain content would be written, and there was resistance to the use of Sanskrit as the deciphered language, without understanding that testing every possible language is necessary and that the language that fits best is the correct one.

Insights and Implications of Yajnadevam’s Indus Script Decipherment

Yajnadevam’s work on the Indus script potentially marks a historic breakthrough in ancient language studies, providing valuable insights into early Indian culture, linguistics, and regional history. This cryptanalytic approach not only stands out for its use of systematic mathematical methods but also for its ability to read inscriptions beyond standard limits, adding weight to the claim of decipherment. His findings highlight linguistic continuity from the Indus civilization to later Indian traditions, noting the presence of Vedic deities, familiar symbols, and early use of Sanskrit in the Indus civilization.

This challenges the long-held belief that Sanskrit and the Vedic religion entered India only after the decline of the Indus civilization, brought by Indo-Aryans migrating from the Central Asian steppes. Yajnadevam’s findings suggest instead that elements of the Vedic tradition, Sanskrit language, and cultural symbols may have been integral to the Indus civilization itself, potentially redefining the timeline and origins of these cultural foundations within the Indian subcontinent.

If confirmed, this decipherment may reshape our understanding of early writing systems, showing how the Indus script could have influenced later scripts like Brahmi. It also underscores the significance of interdisciplinary approaches, combining cryptography and linguistics, to unravel ancient languages.

Reference:

Yajnadevam. “A Cryptanalytic Decipherment of the Indus Script.” Article, 15 Aug. 2024.