The contribution of the Austric peoples to Indian history and civilization has been examined by such renowned scholars as S. K. Chatterji, P. C. Bagchi, Sylvain Levi and others. This work makes extensive use of the writings provided by these Indologists, condensing and compiling much of this material into one work.

More in-depth research is done regarding the relation between the Austrics and various peoples of the ancient Indian literature that are often considered mythical. In particular, the case of the Nagas, Yakkas, Asuras, Danavas, and Daityas will be considered. Also, more historical peoples such as the Panis, Magas, Nandas, Mauryas, etc, will also be examined for their Austric connections.

Also, the presence of the Austronesian branch of the Austric family in India will be emphasized. The Austronesians have been considered in less detail than their Austro-Asiatic brothers. This is understandable since the Austro-Asiaticare probably the older of the two in India, and still maintain a linguistic presence there.

Because of my knowledge of the Austronesian area of the Philippines, the place of my origin, many of my references to the Austronesians will use examples from this country. Some of the identifications which I make concerning the Philippines, and the Austronesians of India in general, are not very commonly met with in scholarship. Some of my suggestions are so rare, in fact, it was difficult to find references to back up my claims. However, I am confident of the arguments I have put forth in this work. And most of my suggestions have at least some noted authorities to back them up. Others are well supported, although by a number of very divergent sources.

Of course, boldness has always been a virtue in Indology so my conviction was not to hold back on any beliefs that I felt were supported by the facts available. India is well known as one of the great meeting- grounds of the races, and as a great preserver of civilization. Study of Indian history and culture has helped me discover much about my own heritage. My hope is that this work will have some value for others who are on similar journeys of self-realization. Also, I hope that new lines of research concerning the Austrics in India will be opened up, and old ones will be rediscovered.

References will be made in this work to terms such as Turanian, Austric, and the like, once used very widely, but now only rarely found in modern scholarship. The preference of these terms is due to my belief that these old concepts are superior to the modern ones.

Thus, the appellation "Turanian", coined by the late Max Muller, is used to speak of those peoples who speak agglutinative languages. "Austric" is used to describe the peoples who speak one of the languages of Pater Schmidt's Austric linguistic family.

The theory of diffusion has become a taboo subject among many specialists, although the same persons often utilize some form of this theory in their writings. This work will examine diffusion, not in the sense of one culture or people carrying civilization to all others, but with a more focused approach. As much material as could be mustered will be used to support the suggestions of diffusion in this thesis.

The idea of the Austronesians as prime movers of culture, although not necessarily creators of all the culture they carry, is one that has been examined by only a few astute scholars. Certainly the Austronesian's very early mastery of long sea voyages, as evidenced for example by the Lapita culture, must qualify them for close consideration in any diffusionist scenario. In India, there is ample evidence of very early Austronesian contacts with the subcontinent.

One problem in examining the influence of all Austrics in India is the ease in which Austrics, and all other Turanian peoples for that matter, give up their own language and culture for those of other peoples. Sometimes this happens even when the. Turanian culture is superior, and when the Turanians are the conquerors rather than the conquered. Fortunately, this does not happen in all cases, and when it does, the Turanian culture usually leaves a deep imprint on the one adopted. This is especially true of the Austrics in India whose influence on the Hindu culture is so profound that in some cases can be considered dominant.

This book will first examine the concept of the Austrics as a racial group. For the purposes of this work the Austrics will often be referred to by the term, Naga, after the serpentine tribes and divine creatures of Indian tradition.