The 'Nagavanshi' dynasty (
Sanskrit:爨ｨ爨ｾ爨 爨ｵ爨も､ｶ爭) is one of the
Kshatriya dynasties of India. It includes a number of
Jats and
Rajput clans but is dominant in
Kerala. The group of people developed their Vansha according to their system of worship. The worshippers of Nﾄ“a were known as Nﾄ“ﾄ or Nﾄ“il. The descendants of
Nﾄ“as were called Nagavanshi.
The animal Totemism among aboriginal tribes
In the form of languages the remains of aboriginal tribes and castes are still in each and every corner of India. The Munda languages in North East and Dravidian languages in South are spoken till to-day their main mark of identification was the tradition of totemism : on the other hand there was tradition of Gotras in Aryan tribes and castes.
[1]
Totem can be defined as follows: if some casters or tribes or a group of families living together accept animal or a plant as their totem, it is called the totem of that caste or tribe viz Monkey, bear, fish, serpent, dear, eagle, tortoise, pea-cock, duck and many plants etc.
[1]
Acharya Chhitiji Mohan Sen
[3] has defined the totem tradition: 窶廡rom the most ancient time, in different countries, nations or tribes, a particular mark or insignia (animal, bird or plant) known as totem was in practice: that insignia was a subject of great respect and full faith for each and every member of the tribe or Nation.
[4]
According to Majumdar the killing of certain animals or eating them is tabooed in some clans. Some tribes bear sign thereof. The totem animal, when it dies is ceremonially mourned and buried as a member of the clan concerned. The assumptions, with regard to totemism, are that totem organization is universal. J.F. Maclenon was the first to understand the significance of totemism as a primitive social institution.
According to Majumdar
[5], as per ethnographic Survey of India, the Santhals have more than 100 totemistic clans. Hos have more than 50, Mundas 64 and Bhils 24, many castes in Orissa, the Kurmi, the Kumhar, the Bhumia, who have advanced in culture in recent years are named after the serpent, pumpkin, jackal and other totems. The Katkaris of Bombay, the Gond tribes of M.P. and of Rajasthan also have clan names after the fauna and flora of their habitat. It is clear that all these castes and tribes were sometimes, organized into totem system. But now owing to spreading of education and civilization, above system has also lost its grounds.
[4]
Serpent Totem and Naga race
It is crystal clear from the above description, that Nagas were also tribes which, had serpent as their totem. They worshipped serpents and consider them to be their protector deities. They also used to wear artificial hoods of cobra on their heads.
[4]
They were in origin indigenous Kshatriyas. They ruled all over India during history and pre historic time. Some of the Naga Kings and families can be enumerated as under: Ahivritra, Ashwasena, Takshaka, Gonanda, Lohara, Karkota of North; Brahamadutta of Kashi, Sishunaga and Nanda of Magadha, of North east; Nagas of Padmavati (Bharsiva), Vidisa, Eran, Mathura, Ahichchhattra, Kausambi, Malava, Chakrakot, Bhogwati, in Central India; Andhra or Satvahanas (235 BC -225 AD) Chuttus, Chalukya, Pallava, Kadamba, Chhindaka, Chera, Chola of South India etc. Most of the above Naga families ruled between 500 BC and 500 AD and some of them onward up to the Mughal period.
[8]
The Harappan Civilization and cult of Naga Worship
The Indus Valley Civilization which is the most ancient civilization of India, was spread up in North-West: Harappa, Mohenjodaro , Chanhudaro and Lothal were its most important towns. The founders of Indus valley civilization were Mediterraneans or Dravidians and Australoids,
[9] where as, round headed Alpines, appeared, in mature age of this culture.
[10] In excavation of these towns, in addition to Burnished Red ware, a very high number of seals and seal impressions have also been found out. Among the seals so found out on one seal, there is a figure of chief deity with buffalo head, on its both sides, are two other man deities and behind each of them is a serpent in standing posture. On another seal, there is a serpent, in standing posture, behind the bull, which is fighting with a mighty man.
[11] On another third seal, there is a serpent resting his head on a Wooden bench or seat, which is protecting a tree deity.
[12]
The presence of serpents on all the above three seals, establishes that the serpent was their (Harappans) protector deity and symbol of authority of rule. We can draw the following conclusion from the above detail:
#The tradition of serpent worship or totemisim was prevalent in Indus Valley Civilization
#The scene depicted on the seal no.-2, shows its relation with the myths of Bobylonia, which proves origin of this tradition on Western Asia.
This fact finding is further corroborated by seal, No.4 This figure is incised on a cylinder seal recovered form Babylonia (Lajards culte de Mithra). This proves the origin of tradition of tree and serpent worship in Babylonia, from where later on it was transferred to Indus Valley.
[13]
Description of Nagas or Serpents in Vedas
The Rigveda
In Rigvedic account there is mention of Naga (Serpent ) race, Naga kings and Naga warriors.
There is description
[14] of serpent deity 窶廣hivritra窶 in the verses of this sacred book 窶廣hi窶 is synonym of serpent . The word 窶 Ahi Budhna (the serpent of base of a mountain ) has come twelve times in the Rigveda.
[13]
According to Oldenberg water is a form of serpent and according to Macdonell [Keith A.B. 窶弋he Religion and Philosophy of the Vedas and Upnishadas, p.193], they (Serpents) are the forms of Ahivritra, who is thought to be heavenly, it is conclusive that ahi-Budhna who is thought to be heavenly it is conclusive that Ahi Budhna of Rigveda was a serpent deity who was worshipped.
[16]
The Description of Vritra also has come repeatedly in Ragveda.
[17] He was deadly enemy of Indra, and he ultimately was killed by the later, he also has been called by the names like Dasyu, Dasa, Asura and Ahi in Rigveda, the word 窶廣hi窶 had also come for serpent. It means Ahi was a serpent. The greatest Ahi of Vedic poet was Vritra sarpa (Vritra serpent) which could block waters (Rivers) [Keith A.B. 窶弋he Religion and Philosophy of the Vedas and Upnishadas, p.193] In Atharva-ved and later Brahmanical literature there is also mention of 窶 Ahi窶 Along with Vritra.
[18] Ahi is a title of Naga Kings and as well as serpent. In support of this view there are enormous evidence in sanskrit scripture such as in Amarkosha (First kanda) in the list of serpents there is mention of 窶廣hi窶 . In Hindi dictionary of Nalanda the meaning of 窶廣hi窶 is serpent and Vritrasur. In the sanskrit Hindi dictionary of Apte, the meaning of 窶廣hi窶 is serpent 窶 boa.窶 In Rigveda ( VII-50-1 to 3) 窶廣hi窶 has been stated to be a dangerous serpent . In Uttar Pradesh the cultural center of mediaeval period was Ahichchhattra (centre of Naga rule) which was situated in the district of Barrielly. This was the capital of ancient Naga kings.
[16]
This is quite clear that 窶廣hi窶 as described in Rigveda, was a serpent or Naga race, whose king was Vritra or Ahivritra.
The Atharva-Veda
Dr Bhagwatsharan Upadhyay, the famous scholar of ancient history and culture, has noted [Bharatiya Samaj Ka Etihasik Vishleshan, p.44] some hymns of Atharva-Veda (V-13-6 to 10), which have reference of Assyrian Naga kings Aligi and Viligi. This proves that Naga worship and totemism tradition came to India from Assyria.
[16]
History of Nagavansh
Lal Pradaman Singh
[21] has written the history of Nagavansh. He writes that Nﾄ“as were originated from
Kashyapa. The Nﾄ“vanshis acquired the status of
Devas due to their excellent qualities, behavior and actions.
Purﾄ］as mention Nﾄ“as along with devas. Purﾄ］as mention of many
Nﾄ“a Kingdoms. In ancient times Nﾄ“as were the rulers of entire India. During their peak period of rule they had sent armies to other countries also conquered them. In many places Indian Nﾄ“as have been mentioned as ruling dynasties such as Tﾄ〔,
Taxak,
Tﾄ］ak,
Tushta etc. Apart from these there were many branches of Nﾄ“as such as
Karkotaka Vanshi,
Shesha Vanshi,
Vﾄ《uki Vanshi,
Ahi Vanshi,
Manibhadra Vanshi etc. These branches further developed as sub branches such as
Sind Vansh,
Kushan Vansh,
Vaish Vansh and
Saindhav Vansh etc.
The group of people developed their Vansha according to their system of worship of Devas and Nﾄ“as. In Devas the worshippers of
Indra were known as Aindra, worshippers of
Varun as Vﾄ〉un, worshippers of
Mitra as Maitreya or Mitrﾄ, worshippers of
Shiva as Shivi or Shaivya, worshippers of
Marut as Mﾄ〉ut, worshippers of
Gandharva as Gﾄ］dharva, worshippers of
Shesha as
Sheshma, worshippers of Karka as
Karkotaka, worshippers of Nﾄ“a as Nﾄ“ﾄ or Nﾄ“il.
Nagavanshis in Kerala
The Nagavanshi dynasty also includes the warrior Sections of the
Nair caste who are also of
Naga origin. The Nagavanshi is the Serpent dynasty. Serpents were worshipped by many castes in Kerala probably indicating the native Keralite origins of various Nair sub-castes.
Serpent worship
The serpent worhship is one of the main religious practices in coastal Karnataka and
Kerala, along with goddess(Bhagavathi, Korati, Kali, Bhadrakali) worhship and
spirit worship where the declared lower castes and tribes took part in the past. In fact, you could find priests who could be some kind of
Shamans from these communities for these worships. This could be contrasted with other Hindu
Siva,
Vishnu worships where the priests are exclusively Brahmins and in fact, many of these castes were barred from being part of it.
The
Pullavar community was responsible for the ritualistic dance known as ''Sarpam Tullal'' during this worship. The similar dance known as ''Nagamandala'' was performed by a community called ''Baidya'' which was part of
Billavas in coastal Karnataka.
Naga dynasties of Jats
According to historian
Ram Swarup Joon[22],
Nﾄ“as had a number of ruling dynasties such as
Takshak Nag,
Bachak Nag,
Kilkil Nag,
Karkotaka,
Kaliramna etc all of which are
Jat gotras.
Mathura,
Padmavati and
Kantipur were capitals of Naga dynasty. Nagas of Padmavati were called
Taank, which is also a Jat gotra, and are found in 24 villages near
Sonipat.
In chapter 29 of "India of the Dark Ages" the ancestor of Tanks is mentioned as Raja Gajvkatra. In chapter 42 of the same book it is mentioned that
Malla Jat Republic extended from Eastern Punjab to the Ganga and Yodhya republic extended into
Rajasthan.
Nagpur belonged to the Nagas. Nagar
Brahmins also originated from there.
The Pauranic prejudice in the story is understandable. The Jats who followed
Buddhism were considered renegades and those who adopted
Vaishnavism became staunch
Hindus.
'Naga'
gotra (clan) of
Jats are found in
Nagaur and
Sikar districts of
Rajasthan and
Khargone district of
Madhya Pradesh. The villages inhabited by Naga Jats in Sikar district are - Dujod,
Kanwarpura, Rampura,
Sikar. In Madhya Pradesh Naga Jats are found in
Badwah and
Khargone.
List of Nagavanshi Jat clans
Some of the
nagavanshi Jat clans are
[23][24][25]
ﾄbﾅｫdﾄ,
ﾄchashw,
Ahi,
Air,
Airﾄ『at,
ﾄligﾄｫ,
Aparﾄ）it,
ﾄpt,
ﾄrtimﾄ］,
ﾄryak,
Asit,
Aulak,
Avalak,
Avyay,
Ayﾄ”a盪ｭ,
Bﾄ［al,
Bﾄ］ﾄ,
Barojwﾄ〉,
Bﾄ《a盪ｭh,
Baulyﾄ,
Beniwﾄ〕,
Bhakar,
Bhﾄ〔har,
Bhﾄ≪ｹノﾅｫ,
Bhara盪トur,
Bhﾄ〉shiv,
Bhe盪ビo盪,
Bhinchar,
Bﾄｫhal,
Bﾄｫlwﾄ］,
Birﾄ〕ﾄ,
Dahiya,
Dhaka,
Dhaulyﾄ,
Deﾅｫ,
Devatra,
Gorﾄ,
Imeguh,
Kﾄ）al,
Kﾄ〕ﾄ,
Kalash,
Kﾄ〕e Rﾄ『at,
Kﾄ〕ﾄｫ,
Kﾄ〕ﾄｫ Rama盪,
Kﾄ〕ﾄｫ Ramatﾄ,
Kﾄ〕ﾄｫ Rﾄ『ate,
Kﾄ〕ﾄｫ Rﾄ【e,
Kﾄ〕ﾄｫ盧紘aman,
Kﾄ〕ﾄｫshak,
Kﾄ〕ﾄｫy,
Kalmﾄ《h,
Kalwaria,
Kalwﾄ〉iyﾄ,
Kalyﾄ,
Kalya,
Kalyﾄ≪ｹ,
Kamal,
Kanwal,
Kariyﾄ,
Karkar,
Karko盪ｭak,
Karvﾄｫr,
Kharwal,
Khokhar,
Kho盪盧溝l,
Kon盧再〕,
Kothﾄ〉,
Kulak,
Kulakiyﾄ,
Kulﾄ〉,
Kullar,
Ku盪盧腔dar,
Kumu盧,
Kun盧溝l,
Kunjar,
Kushmﾄ］盧溝k,
Ku盪ｭhar,
Legﾄ,
Lochag,
Matwﾄ,
Mﾄ》we,
Mu盧購ﾄ≪ｸ絞yﾄ,
Mundel,
Nﾄ“,
Nﾄ“ﾄ,
Nﾄ“ar,
Nﾄ“auriyﾄ,
Nﾄｫl,
Odasﾄｫ,
Olﾄ,
Pa盧購ﾄ〕,
Pﾄ“wa盪ｭ,
Pﾄ”al,
Pﾄ〕,
Pa盪盧溝hﾄ〉ﾄｫ,
Pﾄ≪ｹ盧溝r,
Pﾄ≪ｹ盧講l,
Pandul,
Panjﾄ,
Pﾄ］n,
Parsﾄ］e,
Pa盪ｭhur,
Pau盧絞yﾄ,
Pehalﾄ【a盪,
Pi盪盧溝le,
Podﾄ］,
Pﾅｫchale,
Punia,
Rﾄ”al,
Roj,
Roja ,
Rotra,
Sagsail,
Saharan,
Sﾄ［otﾄ,
Samrﾄ,
Sﾄ］gﾅｫ,
Sawaﾅｫ,
Sewdﾄ,
Sheshﾄ］o,
Sheshmﾄ,
Shwitra,
Shyaukand,
Sihﾄ“,
Siraswﾄ〉,
Sitarwﾄ〉,
Siwﾄ【ach,
Sumrﾄ,
Sﾅｫtalﾄ,
Takhar,
Takshak,
盪ｬﾄ≪ｹヌ,
Tankor,
Tetarwl,
Tﾄｫtarwﾄ〕,
Tokas,
Toran,
Udwal,
Ugrak,
Vaharwﾄ〕,
Vais,
Varik,
Var盪wﾄ〕,
Vasath,
Vaurﾄ≪ｹ,
Vﾄ」an,
Vﾄｫhan,
Vodiyﾄ,
Yolyﾄ,
Genealogy of Nﾄ“a kshatriyas
The list of rulers in the genealogy of Nﾄ“a kshatriyas, as provided by Kishori Lal Faujdar
[26], is as under:
Shesha,
Vﾄ《uki,
Arﾄ『ati,
Taxak,
Tonk,
Karkotak,
Dhananjay,
Kﾄ〕iya, Maninﾄ》h, (
Pauniya),
Pinjarak,
Alﾄ『at,
Vﾄ［an,
Nﾄｫl, Anﾄｫl, Kalmﾄ《ha, Shabal, ﾄryak, Ugrak Kalash, Pok, Sumand, Dﾄｫghamukh, Nimal Pindak, Shankh, Bﾄ〕 Shiv, Vishtﾄ」ak, Imeguh,
Nahusha,
Pingala, Bahya , Hastipad, Mundar, Pindak, Karal, Ashwatar, Kﾄ〕ﾄｫshak, Pahal, Tﾅｫn Danvartak, Shankhamukh, Kushmﾄ］dak, semak, Chindﾄ〉ak, Karvﾄｫr, Pushpadand, Vilvak, Pﾄ］dhﾅｫr, Mﾅｫshakﾄ‥, Shankhasirﾄ, , Haridrak, Aparﾄ）it, Jotik, Pannag, Srﾄ」ah, Kauravya, Dhritarashtra, Shankhapind, Virjﾄ,
Suvahu, Shﾄ〕ipind, Haritpind, Pithrak, Sumukh, , Kuthar, Kunjar, Prabhﾄ〔ar, Kusad, Halak, Kumudﾄ〔sha, Tittar, Mahﾄ《arp, Kadanm, Bahumﾅｫlak,
Karkar, Kundaudar,
Mahodara,
Nambiar.
Nagavanshi kings in Mahabharata
Mahabharata counts following more Naga clans 窶
Ahi,
Shivatra, (Khet)
Ashit,
Serbhak,
Sevridha,
Astin,
Kantat,
Spaj,
Anat,
Kulik,
Shankhapﾄ〕,
Darvﾄｫ,
Achﾄ《wa,
Ajgar,
ﾄligﾄｫ,
Vilagﾄｫ,
Orﾄｫvisha,
Karikrat, , Tirashcha Raji,
Naimarat, Prﾄｫdﾄ〔ﾅｫ, Prﾄｫdﾄ［ﾄｫ, Rajju, Lohitﾄ”ﾄｫ, Ratharvﾄｫ, Vﾄ”as, Serbhﾄ.
The Nagavanshi kings had a symbol of Naga or serpent on their coins and flags. The coins of Nagavanshi rulers are still found at village ﾄhﾄ〉 in Bulandshar district in Uttar Pradesh. These coins depict symbols of Nagas on them. There is mention of Nagas in Mahabharata in a story in which Duryodan poisoned Bhima to kill and threw into Ganga River. When he was foating inriver he reached village ﾄhﾄ〉 where the Nagavanshi rulers took him out from Ganga River and gave treatment to cure. After treatment he was sent to Hastinapur.
Arjuna, the son of
Pandu, was married to Nagavanshi princess
Ulupi. This finds mention in
Mahabharata.
See also
★
Naga (clan)
★
Exotic tribes of ancient India
★
Kingdoms of Ancient India
★
Naga Kingdom
References
1. Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas the Ancient Rulers of India, p.226
2. Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas the Ancient Rulers of India, p.226
3. Bharat mien jati bhed, pp.111-12
4. Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas the Ancient Rulers of India, p.227
5. Majumdar D.N. pp346-47
6. Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas the Ancient Rulers of India, p.227
7. Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas the Ancient Rulers of India, p.227
8. Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas the Ancient Rulers of India, p.228
9. Whealer R.E.M., 窶廣.I.窶 Vol III Bulletin of Archaeological Survey of India (January,1947); Bose N.K. and others 窶廩uman Skeleton from Harappa窶 ASIC (1963) pp.58-59
10. Sarkar S.S., 窶廣boriginal Races of India窶, pp.143-45
11. Sastri Kedarnath, New lights on the Indus Civilization窶 Vol I p.35
12. Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas the Ancient Rulers of India, p.228
13. Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas the Ancient Rulers of India, p.229
14. Keith A.B. 窶弋he Religion and Philosophy of the Vedas and Upnishadas, p.193
15. Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas the Ancient Rulers of India, p.229
16. Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas the Ancient Rulers of India, p.230
17. R.V.II-11-5;II-20-7 and V-32-8
18. Mishra D.P. 窶彜tudies in the Proto-History of India窶 p.87
19. Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas the Ancient Rulers of India, p.230
20. Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas the Ancient Rulers of India, p.230
21. Lal Pradaman Singh: The history of Nagavansh
22. Ram Swarup Joon: History of the Jats, Rohtak, India (1938, 1967)
23. Dr Mahendra Singh Arya, Dharmpal Singh Dudee, Kishan Singh Faujdar & Vijendra Singh Narwar: ﾄdhunik Jat Itihasa (The modern history of Jats), Agra 1998
24. Mansukh Ranwa:Kshatriya Shiromani Vir Tejaji, Page 9
25. Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas 窶 The Ancient Rulers of India, Their Origins and History (The History of the Indigenous people of India Vol. 2), Published by Originals (an imprint of Low Price Publications), Delhi, 2002, ISBN 81-7536-287-1
26. Kishori Lal Faujdar: ''Uttar Pradesh ke Madhyakalin Jatvansh aur Rajya'', Jat Samaj, Monthly Magazine, Agra, September-October 1999
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