Kshatriya
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Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas (social orders) in Hinduism. Traditionally Kshatriya constitute the military and ruling elite of the Vedic-Hindu social system outlined by the Vedas and the Laws of Manu.
Etymology
Sanskrit akṣatra, ruling; one of the ruling order member of the Kṣhatriya caste[1] is the derivation for Old Persian xšaθra ("realm, power"), xšaθrya ("royal"), and xšāyaθiya ("emperor") are related to it, as are the New Persian words šāh ("emperor") and šahr ("city", "realm").[citation needed] Thai: กษัตริย์ (kasat), "king" or "monarch," and similar-sounding Malay kesatria or satria, "knight" or "warrior", are also derived from it. The term may also denote aristocratic status.[citation needed]
History
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The earliest Vedic literature listed by organisation of function, not of caste, the Kshatriya (holders of kṣatra, or authority) as first in rank, and the Brahmins second (priests and teachers of law), before the Vaisya (Cattle-herders, merchant-traders, farmers and some artisan castes), and the Sudra (labourers, some farming castes and other artisan castes). Manusmriti, an ancient Hindu legal text, assigns cattle rearing as an occupation of Vaisya; however there are references in available literature that Kshatriyas also owned and reared the cattle and cattle-wealth was the mainstay of their households. Emperors of Kosala and Prince of Kasi are some of many examples.
Social status
The situation has changed in modern times and Kshatriyas do not have much to gain or lose in status by their Kshatriya lineage. One area where the Kshatriya heritage has been prominent is the Indian Army.[2]
Symbols associated with Kshatriya
In rituals, the Nyagrodha (Ficus Indica or India Fig/Banyan tree) danda, or staff, is assigned to the Kshatriya class, and along with a mantra, intended to impart physical vitality or 'ojas'.[3]
Kshatriya lineage
The major branches of Kshatriya varna are: Suryavanshi (solar line), claiming direct descent from Ramachandra, and descent from Surya;[4] Chandravanshi (lunar line), claiming descent from Yadu, as Yadu was himself born in a Chandravanshi dynasty,[5] and descent from Chandra; Agnivanshi, claiming descent from Agni;[4][6][7] and Nagavanshi, claiming descent from the Nāgas.
Suryavanshi
Suryavanshi (solar line) is a sub-clan of Kshatriyas claiming direct descent from Surya.[4]. The Gurjars believe themselves to have descended from Suryavanshi & Chandravanshi Kshatriyas.[8] The copper-plate grants of Gurjars bear an emblem of the Sun and on their seals too, this symbol is depicted.[9] Also, the Gurjar title of honor is Mihir which means Sun.[10][11]
Agnivanshi
Agnivanshi are Kshatriyas claiming descent from Agni, the Vedic god of fire.[4]
Chandravanshi
Chandravanshi (lunar line) claim their descent from Chandra.
Nāgavanshi
The Nāgvanshi or Serpent dynasty is a sub-clan of Suryavanshi kshatriyas. They adopted Naga as their symbol and worshipped Lord Shiva in various forms. Nāgvanshis include most of the Nair[12][13] and Bunt clans as well as some Rajput (Saharan Rajputs,[14] Bais Rajputs, Naga Rajputs, Takshak Rajputs.[15] etc.) and Jat clans. The Nāgvanshi (or Nāgbanshi) are known for ruling Chhotanagpur.[16][17] Most important among the Jat clans which are of Nāga origin includes Bachak Jats,[citation needed] Kaliramna Jats,[citation needed] and Katewa Jats.[18][19] Outside India, the Balinese Kshatriyas[20][21][22] claim descent from Nāgvanshis. In South West India, the Naga Sendraka rulers of Nayarkhanda (Nagarkhanda) were feudatories to the Chalukyas.[23] The Sindas of Bastar were also of Nagavanshi origin.[24]
Others
- Velirs/Vellalars, Tamil gentry, ancient feudal landlords.[29][30][31]
- Chera/Chola/Pandya, Tamil royal lineage linked to the Velir/Vellalar caste.[32][33]
- The alien hordes that did not follow priestly customs or traditions (Shakas, Kushans, Indo-Greeks, Hunas and Parthians) were stated as Vratya Kshatriyas in Manusmriti.[34]
- The Meitei of Manipur were recognised as Kshatriyas by the Bengali and Assamese Brahmins as they are thought to be the descendants of epic warrior Arjuna.[35]
- Gurung and Magar ethnic groups are recognised as Kshatriyas in Nepal by the Bahun, along with other Kshatriya groups such as Thakore and Chhetri.[36]
- Shrestha subdivision among ethnic Newar is recognised as Kshatriya in Nepal.[37]
See also
References
- ^
Turner, Sir Ralph Lilley (2006) [1962]. A comparative dictionary of the Indo-Aryan languages (Accompanied by three supplementary volumes: indexes, compiled by Dorothy Rivers Turner: 1969. – Phonetic analysis: 1971. – Addenda et corrigenda: 1985. ed.). London: Oxford University Press,. pp. 189–190. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
kṣatríya 3649
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) - ^ "The Untouchable Soldier: Caste, Politics, and the Indian Army" by Stephen P. Cohen, The Journal of Asian Studies, Vol. 28, No. 3 (May, 1969), pp. 453–468
- ^ Reflections on Resemblance, Ritual, and Religion; Brian K. Smith
- ^ a b c d Rajasthan, Part 2 By D. K. Samanta, S. K. Mandal, N. N. Vyas, Anthropological survey of India p.786
- ^ Sinha, Purnendu Narayana (1901). "THE LUNAR DYNASTY (SKANDHA 9)". A study of the Bhagavata Purana; or, Esoteric Hinduism. Freeman (Benares). p. 229.
- ^ Rajasthan & Gujarat handbook: the ... – Google Books
- ^ Memoirs on the History, Folk-Lore ... – Google Books
- ^ Kamal Prashad Sharma (1997). Costumes and ornaments of Chamba. ISBN 978-81-7387-067-5.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthor=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Lālatā Prasāda Pāṇḍeya (1971). Sun-worship in ancient India. Motilal Banarasidass. p. 245.
- ^ Bombay (India : State) (1901). Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency, Volume 9, Part 1. Govt. Central Press. p. 479.
- ^ Chandrasekharendra Saraswati (Jagatguru Sankaracharya of Kamakoti) (2001). Śri Śaṅkara Bhagavatpādācārya's Saundaryalaharī. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. p. 339.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthor=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Downfall of Hindu India By Chintaman Vinayak Vaidya. Page:278 "and Nāir (Nāgara) Kshatriyas sent out a religious invasion under Sankara which subjugated the whole of India. The history of Kerala goes hack to the"
- ^ The origin of Saivism and its history in the Tamil land By K. R. Subramanian, K. R. Subramanian (M.A.) p.21
- ^ Punjab district gazetteers: reprint of Phulkian states (Patiala, Jind, and ... By Punjab (India). Gazetteers Organisation (Punjab Govt. Press, 1909.) Page 243
- ^ The American journal of archaeology ... – Google Books
- ^ The Nāgvanshis of Chotanagpur By Sudha Kumari Sinha
- ^ Encyclopaedia of Indian tribes By C. Sahu p.123
- ^ Rama Shankar Tripathi (1987). History of ancient India. p. 344. ISBN 81-208-0018-4.
- ^ Naval Viyogi (2002). Nagas, the ancient rulers of India: their origin and history. Vol. The History of indigenous people of India, Volume 2 (Illustrated ed.). Originals. p. 67. ISBN 81-7536-287-1.
{{cite book}}: More than one of|subject=and|author=specified (help) - ^ Warta Hindu dharma, Issues 140–150 p.021
- ^ Kamus agama Hindu By I Wayan Musna p.32
- ^ Widya Dharma Agama Hindu SMP kls 9 By I Wayan Midastra, I Ketut Maruta p.8
- ^ The origin of Saivism and its ... – Google Books
- ^ The origin of Saivism and its ... – Google Books
- ^ Maráthas and Dekhani Musalmáns – R. M. Betham – Google Books
- ^ Creative pasts: historical memory and identity in western India, 1700–1960 – Prachi Deshpande – Google Books
- ^ A pageant of India – Adolf Simon Waley – Google Books
- ^ A study of Holkar state coinage: by P. K. Sethi, S. K. Bhatt, R. Holkar ... – P. K. Sethi, S. K. Bhatt, R. Holkar – Google Books
- ^ Ancient Indian History and Civilization By Sailendrda Nath Sen Page 205 & 207: "... the Vellalars were the aristocratic classe and were held in high esteem..."
- ^ The Harappan civilization and its writing: a model for the decipherment of the Indus Script... By Walter Ashlin Fairservis 52/53 pages: " The relationship of vellalan (Tamil) and vellalar (Malayalam) to terms for ancient chiefs velir, etc., provide us with a term for the system of chiefs as a whole, vellalar"
- ^ Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland, Volume 19 By Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland (1887) page 582: "The reason why Manu styled the Drâvidian Vellâlar as degraded Kshatriyas was doubtless owing to the fact that the first Brahman settlers found them almost in exclusive possession of land..."; [1]
- ^ The Tamils Eighteen Hundred Years Ago — by V. Kanakasabhai — Tamil (Indic people) – 1904 – 240 pages; page 113: "The Chera, Chola and Pandyan kings and most of the petty chiefs of Tamilakam belonged to the tribe of Vellâlas."
- ^ Tamil studies: essays on the history of the Tamil people, language, religion ... By Muttusvami Srinivasa Aiyangar page 63: "No traces of the Tamil kings are to be found at present in this country, and it is highly probable that they should have merged with the Vellala caste..."[2]
- ^ Magumdar, Raichaudhry. Notes of IGNOU Delhi University, Allahabad University, Banaras Hindu University, JNU, Jamia Milia Islamia (Irfan Habib)
- ^ Encyclopaedia of North-East India: Manipur By Hamlet Bareh p.274-277
- ^ Sociology of Indian tea industry: a study of inter-ethnic relationships By Khemraj Sharma (Education officer.) p.54
- ^ Fatalism and development: Nepal's struggle for modernization By Dor Bahadur Bista p.59
Further reading
- History and Culture of Indian People, The Vedic Age, p 313-314
