PDA

View Full Version : Rig Veda and Jats- the Maruts


ravichaudhary
May 3rd, 2005, 06:56 AM
Maruts and Jats

From" Rig Vedic tribes and Aryans" by Bhim Singh Dahiya, Dahinam Publishers, Sonepat, India


Indra is called Jata ( RV HI/32/10- V/30/4). Also "Indram Jatamupaste" in RV X/153/1.

Indra is called Adhi Jata which Dayanand renders as Supreme Ruler (-RV X/153/2). Adhi- Jata is later Adhi-raja.

Thus Indra is a title of the Supreme Ruler, the king of kings ot the Sujatas, the army commanders and his subordinate kings. He is called the Bull of the Bulls RV 1/177/3). Indra is "our noble king" .X/99/7)• He is the eldest of the Maruts . King Prithu Venya calls Indra "our leader " of the victorious armies of the Devas in which Maruts form the vanguard.

"Indra aasam Net Trishva Sur Jata Deavnaam Jayantinam Marutoh Yantavgrm"
[RVX/103/8)].

Here Indra is called Sura Jata, which means the Brave Jata He is called the sole ruler of the people of the world. (RV V136/4).

After Agni and Indra, it is the Maruts who are called Jata/Sujata. In fact, most of the Rigvedic hymns containing this titles-Jata/Sujata are found addressed to Indra. Agni and Maruts: and only some are addressed to Asvins and others.

Who are Maruts ?

Jatas, the soldiers of Indra are called Maruts.

Swami Dayanand renders Maruts as: -

1. Mankind in general (III/25/13).


2. Head of an assembly (1/87/2).

3. Learned Persons (V/58/6).

4. Very powerful beings (I/J67/9).

5. King or ruler (X/153/2).

6. Head of state (1/88/1).

7. Maruts are called Sujata. RV1/166/12;
VIII/20/8,1/88/3 etc. (Marutah Sujata).

8. Indra is their brother. (I/170/2)

9. Indra is their friend. (VIII/76/2).


10. They are busy in their own affairs, prompt defenders, elders or superiors, warriors in armour, and equal like the spokes of a chariot- wheel, belonging to the same race of rulers. (RV X/78/2-4) V/85/5.


11. They do not care about their bodies. (3: VIII/22/12).


12. They have golden turbans on their heads.
(V/54/11, VIIV7/25).

13. They move about in golden chariots.


14. Red horses or even draws these chariots
Stags. ( Ratheshu Prdhsva Rohit- I/85/5,I/38/6/.V/55/
6-Prdhsva V26/6.

15. They feel pleasure in wars.
(V85/1; V/33/1)


16. They roar like lions.
(1/64/8).

17. The whole world is afraid of them.
(V85/8).

18. The earth shakes in fear of them.
(V/57/3,59/2, 60/2-3).

19. They look ferocious ( V85/8).

20. They are brave among men. (V/59/6).

21. They are invincible and indestructible.
( V/54/7).


22. They do not bow before anybody.

23. Leaders of men. 1/87/1.

24. They are like kings. (Rajan: Eeva 1/85/8), but they
Have no kings (A-rajan VIII7/23)

25. They believe in human equality (V/58/5). They have no superiors or inferiors among them.

26. They call each other 'brothers' (1/60/5).

27. They keep weapons on their shoulders (Anshesu Shristya) anklets on their ankles (Pathsu Khadyoh) and golden plates & ornaments on their breasts.
(Vakshya: Su Rkma V/54/11).

28. They have good horses (Svashwa.), sit in good
Chariots (Sth Surath) have good weapons. (Svayudha) V/57/2).

29. They are armed with spears (Rstibhi) and Battle-Axes (Vasibhi: I/37/2). A whip in their hands (Kshahstheshu), these playful Maruts in their resplendent chariots, have them drawn by spotted mares. Their swords are sharp and shine like gold (Drthachi I/167/3).

30. Like young birds trying to fly away from their mother, they proceed from their fixed motherland to conquer other far away lands. (1/37/9).

31 they live together in Ganas, (Confederacy). (Gana Shriya I/64/9) ( Vrtsha Vartasa I/85/4).

32 Only they are capable of becoming rulers of this world( Sha:He Yuva Gana: Aya Eshan I/87/2) |

33 Their horses are of ruddy or tawny/browm in colour (Arun Peshung 1/88/2). They furrow the earth with the iron-straps of the wheels of their chariots ( Rathsya Punya Bhoom jadhnanth)-

34. They brought down water from the high dams through canals (( Nunudreh I/88/4)

35. They do not destroy villages ( Arisht Gramah I/166/6)

36. They are foremost among the brave. (Virasya Prathmani 1/166/7).

37 Their excellent horses bring wealth even from areas beyond the sea. ( Ehshan Parmah: Niyuth: Samudrsya Pareh Chith Dhanyanth 1/167/2).

38 They are sons of Rudra. ( Rudrasya Sunav: I/64/12;VI/50/4,VI/66/3).

39 They walk on the banks of beautiful rivers. ( Chitrah: Rodhsvati I/38/11).'

40 They decorate their bodies with colourful ornaments. ( Chitreh Anjimi V64/4 etc.)

41. They are soldiers of Indra. ( Marut: Indrasya Shard: Aasan 3/32/4).

42 They are agriculturists ( Rudra marutoh Vishvkrityoh X/92/6, III/59/1 etc)


43. They are innumerable, thousands in numbers (V/54/13)


44 People give them offerings/taxes for protection( VII/20/9)


45 Their name is famous all over. ( Yrhshamu Sprthonam VIII/20/13).

46. All people get a brotherly treatment from them.( VIII/20?13)


47 " O Maruts! Lances rest on your shoulders, the enemy destroying power rests on your shoulders, golden turbans rets on your heads, your weapons are placed on your Chariots, and the glory the world is moulded in your bodies (V/57/6)



48. They play among cows, which are not to be killed, and they increase and grow by drinking milk. The cow by giving them milk acts as the foster mother(I/37/5)


49 They love listening to historical/war stories( Kadhpriya: VIII/7/31).



50. Their mothers gave them three kinds of drink- Madhu, Utsam, Udrinam in large full cups(VIII/7/10) and these drinks make their bodies strong( Vajra)


51. They are given excellent high seats. ( VII/7/20-21,VI/52/13 etc).


Their Chariots were drawn by Spotted-antelopes ( Eshanratheh Prshthi), and a red stag is yoked in the lead.( Prshit Rohi- VIII/7/28). . These chariots are stated
to be without wheels ( Nichkrya i.e. of Sledge-type VIII/7/29). This is, apparently, a reference to the former times before wheeled, and horse drawn chariots began to be used.
It is on account of such references that BG Tilak placed the Aryans in the Arctic area abounding in snow and ice. Further, it is these references to cold, snow, ice and stag-drawn sledges that led T.P. Aiyer to suggest that the whole of Rigveda is a figurative representation ot the geological phenomenon belonging to the
new birth of our planet after its long continued glacial death in the period of terrestrial evolution, (quoted in Sarasvati and Vidyalankar Vol. 1 E 107). RV V/53/1 appears to refer to the same earlier times when spotted antelopes were
yoked by them ( Yuyujeh Kilaysya ) and the seer aptly asks the question, "Who knew them then- and formerly (Purah ) who used to live in 'their protection?"

This indicates that the Aryans became known and started the role of leaders and protectors of the people, only when horses were employed in place of -stags and wheeled chariots were invented in place of wheel-less sledges.

53. When asked about their parents, the brave Marut Jatas replied: "Cows and antelopes are our mothers, and Rudra is our father " ( Goh Prashni Matharam - Rudra Pitram RV V/52/16)

ravichaudhary
May 3rd, 2005, 06:57 AM
Conclusion:

From the above data, there is but one inevitable conclusion viz, the ruling aristocracy of the Aryans were called Jata/Sujata and the word means 'King'/'Noble King'. All the characteristics fully describe, and are applicable to, the Jats who still retain most of them. They still call the earth and cows as "mothers' and address each other as 'Brother'. They are all equal without any superior or inferior and it is in emergency that they elect, by consensus, one of themselves as their supreme leader, Adhi-Jata'. - - RV VI/29/6 says, "Whether he protects or does not protect us, the King (Jata) is the golden-turbaned (Indra)!" (Authi Anuth harishipra : He Jata).


The phrase Janusa Sujatah (RV V/57/5, V/59/6, V/60/5 etc.) is rendered as "Born in good families by birth". But it looks awkward and the repetition as 'born/by birth' does not look proper and lacks sense. The only correct rendering will be "Noble kings by birth" i.e. they do not become Kings only when so elected as such, but are born kings (on account of their qualities). They produce the kings for the sake of people and for destroying the enemies. The election of a king requires approval by the settled agriculturist population ( Kristinam Anumadhya VII/6/1) and this issue is dealt with in another chapter. To conclude : As already mentioned, Agni is called "Leader/King of all" (itah Jatah Visvam 1/98/1, RV).

AV (5/4/7) says "0 Supreme Ruler (Adhi-Jata) among the Devas! you are the well meaning friend of Soma".

AV (2/13/5) says the blessing: - "May many younger brothers be born after you (and be) noble kings".

AV (19/6/16) also says Adhi-Jata bom of (from) the Supreme Lord, Purusa


Indra, the first Jata (Prathamo Jata), is also called Sadya-Jata and the latter word cannot mean Just born" or "recently born" and the first word cannot mean "First Born", because Indra is nowhere mentioned as first mortal (or immortal) which is the epithet of Yama. Indra does three things, as soon as born (Sadya-Jata), viz;


i. He drinks Soma (3/48/2)

ii. He becomes master of the seven (people) who had no master; (8/96/16); and,

iii. He obtains special privileges over un-married girls. The lover of the girls or the bull of the girls - (Jara-Kaninam; Vrisabha-Kaninam). Now, none of these three acts can be imagined for just born babes. Hence, the clear meanings of Sadya-Jata, Prathamo Jata, Tuvi-Jata etc. is just-made king, First King, Mighty King.

Finally, AV/3/23/3, contains the blessing for the new bride- - "May you become the mother of sons and begetter of kings!" This leaves no doubt at all that the word.


Jata means King/Leader and was the title of the Aristrocracy of the Aryans. This title was retained in India (Jata/Jatan) as well as by the Central Asian Mongols who were called Jatah upto 18th century AD.

vinodks
July 7th, 2005, 08:25 PM
Interesting piece of information. However vedic texts have been interpreted by numerous people -sometimes giving vital insight into culture, history and much disputed issue of migration, -but othertimes as justifucation of certain aspect of history as it is befitting to particular interpretor. These texts are extremely symbolic and verses are prone to more than several interpretation.
I am not questioning particular piece here, in fact, if it bears even slightest relevence to the Jats, its quite interesting and needs further study. Anyway, thanks for that.

Vinod

ravichaudhary
July 18th, 2005, 03:30 PM
[QUOTE=vinodks


However vedic texts have been interpreted by numerous people -sometimes giving vital insight into culture, history and much disputed issue of migration, -but othertimes as justifucation of certain aspect of history as it is befitting to particular interpretor. These texts are extremely symbolic and verses are prone to more than several interpretation.



I am not questioning particular piece here, in fact, if it bears even slightest relevence to the Jats, its quite interesting and needs further study. Anyway, thanks for that.

Vinod[/QUOTE]


Actually questioning the piece is very welcome.

The piece is arrived at by the very questioning of established mindsets which were carved in stone.

The vedic literature is full of references to Jats.

Including the fact that over 90% of the rishis and the tribes( clans) have " Jat" Goths, Gotras.


Ravi Chaudhary