Flora and fauna in support of Jat antiquity

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The Flora and fauna in support of Jat antiquity can be a tool to study the antiquity of Jat race in absence of any written history. The ancient and prehistoric man has lived in symbiosis with the environment. In the neolithic age, primitive man lived in dense forests, on trees or in natural caves, and subsisted on leaves, fruits, and roots of plants. He used fire for keeping off the dangerous animals of the forest. In palaeolithic age, he took to hunting wild birds and small animals to obtain their flesh for eating and their skin or fur for covering himself. In the neolithic age he discovered the use of fire for cooking and developed the cultivation. ^[1]

Palaeo-botanical evidence testify to the fact that there were dense forests in India in the Permian period, 250 million years ago. Fossil wood is found in several places in Madhya Pradesh and in Siwalik hills along Himalayas. Man was evolved in the beginning of Pleistocene Age, only about a million years ago. At this time India had thick forests except in Rajasthan and parts of Punjab which lay buried under a swamp, the remnant of the receding Tethya sea. ^[2]

Archaeological evidence shows that the Rajasthan swamps existed till as late as 4000 BC, when Mohenjodaro culture flourished in the outskirts of Lothal in Gujarat. In these marshes grew stout reeds which were used by Chalcolithic people to cover dead bodies. The adjoining forest contained rhinoceroses and crocodiles of which we find replicas on the seals. ^[3]

The chronicles of Chinese pilgrims mention dense Indian forests in birth-place of Lord Krishna. Records relating to the invasion of Alexander the great in 326 BC mention the existence of almost impenetrable forests along the Indus. ^[4]

The remains of extinct creatures discovered in the upper layers of the sivalic range and in other parts of India gives us a glimpse of the wonderful wealth of animal life that flourished here in the tertiary period. Mastodons and great herds of elephants of many species trumpeted and tramped through the swamps and reedy forests of this region. With them lived hippopotamuses, rhinoceroses of various species, and a colossal four-horned ruminants, the Sivatherium. The one-horned rhinoceros, as born out by the seals of the Harrapan culture, was once found as far west as Rajasthan. ^[5]

Contents 1 Mahabharata sources 2 Puranic sources 3 Origin of Saka (Scythian) Jats 4 Movement of animals and birds 5 Carbon dating 6 Association of trees and plants with Jat gotras 7 References 8 Author लेखक: Laxman Burdak लक्ष्मण बुरड़क

Mahabharata sources

K R Qanungo^[6] mentions incidence from Mahabharata that there is a town named Sakala and river named Apaga where section of the Bahikas, known as the Jartikas, dwell. Their character is very repressible. He mentions about a Bahika who had to sojourn for a time in Kuru-jungal country sang the following song about the women of his country:

"Though a Bahika, I am at present an exile in Kuru-jangal country; that tall and fair-complexioned wife of mine, dressed in her fine blanket certainly remembers me when she retires to rest. Oh! when shall I go back to my country crossing again the Satadru (the Sutlej) and Iravati and see beautiful females of fair complexion, wearing stout bangles, dressed in blanket and skins, eye-sides coloured with dye of Manshila, forehead, cheek and chin painted wit collyrium (tatooing ?). When shall we eat under the pleasant shade of Shami (Prosopis ceneraria), Peelu (Salvadora oleoides) and Karir (Capparis decidua), loaves and balls of fried barley powder with waterless churned curd (kunjik), and gathering strength, take away the clothes of the wayfarers and beat them?"

The above sketch brings vividly before us a picture of the Land of the five rivers and its people in the classic age.Its first impression almost leads one to suppose that these Jartrikas, a branch of Bahikas, were the ancestors of the modern Jats. Qanungo further states that No doubt the orthodox Hindus of Sindh still contemptuously call the Jats of that province Baheka^[7] or aliens; but it is least likely that the name of one insignificant tribe Jartika should be adopted by millions of the people, inhabiting the large stretch of country from Afghanistan to Malwa.

Puranic sources

According to Puranic cosmography, the earth is divided into seven concentric island continents (sapta-dvipa vasumati) separated by the seven encircling oceans, each double the size of the preceding one. The seven continents of the Puranas are stated as Jambudvipa, Plaksadvipa, Salmalidvipa, Kushadvipa, Krounchadvipa, Shakadvipa, and Pushkaradvipa. Seven intermediate oceans consist of salt-water, sugarcane juice, wine, ghee, curd, milk and water respectively.^[8],^[9]

Origin of Saka (Scythian) Jats

Our indepth study of Rigveda shows the yadus, who were assisted by the Sakas ^[10] in their infructuous wars against Bahu and Sagar, were living as republican Yadava-jna^[11]. Their habitat was in the southern and the south-western portion of Saraswati region including north-west Rajasthan and Sindh territories extending uptote mouth of the saraswati close sea-shore.^[12]. It is very significant and pertinent also to mention here tat a part of Sapta Sindhu country was known as Sakaladvipa^[13] in the Mahabharata (3102 BC). The dvipa is said to have derived its name from Sakas, who were descendents of Narishyanta.^[14]

According to Hukum Singh Pawar (Pauria) Some writers think that Saka (Scythian) is a Sanskrit word which means Sagwan or Teak (Tectona grandis), generally grown in monsoon region, the shape of which and that of its river deltas was like that of teak leaf (Satya Sharva, Sakas in Ind., New Delhi, 1981, pp. 3f; cf. also Mat. Pur. 123.36. Viswa Prakasa Kosha, p.4, shloka no. 25; p. 5, shloka no. 35, Nanarthasabad Kosha, p.3, st. 35 and 36; p. 87, shloka no. 36), and the people popularly known as Sakas used to be the inhabitants of this land. S. M. Ali (Geog. of the Puranas, pp. 39) identifies Saka-dvipa with land mass in the south-east of Meru (MBT, Ch. 14.21-25) which falls climatically in the monsoon region and teak is its distinctive tree in its natural and artificial vegetation. The Sapta Sindhu, original home of Aryans, in the south of Meru, we find that the country fulfills all the requisites of Saka-dvipa, viz, teak leaf shape of the country as well as that of the deltas of Sarasvati and Indus river. The Mahabharata's reading, alluded to above, that there was Sakala-dvipa, the name of which is attributed to the Sakas, in the Sapta Sindhu, evidently carries much weight. There is every possibility that the people of Sapta Sindhu, as a whole, might have besides their eponymous and ethnoyms, been known as Sakas also.^[15]

Movement of animals and birds

The movement of animals and birds can provide strong evidences which can help to study the migration of Jats? Normally pastoral people like Jats in prehistoric times have been moving from colder to hotter areas in search of grasslands for their animals. We can take evidences from some birds also which migrate from Siberia to India. The most common example is SIBERIAN CRANE. This bird "SIBERIAN CRANE" moves every year during winters from Siberia to India. The Siberian crane visits the wetlands of Bharatpur every winter. It stays in India during winter and returns back to Siberia after it. It is to be noted here that Bharatpur has been jat dominated area in the ancient past and present also.

Dhaman is a non-poisonous large snake. ^[16] Similarly Dhaulya is white snake found in the areas of Rajasthan from where came famous personalties amongst Jats, the Tejaji, regarded as a folk deity.

Carbon dating

Carbon dating method can be used to determine the age of living trees in the past. This technique will give age of a tree when it became dead wood.It has become thus possible from specimens of wood, charcoal, etc., found in excavations by archaeologists to fix period when a particular prehistoric culture flourished. The Indian cultures have been dated as under: ^[17]

Place of excavation	Carbon-dating finding
Atnur (South India)	2300 BC Neolithic Culture
Eran & Navadatoli (M.P.)	2300-1400 BC Central Indian Culture
Kalibangan (Rajasthan) and Lothal (Gujarat)	2100 BC Harappa Culture
Ahar (Rajasthan)	1800-1300 BC Banas Culture
Newasa and chandoli (Maharashtra)	1300-1100 BC Chalkolithic Culture

Association of trees and plants with Jat gotras

Some of the indigenous trees and plants of India are listed below which bear the similarity of their names in local languages and sanskrit (H-Hindi, B-Bengali, G-Gujarati, M-Marathi,T-Tamil, Te-Telugu, K-Kashmiri, R-Rajasthani, S-sanskrit) to resemble with Jat gotras.

Botanical name of tree	Names in Indian languages	Similarity with Jat gotra/Ruler/Place
Acacia catechu	H-Khair, T-Baga	Khairwa, Bagga
Acacia nilotica	H-Babul, T-Karuvelum	Babal, Kharvel
Acacia senegal	H-Khor	Khor
Acalypha indica	H-Khokali, G-Venchhi, M-Khikali	Khokar
Acrocarpus flaxinifolius	H-Mundani	Munda, Manda
Aegle marmelos	H-Bel, S-Vilva	Belwal, Shiva's offerings
Albizia amara	H-Lallel,	Lal
Albizia lebbek	H-Siris, T-Vegei
Apium graeveolens	H-Shalari	Salaru
Andrographis paniculata	H-Kirayat, Kulufnath, S-Kirata	Kirim
Aquilaria agallocha	H-agar	Agre
Arctium lappa	E-Greater Burdock	Burdak
Atropa acuminata	H-Angurshafa, Sagangur, G-Dhatoora	Dhatrawal
Azadirachta indica	H-Neem, G-Limba, M-Limba	Lamba
Balanites aegyptica	H-Hingan	Henga
Bauhinia vahlii	H-Mahul,	Mahla
Bauhinia parpurea	H-Khairwal	Khairwar
Bauhinia racemosa	H-Jhinjhora	Jhijhwaria
Bauhinia variegata	H-Kachnar, Gujaral, T-Chemmandarei	Gujar
Bombax ceiba	H-Semal, G-Sawar, M-Saur, S-Salmali	Sinwar/Salmalidvipa
Buchanania lanzan	H-Achar	Achra
Butea monosperma	H-Dhak, palas, Tesu, S-Palasha,T-Porasu	Dhaka
Calligonam poligonoides	R-Phog	Phogat
Calotropis gigantea	H-Ak, S-Madar	Madra
Cannabis sativa	H-Bhang	Bhangu
Capparis decidua	H-Karir	Karir
Celtis australis	H-Kharik, Kharak,	Kharra
Ceriops tagal	H-Goran	Gora
Colchicum luteum	H-Hirantutiya, K-Irkim, Moond, S-Hiranyatuth	Moond
Cymbopogon martinii	H-Rosha, Roshisha, Gandhvel	Rosa
Dalbergia sisoo	H-Shisham, B-Sisu, S-Sinsaka	Sinsinwar/Shakadvipa
Datura stramonium	H-Dhatura, G-Dholo Dhaturo, S-Dhatura	Dhatrawal
Datura stramonium	H-Dhatura, G-Dholo Dhaturo, S-Dhatura	Dhatrawal/Shivashekhara
Dipterocarpus turbinatus	H-Gurjan	Gurjar
Duabanga grandiflora	H-Khokan	Khokhar
Eleocarpus varuna	H-Bhadraik	Bhadrecha
Ephedra gerardiana	H-Asmania, Phok, Khanda,G-Asmaniya, P-Budshur,	Khanda, Badsar, Phogat
Euphorbia hirta	H-Lal Dudhi, G-Dudheli, S-Nagarjuni, Pusitoa	Dudi, Naga
Euphorbia nerilifolia	H-Sehund, Thuhar R-Thor, S-Snuhi, P-Danda Thor	Thori
Ferula narthex	H- Hing, S-Agudagandha, Balhika, T-Perungayam	Bahika, Henga
Ficus glomerata	H- Gular	Guleria
Grevia optiva	H-Bhimal, Biul, Dhaman	Dhama, Grewal
Hardwickia binata	H-Anjan	Anjane
Hemidesmus indicus	H- Anantmul, M-anantavel, S-Nagajihya, T-Nannari, central india-kali Dudhi, Chhoti Dudhi	Naga,Dudi
Holorrhena antidysentrica	H-Indrajau, korai, Kurchi, S-Kalinga, O-Kherwa,	Khairwa
Jatropha curcas	H-Jatropha	Jat
Madhuka indica	H-Mahua, G-Mahudo, S-Madhuka	Madhu, Mahua,Mahure
Machilus gammieana	H-Lali	Lal
Nardostachys grandiflora	H-Jatamansi, G-Jatamansi, S-Jatamansi, K-Bhitijatt	Jat
Nelumbo nucifera	H-Kamal	Kamal
Operculina Turpethum	H-Nisoth, Pithori, B-Dudiya Kalmi, G-Nashatar, S-Kalaparni, T-Sivathai	Dudi, Shiva, Tur, Thori
Phoenix dactylifera Date Palm	H-Khajur,	Khajuria
Piper longum	H-Pipali, B-Jatya, S-Magathi, Pippali	Jat
Podophylum hexandrum	H-Banbaigan,Papri, G-Venivel	Beniwal
Prosopis cineraria	H-Chheonkar, Chhonkara R-Khejari, Janti, Sangri, Khokha, P-Jand, G-Sami, Sumri T-Jambu	Chhonkar, Chhonkara, Sangwa, Khokhar, Sumra
Salvadora oleoides	H-Pillu, Peelu, R-Pilwan, Jāl, P-Vann	Pilania
Saraca asoka	H-Ashok	Ashoka
Saussurea lappa	H-Kuth, B-Kur, G-Kuth, S-Agada, Kushta	Kath, Kuru
Schleichera oleosa	H-Kusum	Kaswan
Shorea robusta	H-Sal, Shaku, S-Shal	Saka
Sida acuta	H-Banmethi, S-Bala T-Malaitangi	Bal
Sida cordifolia	H-Kharenti,Kungi, G-Baladana, B-Bala S-Jayanti	Kharinta, Kang, Bal
Sida rhombifolia	H-Svetbarela, S-Atibala T-Chitramutt	Bal
Sida spinosa	H-Gulsakri, S-Nagbala	Guliya,Naga,Bal
Sterculia urens	H-Gulu, Karai, Kulu G-Kadayo, Kandol, Te-Ponaku	Gulia, Ponia, Karia, Kundu
Sterculia foetida	H-Poon	Poonia
Syzygium cumini	H-Jamun, G-Jambu, T-Naga	Naga/Jambudvipa
Tamarindus indica	H-Imli, T-Ruli	Ruhela
Tecomella undulata	H-Rohida, S-Rohitika	Ruhela, Rohtak
Tectonan grandis	H-Sagwan, T-JMal, S-Saka	Sangwan/Saka
Terminalia alata	H-Asna, Sain, M-Saj,	Sejwar
Terminalia bellirica	H-Bahera, G-Bahedan, S-Telaphala, Te-Tadi, Tandra	Tandi, Tanda
Urgenia indica	H-Ban Piaz, Kolikanda, G-Jangli Kando, S-Kolakanda	Kalkhande
Vernonia anthelmintica	H-Banjiri, Somraj, G-kalijiri, S-Somaraji, Te-Adavijilakara	Lakra
Woodfordia fruiticosa	H-Dhaula	Dhaulya
Ziziphus nummularia	H-Ber, Jharber	Beriya, Berwal
Ziziphus jujuba	H-Ber, Jharber	Beriya, Berwal

Template:To be expanded

References

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Author लेखक: Laxman Burdak लक्ष्मण बुरड़क