History of the Jats/Chapter VI
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The Book by Ram Swarup Joon
1938, 1967 (Eng Tr)Contents |
Chapter VI: Offshoot Communities of the Jats
Ahirs (Abhiras) And Jats
The Ahirs are of Yayati Ji’s Yadu Branch. They are the descendants of Yadu’s second son Satjit where as all the gotras, who are the descendants of Yadu’s elder son Krishna, are found amongst the Jats. In other words JATs and AHIRs are very closely related. Including Their gotras, the total number of JAT ‘Gotras’ rise to 700. The North Western Ahirs have only 97 Gotras’ which also include 20 percent Jat Gotras. The Ahirs are divided in two dynasties i.e. ‘Yadu Bansi’ and Gowal Bansi. The Ahirs migrated in large numbers to Yunan (Greece) and Southern parts of India and got merged in other communities.
The Ahirs of Southern and Eastern India adopted the profession of tending cattle and selling milk and came to be known as Gawalas or Gawal Bansi. The Ahirs of Northern India who are agriculturists, started looking down upon their milk selling brethern and even refused to recognise them as Yadu Vanshi. Therefore, Ahirs. inspite of being an ancient race are found in comparatively small number.
The number of their known gotras is also small because most of them prefer to be known as Yadav rather than by their gotras which thus got gradually forgotten. Ahirs are found in almost all present States
Their population is dense in districts Mirzapur, Khandesh and Badayun and on this account that part is called AHIR VATI. With the passage of time these AHIRs have lost trace of their actual Gotras.
In the olden days GTJJRAT was ruled by AHIRs and due to this reason the AHIR Lord Krishna made his kingdom Dwaraka a strong hold of Ahirs to save them from the onslaughts of Raja Jarasanda of Magadha, father-in-law of Kansa.
After that GUJARs succeeded in ousting the AHIRs from KATHIAWAR, they changed the name of LATH DESH to GUJARAT. Several tribes of AHIRs also settled in GREECE where HERCULES (BALRAMJI) is worshiped. According to Herrodotus, HECULES (BALRAMJI) called himself an Indo Arvan of Atre Vansa because ATRE was the predecessor SATJIT.
In 2000 B.C. JAT and AHIR tribes are said to have been found in Iran. An Ahir officer was in the Army of Samudra Gupta.
Most of the Ahir ‘Gotras’ have been derived not from the names of their ancestors but by the names of place where they lived. Some of these marked J in the list are purely JAT Gotras. A list of Ahir gotras is given below :
Panwalia, Bahama, Pirt wa, Raralia, Rabad, Roswalia, Ilberia, Ilberia, Shovalia, Sisoviya, Pisan, Silgi, Sabakwal, Sunaria, Sanwalia, Sisodhia, ®
Khoia, Kandhla, (J) Lahotia Loachas (J) Madh Rama, Mohakhan, Matahia, Maniwala, Nuniyal, (J) Niani, Chhoria, Bchhiklni (J), Dharam (J), Deva, Dagar (J), Dharntarta, Dhaliwal (J), Dilchar, Dhamiwal, Dumarwal, Dhahdla,
Ahir Gotras of UP
Rowat Sunaya, Kaih (Katheria), Sikarva, Thukrila, ( J ) Sikarva, Malhi(J): Bhind, Chaura, Chhunkaiya {J}, Burotha, Majwar, Rughiniya, Landi, Jhinwar, Saimaryhhula, Nara (Nehra), Bhogta (Bhagat), Bar (Bargiya), Khanko, Harkhiya, Bais (Beswar), Raesor, Majhroha, Bura(J), Gangoriya, Kusmariya, Kathiya, Munda (J),
Atri Budh Tahk Parwaes Biati Yadu Puar I Yadav I Krishana Sat Jit Boye Hahe He
Ahir Gotras
Apharia, Bachick (J), Bhabria, Badm, Bachuwal, Bhakulaish, Hodanwal, Bhasil, Binmoria, Bathuthia, Harlla, Bharial, Bagoria, Churia, Badun, Bhagroilia, Balaudhia, Chitaria, Bodkdal, Banjir, Madhgtri, Chitosia, Harivel, Sharia, Khadoia, Chhiralwal, Kharolia, Kirwal, Vidharia, Khaiao, Kaniawal, Karewia, Deshwal (J), Kharwaria, Kingas (J), Kharania, Gogar, Khormba, Kothwal, Nainwal, Gamwal, Rhola, Karoti, Nanu, Gangania, Kakria, Kharwalia, Nakhnia, Kurar, Khartania, Kasoran (J), Punbwar, Kulhad, Koslia, Kathet, Dahaiya (J),
The Ahir Brahmin. Ahir Sunar, Ahir Sweeper and Ahir Koli castes are found in Khandesh.
Ahirs in North Western parts of India have similar customs to the JATS. Widow marriage is practiced by them.
In this area, Rao TUla Ram of KOSLl in REWARI Tehsil has been a prominent figure in the days of War of Independence, 1857. He fought a fierce battle against the British.
Ahir Raj in Rewari
A majority of Ahirs occupy the Rewari Thesil of Gurgaon district. This area is known as Ahirwal. When Shershah Suri fought against Mughal chief, Humayun, the Ahir ‘Khap’ helped Humayun under the leadership of Rao Rura Singh. When Humayun occupied the throne of Delhi again he made Rao Rura Singh the Chief of a Pargana and the Head Quarters of the Pargana was named Rewari. During the reign of Mughals the Ahir State remained as their trust-worthy friend and Rao Tej Singh made a name with them. In 1803 Lord Lake reduced the power and position of the Mughals and captured the Ahirs State which was at that time ruled by Puran Singh. Rao Tula Ram was born in 1825. When he was thirteen, Rao Puran Singh passed away. Rao Tula Ram was very courageous. He increased his power and territory. Bahadur Shah Zafar was a fast friend of Rao Tula Ram. Raja Mahar Singh of Balabgarh was the administrator and defender of Delhi during the mutiny of 1857. Rao Raja Tula Ram was very active in the area of Rewari and Narnaul and inflicted a crushing defeat to the Britishers.
When the forces of Jaipur, Patiala, Jind and Kapurthala arrived to the help of Britishers, Kao Tula Ram had to leave Rewari, Kanund, and Narnaul. But he did not lose heart and made an alliance with Scindia and Tatiya Tope to continue fighting. A conference of the revolutionaries was called and Rao Raja Tula Ram was appointed to seek help from foreign countries. Rao Tula Ram reached the shore in disguise. He went Basra to by sea and met the Russian envoy and Khaddiv(?) and then reached Iran. He was given a royal reception but was refused help. After that he came to Kabul and struggled for six years. raising the united army of Pathans and the Indian revolutionaries. Luck and life did not favour him and he passed away. The Amir of Kabul sent his ashes to Rewari with two Sardars.
Rao Balbir Singh was made the chief of the Ahir Khap. Rao Birendra Singh. one time Chief Minister of Haryana, is the grandson of Rao Tula Ram. Source : R S Joon : History of the Jats Ch6 - Offshoot Communities of the Jats.
Gujar and Jats
The Gujar Community is a martial community of India.
Until now Historians have not been able to say exactly as to what is the origin of word Gujar, Gurjar, Gaocher, Kosar, Khosa or Khijar.
The Gujars are also described in modern history books as descendants of Huns. The theory is that Hun tribes used to keep on moving but their base was in the country near Bahre Khijar (Black sea). From here they went to Europe and Central Asia. Their main occupation was grazing cattle and sheep. They used to call themselves Khujar. Khujar got converted to Gujar
Although Huns were shepherds,they were brave warriors. They were from pure Aryan stock they invaded India in about 400 AD.
When defeated and driven out by king YASHODHARAMAN they concealed themselves in the mountains. A large number settled down in these countries.
But amongst Indian Gujars only five gotras are after the name of Hun Sardars.Th e rest of the Gujars are from Jat Gotras. Some of them are from Rajputs also.
Dr. Huthi of Georgia paid a visit to India in 1967 and studied the Gujars living in Northern India. He has stated that there are Georgian tribes too among the Gujars because the accent of the Indian Gujars, their dress and their bullock carts resemble that of the Georgians. Dr. Huthi is of the view that they came to India when Timur let loose a reign of terror over them and consequently they settled here. They came here to protect their lives and religion and called themselves Georgian", Jorjars",. Later this word was changed into Gujjar.
The "Khetana" caste of the Gujjars is also a proof of the fact that they came from Khotan.
The Gujar Gotras are divided into three groups. One group is after the name of Hun Sardars; these are Meharkul, Torman, Jabila, Chhabri Chiche etc.
The second group is after the names of foreign Jat groups whose ancestors have come from Gor and Khotan coutries; these are Casana, Khatana, Gorsi, (Ghosi) Birket etc. The third and largest group Gujars of gotras are the same as Jat Gotras.
The Gujar force ascendancy arose after the death of King Harsh Vardhana and they undertook the task of protecting the Hindu religion and
checking the advance of Islam on the Western frontiers of the country.
The Jats accepted Gujar leadership because Gujars were Buddhists and had arisen for a noble cause. The Jats who joined the Gujar force also came to be known as Gujars by and by. (Kings of Solankni Gotra,PANWAR or PARTIHARS established two kingdoms named BHINMAL, and TIRA (ACHALGARH) in the area of Mount Abu.
The proof of Parmars and Pratihars being Gujars or Huns is that there was a town named JABLAPURI which both these kingdoms claimed as their heritage. JABILA ( HUN) was the chief of the tribe.
Kasana or KASVAN is a Jat Gotra in Rajasthan at present. King KANISKA was a foreign Yuchi (YATI Jat and Khathans were Khotani or Turkish Jats. Turkistan has been a pure Jat country and the ancestors or Turks were of TAKSHAK GHORSI (Ghosi) (GHORZAY), the Zablastanis of Kabul were Indians.
GORZAI a big tribe of Pathans in Ghazni (ZABILASTAN) claim their origin from Gazni.
The Gaur Jats and Rajput had their kingdoms in RAJASTHAN also.
This was because AFGHANISTAN was a province of India and tribes often shifted from one province to another.
The Arab historian SULEMAN NADVI in his book Tarikhe-Tibri' writes that in 900 A. D. there was a powerful Jat king of BALHARA Gotra. He ruled on the Western frontiers of India and was a fast friend of Arab Kings.
On the other hand the Gujar was a bitter foe of Arab and Islam. The Gujar rule had that time spread over most of India. About 70 Jat Gotras joined the Gujar force and started calling themselves GUJARS. Some of these Jat Gotras are given below.
Bhind, Bhoria, Bhatti, Babar, Bagiar, Bar, Bhilaut, Bhadan, Chalukya, Chaura, Cirwar, Changas, Dulesra, Duhal, Dehru, Goraya, Jarija, Jinder, Kitcher, Kataria, Khokkar, Khirya, Khare, Kharal, Punia, Rathi, Rawasia, Phalswal(Poruval), Sindher, Singal, Sargu, Lamba, Midhan, Matsara, Medh, Puni, Sandal, Thakrela, Titarwal, Tanwar, Thand, Gomat, Girwar, Gaherwal, Jamgal, Jaglain, Bander, Birru, Chandal, Chandel, Chhonker,
The Gujars were Buddhists. After the death of King Harsha vardhan, the Puranic Mat eclipsed Buddhism.
The Brahmin priests did not admit Gujars as 'Akshatriyas' calling them foreigners.
This point was an obstacle for hem in winning over the public faith and establishing a firm Gujar rule- With this policy, the Brahmins succeeded in converting Gujars from Buddhism to the Puranic Mat.
Later the Gujars in power were named as 'Rajputs', after the ceremony of 'Agni Kund Yagya' and granted the privileges to be classified as 'Aksahtriyas'
References
Back to History of the Jats Go to Chapter V/ Chapter VII
