Nehra

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A group of Nehra Jats
A group of Nehra Jats

Nehra (नेहरा) Nahra (नहरा) Naira (नैरा) Nahare (नहरे) Nera (नेरा) is a gotra found in Jats of Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh in India. The origin of Nehra is derived from Nehra mount in Sindh where they were the rulers. Nehras are descendent of Narishyanta [1](Narhari), son of Vaivasvata Manu and belong to solar race of Kshatriyas. The Shekhawati area earlier was known as Nehrawati after Nehras. [2]. They are said to be a branch of the Sindhu gotra. [3] They are considered to be same as the Neuri of the ancient Greeks and Naharians of the Egyptian Pharaohs. [4]

Contents

History

Mahabharata Shalya Parva mentions names of combatants armed with diverse weapons and clad in diverse kinds of robes and ornaments, All of them came to the ceremony for investing Kartikeya with the status of generalissimo. Shalya Parva in Sanskrit mentions in shloka 25 Nehra as under:

तदा देव ददुस तस्मै सेनां नैरृतसांकुलाम
देवशत्रुक्षयकरीम अजय्यां विश्वरूपिणीम ।। 25 ।।

Mahabharata Bhisma Parva in Sanskrit mentions the name of province of Nehras along with Shakas, Matsyas and Nishadas in shloka 50 as under:

शका निषादा निषधास तदैवानर्तनैरृताः
दुगूलाः परतिमत्स्याश च कुशलाः ।। 50 ।।

Nahra (नहरा) & Nara (नारा) : The Markandeya Purana mentions them as Niharas. [5] Nāhrā and Nārā are treated as different clans although they may be one. [6]

The Sundha Hill (Jodhpur) inscription of Chechigadeva mentions the Salya (Syal), the Sanghas, and the Nahras. [7] [8]

After Sindh Nehras have been mentioned by James Tod to be living in Jangladesh area of Rajasthan when the Rathores annexed it. [9] According to James Tod, the spot which Bika selected for his capital, was the birthright of a Nehra Jat, who would only concede it for this purpose on the condition that his name should be linked in perpetuity with its surrender. Naira, or Nera, was the name of the proprietor, which Beeka added to his own, thus composing that of the future capital, Bikaner.[10]

Nehra jats ruled in Rajasthan over an area of 200 sqaire miles. In fifteenth century Nehras ruled at Narhar in Jhunjhunu district. At Naharpur, 16 miles down below the Nehra Hill, their another group ruled. At the end of 16th century and beginning of 17th century there was a war between Nehras and Muslim rulers. The Nehra chieftain Jhunjha or Jujhar Singh won the war and captured Jhunjhunu town. Later at the time of victory ceremony he was deceived by Shekhawat Rajputs and killed. Jhunjhunu town in Rajasthan was established in the memory of Jujhar Singh Nehra the above Jat chieftain. There were 1760 villages under the rule of Nehras in Rajasthan.

About Narhar, Thakur Deshraj writes that it was ruled by Nehra Jats. Nehra jats ruled in Rajasthan over an area of 200 square miles. The Nehra hills of Rajasthan were their territory. To the west of Jhunjhunu town is a Hill 1684 feet above see-level and visible from miles around. [1]. This hill near Jhunjhunu town is still known as Nehra Hill in their memory. [11] Another hill was known as Maura which was famous in memory of Mauryas. Nehra in Jaipur was the first capital in olden times. In the fifteenth century Nehras ruled at Narhar, where they had a fort. At Naharpur, 16 miles down below the Nehra Hill, there another group ruled. [11]The present Shekhawati at that time was known as Nehrawati. [12]

At the end of 16th century and beginning of 17th century there was a war between Nehras and Muslim rulers. When Nehras were defeated by nawabs, they used to offer gifts to the Nawabs on special occasions, due to this they were also called 'Shahi bhentwal'. [11]

After nawab Kasim Khan Husain Khan became nawab of Bagar. His some descendants lived at Bagar and Nunia Gothra. Husain Khan’s younger brother Sikandar Khan lived at Khudana. Another younger brother of nawab, Bahlol Khan founded Islampur in 1622. Bahlol Khan’s son Jalal Khan constructed a well in Islampur, which is known as “Jalal Khan ka kuan”.

The pathans of Narhar unitedly opposed the Jagir given to Shardul Singh Shekhawat. [13] Jujhar Singh Nehra (1664 – 1730) played an important role in fighting with the Nawabs. His father was a faujdar of Nawabs. Shardul Singh sought the help of Jujhar Singh Nehra. The Jats through Jujhar Singh and Rajputs through Sardul Singh agreed upon a proposal to fight united against Muslim rulers and if the Nawab were defeated Jujhar Singh would be appointed the Chieftain. [11]

Jujhar Singh Nehra, one day found the right opportunity and attacked Nawabs at Jhunjhunu and Narhar. He defeated the army of Nawab Sadulla Khan on Saturday, aghan sudi 8 samvat 1787 (1730 AD). The Nehra chieftain Jhunjha or Jujhar Singh won the war and captured Jhunjhunu town. [11]This is clear from the following poetry in Rajasthani Language -

सत्रह सौ सत्यासी, आगण मास उदार Satrahasau Satyasī, Agahan Mās Udār
सादे लीन्हो झूंझणूं, सुदी आठें शनिवार Sade līnho jhūnjhanūn, Sudī Āthen Shanivār

The Muslim Nawab 'Sadulla Khan', in charge of Jhunjhunu, was defeated jointly by Shardul Singh and Jujhar Singh Nehra. But, as per Kunwar Panne Singh's book 'Rankeshari Jujhar Singh', Later at the time of victory ceremony Jujhar Singh was deceived and killed by Shekhawats after he was appointed the chieftain. Kunwar Panne Singh has written that after the tilak ceremony of chieftainship, Rajputs attacked him when he was at a solitary place. Jujhar Singh was surprized at this incidence and when he asked what kind of sardari he was being offered this way. He was replied that we (Rajputs) are not fools, we are making you not the live sardar but a dead sardar. You should have remained vigilent. When this news of treachery spread in in the city, there was anarchy in the Jat army and Jats became furious. It is said that at this moment a Charan sung a poetry to Shardul Singh. [14] It is clear from the poetry in Rajasthani Language -

सादे लीन्हो झूंझणूं, लीनो अमर पटै Sade, linho Jhunjhunu, Lino amar patai
बेटे पोते पड़ौते, पीढी सात लटै Bete pote padaute pidhi sat latai
Meaning - This state was taken by Jhunjha from Sadullekhan, he became immortal. Now your seven generations would rule over it.

Jhunjhunu town in Rajasthan was established in the memory of Jujhar Singh Nehra the above Jat chieftain. [11]

Nehra in Rigveda

Nehra is a Rigvedic clan according to the historian Bhim Singh Dahiya. In Rigveda it is mentioned as Narya (RV VIJI/24/29). A king of this tribe is mentioned as a great donor, son of Nara (1/112/9) 1/54/6. The Rig Veda/Mandala 1/Hymn 112 shloka 9[15] writes about them as under:

"Wherewith ye quickened the most sweet exhaustless flood, and comforted Vasistha, ye who ne'er decay;
And to Srutarya, Kutsa, Narya gave your help,--Come hither unto us, O Asvins, with those aids."

The Rig Veda/Mandala 1/Hymn 54 shloka 6[16] writes about Narya as under:

"Thou helpest Narya, Turvasa, and Yadu, and Vayya's son Turviti, Satakratu!
Thou helpest horse and car in final battle thou breakest down the nine-and-ninety castles."

They are to be identified with Nara clan of the Jats, the Nairi of West Asia. Assyrian inscriptions of Shalmaneser I (ca. 1270 BC) first mention a loose confederation called the Urartu or Nairi in North-East Anatolia, in the region around Lake Van. [17]

Nehra by Megasthenes

There is mention of Nehra people by Greek writer Megasthenes (350BC- 290BC) in his book Indica as Narae, the people who were enclosed by the loftiest of Indian mountains, Capitalia. The inhabitants on the other side of this mountain work extensive mines of gold and silver.[18]

Nehra in Sindh

Nehras were rulers of Nehrun state in Sindh at the time of attack on Sindh by Muhammad bin Qasim in 710. Present Hyderabad (Pakistan) city was settled on the land of Nehrun. The Hyderabad city was then named Nehrun Kot and was called the heart of the Mehran. [19]

Nehra in Jangladesh

James Tod in "Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan" has mentioned that Bika - the sixth son of Joda was spreading his rule in Jangladesh. He decided to build capital of his state on land belonging to Nehra jats. Nehras agreed to give the land for capital on the condition that their clan name will be included in the name of capital. So the name of caital of the state of Bika was : Bika + Nehra = Bikaner. The city of Bikaner was founded in 1488. [20]

Distribution in Rajasthan

Locations in Jaipur city

Ambabari, Bagruwalon ka Rasta, Gandhi Nagar, Ganesh Colony (Khatipura), Jaisinghpura (Sanganer), Khatipura, Maharani Farm, Murlipura Scheme, Queens Road, Sanganer, Shanti Nagar, Tonk Road,

Villages in Sikar district

Bibipur Bara, Dhaud, Dinwa Jatan, Chomu Purohitan (Khatushyamji), Disnau, Ghassu ka baas, Gyanpura, Harsawa, Jassi ka Bas (Govindpur), Jhira ki Dhani, Kalyanpura (Shekhisar), Katrathal, Kotri Dhayalan, Molyasi, Nayabas, Nehra ki Dhani, Patoda, Prempura, Rinau, Shyampura, Sihot Chhoti, Sikar,

Villages in Barmer district

Balotra,

Villages in Jhunjhunu district

Pilani,

Villages in Churu district

Biramsar,

Villages in Hanumangarh district

Bashir, Sangaria,

Vilages in Nagaur District

Payali, Sudrasan, Purohit ji ka Bas, Maulasar,

Distribution in Haryana

Kalwana, Nindana (Near Meham)

Distribution in Muzaffarnagar district

Muzaffarnagar,

Distribution in Mandsaur district

Ralayta (Multanpura), Ralayta (Multanpura), Afjalpur, Mandsaur,

Notable persons of Nehra clan

References

  1. ↑ Genealogy of Narishyanta
  2. ↑ Dr Mahendra Singh Arya, Dharmpal Singh Dudi, Kishan Singh Faujdar & Vijendra Singh Narwar, Adhunik Jat Itihasa (The modern history of Jats), Agra 1998
  3. ↑ Ram Swarup Joon:History of Jats
  4. ↑ Bhim Singh Dahiya: Jats the Ancient Rulers, p.266
  5. ↑ op. cit. p. 534
  6. ↑ Bhim Singh Dahiya, Jats the Ancient Rulers ( A clan study), 1980, Sterling Publishers New Delhi , p. 288
  7. ↑ Bhim Singh Dahiya: Jats the Ancient Rulers, p.233
  8. ↑ Epica Indica, Vol. IX, p. 74 ff
  9. ↑ James Tod, Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan
  10. ↑ James Tod, James Tod, Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, Volume II (With a Preface by Douglas Sladen), First Indian Edition 1983 (Originally Published in 1829-32), Oriental Books Reprint Corporation. 54, Jhansi Road, New Delhi-1100055, Annals of Bikaner, p. 141
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 Thakur Deshraj, Jat Itihasa (Hindi), Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan, Delhi, 1934, 2nd edition 1992 page 614-615.
  12. ↑ Dr Mahendra Singh Arya, Dharmpal Singh Dudi, Kishan Singh Faujdar & Vijendra Singh Narwar, Adhunik Jat Itihasa (The modern history of Jats), Agra 1998
  13. ↑ Sahiram: Ek adhūrī krānti, Shekhawati kā kisān āndolan (1922-1952), page-8
  14. ↑ Kunwar Panne Singh, Rankeshari Jujhar Singh
  15. ↑ http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Rig_Veda/Mandala_1/Hymn_112
  16. ↑ http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Rig_Veda/Mandala_1/Hymn_54
  17. ↑ Bhim Singh Dahiya: Aryan Tribes and the Rig Veda, ( 1991) , Dahinam Publishers, 16 B Sujan Singh Park, Sonepat, Haryana, India
  18. ↑ Megasthenes-Indika
  19. ↑ Thakur Deshraj, Jat Itihas (Hindi), Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan, Delhi, 1934, 2nd edition 1992 page 701.
  20. ↑ James Tod, Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan


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