Pandae
| Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R) |
Pandae were ancient race mentioned by Pliny and Megasthenes.
Variants
Jat Gotras Namesake
- Pander = Pandæ (Pliny.vi.23)
- Pandel = Pandæ (Pliny.vi.23)
- Pandya = Pandæ (Pliny.vi.23)
History
Mention by Pliny
Pliny[1] mentions 'The Indus.'.... After these we come to the nation of the Pandæ,9 the only one throughout all India which is ruled by women. It is said that Hercules had but one child of the female sex, for which reason she was his especial favourite, and he bestowed upon her the principal one of these kingdoms. The sovereigns who derive their origin from this female, rule over three hundred towns, and have an army of one hundred and fifty thousand foot, and five hundred elephants.
9 Hardouin suggests that this people dwelt on the present peninsula of Guzerat.
Jat clans mentioned by Megasthenes
Megasthenes also described India's caste system and a number of clans out of these some have been identified with Jat clans by the Jat historians. Megasthenes has mentioned a large number of Jat clans. It seems that the Greeks added 'i' to names which had an 'i' ending. Identified probable Jat clans have been provided with active link within brackets. (See Jat clans mentioned by Megasthenes)
| Jat clans as described by Megasthenes | ||||||||||||
| Location | Jat clans | Information | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15. Next come | The Pandae (Pander, Pandel , Pandya) | The only race in India ruled by women. They say that Hercules having but one daughter, who was on that account all the more beloved, endowed her with a noble kingdom. Her descendants rule over 300 cities, and command an army of 150,000 foot and 500 elephants | ||||||||||