Punia

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Punia/Puniya(पुनिया) Poonia/Pooniya(पूनिया) Ponia/Poniya (पोनिया)Paunia/Paunia(पौनिया) Painiya (पैनियाँ) is a clan or gotra of jats in Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh in India. They are the descendants of Raja Paunbhadra son of Virabhadra.^[1] As per Hisar Gazetteer they are considered to be of Shiva or Shivi gotra. Dilip Singh Ahlawat has mention it as one of the ruling Jat clans in Central Asia. ^[2] They are known as Pune in Maharashtra.^[3] They are known as Paun or Pooliya in Gujarat.

Contents 1 History 2 Thakur Deshraj writes on Punias 3 Chronology and origin of the gotra 4 Visit of Punia kingdom by Fa-Hien 5 Distribution in Rajasthan 5.1 Locations in Jaipur city 5.2 Villages in Jhunjhunu district 5.3 Villages in Sikar district 5.4 Villages in Barmer district 5.5 Villages in Jodhpur district 5.6 Villages in Nagaur district 5.7 Villages in Pali district 5.8 Villages in Ajmer district 5.9 Villages in Churu district 5.10 Villages in Ganganagar district 5.11 Villages in Hanumangarh district 5.12 Villages in Sawai Madhopur district 5.13 Villages in Banswara district 6 Distribution in Haryana 6.1 Village in Jhajjar district 6.2 Village in Jind district 6.3 Villages in Hisar district 7 Distribution in Uttar Pradesh 7.1 Villages in Mathura district 7.2 Villages in Muzaffarnagar district 7.3 Villages in Agra district 8 Distribution in Madhya Pradesh 8.1 Villages in Mandsaur district 9 Distribution in Punjab 10 Notable persons from this gotra 11 See also 12 References 13 External link

History

Mahabharata Shalya_Parva_in_Sanskrit writes about Puniyas in shloka 55 as under:

पुण्यनामा सुनामा च सुवक्त्रः परियथर्शनः

परिश्रुतः कॊक नथः परिय माल्यानुलेपनः ।। 55 ।।

According to Hukam Singh Pawar (Pauria) ^[4], In all probability the Punia or Pauniyas belong to the followers of Pani leader Bribu. It is possible that a branch of Pani or Puni migrated from Sapta Sindhu to south India where they were known as Pani ^[5] or Paunika ^[6], identified ^[7], ^[8], ^[9] with the Punaka-Visaya of Talegaon inscription i.e. modern Poona or Pune, which may be their earlier settlement. The Punaiyyas or Panayyas of the South also betray their ancestry from the Panis. While Sivis, Mallavas etc. migrated from the Indus Valley after Alexander’s invasion to Rajasthan where they still survive in the Sivis, Shivranas, Mall or Malli Jats, the Punia or Pauniya Jats of Rajasthan, are likely to be the descendants ^[10] of the Panis, who were deprived of their wealth ^[11] by their brethren Aryan opponents, and were compelled ^[12] to settle down in their new home from the valley much earlier. The Punias were allowed by Aryans to remain in their Indian home in return for liberal donations by Bribu ^[13], ^[14], ^[15] to the Aryans (the Bharatas) for which he was held in high esteem by them where as the rest of Panis, who refused to donate likewise, were chased ^[16], ^[17] to the western lands. Babylonia, known as Brbyru to the Vedic Indians, is said to be the city of Bribu, (a wealthy leader of the Panis), by Weber, (Kalyanaramana, 1969, 112). It is interesting to note that the leaders of Panis who migrated ^[18], ^[19] to America in the pre-Aztec times from India, are depicted as robust, standing erect with folded hands, having Rajasthani features, with their head adorned with Marwari pagrees. ^[20]

The people called Paunikas (Paunas) are mentioned in Vayu Purana. They were ruling near Jagadhari on the Yamuna river and their epigraph has been found at Jagatgram near Chuhadpur in Dehradun district. ^[21] Herodotus mentions a people, Paeonia, a colony of Teucarians. ^[22] The paeonians were transferred from Hellespont to Asia, under the orders of Darius the great. Here we have the Pauniya and Tokha Jats in Europe in sixth century BC.^[23]

The philosophy of their origin from the locks of Shiva indicates that they belong to the Naga race. Shivi and Taxak were neighbourers. After the attack of Alexander the Shivi and Taxak people moved down Panjab and occupied Jangladesh. Punia Gotra Jats were one of them to occupy parts of Jangladesh, that corresponds to the former princely state of Bikaner. They reached here in early period of christian era and ruled till 15th century when Rathores occupied the Jangladesh. ^[24]

Rathores under the leadership of Bika and Kandal were spreading their rule in Jangladesh. At that time Punia Jat were ruling six states and about 300 villages. The extent of rule of Punias spread from Jhansal, which was their capital, to Marod. Marod town is situated at a distance of about 40 kms from present Rajgarh town in Rajasthan. Godara Jats had aligned with Rathores due to which Punias faced a defeat and moved to Uttar Pradesh. Punias had strongly retaliated and were able to kill Rathore Raja Rai Singh.

Beeka, the founder of Rathore supremacy in Bikaner, died in S. 1551 (1495 AD). Kalyan Singh succeeded in S. 1603. He had three sons, 1, Rae Singh; 2, Ram Singh ; and 3, Pirthi Singh. Rae Singh succeeded in S. 1630 (a.d. 1573). Until this reign, the Jats had, in a great degree, preserved their ancient privileges. Ram Singh, at the same time, completely subjugated the Johyas, who, always troublesome, had recently attempted to regain their ancient independence. Ram Singh, having destroyed the power of future resistance in the Johyas, turned his arms against the Puniya Jats, the last who preserved their ancient liberty. They were vanquished, and the Rajpoots were inducted into their most valuable possessions. But the conqueror paid the penalty of his life for the glory of colonising the lands of the Puniyas. He was slain in their expiring effort to shake off the yoke of the stranger ; and though the Ramsingotes add to the numerical strength, and enlarge the territory of the heirs of Beeka, they, like the Kandulotes, little increase the power of the state, to which their obedience is nominal. Sidhmukh and Sankhoo are the two chief places of the Ramsingotes. Thus, with the subjugation of the Puniyas, the political annihilation of the six Jat cantons of the desert was accomplished. ^[25]

Thakur Deshraj writes on Punias

Following is the English translation of History of Punias mentioned by Thakur Deshraj pages 617 and 618 from the Book ‘Jat Itihas’ (History of the Jats), 1992 edition: Publisher: Maharaja Surajmal Smarak Shiksah Sanstha, C-4 Janak Puri, New Delhi 110058.

"The Puniyas are Naga clans, and Punia is derived from Naga. The Hissar Gazetteer says that they consider themselves to be of the Shiva Gotr (clan) and there is reference to them being descended from Mahadev (Shiva)’s locks. Shivi and Takshak people lived contagiously- side by side. These two evolved into being followers of Shaivism.

Following the invasion by Sikandar(Alexander) some of the Shivi and Takshak clans came down below Punjab. Some out of these established their hold on Jangal Pradesh. The Puniyas too arose of such Jat groups who established their hold on a country and utilized for a very long time. They reached Jangal Pradesh by the time of commencement of the Christian era , current era. They governed this land upto the 15th century CE.

At the time of the arrival of the group of the Rahtors under Bika and Kaandal, the Punia Sardars or chieftains had 300 villages under their sway. They had been independent from many generations. In addition they had six other republics of the Jats in Jangal Pradesh.

Ram Ratan Charan in his “History of Rajputana” in Hindi, refers to these six realms as ‘Bhumiyachare” i.e. republics. Reference to these republics is also found in 'Bharat ke Desi Rajya’, 'Tarikh Raajgahn Hind’ , ‘Vakaye Rajputana’, and many other history books. We(Thakur Deshraj) have written our account on the basis of these historical Texts.

At that time, the capital was Jhansal, which is on the boundary of modern Hissar. Ram Ratan Charan calls this capital as Luddhi in his book.

Theeir Raja was Kanhadev at that time. Kanhadev was a great leader and a fearless warrior who could never be defeated. His Punia clan brethren followed his wishes. Republics are defeated by internal dissent. His Puniya society had unity. He did not have a large standing military force, but he had no shortage of young warriors, who lived at home, and who rose to arms as soon as the call came from their leader. Every Puniya citizen considered the whole republic as of his own. They were ready to bear all hardships. They however would not tolerate a person from another community to rule over them. Their mental makeup made them refuse to accept rule by Bika. They kept fighting for their independence as long as they had young men who could come to the force. The Rahtors managed to take control of their homesteads one at a time. In the end the Rahtors constructed forts in the middle of their lands. The Rahtors would make these forts in the day, and in the night the Puniyas would break them down. The folk traditions state that some Puniyas were buried alive in the walls of some of these forts.

After much struggle the Puniyas were defeated. Some of them then migrated towards the United Provinces (modern Uttar Pradesh). The Rahtors had a big army, the Godara Jats also gave them their assistance. That is why the Puniyas lost.

It was , however, a matter of pride, that seeking to protect their Independence, they never showed cowardice. Rivers of blood were flowed by them. In revenge for the ill treatment of the leaders by the enemy, they defeated and took prisoner and killed the Rathor King Rai Singh. Reference to this act of revenge by the Puniyas is found in the book – ‘Bharat ke Desi Rajya’ (Eng- Indigenous Kingdoms of India).

The republic of the Puniyas spread from Jhansal (on the boundary of Modern Hissar, to Marod. Marod is 12 kos south of Rajgarh. The folk legends tell us, that one Sadhu told a Puniya leader, that whatever land he could cover on a mare, that will be governed by the Puniyas. The Mare was let loose and at Sunset , she reached Marod and died. At that time the Puniyas Sardar (chieftain) said:

“The journey from Jhansal ended at Marodh. The mare died but no regret.”

Traces of the old capital of the Puniyas, Jhansal where there was their fort, can still be found. Such traces are also still found in Balsamand.

The Rathor Raja would pay an annual fee to some of the Puniya chieftains to keep them peaceful and quiet. Even until recent times, there was a tradition of receiving clothing and some money from Raja annually by these Puniya leaders as a tribute."

Chronology and origin of the gotra

THE BRANCH OF PURU

The historian Ram Swarup Joon has given the chronology of Virabhadra, obtained from the records of the Bards of Dholpur, in his book ‘History of the Jats’ (1938, 1967) as under: ^[26]

(Obtained from the records of the Bards of Dholpur - after English Generation)
From : 		      Sanyati:
			     |
			 Vir Bhadra( 4 sons)
                       |
_________________________________________________________
|	             |	         | 	             | 
Pon Bhadra  KalhanBhadra Atisur Bhadra          Jakh Bhadra
(Originator (Originator	    |	           (Originator
Punya	      Kalhan       |		        Jakhar
Gotra)	     Gotra)	        |	        Gotra)
 
			    Anjana Jata Shankar
			   	    |		            |
			   Dahi Bhadra	              Brahma Bhadra
			   (Originator
			   Dahiya
			   Gotra)

Note:

According to the Bhats (bards) of the Dahiya Gotra, the descendants. Of the above spread to the following areas

(a) Pon Bhadra’s to Haryana, Brij, and Gwalior

(b) Kalhan Bhadra’s to KathiAwar and Gujrat.

(c) Atisur Bhadra’s to Malwa

(d) Jakh Bhadra’s to Punjab and Kashmir

(e) Dahi Bhadra’s to Punjab and Central Asia

(f) Brahma Bhadra’s by the name of Bamroliya to Jammu and Kashmir, Haridwar and Punjab (the ruling family of Dholpur is from this branch)

Raja Vir Bhadra had five sons and two grand sons named Pon Bhadra, Jakh Bhadra, Kalhan Bhadra, Brahma Bhadra, Ati Sur Bhadra, Dahi Bhadra and Anjana Jata Shankar. Seven major Jat gotras are named after these seven descendants of Vir Bhadra. A detailed account of these is found in the family history of Rana of Dholpur. This proves the descent of some Jats from Vir Bhadra.

• Pon Bhadra is the originator of Punia gotra.
• Kalhan Bhadra is the originator of Kalhan gotra.
• Atisur Bhadra had Ajana Jata Shankar and his son Dahi Bhadra in the lineage. Dahi Bhadra is the originator of Dahiya gotra.
• Jakh Bhadra is the originator of Jakhar gotra.

Ram Swarup Joon has given the chronology of this gotra, obtained from the records of the Bards of Dholpur, in his book ‘History of the Jats’ (1938, 1967) as under:

In the branch of Puru there was ‘Sanyati’ whose son was Virabhadra. Virabhadra had four sons 1. Pon Bhadra 2. Kalhan bhadra 3. Atisur Bhadra and 4. Jakh Bhadra.

• Pon Bhadra is the originator of Punia gotra.
• Kalhan Bhadra is the originator of Kalhan gotra.
• Atisur Bhadra had Ajanta Jata Shankar and his son Dahi Bhadra in the lineage. Dahi Bhadra is the originator of Dahiya gotra.
• Jakh Bhadra is the originator of Jakhar gotra.

According to the bards of Dahiyas, the descendants of above spread as under:

(a) Pon Bhadra’s to Haryana, Brij, and Gwalior

(b) Kalhan Bhadra’s to KathiAwar and Gujarat.

(c) Atisur Bhadra’s to Malwa

(d) Jakh Bhadra’s to Punjab and Kashmir

(e) Dahi Bhadra’s to Punjab and Central Asia

Visit of Punia kingdom by Fa-Hien

The Cinese traveler Fa-Hien reached Mathura after crossing Sindhu River through the following route:

Udyana (present Swat) >>Kandahar>>Taxila>>Purushpur>>Hilda>>Kigdom of Lo-e>>Kingdom of Poh-na >>Bhida (Punjab)>>Mathura

The text of Fa-Hien's account of his journey through Punjab is described by him in Chapter - XIV of the book by JAMES LEGGE : A RECORD OF BUDDHISTIC KINGDOMS

^[27]

"CHAPTER XIV: DEATH OF HWUY-KING IN THE LITTLE SNOWY MOUNTAINS. LO-E. POHNA. CROSSING THE INDUS TO THE EAST.

Having stayed there till the third month of winter, Fa-hien and the two others,(1) proceeding southwards, crossed the Little Snowy mountains.(2) On them the snow lies accumulated both winter and summer. On the north (side) of the mountains, in the shade, they suddenly encountered a cold wind which made them shiver and become unable to speak. Hwuy-king could not go any farther. A white froth came from his mouth, and he said to Fa-hien, "I cannot live any longer. Do you immediately go away, that we do not all die here;" and with these words he died.(3) Fa-hien stroked the corpse, and cried out piteously, "Our original plan has failed;—it is fate.(4) What can we do?" He then again exerted himself, and they succeeded in crossing to the south of the range, and arrived in the kingdom of Lo-e,(5) where there were nearly three thousand monks, students of both the mahayana and hinayana. Here they stayed for the summer retreat,(6) and when that was over, they went on to the south, and ten days' journey brought them to the kingdom of Poh-na,(7) where there are also more than three thousand monks, all students of the hinayana. Proceeding from this place for three days, they again crossed the Indus, where the country on each side was low and level.(8)

NOTES

(1) These must have been Tao-ching and Hwuy-king.

(2) Probably the Safeid Koh, and on the way to the Kohat pass.

(3) All the texts have Kwuy-king. See chapter xii, note 13.

(4) A very natural exclamation, but out of place and inconsistent from the lips of Fa-hien. The Chinese character {.}, which he employed, may be rendered rightly by "fate" or "destiny;" but the fate is not unintelligent. The term implies a factor, or fa-tor, and supposes the ordination of Heaven or God. A Confucian idea for the moment overcame his Buddhism.

(5) Lo-e, or Rohi, is a name for Afghanistan; but only a portion of it can be here intended.

(6) We are now therefore in 404.

(7) No doubt the present district of Bannu, in the Lieutenant-Governorship of the Punjab, between 32d 10s and 33d 15s N. lat., and 70d 26s and 72d E. lon. See Hunter's Gazetteer of India, i, p. 393.

(8) They had then crossed the Indus before. They had done so, indeed, twice; first, from north to south, at Skardo or east of it; and second, as described in chapter vii."

Conclusions

1. James Legge has commented at footnote – 5 that Fa-Hien crossed through the Kingdom of Lo-e that means `Rohi'. In Rajasthan Rohi means land. Fa-Hien had moved through the Land of Ponya or Punia. Here James Legge could not properly understand about the Kingdom of Lo-e. Dr Natthan Singh has mentioned in Jat Itihasa (page 113) about the existence of Rohe tribe in Afghanistan, the descendants of whom are Rohela or Ruhela Jats found in Rajasthan. Here it is interesting to note that in Afghanistan O and U are interchangable. Similarly L and R are also interchangable. Thus what Fa-Hien mentions as Kingdom of Lo-e is the Kingdom of Ruhela Jats in Afghanistan.

2.He has interpreted Poh-na as Bannu in Punjab. Infact it is used for Ponya.

3. This period was 404 AD.

4. This period pertains to the rule of Punia Jats in Punjab, Haryana and part of Rajasthan. This has been mentioned by Thakur Deshraj (page 617) that the capital of Punias was at Jhasal near border of Hisar district.

5. Ram Swarup Joon has also mentioned about Punia clan – "They are found in Bikaner, Luharu and district Hissar in large numbers. They had their capital in Bikaner. The Ponya king drove out the Dahiya rulers of Jodhpur region. They have about 100 villages in Rajgarh region. They are still found in large numbers in Deraghazi Khan and Bannu and they're all of who are followers of Islam. They have 100 villages in Tehsil in Dadri and about 10 In Aligarh. A few of them inhabit Rohtak also."

6. James Legge did not have idea about Punia clan, but Fa-Hien had clearly written it as Kingdom of Poh-na which means The Kingdom of Ponya or Punias. The Ruhela and Punia kigdoms were in neighbourhood at that time in Afghanistan.

7. Y and J are interchangeable. `Punjab' can be written as `Punyab'. Punyab=Punya+ab means the land of Punya.

8. Punya as tribe has been mentioned in Rigveda also in Punjab. Punjab must derive its name from Punya, which later was interpreted as land of five rivers.

Distribution in Rajasthan

Locations in Jaipur city

Adarsh Nagar, Ajmeri Road, Ambabari, Bapu Nagar, Barkat Nagar, C Scheme, Gandhi Nagar, Ganesh Colony (Khatipura), Ganpati Nagar, Hanuman Nagar, Harmara, Jawahar Nagar, Jhotwara, Khatipura, Machra, Mahavir Nagar I, Malviya Nagar, Mansarowar Colony, Moti Nagar, Murlipura Scheme, Niwai, Queens Road, RFC Colony, Sanganer, Shastri Nagar, Sindhi camp, Sodala, Station Road, Uniyaron ka Rasta, Vaishali Nagar, Vidyadhar Nagar, Vidyut Nagar, VKIA,

Villages in Jhunjhunu district

Shyampura(near Nua), Mohabbatsari(near Mukundgarh), Togra Kalan, Bharu Ka Bas,

Villages in Sikar district

Bagas, Balod Bari, Beri, Bibipur Bara, Bidsar, Chudi Miyan, Gungara (Piprali), Hapas, Kishanpura, Jajod, Lalpur, Mandela, Mirjwas, Nabipura, Punia ka Bas, Raghunathpura (Ramgarh), Rajpur, Sikar Sulkhania, Tajsar, Vijaypura (Rulyanimali)

Villages in Barmer district

Balotra, Barmer, Baytu,

Villages in Jodhpur district

Bisalpur, Falaudi, Jodhpur, Nandara Kalan, Paldi Siddha, Pichiyak, Riya Sethon Ki, Salwa Kalla,

Villages in Nagaur district

Chau, Kasumbi,

Villages in Pali district

Chandawal Nagar, Dadia (Sehwaj), Marwar Junction,

Villages in Ajmer district

Sursura,

Villages in Churu district

Bewar, Bhainsli, Bhojan, Biramsar, Hardesar, Hamirwas, Hira Ka Bas (Rajgarh), Jatuvas, Kadia, Navan (Rajgarh), Rajgarh, Suratpura (Rajgarh), Thathawata,

Villages in Ganganagar district

Chak 1F Chhoti, Daulatpura, Telanwali,

Villages in Hanumangarh district

Jhasal, Fefana, Nathwania, Panchkosi Mallarkhera, Bhaisli, Bijhanwas, Dhaban, Gillwala, Katheda, Nathwana, Ratanpura, Saharni, Sangaria Sihagawali,

Villages in Sawai Madhopur district

Gangapur City,

Villages in Banswara district

Banswara,

Distribution in Haryana

Bhatu, Bhiwani, Chautala,

Village in Jhajjar district

Bupania (बुपणियां) village is situated in Jhajjar district, Haryana

Village in Jind district

Kuchrana Kalan,

Villages in Hisar district

Matloda, Kharak Punia, Sarhera, Sarsana, Ladwa, Udaypur,

Distribution in Uttar Pradesh

Villages in Mathura district

Punia Khap has 11 villages in Mathura district. ^[28]

Villages in Muzaffarnagar district

Naik (Muzaffarnagar),

Villages in Agra district

Agra,

Distribution in Madhya Pradesh

Found in Mandsaur district.

Villages in Mandsaur district

Betikheri, Haidara Mata, Jaggakheri, Kacharia Jat, Laduna (Sitamau), Malhargarh, Nataram (Sitamau), Pipalkhuta, Ralayta (Multanpura), Ranayra (Sitamau),

Distribution in Punjab

Punia population is 5,400 in Patiala district.^[29]

Notable persons from this gotra

• Sepoy Raj Kumar Punia - Martyr of Kargil War
• Vijay Punia - Leader and Social worker
• Sunil Poonia - BEST SHO in the world
• N.L. Poonia - Sena medal awardee and Chairman of HSSC.
• Hari Singh Punia - RJS Rajasthan
• Harsukh Ram Punia - RJS Rajasthan
• O.P. Punia, scientists (see for his contribution - THE SARASVATI PROJECT: IN SEARCH OF TRUTH
• Eng. Mahipal Singh Pauniya, Agra
• Maj. R D Singh Pauniya - Originally from village Chaungwa, PO - Bijauli district Aligarh
• CAPT JS PUNIA - The Rajputhana Rifles, OP CACTUS LILY MARTYR 1971, Home state Rajasthan
• NB SUB RANDHIR SINGH PUNIA - Brigade of The Guards, OP PAWAN MARTYR 17-06-1988, Home state Rajasthan
• RFN RAJ KUMAR PUNIA - The Garhwal Rifles, OP PAWAN MARTYR 21-10-1987, Rajasthan
• NK DINESH KUMAR PUNIA - The Jat Regiment, OP PARAKRAM MARTYR 02-01-2002, Rajasthan
• SEP BABU LAL POONIA - Rashtriya Rifles, OP RAKSHAK(J&K) MARTYR 21-08-2002, Rajasthan
• HAV HANUMAN RAM POONIYA - Army Medical Corps Martyr 23-05-2002, Rajasthan
• SEP BHANWAL LAL POONIA - Army Medical Corps, Martyr 14-02-2002, Rajasthan

See also

• James Todd Annals

References

External link

• Nagas
• A RECORD OF BUDDHISTIC KINGDOMS

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