Savara

From Jatland Wiki
(Redirected from Shavara)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

Savara was an ancient tribe of south-central South Asia whose existence is attested during the Iron Age.[1][2] It was one of The Mahabharata Tribes who joined the Pandavas in the Mahabharata War.[3]

Variants

Jat Gotras Namesake

Location

The precise location Mūtibas is yet uncertain. The Roman author Pliny located them between the "Modogalingae," who lived on a large island in the Gaṅgā, and the Āndhras, and associates them with the Molindae (Pulindas) and the Uberae (Savaras).[5]

The name Mūcīpa, by which the Śāṅkhāyana Śrauta Sūtra calls the Mūtibas, might be connected to the name of the Musi River.[6]

History

Sandhya Jain[7] mentions... 37. Shavara (शवर)- A southern tribe, they joined the Pandavas in the war mentioned in Mahabharata(VI.46.51). [8] The Mahabharata Tribe - Shavara (शवर) may be identified with Jat Gotra - Shiwar (शीवर).[9]

In Mahabharata

Shabara (शबर) Mahabharata (VI.10.46),(VI.46.51), (XIII.35.17)

Bhisma Parva, Mahabharata/Book VI Chapter 10 describes geography and provinces of Bharatavarsha. Shabara (शबर) is a province mentioned in Mahabharata (VI.10.46).[10] ....the Aparantas, the Shudras, the Pahalvas, the Charmakhandikas; the Atavis, Shabaras, Marubhaumas, Marishas,....


Bhisma Parva, Mahabharata/Book VI Chapter 46 mentions Krishna, Yudhisthira and his brothers looking for arrangements of the war. Shabaras (शबर) are mentioned fighting for Pandavas in Mahabharata (VI.46.51).[11]....O Bharata, and the Shabaras, the Tumbupas, the Vatsas, and the Nakulas. And Nakula and Sahadeva placed themselves on the left wing.


Anusasana Parva/Book XIII Chapter 35 mentions Shabara (शबर) in Mahabharata (XIII.35.17).[12]....The Mekalas, the Dravidas, the Kashas, the Paundras, the Kollagiras, the Saundikas, the Daradas, the Darvas, the Chauras, the Shabaras, the Barbaras, the Kiratas, the Yavanas, and numerous other tribes of Kshatriyas, have become degraded into the status of Sudras through the wrath of Brahmanas.

Sabar people

The Sabar people (also Shabar and Saora) are one of the Munda ethnic group tribe who live mainly in Odisha and West Bengal. Also known as Saora, the Sabar tribe finds mention in the Hindu epic Mahabharata,[13] while in some parts of East Singhbhum district mainly in Musabani, they are known as in Kariya.[14] This reclusive tribe is found primarily in Odisha and in Midnapore District of West Bengal. Hundreds of Sabars migrated to present-day Bangladesh during the colonial period to work as tea garden labourers. Today, there are around 2000 of them residing the northeastern district of Moulvibazar, in areas such as Nandarani, Harinchhara and Rajghat.[15]

Mention by Pliny

Pliny[16] mentions 'The Ganges'....Beyond the Ganges are situate the Modubæ, the Molindæ, the Uberæ, with a magnificent city of the same name, the Modresi, the Preti, the Caloæ, the Sasuri, the Passalæ, the Colobæ, the Orumcolæ, the Abali, and the Thalutæ. The king of the last-named people has fifty thousand foot-soldiers, four thousand horse, and four hundred armed elephants.

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.


Jat clans as described by Megasthenes
Location Jat clans Information
4. Beyond these the Modubae, Molindae, the Uberae with a handsome town of the same name, the Galmodroesi, Preti, Calissae, Sasuri, Passalae, Colubae, Orxulae, Abali, Taluctae (Tamluk) The king of these keeps under arms 50,000 foot-soldiers, 4,000 cavalry, and 400 elephants

References

  1. Raychaudhuri, Hemchandra (1953). Political History of Ancient India: From the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of Gupta Dynasty. University of Calcutta.p.92
  2. Raychaudhuri, Hemchandra (1953). Political History of Ancient India: From the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of Gupta Dynasty. University of Calcutta.p.94
  3. Sandhya Jain: Adi Deo Arya Devata - A Panoramic View of Tribal-Hindu Cultural Interface, Rupa & Co, 7/16, Ansari Road Daryaganj, New Delhi, 2004, p.120
  4. Mahendra Singh Arya et al.: Ādhunik Jat Itihas, Agra 1998, p.282
  5. Raychaudhuri, Hemchandra (1953). Political History of Ancient India: From the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of Gupta Dynasty. University of Calcutta.p.94
  6. Raychaudhuri, Hemchandra (1953). Political History of Ancient India: From the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of Gupta Dynasty. University of Calcutta.p.94
  7. Sandhya Jain: Adi Deo Arya Devata - A Panoramic View of Tribal-Hindu Cultural Interface, Rupa & Co, 7/16, Ansari Road Daryaganj, New Delhi, 2004, p.120
  8. अग्निवेष्या जगत तुण्डा पलथाशाश च भारत । शबरास तुम्बुपाश चैव वत्साश च सह नाकुलैः (VI. 46.51)
  9. Mahendra Singh Arya et al.: Ādhunik Jat Itihas, Agra 1998, p.282
  10. अपरन्ध्राश च शूद्राश च पह्लवाश चर्म खण्डिकाः, अटवी शबराश चैव मरु भौमाश च मारिष (VI.10.46)
  11. अग्निवेष्या जगत तुण्डा पलथाशाश च भारत, शबरास तुम्बुपाश चैव वत्साश च सह नाकुलैः (VI.46.51)
  12. मेकला द्रमिडाः काशाः पौण्ड्राः कॊल्ल गिरास तथा, शौण्डिका दरदा दर्वाश चौराः शबर बर्बराः (XIII.35.17)
  13. Accused Of Being Accursed by Dilip D'Souza, Rediff.com, 10 June 1999.
  14. Sabar Tribe india9.com.
  15. Jengcham, Subhash (2012). "Shabar". In Islam, Sirajul; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562.
  16. Natural History by Pliny Book VI/Chapter 22