Taxak

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Taxakeshwar temple in Mandsaur district in Madhya Pradesh
Statue of Taxaka at Taxakeshwar temple along with his son and wife

Taxak (तक्षक) Takshak (तक्षक) Tokas (तोकस) is Jat Gotra descended from Nagavansh king named Taxaka. Takshak gotra of Jats live in India, Pakistan and Central Asia. They live in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan states in India.

Contents

Origin

The Shavi dynasty

The gotra is mentioned in the "Vishnu Purana". Takshaks belong to the Shavi dynasty. In the twenty-ninth generation of king Shavi, one of the six sons of king Sototi was Takshak, according to the genealogical tables of the Yayati dynasty.

Tartar and Naga connection

King Satoti is considered by the Tartars to be their ancestor. Takshak and Bachak are also called the Nagas (the "serpent people" of Hindu and Buddhist mythology).

The Takshak of Punjab

There is a description of seven Mahanagas in Mayashilpa. They are : Basuki, Takshak, Karkotak, Padam, Mahapadam, Sankhpaul and Kulika. [1]In Skanda Purana, Takshak Nag has also been called Mahanag (77/17,18;106/5,6,7). These Takshak, or Takkhas were of Taka family, since the words Takkhas or Takka or Taka are corrupt forms of Takshaka and in Sanskrit language, Takshak means Nag or serpent, hence they were Nagas. As a matter of fact, totem tradition was a peculiarity of indigenous people of ancient India. As such these Takshakas or Nagas used to worship serpents and at certain occasions wore artificial hoods of cobra on their heads, hence were called serpents or Nagas. These people, in origin were inhabitants of Panjab or Indus Valley. Still three parts of this land are known as Taka, Majha (Madra) and Malava, which were ruled by three royal families or blood relatives of the same names. Malava is Southern part of Satluj river, land between Beas and Jhelam in general, is known as Majha and whole North-Western part beyond Jhelam or present Pakistan is known as Taka. This Taka is named after the name of royal family of Taka. One province of Afghanistan is still called Takhar. Name of their tribe was Andhra. [2]

The name of Takshak Nag first appears in the Mahabharata as opponent of Pandavas. Hence, this seems to be one of the most ancient royal families of Naga race, who gave birth to the most of the Naga royal families of ancient India. Their capital was Taka-shar (Taki or Takka-war) near Sialkot. Cunningham mentions other names of this city as Taki and Asurar (of Assyrians). [3]Their ancient traditional capital was Takshila. H. L. Kosare after Mahabharata informs that Arattas had their three branches Takka, Vahika and Jertika. [4] [5]

In Mahabharata, the family Gotra of Takas has been given Karpati [6]and among them, along with the Malavas of Rajasthan and Panjab, Panch-karpatis also have been included. These were people of republic society. It seems that they were relatives of their nearest neighbourers, the Malavas. Because these Malavas used to worship Karkota Nag, hence Takas were also worshipers of above deity. They later shifted from Panjab to Rajasthan and settled there in the east. [7] It is clear that Takas were republicans or guild or Sangha people. They had their two other families or blood relatives Malavas and Madras and their Gotra was Karpati. [8]

Madras were called Vahika and Jertika. [9] Hemchandra, in his Abhidhan Chintamani (lV-25) has equated Vahikas [10] with Takas. These Takas were Vahika Nagas, therefore Vahikas, Jertikas and Madras were also Nagas and all the four Naga tribes were blood relatives of Arattas . There was a tribal confederacy of Taka Nagas in Panjab that is why the Panjab was known as Taka-Mulka or Taka-country [11] as mentioned by Hieuntsang. It is obvious that Vahikas were from Taka family. [12]

Some scholars think these Jertikas were Jats. Taka or Takshakas and Vahikas appear in the Mahabharata period (950 B.C.) where as Kushanas, the progenitors of Jats appear on the horizon of history about 1000 ears later, as invaders from North. On the other hand Jat is the name of a gotra of Taka kshatriyas. Dr Naval Viyogi hence on this basis concludes that above Jat is not related to Jat caste or Kushanas but Takas. [13] Jat in the nagavansha were already there on the Indian soil. This is also confirmed from presence of large number of Jat Gotras originated from nagavansha.

It has been observed [14] , that ancient inscriptions in the Pali or Buddhist character have been discovered in various parts of Rajasthan of the race called Tastas , Takshak and Tak relating to the tribes, the Mori (or Maurya) Parmar their descendants. Nagas and Takshakas are synonymous appellation in Sanskrit for the snake, and the Takshak is the celebrated nagavansha of the early heroic history of India. The Mahabharata describes in its usual allegorical style the war between the Pandavas of Indraprastha and the Takshaka [15]of the North. The assassination of Parikshita by the Takshak and the exterminating warfare carried on against them by his son and successor, Janmejaya, who at last compelled them to sign tributary engagements, divested of its allegory, is plain historical fact . [16]Their warfare lasted for a longer period, ultimately progeny of Pandavas had to leave Hastinapur while the city was washed away in a terrible flood of the river Ganga at about 800 B.C. Later on it was taken over by the Nagas . [17]


"In the Bhavishya Purana." According to James Tod [18]"Prince Sahasra-Arjuna is termed as Chakravartin or paramount sovereign. It is said that he conquered Karkotaka of the Takshak, Turushka or snake race and brought with him the population of Mahishmati and founded Hemnagara in the North India, on his expulsion from his dominions on the Narbuda. Traditional legends of this prince yet remain on the Narbuda, where he is styled "Sahasrabahu or with a thousand arms," figurative of his numerous progeny. The Takshak or snake race, here alluded to, will engage our attention. The name of animals in early time, planets and things inanimate, all furnished symbolic appellations for various races." [19]

History

It is evident that race of Takshak, being at the entry gate of India in North West not only suffered at the hand of invaders from North and West but also those from South. [20]


From the Mahabharata account, Son of Takshak was Ashwasena who was saved by Indra, while Khandavavana was put into flame by Pandava Arjuna (1000 BC-950 BC). [21]


It seems that there was also possession of Nagas over Gandhara country in the time of Parshvanath, because Nagjit or Naget, the king of Gandhara, has been said to be the follower of Parashwanath. Perhaps this Naga king Nagjit would have been related to Takshaka since country of Gandhara or Takshila was their main centre of rule from remote past. We know that the primogenitor of Naga, according to Mahabharata was Rajrishi Kashyapa, who was national guru of Parswanath also. [22]


During the life time of Buddha (567-487 BC), Takshila was the capital of Gandhar country or the modern Kandhar. Then, the king of Gandhar was Pukkusati, who is said to have sent an embassy and a letter to king Bimbisara of Magadha. [23]He was a follower of Buddha. He died in his old age on his first and last trip to Magadha, a week after his meeting with Buddha . [24][25]


Like Nanda dynasty, Taka family also suffered at the hands of Puranic Chronicles. Contemporary Puranas have ignored pedigree and chronology of this family in general. However we have traced out a very handful names from different sources; when Alexander invaded India (325 BC) he found the Paraitakai, the mountain (Pahar) Tak, inhabiting the Paropamisos range; nor is it by any means unlikely that Taxiles [Arrian says that his name was Omphis (Ambhi)]. Hence, perhaps (from Tak), the name of Indus Attok, not Atak or forbidden according to modern signification the ally of the Macedonian king, was the chief of the Takas; and in the early history of the Bhatti prince of Jaisalmer, when driven from Zabulistan, they dispossessed the Takas on the Indus, and established themselves in their land the capital of which was called Salivahanpura. It is by no means unlikely that Salivahana or Salbhan (who was a Takshaka) the conqueror of the Tuar Vikrama, was of the very family dispossessed by the Bhattis who compelled them to migrate to the South. [26] [27]

These Takas or Takshakas, whose chief was Omphis or Ambhi, was a snake worshiper tribe as noted by the Greek historian M.C. Crindle. [28] He reproduces as such,

"They found in many of them besides other animals, a snake, which the Indians regarding as sacred, kept in a cave and worshiped with much devotion. The Indians accordingly with every kind of entreaty implored Alexander to let no one molest the animal, and he consented to this (Strabo XV-1-28). Now when the army was marching past the cave the snake heard the sound that arose (that kind of animal being very sharp both of hearing and sight) and hissed so loud and emitted such gusts of rage that everyone was terrified and quite confounded. It was said to be seventy cubits long, and yet the whole of it was not seen, except its head that projected from the cave its eyes, moreover are reported to have equaled the size of the large round Mecedonian shield."

It shows these Naga worshipers were of Naga race whose chief Ambhi was of Takshak race. [29]


The ancient inscriptions in the Pali Buddhist character have been discovered in various parts of Rajasthan of the race of Taxak or Tak, relating to the tribe Mori and Parmara are their descendants. Taxak Mori was the lord of Chittor from very early period. [30][31]

The Huna Kingdom of Sialkot (of Mihir Kula 515-540 AD), destroyed by Yashodharman, was subsequently seized by a new dynasty of kshatriyas called Tak or Taxaka. The Taxak Mori as being lords of Chittor from very early period and few generations after the Guhilots supplanted the Moris, this palladium of Hindu liberty was assailed by the arms of Islam. (725-35) we find amongst the numerous defenders who appear to have considered the cause of Chittor their own the Tak from Asirgarh. This race appears to have retained possession of Asirgarh for at least two centuries after this event as its chieftain was one of the most conspicuous leaders in the array of Prithvi Raj. In the poems of Chandar he is called the "Standard, bearer, Tak of Asir." [32]

Taxak Khap

Taxak khap has 12 villages in Haryana in Sonipat district. The main villages are : Rathdhana (राठधना) , Baiyapur (बैयापुर) , Harsana (हरसाना) , Libaspur (लिबासपुर) ,Kalupur (कालूपुर). 15 villages of this khap are in Bikaner janapada and 4 villages in Delhi, one village Bhagi (भागी) in Bhiwani district in Haryana. [33]

Taxak in Indian epics

Takshak or Taxak is a gotra of jats found in India, Pakistan and Central Asia. It is mentioned in the "Vishnu Purana' that before the Pandava. Takshaks belong to the Shavi dynasty. In the 29th generation of king Shavi, one of the six sons of king Sototi was Takshak. According to genealogical tables of the Yayati dynasty King Satoti is considered by the Tartars to be their ancestor. Takshak, Bachak etc. are also called the Nags. There are ample references to these people in local and foreign histories. According to Mahabharata 'Adi Parva', before the Pandavas, Khandoban (Indraprastha) was the capital of the Takshak rulers. They created obstacles in the way of construction of the capital by Pandavas. Finally, these people were defeated, rendered homeless and driven out.

They went and settled down in Taxila (Taksila). In the battle of Mahabharata they joined the Kauravas and killed king Parikshit. They founded Takshakkhad (Tashkand) and Takshaksthan (Turkistan).

The Mahabharata Book 2: SECTION IX Sabha Parva Kisari Mohan Ganguli, tr.1883-1896 mentions names of following naga kings who attended the Sabha of Yudhishthira:

Vasuki and Takshaka, and the Naga called Airavata; Krishna and Lohita; Padma and Chitra endued with great energy; the Nagas called Kamvala and Aswatara; and Dhritarashtra and Valahaka; Matimat and Kundadhara and Karkotaka and Dhananjaya; Panimat and the mighty Kundaka, O lord of the Earth; and Prahlada and Mushikada, and Janamejaya,--all having auspicious marks and mandalas and extended hoods;--these and many other snakes. These have been described from shloka 8 to 11 as under:

वासुकिस तक्षकश चैव नागश चैरावतस तदा
कृष्णश च लॊहितश चैव पद्मश चित्रश च वीर्यवान ।।8।।
कम्बलाश्वतरौ नागौ धृतराष्ट्र बलाहकौ
मणिमान कुण्डलधरः कर्कॊटक धनंजयौ ।।9।।
परह्लाथॊ मूषिकादश च तदैव जनमेजयः
पताकिनॊ मण्डलिनः फणवन्तश च सर्वशः ।।10।।
एते चान्ये च बहवः सर्पास तस्यां युधिष्ठिर
उपासते महात्मानं वरुणं विगतक्लमाः ।।11।।

Temples of Taxaka

Taxakeshawar temple

see main article at Taxakeshawar

Taxakeshawar (तक्षकेश्वर) or Takhaji (ताखाजी) is a place of religious and historical importance with temple of Taxaka in Mandsaur district in Madhya Pradesh. It is situated at a distance of 22 km from Bhanpura town on Hinglajgarh road. [34]This is the site of serpent king taxak , where he is worshiped as Taxakeshawar but the local people call him Takhaji. Curiously enough he shares the worship of the country folk with Dhanvantri, the Indian Aesculapius. [35][36] The shrine in question stands on a most romantic spot from village Navali[37] situated on the table land at the foot of which Bhanpura lies. [38]

Temple of Taxaka at Nandaprayag

There is a Temple of Taxaka at Nandaprayag[39] in in Chamoli district in Uttarakhand. Nandaprayag is one of the Panch Prayag (five confluences) of Alaknanda River, and lies at the confluence of Alaknanda River and Nandakini River. [40]

Tokas in world history

Tokas is found also in Romania. Takshak Jats ruled Alexandria in Egypt. Their title was Asi. The Takshak Jats are found spread all over Northern India, Pakistan and Central Asia.

Distribution of Taxak Gotra

Distribution in Delhi

At present Takshal and Tokas gotras are found among the Jats in five villages near Delhi namely Humayunpur (हुमायूंपुर), Mohammadpur (मोहम्मदपुर), Mukhmailpur (मुखमैलपुर). Munirka (मुनिरका) is the biggest village of Tokas Gotra.

Distribution in Haryana

They are also in Silanigaon (सिलानीगांव), Lahiki Hasanpur (लहिकी हसनपुर) (Near Hodal) on Palwal to Sohana Road. They are in villages Tawadu (तावडू ),Gudda-Guddi (Nihalgarh), Shekhpura (शेखपुरा), Vasi (वसी), Pataudi Goyala (पटौदी गोयला) , Rawata (रावता), Ambarhai (अम्बराही) , Galampur (गालमपुर) , Munda (मुण्डा), Kheda (खेड़ा), Jhad Setli (झाड़ सेतली), Dhul Siras (धूल सिरस), (Nazafgarh Kharkhadi Raund), Safiabad (सफिआबाद), Kharkhauda, Sonipat.[41]

Distribution in Rajasthan

Ambabari (Jaipur), Jat Behror (Alwar),

Distribution in Haryana

The village Bhagvi tehsil Charkhi Dadri District Bhiwani Haryana is inhabited by Takshak gotra jats. Choudhary Nihal Singh Takshak was a great freedom fighter of village Bhagvi. He started Paraja Manal Freedom movement in Jind state. He was first MLA In Jind State during first election 1937. He was also an Education Inspector with Birla Institute Pilani. He starting Basic Education school with help of Birla Trust in every village of Luharu- Jind state now district Bhiwani.

He was Education minister in PEPSU Patiala State in Sardar Gyan Singh Radewala Ministry. He done a great job in the field of Rural Education. He founded Birhi teacher training school and Art craft teacher training in Arya Hindi Maha Vidyalaya Charkhi Dadri.

Takshak or Tokas also live in village Chhapar teh. & distt. Jhajjar.

Notable persons of this gotra

  • ANITA TOKAS (now ANITA DALAL) being an international Judo player has represented India in many International Judo events including Commonwealth Games. She has also provided Judo coaching to the India Lady Judokas.

References

  1. ↑ Gopinath T A Rao:Elements of Hindu Iconography, Vol II Part II, 1968, pp.556-557
  2. ↑ Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas – The Ancient Rulers of India, Their Origins and History (The History of the Indigenous people of India Vol. 2), Published by Originals (an imprint of Low Price Publications), Delhi, 2002, ISBN 81-7536-287-1, p.144
  3. ↑ A Cunningham:Ancient Geography of India, pp148ff
  4. ↑ H. L. Kosare P-253
  5. ↑ Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas – The Ancient Rulers of India, Delhi, 2002, ISBN 81-7536-287-1, p.144
  6. ↑ K P Jayaswal:History of India, p.39
  7. ↑ K P Jayaswal:History of India, p. 38-39
  8. ↑ Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas – The Ancient Rulers of India, Delhi, 2002, ISBN 81-7536-287-1, p.144
  9. ↑ K P Jayaswal:History of India, p.115
  10. ↑ K P Jayaswal:History of India, p.33 foot note no. 2
  11. ↑ A Cunningham: Ancient India, pp.125,129
  12. ↑ Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas – The Ancient Rulers of India, Delhi, 2002, ISBN 81-7536-287-1, p.144-145
  13. ↑ Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas – The Ancient Rulers of India, Delhi, 2002, ISBN 81-7536-287-1, p.145
  14. ↑ James Todd:Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, I, p.124
  15. ↑ In the Mahabharata and Laxicon of Hemchandra the Vahikas are said to be the same as Taka BAHIKASHTAKKANĀMĀNA foot note no.1 Cunningham p.125-126
  16. ↑ James Todd, I, p.124
  17. ↑ Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas – The Ancient Rulers of India, Delhi, 2002, ISBN 81-7536-287-1, p.145
  18. ↑ James Todd Vol I, p.43, foot note no.3
  19. ↑ Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas – The Ancient Rulers of India, Delhi, 2002, ISBN 81-7536-287-1, p.145
  20. ↑ Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas – The Ancient Rulers of India, Delhi, 2002, ISBN 81-7536-287-1, p.145
  21. ↑ Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas – The Ancient Rulers of India, Delhi, 2002, ISBN 81-7536-287-1, p.145
  22. ↑ Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas – The Ancient Rulers of India, Delhi, 2002, ISBN 81-7536-287-1, p.146
  23. ↑ Davids Rhys T W, p.15
  24. ↑ D D Kosambi, p.120
  25. ↑ Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas – The Ancient Rulers of India, Delhi, 2002, ISBN 81-7536-287-1, p.146
  26. ↑ James Todd Vol I, p.125
  27. ↑ Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas – The Ancient Rulers of India, Delhi, 2002, ISBN 81-7536-287-1, p.146
  28. ↑ M C Crindle:Ancient India as described in classical literature, p.145
  29. ↑ Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas – The Ancient Rulers of India, Delhi, 2002, ISBN 81-7536-287-1, p.146
  30. ↑ James Tod, Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, p.126
  31. ↑ Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas – The Ancient Rulers of India, Their Origins and History (The History of the Indigenous people of India Vol. 2), Published by Originals (an imprint of Low Price Publications), Delhi, 2002, ISBN 81-7536-287-1, p.171
  32. ↑ Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas – The Ancient Rulers of India, Their Origins and History (The History of the Indigenous people of India Vol. 2), Published by Originals (an imprint of Low Price Publications), Delhi, 2002, ISBN 81-7536-287-1, p.148
  33. ↑ Dr Ompal Singh Tugania, Jat Samuday ke Pramukh Adhar Bindu, Agra, 2004, p. 17
  34. ↑ Usha Agarwal:Mandsaur Zile Ke Puratatvik samarakon ki paryatan ki drishti se sansadhaniyata - Ek Adhyayan, Chirag Prakashan Udaipur, 2007, p. 35
  35. ↑ Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas – The Ancient Rulers of India, Their Origins and History (The History of the Indigenous people of India Vol. 2), Published by Originals (an imprint of Low Price Publications), Delhi, 2002, ISBN 81-7536-287-1, p. 27
  36. ↑ J.P.H. Vogel:Indian Serpent lore, p.206
  37. ↑ http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/0/Navali.html
  38. ↑ Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas – The Ancient Rulers of India, Their Origins and History (The History of the Indigenous people of India Vol. 2), Published by Originals (an imprint of Low Price Publications), Delhi, 2002, ISBN 81-7536-287-1, p. 27
  39. ↑ Ruskin Bond:Dainik Bhaskar, 31 August 2009
  40. ↑ Uttaranchal. Rupa & Co. 2006. ISBN 8129108615. Page 12.
  41. ↑ Jat Samaj Patrika, Agra, October-November 2001, p.9

Further reading

  • Ram Swarup Joon: History of the Jats, Rohtak, India (1938, 1967)
  • Dr Mahendra Singh Arya, Dharmpal Singh Dudi, Kishan Singh Faujdar & Vijendra Singh Narwar: Ādhunik Jat Itihasa (The modern history of Jats), Agra 1998

External links

Author लेखक: Laxman Burdak लक्ष्मण बुरड़क

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