Khasa

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Khasa (खासा)[1] [2] Khasha (खाशा) is gotra of Jats found in Distt Sonipat in Haryana and Sikar district in Rajasthan. Khasha (खाशा) clan is found in Shahpur, Pakistan.[3] Dilip Singh Ahlawat has mentioned it as one of the ruling Jat clans in Central Asia.[4]They fought Mahabharata War in Kaurava's side.

Origin

History

खसमंडल

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर[5] ने लेख किया है ...खसमंडल (AS, p.255) कुमायूं उत्तराखंड का एक भाग है। खस-जाति के लोग मध्य हिमालय प्रदेश के प्राचीन निवासी हैं। नेपाल में भी इनकी संख्या काफ़ी है। 10वीं शती से 13वीं शती ई. तक भारत के कई राजपूत - वंशों ने इस प्रदेश में आकर शरण ली थी और छोटी-छोटी रियासतें स्थापित कर ली थीं। पुराणों में खस जाति की अनार्य या असंस्कृत जातियों में गणना की गई है। बरनौफ (burnouf) के अनुसार, दिव्यावदान पृष्ठ 372 में खस राज्य का उल्लेख है। तिब्बत के इतिहास लेखक तारानाथ ने भी खसप्रदेश का उल्लेख किया है। (इण्डियन हिस्टॉरिकल क्वार्टरली, 1930, पृष्ठ 334)

खोतन नदी

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर[6] ने लेख किया है ...खोतन नदी (AS, p.259) मध्य एशिया की नदी है। इसके तटवर्ती क्षेत्र को 'खोतन प्रदेश' कहा गया है। खोतन नदी का महाभारत में शैलोदा नाम से वर्णन मिलता है। महाभारत, सभापर्व 52, 2 में शैलोदा तथा सभापर्व 52, 3 में इस नदी के तट पर स्थित खस, पुलिंद और तंगण आदि जातियों का उल्लेख है।

In Rajatarangini

Rajatarangini[7] tells that Kshemagupta, King of Kashmir, bestowed thirty-six villages which were attached to the several monasteries that were burnt, to the lord of Khasa. [VI,p.154]


Rajatarangini[8] tells us....Though the king Sussala was very busy with his work, yet he sent Hitahita, son of his nurse, to Garga. Bhogasena devoid of his senses came at this moment to the king accompanied with the Khāṣhakas inhabitants of Vilvavana. [[VIII,p.34]


Rajatarangini[9] tells us....Sussala's enemies gave up the pursuit as he, with twenty or thirty followers, entered Viranaka, a town of the Khashas. Without raiment or food, attended with a few followers, he stopped there, and without fear attacked and chastised the Khashas. [[VIII,p.35]


Rajatarangini[10] mentions thatBhikshu awaited the arrival of Sujji in order to snatch the kingdom, and stationed himself, fearing; nothing, in the fort named Vāṇashala which was small height and belonged to Bhagika, lord of Khasha, and son-in-law of Tikka ; and he caused all the Damaras to rebel against the king by means of spies. [VIII (i),p.144]


Rajatarangini[11] tells us ....Udaya, lord of Kampana, crossed over the Saṅkaṭa in the month of Vaishakha and fought a battle with Bhikshu who was attended by the Khashas. At first Udaya had few soldiers with him, but when his army increased, Bhikshu entered the fort which was besieged. Now the king went to Vijayakshetra and swelled the army of the lord of Kampana by sending some squadrons. The king's soldiers discharged stones by means of engines, showered arrows and hurled various weapons. Those within the fort fought by throwing stones. On account of the stones which fell on the infantry, — and which were marked with the name of Bhikshu, — the king's army could not take the fort. [VIII(i), p.145]


Rajatarangini[12] tells... Rajavadana who wished to obtain the wealth of past kings caused Bhuteshwara to be plundered by the Khashakas who were travelling the hill road in great number....[VIII (ii), p.250]


Rajatarangini[13] tells... Since Rajavadana, who deserved punishment was soothed by gifts, he became bold and again welcomed Bhoja who had arrived there. In a place called Dinnagrama inhabited by the Khashas, Bhoja gave a large bribe to Rajavadana. He then told Rajavadana : — " If either you or your retainers do not come tomorrow, then the lord of Dvara, who is accompanied with a limited number of followers will come to me". [VIII (ii), p.266-267]


Rajatarangini[14]tells.... In order to assuage his fears fearless Khāsakas protected the treasury. Bhoja gave expression to his fears and placed guards all around where he stayed. The Valahara who was difficult of access came to the side of Bhoja in order to gain his confidence. [VIII (ii),p.276]


Rajatarangini[15]tells....Bhoja sent a lady named Kalhaṇīkā whom Bhoja thought of making, a mediator between him and the king. She journeyed on foot till she reached the frontier. For her protection, Bhoja gave much wealth, and the wealth was kept in the centre of the party. For her expenses on the road, he gave much money in which gold predominated ; and he sent her with eight well-born Rajputs to serve her, and with every mark of royalty.[VIII (ii),p.283]


Rajatarangini[16]tells.... When Bhoja's army arrived, many thousands of Khashakas belonging to that army planned the destruction of Dhanya who was in this critical situation. [VIII (ii),p.285]

Mahabharata period

Sabha Parva, Mahabharata/Book II Chapter 48 describes Kings who presented tributes to Yudhishthira. Parada (परद) are mentioned in Mahabharata (II.48.3). [17]....They that dwell by the side of the river Sailoda flowing between the mountains of Meru and Mandara and enjoy the delicious shade of topes of the Kichaka Venu (bamboo) viz., the Khashas, Ekashanas, the Jyohas, the Pradaras, the Dirghavenas, the Pashupashas, the Kunindas, the Tanganas, and Paratanganas, brought as tribute heaps of gold measured in dronas (jars) and raised from underneath the earth by ants and therefore called after these creatures.

Possibly, these people have been mentioned in the Mahabharata. [18] alongwith the Johal, Kuninda (Kundu) Tangana (Tangal) clans. Their location on both sides of the river Shailoda lying between the Meru (Pamir) and Mandar mountains, where bamboos grow in abundance, Justifies this identification. [19]

Khasa (खश) - A famous Himalayan tribe in Nepal and southwest Kashmir; sided with the Kauravas. They have been mentioned in Mahabharata (II.48.3), (VI.10.66)

मेरुमन्दरयॊर मध्ये शैलॊदाम अभितॊ नदीम
ये ते कीचक वेणूनां छायां रम्याम उपासते (II.48.2)


खशा एकाशनाज्यॊहाः परदरा दीर्घवेनवः
पशुपाश च कुणिन्दाश च तङ्गणाः परतङ्गणाः (II.48.3)
शूद्राभीराद दरदाः काश्मीराः पशुभिः सह
खशिकाश च तुखाराश च पल्लवा गिरिगह्वराः (VI.10.66)
The Mahabharata Tribe -Khasa (खश) may be identified with Jat Gotra - Khasa (खासा)

Described by Megasthenes

Dilip Singh Ahlawat has mention it as one of the ruling Jat clans in Central Asia. [20] This clan has been described by Megasthenes as the Cesi (Khasa) , The hill-tribes between the Indus and the Iomanes, along with the Chrysei (Karesia), Cetriboni (Khatri), the Megallae (Mukul), the Chrysei (Karesia), the Parasangae (Paraswal), and the Asange (Sangwa) Jat clans. (see - Jat clans as described by Megasthenes)

In Gupta inscriptions

According to Tej Ram Sharma[21] the Names of Mahattaras (Village-headmen) in which Khasaka has been mentioned as under:


Khasaka: Appearing in Dhanaidaha copper-plate inscription of Kumaragupta I G.E.113. (AD 432) (L. 5), is an abbreviated name with the addition of suffix 'ka' which according to Panini is used to denote : : (i) Depreciation. [22] (ii) Endearment. [23]

It is a non-Sanskritic word most probably a local or dialectal feature. Here */:' suffix may have been used in the sense of endearment meaning a "poor khasa": Khasa is the name of a people and of their country (in the north of India). [24] Khasaka can be native of that country or a man belonging to that race (considered as a degraded kshatriya). [25]

Distribution in Haryana

Villages in Sonipat district

Ahulana, Baroda Mor, Baroda Thuthan, Jauli, Laath,

References

  1. Jat History Dalip Singh Ahlawat/Parishisht-I, s.n. ख-78
  2. Dr Ompal Singh Tugania: Jat Samuday ke Pramukh Adhar Bindu, p.33,sn-464.
  3. A glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province By H.A. Rose Vol II/K,p.499
  4. Jat History Dalip Singh Ahlawat/Chapter IV (Page 342)
  5. Aitihasik Sthanavali by Vijayendra Kumar Mathur, p.255
  6. Aitihasik Sthanavali by Vijayendra Kumar Mathur, p.259
  7. Rajatarangini of Kalhana:Kings of Kashmira/Book VI,p.154
  8. Kings of Kashmira Vol 2 (Rajatarangini of Kalhana)/Book VIII,p.34
  9. Kings of Kashmira Vol 2 (Rajatarangini of Kalhana)/Book VIII,p.35
  10. Kings of Kashmira Vol 2 (Rajatarangini of Kalhana)/Book VIII (i),p.144
  11. Kings of Kashmira Vol 2 (Rajatarangini of Kalhana)/Book VIII (i) ,p.145
  12. Kings of Kashmira Vol 2 (Rajatarangini of Kalhana)/Book VIII (ii), p.250
  13. Kings of Kashmira Vol 2 (Rajatarangini of Kalhana)/Book VIII (ii), p.266-267
  14. Kings of Kashmira Vol 2 (Rajatarangini of Kalhana)/Book VIII (ii),p.276
  15. Kings of Kashmira Vol 2 (Rajatarangini of Kalhana)/Book VIII (ii),p.283
  16. Kings of Kashmira Vol 2 (Rajatarangini of Kalhana)/Book VIII (ii),p.285
  17. खशा एकाशनाज्यॊहाः परदरा दीर्घवेनवः, पशुपाश च कुणिन्दाश च तङ्गणाः परतङ्गणाः (II.48.3)
  18. Sabha Parva, Mahabharata/Book II Chapter 48
  19. Bhim Singh Dahiya, Jats the Ancient Rulers ( A clan study), p. 283
  20. Dilip Singh Ahlawat: Jat viron ka Itihasa
  21. Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptions/Names of Local Officers,p.64
  22. Kutsite, Panini, V. 3.75, e.g. Puranaka, name of a servant.
  23. Panini, V. 3.76, etc.
  24. Sanskrit-English Dictionary by Monier Williams p. 338, col. 3.
  25. Sanskrit-English Dictionary by Monier Williams p. 338, col. 3.

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