Post by kuldeepadhana on Oct 1, 2006 3:42:16 GMT -5
The Origins of the Gujjars
Göçer (Turkish-pronounced: Guchjar: a nomad/migrant), göçmen. Many Gujars today are now settled and educated professionals.
Gujjars are hypothesized to be the partial descendents of a number of aristocratic Eurasian peoples, including the Indo-Scythians, who took part in the Scythian invasions of South Asia from the 5th century BCE to the 1st century CE or some other Turko-Iranian tribes that merged with local Indo-Aryan groups, mainly settling in the Gujarat, Punjab and Kashmir regions. These sun-worshipping, tribes ruled kingdoms covering much of present-day Afghanistan, Pakistan and Northwestern India. These tribes eventually merged, during the Kushan Empire as members of the Gujjar caste in India.
1. Most of the “Gurjars” belong to the superior ‘Suryavanshi’ branch of Kshatriyas and are not ‘Agnivanshi’ as told by Colonel James Todd ( A famous Historian)
Bhati, Chandeele and Chawdas has been called Chandravanshis.
Similarly Parmar, Pratihar, Chalukya (Solanki) and Chauhan Gurjars are Agnivanshi.
2. “Gurjar” was never a sub caste under Rajputs, as said by many historytextbooks. Rajput was not a caste when it was formed; it was an association or ‘Sangh’ of various kings ‘Raja-Putra’ against the Muslim invaders. In fact 70% of the “Rajputs Sangh” was formed by the “Gurjars” in the end of 12th century that made the saying famous
“Asli Rajput woh Jisne ‘Gujari’ ka doodh piya ho”
The Sanskrit word Rajput or Raja Putra (prince) literally means son of Raja or the ruler. This is the name by which the clans of several tribes of India designate themselves, and who in ancient times became dominant in the N.W. of India, from which their branches extended southwards. This word for a caste, a family or a tribe does not occur anywhere in the early history of the area (Before 1300 AD). They were said to have taken the place of the ancient Kshatryas, who were annihilated by Lord Parasurama
3. The present “Gurjars” are the mixtures of people from different origins. Most of the Historians agree upon the point that “Gurjars” are the descendents of “Yu-chee ” or Kushans. The word Gujar is an etymological corruption of the word Kuçar (Kuchjar/Kucha)/ Göçer (Gachjar) - meaning one originally adhering to a nomadic way of life. Many Gujars today are now settled and educated professionals.
Kushans means the kings of the ‘Kanishka’ reign.
We’ll discuss about their Kingdom later.
In Gurjars the ‘Kushane’ or ‘Kasaane’ gotra is derived from Kushan only While the ‘chechi’* Gotra is directly derived form the Ch'ia-sha, Chieh-ch'a or Ch'ieh-shih of the Chinese classics (see Chach).
4. They are said to have preceded the Swat tribe as the inhabitants of the Hazara district east of the Indus. Also the Hazara district in Afghanistan could be named after them.
So factually the present ‘Gurjars’ are the mixture of many origins
Most of the Gurjars are the descendants of “Yu-chee” or Hunas came to India in the first Century AD.
(One other point is there when Hunas or Yuchees came to India, They had a sub-clan named “Kazar”. Some historians say that ‘Gurjar’ is the corruption of ‘Kazar’.)
Some of them are descendent of “White Huns”. A very dangerous and giant looking tribe from mid-Asia. They used to eat raw horsemeat, being the main source of their energy. In Gurjars we have a surname called Huna.
(White Hunas came to India in 475 AD. They attacked and destroyed the Guptas. MihirKula and Tomaran were the famous Huna rulers. Later they got mixed with the other Kshatriya castes and disappeared from the political scenario of India.)
Some people included themselves in ‘Gurjars’ when the Kingdom of the Gurjars was on its full glory. Everyone felt proud in being called Gurjar.
The people under the Gurjars Kindom were also called Gurjars as the Whole Kingdom and Area included therein was called Gurjardesh or Gurjaratra (presently we know that area as divided into Gujrat, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, MP, western UP, Sindh, Lahore, Baluchistan).
Göçer (Turkish-pronounced: Guchjar: a nomad/migrant), göçmen. Many Gujars today are now settled and educated professionals.
Gujjars are hypothesized to be the partial descendents of a number of aristocratic Eurasian peoples, including the Indo-Scythians, who took part in the Scythian invasions of South Asia from the 5th century BCE to the 1st century CE or some other Turko-Iranian tribes that merged with local Indo-Aryan groups, mainly settling in the Gujarat, Punjab and Kashmir regions. These sun-worshipping, tribes ruled kingdoms covering much of present-day Afghanistan, Pakistan and Northwestern India. These tribes eventually merged, during the Kushan Empire as members of the Gujjar caste in India.
1. Most of the “Gurjars” belong to the superior ‘Suryavanshi’ branch of Kshatriyas and are not ‘Agnivanshi’ as told by Colonel James Todd ( A famous Historian)
Bhati, Chandeele and Chawdas has been called Chandravanshis.
Similarly Parmar, Pratihar, Chalukya (Solanki) and Chauhan Gurjars are Agnivanshi.
2. “Gurjar” was never a sub caste under Rajputs, as said by many historytextbooks. Rajput was not a caste when it was formed; it was an association or ‘Sangh’ of various kings ‘Raja-Putra’ against the Muslim invaders. In fact 70% of the “Rajputs Sangh” was formed by the “Gurjars” in the end of 12th century that made the saying famous
“Asli Rajput woh Jisne ‘Gujari’ ka doodh piya ho”
The Sanskrit word Rajput or Raja Putra (prince) literally means son of Raja or the ruler. This is the name by which the clans of several tribes of India designate themselves, and who in ancient times became dominant in the N.W. of India, from which their branches extended southwards. This word for a caste, a family or a tribe does not occur anywhere in the early history of the area (Before 1300 AD). They were said to have taken the place of the ancient Kshatryas, who were annihilated by Lord Parasurama
3. The present “Gurjars” are the mixtures of people from different origins. Most of the Historians agree upon the point that “Gurjars” are the descendents of “Yu-chee ” or Kushans. The word Gujar is an etymological corruption of the word Kuçar (Kuchjar/Kucha)/ Göçer (Gachjar) - meaning one originally adhering to a nomadic way of life. Many Gujars today are now settled and educated professionals.
Kushans means the kings of the ‘Kanishka’ reign.
We’ll discuss about their Kingdom later.
In Gurjars the ‘Kushane’ or ‘Kasaane’ gotra is derived from Kushan only While the ‘chechi’* Gotra is directly derived form the Ch'ia-sha, Chieh-ch'a or Ch'ieh-shih of the Chinese classics (see Chach).
4. They are said to have preceded the Swat tribe as the inhabitants of the Hazara district east of the Indus. Also the Hazara district in Afghanistan could be named after them.
So factually the present ‘Gurjars’ are the mixture of many origins
Most of the Gurjars are the descendants of “Yu-chee” or Hunas came to India in the first Century AD.
(One other point is there when Hunas or Yuchees came to India, They had a sub-clan named “Kazar”. Some historians say that ‘Gurjar’ is the corruption of ‘Kazar’.)
Some of them are descendent of “White Huns”. A very dangerous and giant looking tribe from mid-Asia. They used to eat raw horsemeat, being the main source of their energy. In Gurjars we have a surname called Huna.
(White Hunas came to India in 475 AD. They attacked and destroyed the Guptas. MihirKula and Tomaran were the famous Huna rulers. Later they got mixed with the other Kshatriya castes and disappeared from the political scenario of India.)
Some people included themselves in ‘Gurjars’ when the Kingdom of the Gurjars was on its full glory. Everyone felt proud in being called Gurjar.
The people under the Gurjars Kindom were also called Gurjars as the Whole Kingdom and Area included therein was called Gurjardesh or Gurjaratra (presently we know that area as divided into Gujrat, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, MP, western UP, Sindh, Lahore, Baluchistan).
