UNDER CONSTRUCTION / WORKSHEET PAGE
Bharatavarshiya Prachin Rajya evam Ganajati
Acknowledgment to the Pioneer of Mapping the Ancient Kingdoms and Peoples of Bharatavarsha - Sri Jijith Nadumuri Ravi (ancientvoice.wikidot.com), as well as earlier (normally European) scholars for their studies in identifying the same.
Kaal / Periods
Sources of Geographical Information :
Mahabharata (about )
Raja-Tarangini (5-12th cent ce)
Brihat Samhita (150-50 BCE)
Chronology on this Page
----- Subject to Change --- (some dates credit : Modasattva)
3138 - BCE Dasarajna - Mahabharata Yuddha/War (both sides Puru family). The losing side crosses the Sarasvati river where a descendant of Bharata (in the family line of) establishes the Kuru kingdom. (refer to bottom of page for further)
2000 - BCE Shift of the path of the Shatadru-Sarasvati river (the original path begins to dry up). The Great Floods occur on the new path (current Shatadru path).
1600 BCE Adi Buddha
1500 BCE Maurya and Shunga
600 BCE Gautama Buddha
500 ? BCE - Invasion and rule or tribute from Gandhara and Sindh by Darius.
325 - BCE Invasion of Alexander of Macedonia
320 - BCE Chandragupta of the Gupta dynasty - Coronation
57 - BCE Start of Vikram Samvat/Era, Vikramaditya of Ujjayani defeats the Saka
149-67 - BCE Varaha Mihira court astronomer/astrologer in court of Vikramaditya of Ujjain, writes books on all subjects
78 CE - Shalivahana Saka Samvat/Era, Shalivahana of Ujjayani defeats the Saka
Kushana - Post Gupta
Post Kushana - Malwa Gupta, Maukhari,
CE - Rajatarangini of Kalhana
Terms used on this section
Adi - original, first
Jati - peoples, caste, tribe
Rajya - kingdom
Trayamsa - Transition in Sanskrit, meaning “the third” ie the combination of 2 makes a third. (correct if grammatically incorrect)
Adimajati – Original Peoples/Tribe/Caste, abbreviated as A
Rajya - A kingdom with no ethnic correlation, abbreviated as R
Sequence of letters such as ABC or BCD or CDE = are Land-Area adjustments of ethnically unmodified Jati.
Pulinda A Adimajati - Original inhabitants of the Himalaya Hills-Mountains between the Gandaki river and the Sindhu river.
The Pahari Peoples and Pahari Language Continuum of the Himalaya Hills and Mountains
Pulinda was the original name of these peoples which became the generic term in Sanskrit literature for "People of the Hills and Mountains / Hill People". Later the Pulinda people modified it to Kulinda and sometimes Kuninda. The Pulinda people were in regular contact and are present in literature as a neutral and simple human people, ie never got mythologized.
It is a common statement that the Pahari people "were originally the Khasa who migrated from Iran to Kashgar to Kashmir and then populated the Himalaya". It is not reality as ethno-linguistically Kashgar>Kashmir>Khasa people end where Pahari people/language start. For that see Pisaca Adimajati and Kasa Aditrayamsajati. Pahari have characteristics of proto Iranian people - but the Pisaca are not Iranian. It is only because a migration of Kasa Aditrayamsajati in West Nepal conquered half the Himalaya making their Pahari dialect the lingua franca in these areas - that such a statement could even arise, as in ancient literature Khasa are always restricted to the west end of the Pahari Himalaya, where Pahari language is at present all but subsumed by Panjabi, with almost nill Kashmiri influence.
Piśāca A Adimajati – the people of the Shina language group of the Karakoram Himalaya and the Vale of Kashmira.
Later the Kamboja were also called the Asvaka / Asvalayana due to quality of their horses.
Tall and White later the in-contact people were called the Kamboja, with Gandharva remaining a regular component in mythology. Gandharva in literature/tradition is predominantly positive, though sometimes negative as well. They may have been frequently contacted, unfeared and considered handsome and even musical.
Example of the attributes of Gandharva A : link, link, link, (once saw the perfect photo but cant find it again)
Kamboja history (maybe diff section)
Kamboja was/is the gateway to Bharatavarsha from the West, and thus essentially the Kamboja were the Gatekeepers. They may not have fought the Persian with whom they were related yet paying tribute to and likely were defeated for the first time by the Greek/Alexander whom encountered 30,000 soldier, with 2000 horses and 30 elephant. This destruction of the Kamboja resulted in the annexation of the Kamboja region by Greek, whom were defeated by the Saka/Kushan 150 years later. Kushan rule ended in about 300 CE, followed by the Kamboja Shahi Kingdom - whom ruled the entire historical-ethnic Kamboja region. By 650 CE Arab Muslim invaders conquered Iran and arrived at Haraiva/Herat the doorway of the Kamboja. But they were systematically and easily repelled and thus prevented from moving further East by the Kamboja Shahi kingdom for 300 years and instead began conquering Balkh/Bahlika/Bactria - Turkic/Saka to the direct North, where over time the rulers shifted from Muslim Arab to Muslim Turk (Saka). From the Balkh/Saka region the Turkic Muslim began chipping at the smaller tributary states of the Kamboja finally succeeding in conquering Zabul and then Ghazna near Kabul in 870 CE. The Kamboja Shahi Rajya thereof shifted the geographically vulnerable capital of Kabul to the Vale of Purushapura. Ten years later Kabul was taken by the Turkic Muslim with the Laghman Pass as the new frontier for the next 100 years. In 977 the Turkic Muslim defeated the Kamboja Shahi Kingdom at Laghman and thereafter in 1001 at Purushapura - thus completing the Islamic takeover of all of Kamboja.
The Kamboja people/region were the first Bharatiya peoples to be conquered and are probably the only Adimajati of Bharatavarsha to be forcibly converted en total by the Muslim invaders which is present in literature as "the Kamboja becoming Yavana". Until this time the Kamboja remained ethnically intact and very much a part of Bharatavarsha.
It is common thought that the subsequent diabolical Muslim invaders were "from Afghanistan". The word Afghanistan is of later origin referring to the kingdom of Turkics whom declared independence (from the Islamic Caliphate). On the other hand most of Afghanistan is Kamboja / Pashtun people whom are ethno-linguistically different from the Turkic/Saka of the plains just to the North. All of the inhuman invaders were Turkic Muslim - not Kamboja/Pashtun. Yaqub Saffar - Iranian, first Muslim to conquer Kamboja/Pashtun areas; Sabukgin - Turkic (Kyrgyzstan) declared this independent kingdom and first Muslim to defeat a Kamboja Shahi king. Muhamad Ghazni - Turkic (son of former Kyrgyz-Turkmenistan) was so named as Ghazni was the capital. Muhamad Ghori - Turkic (Tajik) was also so named as Ghor was the capital. The presence of these places in names is the cause of falsely being considered as "Afghanisthani" whom are the Kamboja/Pashtun. The entry of ethnic Kamboja/Pashtun in the invading armies would have been not earlier than the Ghurid invasions 1200 CE as : between 650 and 870 the Turkic/Central Asia region was Islamized, annexation of Kamboja/Pashtun areas between 870-1010 while the Ghaznavid invasions of Uttara Bharat were between 1010-1030. Those invading both Kamboja/Pashtun region and Uttara Bharat were thus predominantly : Turkic, which had been Islamized since 650 CE. Post forced conversion a new ethnicity did develop of Pashtun + possible Turkic and/or Arab which in Uttara Bharata were called "Pathan".
Kirata A Adimajati -
The speakers of Sino-Tibeto-Burman languages / Peoples of the North-East with Sino-Tibeto-Burman characteristics. The Himalaya to the East of the Gandaki river and the Brahmaputra river Plains.
Although different components of this Adimajati may have migrated at different times, with slightly different ethnicity / from slightly different directions - they are all essentially the same - linguistically, ethnically and characteristically. The Kirata AB is the oldest and the Kirata refereed to in ancient literature, while the Kachari AB would be later though also consider themselves "Kirata".
Bhuta A Adimajati - The Tibetan Peoples, Region and Languages.
As well as Guhyaka.
The term Bhuta(Ghost) was soon replaced in literature with Kimpurusha / Kimnara-Kinnara ("is it human"), while "Bhota" remained on the surface and still does, with certain jati and languages having the suffix Bhota. The Tibetan call themselves the "Bod" , while the word Tibet is a foreign creation. The Bhuta A Adimajati remains ethnically almost unchanged/unmodified through history, while contributing directly and indirectly to the Bharatiya Jati via the Kirata A Adimajati. Separated by the barrier of the Himalaya Mountains and little contacted, Bhota (Tibet) was considered a separate continent - the Kimpurushavarsha.
Some Bhuta that live in caves towns were called Guhyaka a typed of ghost sometimes found in ancient literature. Cave tows are know to exist in Ladakh but more so in the Mustang region to the south of Kailash Parvat - Manasa Sarovara. The Guhyaka in later literature were grouped with the Yaksha, but since the Yaksha were of plains not the Himalaya there was thus no such connection.
Puru AB Adimajati
The peoples of the alluvial plains between the Vitasta (Jhelum) and Sarasvati rivers.
At present also the area between the Vitasta river and the former bed of the Sarasvati river - where Panjabi Proper is spoke (only Western and Eastern Panjabi other languages influenced by Panjabi).
The writers of the Rig Veda.
Later the Puru fought amongst themselves (Dasarajna Battle) and the losing side (both sides Puru), crossed the Sarasvati river and created the Kuru kingdom (which became the speakers of Hindi Proper) and the winning side retained the Pancanad and became the Paurava Prasandhana/Confedaracy.
Anu AB / Anava
The areas equivalent to present speakers of Saraiki. The Kekaya and Mulasthan kingdoms.
Yadu AB / Yadava
Sindh. The areas equivalent to speakers of present Sindhi language. The Yadu later expanded South East.
Druhyu AB / Druhyava
The Druhyu originally shared the Pancanad with the Puru, likely between the Iravati/Ravi and the Sindhu rivers and are recorded as later being expelled by Mandhata (Yadu AB) and thereafter migrated North West - originating the Zoroastrian and Druid. Possibly the origin of the Iranian Parsi, and Gandharva/Kamboja.
Turvasu AB -
The origin of the Tushara / Tukhara / Turan / Toran / Turk / Saka / Yavana as well as the origin of the Pisaca A Adimajati. The Puranic story of Yayati cursing 5 sons likely originates from a expulsion incident of the Turvasu (the later story being authored in the Puru kingdom and thus revolving around and in favor of Puru/Paurava). The expulsion meant the Turvasu occupied areas to the West of the Sindhu river with the majority moving North West to the Balkh and beyond, as well as the Vale of Purushapura and the Pisacha AB of the hills. Later the Turvasu were replaced by the Druhyu in the Vale of Purushapura - either by expansion or due to expulsion/migration of the Druhyu by Mandhata (Yadu AB).
Adivasi Adimajati
The original dwellers of the Forests to South of the Himalaya to the Ocean.
Divisions of the Bhil / Nishada AB in the North-West Central, the Gond AB in the North-East Central, and ? in the South.(see next section)
Matsya Adimajati -
Naga Adimajati -
Gurjara Adimajati - refer to Period
Vanara A Adimajati - the original forest dwellers of. Either vana-nara / forest human or Va-nara / they are human. These peoples wore/wear loincloth which resemble a tail, with references in the Ramayana as ample proof (see Vanara wiki page). The origin of Vanara being considered as monkeys is simply that it much easier to iconize a monkey than another human. See pics for examples of the tail link, link, link. The first pic is not a Bharatiya tribal but fully represents the tail idea, the second 2 pics are Bharatiya - second one in Andhra and third in Odisha.
Yaksha - were/are an Adimajati of the plains with wide distribution like the Naga - but are not ethno-linguistically distinguishable at present. The Yaksha peoples also likely inhabited the island of Lanka. Besides ancient images the Yaksha culture is still visible through performing art such as Yakshagana.
Rakshasha - would have been the name given to an indigenous tribe whom ate humans and thus were likely eliminated or changed and thus are not detectable. The word thereafter was used to refer to any group or person whom ate human.
Vidyadhara - see Pisaca Adimjati
Kinnara - see Bhuta Adimajati, the actual spelling in sanskrit is Kimnara.
Kimpurusha - see Bhuta Adimajati
Parna - Suparna were/are an minor Adimajati not distinguishable at present. They were obviously enemies with the Naga peoples and thus considered as friends.
Guhyaka - see Bhuta Adimajati
All of the ? in ancient literature were not intentionally fictionalized/mythologized - they were "traditionalized". Originally unknown-exotic/different frontier peoples, they were given names, while later with contact they would become known practically by their actual names (or new given names) - with the names of the exotic feared or liked "demigods, demons or ghosts" remaining staple mythological content.
Pisaca AB Adimajati-Rajya Uttara Kamboja - Rajya
The Original areas of the Pisaca A Adimajati-Rajya.
Kulinda AB Adimajati - post transition areas of the Pulinda A Adimajati-Rajya.
Kashmira B Aditrayamsajati - Pisaca A primarily + Kulinda A or Naga A.
Vale of Kashmir, the speakers of Kashmiri - a predominantly Pisaca A language.
Kāśa B Aditrayamsajati - Pulinda A primarily + Pisaca A.
The reasons for Pulinda A being primary are : 1. the language of the Kāśa Hills has minimal Pisaca A influence. 2. The Pisaca A did not cross the wide Sindhu river (arriving to the Vale of Kashmir from the North). 3. The Kāśa are a hill people like are the Pulinda A, while the Pisaca were and still are a valley people.
Alternatively called the : Kāśa, Kāśi, or Kāśira (and often spelt as Khasa, Khasi, Khasira).
Of similar origin as the Kirata A, though with some difference besides later migration.
*Put in different place.
The Pragjyotisha kingdom, Bhagadatta, Narakasura, Ghatotkacha in the Mahabharat are all cryptic references to the Kachari. Ghatotkacha is the most obvious. The Mahabharat itself mentions Ghatotkacha being born to East of Videha in Kirata lands = the Brahmaputra Region. Ghaota was the name of the king before Narkaw/Naraka, and Kachari is/was the name of the peoples as a whole. = Ghatotkachaa. The Kachari people are known to have patronized Ghatotkacha such as naming the ruins in Dimapur as the palace of Ghatotkacha. The people of the North-East are also known to have been cannibalistic, with some even until recent times - which is the primary description of Ghatotkacha - a cannibal Rakshasha. Naraka is written to have ruled and during the Mahabharata period itself, while his son Bhagadatta appears to the battle as an old man whos eyelids are dropping. The depiction of Bhagadatta (actual name Fogdonza) bringing 1 akshauhini of North-Eastern people is clear indication of a growing influence of the Kachari people.
The Gurjara Adimajati were / many still are a semi nomadic sheppard/cowherd tribe (the Huna), whom after the Kushan-Jatt peoples/kingdom made there way across the Sindhu river and established themselves on the Paurava/Pancanada/Panjabi alluvial plains between the Vitasta/Jhelum and Iravati/Ravi rivers. The ancient city of Sakala was also made their capital and all of prominent nearby cities at present bear the name Gurjara (Gujrawala, Gujrat,) This kingdom is referred to as Madra in ancient literature and the peoples - Bahlika. Actually Bahlika referred to all peoples migrating from the North West - ie the Kushan/Saka as well as the Huna. Later they branched or were expelled from the Madra region thereby establishing themselves in the desertifying areas on the edge of the alluvial Panjab plains where the Sarasvati river formerly flowed (seemingly abandoned and uninhabited). This was called the Salva Rajya. From Salva they dispersed elsewhere west to their present concentration areas, generally in the arid north west.
Whilst these peoples called themselves "Gurjara", the newcomers were called Bahlika - the common word for all newcomers coming from the North West, as Bahlk is the first unknown kingdom to the North West of Bharatiya - Kamboja. Shalya would have been the name of a prominent king, whom also would have led the Jati to the Salva region thus getting his name = Salva.
Gurjara = Bahlika = Madra rajya = Salva rajya
Yet in ancient literature Bahlika also refers to the Kushan.
While reading the Mahabharata or any ancient book, when encountering the ambiguous Bahlika people-culture-kingdom, and "Bahlika" is replaced with " Gurjara" suddenly "the Bahlika" make sense and the Gurjara get an historical context.
All details of the Bahlika/Madra culture, peoples and kingdom matches fully with the Huna/Gurjara while Bahlika as a Kuru prince does not add up. Thus the final-current version of the Mahabharat was written Post Huna, as prior to that "Trigarta" was "Paurava Pancanada".
The Bharata Natyasastra, mention a Khasa people were adopting the language/culture of the Bahlika. Putting the Khasa historical into place as the inhabitants of the hills surrounding Kashmira, and the presence in history of the Abhisara in the same Region. Plus the areas of the Abhisara kingdom, (amidst the Khasa hills) currently inhabited by people who speak Gujri, which is Pahari + Rajasthani elements, with latter heavy influence of Panjabi - that exactly matches "the Khasa adopting the language of the Bahlika.
some as indicated by details of the Madra people in the Mahabharata of "the Uncivilized amidst the Civilized".
After the Dasarajna battle amongst themselves (both sides Puru A Adimajati) the losing crossed the Sarasvati river and created the Kuru kingdom, while the winners - the Dasarajna / 10 Kings created the Paurava Prasandhana / Confederacy. Millennia later Alexander of Macedonia fought with this Paurava Rajya on the banks of the Vitasta / Hydaspes - and lost. After that the Paurava territories spanning the Pancanad / 5 rivers of Panjab (Sarasvati to Vitasta), got decreased by the Bahlika people (Kushan / Gurjara A Adimajati) newly arrived from the west. At this point this decreased Paurava Prasandhana / Confederacy became called the Trigarta (Prasandhana / Confedaracy) - or the land between 3 (tri) rivers.
Period 2
Kasa B
Kashmira B
Kulinda AB
Parvata/Pahari B
Simha AB
Kirata AB
3rd Period
Kasa BA
Kashmira BA
Darada ABC
Uttara Kamboja ABC
Kamboja AB
Ladakh AB
Darvabhisara B
4rd Period
Darva BA
Abhisara C
Kāśa BA Aditrayamsjati and BR Rajya - The "Kāśa Hills", the hills exterior to/flanking the Vale of Kashmir - the hilly region between the mountains surrounding the Kashmira valley in the center. the Jhelum in the West, the Krsna Ganga valley in the North, the Darva and Abhisara (lower) hills in the South, and the mountain range separating the Chamba valley in the East. The Khasa of Nepal are Kulinda A (primarily) + Kasa B + Kirata AB. Though the word is the same / different spelling or transliteration - Kasa and Khasa, the common spelling/transilteration of Khasa is being used for the Khasa of Nepal while Kasa for the Khasa of the Western Himalaya. The Khasa of Nepal are still known as Khasa while the Khasa of Western Himalaya, though the original are not.
The extant of post transition Kasa BA peoples and BR kingdom was/is the range separating the Vale of Kashmir, the Uraga (Murre range and later town of Abhisari) in the West, the Shivalik Sub-Himalaya in the south and the Iravati river in the East.
The Kāśa B of the Kāśa Hills are contemporily represented by the speakers/areas of Chibhali Pahari, Poonchi Pahari and the Kāśa Pahari Sub-group of the Chamba Pahari Group.
Abhisara C Trayamsajati and CR Rajya= Kāśa B + Gurjara A
The Jati is represented at present by the speakers of Gujri-Pahari in the greater Kashmir Region and normally outlined in modern linguistic maps. The extant of the original kingdom and peoples are the Abhisara Hills, ie the South-West Shivalik Sub-Himalaya to the South of the Vale of Kashmir between the Vitasta and Chandrabhaga rivers.
Darva C Trayamsajati and CR Rajya = Kāśa B + Paurava A.
Also called the Darvi (people). The present Dogra peoples and Dogri Language.
Linguistically similar to Audumvara C / Kangri people whom would be Kulinda AB + Paurava A, (instead of the Darva = Kasa B + Paurava A).
The kingdom and extant of these peoples was/still is the Darva hills - South-East Shivalik Sub-Himalaya hills to the South of the Vale of Kashmir between the Chandrabhaga and the Iravati rivers.
Uraga C Trayamsajati and CR Rajya= Kāśa B + Pisaca AB
Darada AB Adimajati - The geologically-ethnically isolated portion of Pisaca AB, extant to the present as the (regionally dominant) Darada people speaking Shina language. The term Shina is derived from Simha/Singha-pura the name of an important traderoute town (modern Kashgar and Takshashila route) which the Pisaca originally ruled. Some of the current Shina even still practice a Vedic period form of Religion (the Kalasha people - Kalashmondir language).
Uddyana-Uttara Kamboja - Rajya
Though ruled by and called Uttara Kamboja these are ethnically Pisaca areas, later the region was named Uddyana and thus this name is being used.
Over time some Gandharva A and others may have mixed with the predominant Pisaca A and linguistically these areas are at present Pisaca A primary + Gandharva A., represented by the peoples/speakers of Kohistani (linguistically mostly Pisaca A, and some Gandharva A) and Khowar (more Gandharva A influence than in Kohistani).
Salva AB Rajya (Gurjara A Adimajati)
The Southern branch or relocation of the Madra - Gurjara A rajya.
The Salva rajya were somewhat vilified in literature (they did defeat the neighboring prominent Kuru rajya), and the name of the region/peoples/language later changed to Bagar (place) Bagri (language and people) as it is at present.
Bharatavarsha Period 2 : Peoples Kingdoms
Lohita / Lohara BAR Rajya - Kasa BA, capital Parnotsa (Poonch)
West division of the Kasa Hills/Peoples. Represented at present by the peoples/speakers of Chibhali Pahari and Poonchi Pahari. Some kings of the Lohara dynasty also ruled the Vale of Kashmir. Near Krsna Ghati are remains of a fort called Lohakot and nearby it an ancient Sri Lohardevta mandir (Lord of the Lohara)which was among the most prominent in the Lohita river valley. The extent of the principality/kingdom was the Lohita valley and Karnaha - the Krsna Ganga Valley.
Chamba / Champa BAR Rajya - Kasa BA, capital Chamba
The East division of the Kasa Hills/Peoples. The kingdom remained intact until 1840 when parts were annexed by the Dogra kingdom and thereafter remaining a princely state until Independence.
Represented at present by the peoples/speakers of the Chamba Group of Western Pahari.
Abhisara CAR Rajya - Abhisara CA, capital at Rajapuri (Rajouri)
The Abhisara CAR controlled the traderoute through the Kasa hills and began occupying areas of the Kasa including Rajapuri. A city on this traderoute was established and named Abhisari at the gateway of Kashmira. Alexander of Macedonia communicated with this version of the Abhisara kingdom. The extant of this kingdom is extant in current language maps as the speakers of Gujri (-Pahari)
Aditrayamsarajya - Original Kingdoms of Post Ethnic Transition Adimatramsajati. Abbreviated as BR. BCR principalities of
Madra Gujjar Adimarajya Rajya - (Gujjar Adimajati)
It is also obvious that the Madra-Gujjara Rajya was forcibly ? in the Post Mahabharata Period by the Trigarta (Paurava ? Adimajati or Rajya ?) whereby they dispersed throughout North-West Bharat to their current distribution locations.
Salva Gujjar Adimarajya (Gujjar Adimajati)
Though North Bharat was the power center and some of the Kingdoms are considerable as "Mahajanapada" others were clearly not Mahajanapada (Malla, Vatsa) - ie they simply Janapada with some relation to Gautama Buddha. Asmaka (Amaravathi) was not the only kingdom in South India - but it was the earliest to accept Buddhism. Kamboja and Gandhara are the same thing and Yona is the Greek. The foremost Panjab and Sindh regions are absent in the list, while Gandhara/Kamboja - Gandhara accepted Buddhism early, while Gautama Buddha neither went to the Panjab Region nor were they early converts to Buddhism.
In summary the "Mahajanapada" of early Buddhist literature = were "Janapada" / Kingdoms whom the Buddhists writers felt like calling "Great" due to some connection to Gautama Buddha or with early Buddhism.
Contemporary Period
Pahari Peoples/Jati
The present Pahari Peoples/Jati is primarily Pulinda A Adimajati though with considerable influence of Kasa B (Pulinda A + Pisaca A) and some Kirata AB Adimajati influence.
The bronze complexion amongst Pahari people comes from the later Kasa Aditrayamsajati, ie Pulinda A + the Yellow Pisaca A. While Chinese features among Pahari people is from Kirata A Adimajati. Some Kirata A crossed the Gandaki leading to the Aditrayamsajati of the Parvata>Pahara>Pahari>later adopting the name Gorkha - which are Pulinda A or Kasa B Primary + Kirata AB. In about 1500 ce the Gorkha Pahari began annexing the Kirata AB region, leading to the formation of a country using the primarily Pulinda – Khaskura language as Lingua Franca (now called Nepali language / the country of Nepal – the name of the Kirata - Nepa valley and Newari – Kirata Language). Despite the presence of the Gorkha throughout the Kirata AB region, the original Kirata AB Peoples are still extent and distinguishable as the speakers of Sino-Tibeto-Burman Languages.
Elsewhere from Mahabharata (not mentioned in above passage) :
Kuluta, Audumvara, both principalities#
Trigarta (Mahabharata) - the land between the (former course of the) Shatadru-Sarasvati and the Iravati/Parushni rivers, with the Vipasha in the center (tri meaning 3), people called the Trigarta. The core Panjab Region - ie Trigarta = most of Panjabi speaking Panjab. (see also Trigarta-Later)
Kulinda ABC Adimarajya / Kuninda - People called the Kulinda / Kuninda. between the Yamuna valley and the Shatadru river. (the Kuluta and Audumvara were divisions of Kulinda)
Kuluta - people called the Kuluta. Areas along the upper Vipasha river including modern Kullu valley. Extension of Kulinda kingdom/peoples.
Audumvara - people called the Audumvara. The Kangra Hills - between the Shatadru and the Iravati/ Parushni. (subsumed by the Later Trigarta kingdom)
Salva - people called the Salva. The Bagra region / Bagri (Rajasthani-Hindi) speaking peoples. Semi- Desert areas surrounding the Sarasvati river a until its disappearance in the Desert.
Anga - people called the Anga. Angika speaking areas of Bihar state.
Madra - people called the Madra or Madreya. Areas of the Gujjar peoples / Gujari Language between the Iravati/Parushni and the Chandrabhaga rivers.
Kunti Rajya / Kuntibhoja / Kuntala - Avanti B
The northern branch of the Bhoja. Likely established by a Bhoja prince name Kuntibhoja. The capital was Vairantianagari situated on the banks of the Asvaratha river - which is now called Bhavani Mandi near the Ahu river. A village is present nearby it called Kuntalkhedi. Geologically the area(kingdom) is divided into 3 : the northern extant of the Avanti plateau to the west and the northern flank of the Umatwara plateau to the east and the Kauntel formation/plateau to the North. The western portion (center submerged) has Mandsaur as the main town on the south edge, the North portion formerly had Kundaliya(Kuntaliya) as the center, now submerged, while the eastern portion centered to Jhalrapatan is called the Sondwara region
Kichaka Rajya (Chahamana Jati)
Later kingdoms
Darvabhisara - 1000 ce the lower hills the between Jhelum and Chenab rivers
Trigarta - Later - during the first millennia CE the Trigarta kingdom came to include the Kangra hills (former Audumvara kingdom) and in 1070 shifted to and retained just the Kangra hills.
-------------- WORKSHEET MAP --------------
Dasarajna Mahabharata and Bahlika sections shifted to : link
Bharatavarshiya Prachin Rajya evam Ganajati
Acknowledgment to the Pioneer of Mapping the Ancient Kingdoms and Peoples of Bharatavarsha - Sri Jijith Nadumuri Ravi (ancientvoice.wikidot.com), as well as earlier (normally European) scholars for their studies in identifying the same.
Kaal / Periods
Bharatavarsha
– Pre-Mahabharakunta : Peoples/Kingdoms
Bharatavarsha - Mahabharata Period : Peoples/Kingdoms
Bharatavarsha = Post Mahabharata Period until - 200 BCE ........ / Mahajanapada : Kingdoms
Bharatavarsha - 200 BCE - 1000 CE : Kingdoms
Note that the 2 earlier periods : Peoples = Kingdoms
and the Periods after those : Kingdoms = KingdomsSources of Geographical Information :
Mahabharata (about )
Raja-Tarangini (5-12th cent ce)
Brihat Samhita (150-50 BCE)
Chronology on this Page
----- Subject to Change --- (some dates credit : Modasattva)
3138 - BCE Dasarajna - Mahabharata Yuddha/War (both sides Puru family). The losing side crosses the Sarasvati river where a descendant of Bharata (in the family line of) establishes the Kuru kingdom. (refer to bottom of page for further)
2000 - BCE Shift of the path of the Shatadru-Sarasvati river (the original path begins to dry up). The Great Floods occur on the new path (current Shatadru path).
1600 BCE Adi Buddha
1500 BCE Maurya and Shunga
600 BCE Gautama Buddha
500 ? BCE - Invasion and rule or tribute from Gandhara and Sindh by Darius.
325 - BCE Invasion of Alexander of Macedonia
320 - BCE Chandragupta of the Gupta dynasty - Coronation
57 - BCE Start of Vikram Samvat/Era, Vikramaditya of Ujjayani defeats the Saka
149-67 - BCE Varaha Mihira court astronomer/astrologer in court of Vikramaditya of Ujjain, writes books on all subjects
78 CE - Shalivahana Saka Samvat/Era, Shalivahana of Ujjayani defeats the Saka
Kushana - Post Gupta
Post Kushana - Malwa Gupta, Maukhari,
CE - Rajatarangini of Kalhana
Terms used on this section
Adi - original, first
Jati - peoples, caste, tribe
Rajya - kingdom
Trayamsa - Transition in Sanskrit, meaning “the third” ie the combination of 2 makes a third. (correct if grammatically incorrect)
Adimajati – Original Peoples/Tribe/Caste, abbreviated as A
Aditrayamsajati - Original Transitional Peoples/Tribe/Caste, abbreviated as B
Trayamsajati - Transitional Jati/Caste, ie combinations of Adimajati or Aditrayamsajati. abbreviated as C.
Trayamsajati - Transitional Jati/Caste, ie combinations of Adimajati or Aditrayamsajati. abbreviated as C.
Adimarajya – Original - Post Transition Kingdoms of
Adimajati
Aditrayamsarajya - Original - Post Transition Kingdoms of Aditrayamsajati
Trayamsarajya – Kingdoms of a Trayamsajati,
Sequence of letters such as ABC or BCD or CDE = are Land-Area adjustments of ethnically unmodified Jati.
Bharatavarshiya Adimajati – The Original Peoples of Bharatavarsha
Adimajati – Original Peoples/Tribe/ Caste. Abbreviated as "A"
The Pahari Peoples and Pahari Language Continuum of the Himalaya Hills and Mountains
Pulinda was the original name of these peoples which became the generic term in Sanskrit literature for "People of the Hills and Mountains / Hill People". Later the Pulinda people modified it to Kulinda and sometimes Kuninda. The Pulinda people were in regular contact and are present in literature as a neutral and simple human people, ie never got mythologized.
It is a common statement that the Pahari people "were originally the Khasa who migrated from Iran to Kashgar to Kashmir and then populated the Himalaya". It is not reality as ethno-linguistically Kashgar>Kashmir>Khasa people end where Pahari people/language start. For that see Pisaca Adimajati and Kasa Aditrayamsajati. Pahari have characteristics of proto Iranian people - but the Pisaca are not Iranian. It is only because a migration of Kasa Aditrayamsajati in West Nepal conquered half the Himalaya making their Pahari dialect the lingua franca in these areas - that such a statement could even arise, as in ancient literature Khasa are always restricted to the west end of the Pahari Himalaya, where Pahari language is at present all but subsumed by Panjabi, with almost nill Kashmiri influence.
In the Puranas the Pisaca are said to have originated from Kashyapa and one of the daughters of Daksha
named Pisaca or Krodhavasa. The Mahabharata, Panini and others mention the Pisaca
as a Peoples/Jati in the North-West. The Nilamata Purana written in Kashmira
itself calls the people as originating from Pisaca and Naga.
Pisaca
has always been the name for the Kashmiri language in ancient literature, which linguistically- ethnically belongs to the present Shina and/or Darada languages/peoples. The
first modern Linguist of India, Grierson too used the word Pisaca as the name
of this Language family.
The idea of Pisaca being a type of ghost originates from fear of the different Yellow complexioned people of these remote Hills, whose talked was mimicked as “Pisaca”, such is easily determinable by listening to a samples of the language(ie Kashmiri).
The Pisaca were later given the positive name Vidyadhara. The writings of Gunadhya in Pisaci and the usage of the term in reference to the founders of Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet (which came from the Pisaca region) are proof of this. Kashmir and environs as a famous place of learning - need no introduction. It is the place of origin of Tantra and a variety of important schools of philosophy and Hinduism.
Example of characteristics of the original Pisaca A Adimajati link. Note : the peoples depicted in the photos (Kalash people-Kalashmondir language) still practice an ancient Vedic religion, ie fire sacrifice, tree worship etc.
The idea of Pisaca being a type of ghost originates from fear of the different Yellow complexioned people of these remote Hills, whose talked was mimicked as “Pisaca”, such is easily determinable by listening to a samples of the language(ie Kashmiri).
The Pisaca were later given the positive name Vidyadhara. The writings of Gunadhya in Pisaci and the usage of the term in reference to the founders of Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet (which came from the Pisaca region) are proof of this. Kashmir and environs as a famous place of learning - need no introduction. It is the place of origin of Tantra and a variety of important schools of philosophy and Hinduism.
The Pisaca (as seen in the photos) have yellow complexion like the Central Asian, but unlike most Central Asian at present, do not have Chinese features. Thus Pisaca A is likely to have migrated before the Central Asian began intermixing with Chinese peoples.
Gandharva A Adimajati - the areas/speakers of Pashto language - the Pre Islamic Pashtun people, the Indo-Iranian. Gandharva(people)>Kamboja(place)>Pakhtunwa(place)>Pakhtun(people)>Pashtun(people). As well as Gandharva>Gandhara - Gandhara is the same as Kamboja region/lingua-ethnicity.Later the Kamboja were also called the Asvaka / Asvalayana due to quality of their horses.
Tall and White later the in-contact people were called the Kamboja, with Gandharva remaining a regular component in mythology. Gandharva in literature/tradition is predominantly positive, though sometimes negative as well. They may have been frequently contacted, unfeared and considered handsome and even musical.
Example of the attributes of Gandharva A : link, link, link, (once saw the perfect photo but cant find it again)
Kamboja was/is the gateway to Bharatavarsha from the West, and thus essentially the Kamboja were the Gatekeepers. They may not have fought the Persian with whom they were related yet paying tribute to and likely were defeated for the first time by the Greek/Alexander whom encountered 30,000 soldier, with 2000 horses and 30 elephant. This destruction of the Kamboja resulted in the annexation of the Kamboja region by Greek, whom were defeated by the Saka/Kushan 150 years later. Kushan rule ended in about 300 CE, followed by the Kamboja Shahi Kingdom - whom ruled the entire historical-ethnic Kamboja region. By 650 CE Arab Muslim invaders conquered Iran and arrived at Haraiva/Herat the doorway of the Kamboja. But they were systematically and easily repelled and thus prevented from moving further East by the Kamboja Shahi kingdom for 300 years and instead began conquering Balkh/Bahlika/Bactria - Turkic/Saka to the direct North, where over time the rulers shifted from Muslim Arab to Muslim Turk (Saka). From the Balkh/Saka region the Turkic Muslim began chipping at the smaller tributary states of the Kamboja finally succeeding in conquering Zabul and then Ghazna near Kabul in 870 CE. The Kamboja Shahi Rajya thereof shifted the geographically vulnerable capital of Kabul to the Vale of Purushapura. Ten years later Kabul was taken by the Turkic Muslim with the Laghman Pass as the new frontier for the next 100 years. In 977 the Turkic Muslim defeated the Kamboja Shahi Kingdom at Laghman and thereafter in 1001 at Purushapura - thus completing the Islamic takeover of all of Kamboja.
The Kamboja people/region were the first Bharatiya peoples to be conquered and are probably the only Adimajati of Bharatavarsha to be forcibly converted en total by the Muslim invaders which is present in literature as "the Kamboja becoming Yavana". Until this time the Kamboja remained ethnically intact and very much a part of Bharatavarsha.
It is common thought that the subsequent diabolical Muslim invaders were "from Afghanistan". The word Afghanistan is of later origin referring to the kingdom of Turkics whom declared independence (from the Islamic Caliphate). On the other hand most of Afghanistan is Kamboja / Pashtun people whom are ethno-linguistically different from the Turkic/Saka of the plains just to the North. All of the inhuman invaders were Turkic Muslim - not Kamboja/Pashtun. Yaqub Saffar - Iranian, first Muslim to conquer Kamboja/Pashtun areas; Sabukgin - Turkic (Kyrgyzstan) declared this independent kingdom and first Muslim to defeat a Kamboja Shahi king. Muhamad Ghazni - Turkic (son of former Kyrgyz-Turkmenistan) was so named as Ghazni was the capital. Muhamad Ghori - Turkic (Tajik) was also so named as Ghor was the capital. The presence of these places in names is the cause of falsely being considered as "Afghanisthani" whom are the Kamboja/Pashtun. The entry of ethnic Kamboja/Pashtun in the invading armies would have been not earlier than the Ghurid invasions 1200 CE as : between 650 and 870 the Turkic/Central Asia region was Islamized, annexation of Kamboja/Pashtun areas between 870-1010 while the Ghaznavid invasions of Uttara Bharat were between 1010-1030. Those invading both Kamboja/Pashtun region and Uttara Bharat were thus predominantly : Turkic, which had been Islamized since 650 CE. Post forced conversion a new ethnicity did develop of Pashtun + possible Turkic and/or Arab which in Uttara Bharata were called "Pathan".
Kirata A Adimajati -
The speakers of Sino-Tibeto-Burman languages / Peoples of the North-East with Sino-Tibeto-Burman characteristics. The Himalaya to the East of the Gandaki river and the Brahmaputra river Plains.
Although different components of this Adimajati may have migrated at different times, with slightly different ethnicity / from slightly different directions - they are all essentially the same - linguistically, ethnically and characteristically. The Kirata AB is the oldest and the Kirata refereed to in ancient literature, while the Kachari AB would be later though also consider themselves "Kirata".
Bhuta A Adimajati - The Tibetan Peoples, Region and Languages.
As well as Guhyaka.
The term Bhuta(Ghost) was soon replaced in literature with Kimpurusha / Kimnara-Kinnara ("is it human"), while "Bhota" remained on the surface and still does, with certain jati and languages having the suffix Bhota. The Tibetan call themselves the "Bod" , while the word Tibet is a foreign creation. The Bhuta A Adimajati remains ethnically almost unchanged/unmodified through history, while contributing directly and indirectly to the Bharatiya Jati via the Kirata A Adimajati. Separated by the barrier of the Himalaya Mountains and little contacted, Bhota (Tibet) was considered a separate continent - the Kimpurushavarsha.
Some Bhuta that live in caves towns were called Guhyaka a typed of ghost sometimes found in ancient literature. Cave tows are know to exist in Ladakh but more so in the Mustang region to the south of Kailash Parvat - Manasa Sarovara. The Guhyaka in later literature were grouped with the Yaksha, but since the Yaksha were of plains not the Himalaya there was thus no such connection.
Puru AB Adimajati
The peoples of the alluvial plains between the Vitasta (Jhelum) and Sarasvati rivers.
At present also the area between the Vitasta river and the former bed of the Sarasvati river - where Panjabi Proper is spoke (only Western and Eastern Panjabi other languages influenced by Panjabi).
The writers of the Rig Veda.
Later the Puru fought amongst themselves (Dasarajna Battle) and the losing side (both sides Puru), crossed the Sarasvati river and created the Kuru kingdom (which became the speakers of Hindi Proper) and the winning side retained the Pancanad and became the Paurava Prasandhana/Confedaracy.
Anu AB / Anava
The areas equivalent to present speakers of Saraiki. The Kekaya and Mulasthan kingdoms.
Yadu AB / Yadava
Sindh. The areas equivalent to speakers of present Sindhi language. The Yadu later expanded South East.
Druhyu AB / Druhyava
The Druhyu originally shared the Pancanad with the Puru, likely between the Iravati/Ravi and the Sindhu rivers and are recorded as later being expelled by Mandhata (Yadu AB) and thereafter migrated North West - originating the Zoroastrian and Druid. Possibly the origin of the Iranian Parsi, and Gandharva/Kamboja.
Turvasu AB -
The origin of the Tushara / Tukhara / Turan / Toran / Turk / Saka / Yavana as well as the origin of the Pisaca A Adimajati. The Puranic story of Yayati cursing 5 sons likely originates from a expulsion incident of the Turvasu (the later story being authored in the Puru kingdom and thus revolving around and in favor of Puru/Paurava). The expulsion meant the Turvasu occupied areas to the West of the Sindhu river with the majority moving North West to the Balkh and beyond, as well as the Vale of Purushapura and the Pisacha AB of the hills. Later the Turvasu were replaced by the Druhyu in the Vale of Purushapura - either by expansion or due to expulsion/migration of the Druhyu by Mandhata (Yadu AB).
Adivasi Adimajati
The original dwellers of the Forests to South of the Himalaya to the Ocean.
Divisions of the Bhil / Nishada AB in the North-West Central, the Gond AB in the North-East Central, and ? in the South.(see next section)
Matsya Adimajati -
Naga Adimajati -
Gurjara Adimajati - refer to Period
Vanara A Adimajati - the original forest dwellers of. Either vana-nara / forest human or Va-nara / they are human. These peoples wore/wear loincloth which resemble a tail, with references in the Ramayana as ample proof (see Vanara wiki page). The origin of Vanara being considered as monkeys is simply that it much easier to iconize a monkey than another human. See pics for examples of the tail link, link, link. The first pic is not a Bharatiya tribal but fully represents the tail idea, the second 2 pics are Bharatiya - second one in Andhra and third in Odisha.
Yaksha - were/are an Adimajati of the plains with wide distribution like the Naga - but are not ethno-linguistically distinguishable at present. The Yaksha peoples also likely inhabited the island of Lanka. Besides ancient images the Yaksha culture is still visible through performing art such as Yakshagana.
Rakshasha - would have been the name given to an indigenous tribe whom ate humans and thus were likely eliminated or changed and thus are not detectable. The word thereafter was used to refer to any group or person whom ate human.
Vidyadhara - see Pisaca Adimjati
Kinnara - see Bhuta Adimajati, the actual spelling in sanskrit is Kimnara.
Kimpurusha - see Bhuta Adimajati
Parna - Suparna were/are an minor Adimajati not distinguishable at present. They were obviously enemies with the Naga peoples and thus considered as friends.
Guhyaka - see Bhuta Adimajati
All of the ? in ancient literature were not intentionally fictionalized/mythologized - they were "traditionalized". Originally unknown-exotic/different frontier peoples, they were given names, while later with contact they would become known practically by their actual names (or new given names) - with the names of the exotic feared or liked "demigods, demons or ghosts" remaining staple mythological content.
Bharatavarsha Period 1 : Peoples = Kingdoms
Gond AB Adimajati -
Nishada / Bhil AB Adimajati -
*********** not done
The inhabitants of the North-West forests (or all central?) - both the present "tribal" groups and the later-present Dalit, whom lived amidst the Puru A (and were not discriminated originally - ie Varna by Karma not birth, though may not have ethnically intermixed, leading to highhanded untouchablility).
The large Bhil tribe/group remains the most intact. (May include the Gond as well - being the Eastern division of the same)
Gond AB Adimajati -
Nishada / Bhil AB Adimajati -
*********** not done
The inhabitants of the North-West forests (or all central?) - both the present "tribal" groups and the later-present Dalit, whom lived amidst the Puru A (and were not discriminated originally - ie Varna by Karma not birth, though may not have ethnically intermixed, leading to highhanded untouchablility).
The large Bhil tribe/group remains the most intact. (May include the Gond as well - being the Eastern division of the same)
Rishika A Adimajati - The Burusho people / Burushaski language. As a language isolate they arrived from the North and are unrelated to Pisaca A whom migrated via the Sindhu river valley from the South. Going by their physical features they are likely Altaic. Becoming Muslim at some point, (with the chief retaining the title Raja) ethno-linguistically as well as territorially have remained unchanged for thousands of years.
Pisaca AB Adimajati-Rajya Uttara Kamboja - Rajya
The Original areas of the Pisaca A Adimajati-Rajya.
Kulinda AB Adimajati - post transition areas of the Pulinda A Adimajati-Rajya.
Kashmira B Aditrayamsajati - Pisaca A primarily + Kulinda A or Naga A.
Vale of Kashmir, the speakers of Kashmiri - a predominantly Pisaca A language.
Kāśa B Aditrayamsajati - Pulinda A primarily + Pisaca A.
The reasons for Pulinda A being primary are : 1. the language of the Kāśa Hills has minimal Pisaca A influence. 2. The Pisaca A did not cross the wide Sindhu river (arriving to the Vale of Kashmir from the North). 3. The Kāśa are a hill people like are the Pulinda A, while the Pisaca were and still are a valley people.
Alternatively called the : Kāśa, Kāśi, or Kāśira (and often spelt as Khasa, Khasi, Khasira).
I believe the origin of the name Kāśa = Khasa / Khasira, Khasi
is in reference to complexion of the Kāśa people (Pulinda A + the Yellow Pisaca A). Kasa कंस is the sanskrit for bell metal (a whiter type of bronze) - and much of the Pahari people, and some still called the Khasa have light Yellow complexion. This theory is further supported by the Lohita / Lohara principality of the Kāśa - as Lohita is a synonym of Kāśa - Bellmetal. There is no relevance of Kashgar to Khasa - the people there are ethnically Chinese. Kashmira is of the same origin - the light yellow bell-metal complexion. The names (ie Khasa and Kashmira) would also have reflected how the language would have sound to foreigners with excessive use of "ś"(the Kashmira language not the Khasa Pahari)
.
Kachari AB Adimajati - .
Of similar origin as the Kirata A, though with some difference besides later migration.
*Put in different place.
The Pragjyotisha kingdom, Bhagadatta, Narakasura, Ghatotkacha in the Mahabharat are all cryptic references to the Kachari. Ghatotkacha is the most obvious. The Mahabharat itself mentions Ghatotkacha being born to East of Videha in Kirata lands = the Brahmaputra Region. Ghaota was the name of the king before Narkaw/Naraka, and Kachari is/was the name of the peoples as a whole. = Ghatotkachaa. The Kachari people are known to have patronized Ghatotkacha such as naming the ruins in Dimapur as the palace of Ghatotkacha. The people of the North-East are also known to have been cannibalistic, with some even until recent times - which is the primary description of Ghatotkacha - a cannibal Rakshasha. Naraka is written to have ruled and during the Mahabharata period itself, while his son Bhagadatta appears to the battle as an old man whos eyelids are dropping. The depiction of Bhagadatta (actual name Fogdonza) bringing 1 akshauhini of North-Eastern people is clear indication of a growing influence of the Kachari people.
The Gurjara Adimajati were / many still are a semi nomadic sheppard/cowherd tribe (the Huna), whom after the Kushan-Jatt peoples/kingdom made there way across the Sindhu river and established themselves on the Paurava/Pancanada/Panjabi alluvial plains between the Vitasta/Jhelum and Iravati/Ravi rivers. The ancient city of Sakala was also made their capital and all of prominent nearby cities at present bear the name Gurjara (Gujrawala, Gujrat,) This kingdom is referred to as Madra in ancient literature and the peoples - Bahlika. Actually Bahlika referred to all peoples migrating from the North West - ie the Kushan/Saka as well as the Huna. Later they branched or were expelled from the Madra region thereby establishing themselves in the desertifying areas on the edge of the alluvial Panjab plains where the Sarasvati river formerly flowed (seemingly abandoned and uninhabited). This was called the Salva Rajya. From Salva they dispersed elsewhere west to their present concentration areas, generally in the arid north west.
Whilst these peoples called themselves "Gurjara", the newcomers were called Bahlika - the common word for all newcomers coming from the North West, as Bahlk is the first unknown kingdom to the North West of Bharatiya - Kamboja. Shalya would have been the name of a prominent king, whom also would have led the Jati to the Salva region thus getting his name = Salva.
Gurjara = Bahlika = Madra rajya = Salva rajya
Yet in ancient literature Bahlika also refers to the Kushan.
While reading the Mahabharata or any ancient book, when encountering the ambiguous Bahlika people-culture-kingdom, and "Bahlika" is replaced with " Gurjara" suddenly "the Bahlika" make sense and the Gurjara get an historical context.
All details of the Bahlika/Madra culture, peoples and kingdom matches fully with the Huna/Gurjara while Bahlika as a Kuru prince does not add up. Thus the final-current version of the Mahabharat was written Post Huna, as prior to that "Trigarta" was "Paurava Pancanada".
After the Dasarajna battle amongst themselves (both sides Puru A Adimajati) the losing crossed the Sarasvati river and created the Kuru kingdom, while the winners - the Dasarajna / 10 Kings created the Paurava Prasandhana / Confederacy. Millennia later Alexander of Macedonia fought with this Paurava Rajya on the banks of the Vitasta / Hydaspes - and lost. After that the Paurava territories spanning the Pancanad / 5 rivers of Panjab (Sarasvati to Vitasta), got decreased by the Bahlika people (Kushan / Gurjara A Adimajati) newly arrived from the west. At this point this decreased Paurava Prasandhana / Confederacy became called the Trigarta (Prasandhana / Confedaracy) - or the land between 3 (tri) rivers.
Period 2
Kasa B
Kashmira B
Kulinda AB
Parvata/Pahari B
Simha AB
Kirata AB
3rd Period
Kasa BA
Kashmira BA
Darada ABC
Uttara Kamboja ABC
Kamboja AB
Ladakh AB
Darvabhisara B
4rd Period
late BCE- early CE
Abhisara C
The extant of post transition Kasa BA peoples and BR kingdom was/is the range separating the Vale of Kashmir, the Uraga (Murre range and later town of Abhisari) in the West, the Shivalik Sub-Himalaya in the south and the Iravati river in the East.
The Kāśa B of the Kāśa Hills are contemporily represented by the speakers/areas of Chibhali Pahari, Poonchi Pahari and the Kāśa Pahari Sub-group of the Chamba Pahari Group.
Abhisara C Trayamsajati and CR Rajya= Kāśa B + Gurjara A
The Jati is represented at present by the speakers of Gujri-Pahari in the greater Kashmir Region and normally outlined in modern linguistic maps. The extant of the original kingdom and peoples are the Abhisara Hills, ie the South-West Shivalik Sub-Himalaya to the South of the Vale of Kashmir between the Vitasta and Chandrabhaga rivers.
Darva C Trayamsajati and CR Rajya = Kāśa B + Paurava A.
Also called the Darvi (people). The present Dogra peoples and Dogri Language.
Linguistically similar to Audumvara C / Kangri people whom would be Kulinda AB + Paurava A, (instead of the Darva = Kasa B + Paurava A).
The kingdom and extant of these peoples was/still is the Darva hills - South-East Shivalik Sub-Himalaya hills to the South of the Vale of Kashmir between the Chandrabhaga and the Iravati rivers.
Uraga C Trayamsajati and CR Rajya= Kāśa B + Pisaca AB
The Pisaca people generally did not cross the wide Sindhu river, except via from the narrow valley to the north and then south - with the Uraga being the East most extant. "Uraga" is sometimes included with the "Pisaca"(ghosts) in ancient texts and is later replaced with "Urasa". Represented at present by the speakers of Hindko (North). The extant of these peoples and the kingdom was/still is between the Murree hill range, west of the town of Abhisari till the Sindhu river.
Darada AB Adimajati - The geologically-ethnically isolated portion of Pisaca AB, extant to the present as the (regionally dominant) Darada people speaking Shina language. The term Shina is derived from Simha/Singha-pura the name of an important traderoute town (modern Kashgar and Takshashila route) which the Pisaca originally ruled. Some of the current Shina even still practice a Vedic period form of Religion (the Kalasha people - Kalashmondir language).
Uddyana-Uttara Kamboja - Rajya
Though ruled by and called Uttara Kamboja these are ethnically Pisaca areas, later the region was named Uddyana and thus this name is being used.
Over time some Gandharva A and others may have mixed with the predominant Pisaca A and linguistically these areas are at present Pisaca A primary + Gandharva A., represented by the peoples/speakers of Kohistani (linguistically mostly Pisaca A, and some Gandharva A) and Khowar (more Gandharva A influence than in Kohistani).
Ladakhi AB (Bhota Adimajati)
The Ladakhi AB are the Western Bhota A, living in the Trans Himalaya Tibet Mountains.
Like all of Bhota (Tibet) they were/are Buddhist.
They were in contact with the other Jati of Bharatavarsha, with some cultural influence. Later the Western portion of Ladakhi AB branched into the Balti B trayamsajati.
Salva AB Rajya (Gurjara A Adimajati)
The Salva rajya were somewhat vilified in literature (they did defeat the neighboring prominent Kuru rajya), and the name of the region/peoples/language later changed to Bagar (place) Bagri (language and people) as it is at present.
Bharatavarsha Period 2 : Peoples Kingdoms
West division of the Kasa Hills/Peoples. Represented at present by the peoples/speakers of Chibhali Pahari and Poonchi Pahari. Some kings of the Lohara dynasty also ruled the Vale of Kashmir. Near Krsna Ghati are remains of a fort called Lohakot and nearby it an ancient Sri Lohardevta mandir (Lord of the Lohara)which was among the most prominent in the Lohita river valley. The extent of the principality/kingdom was the Lohita valley and Karnaha - the Krsna Ganga Valley.
The East division of the Kasa Hills/Peoples. The kingdom remained intact until 1840 when parts were annexed by the Dogra kingdom and thereafter remaining a princely state until Independence.
Represented at present by the peoples/speakers of the Chamba Group of Western Pahari.
Abhisara CAR Rajya - Abhisara CA, capital at Rajapuri (Rajouri)
The Abhisara CAR controlled the traderoute through the Kasa hills and began occupying areas of the Kasa including Rajapuri. A city on this traderoute was established and named Abhisari at the gateway of Kashmira. Alexander of Macedonia communicated with this version of the Abhisara kingdom. The extant of this kingdom is extant in current language maps as the speakers of Gujri (-Pahari)
Chamba / Champa - the Mountainous portion of Audumvara which did not fall to the Later Trigarta. The Champa Kingdom established in about 500 CE. In the early 1800 outer portions of its territories were taken by the Dogra Kingdom (the Jammu & Kashmir princely state) while the central part (south west division of the outlineab) remained a princely state until 1947.
Balti B Trayamsajati-Rajya = Ladakhi AB + Darada AB and Kashmiri B (both Pisaca primary Jati)
The Balti were the Ladakhi AB (Bhota A) to the West living in proximity with the Pisaca Jati (both the Darada AB and the Kashmiri B), and intermarrying with the same. Originally Buddhist, when the Darada and Kashmiri became Muslim the Balti did as well. The Western Ladakh - Balti region was called "Little Bhauta" by the neighboring peoples.(and the rest of Ladakh "Big Bhauta".
Ladakhi ABC (Bhota Adimajati)
Ladakhi ABC is Ladakhi AB Jati-Rajya minus the offshoot Balti B Trayamsajati and Rajya to the West. The Ladakhi ABC is called "Big Bhauta" (and the Balti B - "Little Bhauta") by neighboring Jati.
Bharatavarsha - Post (actual) Mahabharata Period : Peoples/Kingdoms.
Adimarajya – Original Kingdoms of Post Ethnic Transition Adimajati. Abbreviated as "ABR"
ABCR - Principalities of Adimarajya.
ABCR - Principalities of Adimarajya.
Aditrayamsarajya - Original Kingdoms of Post Ethnic Transition Adimatramsajati. Abbreviated as BR. BCR principalities of
Tramsarajya – transitional Jati-Kingdoms between Adimajati or Aditramsajati. Tramsa = Transition in Sanskrit, meaning “the third” ie the combination of 2 makes a third. Abbreviated as "CR". (correct if grammatically incorrect). CDR - Principalities of
In the Mahabharata Period : Peoples = Kingdoms. Thus the names of Peoples and the names are the same.
Principalities are introduced in the next period as ???.
Some of the Adimarajya are written in the Mahabharata as fighting on both sides, ie the Kulinda sided with the Pandava, but later a prince of Kuluta (not mentioned prior) is mentioned as fighting against the Pandavas. Irregardless (may have been later additions, when principalities became prominent) the true Kingdom shape of the Principalities took shape in the Post Mahabharata Period, and are only introduced in that period.
Madra Gujjar Adimarajya Rajya - (Gujjar Adimajati)
Salva Gujjar Adimarajya (Gujjar Adimajati)
Later
Mahajapada
The Mahajanapada are kingdoms mentioned in Buddhist text. The kingdoms are mentioned in relation to the activities of Gautama Buddha and of Early Buddhism and are of no extra importance as "Maha" implies nor were they the only kingdoms at the time. In perspective they are Janapada as in ancient Vedik/Hindu text, which the Buddhist authors termed as "Maha" as they were related to Gautama Buddha.Mahajapada
Though North Bharat was the power center and some of the Kingdoms are considerable as "Mahajanapada" others were clearly not Mahajanapada (Malla, Vatsa) - ie they simply Janapada with some relation to Gautama Buddha. Asmaka (Amaravathi) was not the only kingdom in South India - but it was the earliest to accept Buddhism. Kamboja and Gandhara are the same thing and Yona is the Greek. The foremost Panjab and Sindh regions are absent in the list, while Gandhara/Kamboja - Gandhara accepted Buddhism early, while Gautama Buddha neither went to the Panjab Region nor were they early converts to Buddhism.
In summary the "Mahajanapada" of early Buddhist literature = were "Janapada" / Kingdoms whom the Buddhists writers felt like calling "Great" due to some connection to Gautama Buddha or with early Buddhism.
Contemporary Period
Pahari Peoples/Jati
The present Pahari Peoples/Jati is primarily Pulinda A Adimajati though with considerable influence of Kasa B (Pulinda A + Pisaca A) and some Kirata AB Adimajati influence.
The bronze complexion amongst Pahari people comes from the later Kasa Aditrayamsajati, ie Pulinda A + the Yellow Pisaca A. While Chinese features among Pahari people is from Kirata A Adimajati. Some Kirata A crossed the Gandaki leading to the Aditrayamsajati of the Parvata>Pahara>Pahari>later adopting the name Gorkha - which are Pulinda A or Kasa B Primary + Kirata AB. In about 1500 ce the Gorkha Pahari began annexing the Kirata AB region, leading to the formation of a country using the primarily Pulinda – Khaskura language as Lingua Franca (now called Nepali language / the country of Nepal – the name of the Kirata - Nepa valley and Newari – Kirata Language). Despite the presence of the Gorkha throughout the Kirata AB region, the original Kirata AB Peoples are still extent and distinguishable as the speakers of Sino-Tibeto-Burman Languages.
Mahabharata,
Bhishma Parva, Chapter 9 :
Sanjaya
told to Dhritarashtra:- Listen to the names of the provinces as I mention them.
They are the Kuru-Panchalas, Salva, Madra (the Madreya), the Jangalas, the
Surasena, the Kalingas, the Vodhas, the Malas, the Matsyas, the Sauvalyas, the
Kuntala, the Kasi-kosalas, the Chedis, the Karushas, the Bhojas, the Sindhus,
the Pulindakas, the Uttamas, the Dasarnas, the Mekalas, the Utkalas; the
Panchalas, the Kausijas, the Nikarprishthas, Dhurandharas; the Sodhas, the
Madrabhujingas, the Kasis, and the further-Kasis; the Jatharas, the Kukuras, the Kuntis, the Avantis, and the further-Kuntis; the Gomantas, the
Mandakas, the Shandas, the Vidarbhas, the Rupavahikas; the Aswakas, the
Pansurashtras, the Goparashtras, and the Karityas; the Adhirjayas, the
Kuladyas, the Mallarashtras, the Keralas, the Varatrasyas, the Apavahas, the
Chakras, the Vakratapas, the Sakas; the Videhas, the Magadhas, the Swakshas,
the Malayas, the Vijayas, Anga, the Vangas, the Kalingas, the
Yakrillomans; the Mallas, the Suddellas, the Pranradas, the Mahikas, the
Sasikas; the Valhikas, the Vatadhanas, the Abhiras, the Kalajoshakas; the
Aparantas, the Parantas, the Pahnabhas, the Charmamandalas; the Atavisikharas,
the Mahabhutas, O sire; the Upavrittas, the Anupavrittas, the Surashatras,
Kekayas; the Kutas, the Maheyas, the Kakshas, the Samudranishkutas; the
Andhras, and, O king, many hilly tribes, and many tribes residing on lands
laying at the foot of the hills, and the Angamalajas, and the Manavanjakas; the
Pravisheyas, and the Bhargavas, O king; the Pundras, the Bhargas, the Kiratas,
the Sudeshnas, and the Yamunas, the Sakas, the Nishadhas, the Anartas, the
Nairitas, the Durgalas, the Pratimasyas, the the Kusalas; the
Tiragrahas, the Ijakas, the Kanyakagunas, the Tilabharas, the Samiras, the
Madhumattas, the Sukandakas; the Kasmira, the Sindhusauviras, the Gandharvas,
and the Darsakas; the Abhisara, the Utulas, the Saisalvavalas, and the Valhikas; Darva (the Darvi), the Vanavadarvas, the Vatagas, the Amarathas, and the Uraga; the
Vahuvadhas, the Kauravyas, the Sudamanas, the Sumalikas; the Vadhras, the
Karishakas, the Kalindas, and the Upatyakas; the Vatayanas, the Romanas, and
the Kusavindas; the Kacchas, the Gopalkacchas, the Kuruvarnakas; the Kiratas,
the Varvasas, the Siddhas, the Vaidehas, and the Tamraliptas; the Aundras, the
Paundras, the Saisikatas, and the Parvatiyas, O sire.
There
are other kingdoms, O bull of Bharata's race, in the south. They are the
Dravidas, the Keralas, the Prachyas, the Mushikas, and the Vanavashikas; the
Karanatakas, the Mahishakas, the Vikalpas, and also the Mushakas; the
Jhillikas, the Kuntalas, the Saunridas, and the Nalakananas; the Kankutakas,
the Cholas, and the Malavayakas; the Samangas, the Kanakas, the Kukkuras, and
the Angara-marishas; the Samangas, the Karakas, the Kukuras, the Angaras, the
Marishas: the Dhwajinis, the Utsavas, the Sanketas, Trigarta, and the
Salwasena; the Vakas, the Kokarakas, the Pashtris, and the Lamavegavasas; the
Vindhyachulakas, the Pulindas, and the Valkalas; the Malavas, the Vallavas, the
further-Vallavas, Kulinda (Kuninda), the Kalavas, the Kuntaukas, and the Karatas;
the Mrishakas, the Tanavalas, the Saniyas; the Alidas, the Pasivatas, the
Tanayas, and the Sulanyas; Rishika, the Vidarbhas, the Kakas, the
Tanganas, and the further-Tanganas. Among the tribes of the north are the
Mlecchas, and the Kruras, O best of the Bharatas; the Yavanas, the Chinas, the
Kamvojas, the Darunas, and many Mleccha tribes; the Sukritvahas, the Kulatthas,
the Hunas, and the Parasikas; the Ramanas, and the Dasamalikas. These countries
are, besides, the abodes of many Kshatriya, Vaisya, and Sudra tribes. Then
again there are the Sudra-abhiras, the Darada, the Kashmira, and the Pattis; Kāśa (the Kāśira / Kāśi), the Atreyas, the Bharadwajas, the Stanaposhikas, the Poshakas, the
Kalingas, and diverse tribes of Kiratas; the Tomaras, the Hansamargas, and the
Karamanjakas. These and other kingdoms are on the east and on the north.
Elsewhere from Mahabharata (not mentioned in above passage) :
Kuluta, Audumvara, both principalities#
Trigarta (Mahabharata) - the land between the (former course of the) Shatadru-Sarasvati and the Iravati/Parushni rivers, with the Vipasha in the center (tri meaning 3), people called the Trigarta. The core Panjab Region - ie Trigarta = most of Panjabi speaking Panjab. (see also Trigarta-Later)
Kulinda ABC Adimarajya / Kuninda - People called the Kulinda / Kuninda. between the Yamuna valley and the Shatadru river. (the Kuluta and Audumvara were divisions of Kulinda)
Kuluta - people called the Kuluta. Areas along the upper Vipasha river including modern Kullu valley. Extension of Kulinda kingdom/peoples.
Audumvara - people called the Audumvara. The Kangra Hills - between the Shatadru and the Iravati/ Parushni. (subsumed by the Later Trigarta kingdom)
Salva - people called the Salva. The Bagra region / Bagri (Rajasthani-Hindi) speaking peoples. Semi- Desert areas surrounding the Sarasvati river a until its disappearance in the Desert.
Anga - people called the Anga. Angika speaking areas of Bihar state.
Madra - people called the Madra or Madreya. Areas of the Gujjar peoples / Gujari Language between the Iravati/Parushni and the Chandrabhaga rivers.
Kunti Rajya / Kuntibhoja / Kuntala - Avanti B
The northern branch of the Bhoja. Likely established by a Bhoja prince name Kuntibhoja. The capital was Vairantianagari situated on the banks of the Asvaratha river - which is now called Bhavani Mandi near the Ahu river. A village is present nearby it called Kuntalkhedi. Geologically the area(kingdom) is divided into 3 : the northern extant of the Avanti plateau to the west and the northern flank of the Umatwara plateau to the east and the Kauntel formation/plateau to the North. The western portion (center submerged) has Mandsaur as the main town on the south edge, the North portion formerly had Kundaliya(Kuntaliya) as the center, now submerged, while the eastern portion centered to Jhalrapatan is called the Sondwara region
Kichaka Rajya (Chahamana Jati)
The Akara region / East Malva - between the river Parvati and the Sagar Plateau.
Capital : Vetrakiya which is Vidisha.
Ruled by the Khichi, a branch of the Chahamana/Chauhan jati.
The plateau occupying the Northwest half of the region is called Khichiwara, where the dialect of Malvi is called Khichwari Malvi. The Khichi people inhabit the Khichwari plateau, ruling till present the portion of the West slope (Vijaygarh, Guna, etc) on both sides of the Parvati river. The Vidisha plains on the other hand, being the highway between Uttara and Dakshina Bharata - changed hands frequently with Ujjaini - standard Malvi spoken. The Mahabharata records the point in time when the Khichi ruled Akara, to which they were an addition (to the peoples).
Avanti / Avantika Rajya - (yadu B ?)
It encompassed the entire plateau now called - Malva Plateau. This includes the sub-plateaus of : Avanti, Umatwara, Kauntel, Akara, Khichiwara. See Malva - Region page. Later it was transformed and termed as Malava / Malva with the expansion from the North West of those kingdoms/peoples.
Chedi B????? - between the Dasharna river and Suktimati (Sunar-Ken) river. this version of Chedi does not have Suktivati (Banda) as its capital
Karusha - the Sagar plateau between the upper reaches of the Dasharna (Dhasan) river and the Suktimati/Ken river - ie to the south of Chedi (B???).
Dasharna - between the lower/northern portions of the Vetravati (Betwa) and the Dasharna (Dhasan) river, the later separating it from Chedi (B???) rajya.
Khandavaprastha - kingdom of the Pandava during the brief division of the Kuru
#Kāśa hills Sub-Region - due to the geological formation in the south western Kāśa hills bordering Abhisara, much of this part of Kāśa came to be migrated by Gujara who are the majority in about half the area at present
Abhisara - etween the jhelum and ravi rivers.
Pundra / Prasuhma / Varendra / Pundravardhan
all above refer to the same region.
Suhma / Rarha /
same
Bharatavarsha - Ancient to Modern Peoples Revise page title
Bharatiya Prachin evam ? Jati?
Refer to
ancient kingdoms page
Bharatiya Bhashaavali page
for clarification of terms/names.
When the peoples are indistinct at present - only the ancient name is used in the title.
Capital : Vetrakiya which is Vidisha.
Ruled by the Khichi, a branch of the Chahamana/Chauhan jati.
The plateau occupying the Northwest half of the region is called Khichiwara, where the dialect of Malvi is called Khichwari Malvi. The Khichi people inhabit the Khichwari plateau, ruling till present the portion of the West slope (Vijaygarh, Guna, etc) on both sides of the Parvati river. The Vidisha plains on the other hand, being the highway between Uttara and Dakshina Bharata - changed hands frequently with Ujjaini - standard Malvi spoken. The Mahabharata records the point in time when the Khichi ruled Akara, to which they were an addition (to the peoples).
Avanti / Avantika Rajya - (yadu B ?)
It encompassed the entire plateau now called - Malva Plateau. This includes the sub-plateaus of : Avanti, Umatwara, Kauntel, Akara, Khichiwara. See Malva - Region page. Later it was transformed and termed as Malava / Malva with the expansion from the North West of those kingdoms/peoples.
Chedi B????? - between the Dasharna river and Suktimati (Sunar-Ken) river. this version of Chedi does not have Suktivati (Banda) as its capital
Karusha - the Sagar plateau between the upper reaches of the Dasharna (Dhasan) river and the Suktimati/Ken river - ie to the south of Chedi (B???).
Dasharna - between the lower/northern portions of the Vetravati (Betwa) and the Dasharna (Dhasan) river, the later separating it from Chedi (B???) rajya.
Strirajya - all mentions in literature of Strirajya, mentioned in atleast 3 different regions, refer to kingdoms which had a women ruler at the time or prior (rumor) to when those books were written.
#Kāśa hills Sub-Region - due to the geological formation in the south western Kāśa hills bordering Abhisara, much of this part of Kāśa came to be migrated by Gujara who are the majority in about half the area at present
Abhisara - etween the jhelum and ravi rivers.
Pundra / Prasuhma / Varendra / Pundravardhan
all above refer to the same region.
Suhma / Rarha /
same
Bharatavarsha - Ancient to Modern Peoples Revise page title
Bharatiya Prachin evam ? Jati?
Refer to
ancient kingdoms page
Bharatiya Bhashaavali page
for clarification of terms/names.
When the peoples are indistinct at present - only the ancient name is used in the title.
Bharatavarsha = Post Mahabharata Period until - 200 BCE ........ / Mahajanapada : Kingdoms
Kangri = Audumvara (Kulinda) + Trigarta
Bharatavarsha - 200 BCE - 1000 CE : Kingdoms
Later kingdoms
Darvabhisara - 1000 ce the lower hills the between Jhelum and Chenab rivers
Trigarta - Later - during the first millennia CE the Trigarta kingdom came to include the Kangra hills (former Audumvara kingdom) and in 1070 shifted to and retained just the Kangra hills.
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