The '''Khasas''' are an ancient people, believed to be a section of the Indo-Iranians who originally belonged to Central_Asia from where they had penetrated, in remote antiquity, the Himalayas through Kashgar and Kashmir and dominated the whole hilly region. They are believed to have given their names to ''Kashgar'', ''Kashi'' (Central Asia), ''Kashkara'', Kashmir, ''Khashali'' (south-east of Kashmir) ''Kashatwar'' and other recognizable colonies at the present day in the hills from Kashmir down to Nepal as also in various plains. A large section of the existing inhabitants of Kumaon and Garhwal belong to the ancient ''Khasa'' or ''Khasiya'' race and speak a Dialect of Hindi, which is congnate to the language of the Hindus of Rajputana. ==Antiquity and Origin== The Kashgar in Tarim_Basin and Kashkar in Chitral are connected with the Khasas. But is seems more likely that these names come from ancient tribal people knowns as ''Kaskaras''. The Kashgar and Kashkar can easily be derived from ''Kaskara''. The Kaskara is Karaskara Tribe which is first referenced by ''Baudhayana Dharama Sutra'' as neighbors to the Arattas and is stated a despised and impure people. The Karaskaras are also referenced in ''Baudhayana Shrauta Sutra'', ''Apastamba Shrauta Sutra'' and ''Hiranyakesi Shrauta Sutra''. The ''Kaumudi Mahotsava'' drama refers to king Chandrasena who is called Karaskara. King Chandrasena is identified with ''Chandragupta I'' of Gupta_dynasty by Dr Jayswal and ''Chandra of Meharauli Iron pillar inscriptions'' by others. The Kashkara of Chitral also connects with Kaskara or Karaskara. Some scholars identify ''Ch'ia-sha, Chieh-ch'a or Ch'ieh-shih'' of the Chinese Classics with the Khashas and think them to be Iranians who had entered from the north. But again, it is more likely that these Chinese names referred to Kaskaras/Karaskaras. The Karaskaras are very ancient people and are attested in several Vedic texts whereas, the Khasas only find mention in later references. It is possible that the Karaskaras of the Vedic texts were later diversified into the Khasas. Panini does not refer to Karaskaras or Khasas but he refers to a plant ''Karaskara'' (Nux-Vomica), at least attesting that he was aware of the term Karaskara. Later Sanskrit literature attests both Karaskaras and the Khasas. Mahabharata refers to the Karaskaras, styling them as an impure people (8.44.43) and also speaks of the '' Khasas of many realms'' (7.11.15-18), thus showing that there were many branches of the Khasas, one of them still attested by its former Vedic name ''Karaskara''. The Karaskaras or Kaskaras of later literature were found located in the ''Aparanta'' or western India in later period. The ''Khakha'' tribe of the hills is said to be modern representative of the Khasas. The clan name ''Khokhar'' or ''Khukhar'' is said to have derived from Karaskaras or Kaskaras (Dr J. L. Kamboj). ==Iranian Aryan tribe== Dr Robert Shafer thinks that after the main mass of composite ''Indo-Iranian-Aryan'' Population had moved into Iran and the plains of Panjab, there also was left some Aryan population behind in their original land of occupation. The Daradas and ''Khasas'' of the hills and the Kambojas, Sakas, Pahlavas, Paradas and Sogdians of Central_Asia represent the hold-overs of the former Aryan population (Report: Ethnography of Ancient India, p 43). ==Khasas in Epic literature== The epic literature asserts that the ''Khasas'', Chinas, Hunas, Shakas, Kambojas, Yavanas, Pahlavas, Kiratas, Sinhalas, Mlechchas etc were all created by sage Vashistha through the Divine powers of cow ''Sabala'' or ''Nandini'' (Kamdhenu) (See: Ramayana (1.52-55) & Mahabharata (1.174.6-48). The ''Khasas'' are said o have participated in the Mahabharata war. They are grouped with the Kambojas, Shakas and Salvas of north-west in Uluka's list of the Warrior Clans of Kuru side (MBH 5.162). At several places, Mahabharata brackets the ''Khasas'' with the Kambojas and Shakas (5.160.103; 5.161.21) and further also attests them as tribes of Udichya or north-west (MBH 5.159.20). :''Udichya Kamboja Shaka.ih Khasha.ish.cha'' ||5.159.20 ||. Karna is stated to have fought and defeated the ''Khasas'', Madrakas, Trigartas, Tanganas, Kulindas, Kambojas, Ambasthas and the Kaikeyas and had collected tribute from them for Duryodhana ((MBH 8.8.18-20, 8.9.33-34). Krishna is also said to have defeated the ''Khasas of diverse realms'' along with other tribes like Kasmirakas, Aurasikas, Pisachas, Kambojas, Trigartas, Malavas, Daradas, Sakas, Yavanas. This evidence indicates that there were several settlements of the Khasas (MBH 7.11.15-18). In ''Rajasuya sacrifice'' of king Yudhishtra, the kings from northern countries lying between mountain Meru (Pamirs) and ''Mandara'' & located around river ''Sailoda'' with plenty of Kichaka bamboos, had brought as tribute, heaps of gold raised from underneath the earth by ants. The nationas so named include the ''Khasas'', Paradas, Kulindas and Tanganas among others. This indicates that the Khasas of the early period lived to the north of Kashmir, west of Tibet, probably in Sinkiang Province of China. ==Khasas in Puranic literature== [Purana]]s include the ''Khasas'' in the ancient Janapada list and place them in the ''parvatashrayin'' (mountainous) division of Puranic Bhuvanakosha. e.g. :Ato deshanpravakshyami ''parvatashrayinashcha'' ye || :NiharastusHamargashcha KuravasTunganh ''Khasah'' | :— ''(Brahmanda Purana 27.62-63)''. Markendeya_Purana associates the ''Khasas'' with the Tribes of Udichya or north division (Markendeya 58.48-52; Vayu: I..45.135). Puranas attest that river Sita (Yarkand) flowed through the country of the ''Khasas'' (Matsya 120.43-44, Vayu I.47.42-43). The Puranas also attest that river Ganga flowed through the Khasa land (Matsya 120.48.51, Vayu 1.45.47-49). These Puranic references obviously show that there were more than one settlement of the Khasas. Bhagavata_Purana associates the ''Khasas'' with the Kiratas, Hunas, Andhras, Pulindas, Pukkasas, Abhiras, Yavanas etc (2.4.18). Nilmata Purana mentions the ''Khasas'' with the tribes of the Nagas, Paisacas, Darvas, Abhisaras, Gandharas, Shakas, Mundavas, Madaras, and the Yavanas from north-west. Skanda Purana asserts that the ''Khasas'', Andhras, Hunas, Kiratas, Pulindas, Pukkashas, Abhiras, Yavanas, Kankas etc were born from sinful wombs (Sri Sanatkumara-Samhita 36-41). Vishnu_Purana brands the ''Khasas'', Kiratas, Hunas, Andhras, Pulindas, Pulkasas, Abhiras, Sumbhas, Yavanas as addicted to sinful acts, but also suggests that they can be purified by seeking refuge with the devotees of the Lord (Vishnu Purana, 2.4.18). The Kalika_Purana refers to a war between Brahmanical king ''Kalika'' (supposed to be Pusyamitra_Sunga) and Buddhist king ''Kali'' (supposed to be Maurya king Brihadratha (187-180 BCE)) and states that the ''Khasas'' and the Kambojas, Shakas, the Barbaras had militarily supported king Kali against Vedic Kalika (Kalika Purana, III(6), 22-40). Vayu_Purana mentions that at the end of Kali age, the ''Khasas'' and tribes of the Sakas, Yavanas, Gandharas, Katas, Pulindas, Pahlavas, Paradas, Lampakas etc will be annhillated by king ''Kaliki''. And they were indeed annhilated by king Pramati (Vikramaditya according to Dr V. S. Aggarwala) at the end of Kali age (Vayu 2.36.107; 1.58.82). Bhavishya Purana attests that king ''Pradyota'' had defeated the ''Khasas'' along with the Haras, Hunas, Barvaras, Gurundas, Sakas, Yavanas, Pahlavas, Romatha and the others (Biblical and Modern History of Kali Yuga from Bhavishya Purana). Bhngavata_Purana claims that the ''Khasas'' were also defeated by Bharata (9.20.30). ==Khasas in Brhatsamhita== Brhatsamhita (A.D. 500) of Varaha_Mihira associates the ''Khasas'' with the Abhisaras, Daradas, Darvas and Kiras, which from other sources, are known to have inhabited Kashmir and its neighbouring regions in historical periods. ==Degraded Kshatriyas== Numerous Puranic literature states that after defeating the ''five Hordes'' (panca-ganah) of the Shakas, Yavanas, Kambojas, Pahlavas and the Paradas, Vedic king Sagara of Ikshvaku Lineage had launched attacks on the ''Khasas'', Mahishakas, Koliserpas, Darvas and Cholas and turned them also into degraded members of the Kshatriya community (See: Harivamsa 14.15-19) Manusmriti treats the ''Khasas'' and the tribes of the Shakas, Yavanas, Kambojas, Pahlavas, Paundrakas, Dravidas, Daradas etc as the degraded members of Kshatriyas since they neglected the Brahmanas in their countries and failed to observe the sacred Codes and the Rituals (Manusmriti X.43-44). ::shanakaistu kriya-lopadimah Kshatriya-jatayah | ::vrashalatvam gata loke brahmna-darshanen cha ||43|| ::Paundrash-Chaudra-Dravidah-Kamboja-Yavanah-Shakah | ::Paradah Pahlavash-Chinah Kirata Daradah '''Khashah''' ||44|| ::— ''(Manusmritti, X.43-44)'' Mahabharata also regards the ''Khasas'' and several other Clans like the Yavanas, Shakas, Kambojas, Pahlavas, Koliserpas, Mekalas, Daradas, Maishakas, Dravidas, Kalingas etc as the degraded members of the Kshatriya Community and also informs that they had earned this status due to the wrath of the Brahmanas (MBH 13.33.20-23; 13.35.17-19 (C)). ==Foreign references on Khasas== The companions of Alexander_the_Great do not mention the ''Khasas''. Pliny refers to ''Chesi'' tribe of the hills who are often identified with the Khasas. Ptolemy refers to the Khasas as ''Khasia'' who are often connected with Kashgar. Yuan Chwang refers to ''Ch'ieh-shih'' whom the scholars identify with the Khashas and locate then in upper Kunar valley at Kashkar (as the neighbors to the Kambojas). ==Geographical Distribution== As has been noted from the Puranic and epic references presented above, there had been many settlements of the Khasas. Prof. Atkinson says that the ''Khasas'' had settlements in ''Kashkara'' at the head of Kunar valley, in Garhwal, Kumaon (Kamaon), and Nepal, Bikaner desert, under Nomadic Tribe called ''Khosa'' and also in the desert of Thar Desert in Rajasthan. The country of the ''Khasas'' is said to have also comprised the valleys lying to the west of ''Pira-Pantsala-range'' between the middle course of Vitasta (Jhelum) in the west and the ''Kasta-vata'' in the east (Rajatrangini, Trans Dr Stein, Vol I, p 47n). The country of ''Rajauri'' which was ruled by the Kambojas in epic times (MBH 7.4.5), was ruled by the ''Khasas'' in the later times (Rajatrangini, Trans., Dr Stein; Political History of Ancient India, 1996, p 133, Dr Raychaudhury). King Ashoka had encountered the ''Khasas'' after he had quelled the rebellious Gandharas, thus attesting the Khasas in the neighborhood of the Gandharas and the Kambojas. The ''Khasa'' writing was prevalent in the regions from Daradistan to China. Thus, these regions were, in one way or the other, connected with the Khasas. ==Khasas, Kambojas in Bengal== The archieves of Bengal contain references on the presence of foreign groups like ''Khasas'', Pukkasha, Pulinda, Thara, Kamboja, Yavana, Sumha, Sabara etc, who were considered outside the Caste criteria of Bengal. There are inscriptional references attesting that foreigners like the ''Khasas'', Hunas, Kulitas, Karnatas, Latas Malavas etc were recruited in the armed forces of the Palas kings. Dr R. C. Majumdar writes that the armed forces of Pala Dynasty included many foreigners like ''Khasas'', Hunas, Kulitas, Karnatas, Latas, Malavas and the Kambojas etc. Later, some courageous military General of the Kambojas appears to have captured north-east Bengal from the Pala dynasty, thus establishing the Kamboja Dynasty in north-east Bengal (See: The Dacca University Studies, Vol I, No 2, April 1936, p 132, Dr R. C. Majumdar). ==Miscellaneous== The modern representatives of the ''Khasas'' are ''Khakhas'' to which all the petty chiefs and gentry in the lower Kashmir valley and neighboring hills are said to belong (Rajatrangini, Vol V, p 48). ==Epilogue== From the foregoing discussion, it is noticeable that there are several references which bracket the Khasas with the Kambojas, Shakas, Pahlavas, Paradas tribes of the Uttarapatha. According to scholars, the original country of the Khasa was located in Central_Asia, north of the Kambojas (i.e. Parama_Kamboja branch) and east of Sogdians of Samarkand. From this region, they had later entered India and spread into Kashmir, upper Kunar in Kashkar (obviously as neighbors to the Kambojas), the hill regions of Himalaya, Nepal and also in the plains of Rajasthan. This shows that the Kambojas and Khasas, in some settlements, were very close neighbors. This may suggest that the Kumaon or ''Kamaon'' division of Uttranchal Pradesh also has possible connections with the ancient Kambojas. In other words, ''Kumaon'' (or Kamaon) may have once been a stronghold of the Kambojas who may have preceded/joined/or followed the Khasas in their ''east-wards expansion'' into the hills. This view of Kamboja settlements in the hills of Himalaya is also sufficiently re-inforced by the fact that Nepalese Tradition applies name ''Kambojadesa'' to Tibet (Ref: Iconographie Bauddhique, p 134, Dr. Foucher). This is also supported by Manuscripts No 7763 and 7777, described in the Catalogue of Sanskrit and Prakrit MSS, in the Library of India Office, Vol II, part II (History of Bengal, I, p 191, Dr R. C. Majumdar; District Gazeteer, Rajashahi, 1915, p 26; Some Historical Aspects of the Inscriptions of Bengal, p 342, fn.1, Dr B. C. Sen etc.) Sir Charles Elliot and Dr G. G. Gokhale also locate ancient Kambojas in Tibet. Dr V. A. Smith finds signatures of Kambojas in mountains of Tibet or Hindukush (Some Kshatriya Tribes, pp 235/36, Dr Law). Further, ancient Buddhist texts like ''Sasanvamsa'' also attest the Kambhojas in Murma (Burma) (See: ''Sasanvamsa'' (P.T.S.), pp 40, 49, 100) e.g: :Rattanpurai mallakamme atisheko adhiko aiko Kambhoja.kulo athi.. :— ''(Sasanvamsa p 83)'' As is obvious, the name ''Kumaon'' (or Kamaon) can etymologically be connected with Sanskrit Kamboja. It is also notable that the ''ultra-prakritic'' form of Kamboj is Kamo/Kammo. Some villages held by the Kamboj population in Panjab and Haryana are addressed with a vulgate suffix ''Kamoan'' or ''Kamboan'' (e.g village 'Bhaini Kamboj' in Sonipat (Haryana) is called ''Bhaini Kamoan'', village 'Ranipur Kamboj' in Kapurthala (Panjab) is called ''Ranipur Kamoan'', and so on). Thus, the Kumaon or Kamaon of Uttaranchal Pradesh appears to have come from the Sanskrit Kamboja, thus implying Kumaon's ancient connections with the Kambojas. ==See also== *Kambojas
*Sakas
*Indo-Scythians
*Gandhara
*Yona
==References== *Mahabharata
*Vayu Purana
*Markendeya Purana
*Bhagavata Purana
*Bhaudhayana Dharama Sutra
*Brhatsamhita by Varaha Mihira
*The Geographical Data of Early Puranas, 1972, Dr Singh
*Apastaamba Shrauta Sutra
*Ptolemy
*Beyond the Gorges of the Indus: Archaeology Before Excavation, 2002, Karl Jettmar, Ellen Kattner
*Geographical and Economical Studies in the Mahabharata Upayana Parva, p 47, Dr Motichandra
*Ancient Kambojas, People and the Counrry, 1981, Dr J. L. Kamboja.
Category:Iranian_peoples Category:Ancient_peoples