Khasas

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 small section of the existing inhabitants of Kumaon and Garhwal belong to the ancient "Khasa" or "Khasiya" race though speak 'Pahari' which is cognate to Rajasthani. Unlike in nepal they are of pure aryan stock. In nepal khasas married among mongloid stock, they are thus partly of aryan stock in nepal. Immigrants Rajputs and brahmins from Indian plains made khasa a small minority in Uttarakhand.

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's Dharma 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 [ Mahabharata 8.44.43.] and also speaks of the " Khasas of many realms" [ Mahabharata 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).

Khasas: Khasas were people who moved from ancient Iran to westernTibet and established a Khasa Kingdom and ruled in Tibet. They followed shamanism but converted in Buddhism. Later, after 12th century when they moved in Karnaliregion of Western Nepal they converted in Hinduism but still retained shamanic and Buddhist elements. Shamanic statues and Buddhist inscriptions in Jumla of Nepal proves it. Ancient Tibetan books refer to Khasa king of non Asian origin. Hindu epic books refer to a kingdom of Khasa in western Tibet ruled by Khasa kings. People of Nepal still retain Khasa language which still have Iranic elements but is largely influenced by Tibeto-Burmese languages(e.g.Magar) and Sanskrit language. It is called "Khasa kura" which is the main language(lingua franca) of Nepal. It is also spoken in Bhutan,Sikkim,Darjeeling and in some part of Burma.It is also spoken by people living India of Nepalese/ Gurkha origin. It is the official language for all Gurkhas serving in British army. Historian have found strong evidences to support these claims. Scientists have also matched Khasa DNA with DNA of Iranian tribes which proves the movement of Khasa from Persia to Tibet and then to Nepal(which happened recently compared to other human movements.) Also Khasa have a separate physical and racial features resembling Kasmiris and Iranians.

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.] .The Kumaoni is, in fact, has lost its origin due to scucession of migrants from Indian plains and now resembles Hindi. Rajputs and Brahmins escaping Muslims attacks and conversions over wrote the customs and language of this lands as they dominated and over threw the Katyur kings.

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" (Kamadhenu) [See: Ramayana 1.52-55) & Mahabharata (1.174.6-48).] .

The "Khasas" are said to have participated in the Kurukshetra War. They are grouped with the Kambojas, Shakas and Shalvas of north-west in Uluka's list of the warrior clans of Kuru side [Mahabharata 5.162.] . The Khasas and other tribes from Central Asia including the Kambojas, Sakas, Yavanas, Daradas, Tusharas had fought the Kurukshetra war under the supreme command of Sudakshin Kamboj [ The Nations of India at the Battle Between the Pandavas and Kauravas, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, 1908, pp 313, 331, Dr F. E. Pargiter, (Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland).] .

At several places, the Mahabharata brackets the "Khasas" with the Kambojas and Shakas [ Mahabharata 5.160.103; 5.161.21.] and further also attests them as tribes of Udichya or north-west [.

:"Udichya Kamboja Shaka.ih Khasha.ish.cha" ||5.159.20 ||.:: (Mahabharata 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 [ Mahabharata 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 Xinjiang province of China.

Khasas in Puranic literature

Puranas include the "Khasas" in the ancient Janapada list and place them in the "parvatashrayin" (mountainous) division of Puranic Bhuvanakosha [

:Ato deshanpravakshyami "parvatashrayinashcha" ye |
:NiharastusHamargashcha KuravasTunganh "Khasah"
:— "(Brahmanda Purana 27.62-63)".] .

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.

*Markandeya Purana associates the "Khasas" with the tribes of Udichya or north division [Markendeya 58.48-52; Vayu: I..45.135.] .

*Bhagavata Purana associates the "Khasas" with the Kiratas, Hunas, Andhras, Pulindas, Pukkasas, Abhiras, Yavanas etc [ Bhagvata Purana 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.] .

*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 annihilated by king "Kaliki". And they were indeed annihilated 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).

*Bhagavata Purana claims that the "Khasas" were also defeated by Bharata [Bhagavata Purana 9.20.30.] .

Khasas in Brhatsamhita

Brihat-Samhita (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.

Khasas in Tibetan chronicles

The Khasas are mentioned in the Tibetan chronicle Dpag-bsam-ljon-bzah ("The Excellent Kalpa-Vrksa"), along people like the Yavanas, Kambojas, Tukharas, Hunas, Daradas etc [ "Tho-gar yul dań yabana dań Kambodza dań Khasa dań Huna dań Darta dań...(See: Pag-Sam-Jon-Zang (1908), I.9, Sarat Chandra Das; Ancient Kamboja, 1971, p 66, H. W. Bailey.] .

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 [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 [

::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|
::— "(Manusmriti, 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 [ Mahabharata 13.33.20-23; 13.35.17-19 (Critical).] .

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 [Rajatarangini, 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 Dardistan 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 [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 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 [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).:

:Rattanpurai mallakamme atisheko adhiko aiko Kambhoja.kulo athi.. :— "(Sasanvamsa p 83)" .] .

Notes

ee 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.
*KHAS KINGDOM by Prof Surya Mani Adhikari,Tribhuvan University,Kathmandu,Nepal