Jat clan system

The Jat clan system refers to social organization of the Jat people of Indo-Aryan/Indo-Scythian descent spread over Northern India and Pakistan (mainly in the Punjab region).Alexander Cunningham, History of Sikhs] James Tod, Annals ] [Sir Herbert Risley: "The People of India"]

The clan names of the Jat people are unique in South Asia. However, some small number of their clan names do overlap with the Rajputs and Gujjars. [Marshall, J., (Sir, Hon. Fellow of King's College, Cambridge University, and formerly Director-General of Archaeology in India), A Guide to Taxila, Cambridge University Press, London, 1960, pp. 24. ]
List of Jat Clans have been compiled by many Jat historians. These lists have more than 2700 Jat clans. In Anthropology most Jat Clan names are considered Scythian, Central Asian or Aryan in origin. [Sir Herbert Risley: "The People of India"] In popular tradition & mythology some Jat clans come from Chandravanshi, Suryavansha, Agnivansha and Nagavanshi. Patel and Chowdhury are surnames used by a number of social groups which are based on titles and do not reflect ancestry and therefore are not considered as clans lineages.

In Ancestry

Clan

A clan is a group of people united by kinship and descent, which is defined by perceived descent from a common ancestor. Even if actual lineage patterns are unknown, clan members nonetheless recognize a founding member or apical ancestor. As kinship based bonds can be merely symbolical in nature some clans share a "stipulated" common ancestor, which is a symbol of the clan's unity.

Based on persons

The clans started on the basis of persons are Yadavavansh, Raghuvansh, Pandava, Paurava, Kuruvanshi, Tanwar, Salkhalan, Dahiya, Jakhar, Kushan, Budhwar, Dhillon, Deshwal, Dalal, Maan, Sindhu, Sihag, Kadian, Lamba, Punia, Lalla, Balan, Nava, Taxak, Kakrana, Chandravanshi, Shivi, Gaur, Banwala,Madra, Bhimbhraulia, Sangwan, Gill, Hala Suryavanshi, and Waseer etc. [Dr Ompal Singh Tugania: Jat samudāy ke pramukh Ādhār bindu, Jaypal Agencies, Agra 2004 (Page 7-8)]

Based on places

The clans started on the basis of place are Gandhari, Kuntal, Khutail, Ahlawat, Chedi, Sinsinwar, Bhind, Dahima, Nehra, Tewatia, Vahika, Bais Rajputs, Magadh, Mohil, Tushar, Malloi (Malwa), Sikarwar, Sisodia etc. [Dr Ompal Singh Tugania: Jat samudāy ke pramukh Ādhār bindu, Jaypal Agencies, Agra 2004 (Page 7-8)]

Based on languages

The clans started on the basis of language are Kakurath, Kak, Kakk, Kukkur, Gandhir, Gandir, Gandila, Gandasia, Gul, Gala, Golia, Galaran, Gahlot, etc. [Dr Ompal Singh Tugania: Jat samudāy ke pramukh Ādhār bindu, Jaypal Agencies, Agra 2004 (Page 7-8)]

Based on titles

The clans started on the basis of title are Rao, Rawat, Harawat, Chauhan, Solanki, Parihar, Parmar, Thakurela, Chhokar, Thenua, Chapotkat, Rana, Godara, Dixit, Mithe, Chatte, Khatte, Janghare, Bhagaur, Lohchab, Thakur, Antal, Malik, Gathwale, Jatrana, Chaudhari etc.

In popular tradition & mythology

Gotra

A gotra (गोत्र) (lit. "cow-pen" or "cow-shed" in archaic rigvedic Sanskrit) is a patrilineal classification and identification of castes in India. Gotra is the Sanskrit term for a much older system of tribal clans.The Sanskrit term "Gotra" was initially used by the Vedic people for the identification of the lineages. Maharshi Panini has defined gotra in his grammar astadhyayi in sanskrit as under-

उपत्यं प्रौत्रं प्रभृति गोत्रम "upatyam prautram prabhriti gotram"

Translation – Gotra is the name of group of descents, leaving son, including grandsons and great grandsons.

Vansha

Initially there was only one vansha that was Manuvansha. Later one branch started from sons of Manu, which was called Suryavansha and other branch started from daughter of Manu, Ila, that was called Aila or Chandravanshi. Later to minimize the influence of Buddhism and Jainism in India, the Brahmans organized a grand yagya at Mount Abu in Rajasthan, which continued for 40 days. Almost all the ruling clans attended this yagya. The ruling clans which took part in this yagya were titled as ‘Rajputs’. Four kshatriyas appeared from the agnikunda namely, Solankis, Pratiharas, Chauhans and Paramaras. These were termed Agnivansha kshatriyas. [Dr Ompal Singh Tugania: Jat samudāy ke pramukh Ādhār bindu, Jaypal Agencies, Agra 2004 (Page 7)]

According to Agni Purana Agnivansha kshatriyas were born from the fire which resides in Mt. Abu in Northwestern India after the "destruction of ancient Kshatriyas". However historians interpret this as suggestive of Indo-Scythian origin because this place was entrance gateway for scythic groups in India. In fact lineage of all 36 Rajput ruling clans has been traced to Indo-Scythian races [ [http://rajputana.htmlplanet.com/scy_raj/scy_raj1.html Scythic Origin of the Rajput Race] ] The ruling clans who took part in the above yagya were termed Rajputs but those who did not take part remained Jats, Gurjars as such in their old clans. Gotras did not change in this process that is why common gotras are found in Jats, Rajputs and Gurjars.

A vansha is connected with ruling clan like Huna vansha in China and Agnivansha in India. All the gotras try to link with some vansha. Those who joined mount Abu yagya connect their gotra with four Rajput clans namely Solanki, Pratihara, Chauhan Paramara. Rest connect their gotra with Suryavansha or Chandravansha or some great Rishi or a King.

Basis of clans and Vanshas

Jat people clans have initially been created in the name of a person, a place or some historical incidence. When in a generation a great person takes birth all the previous titles of this generation are included in the name of this great person and a new clan starts in his name. [Dr Ompal Singh Tugania: Jat samudāy ke pramukh Ādhār bindu, Jaypal Agencies, Agra 2004 (Page 5)]

According to Dilip Singh Ahlawat, Clans and Vanshas start on the basis of some important person, country, period, title and language. [Dilip Singh Ahlawat:J"at viron ka Itihasa"]

Based on system of worship

Some Jat people clans developed their clans according to their system of worship such as Devas and Nāgas. In Devas the worshippers of Indra were known as Aindra, worshippers of Varun as Vārun, worshippers of Mitra as Maitreya or Mitrā, worshippers of Shiva as Shivi or Shaivya, worshippers of Marut as Mārut, worshippers of Gandharva as Gāndharva, worshippers of Shesha as Sheshma, worshippers of Karka as Karkotaka, worshippers of Nāga as Nāgā or Nāgil.

Nagavanshi Jat clans

Jat people clans of Nagavanshi or Nāgas were originated from Kashyapa. The Nāgvanshis acquired the status of Devas due to their excellent qualities, behavior and actions. Purānas mention Nāgas along with devas. Purānas mention of many Nāga Kingdoms. In ancient times Nāgas were the rulers of entire India. During their peak period of rule they had sent armies to other countries also conquered them. In many places Indian Nāgas have been mentioned as ruling dynasties such as Tāk, Taxak, Tānak, Tushta etc. Apart from these there were many branches of Nāgas such as Karkotaka Vanshi, Shesha Vanshi, Vāsuki Vanshi, Ahi Vanshi, Manibhadra Vanshi etc. These branches further developed as sub branches such as Sind Vansh, Kushan Vansh, Vaish Vansh and Saindhav Vansh etc.

Some of the nagavanshi Jat people clans are Dhaulya, Asit, Kala, Dahiya, Sewda, Khokhar, Mundwaria, Nil, Gora, Tokas, Taxak, Takhar, Pandul, Titarwal, Mandel, Matwa, Roja, Kalya, Kalwaria, Abuda, Vasath, Lega, Bhakhar, Bhinchar, Lochag etc. Jat historians have listed Some more nagavansh Jat clans which are [Dr Mahendra Singh Arya, Dharmpal Singh Dudee, Kishan Singh Faujdar & Vijendra Singh Narwar: Ādhunik Jat Itihasa (The modern history of Jats), Agra 1998 ] [Mansukh Ranwa:Kshatriya Shiromani Vir Tejaji, Page 9] [Dr Naval Viyogi: Nagas – The Ancient Rulers of India, Their Origins and History (The History of the Indigenous people of India Vol. 2), Published by Originals (an imprint of Low Price Publications), Delhi, 2002, ISBN 81-7536-287-1]

List of Jat clans

Lists of Jat clans have been compiled by many Jat historians like Ompal Singh Tugania [Dr Ompal Singh Tugania: Jat samudāy ke pramukh Ādhār bindu, Jaypal Agencies, Agra 2004 ] , Bhaleram Beniwal [ Bhaleram Beniwal: Jāton kā Ādikālīn Itihāsa, Jaypal Agencies, Agra 2005. ] [ Bhaleram Beniwal: Jāt Yodhaon ke Balidān, Jaypal Agencies, Agra 2005] Dr Mahendra Singh Arya and others [ Dr Mahendra Singh Arya, Dharmpal Singh Dudi, Kishan Singh Faujdar & Vijendra Singh Narwar: Ādhunik Jat Itihasa (The modern history of Jats), Agra 1998 ] ,Thakur Deshraj [ Thakur Deshraj: Jat Itihasa (Hindi), Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan, Delhi, 1934, 2nd ] , Dilip Singh Ahlawat [ Dilip Singh Ahlawat: Jat viron ka Itihasa ] etc.The above lists have more than 2700 Jat gotras. Thakur Deshraj and Dilip Singh Ahlawat have mentioned history of some of Jat gotras. Some websites of Jats have also prepared list of Jat Gotras with details of history and distriburion. [ [http://www.jatland.com/home/Jat_Gotras List of Jat Gotras on Jatland] ]

External links

* [http://www.jatland.com/home/Jat_Gotras List of Jat Gotras on Jatland]

References

Further reading

*cite web|url=http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1182146|title=The Genetic or Mythical Ancestry of Descent Groups: Lessons from the Y Chromosome