Takhar/Thakar/Takkar/Tokhar Jats in Indian Literature
<HR style="COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->The Ancient
Sanskrit literature refers to Tocharians as Tusharas, Tukharas, Tokharas and Tuharas etc. There are numerous references to this people in the ancient Sanskrit texts. E.g:Atharavaveda Parisista (Ed Bolling & Negelein, 41.3.3) associates the
Tusharas with the Sakas,Yavanas and the Bahilkas. (
Saka. Yavana.Tushara.Bahlikashcha). Atharvaveda-Parisia also juxtaposes the Kambojas with the Bahlikas (
Kamboja-Bahlika..., AV-Par, 57.2.5; cf Persica-9, 1980, p 106, Dr Michael Witzel). This shows the Tusharas probably were neighbors to the
Shakas,
Bahlikas,
Yavanas and the
Kambojas in
Transoxian region. The Santi Parva of
Mahabharata associates the
Tusharas with the
Yavanas,
Kiratas,
Gandharas,
Chinas,
Kambojas,
Pahlavas,
Kankas,
Sabaras,
Barbaras, Ramathas etc. and brands them all as
Barbaric tribes of
Uttarapatha, leading lives of Dasyus (MBH 12.65.13-15). Sabha Parva of Mahabharata (Chapters 48-50) states that kings of the
Kambojas,
Sakas ,
Tukharas, Kankas and Romakas etc had brought with them as tribute Camels, horses, elephants and gold on the occasion of Rajasuya Yajna performed by
Yudhisthira at
Hastinapura. Later the
Tusharas, Sakas and Yavanas had joined the military division of the Kambojas and had participated in the Mahabharata war on Kauravas' side (MBH 6.66.17-21; MBH 8.88.17). Karna Parva of Mahabharata describes the
Tusharas as very ferocious and wrathful warriors. At one place in Mahabharata, the Tusharas find mention with the Shakas and the Kankas (
Shakas.Tusharah.Kankascha). At another place they come with the Shakas, Kankas and Pahlavas (
Shakas Tusharah Kankashch.Pahlavashcha). And at other places they come with the Shakas, Yavanas and the Kambojas (
Shaka.Tushara.Yavanashcha sadinah sahaiva.Kambojavaraijidhansavah)
OR (
Kritavarma tu sahitah Kambojarvarai.Bahlikaih...Tushara.Yavanashchaiva.S hakashcha saha Chulikaih) etc.
Puranic texts like
Vayu Purana,
Brahamanda Purana and
Vamana Purana etc associates the
Tusharas with the Shakas, Barbaras, Kambojas,
Daradas, Viprendras, Anglaukas, Yavanas, Pahlavas etc and refer to them all as the tribes of
Udichya i.e. north or north-west (Brahmanda Purana 27.46-48). Puranic literature further states that the
Tusharas and other
tribes like Gandharas, Shakas, Pahlavas, Kambojas, Paradas, Yavanas, Barbaras,
Khasa, Lampakas etc would be invaded and annhilated by king Kaliki at the end of
Kaliyuga. And they were annhilated by king Pramiti at the end of Kaliyga (Vayu I.58.78-83; cf: Matsya 144.51-58). According to Vayu Purana and
Matsya Purana, river Chakshu (
Oxus or Amu Darya) flowed through the countries of
Tusharas, Lampakas, Pahlavas, Paradas and the Shakas etc (Vayu Purana I.58.78-83).
The
Brihat-Katha-Manjari (10/1/285-86) of Pt Kshmendra relates that around 400 AD, Gupta king Vikramaditya (
Chandragupta II) had "unburdened the sacred earth by destroying the barbarians" like the
Tusharas,
Shakas, Mlecchas,
Kambojas,
Yavanas,
Parasikas,
Hunas etc.
Rajatrangini of
Kalhana attests that king
Laliditya Muktapida, the eighth century ruler of
Kashmir had invaded the
tribes of the north and after defeating the
Kambojas, he immediately faced the
Tusharas. The Tusharas did not give a fight but fled to the mountain ranges leaving their horses in the battle field (RT IV.165-166). This shows that during 8th century AD, a section of the Tusharas were living as neighbors of the Kambojas near the
Oxus valley.
