Study of Inscriptions throwing light on the Jat History

An attentive onlooker on the inscription as translated into English and commented upon by James Tod will find an ambiguity regarding the name of the father of the person who got the inscription erected and the temple built. Kindly read and you would find that it has been stated clearly that "... this minister [MINDRA] was erected, on the banks of the river TAVELI, by SALICHANDRA [6], son of VIRACHANDRA.''

and then read Tod in ''[Note 6.]—Salichandra is the sixth in descent from the first-named prince. JIT SALINDER," He is right so far as number of the kings is given as is proved by reading of the names of the kings of this Jat dynasty as emerge from the inscription : 1. Salinder, 2. DEVNGLI, 3. SUMBOOKA, 4. DEGALLI, 5. VIRA NARINDRA and 6. SALICHANDRA.

But perhaps inadvertently the name of the father of the Salichandra [as mentioned on the inscription as VIRCHANDRA] seems to have escaped his attention which is different from the six persons as rulers have been enumerated.

Now it is for us to find out who this VIRACHANDRA was and what was his relation with Vir Narindera and also to know how the last named person came to power.

One possibility may be that Tod might have misread the name of the father of Salichandra or typographical error or printing devil might have caused this ambiguity. Only way out seems to be to locate and re-study the original inscription.
Only the experts who have access to it can do this service to the community.
 
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prashantacmet said:
Rana ji, like earlier You still look obsessed with the "indigenous" theory :)
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Prashant Ji, Thank you for reminding me that I am saying the same thing as I had said a couple of years ago regarding the indigenous origin of the people who are called and call themselves 'Jat'. I admit that I have not come across cogent arguments in favour of the foreign origin of the jats. My range of information on the subject is also not vast.i have been trying to understand through partisan positioning. If I happen to be fortunate to have better information I am not sworn to take any firm position. If one talks of the foreign origin of the Jats, the following questions arise in my mind:
1.What was the original home from whwere the Jats migrated to North-west India and what Made the m to migrate?
2.what elements of their past foreingn identityare trceable in their life, language and culture today>
3. Who were the people displaced/adjusted with by the migrant Jats and what elements of their life, languge and culture (as distinct from those of the Jats)are traceable in the area inhabited by the Jats?
4.How do we explain the concurrence of the Jat clan names(gotras -not to be confused with the term 'jat') in the ancient Sanskrit literature and technical literature like the Works of Panini and ancient inscriptions?
5. What relationship did the Jats have with the vedic life and language?
Please feel free to advance any information. I shall be happy to respond.
 
prashantacmet said:
Rana ji, like earlier You still look obsessed with the "indigenous" theory :)
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Friend,


Kindly extend your constructive cooperation to decipher the importance of the data/information provided by the inscription in solving the puzzle about this dynasty, please, and for the time being, leave other important issues like one raised by you and Dr. Rana for separate discussion at some other time.

Thanks
 
Rajpal Ji Rana Saheb has rightly pointed out the need of Sankrit text of the Inscription for further research. Jit’ha mentioned is probably जटा.

"The whole world praises the Jit prince."

This sentence is important and needs verification from Sankrit text. This only will provethat the Inscription is about Jat King.

"He is of Sarya race, a tribe renowned amongst the tribes of the mighty"

What is this Sarya race. This must be a clan of Jats.

Which clan?

Probable clans may be selectedfrom the list of Jat clans:

[wiki]Sara[/wiki] (सरा) ?

[wiki]Sarah[/wiki] (सरह) ?

[wiki]Sarai[/wiki] (सरै) ?

[wiki]Sarawa[/wiki] (सरावा) ?

[wiki]Sari[/wiki] ?

[wiki]Sarla[/wiki] (सारला) ?

[wiki]Sarpiya[/wiki] (सरपिया) ?

We need to identify the clan. Because in Sanskrit Inscriptions caste was hardly mentioned but we find clans mentioned frequently.
 
[h=1]Let us have a look how others have identified the first king mentioned in the inscription. One is produced below:

Maharaja Shalendra[/h]
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Maharaja Shalendra was a Jat King, who established a kingdom, in early fifth century AD, which extended from Punjab to Malwa and Rajasthan.[SUP][1][/SUP]
James Tod found an inscription in 1820 AD at Kanswa or Kansua, an ancient village of archaeological importance in Kota district in Rajasthan, India, which reveals the rule of Shalendra in Kota region in the 5th century AD.[SUP][[/SUP][SUP]citation needed[/SUP][SUP]][/SUP]
According to the inscription, found from a well near River Chambal, south of Kota, Shalendra considered himself to be of the Sarya race and Taka vansha. PrinceShalivahana, the primogenitor of the royal family, was also Taka vanshi. Shalendra was king of Salpur (409 AD), the modern Sialkot.[SUP][2][/SUP]
[h=2]References[edit][/h]
1. Jump up^ Thakur Deshraj: Jat Itihas (Hindi), Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan, Delhi, 1934, 2nd edition 1992, pp. 208-211.
2. Jump up^ 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, p. 280
 
lrburdak said:
Rajpal Ji Rana Saheb has rightly pointed out the need of Sankrit text of the Inscription for further research. Jit’ha mentioned is probably जटा.

"The whole world praises the Jit prince."

This sentence is important and needs verification from Sankrit text. This only will provethat the Inscription is about Jat King.

"He is of Sarya race, a tribe renowned amongst the tribes of the mighty"

What is this Sarya race. This must be a clan of Jats.

Which clan?

Probable clans may be selectedfrom the list of Jat clans:

Sara (सरा) ?

Sarah (सरह) ?

Sarai (सरै) ?

Sarawa (सरावा) ?

Sari ?

Sarla (सारला) ?

Sarpiya (सरपिया) ?

We need to identify the clan. Because in Sanskrit Inscriptions caste was hardly mentioned but we find clans mentioned frequently.
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Thanks for your candid comments and suggesting the direction of further research.

As of now, we have no clue where the original inscription is available and what its original script/language is except the hint that it was inscribed in 'nail headed characters' as mentioned by the translator, Col James Tod.
 
Let us have a look on another inscription on the Jats which needs attention of the historians to be included in the main stream history of the region to which it belongs. This inscription was also found by and translated into English by Col. Tod and included as appendix to vol. 1 of his Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan.

Perhaps taken together, both the inscriptions --one given earlier and the second being produced below-- could throw some light on the hidden role of the Jat ruling houses of yore.
 
Inscription No II

[ Reference Tod, ibid. pp.623-24]
Translation of an inscription in the Nail headed characters relative to the Jit race, discovered at Ram Chandrapoora, six miles east of Boondee, in digging a well. It was thence conveyed by me in the Museum of the Royal Asiatic Society.*

To my foe, salutation! This foe of the race of JIT CATHIDA[1], how shall I describe, who is resplendent by the favour of the round bosom of ROODRANI [2], and whose ancestor, the warrior TUKHYA [3], formed the garland on the neck of Mahadeva. Better than this foe on the earth’s surface, there is none; therefore, to him I offer salutations. The sparkling gems on the coronets of kings irradiate the nail of his feet.

Of the race of BOTENA [4] Raja THOT was born; his fame extended through the universe.

Pure in mind, strong in arm, and beloved by mankind, such was CHANDERSEN [5]. How shall he be described, who broke the strength of his foe, on whom when his sword swims in fight, he appears like a magician. With his subjects he interchanged the merchandise of liberality, of which he reaped the fruits. From him whose history is fair, was born KRITIKA, the deeds of whose arm were buds of renown, forming a necklace of praise in the eyes of mankind. His queen was dear to him as his own existence—how can she be described? As the flame is inseparable from the fire so was she from her lord—she was the light is sung from the Sun—her name GOON-NEWASA [6], and her actions corresponded with her name. By her he had two sons, like gems set in bracelets, born to please mankind. The elder was named SOOKUNDA, the younger DERUKA. Their fortunes consumed their foes: but their dependents enjoyed happiness. As the flowers of Calp-vricsha are beloved by the gods so are these brothers by their subjects, granting their requests, and increasing the glory of the race, whence they sprang. –[A useless descriptive stanza left out [7].

Text to be continued in next post.
 
contd from previous post-----

DERUKA had a son, KUHLA, and his was DHUNIKA, whose deeds ascended high—who could fathom the intentions of mankind—whose mind was deep as the ocean—whose ever hungry falchion expelled from their mountains and forests the MEENA tribes, leaving them no refuge in the three words, leveling their retreats to the ground. His quiver was filled with crescent-formed arrows—his sword the climber [vela] [8] of which pearls are the fruits. With his younger brother Dewaka be reverences gods and Brahmins—and with his own wealth perfumed a sacrifice to the sun.

For the much beloved’s [his wife] pleasure this was undertaken. Now the river of ease, life and death, is crossed over, for this abode will devour the body of the foe, into which the west wind wafts the fragrant perfume from the sandal-covered bosom of Lacshmi [9]; while from innumerable lotos the gale from the east comes laden with aroma, the hum of the bees as they hang clustering on the flowers of the padhul is pleasing to the ear.

So long as Soomeru stands on its base of golden sands, so long may the dwelling endure. So long as the wind blows on the koonjeris [10], supporters of the globe, while the firmament endures, or while Lacshmi [11] causes the palm ti be extended, so long may his praise and this edifice be stable.

KUHLA [12} formed this abode of virtue, and east thereof a temple to ISWARs.

By ACHIL, son of the mighty prince YASOVERMA [13], has its renown, been composed in various forms of speech.


******
* Those who are interested in having a first hand knowledge about the contents of the reported inscriptions can approach Royal Asiatic Society as told by the author of the book and translator of the inscription.
 
DrRajpalSingh said:
Translation of an Inscription in the Nail-headed character relative to the Takshac [Jit] race

No I

Memorial of a Gete or Jit prince of the fifth century, discovered 1820, in a temple at Kunswa, near the Chumbul river, south of Kotah


May the Jit’ha be thy protector ! What does this Jit’h resemble? Wwhich is the vessel of conveyance across the waters of life, which is partly white, partly red? Again, what does it resemble, where the hissing-angered serpents dwell ? What may this Jit’ah be compared to, from whose root the roaring flood descends? Such is the Jit’h : by it may thou be preserved [1].

The fame of Raja Jit I now shall tell, by whose valour the lands of SALPOORA [2] are preserved. The fortunes of Raja Jit are as flames of fire devouring his foe. The mighty warrior JIT SALINDRA [2] is beautiful in person, and from the strength of his arm esteemed the first amongst the tribes of the mighty; make resplendent as does the moon the earth, the dominions of SALPOORI. The whole world praises the Jit prince. Who enlarges the renown of his race, sitting in the midst of haughty warriors, like the lotos in waters, the moon of te sons of men. The foreheads of the princes of the earth worship the toe of his foot. Beams of light irradiate his countenance, issuing from the gems of his arms of strength. Radiant is his array: his riches abundant; his mind generous and profound as the ocean. Such is he of SARYA [3] race, a tribe renowned amongst the tribes of the mighty; whose princes were ever foes to treachery to whom the earth surrendered her fruits, and who added the lands of their foes to their own. By sacrifice, the mind of this lord of men has been purified; fair are his territories, and fair is the FORTRESS OF TAK’HYA [4]. The string of whose bow is dreaded, whose wrath is the reaper of the field of combat; but to his dependents he is as the pearl on the neck; who makes no account of the battle, though streams of blood run through the field. As does the silver lotos bend its head before the fierce rays of the sun, so does his foe stoop to him, while the cowards abandon the field.

From this lord of men (Narpati) SALINDEA sprung DEVNGLI, whose deeds are known even at this remote period.

From him was born SUMBOOKA, and from him DEGALLI, who married two wives of YADU race [5], and by one a son named VIRA NARINDRA, pure as a flower from the fountain.

Amidst groves of amba, on whose clustering blossoms hang myriads of bees, that the wearied traveler might repose, was this edifice erected. May it and the fame of its founder, continue while ocean rolls, or while the moon, the sun, and hills endure. Samvat 597.--- On the extremity of MALWA, this minister [MINDRA] was erected, on the banks of the river TAVELI, by SALICHANDRA [6], son of VIRACHANDRA.

Whoever will commit this writing to memory, his sins will be obliterated.

Carved by the sculptor SEVNARYA, son of DWARASIVA, and composed by BUTENA, chief of bards.


Notes by Col. James Tod from 1 to 6 will follow in the next post.
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Those who are interested to read translation of the inscription in Hindi may do so by using link : http://www.jatland.com/home/Inscriptions_about_Jats_by_Col_Tod

But they must also stick to the English Translated Text as quoted above which is based on the inscription as read by and Translated into English by Tod. In Hindi translation claimed to be based on Tod's version, many mistakes/changes have come to notice in the Hindi version where even the name of some.key persons have been arbitrarily changed e.g Devngli has been changed into Dogala by the translator ? Kindly also note the passage quoted by Deshraj has been taken from some Hindi ed of Tod's book and the mistake has been done by the original translator of english Edition into Hindi.
 
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It would be more helpful in ascertaining whether the translation is appropriate to the text if we have the text before us. Till then we csnnot say what Tod meant by thwe text through his translation is the only interpratation. Well prima facie there is a need for re-examination and a comprative study can be fruitful.
 
drssrana2003 said:
It would be more helpful in ascertaining whether the translation is appropriate to the text if we have the text before us. Till then we csnnot say what Tod meant by thwe text through his translation is the only interpratation. Well prima facie there is a need for re-examination and a comprative study can be fruitful.
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I have few questions for you, sir

- Tod accomplished his work more than a century ago...perhaps there should have been objections for his work..do you any idea about that?
- Rajpal ji is not talking about some bard story glorifying some tom , dick and harry Rajput king....as it was done very conveniently by Tod to glorify coward rajputs...he is talking about some inscriptions for Jat kings which were deciphered by Tod ( don't know how?..)..any Sanskrit scholar or historian raised any objection about Tod translation of inscriptions so far..?
- as per your knowledge who was first Jat king ever known to world...anything was before Bharatpur or not?
- how do you convince with the "indigenous" theory....what sort of inscriptions have you considered to firm your opinion?....because you seem a person who does not believe until he/she see the evidence from the naked eyes.
 
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prashantacmet said:
I have few questions for you, sir

- Tod accomplished his work more than a century ago...perhaps there should have been objections for his work..do you any idea about that?
- Rajpal ji is not talking about some bard story glorifying some tom , dick and harry Rajput king....as it was done very conveniently by Tod to glorify coward rajputs...he is talking about some inscriptions for Jat kings which were deciphered by Tod ( don't know how?..)..any Sanskrit scholar or historian raised any objection about Tod translation of inscriptions so far..?
- as per your knowledge who was first Jat king ever known to world...anything was before Bharatpur or not?
- how do you convince with the "indigenous" theory....what sort of inscriptions have you considered to firm your opinion?....because you seem a person who does not believe until he/she see the evidence from the naked eyes.
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Prashant Ji,
I have no problem if any one traces the antiquity of the PEOPLE who are called nd call thjemselves Jats through the roots and route of the various clan (gotra) names which occur inabunance in ancient Sanskrit literature including inscriptions . My curiousity increases when the LABEL JAT(without reference to clan names) is sought to be traced in ancient Sanskrit texts including inscriptions. I seek original texts so as to be able to understand the issue with my own little knowledge of Sanskrit. I do not question the existence of the text quoted in english translation. The references have been given and I shall myself try to access the original.
Yes, there have been many rulers, republican and monarchical from among the stock to which the people now calle Jats belong. But they were as far as I understand were known famously by their clan Names and not by the label Jat. This is the only distinction I would like to make without in any way challenging the antiquity and prowess of the same people.
 
drssrana2003 said:
It would be more helpful in ascertaining whether the translation is appropriate to the text if we have the text before us. Till then we csnnot say what Tod meant by thwe text through his translation is the only interpratation. Well prima facie there is a need for re-examination and a comprative study can be fruitful.
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Fully acceptable genuine suggestion. Let us try to locate the original inscription; and, also in the meantime try to use the available translated material to advance comparative study of the data with the general historical evidences of the period and the region,
 
Hindi translation of Tod's Inscription is provided by Thakur Deshraj in his Jat History book. He has tried to make names closer to Sanskrit. Alternately we can provide here our own translation and give a link to his book below the English/Hindi version for further study. Regards,
 
lrburdak said:
Hindi translation of Tod's Inscription is provided by Thakur Deshraj in his Jat History book. He has tried to make names closer to Sanskrit. Alternately we can provide here our own translation and give a link to his book below the English/Hindi version for further study. Regards,
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Burdakji,

Thakur Deshraj writes in the opening line that he has produced "टाड साहब को यह लिपि कोटा राज्य में कनवास नामक गांव में सन् 1820 ई. में मिली थी। इस प्राप्त शिलालेख को हम यहां ‘टाड राजस्थान’ से ज्यों का त्यों उदधृत करते हैं -" Hence how we can reconcile the Sanskritisation of names with the names given in original English translation.

This means he has either not translated it himself and produced from some Hindi version of the book or he did not adhere to his own pronounced statement contained in the opening sentence and arbitrarily put his own words here and there without telling the readers why did he do so.

In either case it is loss of originality of the document.

The significant variation between what books of Tod and Thakur Deshraj in English and Hindi versions respectively contain and published within a period of about one hundred years in between; causes distortion of historical facts to an extent.

Here, the significance of Dr. Rana's insistence on the need of examination of the original inscription gets more valid and legitimate.


If I am wrong in this assumption kindly correct me !

Thanks
 
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TOD and Translation


Dr. Rajpal Ji,
Yes, there is always a margin of translator's understanding or license if we can use the term. Thakur Deshraj is faithful to the text quote to the extant of the narrative text. But it comes to the text containing names, he uses the license to make the things cl;ear. Similar explanations have one by TOD, but under notes( the right method, is'nt it? ). Going through the English version n noting a few expressions I believe the inscription to beone composed in Sanskrit poetry containg some hybrid terms.Let us combine our efforts and get the original text. I am more interested in reaching at the original for establishing the context of the term "Jit', I wonder if it occurs in the benedictory portion. In that case it may stan for the normal formula in inscription given in brief for terms like jitam Bhagavata, or sdhirastu.
 
In continuation to my posts 28 and 29 above containing translation of the Inscription II, here we append notes as given by James Tod to facilitate understanding of some words used in the inscription which he thought to provide as sign boards for future readers :

Notes by James Tod on Inscription II

[Note 1]- Question, if this Jit is from (da, the mark of the genitive case) Cathey? The land of the Cathae foes of Alexander, and probably, of the Cathi of the Saurasshtra peninsula, alike, Scythnic as the Jit, and probably the same race originally?

[Note 2]—Roodarani, an epithet of the martial spouse of Harar SIVA, the god of war, whom the Jit in the preceding inscription invokes.

[Note 3] –Here, we have another proof of the Jit being of Takshac race; this at the same time has a mythological reference to the serpent [taakhya], which forms the garland of the warlike divinities.

[Note 4]—Of this race I have no other notice, unless it should mean the race [cula] was from Butan.

[Note 5]—Chandrasen is celebrated in the history of the Pramaras as the founder of several cities, from two of which, Chandrabhaga, at the foot of the central plateau of India, in Northern Malwa, and CHANDRAVATI, the ruins of which I discovered at the foot of the Aravulli near Aboo. I possess several valuable memoria, which will, ere long, confirm the opinions I have given of the Takshac architect.

[Note 6]—The habitation of virtue.

[Note 7]—This shows these foresters always had the same character.

[Note 8]—Vela is the climber or ivy, sacred to Mahadeva.

[Note 9]—Lacshmi, the apsara or sea-nymph, is feigned residing amongst the waters of the lotos-covered lake. In the hot weather the Rajpoot ladies dip their corsets into an infusion of sandal-wood, hence the metaphor.

[Note 10]—Koonjaris are the elephants who support the eight corners of the globe.

[Note 11]-- Lacshmi is also dame Fortune, or the goddess of riches, when the image.

[Note 12]—Kuhl is the fifth in descent from the opponent of the Jit.

[Note 13]—Without this name this inscription would have been but of half its value. Fortunately various inscriptions on stone and copper, procured by me from Oojein, settled the era of the death of this prince in S. 1191, which will alike answer for Achil, his son, who was most likely one of the chieftains of KUHLA, who appears to have been of the elder branch of the Pramaras, the foe of the Jit invaders.
------------------------------
 
Friends,

Now we have two inscriptions on royal Jat houses found near Kota and Bundi in Rajasthan respectively.

Those who are well versed in the knowledge of History of those areas and the period mentioned on them, are requested to integrate these historical documents with the general history of Rajasthan of those days.

If someone has access to the old/new Gazetteers of these two districts is requested to find out and share if references of these documents appear in them or not.

Thanks
 
DrRajpalSingh said:
In continuation to my posts 28 and 29 above containing translation of the Inscription II, here we append notes as given by James Tod to facilitate understanding of some words used in the inscription which he thought to provide as sign boards for future readers :

Notes by James Tod on Inscription II

[Note 1]- Question, if this Jit is from (da, the mark of the genitive case) Cathey? The land of the Cathae foes of Alexander, and probably, of the Cathi of the Saurasshtra peninsula, alike, Scythnic as the Jit, and probably the same race originally?

[Note 2]—Roodarani, an epithet of the martial spouse of Harar SIVA, the god of war, whom the Jit in the preceding inscription invokes.

[Note 3] –Here, we have another proof of the Jit being of Takshac race; this at the same time has a mythological reference to the serpent [taakhya], which forms the garland of the warlike divinities.

[Note 4]—Of this race I have no other notice, unless it should mean the race [cula] was from Butan.

[Note 5]—Chandrasen is celebrated in the history of the Pramaras as the founder of several cities, from two of which, Chandrabhaga, at the foot of the central plateau of India, in Northern Malwa, and CHANDRAVATI, the ruins of which I discovered at the foot of the Aravulli near Aboo. I possess several valuable memoria, which will, ere long, confirm the opinions I have given of the Takshac architect.

[Note 6]—The habitation of virtue.

[Note 7]—This shows these foresters always had the same character.

[Note 8]—Vela is the climber or ivy, sacred to Mahadeva.

[Note 9]—Lacshmi, the apsara or sea-nymph, is feigned residing amongst the waters of the lotos-covered lake. In the hot weather the Rajpoot ladies dip their corsets into an infusion of sandal-wood, hence the metaphor.

[Note 10]—Koonjaris are the elephants who support the eight corners of the globe.

[Note 11]-- Lacshmi is also dame Fortune, or the goddess of riches, when the image.

[Note 12]—Kuhl is the fifth in descent from the opponent of the Jit.

[Note 13]—Without this name this inscription would have been but of half its value. Fortunately various inscriptions on stone and copper, procured by me from Oojein, settled the era of the death of this prince in S. 1191, which will alike answer for Achil, his son, who was most likely one of the chieftains of KUHLA, who appears to have been of the elder branch of the Pramaras, the foe of the Jit invaders.
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Dr. Rajpal Ji,
Kindly examine notes 1. and 13. above. I would like to fully understand. Is'nt TOD linking Jat (through Jit) with Central Asia? Howdo you react to Tod's observation in note 13 taking Parmaras as the foe of the Jit invaders? I thought the Jats an Parmaras are from a common stock. Their current habitat and share clan names point to such a likelihood. Please also examine the dates given in the two inscriptions.
 
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