Charmae

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

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Charmae were ancient race mentioned by Pliny and Megasthenes.

Variants

• Charmae (Megasthenes)
• Charmæ (Pliny.vi.23)

Jat Gotras Namesake

• Chahar = Charmae (Pliny.vi.23)

History

Alexander Cunningham mentions that According to M. Julien Malyakuta was also called Chi-mo-lo, which I read as Jhi-mu-ra, because the initial syllable is the same as the second syllable of Chi-chi-to, or Jajhoti. Jhimura is perhaps only a variant form of the Limurike of Strabo, Ptolemy, and Arrian, and of the Damirice of the Peutingerian Tables. It would also appear to be the same name as Pliny's [p.552]: Charmae, a people who occupied the western coast immediately above the Pandae.

Mention by Pliny

Pliny mentions 'The Indus.'.... then the Odonbeores, the Arabastree, and the Horacæ, which last inhabit a fine city fortified by trenches cut in the marshes. It is quite impossible to approach the city, except by the bridge, as the water in the trenches is full of crocodiles, an animal most insatiate for human flesh. There is another city also in their territory, which has been greatly extolled, Automula by name, situate on the sea-shore, a famous mart, lying at the point of confluence of five rivers: their king possesses sixteen hundred elephants, one hundred and fifty thousand foot, and five thousand horse. The king of the Charmæ is a less opulent potentate; he has only sixty elephants and some small remains of his former strength.

Jat clans mentioned by Megasthenes

Megasthenes also described India's caste system and a number of clans out of these some have been identified with Jat clans by the Jat historians. Megasthenes has mentioned a large number of Jat clans. It seems that the Greeks added 'i' to names which had an 'i' ending. Identified probable Jat clans have been provided with active link within brackets. (See Jat clans mentioned by Megasthenes)

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Jat clans as described by Megasthenes
Location	Jat clans	Information
14. Then	The Odomoboerae (Odasi); the Salabastrae (Salaru, Arab); the Horatae (Haratwal, Hora)	The Horatae, who have a fine city, defended by marshes which serve as a ditch, wherein crocodiles are kept, which, having a great avidity for human flesh, prevent all access to the city except by a bridge. And another city of theirs is much admired--Automela, which, being seated on the coast at the confluence of five rivers, is a noble emporium of trade. The king is master of 1, 600 elephants, 150,000 foot, and 5,000 cavalry. The poorer king of the Charmae (Chahar) has but sixty elephants, and his force otherwise is insignificant