Hansa

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

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Hansa (हंस) (Hamsa) was a king of Mahabharata period. He was born in Kuruvansha son of Arishta. He was an ally of Jarasandha. Hansa is name of a mountain mentioned in Vishnu Purana 2,2,29 located in north of India.

Variants

• Hansa Parvata हंस (AS, p.1005)

Jat Gotras from Hansa

Hans (हंस) Hans (हांस) Hansawat (हंसावत) Han (हाँ) is a gotra of Jats found in Punjab. They have originated from King Hansa (हंस) of Mahabharata period. He was an ally of Jarasandha.

Dilip Singh Ahlawat has mentioned Hansa Tribe as one of the ruling Jat clans in Central Asia.

In Mahabharata

Hansa (हंस)is mentioned in Mahabharata (I.60.56), (I.61.77), (II.13.11),(II.13.36),

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Adi Parva, Mahabharata/Book I Chapter 60 gives genealogy of all the principal creatures. Hansa (हंस)is mentioned in Mahabharata (I.60.56). .....And Kaki brought forth the crows; Syeni, the hawks, the cocks and vultures, Dhritarashtri, all ducks and swans; and she also brought forth all Chakravakas; and the fair Suki, of amiable qualities, and possessing all auspicious signs brought forth all the parrots.

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Adi Parva, Mahabharata/Book I Chapter 61 gives genealogy of the Danavas, Asuras, Kauravas, Pandavas, Gandharvas, Apsaras, Rakshasas. Hansa (हंस)is mentioned in Mahabharata (I.61.77)....."That son of Arishta who was known by the name of Hansa, was born in the Kuru race and became the monarch of the Gandharvas."

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Sabha Parva, Mahabharata/Book II Chapter 13 mentions the Kshatriyas in support of Jarasandha. Hansa (हंस)is mentioned in Mahabharata (II.13.11).....There are two others, Hansa and Dimbaka, of great energy and great soul, who have sought the shelter of the mighty Jarasandha.

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Sabha Parva, Mahabharata/Book II Chapter 13 mentions again Hansa (हंस) in Mahabharata (II.13.36). ....But after the immediate cause of fear was removed (by the death of Kansa), Jarasandha, his father-in-law, took up arms. Ourselves consisting of the eighteen younger branches of the Yadavas arrived at the conclusion that even if we struck our enemies continually with excellent weapons capable of taking the lives of the foes, we should still be unable to do anything unto him even in three hundred years. He hath two friends that are like unto the immortals, and in point of strength the foremost of all men endued with might. They are called Hansa and Dimbaka who are both incapable of being slain by weapons. The mighty Jarasandha, being united with them, becomes incapable, I think, of being vanquished by even the three worlds.

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The Mahabharata Tribe - Hamsamarga (हंसमार्ग) - Listed in 'geography' (VI. 10.68); they joined the Kaurava army (VII. 19.7).

तामरा हंसमार्गाश च तदैव करभञ्जकाः

उथ्थेश मात्रेण मया थेशाः संकीर्तिताः परभॊ (VI. 10.68)

The Mahabharata Tribe - Hansa (हंस)/Hamsamarga (हंसमार्ग) may be identified with Jat Gotra - Hans (हंस) or Hansawat (हंसावत).

Jat History

Hukum Singh Panwar (Pauria) writes that: Here we refer again to Varahamihira who gives somatometric traits or anthropometrical description of five great men Hansa, Sasa, Rucaka, Bhadra and Malavya to serve as specimen. Varahamihira divides human beings (Indians) into five standardised types to guide sculptors and gives details of their physical features for the benefit of those practising the art of sculpture in fine arts¹⁸¹. The names of the five men chosen by Varahamihira point to their respective

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The Jats:Their Origin, Antiquity and Migrations: End of p.144

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homonymous tribes, which are described by the classical writers and the Epics. The physionomical details of the five great men are given below.

Hukum Singh Panwar (Pauria) writes that: Hamsa (Hansamarga or Hans). Height span and girth 96 angulas or 72 inches each, red face shining like gold, plum cheeks, raised nose, round head, eyes like honey, red nails, weight 1600 palas, aged 90 years and rules over Khasas, Surasenas, Gandhara and Antarvedi. Hamsa or Hansa is also an important tribe among the Jats.

In Rajatarangini

Rajatarangini tells us... Intent on killing the king Uchchala, they (Radda and Chhudda) sought for an opportunity and joined Hamsaratha &c. (p.24)

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Rajatarangini tells us that when Sussala became king of Kashmir second time in 1121 AD he had to face defeat but continued the renewal of war. .... Although the king Sussala's army was destroyed, yet with twenty or thirty men of the royal blood and of his own country, Sussala faced the enemies.

Tejahsalhana, the chief of the Hamsa family, who lived at Harihaḍa, of the royal blood and of his own country, helped Sussala in facing the enemies in 1121 AD. (p.92)

हंस पर्वत

हंस (AS, p.1005): विष्णु पुराण 2,2,29 के अनुसार मेरु के उत्तर की ओर स्थित एक पर्वत है--'शंख कूटो'अथ ऋषभो हँसो नागस्तथापर:, कालंजाद्याश्चतथा उत्तरे केसराचला'.

हंसावती

हंसावती (AS, 1006) = Pegu (पीगू), दक्षिण बर्मा का प्राचीन भारतीय नाम. यहां भारतीय उपनिवेशकों ने पांचवी छठी सदी ईसा पूर्व में ही बस्तियां स्थापित कर ली थीं It was a colony of Indians settled in 5-6th century BCE.

References

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