Kshatriya: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added

Inline

Revision as of 06:26, 4 April 2006

Kshatriya is the title of the Hindu military order. They are the warrior caste and though they may have initially been given the highest rank, they are now spiritually ranked second in the caste heirarchy.

Etymology

In Sanskrit it is derived from Kshatra, meaning "dominion, power, government" and ultimately from a root kshi "to rule, govern, possess".

Kshatra is God's energy which descends upon those who are righteous. As stated in the Ahuna Vairya prayer of the Zoroastrians:

...and the Kshatra of Ahura descends indeed upon him who becomes a shepherd to the meek.

In the early Vedic civilization, the warrior caste was called Rājanya rather than Kshatriya, an adjective to Rājan "ruler, king" from a root Rāj "to rule", cognate to the Latin Rex "king" and the German Reich "empire".

Also related to this article on the Kshatriya are the Satraps.

Satrap: "governor of a province of ancient Persia," from L. satrapes, from Gk. satrapes, from Old Persian. Kshathrapavan, lit. "guardian of the realm," from kshathra- "realm, province" (related to kshayathiya- "king," cognate with Skt. kshatra; cf. shah) + pavan- "guardian," from pa- "to protect." Indo-European dher ("hold firmly, support") ==> dharma, affirm, throne, Darius, jemadar. Indo-European ksei ("to rule") ==> kshatriya, Shah, satrap, Xerxes.

Duties

The Kshtriyas were assigned to be protectors of Dharma (truth), their subjects and livestock. They were sanctioned by God to serve humanity. The noble king is regarded as a Dharma Raja (Just Ruler)

The Rig Veda states:

praja arya jyotiragrah. RV, VII. 33.17

People ruled by Aryans (nobles) are led by the Divine light.

King Rama of Ayodhya is considered the greatest of the Dharma Rajas:

arya sarva samascaiva sadaiva priyadarsanah

Noble who worked for the equality of all, was dear to everyone.

Ramayana said:

Like the ancient monarch Manu, father of the human race,

Dasaratha ruled his people with a father's loving grace,

Symbol of Kshatriya

In the initiation rituals, the nyagrodha (Ficus Indica or Sacred Fig tree) danda is assigned to the Kshatriya class.

The nyagrodha or banyan tree, with its bending branches which take root in the ground, was regarded as a resembling form of the Kshatriya:

The nyagrodha is the kshatra power of trees, and the Kshatriya is the kshatra power [among humans], for the Kshatriya dwells fastened to the kingdom, and is supported [by it]. And the nyagrodha is fastened to the ground by its downward growths, and supported [by it]. (Aiteraya Brahmana, 7.31; see also Satapatha Brahmana 5.3.5.13]

The staff made of this wood is taken by the Kshatriya initiate with a mantra imparting physical vitality or ojas." [Reflections on Resemblance, Ritual, and Religion; Brian K. Smith]

In Manu Smriti the Kshatriya caste is given the Varna (Color) red, to symbolize strength, passion and Valor.

Origin

Mythology

In Hindu theology, Manu is considered the law giver and progenitor of Humans (Equivalent to Moses or Adam). He had over 50 sons. Manu was both king and priest and his children (and thus all of humanity) are considered highborn. Due to the eventual differences in occupations, people ended up in different jatis and caste. Those who studied the Vedas became known as Brahmins, those who practiced trade became Vaishya, those who laboured became Sudra and those who took up martial arts became Kshatriyas (Arya). The word Arya means "noble".
Kshatriyas were created from the arms of God and the priest were from his head and the merchants from his abdomen and the laborers from his legs. This was to be interpreted as meaning that no one caste is more important than the other and that society cannot survive without all parts working together.

Fallen Kshatriya

The Manusmriti, written about 200 AD, groups the Sakas (Scythians) with the Yavanas (Ionian, Indo-Greeks), Kambojas (Central Asian), Paradas (Chinese), Pahlavas (Persian), Kiratas (Nepal, Assam), Dravidas (Tamil), Daradas (Central Asian) etc..., as degraded Kshatriyas (X/43-44).
Anushasanaparava of the Mahabharata also views the Sakas, Kambojas, Yavanas etc. in the same light. Patanjali in his Mahabhasya regards the Sakas and Yavanas as pure Sudras (II.4.10).
The Vartika of the Katyayana informs us that the kings of the Sakas and the Yavanas, like those of the Kambojas, may also be addressed by their respective tribal names.
The Mahabharata also associates the Sakas with the Yavanas, Gandharas (Northwest India, Afganistan), Kambojas, Pahlavas, Tusharas, Sabaras, Barbaras, Dravidas, etc.. and addresses them all as the Barbaric tribes of Uttarapatha.
In another verse the epic groups the Shakas Kambojas and Khashas (Persia) as the tribes from Udichya, i.e north division (5/169/20)
The Kishkindha Kanda of the Ramayana locates the Sakas, Kambojas, Yavanas and Paradas in the extreme north-west beyond the Himavat (i.e. Hindukush) (43/12).
The Udyogaparava of the Mahabharata (5/19/21-23) tells us that the composite army of the Kambojas, Yavanas and Sakas had participated in the Mahabharata war under the supreme command of Sudakshina Kamboja. The epic repeatedly applauds this composite army as being very fierce and wrathful.
Dravida are Kshatriyas said to be descendants of sons of Vishwamitra. Dravidas are recorded as "Degraded Kshatriyas", or Kshatriyas who no longer are initiated into the sacred thread.
Some believe many of the non-Vedic Kshatriyas may have once been Vedic Indian Kshatriyas who established kingdoms outside of India and eventually returned to India to reclaim their Kshatriya status.

Scientific

Historians believe that the cast system became rigid around 1000 BC. Prior to this in ancient India the nomadic tribes did not have a fixed caste system. They initially assigned roles based on an individuals merit. This was necessary in order to ensure the tribes survival. The stronger members of the tribe became the warriors and were given a higher status in society as they were more important to the survival of the tribe at the time. As the tribes became more familiar with farming they built up surpluses and became more settled. This more sedentary and leisurely life shifted the peoples focus to accumulating wealth and finding a meaning to life. Priests began to take the preeminent role in society as they ensured spiritual salvation. This lead to society forming a more rigid social system where your position was determined by your birth rather than merit. As we have seen from history people in power will do what they can to remain in power. During the Epic age people began to question these institutions.

Many historical rulers came from other castes, or were descended from non-Hindu foreign conquerors, and were either granted de facto Kshatriya status by virtue of the power they held, or they created fictionalized family histories to connect themselves to past Kshatriya rulers. For instance, the Sakas, Yavanas, Kambojas, Pahlavas, Paradas etc were foreign invaders from north-west but were assimilated into the Indian community as Kshatriyas.

In modern India, caste is inherited. Most of the Kshatriya communities claim descent from Surya, Chandra, or Agni. The Surya descendents claim descent from Rama and the Chandra descendents claim Krishna as an ancestor. This is based on the writings of the Rig Veda and other Puranas. Two camps exists about the importance of these text. One camp is similar to the Evolutionist of the Christian faith who beleive these holy texts are verbatim documentation of real people, events and dates and that modern society is descended from them. The other camp is like the evolutionist who believe the Holy texts are are not meant to be taken literally and should be used symbolisms of the proper way to live life and that we have a more mortal origin. Those who believe the Ramayana, Mahabharatha, and other Puranas were verbatim documents feel that modern Kshatriyas are descended from the Vedic Kshatriyas. The reason for the controversy is that we do not have an physical evidence of their existance. There are no coins, monuments, pictures etc. to state unequivocally that they existed. These issue can be debated at length.

What historians don't disagree on is Indian history from around 1000 BC onwards. From that point onwards we have archeological, literary, and artistic evidences of the communities that existed in India. Historians do not disagree about the existence of Buddha and Mahavir, two Kshatriya Gods that made a lasting impretion on the world.

Regardless of weather Kshatriyas had Godly origins or mortal origins and weather they were Vedic Kshatriyas or originated from more humble beginings they had a powerful influence on Indian subcontinental society. They were great patrons of arts, literature, music, and dance as well as have tremendous influence on political, religous, economic, and social discoarses throughout Indian history.

Kshatriyas have a glorious history regardless of their origins the glorious achievments of the Mauryas, Guptas, Chalukyas, Rajputs, Marathas etc cannot be diminished.

Below is a list of communities that are traditionally considered to be Kshatriyas. To get more details of their history and orgins you must click on the link.

Suryavanshis

Chandravanshis

Suryavanshi and Chandravanshi

These communities divide themselves into both.

Agnivanshi

The Rajputs are known as Agnivanshi Kshatriyas. The Agni Purana contends that the Rajputs were born from the fire which resides in Mt. Abu in Northwestern India after the "destruction of ancient Kshatriyas". The extension of this theory states that Rajputs are the descendants of Indo-Scythian (Saka) tribes. Genetic studies done in India have yielded compelling evidence of the the Scythian roots of Rajputs.

Others

Gurkha
Jats
Kamboj
Lohar
Nairs (Nayar, Nambiar, Panicker, Thampuran, Kurup, Unnithan)
Sakas
Tarkhans

Non-Indian

Hindu

Bali Kshatriyas

About 40 percent of the total population of Bali comprises of Balinese Kshatriyas. Balinese Hinduism has a caste system and is heavily influenced by the Vedas. Balinese people are of mixed Mongoloid, Polynesian, Australoid, Aryan, Dravidian races.

Cham Satrias

The Balamon Hindu Cham people of Vietnam consist of 70 % Kshatriyas (pronounced in Vietnamese as "Satrias"). Although Balamon make up only 25 % of the overall Cham population (the other 75 % are Muslims or Cham Bani). These Balamon Kshatriyas claim to be the descendants of the Champa Empire.

Non-Hindu

There are some tribes in the Middle East and the Near East, who are the descendants of the original Vedic Kshatriyas, but who travelled west and settled there.

Middle eastern tribes (Mitanni)

The Mitanni was a historic Hindu empire in the Middle East, which preceded the Semitic Civilisation. The descendants of the Empire have been Aramianized and now practise one of the Semitic religions.

Persian tribes (Persian Empire)

Some tribes of Persia are of Vedic Kshatriya descent. Examples - Roma people, Sinti people

Links

Resources

History and Culture of Indian People, The Vedic Age, p 313-314
History of Gurjara Rajputs: [3]

@@ Line 104: / Line 104: @@
 == Agnivanshi ==
-The Rajputs are known as [[Agnivanshi]] Kshatriyas. The [[Agni Purana]] contends that the Rajputs were born from the fire which resides in [[Mt. Abu]] in Northwestern India after the "destruction of ancient Kshatriyas".
+The Rajputs are known as [[Agnivanshi]] Kshatriyas. The [[Agni Purana]] contends that the Rajputs were born from the fire which resides in [[Mt. Abu]] in Northwestern India after the "destruction of ancient Kshatriyas". The extension of this theory states that [[Rajputs]] are the descendants of [[Indo-Scythian]] (''Saka'') tribes. Genetic studies done in India have yielded compelling evidence of the the [[Scythian]] roots of Rajputs.
 *[[Rajputs]]