Sindhu Kingdom
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| History ofSindh |
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| History of Pakistan |
Sindhu Kingdomor simplySindhuwas an ancient kingdom on theIndian subcontinent.It stretched the banks of riverSindhu(Indus). It was mentioned in the epicMahabharataand in theHarivamsa Purana,often alongside theSauvira Kingdom.It is believed that Sindhu kingdom was founded by Vrishadarbha, one of sons of Sivi. According to theGlimpses of Ancient Sindh,authored by Mirchandani,[citation needed]its capital was known as Vrsadarbhpura, and Tulsianis, later known as Sindhu, was located at or near the location of the present town ofMithankot(in southernPunjab,Pakistan) the inhabitants of the kingdoms were called Sindhus or Saindhavas. "Sindhu" literally means "river" and "sea".[1]According to the epicMahabharata,Jayadratha(the husband ofDuryodhana's sister) was the king of Sindhus, Sauviras andSivis.Probably Sauvira and Sivi were two kingdoms close to the Sindhu kingdom and Jayadratha conquered them, holding them for some period of time. Sindhu andSauviraseem to have been two warring states fighting each other.
Origin of the name
[edit]"Sindhu" means "river" and "sea" in classicalSanskrit.The term originated fromProto-Indo-Aryan*síndʰuṣ,fromProto-Indo-Iranian*síndʰuš(possibly derived from theBMAC substrate[2]),or possibly fromsédhati( “to go, move” ), fromProto-Indo-European*ḱiesdʰ-( “to drive away; to go away” ). The termSindhuwas used often to describe the Indus region as a whole, the earlyVedicname for thePunjab,for example, wasSapta Sindhu.
References in theMahabharata
[edit]Sindhu(the Bhojas, the Sindhus, the Pulindakas) is mentioned as a separate kingdom of Bharata Varsha at (6:9).[3]The Kasmiras, theSindhu Sauviras,theGandharas(orGandharvas) were mentioned as kingdoms of Bharata Varsha at (6:9). Sindhu and Sauvira are mentioned as a united country at many places, including (5:19), (6:51), (6:56), (7:107), (8:40), and (11:22).
Cultural affinity
[edit]Culturally, Sindhus were mentioned as similar to theMadrasas perKarna:"The Prasthalas, theMadras,theGandharas,theArattas,those calledKhasas,the Vasatis, the Sindhus and theSauvirasare almost as blamable in their practices. "(8:44)" One should always avoid the Vahikas, those impure people that are out of the pale of virtue, and that live away from the Himavat and theGangesandSaraswatiandYamunaandKurukshetraand theSindhuand its five tributary rivers. "(8:44)
Military habits
[edit]"TheGandharas(orGandharvas), the Sindhus, and theSauvirasfight best with their nails and lances. They are brave and endued with great strength. Their armies are capable of vanquishing all forces, The Usinaras are possessed of great strength and skilled in all kinds of weapons. The Easterners are skilled in fighting from the backs ofwar elephantsand are conversant with all the ways of unfair fight. TheYavanas,theKamvojas,and those that dwell aroundMathuraare well skilled in fighting with bare arms. The Southerners are skilled in fighting sword in hand. "(12:100)
Battles between Sindhu and Sauvira
[edit]At (5:133) we findKuntitelling the story ofVidulawho persuaded her son, who was the king of Sauvira but banished by the Sindhu king, to fight against the Sindhus and take back his kingdom from them: "The princess Vidula, one day, rebuked her own son, who, after his defeat by the king of the Sindhus, lay prostrate with heart depressed by despair." (5:133) "It is true, the king of the Sindhus hath many followers. They are, however, all discounted. Rejoice, O son, and make thyself happy in the possession of wealth in the company of the daughters of the Sauviras and do not, in weakness of heart, be ruled over by the daughters of the Saindhavas." (5:134) "Pierced by the wordy arrows of his mother, the son roused himself like a steed of proud mettle and achieved (defeating the Sindhus) all that his mother had pointed out." (5:136)
Jayadratha and Sindhu kingdom
[edit]At (3:262) Jayadratha is mentioned as the son of Vriddhakshatra. Jayadratha is mentioned as the son of Sindhu at (1:188). Jayadratha is mentioned as of Sindhu's race at (5:142). Jayadratha is mentioned as the king of Sindhu,Sauviraand other countries at (3:265). The warriors of theSivi,Sauviraand Sindhu tribes were under the command of Jayadratha (3:269). At (11:22) Jayadradha is mentioned as the king of Sindhu andSaivira.Apart fromDussala(1:117) (the sister ofDuryodhana), Jayadradha had two other wives, one fromGandharaand the other fromKamboja(11:22).
Jayadratha is mentioned as the sole ruler, governing "the rich countries of Saivya,Sivi,Sindhu and others "at (3:265).Jayadratha"had under his sway ten kingdoms," of which Sindhu was the main kingdom (8:5). Jayadratha had also played a vital role in the battle of Kurukshetra, and was killed byArjuna.On a particular day in the battle of Kurukshetra, due to the absence ofArjunawho was fighting elsewhere, Jayadratha was able to stop thePandavas(except Arjuna) and helped killAbhimanyutreacherously forKauravas.[citation needed]
Sindhu in Kurukshetra War
[edit]In theKurukshetra War,Sindhu sided with theKauravasunder their rulerJayadratha.(6:71), (7:10,136)
"Jayadrathaof the country of the Sindhu, and the kings of the southern and the western countries and of the hilly regions, andShakuni,the ruler of theGandharas,and all the chiefs of the eastern and the northern regions, and theSakas,theKiratas,andYavanas,theSivisand the Vasatis with their Maharathas at the heads of their respective divisions joined theKauravaarmy. "(5:198)" A silver boar adorned the standard-top of the ruler of the Sindhus. Decked with golden chains, it was of the splendour of a white crystal. "(7:102)
"InBhishma's division were all the sons ofDhritarashtra,and also Sala who was a countryman of theValhikas,and also all thoseKshatriyascalled Amvastas, and those called Sindhus, and those also that are calledSauviras,and the heroic dwellers of the country of the five rivers. "(6:20)
"Those warriors that are opposed toArjuna,viz., theSauvirakas,the Sindhava-Pauravas, headed byKarna,are regarded as foremost of car-warriors. "(7:108)" Many combatants belonging to the Nishadas, theSauviras,theValhikas,theDaradas,the Westerners, the Northerners, theMalavas,the Abhighatas, theSurasenas,theSivis,the Vasatis, theSalwas,theSakas,theTrigartas,the Amvashthas, and theKekayas,similarly fell uponArjuna."(6:118)"Bhishmaprotected by the warriors headed by Saindhava and by the combatants of the East and theSauvirasand theKekayas,fought with great impetuosity. "(6:52)
Arjuna's words, whenJayadrathaand others together attacked and killed his sonAbhimanyu,during theKurukshetra War:
"Thou shalt in tomorrow's battle, OKesava,behold the earth strewn by me with the heads of kings cut off by the force, of my shafts! (Tomorrow) I shall gratify all cannibals, rout the foe, gladden my friends, and crush the ruler of the Sindhus, viz.Jayadratha!A great offender, one who hath not acted like a relative, born in a sinful country, the ruler of the Sindhu, slain by me, will sadden his own. Thou shalt behold that ruler of the Sindhus, of sinful behavior, and brought up in every luxury, pierced by me with my shafts! "(7:73)
Sindhu breed of horse
[edit]Horses belonging to Sindhu breed were used extensively in theKurukshetra War.(7:24) "[S]teeds consisting of the best of theKamvojabreed as also of those born in the country of the Rivers, and of those belonging toArattaand Mahi andSindhu,and of those of Vanayu also that were white in hue, and lastly those of hilly countries "were the different types of horse employed in this war. (6:91)
Steeds from Sindhu "were lean-fleshed, yet strong and capable of a long journey and endued with energy and strength of high breed and docility, free from inauspicious marks, with wide nostrils and swelling cheeks, free from faults as regards the ten hairy curls, [...] and fleet as the winds." (3:71)
Sindhu River
[edit]"Theriver Sindhu(Indus) too is flowing with a current of fresh blood. "(3:223)" The seven large rivers including the Sindhu (Indus) though flowing eastwards then flowed in opposite directions. The very directions seemed to be reversed and nothing could be distinguished. Fires blazed up everywhere and the earth trembled repeatedly. "(5:84)" The spot where the Sindhu mingleth with the sea, is that tirtha of Varuna. "(3:82)
- "There is a celebrated tirtha of the name of Sindhuttama" (3:82)
Other references
[edit]- Samvarana, a king in the like ofPuru,"with his wife and ministers, sons and relatives, fled in fear, and took shelter in the forest on the banks of the Sindhu extending to the foot of the mountains." (1:94)
- A sage named Sindhudwipa is mentioned at (9:39–40) and (13:4) as attainingBrahminhood.
Sindhu Kingdom inHarivamsa Purana
[edit]In theHarivamsa Purana,the Sindhu kingdom is mentioned at (2.56.26). TheYadavas,led byKrishna,arrived there in search for a place to build the city ofDvārakā.The place was so charming, that some of the Yadavas "started enjoying the heavenly comforts in some of the places there".[4]
References
[edit]- ^"From Sindhu To Hindu".AncientVoice: Eternal Voices from the past.Retrieved14 September2015.
- ^Lubotsky, A. M.; Carpelan, C.; Parpola, A.; Koskikallio, P. (1999-01-08)."The Indo-Iranian substratum".Early Contacts between Uralic and Indo-European: Linguistic and Archaeological Considerations. Papers presented at an international symposium held at the Tvärminne Research Station of the University of Helsinki 8-10 January 1999.:301–317.hdl:1887/2691.
- ^Ganguli, Kisari Mohan, translator (1896).The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa.Kolkata: Pratap Chandra Roy.Retrieved15 September2015.
{{cite book}}:|first1=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)(Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa) - ^Nagar, Shanti Lal, ed. (2012).Harivamsa Purana.Vol. 2. p. 555.ISBN978-8178542188.