Katara Rajput

Kathariya Rajput/Katariya Jatt/Kataria Thakurs or simply Katara are the historic rulers of Multan, a member of one of Rajput patrilineal clan of the Indian subcontinent. They rose to prominence from the late 8th century CE, and, until the 17th century, designated as excellent Bladesmiths and first to use wootz steel in South Asia for Swords, they dominated many regions of central and northern India especially the Southern regions of present-day Punjab, Pakistan.

The Katara Rajput population although very scarse are found spread through much of the subcontinent, particularly in North, West and Central India. These areas include Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Gujarat.

History

The origin of the Katara Rajputs is the subject of debate. Different Groups of Katara claim different and sometimes contradictory descents e.g. Majority claim Rajput, Jut, Thakur Rajput, Sanadhya Brahmin decent but some groups also claim to be Punjabi Khatri aswell as Bhanushali lineage.

One group claim descent from Lava, son of Rama and hence of Suryavansha (Solar dynasty) of Rajputs.[1] Writers such as M. S. Naravane and V. P. Malik believe that the term was not used to designate a particular tribe or social group earlier than the 6th century AD, as there is no mention of the term in the historical record as pertaining to a social group prior to that time thus the real name of this branch of Rajputs is lost to history.[2] One theory espouses that with the collapse of the Gupta empire from the late 6th century, the invading Hephthalites (White Huns) were probably integrated within Indian society, Thus are the joint ancesters of Pakhtoons and Rajputs. Western scholars note that several characteristics are common to both the Rajputs and Afghans and suggests that Sarban, one of the ancestors of the Afghans, was a corruption of the word Suryabans (solar race) from which many Rajputs claim descent. Leaders and nobles from among the invaders were assimilated into the Kshatriya ritual rank in the Hindu varna system.[3] Aydogdy Kurbanov says that the assimilation was specifically between the Hephthalites, Gurjars, and people from northwestern India, forming the Rajput community.[4] It is suggested that the Suryawanshi Katara Rajputs and the Pakhtoons have originated from the same white huns, who ruled and intermarried with different Indigenous Indians resulting in minor differences.

Another possible origin presented B.S Dahiya, he writes: The Chinese work Pei-She, refers to a king of a Ta Yue-che (i.e., Great Jats) and called him Ki-to-lo which has been rendered by historians as Kidara, perhaps, because in the Chinese language, 't' is used for 't', 'th', 'd', etc. But, the Chinese name She-ki-lo is rendered as Sakala where both Ki and Lo are rendered as Ka and La. So, Ki-to-lo can be rendered, as Katara [5] with equal justification. In fact the word Kedara, was taken as Ketara in Eastern India, as per Brihat-Kalpa Sutra Bhasya.[6] Paul Pelliot supposed that they (the Kidarites) were a clan of Tukhars (Takkhars), perhaps, because they were settled in Turkharistan area.[7] It is generally agreed that Ki-to-lo (Katara or Kidara) is a dynastic name. In fact, it is a clan name and Katariya Jats are even now found in Rohtak district, e.g., in village Samchana. This is further proved from the Chinese annals Pei She itself as it says that Ki-to-lo, the king, was attacked by Jujuan and further it says that another Ki-to-lo was pressed westwards by the Hiungnu (Hunas or Henga Jats). Again Ki-to-lo is the name of a country whose ambassador visited China in 477 A.D. according to Wei Shu. This is the same story of a clan name used for the king as well as for the people and the country over which he ruled. This thing happened, with Kasvans (Kusanas) the Gorayas, the Takkhars and so on. But the important thing is that this clan name Katara/Kidara, was used for a very long time on coins in Kashmir, by king Pravarasen II, son of Toramana and also in Punjab by kings named Bhasvan, Kusala, Prakasa, Siladitya, Kritavirya, etc., about whom nothing else is known. Only their coins show that they were Kidarites or Katariya Jats. The first Jat king called Ketara/Kidara, when pressed by another Jat tribe, named Janjuan (Jujuan of the Chinese), came to Balkh and from there attacked. India, occupying Gandhara and four other kingdoms, while his son took Purushpura, i.e., Peshawar, before 436 A.D. Altekar however, holds on numismatic evidence, that Kidarites rose to power in about 340 A.D. In 356/57 A.D. Shahpuhr II of Iran attacked them in Gandhara and the Katariya Jats sought help from Dharan Jats under Samudragupta, and in 367/68 A.D. they crushed the power of the Iranian king in a fierce battle. In 375 A.D. the first king Kidara/Kitara was succeeded by his son, named Piru, who extended his power further into India and again Piru is a Jat clan. He was succeeded by Varaharan. Barhana a village in Rohtak district, seems to have been named after him.

Mahendra Singh Arya writes that the region from Moradabad to Badanyun was known as Kathhar. These people are known as kathariya in Rajputs and Kathariya or Kataria in Jats. There is mention of rishi Kath in Kathopanishada.[8]

Kishori Lal Faujdar writes that There was a tribe named Kath in Punjab. Brahma's one son named vaishampayan was preacher of Yajurveda. His son was named Kath who was author of kathopanishada. He quotes some author Raja Ram who has written about the kath tribe as ruler near river Irawati. The capital of Kath people was at Sankala/sangala/Sialkot when Alexander attacked. These Jats oppossed Alexander very bravely. Some 17 thousand kath kshatriyas died in this war. The kath people were defeated but they impressed Greeks. The Greek authors have written about many traditions of this tribe. One of the rites mentioned is that a child was inspected after birth by these people and if not found strong and handsome he was killed. probably this tradition of kath people finds reflection in the story of Nachiketa in Kathopanishada where Nachiketa was handed over to Yama.[9] The Katara jatts are said to have decended from this Kath.

Khatri Rajputs also refer to themselves as Katara and take the Katara surname. Khatris consider themselves to be of pure Vedic descent and thus superior to other Rajputs, who also claim Kshatriya status. Their standards of literacy and caste status were such during the early years of the Sikh community that, according to W. H. McLeod, they dominated it.[10] Nath called Khatris a warlike race, a claim further supported by their employment as soldiers by Mughal emperors. However, by the time of British arrival in India, the Khatris were mostly involved in merchant and scribe occupation. Several Khatris were killed during the Aurangzeb's Deccan Campaign, and the emperor ordered their widows to be remarried. When the Khatris refused to obey this order, Aurangzeb terminated their military service, and directed them to be shopkeepers and brokers, Muslim Khatris after excepting Islam took title of Sheikh.[11] All the Sikh Gurus were Khatris.[12]

Sanadya Brahmin or Sanadh Brahmin, or Sanah Brahmin or Sanidya Brahmin are a community of Brahmins, who take the surname of Katara living prominently in Delhi,Western Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh area of India. They are originally from North India and migrated to central India due to Mugal attacks on Afghan — Kashmir and Himalaya. They are traditionally engaged in ashramit/hermit life, the life of austerity: sanen tapsah adhya.. They can be classified as one of the strongest schools of the Upanishads teachings. They are also followers and priest of Sun like other Panchayatan deities. The Hindi poet Keshavdas was a Sanadhya, and has praised the Sanadhyas in his Ramachandrika.[13]

Katara Rajputs of Multan

Multan Sultanate under Ismaili Katara Rule

In 965 CE Multan and most of Southern Punjab and present day southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan was conquered by Kataras with the help of Halam b. Shayban, an Ismaili da'i. In the 1005s, the Ismaili Katara Rajput rulers of Multan raised a successful defence against the attacks of Mahmud of Ghazni although they were defeated, because of treason by Sunni minority of Multan, resulting in the massacre of Ismaili Community.[14] They were wrongly labeled as Qarmatis by the Ghaznawi Invader to gain support from Abbasid Caliph. Prior to becoming rulers of Multan, Katara Rajputs have held control of Pind Dadan khan aswell as Jhang in Pakistan. The remaining Ismaili community and the ruling family went into seclusion for self-preservation, later revolting against the Ghaznavids and gaining Independence in 1145 CE. In 1175 Muhammad of Ghor attacked Multan and sacked it, massacring the remaining Ismaili Community, sparing only the royal family, in fear of a revolt from the loyal Non-Ismaili population of Multan.[15] Today the surviving descendants of Ruling Katara Rajputs of Multan are mainly Ismaili Muslims holding the hereditary title of Sheikhs.

Encounters with Mongols in Multan & Punjab

With the establishment of Muslim Sultanate in Delhi in 1206 AD, katara Rajputs became vessel rulers under the Sultan Qutb al-Din Aibak. A new Power had sprung up beyond Central Asia. Changez Khan had been crowned head of the united Mongol tribes the same year. A few years later began the misfortunes of the Muslim world which had a profound effect on every facet of Muslim life in the subcontinent, particularly the Punjab. Having smashed the power of Muhammad Khwarizm Shah who was the greatest Muslim monarch of the time, Changez Khan began to chase Jalaluddin Khwarizm Shah. This young and valiant monarch gave fight to the 'Scourge of God' and had several encounters with him all along Khorasan and Afghanistan—the last on the banks of River Indus. With his forces depleted and unable to stand the vast numerical superiority of the Mongols, Jalaluddin Khwarizm Shah, while fighting the enemy and inflicting heavy casualties on him, plunged into the Indus at Kalabagh and waving his flag swam across into the Punjab along with his retinue. From a rock jetting over the river near Kalabagh, Changez Khan watched this singular act of daring with deep admiration and profound respect. Turning to his sons Changez advised them to imbibe the invincible spirit, indomitable courage and implacable determination demonstrated by his youthful adversary. "Such a son must a father have", he exclaimed. Turning back. Changez Khan's successors took up the cutgels within a decade and for the next hundred years kept the Delhi Sultanate on it's tenterhooks. It was on the rivers Indus, Jhelum and Chenab that India was defended; it was on the plains of the Punjab that the enemy forces were so often defeated and beaten; it was in the 'doabas' of the Punjab that the Mongols practised their fiendish scorched earth policy. But the people of the Punjab bore these calamities with perfect equanimity and exemplary fortitude.

Map of the Doabs of Punjab

Katara Rajputs lead the forces from Multan, under the banner of Delhi Sultanate against Mongol attacks from 13th century onwards in the following events:

Extent of the Mongol Empire
  1. . In 1221 AD some of Changez Khan's forces crossed the Indus in pursuit of Jalaluddin Khwarizm Shah, ravaged vast tracts of the Punjab and sacked Multan and Lahore. (At this time Naseeruddin Qabacha was the independent ruler of Pakistan thus held the allegiance of the Kataras and Shamsuddin Altamash of India).
  2. . In 1241 AD during the reign of Altamash's daughter, Razia Sultana, Mongols attacked the Punjab, sacked and burnt Lahore.
  3. . In 1246 AD Mongols attacked the Punjab and invested Multan.
  4. . In 1260 and in subsequent years during the time of Ghiyas ud din Balban, Mongols attacked the Punjab and ravaged the countryside several times. In one of the encounters near Multan, Balban's eldest son Prince Mohammad.
  5. . Next big attack came in 1285 AD.
  6. . In 1291 AD a grandson of Hulagu invaded Punjab and was defeated by Alauddin Khilji leading the Kataras.
  7. . In 1298 AD Mongols again invaded the Punjab with a force of 100,000 and advanced as far as Delhi but were decisively defeated by Alauddin Khilji.
  8. . In 1304 and 1305 AD Mongols attacked the Punjab and ravaged Multan, but were defeated by the Katara Rajputs with the help of Governor of Punjab, Ghiyazuddin Tughlaq.
  9. . In 1327 AD Punjab was attacked and Multan ravaged.
  10. . In 1358 AD Mongols again attacked the Punjab.

From the establishment of Delhi Sultanate in 1206 AD for over 300 years, Punjab bore the brunt of foreign attacks and saved the Muslim state from extinction. In this painful process, Punjab's population and prosperity diminished and its entire life was crippled. After this period, Punjab was almost an uninhabitable waste, except for a few walled cities such as Multan. Because of constant Mongol raids, it remained depopulated and very little agriculture was carried on.[16]

Kataras of Gujrat

Kataras are members of the ruling class in Gujarat and belong to either Kshatriya (Thakur) or Bhanushali Caste. where majority of them are Hindus and worship Rama, Shiva and Vishnu along with other Kul Devta and KulDevis.[17]

Culture and ethos

The Kataras were a Martial Race in the period of the British Raj. This was a designation created by administrators that classified each ethnic group as either "martial" or "non-martial": a "martial race" was typically considered brave and well built for fighting,[18] whilst today the Katara Rajputs are Businessperson in India and Pakistan.

References

  1. ↑ Valmiki, translated by Arshia Sattar (1996). The Ramayana. New Delhi: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-029866-5.
  2. ↑ Naravane, M. S.; Malik, V. P. (1999). The Rajputs of Rajputana: a glimpse of medieval Rajasthan. APH Publishing. p. 20. ISBN 978-81-7648-118-2.
  3. ↑ {{Kurbanov, Aydogdy. "The Hephthalites: Archaeological and Historical Analysis" (PDF). p. 243. Retrieved 30 April 2013. "As a result of the merging of the Hephthalites and the Gujars with population from northwestern India, the Rajputs (from Sanskrit "Rajputra" – "Ron of the Rajah(King)") formed."}}
  4. ↑ "Rajput". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  5. ↑ http://www.jatland.com/home/Jats_the_Ancient_Rulers_(A_clan_study)/Jat_Clan_in_India
  6. ↑ VIJ, Vol, XVI, pt. I, p. 86; ancl JNSI, 1950,12 p. 199,
  7. ↑ JA, 1934, p. 42JA, 1934, p. 42
  8. ↑ Mahendra Singh Arya et al.: Ādhunik Jat Itihas, Agra 1998, p. 229
  9. ↑ Kishori Lal Faujdar, Rajasthan ke madhyakalin jat vansh, Jat Samaj Patrika, Agra, March 2002, p.6
  10. ↑ Syan, Hardip Singh (2013). Sikh Militancy in the Seventeenth Century: Religious Violence in Mughal and Early Modern India. I. B. Tauris. pp. 35, 39. ISBN 9781780762500.
  11. ↑ John R. McLane (2002). Land and Local Kingship in Eighteenth-Century Bengal. Cambridge South Asian Studies (Volume 53). Cambridge University Press. p. 132. ISBN 978-0-521-52654-8.
  12. ↑ Levi, Scott Cameron (2002). The Indian Diaspora in Central Asia and Its Trade, 1550–1900. Leiden: BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-12320-5.
  13. ↑ Keshavdas (1990). Rasikapriya of Keshavadasa. Trans. Bahadur, K. P. Motilal Banarsidass. p. xxxv. ISBN 978-8-12080-734-1.
  14. ↑ Virani, Shafique N. The Ismailis in the Middle Ages: A History of Survival, A Search for Salvation (New York: Oxford University Press), p. 100.
  15. ↑ Encyclopedia Iranica, Ghurids, C. Edmund Bosworth, Online Edition 2012
  16. ↑ http://www.oocities.org/pak_history/Mongol.html
  17. ↑ Singh K.S. (2002) People of India: Gujarat Part 3 Vol XXII Anthropological Survey of India. P.1174 . ISBN 81-7991-106-3(3852)
  18. ↑ Mazumder, Rajit K. The Indian Army and the Making of Punjab. pp. 99, 105.
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