Dr. Sushil Bhati
( Key words- Gurjara, Huna, Varaha, Mihira, Alkhana, Gadhiya coin, Sassnian Fire altar )
Many renowned historian like A. M. T. Jackson, Buhler,
Hornle, V. A. Smith and William crook Consider the Gurjaras to be of Huna
stock. The way in which inscriptions and literature records frequently
bracket Gurjaras with the Hunas suggests that the two races were closely
connected. There are evidences that the
Gurjaras were originally a horde of pastoral nomads from the Central
Asia whose many clans have Huna origin.
Numismatic
Evidences- Coins issued by Hunas and Gurjaras have remarkable similarity.
In a way coins issued by Gurjaras are continuation of Huna coinage. Coins
issued by Hunas and Gurjaras are characterized by motif of ‘Iranian fire altar
with attendants’ and are copies of coins issued by Iranian emperors of
Sassanian dyanasty. The inferences of Huna’s connection with Gurjaras is
strongly supported by numismatic evidences. V. A. Smith has presented these
evidences in his paper “The Gurjaras of Rajputana and Kannauj’ in these words, “The barbaric chieftains who led the greedy
hordes known by the generic name of Huna to the plunder of the rich Indian
plains did not trouble to invent artistic coin dies, and were content to issue
rude imitations of the coinage of the various countries subdued. After the
defeat of the Persian king Firoz in 484 A.D., the Huns chiefly used degraded
copies of the Sassanian coinage, and in India emitted extensive series of
coins obviously modelled on the Sassanian type, and consequently classified by
numismatists as Indo-Sassanian. Many varieties of this Indo Sassanian coinage,
especially those bearing the names of Toramana and Mihiragula or Mihirakula,
can be recognized with certainty as Hun issues.
The long series of Gadhiya or Gadhaiya coins
in base silver and copper or bronze, although usually without legends or dates,
may be assigned now with equal confidence to the Gurjaras. These coins, which
present the Sassanian type in its utmost degradation, are found most abundantly
in the countries occupied by the Gurjara clans, which quickly developed into
Hindu castes, and they evidently formed the ordinary currency of the Gurjara
kingdoms in Western India and Rajputana for
centuries. A Jain writer relates a legend which expressly connects the origin
of the Gadhiya coinage with Bhilmal, the Gurjara capital.
One coin, not of the Gadhiya type, bearing
the name of Vyaghramukha has been published. That name being of rare
occurrence, the piece, which is of rude fabric and comes from a locality where
it was associated with White Hun coins, is almost certainly a coin of
Vyaghramukha, the Chapa Raja of Bhilmal in 528 A.D. The Chapas were a branch of
the Gurjaras. The coin closely resembles in fabric the undoubted Hun issues,
and when I published it I believed it to have been struck by a White Hun chief,
but now perceive that it is Gurjara.
The Gurjara lineage of King Mihira Bhoja
being an established fact, his Adi-vardlia coins, which imitate the Sassanian
coinage in another fashion, must also be classed among the Gurjara issues.”
Presence
of Varaha as a motif on coins of Gurjara- Pratiharas also support the theory of
Huna origion of Gurjaras. Varaha was tribal deity of
Hunas which later evolved into or identified with the incarnation of Vishnu.
Thus,
we see that the numismatic connection between the Hunas and the Gurjaras is
extremely close.
Common family name of Hunas and the name of Gurjara king
Alkhana- According to E.
Rtveladze, the name of royal family of Hunas was Alkhon. Humbach
proposes that the reading of this name should be “Alkhan”. Alkhan was also the
name of a Gujar king of Punjab Gujrat at the close of ninth century which find
mention in Kalhan' Rajtarangini.
Mihira as common title among Hunas and Gurjaras- Kosmas Indikopleustes has
mentioned a Huna king Gollas in his book Christian topography. The king is
identified as MihirGula or Mihirkula by Historians Mihira was probably the
title of MihirGula and his actual name was the Gula. Mihira is also the
title/name of most famous Gurjara emperor Bhoja (836-885 A D) of Kannauj. It
is still a title of honour amongst Ajmer Gurjaras.
Mehrauli- Mehrauli,
one of the seven ancient cities that make up the present state of Delhi,
was earlier known as Mihirawali means abode of Mihiras or row of houses of
Mihiras. According to Campbell Mihira is just the another name of Huna tribe.
It was probably founded by Hunas during the reign of Emperor Mihirkula as he
has tradition of founding the new cities. According to kalhana’s Rajtarangani
Mihirkula also founded the city named Mihirpur in Kashmir.
Mehrauli area is still inhabited by four villages of Bidhuri clan of Gurjaras
which do not intermarry with their Huna clan as they consider themselves as one
and the same. Mehrauli area also have twelve villages of Tomara/ Tanwar
Gurjaras which also have Huna origin as per the testimony of pehowa inscription
and are considered to be the descendent of Javula Tormana, the celebrated Huna
Chief and father of Emperor Mihirkula..
Common Varaha worship among Hunas and Gurjaras- Prevalence of Varaha worship and Varaha as title among
Pratiharas also support the theory of Huna origin of Pratiharas. According to H
Goetz, Varaha was tribal diety of Hunas which later evolved into or identified
with the incarnation of Vishnu. Hunas worshipped the Varaha as Varahamihir.
Tormana,s inscription of first year of
his rule is found on the Varaha statue from Eran in Central
India. Later Gurjara Pratiharas not only promoted the Varaha
Worship but also adopted Varaha as their general title. Contemporary Arab
scholars call Pratihara rulers Baura (Varaha). According to Goetz most of the
Varaha temples were constructed during Huna-Gurjara Reign.
Clan Study of Modern Gujaras also suggest their Huna
origion-
Huna has been an
important Clan of Gurjara from remote past. Mansukh Gurjar, the friend of
Puranic King Nal belonged to Huna clan of Gurjaras There are atleast twelve
villages of Huna Gurjaras in Meerut and Hapur
districts. There are four Huna Gurjara Villages in laksar tehsil of Haridwar district
of Uttrakhand state and around seven villages in Alwar District of Rajasthan.
Huna Gurjaras are most numerous in Bundi and Kota areas of Rajasthan that was once known
as Huna Pradesh.
Marid is a sub-clan of
Huna clan that does not intermarry with Huna clan because they consider
themselves one and the same. Manohara is prominent village of Marid Hunas
in Sahranpur district.
Bidhuri is also a
sub-clan of Huna Gurjaras, which have sizeable number in Delhi and Rajasthan. Mehrauli area is still
inhabited by four villages of Bidhuri clan of Gurjaras which do not intermarry
with the Huna clan as they consider themselves as one and the same.
Paramara/Panwar clan
also seems to be of Huna stock.
According to one legend recorded by Col. Todd Shiva temple
of Badoli in Kota district of Rajasthan was built by Huna
Raj of Panwar dynasty. The legend supports the Huna origin of Panwars. In Pakistan
the Hun/Hon Tribe of Potohar district Claims its descent from Jugdeo Panwar
which proves the oneness of Panwars with the Hunas. Furthur this relation of
oneness is proved by the fact that the Bidhuris sub clan of Huna Gurajaras also
claim their descent from Jagdeo Panwar. Khoobad sub-clan of Panwar Gurjaras
have 84 villages in Sahranpur district. They also claim their descent from the
Jagdeo Panwar. The khoobar have a remarkable phonetic similarity with the name
of Kabar tribe of Hungary
which claim a descent from Attila’s Huns. According to the bhats of Khoobad
Panwars they have migrated to Saharanpur
from Dhar of Malwa. Malwa remained the strong hold of Hunas for a long time and
after their defeat by Yashodharman they dispersed in all the direction.The
legend of Jugdeo Panwar as their ancestor is of special importance among many
Gurjar clans as many clan including Huna consider him their ancestor. Historicity
of this legendary hero is proved by Jainad inscription from former Hyderabad state according
to which Jagaddeva Paramara conquered the Arbuda region in 1093 A D. Early
History of Gurjaras including Panwaras is connected with Arbuda/Abu region is
proven fact.
Lohmor- Like Hon/ Hun
of Punjab, Bidhuris of Delhi and Khoobar Panwaras of Saharanpur Lohmor clan of
Gujaras also claim its origin from Jugdeo Panwar.Thus like three others it also
have the Huna origin. The transliteration of Lohmor is Iron Peacock. Peacock
was the important motif found on Huna coins.
Mundan/Mandar is a
sub-clan of Panwar, thus it have a Huna origin. Bali near Baghpat is a
important village
of Mundans.
The Hathwal clan of
Gurjaras is found in Saharanpur
and Haryana The clan name seems to be the Indian version of Haftal/ Hephtelite,
the another name of white Hunas.
Mori- Gwalior and
Chittor grew in political importance during the Huna period. Probably forts at
both the places were constructed by Mihirkula.
Mori clan ruled from fort of Chittor before the Bapa Rawal took the fort
in his Command. Probably Moris ruled at Chittor on behalf of their Huna
Emperor. The Mori Gujaras are still found in the nearby area of Chittor. Mori
means pertaining to Mor i.e. Peacock. Peacock is an important motif on Huna
coinage as already been said.
Chapa or Chaprana, Chavda and Chapotkat Chapa or Chaprana, Chavda and Chapotkat all are the
variation of the same clan of Gurjaras. The word Chapa means arch and the word
Chapotkat means the best archer. Hunas were supposed to be the best cavaliers
and archers of the contemporary world. King Vyaghramukha who ruled
the Gurjardesha (Modern Rajasthan) from Bhinmal in seventh century belonged to
the Chap clan of the Gurjaras. His coin resembled the Huna coins so much that
it was termed as Huna coin of Vyagrmukha by V. A. Smith. Chapranas
and Huna Gurjaras are known as Pag-palta brother in Chambal division of Madhya
Pradesh. Vanraj Chavda who founded the city of Anhilvada was the Panwar and Panwar are Gujaras
of Huna origin, thus Chap, Chaprana,
Chavda and Chapotkat are also of Huna
origin.
Peelwan in Hindi mean the elephant owner. After their victory over
Gupta Empire Huna organized a vast Elephantry for the war purpose which was
feared much by the other power. Greek writer casmos indikoplestes
tells in his book ‘The Christian Topography’ that Hunas King moved along with a
large cavalary and atleast 2000 elephants. Some Gujara clans might have
connection with this Huna attribute, Peelwan is one of them.
Pathaa or Pataya is a
sub clan of Peelwan. Patha of Akhoda Kalan calls them Pratihara. Infact when a
word of an Apbhransa or a Prakrit or an alien
language was adopted in Sanskrit extra r (र)
were added sometimes to it to suit the phonetics of the new language, e.g.
Gujara becomes with one extra r (र) to Gurjara, Munda becomes
Murunda and Jat becomes Jarta. It is possible that original word for Pratihara
might be or like Pathaa which on addition of two r (र) changed to
Prathar/Pratihar in Sanskrit. Antwada, Bhatoda etc in Muzaffanagar district are the important Village of this Gujara clan.
Gajgahi-
Like Peelwan clan Gajgahi clan might have connection with the Huna Elephantary.
Tomara or Tanwar -
There is a proverb in Hindi “Dilli tanwaro ki”which means that Delhi
belongs to Tanwaras.AS already mentioned Mehrauli area of Delhi still have twelve villages of Tomara/ Tanwar
Gujaras which also have Huna origin as per the testimony of pehowa inscription
and are considered to be the descendent of Javula Tormana, the celebrated Huna
Chief. Tomara/Tanwar Chief Anangpal Constructed
the Lalkot fort at Mehrauli and Shifted his
Capital from kannauj to Lalkot. There is Gujara village Anangpur named after
this king not far from Mehrauli in Faridabad
district. The first inscription of Tanwara clan is found from pehowa in Karnal.
There is very large Gujara Tanwara Village Kyodaka near Pehowa. The place of
earliest History of Tanwara clan, Pehoea and Delhi, are still inhabited by Gujara
Tanwaras.
Padiyar or Pratihar-
It is interesting to note that there is still the Gujaras of Padhiyar clan
nearby the Ujjain,
the original seat of imperial Pratiharas of Kannauj. It is another evidence of
imperial Pratiharas of Kannauj being a Gujara Clan. According to A. Cunningham
and Rudolph Hoernle Pratiharas were Tomaras. Hornle said that the Anangpal
Tomara Who built The Lalkot fort at Mehrauli was Scion of the imperial
Pratihara family of Kannauj. As Tomaras are descendents of Huna King Tormana,
Pratiharas were also of Huna origin. As I have already said earlier prevalence
of Varaha worship and Varaha as title among Pratiharas also support the theory
of Huna origin of Pratiharas. Varaha was tribal diety of Hunas that later
evolved into or was identified with the incarnation of Vishnu. Numismatic
evidences also suggest Huna connection of Pratiharas. Pratiharas imitated the
sassanid type coin of Hunas.
Chalukyas or Solanki-
Accoding to Hornle a section of Hunas moved to south India after their defeat in a
battle with Yashodharman in Malwa. This section under the leadership of
Chalukya Clan established the kingdom
Of Vatapi in the latter
half of the sixth century A. D. Later another branch from North
established a kingdom named Gurjar or Gurjara mandala or Gurjartta in modern
Gujrat. Solanki clan is still found among Dore Gujaras of Maharastra and among Gurjaras of Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh.
Khari- Kharis clan of
Gujaras seems to have Huna ancestory. Their family bards claim that Khari clan
has migrated to Delhi from Sialkot, the Capital of Hunas. In Rajasthan
Gujaras have two sub-division namely Lor and Khari and there Huna clan belongs
to Khari Sub-division of Gurjaras.
The
Gujars are a well-known and powerful caste, numerous in Rajasthan, parts of the
Panjab, the northern districts of the Uttar Pradesh, and Central
India. Gujaras are primarily a pastoral people, with a strong
tendency to a life of rapine like historical Hunas but in modern times they are
largely devoted to agriculture. In recent past Gujaras followed Polyandry like
Hunas. Thus peculiarities of the Modern Gujars also indicate that their
ancestors were members of a pastoral horde.
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(Dr Sushil Bhati)
