Capitalia

Capitalia was the loftiest of Indian mountains mentioned by Megasthenes.

Jat clan

• Nehra

History

There is mention of Nehra people by Greek writer Megasthenes (350BC- 290BC) in his book Indica as Narae, the people who were enclosed by the loftiest of Indian mountains, Capitalia. The inhabitants on the other side of this mountain work extensive mines of gold and silver. (See at S.No.11 - Jat clans as described by Megasthenes)

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Arattas consider themselves the descendants of Buddha. In Greece they were known as Oreturi means arashtaka. These people came to India and settled in desert of Rajasthan. Megasthenes has described them as the Oraturae - The inhabitants on the other side of this mountain Capitalia, Whose king has only ten elephants, though he has a very strong force of infantry. (See - Jat clans as described by Megasthenes)

Identification

Alexander Cunningham writes that In Pliny's account of the different nations to the eastward of the Lower Indus I find the following passage, which would seem to apply to Eder and the surrounding districts. "Next the Nareae, who are bounded

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[p.496]: by Capitalia, the loftiest mountain of India, on the other side of which the people dig up much gold and silver. Beyond them are the Oraturae (or Oratae), whose king has only ten elephants, but a large force of infantry, (and) the Varetatae (or Suaratatatae), whose king has no elephants, but a strong force of horse and foot. (Then) the Odombaerae etc. The last nation has already been identified with the people of Kachh, and the high mountain of Capitalia can only be the holy Arbuda, or Mount Abu, which rises to more than 5000 feet above the sea. The Nareae must therefore , be the people of Sarui, or the " country of reeds," as I nar and sar are synonymous terms for a " reed." The country of Sarui is still famous for its reed arrows.

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Nareae has been identified as Nara Jats by Bhim Singh Dahiya.

References

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