Damal

From Jatland Wiki
(Redirected from Damila)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Damal (दामल)[1][2] [3] is an ancient gotra of Jats.

Origin

They are said to be descendants of Trigartas clan Damini. [4]

Maheswari Prasad consider this gotra to be originated from ancient Trigarta clan named Damani. He[5] writes that it appears that at the time of the final redaction of the Mahabharata the tradition of the six important clans of the Trigartas was well established. It is carious to note that in connection with the application of a suffix Panini makes a reference to the Damini (दामिनी) group and the six Trigartas (दामन्यादि त्रिगर्तसष्टाच्छ: v.3.116). On the basis of an ancient verse the Kashika commentary names these as Kauṇḍoparastha (कौण्डोपरस्थ) , Dāṇḍakī (दाण्डकी), Krauṣṭakī (क्रौष्टकी), Jālamāni (जालमानि), Brahmagupta (ब्रह्मगुप्त), and Jānaki (जानकी). These communities mentioned in the grammatical literature can be identified with following Jat Gotra names:

  • (3) Dāṇḍakī (दाण्डकी): Dangi,
  • (5) Jālamāni (जालमानि): Jali,

History

Alexander Cunningham[6] writes about Nurpur, or Pathaniya....The town of Nurpur derives its name from the celebrated Nur Jahan, the wife of the emperor Jahanjir. Its original name was Dahmari, or Dahmala ; or as Abul Fazl writes, Dahmahri, although he mentions no fort. The people pronounce the name as if written Dahmeri. In the ' Tarikh-i-Alfi. ' it is called Damal (ancient gotra of Jats), described as "situated on the summit of a high hill, on the borders of Hindustan." The fort was taken after a long siege by Ibrahim Ghaznavi. The name of the district is Pathawat, and the old capital in the plains was called Pathian, or Pathiankot, which is now slightly altered to Pathankot. But the name is derived from the Pathan tribe, and not from the well-known Muhammadan Pathans, or Afghans. The Raja was imprisoned in 1815 by Ranjit Singh, who took possession of his country.

Damila in Mahavansa

Mahavansa/Chapter 21 mentions ....Two Damilas, Sena and Guttika, sons of a freighter who brought horses hither, conquered the king Süratissa (of Lanka), at the head of a great army and reigned both (together) twenty-two years justly. But when Asela had overpowered them, the son of Mutasiva, the ninth among his brothers, born of the same mother, he ruled for ten years onward from that time in Anuradhapura. A Damila of noble descent, named Elara, who came hither from the Chola-country to seize on the kingdom, ruled when he had overpowered king Asela, forty-four years, with even justice toward friend and foe, on occasions of disputes at law.

Mahavansa/Chapter 22 tells .... The queen told this to the king, and the king asked the soothsayers. When the soothsayers heard it they said: `The queen's son, when he has vanquished the Damilas and built up a united kingdom, will make the doctrine to shine forth brightly. ....But when it was said to them: `Never will we fight with the Damilas; with such thoughts eat ye this portion here,' Tissa dashed the food away with his hand, but Gämani who had (in like manner) flung away the morsel of rice, went to his bed, and drawing in his hands and feet he lay upon his bed. The queen came, and caressing Gamani spoke thus: `Why dost thou not lie easily upon thy bed with limbs stretched out, my son?' `Over there beyond the Ganga are the Damilas, here on this side is the Gotha-ocean, how can I lie with outstretched limbs?' he answered. When the king heard his thoughts he remained silent. Growing duly Gamani came to sixteen years, vigorous, renowned, intelligent and a hero in majesty and might.

Mahavansa/Chapter 23 tells....Damilas who desecrated at that time thupas and other (sacred memorials), this strong man used to tear asunder, treading one leg down with his foot while he grasped the other with his hand, and then (he would) cast them out (over the walls). But the devas caused those dead bodies that he cast out to vanish.

Mahavansa/Chapter 23 tells....When they observed the diminution of the Damilas they told the king; but the command `Take him with his prey they could not carry out. Nandhimitta thought: `And if I do thus, it is but the destruction of men and brings not the glory to the doctrine. In Rohana there are still princes who have faith in the three gems. There will I serve the king, and when I have overcome all the Damilas and have conferred the overlordship on the princes, I shall make the doctrine of the Buddha to shine forth brightly.' Then he went and told this to prince Gamani. When this latter had taken counsel with his mother he received him with honour, and with high honours the warrior Nandhimitta continued to dwell with him.

Mahavansa/Chapter 23 tells....King Kakavannatissa caused a guard to hold the Damilas in check to be kept continually at all the fords of the Mahäganga.

Mahavansa/Chapter 24 tells....The prince Gamani dwell in Mahagama. The prince Tissa, equipped with troops and chariots did the king cause to be stationed in Dighavapi in order to guard the open country. Afterwards prince Gamani, reviewing his host, sent to announce to his father the king: `I will make war upon the Damilas.' The king, to protect him, forbade him, saying: `The region on this side of the river is enough.' Even to three times he sent to announce the same (reply). `If my father were a man he would not speak thus: therefore shall he put this on.' And therewith Gamani sent him a woman's ornament. And enraged at him the king said: `Make a golden chain! with that will I bind him, for else he cannot be protected.' Then the other fled and went, angered at his father, to Malaya, and because he was wroth with his father they named him Dutthagamani.

Mahavansa/Chapter 25 tells....All the Damilas on the bank of the river who had escaped death threw themselves for protection into the city named Vijitanagara. In a favourable open country he pitched a camp, and this became known by the name Khandhavarapitthi. Since the king, in order to take Vijitanagara, would fain put Nandhimitta to the test, he let loose Kandula upon him (once) when he saw him coming towards him. When the elephant came to overpower him, Nandhimitta seized with his hands his two tusks and forced him on his haunches. Since Nandhimitta fought with the elephant the village built on the spot where (it came to pass) is therefore named Hatthipora. When the king had (thus) put them both to the test he marched to Vijitanagara. Near the south gate befell a fearful battle between the warriors. But near the east gate did Velusumana, sitting on his horse, slay Damilas in great numbers.....When the king in four months had destroyed Vijitanagara he went thence to Girilaka and slew the Damila Giriya.....Thence he marched to Mahelanagara that had a triple trench and was surrounded by an undergrowth of kadamba flowers, possessed but one gate and was hard to come at; and staying there four months the king subdued the commander of Mahela by a cunningly planned battle.

Mahavansa/Chapter 25 tells....When he had thus overpowered thirty-two Damila kings Dutthagamani ruled over Lanka in single sovereignty.

Damila, Bahiya, Bariya, Datika - Mahavansa/Chapter 33 tells....Of the seven Damilas one, fired with passion for the lovely Somadevi, made her his own and forthwith returned again to the further coast. Another took the almsbowl of the (Master) endowed with the ten miraculous powers, that was in Anuradhapura, and returned straightway, well contented, to the other coast.

Dathika - But the Damila Pulahattha reigned three years, making the Damila named Bahiya commander of his troops. Bariya slew Pulahattha and reigned two years; his commander-inchief was Panayamaraka. Panayamaraka slew Bariya and was king for seven years; his commander-in-chief was Pilayamaraka. Pilayamaraka slew Panayamaraka and was king for seven months; his commander-in-chief was Dathika. And the Damila Dathika slew Pilayamaraka and reigned two years in Anuradhapura. Thus the time of these five Damila-kings (103-88 BC) was fourteen years and seven months.

Notable persons

Distribution

External links

References

  1. Jat History Dalip Singh Ahlawat/Parishisht-I, s.n. द-83
  2. O.S.Tugania:Jat Samuday ke Pramukh Adhar Bindu,p.44,s.n. 1230
  3. Mahendra Singh Arya et al: Adhunik Jat Itihas, p. 257
  4. Maheswari Prasad, “Jats in Ancient India”:The Jats, Ed. Dr Vir Singh, Vol.I, p. 26
  5. Maheswari Prasad, “Jats in Ancient India”:The Jats, Ed. Dr Vir Singh, Vol.I, p. 26
  6. The Ancient Geography of India,pp.143-144

Back to Jat Gotras