Kekaya

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Ancestry of Kekaya as per Bhagavata Purana

Kekayas (केक‍य) Kaikeyas (केक‍य) Kekayas (केक‍य) were an ancient people attested to have been living in north-western Punjab -- between Gandhara and Beas river since remote antiquity. They were the descendants of the Kshatriyas of the Kekaya Janapada [1] hence called Kekayas or Kaikeyas. The Kekayas were often associated with the Madras, the Usinaras, the Sibis etc and their territory had formed a part of the Vahika country, according to the evidence furnished by Panini [2]. They fought Mahabharata War in Pandava's side

Variants

Geographical Location

Numerous Puranas include the Kekayas in the list of Gandharas, Yavanas, Shakas, Paradas, Bahlikas, Kambojas, Daradas, Barbaras, Chinas, Tusharas, Pahlavas etc and call them as a people of Udichya i.e of northern division or Uttarapatha[3]. The Kekayas are said to have occupied the land now comprised by three districts of Jhelum, Shahpur and Gujerat [4], all in Pakistan.

Mention by Panini

Kekaya (केकय) is mentioned by Panini in Ashtadhyayi. [5]

Kaikeya (कैकय) is mentioned by Panini in Ashtadhyayi. [6]

Kaikeyi (कैकयी) is mentioned by Panini in Ashtadhyayi. [7]

History

V. S. Agrawala[8] writes that Ashtadhyayi of Panini mentions janapada Kekaya (केकय) (VII.3.2), under Bhargadi (भर्गादि) (IV.1.178)V. S. Agrawala[9]. The descendants of Kshatriyas of the Kekaya janapda were known as Kaikaya (कैकय). The Kekaya janapada consisted of three districts Jhelum, Shahpur and Gujrat.

V. S. Agrawala[10] writes that Ashtadhyayi of Panini mentions janapada Uśīnara (उशीनर) (IV.2.118) - Panini mentions Ushinara as part of Vahika. Panini mentions three divisions of Vahika Country, viz Kekaya, Uśīnara and Madra. Fourth division to be added to Vahika country is Śavasa. Of these Kekaya and Śavasa may be located between Jhelum and Chenab, the first in the south and second in north respectively; Madra and Ushinara between the Chenab and Ravi River in the north and south respectively.

केकय

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर[11] ने लेख किया है ...केकय (p.221) केकय रामायण तथा परवर्ती काल में पंजाब का एक जनपद था। केकय गंधार और विपाशा या बियास नदी के बीच का प्रदेश था। 'वाल्मीकि रामायण' से विदित होता है कि केकय जनपद की राजधानी 'राजगृह' या 'गिरिव्रज' में थी। राजा दशरथ की रानी कैकेयी, केकयराज की पुत्री थी और राम के राज्याभिषेक के पहले भरत और शत्रुघ्न राजगृह या गिरिव्रज में ही थे- ‘उभयौभरतशत्रुघ्नौ केकयेषु परंतपौ, पुरे राजगृहे रम्येमातामहनिवेशने’ (अयोध्या कांड 67, 7) तथा ‘गिरिव्रजपुरवरं [p.222]: शोघ्रमासेदुरंजसा’ (अयोध्या कांड 68, 21.)

अयोध्या के दूतों की केकय देश की यात्रा के वर्णन में उनके द्वारा विपाशा नदी को पार करके पश्चिम की ओर जाने का उल्लेख है-‘विष्णो: पदं प्रेक्षमाणा विपाशां चापि शाल्मलीम्... ’ अयोध्या कांड 68, 19.

कनिंघम ने गिरिव्रज का अभिज्ञान झेलम नदी (पाकिस्तान) के तट पर बसे 'गिरिजाक' नामक स्थान (वर्तमान जलालाबाद, प्राचीन 'नगरहार') से किया है। अलक्षेंद्र के भारत पर आक्रमण के समय 'पुरु' या 'पौरस' केकय देश का ही राजा था। उस समय उसकी पूर्वी सीमा रामायण काल के केकय जनपद की अपेक्षा संकुचित थी और इसका विस्तार झेलम और गुजरात के ज़िलों तक ही था। जैन लेखकों के अनुसार केकय देश का आधा भाग आर्य था (इंडियन ऐंटिक्वेरी 1891, पृ. 375.) परवर्ती काल में केकय के लोग शायद बिहार में जाकर बसे होंगे और वहाँ के प्रसिद्ध बौद्ध कालीन नगर गिरिव्रज या राजगृह का नामकरण उन्होंने अपने देश की राजधानी के नाम पर ही किया होगा।

गंधर्वदेश

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर[12] ने लेख किया है ...1. गंधर्वदेश (AS, p.267) : वाल्मीकि ने रामायण [उत्तर- 101,11] में गंधर्वदेश की स्थिति गांधार विषय के अंतर्गत बताई गई है और इसे सिंधुदेश का पर्याय माना गया है. गंधर्वदेश पर अयोध्यापति रामचंद्र जी के भाई भरत ने अपने मामा केकय-नरेश युधाजित् के कहने से चढाई करके गंधर्वों को हराया और इसके पूर्वी तथा पश्चिमी भाग में तक्षशिला और पुष्कलावत या पुष्कलावती नामक नगरियों को बसाकर वहाँ का राजा क्रमश: अपने पुत्र तक्ष और पुष्कल को बनाया. 'तक्षंतक्षशिलायां तु पुष्कल पुष्कलावते, गंधर्वदेशे रुचिरे गांधारविषये य च स:' उत्तर.101,11

रघुवंश 15,87-88 में भी गंधर्वों के देश को सिंधुदेश कहा है-- 'युधाजितश्च संदेशात्सदेशं सिंधुनामकस्, ददौ दत्तप्रभावाय भरताय भृतप्रज:। भरतस्तत्र गंधर्वान्युधि निर्जित्य केवलम् आतोद्यं ग्राहयामास समत्याजयदायुधम्'.

वाल्मीकि रामायण 101, 16 में वर्णित है कि 5 वर्षों तक [p.268]: वहां ठहरकर भरत ने गंधर्वदेश की इन नगरियों को अच्छी तरह बसाया और फिर वे अयोध्या लौट आए. इन दोनों नगरियों की समृद्धि और शोभा का वर्णन उत्तर 101, 12-15 में किया गया है--'धनरत्नौध संकीर्णे काननैरूपशोभिते, अन्योन्य संघर्ष कृते स्पर्धया गुणविस्तरै:, उभे सुरुचिरप्रख्ये व्यवहारैरकिल्बिषै:, उद्यानयान संपूर्णेसुविभक्तरापणे, उभेपुरवरेरम्ये विस्तारैरूपशोभिते, गृहमुख्यै: सुरुचिरै विमानैर्बहु शोभिते'.

तक्षशिला वर्तमान तकसिला (जिला रावलपिंडी, पाकिस्तान) और पुष्कलावती वर्तमान चरसड्डा (जिला पेशावर, पाकिस्तान) है. रामायण काल में गंधर्वों के यहाँ रहने के कारण ही यह गंधर्वदेश कहलाया. गंधर्वों के उत्पात के कारण पड़ोसी देश केकय के राजा ने श्री रामचंद्र जी की सहायता से उनके देश को जीत लिया था. जान पड़ता है पाकिस्तान के उत्तर-पश्चिम में बचे हुए लड़ाकू कबीले रामायण के गंधर्वों के ही वंशज हैं.


केकय राजवंश की एक शाखा मैसूर में जाकर बस गई थी (एंशेंट हिस्ट्री अॉफ दकन, पृ. 88, 101) पुराणों में केकय लोगों को अनु का वंशज बताया है। ऋग्वेद (1,108, 8; 7, 18, 14; 8, 10, 5) में अनु के वंश का निवास परुष्णी नदी (रावी) के निकट या मध्य पंजाब में बताया गया है। जैन ग्रंथों में केकय के ‘सेयविया’ नामक नगर का उल्लेख है।(इंडियन ऐंटिक्वेरी 1891, पृ. 375.) रामायण से ज्ञात होता है कि कैकयी के पिता का नाम 'अश्वपति' और भाई का नाम 'युधाजित्' था।

इसे 'कैकेय', 'कैकस' या 'कैकेयस' के नाम से भी जाना जाता था। केकय देश का उल्लेख रामायण में भी आता है। राजा दशरथ की सबसे छोटी रानी कैकेयी और उसकी दासी मंथरा केकय देश की ही थी।[13]

राजगृह

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर [14] ने लेख किया है ... 2. राजगृह (AS, p.780) = गिरिव्रज. रामायण काल में केकय देश में स्थित गिरिव्रज का दूसरा नाम भी राजगृह था. (दे. गिरिव्रज) की राजधानी थी। 'गिरिव्रज' का शाब्दिक अर्थ है- "पहाड़ियों का समूह"। गिरिव्रज का अभिज्ञान जनरल कनिंघम ने झेलम नदी के तट पर बसे हुए 'गिरजाक' अथवा 'जलालपुर' (पाकिस्तान) से किया है। जलालपुर का प्रचीन नाम 'नगरहार' भी था। राजगृह का नमोललेख वाल्मीकि रामायण, अयोध्या काण्ड 67, 7 में इस प्रकार है-- ‘उभयौ भरतशत्रुघ्नौ केकयेषु परंतपौ, पुरे राजगृहे रम्ये मातामहनिवेशने’ (टि. यह तथ्य दृष्टव्य है कि बुद्धकाल तथा [पी.781]: उसके पीछे राजगृह मदद की राजधानी का भी नाम था. इस राजगृह का भी दूसरा नाम गिरिव्रज ही था). विद्वानों का अनुमान है कि केकयदेशीय राजगृह में अलेक्षेंद्र से युद्ध करने वाले प्रसिद्ध महाराज पुरु (ग्रीकभाषा में पोरस) की राजधानी थी.

Kekayas in Vedic texts

The Rigvedic Kekayas dwelt on the banks of river Parusni (=Ravi) [15]. The king of Kekayas at the time of Janaka of Videha was Ashvapati i.e lord of horses. Satapatha Brahmana and Chandogiya Upanishada suggest that Kekaya king Ashvapati had instructed a number of Brahmanas viz. Arjuna Aupavesi, Gautama, Satyajna Paulushi, Mahasala Jabala, Budila Asvatarashvi, Indradyumna Bhallaveya, jana Sarkarakshya, Prachinshala, Aupamanyava and Uddaalaka Aruni etc[16]. [[--~~~~They all had orange faces for when they went to fight as it was a belief from there spirits they would kill each other using there own heads and all]]

Kekayas of Valmiki Ramayana

There are several references to Kekaya in the epic Ramayana. Kekayi, one of the three queens of Dashratha, the king of Ayodhya was a Kekaya princess. Ramayana testifies that the capital of Kekayas lay beyond river Sudama [17]. River Sudama has been identified with river Saranges of Arrian which flowed also flowed through Kekians[18]. The Vedic texts do not mention name of the capital of Kekaya but Ramayana does inform us that the Kekaya metropolis was Rajagriha or Girivraja. [19] which A. Cunningham has identified with Girjak or Jalalpur on river Jhelum in the Jhelum district [20] but this view has not been accepted by scholars. Ramayana further attests that Kekaya lay beyond Vipasa or Beas [21] and abutted with the country of Gandharava or Gandhara vishaya (country).

Vishnu-Dharmottara Mahapurana

According to Vishnu-Dharmottara Mahapurana also, the capital of the Kekayas lay beyond river Sudama which flowed some distance westwards from the Vitasta or Jhelum river. Prince Bharata, son of princess Kekayi, while going to Kekaya country from Ayodhya had to cross river Vitasta and then after crossing river Sudama, he reached the land of the Kekayas [22].

Mahabharata references

The Kekayas are said to have fought on both sides in the Kurukshetra War. The five Kekaya princes, led lead by their elder brother Vrihatkshatra, had joined the Pandava army while other Kekaya brothers opposed Vrihatkshatra had sided with the Kauravas. The other numerous kingdsoms of ancient India viz. Dwaraka, Kasi, Magadha, Matsya, Chedi, Pandya and the Yadus of Mathura were allies of Pandavas while the allies of the Kauravas were nations of Pragjyotisha, Anga, Kekaya, Sindhudesa, Mahishmati, Avanti in Madhyadesa, Madras, Gandhara, Bahlika, Kamboja (with Yavanas, Sakas, Tusharas etc) and many others had sided with Kauravas.

Karna Parava refers to the Kekayas, the Malavas, the Madrakas, the Dravidas of fierce prowess, the Yaudheyas, the Lalittyas, the Kshudrakas, the Tundikeras, the Savitriputras etc who had supported Karna on 17th day of the war, as all having been slain by Arjuna [23].

Mahabharata associates the Kekaya peoples with the Madras (Madraschasca saha Kekayaiha) [24], Madra-Kekayah [25] etc.

Srimad Bhagavatam references

There are several references to the Kekayas in the Bhagavatam Purana.

Kekayas visit Samantapancaka

Srimad Bhagavatam attests that the prince of Kekaya along with princes from Matsya, Kosala, Vidharbha, Kuru, Srnjaya, Kamboja, Usinara, Madra, Kunti, Anarta, Kerala was present at Samanta-pancaka in Kurukshetra at the occasion of the solar eclipse [26]. [2].

Kekayas join Rajasuya of Yudhishtra

Srimad Bhagavatam also testifies that the Kekayas and other nation like those of the Yadus, Srnjayas, Kurus and Kambojas had participated in the Rajasuya sacrifice of Yudhishtra. “The massed armies of the Yadus, Srnjayas, Kambojas, Kurus, Kekayas and Kosalas made the earth tremble as they followed Yudhishira Maharaja, the performer of the Rajasuya sacrifice, in procession” [27] [3].

Kekayas fight Yadavas

The Kekayas, Madras and Kambojas etc from north are stated to have sided with king Jarasandha of Magadha and had participated in a war against Krishna and his Yadava army [28] [29] [4].

Other references in Srimad Bhagavatam

Kekays had participated in the marriage ceremony of Rukmini, queen consort of Krishna, the daughter of Bhishmaka, the king of Vidarbha[30]. One of the wives of Krishna was a Kekaya princess[31]. When Krishna was going to Mithila, the Kekays had met him with presents [32].

Traditional origin of Kekayas

Srimad Bhagavatam further states that the Usinaras, the Sibi, the Madras, and the Kekayas were the direct descendants of Yayati's son Anu. Sibi or Sivi is stated to be son of Usinara [33]

The same tradition is also furnished by other Puranic texts like Vayu Purana and Matsya Purana as well [34]. The Anavas, derived from Anu, were a tribe of the Rigvedic period [35] and are said to belong to the Iranians.

Kekays in Panini’s Ashtadhyayi

Panini refers to the Kaikeyas or Kekayas in his Ashtadhyayi [36] and mentions their land as a part of the Vahika country. The other three countries which formed parts of the Vahika land were the Madra, the Usinara and the Savasa lands [37].

Jaina accounts

The Jaina texts say that one half of the Kekaya was Aryan and refer to the Kekaya city called Seyaviya[38].

Kekayas in Kavyamimamsa of Rajashekhara

The 10th century CE Kavyamimamsa of Pandit Rajashekhara furnishes a list of the extant tribes of his times which also includes the Kekayas along with the Shakas, Tusharas, Vokanas, Hunas, Kambojas, Vahlikas, Vahlavas, Limpakas, Tangana, Turukshas etc referring to them all as the tribes of Uttarapatha or north division [39].

Migration of the Kekayas

A branch of the Kekaya seems to have migrated to southern India in later times and established its authority in Mysore country [40].


Books and periodicals

  • Mahabharata
  • Srimad Bhagavatam
  • Vayu Purana
  • Matsya Purana
  • Geographical Data in Ancient Puranas, 1972, Dr M. R. Singh
  • Political History of Ancient India, 1996, Dr H. C. Raychaudhury, Dr B. N. Mukerjee
  • India as Known to Panini, Dr V. S. Aggarwala
  • Ancient Geography of India, A. Cunningham

See also

References

  1. ↑ Ashtadhyayi sutra VII.3.2.
  2. ↑ India as Known to Panini, p 54, Dr V. S. Aggarwala.
  3. ↑ Vayu Purana 1.45.117; Brahmand Purana, 1.2.26.48; Markendeya Purana, 52.37; Matsya Purana (Critical), 113.42; cf Swargaloka of 6.43; Mahabharata (Critical ed) 4.10.47; Brahma Purana 53.14; See: Krfel's text of the Uttarapatha countries of the Bhuvankosha
  4. ↑ India as Known to Panini, p 52, Dr V. S. Aggarwala; Geographical Data in Ancient Puranas, 1972, p 162, Dr M. R. Singh.
  5. ↑ V. S. Agrawala: India as Known to Panini, 1953, p.44, 52
  6. ↑ V. S. Agrawala: India as Known to Panini, 1953, p.52
  7. ↑ V. S. Agrawala: India as Known to Panini, 1953, p.89
  8. ↑ V. S. Agrawala: India as Known to Panini, 1953, p.52
  9. ↑ V. S. Agrawala: India as Known to Panini, 1953, p.498
  10. ↑ V. S. Agrawala: India as Known to Panini, 1953, p.53
  11. ↑ Aitihasik Sthanavali by Vijayendra Kumar Mathur, p.221-222
  12. ↑ Aitihasik Sthanavali by Vijayendra Kumar Mathur, p.267-268
  13. ↑ भारतकोश-केकय
  14. ↑ Aitihasik Sthanavali by Vijayendra Kumar Mathur, p.779-781
  15. ↑ Rig Veda 8.74
  16. ↑ Political History of Ancient India, p 58., H. C. Raychaudhury
  17. ↑ Ramayana 2.71.1.
  18. ↑ Ancient India as Described by Megasthenes, p 196.
  19. ↑ Ramayana II.67.7; II. 68.22.
  20. ↑ Ancient Geography of India, A. Cunningham, p 64.
  21. ↑ Ramayana II.68.19-22; VII.113.14.
  22. ↑ Vishnu Dharmotari, I.207.62-71
  23. ↑ Mahabharata 8.5.
  24. ↑ MBH VI.61.12
  25. ↑ VII.19.7, Madra-Kekayah
  26. ↑
    Tatragataste dadrshuh suhrt-sambandhino nrpan
    Matsyoshinara-kaushalya-vidarbha-kuru-srnjayan
    Kamboja kaikayan madrn kuntin ānarta-keralan
    Anyamsh caivatma-paksiyan paramsh ca shatasho nrpa
    Nandadin suhrdo gopan gopish cotkanthitāś ciram
    (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.82.12-13)
    • Trans: "The Yadavas saw that many of the kings who had arrived were old friends and relatives-- the Matsyas, Usinaras, Kosalas, Vidarbhas, Kurus, Srnjayas, Kambojas, Kaikayas, Madras, Kuntis and the kings of Ānarta and Kerala. They also saw many hundreds of other kings, both allies and adversaries. In addition, my dear King Parikshit, they saw their dear friends Nanda Maharaja and the cowherd men and women, who had been suffering in anxiety for so long".
  27. ↑
    yadu-srnjaya-kamboja-kuru-kekaya-kosalah |:kampayanto bhuvam sainyair yayamana-purah-sarah ||(Srimad Bhagavatam 10.75.12).
  28. ↑ Srimad Bhagavatam 10.52
  29. ↑
    • See also:
    ye ca pralamba-khara-dardura-kesy-arishta-
    mallebha-kamsa-yavanah kapi-paundrakadyah
    anye ca shalya-kuja-balvala-dantavakra-
    saptoksha-shambra-viduratha-rukmi-mukhyah
    ye va mridhe samiti-shalina atta-capah
    kamboja-matsya-kuru-srnjaya-kaikayadyah
    yasyanty adarshanam alam bala-partha-bhima-
    vyajahvayena harina nilayam tadiyam
    • Trans: “All demonic personalities like Pralamba, Dhenuka, Baka, Kesi, Arishta, Canura, Mushika, Kuvalayapida elephant, Kamsa, Yavana, Narakasura and Paundraka, great marshals like Shalya, Dvivida monkey and Balvala, Dantavakra, the seven bulls, Śambara, Viduratha and Rukmi, as also great warriors like Kamboja, Matsya, Kuru, Srnjaya and Kekaya, would all fight vigorously, either with the Lord Hari directly or with Him under His names of Baladeva, Arjuna, Bhīma, etc. And these demons, thus being killed, would attain either the impersonal brahmajyoti or His personal abode in the Vaikunha planets” (Srimad Bhagavatam 2.7.34-35).
  30. ↑ Bhagavatam Purana 10.54.58.
  31. ↑ Ibit X.57.56.
  32. ↑ Ibid X.86.20; 71.29.
  33. ↑ “Anu, the fourth son of Yayati, had three sons, named Sabhanara, Caksu and Paresnu. From Sabhanara came a son named Kalanara, and from Kalanara came a son named Srnjaya. From Srnjaya came a son named Janamejaya. From Janamejaya came Mahasala; from Mahasala, Mahamana; and from Mahamana two sons, named Usinara and Titiksu.The four sons of Usinara were Sibi, Vara, Krmi and Daksa, and from Sibi again came four sons, named Vrsadarbha, Sudhira, Madra and atma-tattva-vit Kekaya....” (Srimad Bhagavatam, 9.23.1-4). [1]
  34. ↑ Matsya Purana, 48.10-20; Vayu Purana, 99.12-23
  35. ↑ Political History of Ancient India, p 63, Dr H. C. Raychaudhury
  36. ↑ VII.3.2
  37. ↑ India as Known to Panini, p 54, Dr V. S. Aggarwala
  38. ↑ Indian Antiquary, 1891, p 375; Political History of Ancient India, 1996, p 58, Dr H. C. Raychaudhury.
  39. ↑ KSee: avyamimamsa, Ed. Gaekwad's Oriental Series, I (1916) Ch. 17; Introduction., xxvi. Rajashekhara is dated c 880 AD - 920 AD.
  40. ↑ Ancient History of Deccan, pp 88, 101; Political History of Ancient India, 1996, p 58, Dr H. C. Raychaudhury.

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