Neel

Neel

(Leel, Nila, Leelwal, Leela)

Location  : Rajasthan, Punjab

Country  : India, Afghanistan

Languages : Rajasthani, Punjabi, Dhundhari

Religion  : Hinduism

Neel (नील) Nila (नील) Leel (लील)Leelwal (लीलवाल) Leela (लीला) is gotra of Jats found in Rajasthan and Punjab. In Rajasthani language they are also called Leel in some areas. It is a Rajasthani Language variant of Neel. Nil clan is found in Afghanistan.

Origin

Ancestry of Nila as per Bhagavata Purana

This Gotra originated from Nagavanshi mahapurusha named Nilabha (नीलाभ) or Nila Naga (नील).

Mention by Panini

Nila (नील) A cloth dyed with nili, is mentioned by Panini in Ashtadhyayi.

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Nila (नीला) is mentioned by Panini in Ashtadhyayi.

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Nili (नीली) is mentioned by Panini in Ashtadhyayi.

Jat Gotras Namesake

Course of River Nile

Nile (नील) is a major north-flowing river in northeastern Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world.

• Neel (Jat clan) → Neelkanthi (नीलकंठी). Neelkanthi (नीलकंठी) is a village in Chaurai tahsil in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh.

• Neel (नील) (Jat clan) → Nilkanth (नीलकंठ). Nilkanth (नीलकंठ) is a village in Pandhurna tahsil in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh.

• Neel (नील) (Jat clan) → Niljai (नीलजयी). Niljai (नीलजयी) is a village in Wani tahsil in Yavatmal district in Maharashtra. It has been mentioned as Niligrama (निलीग्राम) in Wadgaon Plates of Pravarasena II

History

Rajatarangini mentions that Nila: Then reigned Nila over the Nagas ; his royal umbrella was the hood of

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[p.5]: the serpent (Naga). There lived various classes of Nagas whose jewels made the city as rich as the treasury of Kuvera. The first king Nila was invited by the Nagas to reign over them. He had a sceptre one and a half cubit long, and had an umbrella placed over him, and a kunda.

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Rajatarangini tells us that when Sussala became king of Kashmir second time in 1121 AD he had to face defeat but continued the renewal of war. .... Although the king Sussala's army was destroyed, yet with twenty or thirty men of the royal blood and of his own country, Sussala faced the enemies.

Nila and others, sons of Viḍāla, born of the family of Bhāvuka, of the royal blood and of his own country, helped Sussala in facing the enemies in 1121 AD. (p.92)

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Neela, the paramount of Nagas of Kashmir, was believed from early times, to have dwelt in main source of Vitasta river. Hence this fine spring was known as Neela-kunda, may possibly account for the location of the neel naga in this particular fountain. It goes by the name of Veranaga. Neelanaga is still worshipped in Kashmir and fairs related to him are also held even today. In the district of Nāgām (ancient name nāgrām) which is watered by the Dudhganga a small stream which joins the Vitasta at Srinagar, there is a small lake, likewise, known by the name of Neelā nāg.

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Tej Ram Sharma writes about Avamukta (अवमुक्त) in Allahabad Stone Pillar Inscription of Samudragupta (=A.D.335-76) (No. 1, L. 19). This Inscription No. 1 refers to Avamukta as one of the countries in Dakshinapatha subdued by Samudragupta . Its ruler was Nilaraja. . Avamukta has not been identified with certainty. Some scholars on the basis of the similarity of names identify it with Avimukta another name of Kasi. But the suggestion cannot be accepted. Avamukta of the inscription was a country in the South while Avimukta or Kasi is an eastern country. It may be considered to be situated in the Godavari district. According to D.B. Diskalkar it must lay on the Eastern Ghats which lie to the west of Kanchi or Conjeevaram.

Naga Rulers in Nimar and Narmada region

Source - East Nimar District Gazeteer by P N Shrivastav, 1969, p.37-39

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[p.37]: In the historical period, we have ample references to Mahishmati in the Puranas and the Epics. A number of eminant scholars identify Omkara Mandhata, a rocky island on the Narmada, 32 miles north-west of Khandwa, with ancient Mahishmati,⁴ although this identification has been disputed by others⁵.

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4. The Markandeya Purana, (Bibliotheca Indica), 1914, p. 333 and note; Fleet, Journal, Royal Asiatic Society, 1910, pp. 440-47; V. V. Mirashi, Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum, Vol. IV, pt—I, p. XLIV; Indian Antiquary, 1876, p. 53.

5. Some scholars identify Mahishmati with Maheshwar in West Nimar (Khargone) District. For details see Proceedings, Indian History Congress, 1939, p. 141 and 1946, p. 61; Journal of the Gujarat Research Society, Vol. VIII, 1946, pp. 135-38; The Excavations at Maheshwar and Navdatoli, pp. 13-15. But Cunningham differing from both these views thought that Mahishmati might be Mandla, See Ancient Geography of India, p. 559. ,

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[p.38]: If this identification was correct it would make Omkara Mandhata a place of great antiquity and endow the region covered by the present East Nimar District with rich historical tradition. The Puranas attribute the foundation and fortification of a town on the Narmada, between the Vindhyan and the Rikshavat (Satpura) ranges, to Muchukund, the third son of Mandhatri of the Ikshvaku family. Later, the Haihaya king Mahishmant, a scion of the Yadu family, is said to have conquered the city and named it Mahishmati.¹

The Vayupurana ² and the Matsyapuram³, however, give a different story. They tell us that the city was conquered by Arjuna, son of Kritavirya, from the Nagas, who must have been the aboriginal inhabitants of the Narmada region. Mahishmati is also referred to in the Mahabharata⁴ We are told that during his digvijaya Sahadeva proceeded to conquer Mahishmati on the Narmada, then being ruled by king Nila.⁵ But Sahadeva was helpless as the town was under the protection of Agni, the Fire God.

Nothing further is known about the history of this region till shortly before the rise of Buddhism, when we find Nimar included in the Kingdom of Avanti ⁶ , one of the four great contemporary monarchies in India, the other three being Koshala, Vatsa and Magadha. The Mahagovinda Suttanta mentions Mahissati (Mahishmati) as the capital of Avanti, and refers to its king Vessabhu, one of the seven kings in the line of Bharata. It appears that for some time there were two Avantis, the Northern, of which the capital was Ujjain and the Southern of which the capital was Mahishmati. ⁷ The literary traditions connect many tribal names with Mahishmati region and the Mahisakas or Mahismakas are said to be the inhabitants of Avanti—Dakshinapatha ⁸. Another people called Purika also settle here. A number of classical Sanskrit writers like Kalidas, Dandin, Rajashekhar also refer to Mahishmati.

In the Buddha’s time, however, there existed only one United Kingdom of Avanti under King Chand Pradyota Mahasena, with Ujjain as capital. It seems that with the extension of this territory towards the north-east, the capital was later shifted from Mahishmati to Ujjain. ⁹ The rule of the Pradyota dynasty over the region lasted for 138 years. The last of the Pradyota Kings, was probably, humbled by Shishunaga and Avanti was incorporated with the growing kingdom

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1. The Vedic Age, p. 278.

2. Vol. II, Adhyaya 32, Verse 26, (Ed. by Rajendralal Mitra, Bibliotheca Indica), Calcutta, 1888.

3. Adhyaya 43, Verse 29 (Anandashrama Ed.) Poona. 1907.

4. The Sabha Parvan (Ed. by Edgerton, Poona, 1944, Sarga 28, Verses 1-38; Voi. VI, Udyoga Parvan (Ed. by S. K. De), Poona, 1940, Sarga 139, Verse 23.

5. King Nila of Mahishmati fought with the Kauravas against the Pandavas in the great Bharata War.

6. H. C. Raychaudhuri, Political History of Ancient India, p, 144.

7. D. R. Bhandarkar, Carmichaell Lectures, 1918, p. 54.

8. Arthashastra of Kautilya Tr. Shamsastry, 1929, p. 83,

9. B. C- Law, Ujjaiyani in Ancient India, p. 4,

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[p.39]: of Magadha.¹ In the subsequent period, the subjugation of this region by the Nandas does not seem to be improbable although there is lack of confirmation by independent authorities.² The Puranas seem to provide an indirect corroboration. They call Mahapadma, the first Nanda King, the destroyer of all the Kshatriyas (Sarva Kshtrantakah) and the sole monarch (ekarat) of the earth,³ and among the contemporary dynasties the name of the Pradyotas is conspicuous by its absence.

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1. H. C. Raychaudhuri, op. cit., p. 220.

2. Age of the Nandas and Mauryas (Ed. by K. A. Nilakanta Sastri), pp. 18-20.

3. Ibid, pp. 233.-35.

In Mahabharata

Nila (नील) in Mahabharata (3-255-15a),

Vana Parva, Mahabharata/Book III Chapter 255 describes Karna's victory march and countries subjugated. Nila (नील) is mentioned in Mahabharata (3-255-15a)..... Having met with Rukmi (रुक्मि) (3-255-14a), Karna (कर्ण) (3-255-14a), repaired to Pandya (पाण्ड्य) (3-255-14a) and the mountain, Shri (Shrishaila) (श्रीशैल) (3-255-14a). And by fighting, he made Kevala (केवल) (3-255-15a), king Nila (नील) (3-255-15a), Venudari's (वेणुदारि) (3-255-15b) son, and other best of kings living in the southern direction pay tribute.

Villages founded by Neel clan

• Neel Ki Kheri (नील की खेड़ी) - village in Mandalgarh tahsil in Bhilwara district in Rajasthan.
• Neel Ka Khera (नील का खेड़ा) - village in Bhadesar tahsil in Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan.

Distribution in Rajasthan

Nila (नील) gotra of Jats found in, Sikar, Tonk, Jaipur districts in Rajasthan.

Villages in Sikar district

Bhawanipura Srimadhopur, Dabason Ki Dhani (12),

Villages in Tonk district

Nila (नील) gotra Jats live in villages:

Ambapura Pachewar (1), Bapdunda (1), Ganta (5), Sardarpura (3), Thada Nimeda (1),

Leel inhabited Villages in Tonk district are:

Bagarwa Tonk (12), Banediya (1), Maindwas (4), Nimola (13), Paldi Dardahind (7),

Villages in Jaipur district

Neel (नील) gotra Jats live in villages:

Amarsar Jaipur (6), Bookni, Deopura Dudu,, Chakwada Chauru (3), Chhaparwada (1), Jhag, Nanda ki Dhani Sewa (1), Paloo Kalan, Sakhoon, Sawarda (सावरदा), Salarsoo, Shri Rampura, Sitarampura, Surajpura Dudu,

Leel inhabited Villages in Jaipur district are:

Achalpura (1), Hanutpura, Jaisinghpura Sanganer (250), Khedi Charanan (4), Khedi Gokulpura (1), Khijuriya (3), Mundiya Amber, Nanda ki Dhani Sewa (1), Phagi, Raipura Jaipur (15), Sunadiya (1), Watika (1),

Villages in Nagaur district

Neel Gotra Jats are found in villages:

Beechawa (30), Jakhera

Villages in Alwar district

Leel Gotra Jats are found in villages:

Baroda Meo, Rajwara, Kathoomar,

Villages in Karauli district

Leel Gotra Jats are found in villages: Leeloti, Rajawara,

Villages in Bhilwara district

Neel Ki Kheri (t.Mandalgarh),

Villages in Chittorgarh district

Neel Ka Khera (t.Bhadesar)

Distribution in Madhya Pradesh

Villages in Khargone district

Daulatpura Barwaha

Villages in Shivpuri district

Kolaras,

Distribution in Punjab

Villages in Jalandhar district

• Neel is village in Phillaur tahsil in Jalandhar district in Punjab, India.

Villages in Ludhiana district

• Leel is village in Raikot Tahsil in Ludhiana district, Punjab.

Villages in Patiala district

• Nilpur is village in Rajpura tahsil in Patiala district in Punjab.

Notable persons

• Rekha Choudhary (Leel) - Agriculture Officer, Permanent Address : Phagi, Jaipur, Present Address : 1. A-30 ,Krishan Vihar, Opp. Hira Path, Mansorvar Jaipur. 2. A-134, Vidhyut nagar ,Ajmer Road, Jaipur ,Rajasthan, Phone : Mob : 9983750975, Email Address : rekha600@yahoo.co.in

• Anand Choudhary (Leel) - Ex. Manager RSRTC, VPO- Rajwara, teh.- Mandawar Alwar, distt.- Alwar, Rajasthan, Present Address : A-37,Bhan Nagar, Queen's Road, Jaipur, Phone : 0141-2353756, Mob : 9414054909

• Hawa Singh (Leel) - A. En. PWD, VPO- Rajwara, teh.- Mandawar Alwar, distt.- Alwar, Rajasthan, Present Address : H.NO.-333 "Jasraj house" Sugreev Marg,Hanuman Nagar Extension,Khatipura, Jaipur,(Rajasthan),PIN: 302012, Phone Number : 0141-2357972, Mob: 9413339821, Email : hsingh_2011@yahoo.com

• Satyendra Singh (Leel) - RPS Addl. SP,VPO- Rajwara, teh.- Mandawar Alwar, distt.- Alwar, Rajasthan, Present Address : 6, Yadgar Police Quarters, Ajmeri Gate Jaipur, Phone : 0141-2574772, Mob: 9829058100

• श्री रामस्वरूप चौधरी नील - पुत्र श्री रायचंदजी गोत्र नील, निवासी दौलतपुरा प्रथम। वाया बिजयनगर, अजमेर, व्यवसाय पत्रकार दैनिक नवज्योति। पतंजलि किसान सेवा समिति अजमेर के जिलाध्यक्ष, वह राजस्थान पूर्व के सह राज्य प्रभारी। पतंजलि जैविक किसान सेवा केन्द्र बिजयनगर 305624। समाज में योग कक्षा लगाना। नशा मुक्ति अभियान में शामिल होना किसानों को जैविक खेती करने के लिए प्रेरित करना, मृत्यु भोज में नहीं जाना। अपने जीवन में कभी भी चाय बिडी जर्दा सुपारी सहित अन्य किसी भी प्रकार के नशे को मुंह पर नहीं लगाया। 9660997744

Gallery of Neel people

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  Ramjiwan Leel, village Bagadwa

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  Banna Lal Leel, Bagadwa

References

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