Sorgae

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

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Sorgae (सोर्गी) were ancient people mentioned by Pliny and Megasthenes.

Variants

• Sorgae (Megasthenes)
• Arbæ/Arbae (Pliny.vi.23)

Jat Gotras Namesake

• Sogaria = Sorgae = Arbae (Pliny.vi.23)

• Arbi = Sorgae = Arbae (Pliny.vi.23)

Mention by Pliny

Pliny mentions The Indus....We then come to the peoples of the Sorofages, the Arbæ, the Marogomatræ, the Umbrittæ, of whom there are twelve nations, each with two cities, and the Asini, a people who dwell in three cities, their capital being Bucephala,¹¹ which was founded around the tomb of the horse belonging to king Alexander, which bore that name.

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11 Built on the Hydaspes by Alexander after his victory over Porus, B. C. 326, at the spot where he had crossed the river before the battle, and in memory of his celebrated charger Bucephalus, who had expired during the battle from fatigue and old age, or from wounds. The exact site of this place is not known, but the probabilities appear in favour of Jhelum, at which place is the usual passage of the river, or else of Jellapoor, about sixteen miles lower down. 78 Probably the same that is mentioned in c. 21 of the present Book.

Jat clans mentioned by Megasthenes

Megasthenes also described India's caste system and a number of clans out of these some have been identified with Jat clans by the Jat historians. Megasthenes has mentioned a large number of Jat clans. It seems that the Greeks added 'i' to names which had an 'i' ending. Identified probable Jat clans have been provided with active link within brackets. (See Jat clans mentioned by Megasthenes)

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Jat clans as described by Megasthenes
Location	Jat clans	Information
20. Then	Come the Sarophages (Sarapiya), Sorgae, Baraomatae, the Umbrittae (Unbarwal), and the Aseni (Ashvayana)	The Umbrittae, who consist of twelve tribes, each possessing two cities. and the Aseni, who possess three cities. Their capital is Bucephala, built where Alexander's famous horse of that name was buried

जाट इतिहास

ठाकुर देशराज ने लिखा है .... सिरायन, असोई, अमिटी, उरी, बोलिंगी, सिलेन, डिमुरी, मेगरी, ओर्डिवी, मेसी, सिवेरी, ओर्गनगी, सुअटी, अवओर्टी, सोर्गी आदि प्रजातंत्री समुदायों का सिन्ध में होने का प्लिनी ने मेगस्थनीज के अनुसार वर्णन किया है । जो क्रमशः जाट जाति में इस [p.144]: समय इन नामों से पुकारी जाती है - सारन, असिवाग, अंतल, उरिया, बालयान, सलकलान, दहिया, मोखरी, बूड़िया, मत्स्य, सगरी, अहेरवंशी, सुरियारा, अफरीदी, सुगरिया - ये सब जातियां सिन्ध और पंजाब की नदियों के किनारे अपने जनतन्त्रों के रूप में विद्यमान थीं। यूनानी लेखकों ने इनके नाम इतने बिगाड़ कर लिखे हैं कि आज उनके लिखे नामों की हिन्दी बनाने में विद्वानों को बड़ी कठिनाइयां आ रही हैं। उन्हें कठिनाई इसलिए भी उठानी पड़ती है कि इस बात का बिना ही विचार किये, कल्पना दौड़ाने लगते हैं कि आखिर इन देशों में विशेष रूप से आबादी किन-किन लोगों की थी। सिन्ध और पंजाब, जाट, लुहाना, खत्री लोगों की आबादी के लिये प्रसिद्ध हैं। फिर इन जातियों के सिवाय अन्य जातियों में उन जनपदों के नाम कहां से आते? इसलिए उनके मतों में भारी अन्तर पाया जाता है। (इन जनपदों के सम्बन्ध का विवरण ‘मेगस्थनीज का भारत विवरण’ में पढ़िये।)