Prachya

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

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Prachya (प्राच्य) was the name of eastern India during Mahabharata period. Alexander Cunningham identifies it with Magadha.

Variants

• Prachya (प्राच्य) (AS, p.591)
• Prachi प्राची दे. Prachya प्राच्य (AS, p.591)
• Prasii (प्रासी) (Megasthenes)

Jat clans

• Palasia

Mention by Panini

Prachya (प्राच्य) is mentioned by Panini in Ashtadhyayi.

Prachya-Katha (प्राच्य-कठ) is mentioned by Panini in Ashtadhyayi.

History

Alexander Cunningham writes that....Strabo and Pliny agree with Arrian in calling the people of Palibothra by the name of Prasii, which modern writers have unanimously referred to the Sanskrit prachya, or " eastern." But it seems to me that Prasii is only the Greek form of Palasiya or Parasiya, a "man of Palasa or Parasa," which is an actual and well-known name of Magadha, of which Palibothra was the capital. It obtained this name from the Palasa, or Butea frondosa, which still grows as luxuriantly in the province as in the time of Hwen Thsang. The common form of the name is Parās, or when quickly pronounced Prās, which I take to be the true original of the Greek Prasii. This derivation is supported by the spelling of the name given by Curtius, who calls the people Pharrasii, which is an almost exact transcript of the Indian name Parāsiya. The Praxiakos of Aelian is only the derivative form Palāsaka.

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Sandhya Jain mentions Prachya (प्राच्य) - A tribe near Kerala in 'geography' (VI.10.57); skilled in fighting on elephanttback.

In Mahabharata

Prachya (प्राच्य) is mentioned in Mahabharata (V.158.20), (VI.10.57),(VI.18.13), (VI.112.109), (VIII.17.2),(VIII.30.73),

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Udyoga Parva/Mahabharata Book V Chapter 158 writes that the gambler's son (Uluka) presented himself before the Pandavas, and addressing Yudhishthira repeated the words which Duryodhana had instructed him to tell. Prachya (प्राच्य) is mentioned in Mahabharata (V.158.20)

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Bhisma Parva, Mahabharata/Book VI Chapter 10 describes geography and provinces of Bharatavarsha. Prachya (प्राच्य) is mentioned in Mahabharata (VI.10.57). .....There are other kingdoms in the south. They are the Dravidas, the Keralas, the Prachyas, the Mushikas, and the Vanavashikas; the Karanatakas, the Mahishakas, the Vikalpas, and also the Mushakas;....

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Bhisma Parva, Mahabharata/Book VI Chapter 18 describes the large armies of the Kurus and the Pandavas ready for war. Prachya (प्राच्य) is mentioned in Mahabharata (VI.18.13). ....The Abhishahas, the Surasenas, the Sivis, and the Vasatis, the Shalvas, the Matsyas, the Amvashtas, the Trigartas, and the Kekayas, the Sauviras, the Kitavas, and the dwellers of the Eastern, Western, and the Northern countries,--these twelve brave races were resolved to fight reckless of the lives.

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Bhisma Parva, Mahabharata/Book VI Chapter 112 mentions tribes fighting the Mahabharata War. Prachya (प्राच्य) is mentioned in Mahabharata (VI.112.109).

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Karna Parva/Mahabharata Book VIII Chapter 17 mentions warriors fighting against Dhrishtadyumna (brother of Draupadi). Prachya (प्राच्य) is mentioned in Mahabharata (VIII.17.2).....Many elephant-warriors riding on their beasts, urged by thy son, proceeded against Dhrishtadyumna, filled with rage and desirous of compassing his destruction. Many foremost of combatants skilled in elephant-fight, belonging to the Easterners (प्राच्य), the Southerners (दाक्षिणात्य), the Angas, the Vangas, the Pundras, the Magadhas, the Tamraliptakas, the Mekalas, the Koshalas, the Madras, the Dasharnas, the Nishadas uniting with the Kalingas,....

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Karna Parva/Mahabharata Book VIII Chapter 30 mentions the tribes who are not followers of Brahmanism. Prachya (प्राच्य) is mentioned in Mahabharata (VIII.30.73).....The Panchalas observe the duties enjoined in the Vedas; the Kauravas observe truth; the Matsyas and the Surasenas perform sacrifices, the Easterners (प्राच्य) follow the practices of the Shudras; the Southerners (दाक्षिणात्य) are fallen; the Vahikas are thieves; the Saurashtras are bastards. (VIII.30.73)

प्राच्य

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर ने लेख किया है .....प्राच्य (AS, p.591): महाभारत के अनुसार 'प्राच्य' पूर्वी भारत का प्राचीन नाम था- 'गोवास दासमीयानां वसातीनां च भारत, प्राच्यानां वाटधानानां भोजानां चाभिमानिनाम्'। महाभारत, कर्णपर्व 73, 17. इस उल्लेख का प्राच्य संभवत: मगध या वंग देश का कोई भाग हो सकता है। प्राच्य की सेनाएँ महाभारत के युद्ध में कौरवों की ओर से लड़ी थीं। प्राच्य या प्राचीन का 'प्रासी' (Prasii) के रूप में उल्लेख चंद्रगुप्त मौर्य की राजसभा में स्थित यूनानी राजदूत मेगस्थनीज़ ने भी किया है। मेगस्थनीज़ के वर्णन से स्पष्ट है कि प्राची या प्राच्य देश मगध का ही नाम था, क्योंकि प्राची की राजधानी मेगस्थनीज़ ने पाटलिपुत्र में बताई है। जान पड़ता है कि भारत के पश्चिमी भागों के निवासी मगध या उसके परिवर्ती प्रदेश को पूर्वी देश या प्राची कहते थे।