Trigarta

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

Kingdoms of late Vedic India

Part of Punjab, showing Trigartta - comprised Jalandhar, and the various small states between the Ravi River and the Satluj River

Trigartas (त्रिगर्त) were ancient people of Mahabharata period in the region of the same name. Ashtadhyayi of Panini mentions janapada Trigarta (त्रिगर्त) (V.3.116). They fought Mahabharata War in Kaurava's side.

Variants

• Trigarta (त्रिगर्त) (AS, p.415)
• Trigarta-shashta (त्रिगर्त-षष्ट)
• Shashtagarta (षष्टगर्त)
• Parvatashrayi (पर्वताश्रयी) (AS, p.415)
• Parvatashrayina/Parvatāśrayinaḥ (पर्वताश्रयिनः)

Antiquity

Jalandhar was the capital of Trigartas (people living in the "land between three rivers": Ravi, Beas and Sutlej) in the times of Mahabharata war. According to Alexander Cunningham Trigartta is the usual Sanskrit name found in the Puranas. 'Hema-Kosha.' writes Jâlandharâs Trigarttâsyuh — "Jalandhara, that is Trigartta."

Mention by Panini

Trigarta (त्रिगर्त) is mentioned by Panini in Ashtadhyayi.

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Traigartayana (त्रैगर्तायन) is a place name mentioned by Panini under Arihanadi (अरीहणादि) (4.2.80.1) group.

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V. S. Agrawala mentions Sanghas known to Panini which includes - Trigarta (त्रिगर्ता), under Yaudheyadi (यौधेयादि) (IV.1.178).

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Trigarta-shashta (त्रिगर्त-षष्ट) is mentioned by Panini in Ashtadhyayi.

History

V. S. Agrawala writes that Ashtadhyayi of Panini mentions janapada Trigarta (त्रिगर्त) (V.3.116) - It is mentioned by Panini as ayudhajivi sangha, and a confederation of six states known as Trigarta-Shashtha. The name Trigarta denotes the region drained by three Rivers: Ravi, Beas & Satluj, and corresponds to the Jalandhar group of states which had retained their geographical identity all these years. It contains Pātānaprastha (=Paithan or Pathankot) situated at the entrance of Kangra Valley. (p.53)

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V. S. Agrawala writes that The central portion of the Trigarta formed by the Valley of the Beas was also named Kulūta (same as the Uluka of Sabhaparva (27.5-16), now known as the Kulū. Its ancient capital was at Nagara on the Beas. Maṇḍamatī was perhaps Maṇḍi, lying to south of Kuluta. Panini mentions special mention of Bhārgāyaṇa Gotra in the Trigarta Country (IV.1.111).

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V. S. Agrawala writes that Panini refers garta-ending names again in sutra IV.2.137 and separately mentions Trigarta.

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V S Agarwal writes that...We may now form a clear conception of the geographical distribution of three types of Sanghas in Panini:

• (1) The Ayudhajivins of Vahika from the Indus upto the Beas and the Sutlej, of whom a special group occupying the mountainous Kangra region was called Trigarta-Shashṭha (V.3.116);
• (2) Pugas, under the leadership of Gramanis, settled on the right bank of Indus (Sabhaparva,32.9), corresponding in all probability of present “Tribal Areas” to the west of the Indus;
• (3) Parvatiyas, or the highlanders of Afghanistan and Hindukush, who included the tribes of Dardistan. These contained many living only in the Vrata stage of existence. It is evident that the Sanghas in the inner most belt were the best organized owing to Aryan contact and proximity and those in the outlying parts were much less civilized.

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V. S. Agrawala mentions the names of Ayudhjivi Sanghas in the Panini's Sutras which include Trigarta-Shashṭha (V.3.116) – the league of six Trigartas. Trigarta stands for three valleys, viz. , those of the rivers Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. The Trigartas represented a second cluster of mountainous Sanghas being counted amongst Parvatāshrayiṇa, along with the Nīhāras,

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[p.445]: Dārvas, Karṇa-Prāvaraṇas, etc., who formed the north-western group. In earlier times, this region, as now, was split up into a number of states. The Kashika mentions the six members of this confederacy as follows: 1. Kauṇḍoparastha (कौण्डोपरस्थ) , 2. Dāṇḍakī (दाण्डकी), 3. Krauṣṭakī (क्रौष्टकी), 4. Jālamāni (जालमानि), 5. Brāhmagupta (ब्रह्मगुप्त), and 6. Jānaki (जानकी).

These are not identified. Brāhmagupta may be Bhramor. Janakis are mentioned as helpmates of Susarma of Trigarta (Adiparva, 61.17, Udyogaparva, 4.17).

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The Mahabharata mentions the Janapadas in Himachal Pradesh such as Kuluta (Kullu), Trigarta (Kangra), Kulinda (Shimla hills and Sirmaur), Yugandhara (Bilaspur and Nalagarh), Gabdika (Chamba) and Audumbara (Pathankot).

Alexander Cunningham on Trigartas

Alexander Cunningham describes about the Hill States of the Punjab as the Chinese pilgrim Hwen Thsang has noticed so few of the many hill-states of the Panjab.

According to popular opinion the petty states of the Alpine Panjab, at the present time, consist of twenty-two Muhammadan and twenty-two Hindu chiefships, the former lying to the west, and the latter to the east of the Chenab river.

An older classification divides them into three groups, each named after the most powerful state which formed the head of the confederation. These were:

• 1. Kashmir- consisted of the rich valley of Kashmir, and all the petty states between the Indus and Jhelam;
• 2. Dogra - included Jammu and the other petty states between the Jhelam River and the Ravi River,
• 3. Trigartta - comprised Jalandhar, and the various small states between the Ravi River and the Satluj River.

This division into three groups most probably existed prior to the seventh century, as we find that the states to the east of the Ravi were quite independent of Kashmir, while those of Urasa, Punach, and Rajapuri are spoken of in such a way as to show that they had kings of their own previous to their subjection by Kashmir.

The Gakar chiefs hold the lower valley of the Jhelam, and the upper course of the Haro river to the south-west of Kashmir. The Gakars also occupy several portions of the eastern Doab, as Guliana, near Gujar Khan, and Bugial, under the lofty hill of Balnath. But these districts do not properly belong to the hills, although they were subject to Kashmir at the time of Hwen Thsang's visit in the seventh century.

Alexander Cunninghamprovides us the list which gives the names and positions of the various states attached to the eastern, or Jalandhar (Trigartta) division of the Alpine Panjab.

Vansha	State
Somvansi	1. Kangra, or Katoch.
	2. Guler, to S.W. of Kangra.
	3. Jaswal, on Suhan River.
	4. Datarpur, on lower Bias River.
	5. Siba, on lower Bias River.
Surajvansi	6.Chamba, on Ravi River.
	7. Kullu, on upper Bias River.
Pundir, or Pandayas.	8.Mandi, on middle Bias River.
	9. Sukhet, to south of Mandi.
	10. Nurpur, between Ravi River and Bias River.
	11. Kotila, to East of Nurpur.
	12. Kotlehar.

Of these twelve states no less than five are mere subdivisions of the once rich kingdom of Jalandhar, which embraced the whole of the Doab, or plain country, between the Bias and Satlej, and all the hill country lying between the Ravi and the frontiers of Mandi and Sukket, to the south of the Dhaola-dhar mountains. This included Nurpur, Kotila, and Kotlehar ; and as Mandi and Sukhet were at first under one rule, there were originally only four chiefships in the eastern division of the Alpine Panjab, namely, Jalandhar, Chamba, Kullu, and Mandi.

Alexander Cunningham writes that Since the occupation of the plains by the Muhammadans, the ancient kingdom of Jalandhara has been confined almost entirely to its hill territories, which were generally known by the name of Kangra, after its most celebrated fortress.

Alexander Cunningham writes that The royal family of Jalandhara and Kangra is one of the oldest in India, and their genealogy from the time of the founder, Susarma Chandra, appears to have a much stronger claim to our belief than any one of the long strings of names now shown by the more powerful families of Rajasthan. All the different scions of this house claim to be of Somavanshi descent ; and they assert that their ancestors held the district of Multan and fought in the Great War on the side of Duryodhan against the five Pandu brothers. After the war they lost their country, and retired under the leadership of Susarma Chandra to the Jalandhar Doab, where they established themselves, and built the stronghold of Kangra.

Alexander Cunningham writes that In the seventh century, the Chinese pilgrim, Hwen Thsang, was courteously entertained for a whole month by Raja U-ti-to, or Udita, whom I would identify with Adima of the genealogical lists. One hundred and sixty years later, in an inscription dated A.D. 804, the Raja of Jalandhara is named Jaya Chandra, who is the Jaya Malla Chandra of the lists, the seventh in descent from Adima. Lastly, Ananta, king of Kashmir, from A.D. 1028 to 1081, married two daughters of Indu Chandra, Raja of Jalandhara, who is the Indra Chandra of the genealogical lists of Kangra. These instances are sufficient to show that Jalandhara existed as an independent State for many centuries before the Muhammadan conquest.

The smaller chiefships of Guler, Jaswal, Datarpur, and Siba, are offshoots from the parent stem of Kangra. The independence of Guler, or Haripur, was established by Hari Chandra, about A.D. 1400, when he yielded Kangra to his younger brother, Karmma Chandra.

The date of the foundation of the other principalities is unknown, but I believe that they were always tributary to the parent state until the time of the Muhammadans, when the capture of Kangra by Mahmud of Ghazni afforded them an opportunity of asserting their independence.

Raja Utito, mentioned by Chinese pilgrim Hwen Thsang, was a tributary of Harsh Vardhana, who appear to have continued to rule over the country right up to the 12th century, with occasional interruptions, but their capital was Jalandhar and Kangra formed an important stronghold.

We find in above description provided by Alexander Cunningham that Guliana Rawalpindi (p.132) represented by Mohammadans and Guler state to S.W. of Kangra (p.136) represented by Hindu chiefs of Guler. We may believe that these were the ancestors of Guleria clan.

In Mahabharata

Traigarti (त्रैगर्ती), a princess of Trigarta, is mentioned in Mahabharata (I.90.37)

Trigartas (त्रिगर्त) are mentioned in Mahabharata (I.144.2), (II.24.17),(II.29.6),(II.48.13),(VI.18.13), (VI.20.15),(VI.47.7),(VI.52.4), (VI.68.7),(VI.83.10),(VI.112.110), (VIII.44.41).

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Adi Parva, Mahabharata/Mahabharata Book I Chapter 90 mentions History and family tree of Puru, Bharatas and Pandavas commencing from Daksha. Trigartas (त्रिगर्त) mentioned in Mahabharata (I.90.37). ....And he begat upon her a son Suhotra who married Suvarna, the daughter of Ikshvaku. To her was born a son named Hasti who founded this city, which has, therefore, been called Hastinapura. And Hasti married Yasodhara, the princess of Trigarta.

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Adi Parva, Mahabharata/Book I Chapter 144 describes Jatugriha Parva, Pandavas then went from forest to forest. Trigartas (त्रिगर्त) are mentioned in Mahabharata (I.144.2). .... Pandavas, then went, from forest to forest killing deer and many animals (for their food). And in the course of their wanderings they saw the countries of the Matsyas, the Trigartas, the Panchalas and then of the Kichakas, and also many beautiful woods and lakes therein. And they all had matted locks (Jata) on their heads and were attired in barks of trees and the skins of animals.

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Sabha Parva, Mahabharata/Book II Chapter 24 mentions countries subjugated by Arjuna that lay to the North. Trigartas (त्रिगर्त) are mentioned in Mahabharata (II.24.17). ...That bull of the Kshatriya race (Arjuna) then defeated the brave Kshatriyas of Kashmira and also king Lohita along with ten minor chiefs. Then the Trigartas, the Darvas, the Kokanadas, and various other Kshatriyas.

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Sabha Parva, Mahabharata/Book II Chapter 29 mentions the Countries subjugated by Nakula in West. Trigartas (त्रिगर्त) are mentioned in Mahabharata (II.29.6).....And the son of Pandu left that part of the country having subjugated the Dasarnas, the Sivis, the Trigartas, the Amvashtas, the Malavas, the five tribes of the Karnatas.

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Sabha Parva, Mahabharata/Book II Chapter 48 describes Kings who presented tributes to Yudhishthira. Trigartas (त्रिगर्त) are mentioned in Mahabharata (II.48.13)..... the Kashmiras, the Porakas, the Hansakayanas, the Sivis, the Trigartas, the Yauddheyas, the ruler of Madras and the Kaikeyas....

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Bhisma Parva, Mahabharata/Book VI Chapter 18 describes the large armies of the Kurus and the Pandavas ready for war. Trigartas (त्रिगर्त) are 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....

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Bhisma Parva, Mahabharata/Book VI Chapter 20 describes the warriors in Bhisma's division. Trigartas (त्रिगर्त) are mentioned in Mahabharata (VI.20.15). ....Ten thousand cars of the Samasaptakas who were created for either the death or the fame of Arjuna, and who, accomplished in arms, intended to follow Arjuna at his heels all went out as also the brave Trigartas.

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Bhisma Parva, Mahabharata/Book VI Chapter 47 describes immeasurable heroes assembled for battle.Trigartas (त्रिगर्त) are mentioned in Mahabharata (VI.47.7). ....Let the Samsthanas, the Surasenas, the Venikas, the Kukkuras, the Rechakas, the Trigartas, the Madrakas, the Yavanas, with Satrunjayas, and Dussasana, and that excellent hero Vikarna, and Nanda and Upanandaka, and Chitrasena, along with the Manibhadrakas, protect Bhishma with their (respective) troops....

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Bhisma Parva, Mahabharata/Book VI Chapter 52 describes the order of army of the (Kuru) in Mahabharata War. Trigartas (त्रिगर्त) are mentioned in Mahabharata (VI.52.4). ....And those renowned warriors, Aswatthaman and Kripa, supported by the Trigartas, the Matsyas, the Kekayas, and the Vatadhanas, were in its head.

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Bhisma Parva, Mahabharata/Book VI Chapter 68 mentions tribes in war. Trigartas (त्रिगर्त) are mentioned in Mahabharata (VI.68.7). ....And that son of Pandu and Madri, viz., the heroic Nakula capable of wringing tears from the foe, engaged in battle with the excellent car-warriors of the Trigartas.

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Bhisma Parva, Mahabharata/Book VI Chapter 83 describes the array of the Kauravas army against the Pandavas in Mahabharata War. Trigartas (त्रिगर्त) are mentioned in Mahabharata (VI.83.10)

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Bhisma Parva, Mahabharata/Book VI Chapter 112 mentions tribes fighting the Mahabharata War. Trigartas (त्रिगर्त) are mentioned in Mahabharata (VI.112.110)......

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Karna Parva/Mahabharata Book VIII Chapter 44 describes of war of Kauravas against Pandus and the Srinjayas. Trigartas (त्रिगर्त) are mentioned in Mahabharata (VIII.44.41). ....The angry Uluka was held in check by Sahadeva. Having slain his four steeds, the valiant Sahadeva then despatched his foe's driver to the abode of Yama. Uluka then, that delighter of his father, jumping down from his car, O king, quickly proceeded and entered the division of the Trigartas.

In Rajatarangini

Rajatarangini tells that ....At the time when preparations for war were being made, three hill chiefs Jāsaṭa of Champa, Vajradhara of Vallapura And Sahajapala of Vartula and two heir apparent Kahla of Trigarta and Anandaraja of Vallapura assembled together and arrived at Kurukshetra. They found Bhikshachara who was saved by Asamati with Naravarmma; and Naravarmma gave gold to the former for, expenses on the way. Jasata was related to Bhikshachara and treated him well, and the other chiefs also honored him. They then arrived at Vallapura. (p.46)

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Rajatarangini tells us ...When the Damaras and the citizens deserted the, enemy and went over to the king and received befitting rewards, Manujeshvara and Koshta, both of whom aspired after reward from the king and wished for his friendship, quarreled between themselves, each wishing to go over first to the king. Bhikshu heard of this from the sooth-sayers, collected his attendants, and set out in the month of Ashada intending to go to some other country. The Damaras who followed him could not assuage his anger with pleasant words, nor make him turn back.

The vicious Koshteshvara, — himself a prostitute's son, — longed for the very beautiful wife of Bhikshu.

But who could touch his wife, or hold the .... (?)^* of an angry lion, or the jewel in the hood of a serpent or the flame of the fire?

When Bhikshu asked Somapala for shelter, he did not give it, because he had made his peace with the son of Sussala. The victor had every where made attempt to kill Bhikshu, consequently Bhikshu went to Sulhari, crossing over an unapproachable tract of that country. "There is kindness in Trigartta, good behaviour at Champa, -ifts (?)^* at Madramaṇḍala and friendship at Darvvabhisara. When you stay away, the king,

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* word is not clear

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[p.132]: relieved of fear, will oppress the Damaras. They will then gradually welcome you and make you king." Though the ministers told him that it would be well for him to ask the help of the people for the conquest of the dominion of Naravarmma, Bhikshu did not accept their counsel ; he adopted the advice of his father-in-law, and his servants left him on the plea that their families at home were anxious for them. [VIII(i),p.131-132]

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Rajatarangini writes .... on death of Avantivarman all the members of the family of Utpala aspired to the throne. But Ratnavardhana the Royal guard raised Shankaravarmma, son of the late king, to the throne. The minister Karnapavinnāpa became envious, and raises Sukhavarmma the son of Suravarmma to the dignity of heir-apparent and so the king and the heir-apparent became enemies to each other, and consequently the kingdom was frequently disturbed by their quarrels. Shivashakti and other warriors refused offers of wealth, honor, &c, from the opposite party, and remained faithful to their master, and died for him. Honorable men never desert their party. After much trouble the king prevailed at last. He defeated Samaravarmma and others, on several occasions, and acquired great fame.

Having thus beaten and subjugated his own relatives,he made preparations for foreign conquests. Though the country was weak in population, he was able to set out with nine hundred thousand foot, three hundred elephants, and one hundred thousand horse. He, whose command had been ill obeyed in his own kingdom a short while before, now began to pass orders on kings.

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[p.116]: His army was joined by the forces of tributary kings, and increased as he went on. On his approach the king of Darvabhisara fled in terror and there was no fighting. The Kashmirian army caught several lions and confined them in a fort, a sort of abode in which they had never lived before. The king then marched for the conquest of Gurjjara. Prithivi-chandra the king of Trigarta hid himself, but his son Bhuvanachandra, on whom the king of Kashmira had bestowed wealth before, came to pay homage. But when he saw the large army of Kashmira, he became afraid of being captured, and accordingly turned and fled. The king of Kashmira, whom the historians describe as a very handsome man, was regarded by other kings as Death. Shankaravarmma easily defeated Alakhāna king of Gurjjara who ceded Takka a part of his kingdom to his conqueror. The king of the Thakkiyaka family took service as guard under the king of Kashmira. The latter caused the kingdom of the Thakkiya king which had been usurped by the king of Bhoja to be restored to him. The king of the country which lay between Darat and Turushka, (as the Aryavarta lies between Himalaya and Vindhya,) Lalliya Shahi by name, who was among kings even as the sun is among stars, and was also lord over Alakhāna, did not submit to the king of Kashmira, on which the latter drove him out of his country.

Trigartas in Jat History

Trigarta gave rise to many Jat clans.

In different section of the Mahabharata the number of the Trigarta brothers goes on increasing from one to five and then to six. Maheswari Prasad writes, 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:

• (1) Damani (दामनी)/(दामिनी): Damal , Damara, Damas, Dhami, Dhamora

• (2) Kauṇḍoparastha (कौण्डोपरस्थ): Kundu, Kadwasra, Kandoli, Kondal, Kont, Konth

• (3) Dāṇḍakī (दाण्डकी): Dangi,

• (4) Krauṣṭakī (क्रौष्टकी): Khanda, Khandaulia, Khandel, Khandia Khandaya, Khodiwal,

• (5) Jālamāni (जालमानि): Jali,

• (6) Brahmagupta (ब्रह्मगुप्त): Brahman, Brahma, Brahmayan and

• (7) Jānaki (जानकि): Janar, Janvar, Janak, Janal, Janawa .

Meaning of Trigarta: Trigarta literally means three pits, valleys or settlements and also the people living there. In ancient period people were named after areas and areas also got the names of people. Therefore the word garta (गर्त) is significant and requires examination. The normal Prakrit formation from garta would be gatla or gaṭṭa but jarta or Jaṭṭa is also possible. The philologists are of the view that the Indo-European language had a frontal ee which change to ē in greek and a in Sanskrit and due to this change k and g got changed in sanskrit to their corresponding palatals e.g. Greek Genos, sanskrit Jana. This phenomena is called the Law of palatals. The change form K and g to C and J can also be seen in such Sanskrit words as Cakāra, Jagāma. One may therefore presume two formations garta and Jarta existing side by side. Whereas garta is available in the Rigveda and later Sanskrit works Jarta existed in dialect. One should not think that the emergence of dialects is a late phenomenon. The philologists opine that already in the Indo-European period the parent language was divided people in dialects.

The Trigartas were an ancient people closely associated with the Sibis, Yaudheyas and other groups and belonged to the Āyudhajīvī Samgha at the time of Panini. Their location in Hissar as suggested be the Virat Parva is pointer to the fact that they were the part of the people among whom the Yaudheya clan had excelled. When the political centres are destroyed by the powerful adversaries, new leadership springs up form the masses and with them come up new names for leadership. In such a situation , the word Jarta, an oblique form of gart, appears to have come in prominence. From Jarta ot Jaṭṭa and then, under the Law of Moves, Jāṭ is a normal linguistic formation.

The Trigartas have been variously located which shows that they had several settlements. The puranas call them the inhabitants of hills (Parvatāśrayinaḥ) (पर्वताश्रयिनः). The Bṛhatsamhitā locates them in the uttārapatha . According to the Abhidhānachintānaṇi, Trigarta corresponds to Jālandhara (जालन्धरास्त्रिगर्ताःस्युः). The description of the Virat parva makes us believe that they were the northern neighbours of the Matsya Janapada (i.e. Bairat) and must have been living somewhere in modern Hissar. Reference to them are found in such later works as the Sarasvatīkaṇṭhābharaṇa (IV. 2.87) Goṇaratnamahodadhi (v.144) and Abhidhāna Chinatāmaṇi (p.382)

To sum up the results of the present study, it must be stressed that the Jats belong to the proto-vedic Aryan stock. But being on the periphery of the Madhyadesa, the cradle of vedic culture, they did not undergo the social transformation on the line of varna system and monarchical political organization. The power of decision making remained with elders and clan organizations described in literature as Jeṣṭha Vṛiddha, Samsad or Sabha. A few ancestors of Jats have been named in this study and others are waiting for a comprehensive study.

त्रिगर्त

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर ने लेख किया है ...त्रिगर्त (AS, p.415) जालंधर दोयबे का ही प्राचीन नाम है। 'त्रिगर्त' का शाब्दिक अर्थ है- 'तीन गह्वरों वाला प्रदेश'। यह स्थूल रूप से रावी, व्यास और सतलुज नदी की उद्गम घाटियों में स्थित प्रदेश का नाम था। इसमें कांगड़ा और कुल्लू का प्रदेश भी सम्मिलित था, जिसके कारण भुवनकोष में इस प्रदेश को 'पर्वताश्रयी' भी कहा गया है।

महाभारत तथा रघुवंश में उल्लिखित 'उत्सवसंकेत' नामक गणराज्यों की स्थिति इसी प्रदेश में थी। महाभारत, विराटपर्व 30, 31, 32, 33 में मत्स्य देश पर त्रिगर्तराज सुशर्मा की चढ़ाई का विस्तृत वर्णन है। इन्होंने मत्स्य नरेश की गौवों का अपहरण किया था- 'एवं तैस्त्वभिनिर्याय मत्स्यराज्यस्य गोधने, त्रिगर्त गृंह्यमाणे तु गोपाला: प्रत्यषेधयन्' इस वर्णन से प्रतीत होता है कि महाभारत काल में मत्स्य और त्रिगर्त पड़ोसी देश थे। संभव है कि उस समय त्रिगर्त का विस्तार उत्तरी राजस्थान (=मत्स्य) तक रहा हो।

जर्तगण - त्रिगर्त

डॉ. धर्मचंद्र विद्यालंकार ने लिखा है.... यास्काचार्य के पश्चात पाणिनि की अष्टाध्यायी ही हमारे पास एकमात्र शाब्दिक स्रोत इस विषय में है. जिसमें कुल्लू-कांगड़ा घाटी में उनकी संख्या पहले तीन त्रिगर्ता: तो बाद में वै छ: भी गिनाए गए हैं. इनका अपना एक गणसंघ भी [p.15]: था महाभारत ग्रंथ में भी विराटनगर (बहरोड) के पास त्रिगर्तों का निवास वर्णित है. संभवत: वर्तमान का तिजारा जैसा नगर ही रहा होगा.

'कितने पाकिस्तान' जैसी औपनान्याषिक रचना के कथाकार श्री कमलेश्वर ने भी उसी और स्पष्ट संकेत किया है. महाभारत में भी ऐसा एक प्रकरण आया है कि जब त्रिगर्त गणों ने अथवा जाटों के तीन कुलों ने विराटराज की गायों का अपहरण बलपूर्वक कर लिया था, तब वहीं पर छद्म वेशधारी अर्जुन ने अपने गांडीव नामक धनुष बाण से ही उन गायों को मुक्त कराया था. सभी वे तीन जाट जनगण के लोग राजभय से भयभीत होकर उत्तर पश्चिम की दिशा में प्रवास कर गए थे.

यह सुखद संयोग ही है कि बहरोड (विराटनगर) के ही निकट वर्तमान में भी एक सातरोड नामक गांव स्थित है, तो उसी नाम की एक खाप हांसी (असिका) नामक नगर के निकट उन्हीं लोगों की विद्यमान है. जिसका सामान्य सा नामांतरण भाषिक विकार या उच्चारण की भ्रष्टता के कारण सातरोड से सातरोल जैसा भी हो गया है. वहीं से राठी ही राष्ट्री या बैराठी का संक्षिप्त रूप धारण करने वाले वे लोग आगे हरियाणा के रोहतक (महम) और बहादुरगढ़ तक में भी पाए जाते हैं. संभवतः राठौड़ और रोड जैसे वंशज भी वही हों. वे पाणिनि मुनि के आरट्टगण भी संभव हैं.

पाणिनि जिन गण संघों की ओर इंगित करते हैं, उनमें दामला और दाण्डक (ढांडा) तथा कुंडू जैसे गणगोत्र वाची लोग भी हैं. वह हमें वर्तमान में भी कुरुक्षेत्र और कैथल जैसे जिलों में दामल और ढांडा एवं कुंडू जैसे कुलनामोंके साथ आबाद मिलते हैं. बल्कि ढांडा या दाण्डक लोगों का तो अपना एक बड़ा गांव या कस्बा ढांड के नाम से कैथल जिले में स्थित है तो बामल या बामला लोगों का भी अपना एक गांव भिवानी जिले में हमें मिलता है. हां कुंडू लोग उनसे थोड़े पीछे हिसार जिले के पावड़ा और फरीदपुर में बसे हुए हैं. उनके ये गांव शायद रोहतक के टिटौली गांव से ही निसृत हैं. तो पानीपत और पलवल जैसे जिलों में कुंडू जाटों के गांव आज भी आबाद हैं.

महर्षि पतंजलि जो कि ईसा पूर्व दूसरी शताब्दी के वैयाकरण हैं और जिन्होंने महाभाष्य जैसा महान पाणिनि की अष्टाध्यायी के सूत्रों की व्याख्या के लिए रचा है. वे पुष्यमित्र शुंग नामक क्षत्रिय वंश विनाश कर्त्ता, ब्राह्मण शासक किंवा पौराणिक परशुराम के ही राजपुरोहित और प्रधान अमात्य या महामंत्री भी थे. उन्होंने पाणिनि की अष्टाध्यायी में आगत जर्तों को वाहिक या पश्चिमी पंजाब का ही निवासी वहां पर बताया है. दूसरे, वे उन्हें अब्राह्मणिक और अराष्ट्रिक अथवा गणों में संगठित होने के ही कारण अराजक और बहुभाषी या विकट वाचाल भी बतलाते हैं.

यही घोर घृणा जर्तगणों के प्रति हमें महाभारत के उस कर्ण-पर्व में भी देखने को मिलती है, जिसके अनुसार अपना रथ कीचड़ में फसने पर कर्ण अपने सारथी शल्य के भी सम्मुख उन्हीं जर्तगणों की जमकर खिंचाई करते हैं. वह सब कर्ण के ब्याज से उनके मुख में विराजमान ब्राह्मण ही तो बोल रहा था. क्योंकि जब मद्रराज शल्य उससे यही पूछते हैं कि तुम्हें भला हमारे जर्तगणों के विषय में ऐसी घिनौनी सूचना किसने दी है, तो वह यही स्पष्ट कर देता है कि उधर वाहिक देश से आगत एक ब्राह्मण ने ही उसे यह ज्ञान दिया था. गणतंत्र की व्यवस्था के समर्थक होने से ही महाभारत में जाटों को ज्ञाति कहा गया है.

पश्चिमी पंजाब अथवा वर्तमान के पाकिस्तान से सिकंदर के आक्रमण के पश्चात ही ये त्रिगर्त और षष्टगर्त जनगण आगे पूर्वी पंजाब से भी दक्षिण में राजस्थान की ओर प्रस्थान कर गए थे. ऐतिहासिक अध्ययन से भी हमें यही ज्ञात होता है कि व्यास नदी और सतलुज के उर्वर अंतर्वेद में आबाद यही तीन जर्तगण - मालव, कठ और शिवी गण राजस्थान से गुजरकर ही मालवा और काठियावाड़ी भी गए थे. मालवगण ने ही प्रथम ईशा पूर्व में शकों को पराजित करके दशपुर या दशार्ण प्रदेश और विदिशा को अपने ही कुल नाम पर 'मालवा' नाम दिया था.

त्रिगर्त परिचय

प्राचीन काल में त्रिगर्त नाम से विख्यात कांगड़ा हिमाचल की सबसे ख़ूबसूरत घाटियों में एक है। धौलाधर पर्वत श्रंखला से आच्छादित यह घाटी इतिहास और संस्कृतिक दृष्टि से बहुत महत्त्वपूर्ण स्थान रखती है। किसी समय में यह शहर चंद्र वंश की राजधानी थी। त्रिगर्त का उल्लेख 3,500 साल पहले वैदिक युग में मिलता है। पुराण, महाभारत और राजतरंगिणी में इस स्थान का ज़िक्र किया गया है। एक अन्य स्रोत के अनुसार पंजाब का जालंधर ज़िला ही प्राचीन त्रिगर्त है।

संदर्भ: भारतकोश-त्रिगर्त

References

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