Damara

Damara (दमारा) is an ancient gotra of Jats found in Haryana. Damar/Dumhar/Damara clan is found in Afghanistan. Damar clan is found in Afghanistan..This gotra is found in Jind.

Origin

They are said to be descendants of Trigartas.

History

Jats the Ancient Rulers (A clan study), Book by Bhim Singh Dahiya mentions in the list Varahamihira's Names as Damara which at present is Damar.

H. W. Bellew writes that Dumhar for Damara, a tribe formerly very numerous, and figuring prominently in the history of Kashmir (Rajataringini), as a powerful and turbulent people in the country about Lahore. The Dumhar, Domar, or Damar inhabit the Tokatu mountain overlooking Shal (Quetta) valley in Kalat Balochistan.

The Damar, Domur, or Dumar are the same, I take it, as the Damara of the Rajataringini before noticed, as figuring prominently in the history of Kashmir between the ninth and twelfth centuries, during which period, it appears, they occupied the country about Lahore, and on several occasions caused trouble by their turbulence. They are mentioned sometimes along with the Lavanya and Achlholada, tribes of equally restless character but who for us have a peculiar interest on account of the identity of their names with those borne by some of the existing neighbours of the Afghan or Pathan Domar of Peshin and Shal Kot (Quetta), namely, the Luni Pathan and Achakzi Durani.

Damara in Rajataringini

Rajataringini writes that in the Kashmira year 97, in the month of Pousha, the Tantris set aside Partha and set up his father " the idle," their protege to the throne. But in the month of Magha next year he died after having coronated his infant son Chakravarmma. The Tantri infantry, then in favor of Partha, fought with tho Ekinggas of the opposite side for the

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[p.127]: kingdom. Queen Vappata, mother of the infant king, was his guardian for a short time but then her mother took care of the child for ten years. During the infancy of the king his bad character was not apparent.

In the year 9 (of the next century) the ministers set aside Chakravarmma, and raised to the throne Shuravarmma son of "the idle," by queen Mrigavati. His maternal uncles, sons of Meruvardhana, had no affection for him. They withheld what was due to the Tantris, and hence became the cause of his deposition.

Though the king was a good man, yet he was no favourite of the Tantris, for they received no money from him. After a year he was deposed, and the Tantri infantry got much wealth from Partha and again made him king. A public women named Sāmbavati, who had set up a goddess named Sambeshvari, and who knew the art of arranging the Tantri army, became the favourite of Partha. Chakravarmma waited his time, offered large wealth to the Tantris, and in the year 11 in the month of Ashara was made king again. The foolish Chakravarmma reposed much power on the sons of Meruvardhana who were known to be bad. They and the conspirators enjoyed the kingdom, setting aside Partha and other kings : they took much land from the kings, they dethroned the king's father and brother, and even injured their relatives with whom they were related by mutual marriages. The king made Shangkarabardhana, the eldest of them, Chief Justice, and made Shambhubardhana,

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[p.128]: another of them, the head of the office of Grihakritya. In the mouth of Pousha of the same year, he failed to pay the Tantris their due for want of money, fled fled in fear.

The king having fled to Madava, Shangkarabardhana with the intention of becoming king, sent his brother Shambhubardhana to the Tantris as messenger. But the latter having promised large wealth to the Tantri, came to an agreement with them, and caused himself to be made king, thus out-witting his elder brother. The large fish eats the smaller fry, the heron eats the large fish, and the fowler kills the heron.

Chakravarmma, spoiled of his glory, entered one night into the house of a headman of the Dāmara tribe, named Sangrāma, living at Shralhakka. He knew his guest to be the king, and made his homage to him, and gave him his own seat. The king, now humbled, and driven from his kingdom, asked him for aid.

On the morning Chakravarmma followed by innumerable Damaras, marched towards the capital. The Tantri infantry placed Shangkarabardhaua at their head, and

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[p.130]: went out on the 8th bright lunar day of Choitra to meet the enemy. Chakravarmma made rapid marches unostentatiously and in disguise. A slurp fight ensued outside the town of Padmapura in which Shangkarabardhana was killed by Chakravarmma who rode a horse. On his death, the Tantii army fled in every direction. But Chakravarmma overtook them in their flight and beheaded them with his sword. In this battle the Tantris lost five or six thousand men, who were killed by Chakravarmma and remained under the shadow of vultures' wings.

Origin from Trigartas

Maheswari Prasad consider this gotra to be originated from ancient Trigarta clan named Damani. He writes that 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.

Distribution in Haryana

Villages in Jind district

Badanpur, Ghaso,

References

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