Khasa

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Khasa (खासा)[1] Khasha (खाशा) is gotra of Jats found in Distt Sonipat in Haryana and Sikar district in Rajasthan. Khasha (खाशा) clan is found in Shahpur, Pakistan.[2] Dilip Singh Ahlawat has mentioned it as one of the ruling Jat clans in Central Asia.[3]

Origin

History

In Rajatarangini

Rajatarangini[4] tells that Kshemagupta, King of Kashmir, bestowed thirty-six villages which were attached to the several monasteries that were burnt, to the lord of Khasa.


Rajatarangini[5] tells... Since Rajavadana, who deserved punishment was soothed by gifts, he became bold and again welcomed Bhoja who had arrived there. In a place called Dinnagrama inhabited by the Khashas, Bhoja gave a large bribe to Rajavadana. He then told Rajavadana : — " If either you or your retainers do not come tomorrow, then the lord of Dvara, who is accompanied with a limited number of followers will come to me".

Mahabharata period

Possibly, these people have been mentioned in the Mahabharata. [6] alongwith the Johal, Kuninda (Kundu) Tangana (Tangal) clans. Their location on both sides of the river Shailoda lying between the Meru (Pamir) and Mandar mountains, where bamboos grow in abundance, Justifies this identification. [7]

Khasa (खश) - A famous Himalayan tribe in Nepal and southwest Kashmir; sided with the Kauravas. They have been mentioned in Mahabharata (II.48.3), (VI.10.66)

मेरुमन्दरयॊर मध्ये शैलॊदाम अभितॊ नदीम
ये ते कीचक वेणूनां छायां रम्याम उपासते (II.48.2)


खशा एकाशनाज्यॊहाः परदरा दीर्घवेनवः
पशुपाश च कुणिन्दाश च तङ्गणाः परतङ्गणाः (II.48.3)
शूद्राभीराद दरदाः काश्मीराः पशुभिः सह
खशिकाश च तुखाराश च पल्लवा गिरिगह्वराः (VI.10.66)
The Mahabharata Tribe -Khasa (खश) may be identified with Jat Gotra - Khasa (खासा)

Described by Megasthenes

Dilip Singh Ahlawat has mention it as one of the ruling Jat clans in Central Asia. [8] This clan has been described by Megasthenes as the Cesi (Khasa) , The hill-tribes between the Indus and the Iomanes, along with the Chrysei (Karesia), Cetriboni (Khatri), the Megallae (Mukul), the Chrysei (Karesia), the Parasangae (Paraswal), and the Asange (Sangwa) Jat clans. (see - Jat clans as described by Megasthenes)

In Gupta inscriptions

According to Tej Ram Sharma[9] the Names of Mahattaras (Village-headmen) in which Khasaka has been mentioned as under:


Khasaka: Appearing in Dhanaidaha copper-plate inscription of Kumaragupta I G.E.113. (AD 432) (L. 5), is an abbreviated name with the addition of suffix 'ka' which according to Panini is used to denote : : (i) Depreciation. [10] (ii) Endearment. [11]

It is a non-Sanskritic word most probably a local or dialectal feature. Here */:' suffix may have been used in the sense of endearment meaning a "poor khasa": Khasa is the name of a people and of their country (in the north of India). [12] Khasaka can be native of that country or a man belonging to that race (considered as a degraded kshatriya). [13]

Distribution in Haryana

Villages in Sonipat district

Ahulana, Baroda Mor, Baroda Thuthan, Jauli, Laath,

References


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