Saurya

Saurya (सौर्य) was a janapada known to Panini and mentioned in Mahabharata.

History

V. S. Agrawala writes that Patanjali makes clear makes clear the social status of the sudras in his time. Firstly there were sudras who were not excluded from Aryavrata but were living within its social system. Secondly, there was another class of sudras who were living outside Aryavrata and its society. He cites as examples (1) Kishkindha-Gabdikam (2) Shaka-Yavanam and (3) Saurya-Krauncham. Of these

• Kishkindha may be identified with Pali Khukhunndo in Gorakhpur,

• Gabdikā with Gaddis of Chamba, who were deemed as living outside the limits of Aryavrata,

• Saurya with Saureyya or Soron in Etah district and

• Krauncha with the later Krauncha-dvara some where in Garhwal.

In Mahabharata

Sauri (सौरी) (daughter of Sun) is mentioned in Mahabharata (I.89.42), (1.94),