| KIRATS Kirats were ancient people who had territory in the mountains, particularly in the Himalayas and North-East India and who are believed to have been Sino-Tibetan in origin. The Kirats are Limbu, Rai, Yakkha, Sunuwar and Lepcha tribes of Eastern Nepal.
Origin
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History
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With the above quotes, the situation of Kirat country is proved in the wild and mountainous parts of East Bengal or Assam. In the assembly festival 14,20, the country of Kirat has been told under Vasudev Poundrak. Probably the first instruction of Kirat is in the Atharv Ved, from which it is reported that the residence of this caste was in the suburbs of the eastern region of the Himalayas.
Kirat
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The Valmiki Ramayan describes the sharp twins of the Kirat women and their bodies are described as like gold - 'Kiratstikshana chudashta hemabha: priyadarshana: kishkidhakand' (Kishkidhakand, 40.27).
In the Mahabharat, there are many instructions regarding the rents, from which it is known that they were counted among the barbaric or non-Aryan castes - 'Ugraashta Bhimakarmastusararayavana (Khasa), Andhrakasha Pulindashta Kiratshogravikrama'. Mlecchash parvatiyash, karna '(Karnaparva, 73,19-20).
The Mahabharata, the sabha Parv (chapter 26), describes Arjun's battle with the rents near Pragjyotishpur (present-day Assam). The Mahabharata, the remedy subdivision under the sabha Parv, describes the gifts brought by the Kirat people in the offering near Yudhishthir. (Ecclesiastes 52, 9–12) In the same context, the rents are described as fruit-moolbhojis, leathermen, wielding terrible weapons and cruelty.
Perhaps the most beautiful description of the tenants in Sanskrit poetry is by Mahakavi Kalidas - 'Bhagirathi Nirjharasikaranam Bodha Muhu: Kampit Devadaru:. Yudvayuranvishtmrigai: kiratairasevayte vishikashikhandibarha: (Ku. No., 1, 15).
Here on the Himalayan Mountains, moistened by the ravages of the Ganges, the wandering vivals in search of deer (oysters) Deer, which vibrate the cedar tree, and the weight of the feathers of the peacock, are consumed. After Raghu conquered the Himalayan region, when the forest troops from that place took over, the wild peoples of that place estimated the height of the elephants of Raghu's army with the lines of the rods of their throats with the lines engraved on the trunk of cedar trees. (Raghuvansh 4, 76).
The writings of Pliny, Ptolemy and Megasthenes also have many references to rents. Ptolemy has written them 'Kiradiya' and mentions their extensive settlements in India. The famous inscriptions of Kharavela mention both China and Kirat.
It seems that over time the Kirat people had spread from their original home Himalayas to other parts of India as well. The stup of Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh) mentions the donation of a Kirat monk and Nagarjunikond in South India. The rents are also mentioned in an inscription. In the Mahabharat, the above instructions of the Samayan Parv have also counted sandalwood in the offering of rents, which suggests that settlements of some rents may have been in the neighboring state of Mysore etc. at that time. Like many other Non-Aryan castes in 'Manusmriti', the rents have also been calculated in the Vratya Kshatriyas- 'Parda: Pahlvashchina: Kirat Dard: Khash:. ('Manusmriti' (10, 43-44)) It is also possible that the term kirat has been commonly used for the wild castes. A caste called Kirat still lives in Morg, west of Sikkim. Probably the original place of residence of the tenants must have been here.
In
Mahabharat :
Sabha Parv, Mahabharat / Book II Chapter 13 mentions the Kshatriyas in support of Jarasandh. Kirat is mentioned in Mahabharat (II.13.19). King of Vang Pundra and the Kirats, endowed with great strength, and who is known on earth by the names of Paundrak and Vasudev hath also espoused the side of Jarasandh.
Sabha Parv, Mahabharat / Book II Chapter 27 mentions the countries subjugated by Bhimsen. Kirat is mentioned in Mahabharat (II.27.13). And the son of Pandu, sending forth expeditions from Videh, conquered the seven kings of the Kirats living about the Indra mountain.
Sabha Parv, Mahabharat / Book II Chapter 48 describes Kings who presented tributes to Yudhishthir. Kirat is mentioned in Mahabharat (II.48.8), (II.48.10). I also beheld there numberless chiefs of the Kirats armed with cruel weapons and ever engaged in cruel deeds, eating of fruits and roots and attired in skins and living on the northern slopes of the Himavat and on the mountain from behind which the sun rises and in the region of Karush on the sea-coast and on both sides of the Lohitya mountains. And, O king, having brought with them as tribute loads upon loads of sandal and aloe as also black aloe, and heaps upon heaps of valuable skins and gold and perfumes, and ten thousand serving-girls of their own race, and many beautiful animals and birds of remote countries, and much gold of great splendour procured from mountains, the Kirats waited at the gate, being refused permission to enter. The Kirats, the Daradas, the Darvas, the Suras, the Vaiamaks, the Audumvars, the Durvibhags, the Kumars, the Parads along with the Vahliks, the Kashmirs, the Poraks, the Hansakayans, the Sivis, the Trigarts, the Yauddheyas, the ruler of Madras and the Kaikeyas, the Amvashts, the Kukurs, the Tarkshyas, the Vastraps along with the Palhavs, the Vasatayas, the Mauleyas along with the Kshudraks, and the Malavs, the Paundraks, the Kukkurs, the Sakas, the Angs, the Vangs, the Pundrs, the Sanavatyas, and the Gayas--these good and well-born Kshatriyas distributed into regular clans and trained to the use of arms, brought tribute unto king Yudhishthir by hundreds and thousands.
Kirata is mentioned in Mahabharat (III.48.20).
Vana Parv, Mahabharat / Book III Chapter 174 mentions Pandavs journey in twelfth year of their sojourn in forests having arrived reach Saraswati River. Kirat is mentioned in Mahabharat (III.174.11). Then all those warriors having in due course happily lived at Badari for one month, proceeded towards the realm of Suvahu, king of the Kirats, by following the same track by which they had come. And crossing the difficult Himalayan regions, and the countries of China, Tukhar, Darad, Darv and all the climes of Kulind, rich in heaps of jewels, those war like men reached the capital of Suvahu.
Udyog Parv / Mahabharat Book V Chapter 19 Who joined Yudhishthir for war. Kirat is mentioned in Mahabharat (V.19.15). And the unassailable mass of his troops, crowded with Chhinas and Kirats and Kanchans, all looking like figures of gold, assumed a beauty like to that of a forest of Karnikar trees.
Bhism Parv, Mahabharat / Book VI Chapter 10 describes geography and provinces of Bharatvarsh. Kirat (Kirat) provinces are mentioned in Mahabharat (VI.10.49) : the Mahyuttars , the Pravrisheyas, and the Bhargavs, O king; the Pundras, the Bhargas, the Kirats, the Sudoshns, the Paramudas, (VI.10.55) the Kachchhs, the Gopalakachchhs and Langal, the Paravallak, the Kirats, the Barbaras, the Siddhs, the Vaidehs, and the Tamralingaks;, (VI.10.67)...the Atreyas, the Bharadwajs, the Stanaposhiks, the Poshaks, the Kalings and diverse tribes of Kirats.
Bhishma Parv, Mahabharat / Book VI Chapter 20 describes the warriors in Bhism's division. Kirat is mentioned in Mahabharat (VI.20.13).....And Saradwat's son, that fighter in the van, that high-souled and mighty bowman, called also Gautam and Chitrayudh, conversant with all modes of warfare, accompanied by the Sakas, the Kirats, the Yavans, and the Pahlavs, took up his position at the northern point of the army.
To read Bhishma Parv Chapter 20 Click here.
Bhism Parv, Mahabharat / Book VI Chapter 46 mentions Pandavs look the war arrangement and wait for battle. Kirat is mentioned in Mahabharat (VI.46.46).
Karna Parv / Mahabharat Book VIII Chapter 4 mentions the warriors who are dead amongst the Kurus and the Pandavs after ten days. Kirata is mentioned in Mahabharat (VIII.4.15). The ruler of the Kirats and other dwellers of the low lands on the sea coast, the much respected and dear friend of the chief of the celestials himself, the virtuous king Bhagdat, who was ever devoted to Kshatriya duties, hath been despatched to Yam's abode by Dhananjay exerting himself great with prowess.
Karna Parv / Mahabharat Book VIII Chapter 51 describes terrible massacre and warriors who were killed on seventeenth day of War. Kirata is mentioned in Mahabharat (VIII.51.19). Of terrible deeds and exceedingly fierce, the Tushars, the Yavans, the Khasas, the Darvabhisars, the Darads, the Sakas, the Kamaths, the Ramaths, the Tangans the Andhraks, the Pulinds, the Kirats of fierce prowess, the Malechs, the Mountaineers, and the races hailing from the sea-side.
Source :
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