RISHIKS

The Rishiks (also Rshik and Rsik) are a possibly-mythical tribe of Central Asia and South Asia, who are mentioned in Hindu and Sanskrit literary texts, including the Mahabharat, the Ramayan, the Brhat-Samhita, the Markendeya Puran and Patanjali's Mahabhasya.

Some historians believe the Rishiks were a part of, or synonymous with, the Kambojs. However, the Mahabharat not only suggests a distinction, but also adds an internal division – sub-divisions within the Rishiks known as the Uttar ("northern") and the Param ("supreme").

Classical literary texts state that the Rishiks were neighbors of the Param Kambojs and the Lohs in Saka-dvip i.e. Shak-dwip ("Sakaland", "shakland") (most likely Transoxiana).

According to traditional accounts, during the 2nd century BCE a subgroup of Rishiks migrated to southwestern India and settled there, crossing Afghanistan, Balochistan, Sindhu and Sovir.

Theories regarding historical identity :

Kamboj–Rishik connection :

Sanskrit scholar Ishwa Mishra believes that the Rishiks were synonymous with the Param Kambojs. V. S. Aggarwal also relates the Param Kambojs of the Pamir Mountains to the Rishiks of the Mahabharat, located in Shakdvip. According to B. N. Puri, the Kambojs were a branch of the Tukhars. Similarly, Moti Chandra sees a close ethnic connection between the Kambojs and the Yuezhi. And other scholars believe that the Kambojs were a branch of the Yuezhi.

The Sabhaparv of the Mahabharat describes the Lohs, Kambojs and Rishiks as neighboring tribes west of the Himalayas. The Adiparv of the Mahabharat compares the Kambojs and the Rishiks, describing them both as "despised" people. The Kambojn king Chandravarma is described as an incarnation of Daitya Chandra and the sage, Rishik ("from the Rishik tribe"), is described as an incarnation of Danv Ark.[vague]

In one version of the Mahabharat Chandravarma is a Rishikn, rather than a Kambojn, king. The Kambojs and Rishiks appear side-by-side in a verse. In the Udyogparv of the Mahabharat, the Kambojs and Rishiks are described as one people (Kambojrishik).

A scholarly class of people is implied, according to some authorities, by the name "Rishik" in the Matsya and Vayu Purans. The Kambojs, in the Dron Parv section of the Mahabharat, are also described as a scholarly people :

Other theories :

Some scholars have proposed that the Rishiks are the Yuezhi of ancient Chinese sources, or the Asii cited by the ancient Greeks. J. C. Vidyalankar believes that the Rishiks are the Kushans in general (or perhaps only the dynasty founded by Kanishk).

The name "Asii" (or "Asioi" mentioned by Strabo, according to one view, alludes to their connections with horses (ashva or assa). Based on the earlier information from Megasthenes' (350-290 BC) Indica, Pliny the Elder (23–79 AD) mentions Osii (Orsi), Asoi, Aseni, Taxillae and Peucolaitae as Indian peoples living in the upper Indus valley south of the Hindu Kush.

The Taxillae and Peucolaitae are Gandharans of the Indian traditions while the Asoi, Osii/Orsi and Aseni appear yet other variants of the Assaceni (Aspasioi) and Assacani (Assakenoi)—the Asvayana and Asvakayana of Panini and Katyayan). The Aspasios and Assakenois were notable Kamboj groups engaged in horse culture.

Ancient Indian literary references :

Mahabharat and Ramayan :

The Rishiks fought in the war described in the Mahabharat. The allied Lohan, Param-Kamboj, northern and Param Rishik tribes fought with the Pandav Arjun during their Digvijay expedition against the tribes of Uttarapath. The Kishikindha Kand of the Ramayan also refers to northern Rishiks.

Matsya Puran :

According to Matsya Puran the Rishiks were descendants of the Rishis, or inspired poets.

Rishiks in southwestern India :

Verses in Karanparav and Bhishmaparv of the Mahabharat refer to Rishiks in Dakshinpath as a Janpad near Mahajanpad. The Kishikindha Kand of Valmiki's Ramayan refers to this second branch of the Rishiks, placing them in Dakshinpath near the Vidarbhs. The Markandeya Puran also attests to the Rishiks of the Dakshinpath.

Varahamihir identifies Rishiks in Dakshinpath in the Brhat Samhita. Brhat Samhita and Markendeya Puran identify Kamboj and Pahlav settlements in southwestern India.

Evidence from Udyogparv of the Mahabharat associates the Rishiks with the Kambojs, Shaks and Pahlavs near the Anup region (Anupdesh) :

Shakanam Pahlavana.n cha Daradanam cha ye nripah

Kamboj Rishika ye cha pashchim anupakash cha ye (5.5.15)

"The kings of the Shaks, Pahlavs, Darads and the Kamboj Rishiks live in the west in Anupdes, or the seacoast regions."

The Darads in the verse above appear to be a copyist's mistake, since the Parads, not the Darads, are associated with the military confederation of the Sakas, Kambojs and Pahlavs (Panca-ganah or "five hordes" of Kshatriyas in the Puranic texts, for instance).

Source :

https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Rishikas