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ETYMOLOGY

In Sanskrit it is derived from ''Kshatra'', meaning "dominion, power, government" and ultimately from a root ''kshi'' "to rule, govern, possess".

Kshatra is God 's energy which descends upon those who are righteous. As stated in the Ahuna Vairya prayer of the Zoroastrian s:

''...and the Kshatra of Ahura descends indeed upon him who becomes a shepherd to the meek''.

In the early Vedic civilization, the warrior caste was called ''Rājanya'' rather then ''Kshatriya''. The former was an adjectival form of ''Rājan'' "ruler, king" from a root ''Rāj'' "to rule", cognate to the Latin Rex "king" and the German Reich "empire".

Also related to this article on the Kshatriya are the Satraps.


> DHARMA, AFFIRM, THRONE, DARIUS, JEMADAR. INDO-EUROPEAN KSEI ("TO RULE")



DUTIES

The Kshtriyas were assigned to be protectors of Dharma (truth), their subjects and livestock. They were sanctioned by God to serve humanity. The noble king is regarded as a Dharma Raja (Just Ruler)

The Rig Veda states:
praja arya jyotiragrah

People ruled by Aryans (nobles) are led by the Divine light.
King Rama of Ayodhya is considered the greatest of the Dharma Rajas:
arya sarva samascaiva sadaiva priyadarsanah

Noble who worked for the equality of all, was dear to everyone.
Ramayana said:
Like the ancient monarch Manu, father of the human race,

Dasaratha ruled his people with a father's loving grace,



SYMBOL OF KSHATRIYA

In the initiation rituals, the nyagrodha (Ficus Indica or Sacred Fig tree) danda is assigned to the Kshatriya class.

The nyagrodha or banyan tree, with its bending branches which take root in the ground, was regarded as a resembling form of the Kshatriya. The nyagrodha is the kshatra power of trees, and the Kshatriya is the kshatra power humans , for the Kshatriya dwells fastened to the kingdom, and is supported it . And the nyagrodha is fastened to the ground by its downward growths, and supported it

  • (Aiteraya Brahmana, 7.31; see also Satapatha Brahmana 5.3.5.13)


"The staff made of this wood is taken by the Kshatriya initiate with a mantra imparting physical vitality or ojas".
  • (Reflections on Resemblance, Ritual, and Religion; Brian K. Smith)


In Manu Smriti the Kshatriya caste is given the Varna (Color) red, to symbolize strength, passion and Valor.


ORIGIN


Mythology

  • In Hindu theology, Manu is considered the law giver and progenitor of Humans (Equivalent to Moses or Adam ). He had over 50 sons. Manu was both king and priest and his children (and thus all of humanity) are considered highborn. Due to the eventual differences in occupations, people ended up in different Jatis and Caste . Those who studied the Vedas became known as Brahmins, those who practiced trade became Vaishya , those who laboured became Sudra and those who took up martial arts became Kshatriyas ( Arya ). The word Arya means "noble".

  • Kshatriyas were created from the arms of God and the priest were from his head and the merchants from his abdomen and the laborers from his legs. This was to be interpreted as meaning that no one caste is more important than the other and that society cannot survive without all parts working together.



Non-Puritan Kshatriyas



  • Anushasanaparava of the Mahabharata also views the Sakas, Kambojas and the Yavanas etc. in the same light. Patanjali in his Mahabhasya regards the Sakas and Yavanas as pure Sudra s (II.4.10).


  • The Vartika of the Katyayana informs us that the kings of the Sakas and the Yavanas, like those of the Kambojas, may also be addressed by their respective tribal names.



  • In another verse the Epic groups the Shakas, Kambojas and Khashas together and state them as the tribes from Udichya, i.e north division (5/169/20).


  • The Kishkindha Kanda of the Ramayana locates the Sakas, Kambojas, Yavanas and the Paradas in the extreme north-west beyond the Himavat (i.e. Hindukush) (43/12) in the Shakadvipa , adjoining the land of Uttarakurus .


  • The Udyogaparava of the


  • Puranic accounts attest that the Dravida s are Kshatriyas and are said to be descendants of the sons of Vishwamitra . Like the Kambojas, Sakas, Yavanas, Daradas, Khashas etc, the Dravidas were recorded as Kshatriyas who no longer were initiated into the sacred thread due to their neglect of the Brahmana s as well as due to their non-observance of the sacred Brahmanical codes.


  • Some believe that many of the non- Vedic Kshatriyas may have once been Vedic Kshatriyas who had established kingdoms outside of India and eventually returned back to India to reclaim their Kshatriya status. See Kingdoms Of Ancient India



Scientific

  • Historians believe that the cast system became rigid around 1000 BC. Prior to this in ancient India the nomadic tribes did not have a fixed caste system. They initially assigned roles based on an individuals merit. This was necessary in order to ensure the tribes survival. The stronger members of the tribe became the warriors and were given a higher status in society as they were more important to the survival of the tribe at the time. As the tribes became more familiar with farming they built up surpluses and became more settled. This more sedentary and leisurely life shifted the peoples focus to accumulating wealth and finding a meaning to life. Priests began to take the preeminent role in society as they ensured spiritual salvation. This lead to society forming a more rigid social system where your position was determined by your birth rather than merit. As we have seen from history people in power will do what they can to remain in power. During the Epic age people began to question these institutions.


  • Many historical rulers came from other castes, or were descended from non-Hindu foreign conquerors, and were either granted de facto Kshatriya status by virtue of the power they held, or they created fictionalized family histories to connect themselves to past Kshatriya rulers. For instance, the Sakas , Yavanas , Kambojas , Pahlavas , Paradas etc were foreign invaders from north-west but were assimilated into the Indian community as Kshatriyas.



Vedic Origin

In modern India , caste is inherited. Most of the Kshatriya communities claim descent from Surya, Chandra, or Agni. The Surya descendants claim descent from Rama and the Chandra descendants claim Krishna as an ancestor. This is based on the writings of the Rig Veda and other Puranas.

Two camps exist about the importance of these texts. One camp is similar to the literalists of the Christian faith who believe that their holy texts are verbatim documentation of real people, events and dates and that modern society is descended from them. The other camp believes that the holy texts are not meant to be taken literally and should be used symbolically as examples of the proper way to live.

Those who believe the Ramayana , Mahabharatha , and other Puranas were verbatim documents feel that modern Kshatriyas are descended from the Vedic Kshatriyas. The reason for the controversy is that we do not have any physical evidence of their existence. There are no bones, forts, weapons, coins, monuments, pictures etc. discovered to state unequivocally that they existed. This issue can be debated at length.

What historians generally agree on is Indian history from around 1000 BC onwards. From that point onwards we have archeological, literary, and artistic evidence of the communities that existed in India. Historians do not disagree over the existence of Buddha and Mahavir , two Kshatriya sages that made a lasting impression on the world.

Kshatriyas are generally known as great patrons of arts, literature, music, and dance as well as have tremendous influence on political, religious, economic, and social discoarses throughout Indian history.


In nutshell

The Kshatriya communities have a glorious history regardless of their origins. The achievements of the Kurus , Panchala s, Kosala s, Matsya s, Magadhas, Chedi s, Yadus , Kambojas , Gandhara s, Kekaya s etc in Epic Times and those of Mauryas , Guptas , Chalukyas , Rajputs , Marathas etc. in post-epic/medieaval eras cannot be diminished.

Below is a list of communities that are traditionally considered to be Kshatriyas. To get more details of their history and orgins you must click on the link.


SURYAVANSHIS



CHANDRAVANSHIS



SURYAVANSHI AND CHANDRAVANSHI

These communities divide themselves into both.
  • Khatri s - original Kshatriya caste of the first wave of Aryans (1500 BC). Also mixed with the Greco-Macedonians and Greco-Bactrians during Alexander the Great's invasion (326BC).



#36 clans (Chandravansi)


AGNIVANSHI

Many of the Rajputs are known as kshatriya rulers from the 9th century onwards THE COINS OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL INDIAN DYNASTIES .


# Solanki
# Pratihara
# Chauhans
# Paramara


NAGAVANSHI

These are the Kshatriyas belonging to the Serpent dynasty called Nagavansham. They are the Kshatriyas of South India (in particular Kerala and Tamil Nadu)



SUN AND FIRE WORSHIPPERS



OTHERS



NON-INDIAN


Hindu


Bali Kshatriyas

About 40 percent of the total population of Bali comprises of Balinese Kshatriyas. Balinese Hinduism has a Caste system and is heavily influenced by the Vedas . Balinese people are of mixed Mongoloid , Polynesian , Australoid , Aryan , Dravidian races.


Cham Satrias

The ''Balamon'' Hindu Cham People of Vietnam consist of 70% Kshatriyas (pronounced in Vietnamese as "''Satrias''"). Although ''Balamon'' make up only 25% of the overall Cham population (the other 75% are Muslims or ''Cham Bani''). These ''Balamon'' Kshatriyas claim to be the descendants of the Champa Empire.


Non-Hindu

There are some tribes in the Middle East and the Near East , who are the descendants of the original Vedic Kshatriyas, but who travelled west and settled there.


Middle eastern tribes

See Also: Mitanni


The Mitanni was a historic Hindu empire in the Middle East , which preceded the Semitic Civilisation. The descendants of the Empire have been Aramianized and now practise one of the Semitic religions.


Persian tribes

See Also: Persian Empire


Some tribes of Persia are of Vedic Kshatriya descent. Examples - Roma People , Sinti People


LINKS



REFERENCES



BOOKS, MEGAZINES AND ARTICLES

  • History and Culture of Indian People, The Vedic Age, p 313-314

  • History of Gurjara Rajputs: {Link without Title}



SEE ALSO