Kamboja (or Kambuja ) is the name of an ancient Indo-Iranian Tribe who spoke a language in the Indo-European family of languages. They are believed to have been located originally in Pamirs and Badakshan in Central Asia . The Sanskrit name ''Kamboja'' is also sometimes found written as ''Kambuja'', ''e.g.'' in Vedic Texts like ''Paraskara Grhya Sutra'' (2.1.23).
The (or "Kambuja") is unclear. There are several views regarding how the name may have originated.
- Yaska (seventh century BCE) attempted to trace "Kamboja" by etymologyzing it as both ''Kambal.bhojah'' and ''Kamaniya.bhojah''. According to Nirukuta (II/2), the Kambojas enjoy ''kambalah'' (blankets) i.e. they are ''Kambal.bhojah'', and also they enjoy beautiful (''kamaniya'') things, hence they are 'kamaniya.bhojah'. Therefore they are called "''Kambojas''".
- According to scholars like Dr. Moti Chandra, the ''Kamaniya.bhoja'' of Yasaka literally means ''Handsome Bhoja''. The word ''Bhoja'' is an aspirated Sanskrit equivalent of Iranian ''Boja'', and means 'king' (Dr. Pirat, Dr. K. Elst). This suggests that the Kambojas may have been so called because they were a very handsome race, or at least because their kings were very handsome. This view is abundantly reinforced by Valmiki Ramayana (1/55/2), as well as by several verses of the Mahabharata (MBH 7/23/43; 7/82/74; 8/56/113-114) etc., which strongly testify that the ancient Kambojas and their princes were very handsome.
- According to another view, the name ''Kamboja'' is derived from expression ''Kam+Boja'', where ''Kam'' implies "region" and ''Boja'' or ''Bhoja'' implies owner, lord or king, as above. Thus the Kambojas were the ''Owners'', ''Kings'' or ''Lords'' of a cetain region or country called ''Kam'' (Dr. H. C. Seth). The element ''Kam'' is also reflected in the Kama valley lying between the Khyber Pass and Jalalabad ; in place names like Kama-daka, Kamma-Shilman, Kama-bela of Kabol ; the Kamdesh/Kambrom , Kamich, Kama and Kamu of the Kunar and Bashgul valleys; as also the vast expanses of region called Kazal-''Kam'' and Kara-''Kam'' lying on either side of the Oxus , north of Afghanistan . The Ptolemian names ''Kamoi'' and ''Komdei'' also refer to these territories. It is also important to note that ancient Kamboja was located precisely in, and contiguous to, these ''Kam'' localities.
- Scholars like Casey suppose that Kambuja lineage of the ruling family of ancient Cambodia originated from their legendary patriarch figure called Svayambhuva Kambu . According to Casey, "Kambuja" is etymologically deived from ''Kambu+ja'', where ''ja'' in Sanskrit is said to mean "son or descendant". Hence, Kambujas means "descendants of Kambu". On similar lines, some argue that the name of the Indo-Iranian ''Kambojas'' may have eponymously originated from some ancient patriarchal figure known as ''Kambo''. The ''Kambu'' as a name of an Asura (Iranian) clan is attested in ancient Hindu texts like '' Markendeya Purana '' (8.1-6) and '' Devi Mahatam '' (5.28.1-12), where the ''Kambu'' (Kamboja) Clan is portrayed "in clash with" the Indo-Aryans Language_and_ethnicity_of_Kambojas#Devi_Bhagawatam_.26_Markandeya_Purana_evidence . It is notable that King Ashoka 's Rock Edicts (3rd century BCE) located in Peshawar also write ''Kamboy'' (i.e. ''Kambo'') for Sanskrit ''Kamboj''. It is also notable that the terms ''Kambo'' and ''Kambu'' were used in medieval Muslim writings for the Kamboj population of greater Panjab .
- According to Dr Wilson, part of the name Kamboja (i.e Kambi) is in the Cambistholi of .
- A more acceptable, and similar view is that the name of the Tribe and their country had originated eponymously from their illustrious ancient Warrior King called ''Kamboja''. This legendary Kamboja warrior had won the prized '' Daivi Khadga '' or ( Divine Sword ) from the celebrated king Kuvalashava of Kosala (''MBH'' 12/166/77). The Sword legend of the ''Mahabharata'' points to very remote antiquity, since the same king Kuvalashava who is a contemporary of this Kamboja, has been placed at the twelfth generation after Swayambhuva Manu of Hindu traditions (Ancient Indian Historical Traditions, pp. 114 ff., Dr. P. E. Pargiter). It is now accepted that the royal name Kambujiya (or ''Kamboujiya'') is the Iranian version of Sanskrit ''Kamboja'' and Greek Cambyses , and it was a very popular name among ancient Iran ians. It is probable that the legendary warrior ''Kamboja'' referenced in ''Shantiparava'' (''Mahabharata'') was some earlier ''Kambujiya'' from the royal line of ancient Iranian Achaemenid s, who had given his name to his Clan .
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