Some historians believe the Rishikas were a part of, or synonymous with, the Kambojas. However, the Mahabharata not only suggests a distinction, but also adds an internal division – sub-divisions within the Rishikas known as the Uttara ("northern") and the Parama ("supreme") .[2]
Classical literary texts state that the Rishikas were neighbors of the Parama Kambojas and the Lohas in Saka-dvipa ("Sakaland") (most likely Transoxiana).
According to traditional accounts, during the 2nd century BCE a subgroup of Rishikas migrated to southwestern India and settled there, crossing Afghanistan, Balochistan, Sindhu and Sovira.
Sanskrit scholar Ishwa Mishra believes that the Rishikas were synonymous with the Parama Kambojas. V. S. Aggarwala also relates the Parama Kambojas of the Pamir Mountains to the Rishikas of the Mahabharata,[3] located in Shakdvipa.[4] According to B. N. Puri, the Kambojas were a branch of the Tukharas.[5] Similarly, Moti Chandra sees a close ethnic connection between the Kambojas and the Yuezhi.[6] And other scholars believe that the Kambojas were a branch of the Yuezhi.[7]
The Sabhaparava of the Mahabharata describes the Lohas, Kambojas and Rishikas as neighboring tribes west of the Himalayas.[8] The Adiparva of the Mahabharata compares the Kambojas and the Rishikas, describing them both as "despised" people. The Kambojan king Chandravarma is described as an incarnation of Daitya Chandra and the sage, Rishika ("from the Rishika tribe"), is described as an incarnation of Danva Arka.[vague]
In one version of the Mahabharata Chandravarma is a Rishikan, rather than a Kambojan, king. The Kambojas and Rishikas appear side-by-side in a verse.[9] In the Udyogaparava of the Mahabharata,[10] the Kambojas and Rishikas are described as one people (Kambojarishika).
A scholarlyclass of people is implied, according to some authorities, by the name "Rishika" in the Matsya and Vayu Puranas. The Kambojas, in the Dronaparava section of the Mahabharata, are also described as a scholarly people:[11]
Other Evidences
Some scholars have proposed that the Rishikas are the Yuezhi of ancient Chinese sources,[12] or the Asii cited by the ancient Greeks.[13] J. C. Vidyalankar believes that the Rishikas are the Kushans in general (or perhaps only the dynasty founded by Kanishka).[14]
The name "Asii" (or "Asioi" mentioned by Strabo, according to one view, alludes to their connections with horses (asva 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.[15][16] 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 Pāṇini and Katyayana). The Aspasios and Assakenois were notable Kamboja groups engaged in horse culture.
Ancient Indian literary references
Mahabharata and Ramayana
The Rishikas fought in the war described in the Mahabharata.[17] The allied Lohan, Parama-Kamboja, northern and Parama Rishika tribes fought with the PandavaArjuna during their Digvijay expedition against the tribes of Uttarapatha.[18] The Kishikindha Kanda of the Ramayana also refers to northern Rishikas.[19]
Matsya Purana
According to Matsya Purana the Rishikas were descendants of the Rishis, or inspired poets.[20]
Rishikas in southwestern India
Verses in Karanaparava and Bhishmaparava of the Mahabharata refer to Rishikas in Dakshinapatha as a Janapada near Mahajanapada.[21] The Kishikindha Kanda of Valmiki's Ramayana refers to this second branch of the Rishikas, placing them in Dakshinapatha near the Vidarbhas.[22] The Markandeya Purana[23] also attests to the Rishikas of the Dakshinapatha.
Varāhamihira identifies Rishikas in Dakshinapatha in the Brhat Samhita.[24]Brhat Samhita[25] and Markendeya Purana[26] identify Kamboja and Pahlava settlements in southwestern India.[27]
Evidence from Udyogaparava of the Mahabharata associates the Rishikas with the Kambojas, Shakas and Pahlavas near the Anupa region (Anupadesha):[28]
Shakanam Pahlavana.n cha Daradanam cha ye nripah Kamboja Rishika ye cha pashchim anupakash cha ye (5.5.15)
"The kings of the Shakas, Pahlavas, Daradas and the Kamboja Rishikas live in the west in Anupadesa, or the seacoast regions."
The Daradas in the verse above appear to be a copyist's mistake, since the Paradas, not the Daradas, are associated with the military confederation of the Sakas, Kambojas and Pahlavas (Pānca-ganah or "five hordes" of Kshatriyas in the Puranic texts, for instance).[29][30]
^Geographical and Economic Studies in the Mahābhārata: Upāyana Parva, 1945, p 19, Dr Moti Chandra – India.
^Journal of Tamil Studies, 1969, pp 86, 87, International Institute of Tamil Studies – Tamil philology; Also see: International Journal of Dravidian Linguistics: IJDL., 1984, p 348, University of Kerala Dept. of Linguistics – Dravidian languages; India and Central Asia, 1955, p 31-32, Prof P. C. Bagchi.
Those other car-warriors with golden standards, O king, whom you see, and who, like the wild elephants are difficult of being resisted, they are called the Kambojas. They are brave, a learned people (kritavidyash) and are firmly devoted to the science of weapons. Desiring one another's welfare, they are all highly united and mutually co-operative. They constitute a full Akshauhini of wrathful warriors.
^India as Known to Pāṇini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi, 1953, p 321, Vasudeva Sharana Agrawala.
^Chandra Chakraberty – Ethnology; Literary History of Ancient India in Relation to Its Racial and Linguistic Affiliations, 1953, pp 148, 152, Chandra Chakraberty – Sanskrit literature.
^See quote in: Problems of Ancient India, 2000, p 4, K. D. Sethna.
^See: List of Indian Races, p 129 of Ancient India as described by Megasthenes and Arrian, 1877,, a tr. of the fragments of the Indika of Megasthenes collected by Schwanbeck and of the 1st part of the Indika of Arrian, by J.W. McCrindle. With intr., notes. Repr., with additions, from the 'Indian antiquary', . Megasthenes, Flavius Arrianus, Translated by John Watson McCrindle.
^Pliny's Natural History, 1848, p 126, Philemon Holland, Wernerian Club, Wernerian Club. Pliny only borrowed the information earlier prepared by Megasthenese, who is believed to have been a Greek ambassador in the court of Chandragupta Maurya after the Chandragupta Maurya had won war against Seleucid in about 302 BCE.
^The Ramayana of Valmiki: An Epic of Ancient India, Volume 4: Kiskindhakanda, 151, Rosalind Lefeber; Ethnic Settlements in Ancient India: (a Study on the Puranic Lists of the Peoples of Bharatavarsa), 1955, p 71, Dr Sashi Bhusan Chaudhuri.
^Rishika.putra.rishikastu.. 145.86; See also: Vayu Purana 59.84–94; Geographical Data in Early Puranas, p 31).
^Cultural History from Vayu Purana, 1973, p 27, fn 185, Reprint of 1946 Edition, published by Deccan College Post Graduate Research Institute, Poona; Foreign Elements in Ancient Indian Society, 2nd Century BC to 7th Century AD – 1979, p 125, Uma Prasad Thapliyal.
rishikas, also, rshika, Ṛṣika, ancient, kingdom, central, asia, south, asia, mentioned, hindu, sanskrit, literary, texts, including, mahabharata, ramayana, brhat, samhita, markendeya, purana, patanjali, mahabhashya, some, historians, believe, were, part, synon. The Rishikas also Rshika and Ṛṣika was an ancient Kingdom of Central Asia and South Asia who are mentioned in Hindu and Sanskrit literary texts including the Mahabharata the Ramayana the Brhat Samhita the Markendeya Purana and Patanjali s Mahabhashya 1 Some historians believe the Rishikas were a part of or synonymous with the Kambojas However the Mahabharata not only suggests a distinction but also adds an internal division sub divisions within the Rishikas known as the Uttara northern and the Parama supreme 2 Classical literary texts state that the Rishikas were neighbors of the Parama Kambojas and the Lohas in Saka dvipa Sakaland most likely Transoxiana According to traditional accounts during the 2nd century BCE a subgroup of Rishikas migrated to southwestern India and settled there crossing Afghanistan Balochistan Sindhu and Sovira Contents 1 Historical identity 1 1 Kamboja Rishika connection 1 2 Other Evidences 2 Ancient Indian literary references 2 1 Mahabharata and Ramayana 2 2 Matsya Purana 2 3 Rishikas in southwestern India 3 References 4 See alsoHistorical identity EditKamboja Rishika connection Edit Main article Sage Kamboja Sanskrit scholar Ishwa Mishra believes that the Rishikas were synonymous with the Parama Kambojas V S Aggarwala also relates the Parama Kambojas of the Pamir Mountains to the Rishikas of the Mahabharata 3 located in Shakdvipa 4 According to B N Puri the Kambojas were a branch of the Tukharas 5 Similarly Moti Chandra sees a close ethnic connection between the Kambojas and the Yuezhi 6 And other scholars believe that the Kambojas were a branch of the Yuezhi 7 The Sabhaparava of the Mahabharata describes the Lohas Kambojas and Rishikas as neighboring tribes west of the Himalayas 8 The Adiparva of the Mahabharata compares the Kambojas and the Rishikas describing them both as despised people The Kambojan king Chandravarma is described as an incarnation of Daitya Chandra and the sage Rishika from the Rishika tribe is described as an incarnation of Danva Arka vague In one version of the Mahabharata Chandravarma is a Rishikan rather than a Kambojan king The Kambojas and Rishikas appear side by side in a verse 9 In the Udyogaparava of the Mahabharata 10 the Kambojas and Rishikas are described as one people Kambojarishika A scholarly class of people is implied according to some authorities by the name Rishika in the Matsya and Vayu Puranas The Kambojas in the Dronaparava section of the Mahabharata are also described as a scholarly people 11 Other Evidences Edit Some scholars have proposed that the Rishikas are the Yuezhi of ancient Chinese sources 12 or the Asii cited by the ancient Greeks 13 J C Vidyalankar believes that the Rishikas are the Kushans in general or perhaps only the dynasty founded by Kanishka 14 The name Asii or Asioi mentioned by Strabo according to one view alludes to their connections with horses asva 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 15 16 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 Paṇini and Katyayana The Aspasios and Assakenois were notable Kamboja groups engaged in horse culture Ancient Indian literary references EditMahabharata and Ramayana Edit The Rishikas fought in the war described in the Mahabharata 17 The allied Lohan Parama Kamboja northern and Parama Rishika tribes fought with the Pandava Arjuna during their Digvijay expedition against the tribes of Uttarapatha 18 The Kishikindha Kanda of the Ramayana also refers to northern Rishikas 19 Matsya Purana Edit According to Matsya Purana the Rishikas were descendants of the Rishis or inspired poets 20 Rishikas in southwestern India Edit Verses in Karanaparava and Bhishmaparava of the Mahabharata refer to Rishikas in Dakshinapatha as a Janapada near Mahajanapada 21 The Kishikindha Kanda of Valmiki s Ramayana refers to this second branch of the Rishikas placing them in Dakshinapatha near the Vidarbhas 22 The Markandeya Purana 23 also attests to the Rishikas of the Dakshinapatha Varahamihira identifies Rishikas in Dakshinapatha in the Brhat Samhita 24 Brhat Samhita 25 and Markendeya Purana 26 identify Kamboja and Pahlava settlements in southwestern India 27 Evidence from Udyogaparava of the Mahabharata associates the Rishikas with the Kambojas Shakas and Pahlavas near the Anupa region Anupadesha 28 Shakanam Pahlavana n cha Daradanam cha ye nripahKamboja Rishika ye cha pashchim anupakash cha ye 5 5 15 The kings of the Shakas Pahlavas Daradas and the Kamboja Rishikas live in the west in Anupadesa or the seacoast regions The Daradas in the verse above appear to be a copyist s mistake since the Paradas not the Daradas are associated with the military confederation of the Sakas Kambojas and Pahlavas Panca ganah or five hordes of Kshatriyas in the Puranic texts for instance 29 30 References Edit However the Rishikas are not mentioned in the Ashtadhyayi of Paṇini Lohan ParamaKambojan Rishikan uttaranapi sahita nstanmaharaja vyajayatpakashasanih 24 Rishikeshu tu sanggramo babhuvAtibhaya n karah taraka maya sankashah Paramarshika parthayoh 25 Mahabharata Critical Edition 2 25 24 25 See The Deeds of Harsha Being a Cultural Study of Baṇa s Harshacharita 1969 p 199 Dr Vasudeva Sharana Agrawala India as Known to Paṇini A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashṭadhyayi 1953 p 64 Dr Vasudeva Sharana Agrawala India Buddhism in Central Asia p 90 Geographical and Economic Studies in the Mahabharata Upayana Parva 1945 p 19 Dr Moti Chandra India Journal of Tamil Studies 1969 pp 86 87 International Institute of Tamil Studies Tamil philology Also see International Journal of Dravidian Linguistics IJDL 1984 p 348 University of Kerala Dept of Linguistics Dravidian languages India and Central Asia 1955 p 31 32 Prof P C Bagchi MBH II 27 25 MBH 1 67 31 32 Mahabharata 5 5 15 see the verse above Sanskrit ye tvete rathino rajandrishyante kanchanadhvajah ete durvarana nama Kamboja yadi te shrutah 43 shurashcha kritavidyashcha dhanurvede cha nishthitah sa nhatashcha bhrisha n hyete anyonyasya hitaishinah 44 akshauhinyashcha sa nrabdha dhartarahhtrasya bharata MBH 7 112 43 44 English translation Those other car warriors with golden standards O king whom you see and who like the wild elephants are difficult of being resisted they are called the Kambojas They are brave a learned people kritavidyash and are firmly devoted to the science of weapons Desiring one another s welfare they are all highly united and mutually co operative They constitute a full Akshauhini of wrathful warriors India as Known to Paṇini A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi 1953 p 321 Vasudeva Sharana Agrawala Chandra Chakraberty Ethnology Literary History of Ancient India in Relation to Its Racial and Linguistic Affiliations 1953 pp 148 152 Chandra Chakraberty Sanskrit literature See quote in Problems of Ancient India 2000 p 4 K D Sethna See List of Indian Races p 129 of Ancient India as described by Megasthenes and Arrian 1877 a tr of the fragments of the Indika of Megasthenes collected by Schwanbeck and of the 1st part of the Indika of Arrian by J W McCrindle With intr notes Repr with additions from the Indian antiquary Megasthenes Flavius Arrianus Translated by John Watson McCrindle Pliny s Natural History 1848 p 126 Philemon Holland Wernerian Club Wernerian Club Pliny only borrowed the information earlier prepared by Megasthenese who is believed to have been a Greek ambassador in the court of Chandragupta Maurya after the Chandragupta Maurya had won war against Seleucid in about 302 BCE Mahabharata 2 27 25 Mahabharata 2 27 27 The Ramayana of Valmiki An Epic of Ancient India Volume 4 Kiskindhakanda 151 Rosalind Lefeber Ethnic Settlements in Ancient India a Study on the Puranic Lists of the Peoples of Bharatavarsa 1955 p 71 Dr Sashi Bhusan Chaudhuri Rishika putra rishikastu 145 86 See also Vayu Purana 59 84 94 Geographical Data in Early Puranas p 31 Mahabharata 6 10 63 Kiskindhakanda 145 Rosalind Lefeber Markendeya Purana Chapter 58 20 28 Brhat Samhita Ch XIV 11 16 Brhat Samhita XIV 17 19 Markendeya Purana 58 30 32 Geographical data in Early Puranas p 135 cf Ethnic Settlements in Ancient India a Study on the Puranic Lists of the Peoples of Bharatavarsa 1955 p 71 Dr Sashi Bhusan Chaudhuri Harivamsa 14 1 19 Vayu Purana v 88 127 43 Cultural History from Vayu Purana 1973 p 27 fn 185 Reprint of 1946 Edition published by Deccan College Post Graduate Research Institute Poona Foreign Elements in Ancient Indian Society 2nd Century BC to 7th Century AD 1979 p 125 Uma Prasad Thapliyal See also EditUttara Madras Kuru Kingdom Uttara Kurus Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rishikas amp oldid 1086970722, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
