JohannaBuckley: minor improve references based on references also and improved wording

2025-12-28T13:17:12Z

minor improve references based on references also and improved wording

ImportMaster at 14:01, 14 May 2022

2022-05-14T14:01:48Z

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{{Cleanup rewrite|date=September 2010}}
{{South Asia in 500 BCE||South Asia circa 500 BCE, with location of the Bahlikas in [[Bactria]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Schwartzberg |first1=Joseph E. |title=A Historical atlas of South Asia |date=1978 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |location=Chicago |page=145, map XIV.1 (d)|isbn=0226742210 |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/pager.html?object=182}}</ref><ref>Content mirrored from [[:File:Mahajanapadas_(c._500_BCE).png|this map]]</ref>}}
The '''Bahlikas''' ({{lang-sa|बाह्लिक}}; ''Bāhlika'') were the inhabitants of Bahlika ({{lang-sa|बह्लिक}}, located in [[Bactria]]), mentioned in [[Atharvaveda]], [[Mahabharata]], [[Ramayana]], Puranas, Vartikka of [[Katyayana]], Brhatsamhita, Amarkosha etc. and in the ancient Inscriptions. The other variations of Bahlika are Bahli, Balhika, Vahlika, Valhika, Bahlava, Bahlam/Bahlim, Bahlayana and Bahluva.

==Geographical locations==

===Bahlikas or Bactria===
According to the ''Bhuvanakosha'' section of the [[Purana]]s, Bahlika was a [[Janapada]] located in the ''Udichya'' ([[Uttarapatha]]) division.<ref>Vayu I.45.115</ref><ref>Vamana 13.37</ref><ref>Garuda 55.16</ref><ref>Brahamanda, 27.24-52v etc</ref>

Some [[hymn]]s of Atharvaveda invoke the fever to go to the [[Gandhara|Gandharis]], Mahavrsas (a tribe of Punjab), Mujavants and, further off, to the Bahlikas. Mujavant is the name of a hill (and the people) located in [[Hindukush]]/[[Pamir Mountains|Pamir]].<ref name="Witzel">Early Eastern Iran and the Atharvaveda, Persica-9, 1980, p 87, Dr [[Michael Witzel]]</ref>

''Atharvaveda-Parisista'' juxtaposes the Vedic Bahlikas with the [[Kambojas]] (i.e. ''Kamboja-Bahlika--'').<ref>AV-Par, 57.2.5</ref><ref name="Witzel_106">Early East Iran and the Atharvaveda, Persica-9, 1980, p 106, Dr Michael Witzel</ref>

Besides Atharvaveda Parisista, several other ancient texts also associate the Bahlikas with the Kambojas.

:''Shakah.Kamboja.Bahlika.Yavanah.Paradastatha |'' <ref>MBH 7/98/13</ref>

:''Kritavarma tu sahitah KambojaivarBahlikaih |''.<ref>MBH 6/75/17</ref><ref>MBH 2/27/23-23 etc</ref>

:''VanayujanParvatiyanKamboj.Aratta.Bahlikan'' |.<ref>Mahabharata 7.36.36</ref>

:''Kamboja.vishhaye jatair Bahlikaishcha hayottamaih |'' <ref name="Valmiki Ramayana I.6.22">Valmiki Ramayana I.6.22.</ref>

[[Kashmir]] recension of ancient Ramayana has the following reading:

:''Aratta.Kapisham.Balhim''....<ref>''Ramayana, 4/44/23''</ref>

[[Sanskrit]] Acharya [[Kshmendra]] of Kashmir has rendered the above text into his Ramayana Manjri as follows:

''Aratta.Bahlika.Kamboja'' ... ...<ref>''Ramayana Manjri, 4/252''</ref>

Besides Kambojas, Atharvaveda-Parisista also associates the Vedic Bahlikas with the [[Sakas]], [[Yavana]]s and [[Tusharas]] (''Saka-Yavana-Tukhara-Vahlikaishcha'').<ref name="Witzel_106"/><ref>Atharvaveda Pari. 51.33</ref>

The fact that Puranic evidence locates the Bahlikas in Uttarapatha and further the close association of the Bahlikas with the Kambojas as well as with Tusharas, Sakas and [[Yavanas]] in the Atharvaveda Parisista and in some other ancient sources suggests that the Bahlikas were located as a close neighbor to the Tusharas, Sakas, Yavanas and the Kambojas etc. Since the Kambojas were located in [[Badakshan]] and Pamirs, the Tusharas on the north of Pamirs and the Sakas on the river [[Jaxartes]] and beyond, the Bahlikas or Bahlams, as neighbors to these people should be placed in [[Bactria]].

The [[Brahmanda Purana]] attests that river Chaksu ([[Oxus]] or [[Amu Darya]]) flowed through the land of Bahlavas (Bahlikas).

The [[Iron pillar of Delhi]] inscription by King Chandra (4 CE), also makes mention of Bahlikas as living on the west side of the [[Indus River]] ([[Sindhu]]). After crossing the seven mouths of the Indus, King Chandra is stated to have defeated the Bahlikas.<ref>Indian Historical Quarterly, XXVI, 118n</ref>

These above several references attest that the Bahlikas were originally located beyond the seven mouths of river Indus in the country of Bactria and the land was watered by the river Oxus. But later, a section of these people had moved from [[Balkh]] to [[Punjab region|Punjab]] while still others appear to have moved to south-western India as neighbors to the [[Saurashtra language|Saurashtra]]s and [[Abhira]]s of [[Sovira|Sauviras]].

===Bahlikas in plains of Punjab===
The people having surname of Behal,Bahal,Bahl in Punjab are the direct descendant of Bahalikas.
Salya, the king of Madra referred to in the Mahabharata has been called a ''Bahlika Pungava'' i.e. foremost among the Bahlikas.<ref>MBH I. 67.6</ref><ref>MBH I.112.3</ref>

[[Princess]] Madri from the Madra Royal Family has also been referred to as Bahliki i.e. princess of Bahlika [[clan]].<ref>MBH I. 124. 21</ref>

In the digvijay expedition of [[Pandava]] [[Arjuna]], there is a reference to a people called Bahlikas whom Arjuna had to fight with.<ref>Tatah paramavikranto'''Bahlika'''nkurunandanah..MBH 2.27.22</ref> They are stated to be located on the southern side of Kashmir as neighbors to the Ursa and Sinhapura kingdoms.<ref>Mahabharata, II.27.20-23</ref>

A passage in Ramayana attests that on the way from [[Ayodhya]] to [[Kekaya]], one had to pass through the country of Bahlikas, located somewhere in Punjab. This shows that ancient Bahlikas had moved to and planted a settlement in Punjab too.<ref>Ramayana II.54.18-19</ref><ref>Geographical Data in Early Puranas, p 120, Dr M. R. Singh</ref> This is also verified from the epic Mahabharata.

This shows that there was yet another Bahlika country besides the one located in Bactria.

Dr P. E. Pargiter points out that there was also another Bahlika settlement in the plains of Punjab alongside or south of Madradesa.<ref name="Pargiter_50">The Puranas Text of the Dynastics of the Kali Age, p 50, Dr P. E. Pargiter</ref><ref name="singh127">Geographical Data in Early Puranas, p 127, Dr M. R. Singh</ref>

===Bahlikas in Saurashtra===
A third settlement of the Bahlikas is attested in western India as neighbors to the Saurashtras. Ramayana refers to (''Saurashtrans.bahlikan.chandrachitranstathaivacha''). There is also a similar expression in the [[Padma Purana]] i.e. (''Surashtransa.bahlika.ssudrabhirastathaivacha''). These ancient references attest that the Bahlikas were living as neighbors to the Saurashtras and the [[Abhira Kingdom|Abhiras]]. According to the [[Puranas]], a branch of this people ruled in [[Vindhya]]s.<ref name="Pargiter_50"/><ref name="singh127" />

The ''Baraca'' of the [[Periplus]] is taken to be the same as the Bahlika of the Sanskrit texts.<ref>Periplus, p 74</ref><ref>Ethnic Settlements in Ancient India, p 174.</ref> Puranas attest that a branch of the Bahlikas ruled near [[Vindhyas]].<ref name="Pargiter_50"/>

==Legendary Bahlika kings==
According to the [[Puranic]] traditions, ''Dhrshta'' was one of the nine sons of [[Manu (Hinduism)|Manu]]. From him came a number of clans called ''Dharshtakas'' who were reckoned as [[Kshatriya]]s. According to [[Shiva Purana]] the Dharshtaka princes became rulers of Bahlika.

''Satapatha Brahmana'' knows of a king named ''Bahlika Pratipeya'' whom it calls Kauravya (=[[Kaurava]]).<ref>Satapatha Brahamana XII 9.3.3</ref> It has been pointed out that this Kaurava king is identical with Bahlika Pratipeya of Mahabharata.<ref>MBH V, 23.9</ref><ref>MBH 149.27</ref><ref>Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, 1910, p 52</ref>

According to Mahabharata evidence, the king of Bahlika was present at ''Syamantapanchaka'' at [[Kurukshetra]] on the occasion of a solar eclipse. Also the name 'Bahlika Desa' originates from the name of the middle son of King Pratipa of Hastinapura, [[Bahlika (Mahabharata)|Vahlika]], abandoned his paternal kingdom and started living with his maternal uncle in Bahlika and inherited the kingdom from him.. Hence, being the elder to King [[Shantanu]], Bahlika was the paternal uncle of Bhishma and pre-dates him.

The people of Balhika had presented to [[Yudhishthira]] as a [[tribute]] ten thousand asses (donkeys), numerous [[blanket]]s of woollen texture, numerous skins of the Ranku deer, clothes manufactured from jute and woven with the threads spun by insects. And they also gave thousands of other clothes possessing the colour of the [[lotus (plant)|lotus]], soft [[sheep]]-skins by thousands, sharp and long swords and scimitars, and hatchets and fine-edged battle-axes, perfumes and [[Gemstone|gem]]s of various kinds (2.50)

Darada, the king of Bahlika was the incarnation of Asura Surya. At the time of his birth, the earth was cleaved because of his weight. (1.67), (2.43)

The King of Bahlika presented to [[Yudhishtra]] a golden [[chariot]] yoked with four white Kamboja studs at the time of Rajsuya ceremony (2.53.5).

[[Karna]] had fought with and vanquished Bahlikas along with the Kambojas of Rajpura, the Amvashthas, the Videhas, and the Gandharvas, the fierce [[Kiratas]] of the fastness of Himavat, the Utpalas, the Mekalas, the Paundras, the [[Kalinga (historical region)|Kalingas]], the [[Andhras]], the Nishadas and the Trigartas (7.4.5-6).

King Bahlika had participated in the [[Kurukshetra War]]. Mahabharata calls him a mighty (''mahabali'') king.<ref>''Bahlikan cha mahabalam : 5.155.33''.</ref> Along with his son Somadatta and grandson Bhurisravas, King Bahlika had participated in the Mahabharata war with one Akshauhini (division) army of Bahlika soldiers and had sided with the Kauravas against the Pandavas. Bahlika and his grandson Bhurisravas were amongst the eleven distinguished Generals or Senapatis of the Kaurava army appointed by [[Duryodhana]].<ref>Mahabharata 5.155.30-33</ref>

==Kurus-Bahlikas-Kambojas-Madras remote connection?==
The Ramayana seems to localize the [[Uttarakurus]] in Bahlika country.<ref>Ethnic Settlements in Ancient India, p 110</ref> According to it, Ila, son of Prajapati Karddama, king of Bahli (Bahlika) country, gave up Bahli in favor of his son Sasabindu and founded the city of Pratisthana in Madhyadesa. The princes of the Aila [[dynasty]] (which is also the dynasty of Kurus) have been called Karddameya.<ref>Ramayana, (Lahore Edition), Uttarakanda, 89-3-2, pp 299-300, 309</ref><ref>cf: Ethnic Settlements in Ancient India, p 110</ref> The Karddameyas obtained their names from river Kardama in [[Persia]] and therefore, their homeland is identified with Bahlika or Bactria.<ref>Studies in Indian Antiquaries, p 234</ref><ref>Geographical Data in Early Puranas, 1972, p 123-24, Dr M. R. Singh</ref> This indicates that Bahlika or Bactria was the original home of the [[Kuru (kingdom)|Kuru]] clans.

''Vatsyayana'' in his [[Kamasutra]] records a peculiar custom prevalent among the Bahlikas i.e. several young men marry a single woman in Bahlika country and in Strirajya.<ref>Kamasutra of Vatsyayana, p 385</ref> It is said in the Mahabharata that the Pandava brothers (i.e. [[Kuru (kingdom)|Kurus]]) were married to one woman, [[Draupadi]]. This again implies that the Kurus were originally a people of Bahlika which was identical with [[Uttarakuru]] (Dr M. R. Singh). Since Uttarakuru of the ''Aitareya Brahmana'' is said to lie beyond [[Himalaya]], the Bahlika or Bactria is also beyond Hindukush (i.e. Himalayan range).

Besides the Kurus, the [[Madra]] ({{IAST3|Mādra}}; [[Help:IPA/Sanskrit|IPA/Sanskrit]]: {{IPA-sa|maːdɽɐ|}}) were also originally a people living in/around Bahlika as is suggested by ''Vamsa Brahmana'' <ref>Vamsa Brahmana 1.18-19.</ref> of the [[Sama Veda]] which text refers to one ''Madragara Shaungayani'' as a teacher of [[Aupamanyava Kamboja]]. Dr Zimmer as well as authors of Vedic Index postulate a possible connection between the [[Iran]]ian [[Uttaramadras]] and the Kambojas. Both these people were close neighbors in the north-western part of ancient India.<ref>Vedic Index, I, p 84-85, 138</ref><ref name="Aggarwal_50">India as Known to Panini, 1953, p 50, Dr Aggarwal</ref><ref>Some Kshatriya Tribes, p 232, Dr B. C. Law</ref><ref name="Singh_65_164">Geographical Data in Early Puranas, pp 65, 164, Dr M. R. Singh.</ref> According to Jean Przylusky, the Bahlika (Balkh) was an Iranian settlement of the Madras who were known as Bahlika-Uttaramadras.<ref name="Aggarwal_50"/><ref name="Singh_65_164"/><ref>The Udumbras, Journal Asiatique, 1926, p 11, Jean Przylusky, showing that Bahlika (Balkh) was an Iranian settlement of the Madras who were known as Bahlika-Uttaramadras</ref>

In [[Aitareya Brahmana]], the Uttarakurus and Uttaramadras are stated as living beyond Himalaya (''paren himvantam'').<ref>Aitareya Brahmana, VIII/14.</ref>

This suggests that in the remote antiquity (Vedic age), the (Iranian settlement of) the Madras was located in parts of Bahlika (Bactria)--the western parts of the Oxus country. These Madras were, in fact, the Uttaramadras of the Aitareya Brahmana (VIII/14).<ref>In accordance with the views of Dr J. Przyluski, [[A. B. Keith]], [[A. A. Macdonell]], Dr V. S. Aggarwal, Dr M.R. Singh, Dr J. L. Kamboj</ref> However, in the 4th century BC, this Bahlika/Bactria came under Yavana/[[Greeks|Greek]] political control and thus the land started to be referenced as ''Bahlika-Yavana'' in some of ancient Sanskrit texts.

Thus, the foregoing discussion suggests that the Uttarakurus, Uttaramadras and Kambojas—all were located beyond the Himalaya/Hindukush ranges. Probably, the Uttarakurus were located in the northern parts of Bahlika, the Uttaramadras were in the southern parts of it and the Kambojas (=Parama Kambojas) were to the east of Bahlika, in the [[Transoxiana]] region. The ancient Bahlika appears to have spanned a large expanse of territory. The commentator of Harsha-Carita of Bana Bhatta also defines the Kambojas as ''Kambojah-Bahlika-Desajah'' i.e. the Kambojas originated in/belonged to Bahlika. Thus, it seems likely that in the remote antiquity, the ancestors of the Uttarakurus, Uttaramadras and the [[Parama Kambojas]] were one people or otherwise were closely allied and had lived in/around Bahlika (Bactria).

==Bahlikas in other references==
''Amarakosha'' makes references to the [[Saffron]] of Bahlika and Kashmira countries.<ref>Amarkosha, p 159, Amarsimha.</ref> Similar reference to Bahlika saffron has also been noticed in the 4th century AD [[Raghuvamsa]] play of poet [[Kalidasa]]. Raghuvamsa states that saffron got adhered to Raghu's horses which they had to shed off by rolling on the banks of Oxus before Raghu undertook to attack the forces of the [[Huna Kingdom|Huna]]s and the Kambojas located on either side of Oxus.<ref>Raghuvamsa IV.67-70.</ref>

[[Brihat Samhita]] also has references on Bahlikas and mentions them together with [[Cinas]], Gandharas, Sulikas, [[Paradas|Paratas]], Vaisyas etc.

''Kavyamimamsa'' of Rajshekhar (10th century AD) lists the [[The Bahlikas|Bahlikas]] with the Sakas, Tusharas, Vokanas, Hunas, Kambojas, Pahlavas, Tangana, Turukshas, etc. and states them as the tribes located in the Uttarapatha division.<ref>Kavyamimamsa, Ch 17, Rajshekhar.</ref>

The [[Buddhist]] play Mudrarakshas of Visakhadutta as well as the [[Jain]]a works [[Parishishtaparvan]] refers to [[Chandragupta Maurya|Chandragupta]]'s alliance with [[Himalayas|Himalayan]] king [[Parvatka]]. The Himalyan alliance gave Chandragupta a composite army made up of the Yavanas, Kambojas, Sakas, Kiratas, Parasikas and Bahlikas as stated in the Mudra-rakashas.<ref>History and Culture of Indian People, Age of Imperial Kanauj, p 57, Dr Pusalkar and Dr Majumdar</ref><ref>Ancient India, 1956, pp 141-142, Dr R. K. Mukerjee</ref><ref>Political and Social Movements in Ancient Panjab, 1964, p 202, Dr Buddha Parkash</ref><ref>The Culture and Art of India, p 1959, p 91</ref><ref>Comprehensive History of Ancient India, Vol II, 1957, p 4, Dr K. A. N. Sastri

:'''Original text from Mudrarakshasa in Sanskrit''':

:asti tava Shaka-Yavana-Kirata-Kamboja-Parsika-'''Bahlika''' parbhutibhih
:Chankyamatipragrahittaishcha Chandergupta Parvateshvara
:balairudidhibhiriva parchalitsalilaih samantaad uprudham Kusumpurama
::(See: Mudrarakshasa 2)

</ref>

==Bahlikas as mlechcha kings in ''Kali Yuga''==
''The Bahlikas'' have been equated to [[Mlechcha]]s in the later Sanskrit literature. There is a distinct prophetic statement in the Mahabharata that the mlechcha kings of Sakas, Yavanas, Kambojas, Bahlikas etc. will lead an [[dharma|adharmic]] rule in ''[[Kali Yuga]]''. (3.188.34-36).<ref>

:viparite tada loke purvarupa.n kshayasya tat.34
:bahavo mechchha rajanah prithivyam manujadhipa .
:mithyanushasinah papa mrishavadaparayanah. 35.
:Andhrah ShakAh Pulindashcha Yavanashcha naradhipah .
:Kamboja '''Bahlikah''' Shudrastathabhira narottama. 36.
::(MBH 3/187/28-30)</ref>

==Bahlika horses==

===Bahlika horses in Mahabharata===
Like Kamboja, Bahlika region was famous for its horses. They were used by kings in wars.

*[[Krishna in the Mahābhārata|Vasudeva Krishna]] gave Arjuna hundreds of thousands of draft horses from the country of the Balhikas as his sister, [[Subhadra]]'s excellent dower. (1,223)
*[[Shikhandi]]n's son Kshatradeva used steeds from Balhika in the [[Kurukshetra war]] (7,23).
*Bahlika breed of horses were one among the type of horses employed in Kurukshetra war. Many steeds of the Vanayu, the hilly, the Kamboja, and the '''Balhika''' breeds, with tails and ears and eyes motionless and fixed, possessed of great speed, well-trained, and ridden by accomplished warriors armed with swords and lances, were seen (7,34).
*[[Bhagiratha]] gave away a hundred thousand horses of the Balhika breed, all white of complexion, adorned with garlands of gold. (13,103).
*[[Dhritarashtra]] wished to give sixteen cars made of gold, each drawn by four excellent and well-adorned steeds of uniform colour and of the Bahlika breed to Vasudeva Krishna who came to talk to him on behalf of the [[Pandavas]] (5,86).

===Bahlika horses in other references===
Brahmanda Purana refers to the horses from Bahlika.<ref>Brahmanda (V), III, Upodghata-Pada, Ch 16.17.</ref> Similarly, [[Valmiki]] Ramayana refers to the horses of Bahlika, Kamboja and Vanayu countries as of excellent breed.<ref name="Valmiki Ramayana I.6.22"/> ''Upamitibhavaprapanchakatha'' singles out horses from Bahlika and those from Kamboja and Turuksha as the best.<ref>Upamiti 474</ref><ref name="Majumdar_405">History and Culture of Indian People, The age of Imperial Kanauj, p 405, Dr [[R. C. Majumdar]], Dr A. D. Pusalkar.</ref> The ''Abhidhanaratnamala'' also mentions examples of excellent horses from Bahlika, Persia, Kamboja, Vanayu, Sindhu and the land bordering on Sindhu.<ref name="Majumdar_405"/><ref>II, No 511, 284</ref>

==Bahlika and 'Sammoha Tantra==
The ''Sammoha Tantra'' speaks of the [[tantra|Tantric]] culture of foreign countries like Bahlika, Kirata, Bhota, Cina, Mahacina, [[Pahlavas|Parasika]], Airaka (Iraq), Kamboja, [[Hunas|Huna]], Yavana, Gandhara and [[Nepal]].

==References==
{{Reflist|24em}}

==External links==
{{Tribes and kingdoms of the Mahabharata}}

[[Category:Ancient history of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Kambojas]]

Bahlikas - Revision history

JohannaBuckley: minor improve references based on references also and improved wording

ImportMaster at 14:01, 14 May 2022