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| {{Other uses|Kirat (disambiguation)}} | | {{Short description|Mythological kingdom of Sanskrit literature}} |
| | {{About|the mythical kingdom mentioned in the Mahabharata|the mythological people of the kingdom|Kirata}}{{Confused|text=[[Kirati people]], an ethnic group.}}{{Other uses|Kirat (disambiguation)}} |
| {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}} | | {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}} |
| {{History of Nepal}} | | {{History of Nepal}} |
| {{Infobox Former Country
| | '''Kirata Kingdom''' ([[Kirat]]) in [[Sanskrit]] literature and [[Hindu]] mythology refers to any kingdom of the [[Kirata]] people, who were dwellers mostly in the [[Himalaya|Himalayas]] (mostly eastern Himalaya). They took part in the [[Kurukshetra War]] along with [[Parvata Kingdom|Parvatas]] (mountaineers) and other [[Himalaya Kingdom|Himalayan]] tribes. |
| |native_name =
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| |conventional_long_name = Kirata Kingdom
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| |common_name =
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| |continent =
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| |region =
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| |era = Ancient Era
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| |government_type = Monarchy
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| |year_start = {{circa|800 BC}}
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| |year_end = c. AD 300
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| |p1 = Ahir Dynasty
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| |p2 = Bhuwan Singh
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| |s1 = Lichhavi dynasty
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| |s2 =
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| |image_map = EpicIndia.jpg
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| |image_map_caption = [[:Category:Kingdoms in the Mahabharata|Kingdoms of Mahabarata]]
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| |capital =
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| |common_languages = {{plainlist|
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| *[[Kiranti languages|Kiranti]],
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| *[[Sunuwar]], [[Prakrit]] }}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anrtutorial.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/EMPIRES-AND-DYNASTIES-ENGLISH.pdf|title=Unrtutorial Empires and Dynasties}}</ref>
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| |religion =
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| |title_leader = Hang (King)
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| |leader1 = [[Yalambar]]
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| |year_leader1 = c. 800 BC
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| |leader2 = Jitedasti
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| |year_leader2 = c.540 BC
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| |leader3 = Sthunko
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| |year_leader3 = c. 250 BC
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| |leader4 = Luka
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| |year_leader4 = c.166 BC
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| |leader5 = [[Patuk Don|Patuka]]
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| |year_leader5 = c.AD 205
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| |leader6 = Gasti
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| |year_leader6 = c.AD 300
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| |today =
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| *[[Nepal]]
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| *[[India]]
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| *[[Bhutan]]}}
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| '''Kirata Kingdom''' ([[Kirat]]) in [[Sanskrit]] literature and [[Hindu]] mythology refers to any kingdom of the [[Kirata]] people, who were dwellers mostly in the eastern [[Himalaya]]s. They took part in the [[Kurukshetra War]] along with the [[Parvata Kingdom|Parvatas]] (mountaineers) and other [[Himalaya Kingdom|Himalayan]] tribes.<ref name="mukharji2009">{{Citation | title=Hindu Shabhyata | author=Radhakumud Mukharji | year=2009 | isbn=978-81-267-0503-0 | publisher=Rajkamal Prakashan Pvt Ltd | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vhUZrj975BAC | quote=... किरात (मंगोल) : द्रविड़ भाषाओं से भिन्न यह भाषाओं में किरात या ...}}</ref><ref name="ref80qahaz">{{Citation | title=Uttarākhaṇḍ kā itihās, Volume 2 | author=Shiva Prasad Dabral | year=1965 | publisher=Vīr-Gāthā-Prakāshan | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o0lXAAAAMAAJ | quote=... प्राचीन साहित्य में किरात-संस्कृति, किरात-भूमि ... }}</ref> They are widespread in the folds and valleys of Himalayas in [[Nepal]] and [[Bhutan]], and in the Indian states of [[West Bengal]] ([[Darjeeling district]]), [[Sikkim]], [[Assam]] and [[Tripura]].{{citation needed|date=April 2021}} [[Kirati people|Kiratas]] ruled in [[Nepal]] after [[Gopala Dynasty|Gopal]] and [[Mahipala|Mahipal]]. The first king of the Kiratas was [[Yalambar|Yalamber]], who defeated Bhuvan Singh, the last king of Ahir dynasty and established Kirat rule in [[Nepal]]. He extended his kingdom as far as the [[Teesta River|Tista]] river in the east and the [[Trishuli River|Trishuli]] in the west.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsFarEast/IndiaNepal.htm|title=Kingdom of South Asia Nepal}}</ref> | |
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| == Origin and History ==
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| The Kirats were the aborigines of [[Eastern Himalaya|North-Eastern]] Himalayas. According to [[Baburam Acharya]],they came to Nepal in about 700 B.C. and ruled over it. They were short and had robust bodies, broad checks, flat noses, thin whiskers, and dark eyes. They were well trained in the art of warfare, and were very skillful archers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.ws/silvas_charm/Kings/Kings.html|title=The Kirāts}}</ref>
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| Kirati are very primitive tribes. They have been mentioned as brave warriors in various ancient Mythological manuscripts. The Kirats have been mentioned not only in the different genealogies of Nepal, but also in the Puranas. From the sources like genealogies, Pashupati Purana, Nepal Mahatmya, Skanda Purana etc. the fact reveals that Kirat dynasty had ruled Nepal before the Lichhavi period can be revealed. It is also mentioned that later Kirats were defeated by the Lichhavies. Although none of the archaeological proofs belonging to Kirat period have been found till date, but in the inscriptions of Lichhavi period we can find different villages, administrative units and various other names naming after Kirati words.
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| ===Kirat Rule in Kathmandu Valley===
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| The context of Kirats ruling in Nepal before Lichhavi Dynasty and after Mahispal or Avir Dynasty can be found in different manuscripts. Mentioning the area between [[Sunkoshi River|Sunkoshi]] And [[Tamakoshi River|Tamakoshi]] as their native land, the list of Kirati kings is also given in the Gopal genealogy.
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| By defeating the last king of Avir Dynasty Bhuwansingh in a battle, Kirati King
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| Yalung or [[Yalambar|Yalamber]] had taken the regime of valley under his control. In Hindu mythological perspective, this event is believed to have taken place in the final phase of Dwaparyug or initial phase of Kaliyug or around the 6th century BC. We can find descriptions of 32, 28 and 29 Kirati kings according in Gopal genealogy, language-genealogy and Wright genealogy respectively.
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| '''Some Major Kirati Kings of Kathmandu Valley'''
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| From various sources we can find the mentioning of 27 to 32 Kirati kings who had ruled over Nepal. Gopal genealogy mentions 32 Kirati Kings to have ruled over Nepal. Some of the famous Kirati kings have been introduced which is as follows:
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| 1.Yalambar:
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| Yalambar is regarded as the founder of Kirat monarchical dynasty. He was very brave. He had established the Kirat regime by defeating Bhuwansingh, the ruler of Mahispal dynasty. In some contexts he is also found to be said as ‘Yalung’. It is also believed that Yal, the old name of Patan city was named after him. The posture of Kirati king Yalambar is important in Kathmandu in historical as well as religious perspective. He has also been made related to Indra Jatra, a popular carnival of Kathmandu. Likewise, the head of ‘Akash Bhairab’, which is shown at Indra Chowk, is also worshipped as the idol of Yalambar. Some of the sources of Nepal stated Yalamber as a Kirati King having some essence of lord Mahadeva.
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| 2.Humati:
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| Humati was the sixth King of Kirat dynasty. He has been mentioned as ‘Hunti’ in Gopal genealogy. Humati is regarded as the Kirati King contemporary to the period of war of Mahabharat. Legends are found that during his regime a war was fought between Kirat-faced Mahadeva and Arjuna. But types of legends can be admitted only as fictions.
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| 3.Jitedasti:
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| Jitedasti is another remarkable Kirati King. Language-genealogies have regarded him as seventh in the sequence of Kirati Kings. We can find the context of visit of Gautam Buddha in Kathmandu during his period. But according to other evidences Gautam Buddha has never been to Kathmandu, only Ananda, one of his disciple had came to Kathmandu to preach Buddhism here.
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| 4. Sthunko:
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| In some of the genealogies it is found that Ashoka, the emperor of Maurya, had come to Nepal during the regime of Kirati King Stunko. However, it does not seem to be true. On the basis of other evidences, Ashoka had visited only Lumbini and Kapilvastu. No authentic proof about Ashoka's visit to Kathmandu has been found till date. Obviously, In order to preach Buddhism, Ashoka had sent peoples to different countries. He might have sent somebody to Nepal.
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| === End of Kirat Rule in Kathmandu Valley ===
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| Different genealogies have found to be stating different names of last Kirati King. The [[Licchavi (clan)|Lichhavi]] monarchical dynasty was established in Nepal by defeating last Kirati King ‘Khigu’, according to Gopal genealogy, ‘Galiz’ according to language-genealogy and ‘Gasti’, according to Wright genealogy. It is not clear yet that when the Lichhavi dynasty was established in Nepal. According to the opinion of Baburam Acharya, the prominent historian of Nepal, Lichhavies were able to establish their independent Lichhavi rule by abolishing Kirati state that prevailed in Nepal around 250 AD. Before coming to Nepal Lichhavis used to rule through republican governance system in [[Vaishali (ancient city)|Vaishali]] also said as Basang, which is now located within Muzafferpur city of India. Later, monarchical system gets stronger in the area and being defeated by the King ‘Ajatshatru’ Lichhavies flee to Nepal as refugees in around 1st century AD. The Lichhavis, who had already ruled in Vaishali, expressed their high ambition to win and capture the small, feudal kings of Nepal. In the time of the intense dissatisfaction in public towards their contemporary rulers, Lichhavis led the uprisings in favor of the people's sentiments. They defeated Kiratis and compelled them to move towards east.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=The Lichhavi and Kirat kings of Nepal|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210020933/telegraphnepal.com/national/2014-02-19/the-lichhavi-and-kirat-kings-of-nepal|access-date=2017-12-09|website=telegraphnepal.com}}</ref>
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| == List of Kirat Kings of Kathmandu Valley ==
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| According to Mahabharata, a chronicle of Bansawali William Kirk Patrick<ref>P.5 India Nepal Relations: Historical, Cultural and Political Perspective By Sanasam Sandhyarani Devi, Vij Books India Pvt Ltd, 28 Dec 2011</ref> and Daniel Wright,<ref>P.109 History of Nepāl By Daniel Wright, Cambridge University Press, 1877</ref> The Kirat kings were
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| # King Shree Yelam - 90 years/१। राजा श्री एलम् - ९० वर्ष,
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| # King Shree Pelam - 81 years/राजा श्री पेलं - ८१ वर्ष,
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| # King Shree Melam - 89 years/राजा श्री मेलं - ८९ वर्ष,
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| # King Shree Changming - 42 years/राजा श्री चंमिं - ४२ वर्ष,
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| # King Shree Dhakang - 37 years/राजा श्री धस्कं - ३७ वर्ष,
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| # King Shree Walangcha - 31 years 6 months/राजा श्री वलंच - ३१ वर्ष ६ महिना,
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| # King Shree Hungting - 40 years 8 months/राजा श्री हुतिं - ४० वर्ष ८ महिना,
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| # King Shree Hoorma - 50 years/राजा श्री हुरमा - ५० वर्ष,
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| # King Shree Tooske - 41 years 8 months/राजा श्री तुस्के - ४१ वर्ष ८ महिना,
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| # King Shree Prasaphung - 38 years 6 months/राजा श्री प्रसफुं - ३८ वर्ष ६ महिना,
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| # King Shree Pawa: - 46 years/राजा श्री पवः - ४६ वर्ष,
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| # King Shree Daasti - 40 years/राजा श्री दास्ती - ४० वर्ष,
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| # King Shree Chamba - 71 years/राजा श्री चम्ब - ७१ वर्ष,
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| # King Shree Kongkong - 54 years/राजा श्री कंकं - ५४ वर्ष,
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| # King Shree Swananda - 40 years 6 months/राजा श्री स्वनन्द - ४० वर्ष ६ महिना,
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| # King Shree Phukong - 58 years/राजा श्री फुकों - ५८ वर्ष,
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| # King Shree Singhu - 49 years 6 months/राजा श्री शिंघु - ४९ वर्ष ६ महिना,
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| # King Shree Joolam - 73 years 3 months/राजा श्री जुलम् - ७३ वर्ष ३ महिना,
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| # King Shree Lookang - 40 years/राजा श्री लुकं - ४० वर्ष,
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| # King Shree Thoram - 71 years/राजा श्री थोरम् - ७१ वर्ष,
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| # King Shree Thuko - 83 years/राजा श्री थुको - ८३ वर्ष,
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| # King Shree Barmma - 73 years 6 months/राजा श्री वर्म्म - ७३ वर्ष ६ महिना,
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| # King Shree Gunjong - 72 years 7 months/राजा श्री गुंजं ७२ वर्ष ७ महिना,
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| # King Shree Pushka - 81 years/राजा श्री पुस्क - ८१ वर्ष,
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| # King Shree Tyapamee - 54 years/राजा श्री त्यपमि - ५४ वर्ष,
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| # King Shree Moogmam - 58 years/राजा श्री मुगमम् - ५८ वर्ष,
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| # King Shree Shasaru - 63 years/राजा श्री शसरू - ६३ वर्ष,
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| # King Shree Goongoong - 74 years/राजा श्री गंणं - ७४ वर्ष,
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| # King Shree Khimbung - 76 years/राजा श्री खिम्बुं - ७६ वर्ष,
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| # King Shree Girijung - 81 years/राजा श्री गिरीजं - ८१ वर्ष,
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| # King Shree Khurangja - 78 years/राजा श्री खुरांज - ७८ वर्ष,
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| # King Shree Gasti - 58 years/राजा श्री खिगु - ८५ वर्ष
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| <gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
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| File:Aaju Sattal Yenya.jpg | <div align ="center">Sattal Akash Bhairava (Yalembar) at Indra Chowk</div>
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| File:Aakash Bhairav Aaju Yalambar.jpg |<div align ="center">Mask of Akash Bhairava (Yalembar) at Indra Chowk</div>
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| </gallery>
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| == References in Mahabharata == | | == References in Mahabharata == |
| [[File:Kiratarjuna.jpg|thumb|[[Arjuna]] fights with the [[Kirata]]-Shiva]] [[Arjuna|Arjuna's]] interactions with the [[Kirati people|Kirat]] are described in both the [[Mahabharata]] and the [[Skanda Purana]], which tell the story of Arjuna fighting with a Kirat Hunter, then discovering that it was Mahadeva. Properly addressing [[Shiva]] as Mahadeva, Arjuna begged forgiveness and humbly prayed for blessings to acquire [[Pashupatastra|Pashupatrastra]]. Lord Shiva in a related pastime with Arjuna is described as taking the form of a boya hunter. This is said to be the only form in which Shiva appears black in color. According to Skanda Purana, Lord Shiva resided at [[Kailasa]], in the [[Himalayas|Tibetan range]] at this time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.harekrsna.com/sun/features/02-13/features2740.htm|title=Nepal in the Mahabharata Period, Part 13}}</ref>
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| The [[Kamboja Kingdom|Kambojas]], [[Gandhara Kingdom|Gandharas]], Kiratas and Barbaras were mentioned together as northern tribes at (12,206). | | The [[Kamboja Kingdom|Kambojas]], [[Gandhara Kingdom|Gandharas]], Kiratas and Barbaras were mentioned together as northern tribes at (12,206). |
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| ''[[Nakula]] during his military campaign in the western countries to collect tribute for [[Pandava]] king [[Yudhishthira]]'s [[Rajasuya]] sacrifice, conquered Kiratas in the western hills'' | | ''[[Nakula]] during his military campaign in the western countries to collect tribute for [[Pandava]] king [[Yudhishthira]]'s [[Rajasuya]] sacrifice, conquered Kiratas in the western hills'' |
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| [[Nakula]], the son of [[Pandu]], then reduced to subjection the fierce Mlechchas residing on the sea coast (in [[Karachi]] area), as also the wild tribes of the [[Pahlava Kingdom|Palhavas]] (an [[Iranian peoples|Iranian]] tribe), the Kiratas, the [[Yavana Kingdom|Yavanas]] and the [[Saka Kingdom|Sakas]] (2,31). These Kiratas lied in the western mountains in Pakistan. | | [[Nakula]], the son of [[Pandu]], then reduced to subjection the fierce Mlechchas residing on the sea coast (in [[Karachi]] area), as also the wild tribes of the [[Pahlava Kingdom|Palhavas]] (an [[Iranian peoples|Iranian]] tribe), the Kiratas, the [[Yavana Kingdom|Yavanas]] and the [[Saka Kingdom|Sakas]] (2,31). |
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| === Kiratas in Kurukhsetra War === | | === Kiratas in Kurukhsetra War === |
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| ====Absence of [[Brahmins]] among Kiratas==== | | ====Absence of [[Brahmins]] among Kiratas==== |
| The Mekalas, the [[Dravida Kingdom|Dravidas]], the Lathas, the [[Pundra Kingdom|Paundras]], the Konwasiras, the Saundikas, the [[Darada Kingdom|Daradas]], the Darvas, the Chauras, the Savaras, the Varvaras, the Kiratas, the [[Yavana Kingdom|Yavanas]], [[Kamboja Kingdom|Kambojas]], [[Huna Kingdom|Huna]]s, [[Saka]]s and numerous other tribes of Kshatriyas, have become degraded into the status of Sudras through the absence of [[Brahmanas]]. (13,35) | | The Mekalas, the [[Dravida Kingdom|Dravidas]], the Lathas, the [[Pundra Kingdom|Paundras]], the Konwasiras, the Saundikas, the [[Darada Kingdom|Daradas]], the Darvas, the Chauras, the Savaras, the Varvaras, the Kiratas, the [[Yavana Kingdom|Yavanas]], [[Kamboja Kingdom|Kambojas]], [[Huna Kingdom|Huna]]s, [[Saka]]s and numerous other tribes of Kshatriyas, have become degraded into the status of Sudras through the absence of [[Brahmanas]]. |
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| == See also == | | == See also == |
| | *[[Kirātārjunīya]], poem about Arjuna and Shiva (disguised as a Kirata) in southern India |
| *[[Kingdoms of Ancient India]] | | *[[Kingdoms of Ancient India]] |
| *[[Kimpurusha Kingdom|Kimpurushas]] | | *[[Kimpurusha Kingdom]] |
| | *[[Yalambar]], legendary king of the modern Kirati people |
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| == References == | | == References == |
| {{Reflist}} | | {{Reflist}} |
| *[[Mahabharata]] of [[Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa]], translated to English by Kisari Mohan Ganguli | | *[[Mahabharata]] of [[Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa]], translated to English by Kisari Mohan Ganguli |
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| ==External links==
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| {{Tribes and kingdoms of the Mahabharata}} | | {{Tribes and kingdoms of the Mahabharata}} |
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| {{Province No. 1 topics}}
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| {{Uttarakhand}}
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| [[Category:Kingdoms in the Mahabharata]] | | [[Category:Kingdoms in the Mahabharata]] |
| [[Category:Himalayan kingdoms (Puranas)]] | | [[Category:Himalayan kingdoms (Puranas)]] |
| [[Category:Kiranti]]
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| [[Category:History of Nepal]]
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| [[Category:Dynasties of Nepal]]
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| [[Category:8th-century BC establishments in Nepal]]
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