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{{short description|Legendary Indian King}}
{{short description|Legendary Indian King}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox royalty
{{Infobox royalty
| title              = Maharaja Ahibaran
| title              = Maharaja Ahibaran
| birth_date        = 26 December
| image              =
| image              =
| caption            =Image of Maharaja Ahibaran  
| caption            =Image of Maharaja Ahibaran
| predecessor        = Maharaja Parmal
| predecessor        = Maharaja Parmal
| successor          = Maharaja Bhadrawah
| successor          = Maharaja Bhadrawah
Line 14: Line 17:
| religion          = [[Hinduism]]
| religion          = [[Hinduism]]
}}
}}
'''Maharaja Ahibaran''' ({{lang-sa|अहिबरन}}) was a legendary Indian king ([[Maharaja]]) of [[Bulandshahr|Baran]], a city of traders. Maharaja Ahibaran was born [[Solar dynasty|as Sooryavanshi]] [[Kshatriya]].<ref name=":0" />


The [[Baranwal]] communities claim descent from him.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last1=Crooke|first1=William|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tCc-AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA16|title=An Ethnographical Hand-book for the N.-W. Provinces and Oudh|publisher=North-Western Provinces and Oudh Government Pres|year=1890|page=16}}</ref>
'''Maharaja Ahibaran''' ({{langx|sa|अहिबरन|Ahibarana}}) was a legendary Indian king ([[Maharaja]]) of [[Bulandshahr|Baran]], the capital and resident city of children of [[Pandava|Pandavas]]. Maharaja Ahibaran was born on 26 December.<ref name=":0" />
 
The [[Baranwal]] communities are descended from him and also celebrate his birth anniversary every year on 26 December.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last1=Crooke|first1=William|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tCc-AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA16|title=An Ethnographical Hand-book for the N.-W. Provinces and Oudh|publisher=North-Western Provinces and Oudh Government Pres|year=1890|page=16}}</ref>


== Etymology and names ==
== Etymology and names ==


Ahibaran means "snake coloured" (''Ahi means snake and baran means colours''). He is also known as ''Varan'', ''Varna'' (which means colours).{{sfn|Edwin Thomas Atkinson|1876|p=271}}
Ahibaran has two meanings. Ahivaran means protector of forts. This was the accepted meaning amongst the learnt scholars of ancient and British times in Western UP. One English historian Gousse claimed that it could mean "snake coloured" (''Ahi means snake and baran means colours''). He is also known as ''Varan'', ''Varna'' (which means forts, colours etc).{{sfn|Edwin Thomas Atkinson|1876|p=271}}


== Legends and beliefs ==
== Legends and beliefs ==


According to local legends, the town of Baran (now called [[Bulandshahr]]) was named after king Ahi-baran (literally "cobra-coloured"). F. S. Growse, in the Journal of the [[The Asiatic Society|Asiatic Society of Bengal]], theorizes that no such king ever existed.<ref name=":4">{{cite journal |author=F. S. Growse |title=The town of Bulandshahr |journal=Journal of Asiatic Society of Bengal |volume=LII |issue=1 |publisher=Asiatic Society of Bengal |location=Calcutta |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HTgzAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA275 |year=1883 |page=275 }}</ref>{{sfn|Frederic Salmon Growse|1884|p=62}}
According to local legends, the town of Baran (now called [[Bulandshahr]]) was named after king Ahi-baran (literally "cobra-coloured"or one who owns forts, varan means forts and elephants as well). F. S. Growse, in the Journal of the [[The Asiatic Society|Asiatic Society of Bengal]], theorizes that no such king ever existed, instead he believed that Varana means forts and identified it with Varanavat from Mahabharat where Pandavas and their children settled.<ref name=":4">{{cite journal |author=F. S. Growse |title=The town of Bulandshahr |journal=Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal |volume=LII |issue=1 |publisher=Asiatic Society of Bengal |location=Calcutta |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HTgzAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA275 |year=1883 |page=275 }}</ref>{{sfn|Frederic Salmon Growse|1884|p=62}} However, Western historians such as Edwin Atkinson in 1876 and various censuses and gazettes who researched Bulandshahar and nearby cities found numerous evidences of his existence.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Atkinson |first=Edwin T. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CBTc7SPqr2kC&dq=ahibaran&pg=PA84 |title=Statistical descriptive and historical account of the North-Western provinces of India: Ed. ... by Edwin [Felix] Thomas Atkinson |date=1876 |publisher=North-Western Provinces' Government Press |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Pradesh (India) |first=Uttar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SXUbAAAAIAAJ&q=ahibaran |title=Uttar Pradesh District Gazetteers: Bulandshahr |date=1980 |publisher=Government of Uttar Pradesh |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Cotton |first1=James Sutherland |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fQG2AAAAIAAJ&dq=ahibaran&pg=PA58 |title=Imperial Gazetteer of India ... |last2=Burn |first2=Sir Richard |last3=Meyer |first3=William |date=1908 |publisher=Clarendon Press |language=en}}</ref>


The legends describe the ancestry of Ahibaran as follows: The children of King Dharmadat established their separate state, whose children are now called Bais Rajputs. King [[Harsha]]vardhana was in his lineage.{{sfn|Edwin Thomas Atkinson|1876|p=66}} The child of the eldest son Subhankar continued to rule in his native state, [[Chandravati]].<ref name=":0" /> Their offspring were King Tendumal and his descendant Maharaja Varaksh who took the side of religion in the war of Mahabharata and died by becoming a partisan of [[Pandava]]s.<ref name=":5" /> The remaining people left Chandravati and came to North India due to the storm in Chandravati.<ref name=":2" /> The clan of Maharaja Varaksha laid the foundation of his kingdom in a place called 'Ahar' in the presence of the Emperor of Hastinapur.<ref name="People of India" /> In the generation of Maharaja Varaksha, King Parmal descendants from him.{{sfn|Frederic Salmon Growse|1884|p=36}} King Ahibaran born to King Parmal. King Ahibaran was married to Varanavati, the daughter of [[Khandava Forest|Khandav]]'s King, who lives in a dense forest of selection trees located in the western part of the Ikshumati River in Antravredi.{{sfn|Frederic Salmon Growse|1884|p=98}}
Most Western and modern Indian historians such as Gouse, Atkinson and various British gazetteers found that Ahibaran and his descendants Barnwals were of the Pandava Tuar or modern Tomar Rajput tribe<ref>{{Cite book |last=Atkinson |first=Edwin T. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CBTc7SPqr2kC&dq=Ahibaran+tomar&pg=PA84 |title=Statistical descriptive and historical account of the North-Western provinces of India: Ed. ... by Edwin [Felix] Thomas Atkinson |date=1876 |publisher=North-Western Provinces' Government Press |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Kuar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ttqwEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Ahibaran%22+Pandava&pg=PA6 |title=Historical and Statistical Memoir of Zila Bulandshahar |date=2023-02-28 |publisher=BoD – Books on Demand |isbn=978-3-382-50031-3 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=India) |first=Asiatic Society (Kolkata |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cygzAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22Ahibaran%22+Pandava&pg=PA272 |title=Journal |date=1879 |language=en}}</ref> once ruling over much of modern Delhi, Haryana and Western UP.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KslpoO6_VG4C&q=%22Ahibaran%22+Pandava |title=Journal of the United Provinces Historical Society |date=1936 |language=en}}</ref> In Mahabharata, Pandavas shifted their capital to Varnavat from Ahar after the Great war. However, some historians like Pandit Rahul sanskritayan claimed that he was of the [[Yaudheya]] republic, based on his studies of local inscriptions and folklores.


<br /> One Agarwal historian has tried to link King Ahibaran as great grandson of [[Agrasen]].<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Mittal|first1=J. P.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rrh4tY3v2A4C&pg=PA675|title=History of ancient India|year=1991|page=675|isbn=9788126906161}}</ref>
The legends describe the ancestry of Ahibaran as follows: The children of King Dharmadat established their separate state, whose children are now called Bais Rajputs. King [[Harsha]]vardhana was in his lineage.{{sfn|Edwin Thomas Atkinson|1876|p=66}} The child of the eldest son Subhankar continued to rule in his native state, [[Chandravati]].<ref name=":0" /> Their offspring were King Tendumal and his descendant Maharaja Varaksh who took the side of religion in the war of Mahabharata and died by becoming a partisan of [[Pandava]]s.<ref name=":5" /> The remaining people left Chandravati and came to [[North India]] due to the storm in Chandravati.<ref name=":2" /> The clan of Maharaja Varaksha laid the foundation of his kingdom in a place called 'Ahar' in the presence of the Emperor of Hastinapur.<ref name="People of India">{{cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Kumar Suresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dw8wAQAAIAAJ |title=People of India, Volume 16, Part 1 |publisher=Anthropological Survey of India |year=2008 |isbn=978-81-7046-302-3 |edition=1st |location=India |page=131 |access-date=16 May 2011}}</ref> In the generation of Maharaja Varaksha, King Parmal descendants from him.{{sfn|Frederic Salmon Growse|1884|p=36}} King Ahibaran born to King Parmal. King Ahibaran was married to Varanavati, the daughter of [[Khandava Forest|Khandav]]'s King, who lives in a dense forest of selection trees located in the western part of the Ikshumati River in Antravredi.{{sfn|Frederic Salmon Growse|1884|p=98}}
 
<br /> One Agarwal historian has tried to link King Ahibaran as great grandson of [[Agrasen]].<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Mittal|first1=J. P.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rrh4tY3v2A4C&pg=PA675|title=History of ancient India|year=1991|page=675|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist |isbn=9788126906161}}</ref>


== Baran ==
== Baran ==


According to Hindu mythology the [[pandava]]s had an encounter with [[daksha|Prajapati Daksh]], father-in-law of Hindu lord [[Shiva]]; the place of their conversation, a pond, is in [[Bulandshahr]]. Later, after the fall of [[Hastinapur]], the Pandavas ruled from Ahar, located in the north eastern part of Baran district.{{sfn|Edwin Thomas Atkinson|1876|p=48}}  Over the years, Maharaja Paramaal built a fort in the region and later, Ahibaran, a Suryavanshi king built a tower named Baran and made the region his capital and named it to Baran/Baranagar.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=About District {{!}} District Bulandshahr, Government of Uttar Pradesh {{!}} India|url=https://bulandshahar.nic.in/about-district/|website=bulandshahar.nic.in|url-status=live}}</ref>
According to Hindu mythology the [[pandava]]s had an encounter with [[daksha|Prajapati Daksh]], father-in-law of Hindu lord [[Shiva]]; the place of their conversation, a pond, is in [[Bulandshahr]]. Later, after the fall of [[Hastinapur]], the Pandavas ruled from Ahar, located in the north eastern part of [[Baran district]].{{sfn|Edwin Thomas Atkinson|1876|p=48}}  Over the years, Maharaja Paramaal built a fort in the region and later, Ahibaran, a Suryavanshi king built a tower named Baran and made the region his capital and named it to Baran.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=About District {{!}} District Bulandshahr, Government of Uttar Pradesh {{!}} India|url=https://bulandshahar.nic.in/about-district/|website=bulandshahar.nic.in}}</ref>


The ancient palaces, building and temples found at places in Bhatora Veerpur, Ghalibpur in ruined form, are indicative of the antiquity of Baran.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Baynes|first1=Thomas Spencer|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j9B6MKdFUpwC&pg=PA515|title=The Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and General Literature|publisher=C. Scribner's sons|year=1878|isbn=|volume=4|location=|page=515}}</ref> There are several other important places in the District from where statues belonging to the medieval age and objects of ancient temples have been found.{{sfn|Edwin Thomas Atkinson|1876|p=55}} Even today, several of these historical and ancient objects such as coins, statues and inscriptions etc. are preserved in the [[State Museum Lucknow]].<ref name=":0" />
The ancient palaces, building and temples found at places in Bhatora Veerpur, Ghalibpur in ruined form, are indicative of the antiquity of Baran.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Baynes|first1=Thomas Spencer|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j9B6MKdFUpwC&pg=PA515|title=The Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and General Literature|publisher=C. Scribner's sons|year=1878|isbn=|volume=4|location=|page=515}}</ref> There are several other important places in the District from where statues belonging to the medieval age and objects of ancient temples have been found.{{sfn|Edwin Thomas Atkinson|1876|p=55}} Even today, several of these historical and ancient objects such as coins, statues and inscriptions etc. are preserved in the [[State Museum Lucknow]].<ref name=":0" />


=== Varanavati River ===
=== Varanavati River ===
Varanavati River is a river of north india which flows throughout [[Bulandshahr district]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ccg7AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA233|title=The Missionary Chronicle: Containing the Proceedings of the Board of Foreign Missions and of the Board of Domestic Missions of the Presbyterian Church: and a General View of Other Benevolent Operations.|year=1849|volume=17|page=233}}</ref> The Varanavati River flows in almost the entire Bulandshahr district. The history of this river is as old as Bulandshahr. It is also said that the Varanavati River was the most holy river at that time.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Khan|first1=Zahoor Ali|year=1987|title=Kali Nadi: The History of a River|journal=Indian History Congress|volume=48|pages=744|jstor=44141794}}</ref> When Maharaja Ahibaran ruled there, he named the river on his wife name, Varanavati River.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Khan|first1=Zahoor Ali|year=1987|title=Kali Nadi: The History of a River|journal=Indian History Congress|volume=48|pages=741–742|jstor=44141794}}</ref> Earlier, when the Pandavas ruled there, the river was known as Ikshumati River, it is also described in the [[Atharvaveda]].<ref>[[Atharvaveda]] ('''4.1.7''')</ref> But presently this river is named after [[Kali River (Uttar Pradesh)|Kali]], the Hindu goddess [[Kali]].{{sfn|Edwin Thomas Atkinson|1876|p=59}}<ref name="Hydrology and water resources of India">Hydrology and water resources of India By Sharad K. Jain, Vijay P. Singh,p. 349 Springer, The Netherlands. {{ISBN|1-4020-5179-4}}.</ref>
Varanavati River is a river of north india which flows throughout [[Bulandshahr district]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ccg7AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA233|title=The Missionary Chronicle: Containing the Proceedings of the Board of Foreign Missions and of the Board of Domestic Missions of the Presbyterian Church: and a General View of Other Benevolent Operations.|year=1849|volume=17|page=233}}</ref> The Varanavati River flows in almost the entire Bulandshahr district. The history of this river is as old as Bulandshahr. It is also said that the Varanavati River was the most [[holy river]] at that time.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Khan|first1=Zahoor Ali|year=1987|title=Kali Nadi: The History of a River|journal=Indian History Congress|volume=48|pages=744|jstor=44141794}}</ref> When Maharaja Ahibaran ruled there, he named the river on his wife name, Varanavati River.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Khan|first1=Zahoor Ali|year=1987|title=Kali Nadi: The History of a River|journal=Indian History Congress|volume=48|pages=741–742|jstor=44141794}}</ref> Earlier, when the Pandavas ruled there, the river was known as Ikshumati River, it is also described in the [[Atharvaveda]].<ref>[[Atharvaveda]] ('''4.1.7''')</ref> But presently this river is named after [[Kali River (Uttar Pradesh)|Kali]], the Hindu goddess [[Kali]].{{sfn|Edwin Thomas Atkinson|1876|p=59}}<ref name="Hydrology and water resources of India">Hydrology and water resources of India By Sharad K. Jain, Vijay P. Singh, p. 349 Springer, The Netherlands. {{ISBN|1-4020-5179-4}}.</ref>


=== Baran Tower ===
=== Baran Tower ===
When Maharaja Ahibaran ruled in Bulandshahr, he also built Baran Tower there.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bulandshahr District|url=https://csridentity.com/bulandshahr/index.asp|date=2016|website=CSR Identity|url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|Frederic Salmon Growse|1884|p=42}}
When Maharaja Ahibaran ruled in Bulandshahr, he also built Baran Tower there.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bulandshahr District|url=https://csridentity.com/bulandshahr/index.asp|date=2016|website=CSR Identity}}</ref>{{sfn|Frederic Salmon Growse|1884|p=42}}


Baran is mentioned in [[Mahabharata]].<ref>''Ahich chhatran kalkutan Gadgakulank ch Bharata,'' Varana ''vatdhanam ch Yamunash Chev Parvatah'' ('''V.19.30''') [[Mahabharata]]</ref> There is also evidence of baran, The old name 'Baran' can be still be traced in the old Government documents.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bulandshahr - Census of India|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/09/0911_PART_A_DCHB_BULANDSHAHR.pdf|website=censusindia.gov.in|url-status=live|access-date=2 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Bulandshahar - Dc Msme|url=http://dcmsme.gov.in/dips/14%20DIPS%20Bulandshahar1.pdf|website=dcmsme.gov.in|url-status=live|access-date=2 May 2020}}</ref> According to the book ''Etihasik Sthanavali'', Baran was very important and attractive place for many kings at that time.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Mathur|first1=Vijayendra Kumar|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.401265/mode/2up|title=Etihasik Sthanavali|year=1969|page=608}}</ref> Sir [[Henry Miers Elliot]] writes quoting the Yamini which says that, in his Twelfth Expedition A.H. 409 (1018-1019 AD) after passing by the borders of Kashmir, that is, close under the sub-Himalayan range, and crossing the Jumna, Mahmud of Ghazni takes Baran.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Elliot|first1=Henry Miers|title=The History of India, as Told by Its Own Historians: The Muhammadan Period, The Posthumous Papers of the Late H. M. Elliot, edited by John Dowson|year=1867|volume=8|page=458}}</ref> Later the seat of power went to Dors and [[Chauhan]]s, with the rise of Hardatta, a Dor ruler who took possession of [[Bulandshahr|Baran]] along with [[Meerut]] and [[Aligarh|Koil]]. In 1192 CE when [[Muhammad of Ghor|Muhammad Ghauri]] conquered parts of India, his Senapati (Military commander) [[Qutbu l-Din Aibak]] surrounded Fort Baran and with the help of traitors, was able to kill King Chandrasen Dor and in the process take control of the Baran kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of Bulandshahr|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Bulandshahr|last1=Pletcher|first1=Kenneth|date=|website=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]|url-status=live}}</ref> Baran is presently named as [[Bulandshahr]] which mean High city.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|title=History of Bulandshahr|url=http://blessingsonthenet.com/travel-india/destination/article/id/1555/tour/id/431/history-of--bulandshahr|date=|website=Blessings on net|url-status=live|access-date=2 May 2020}}</ref>
Baran is mentioned in [[Mahabharata]].<ref>''Ahich chhatran kalkutan Gadgakulank ch Bharata,'' Varana ''vatdhanam ch Yamunash Chev Parvatah'' ('''V.19.30''') [[Mahabharata]]</ref> There is also evidence of baran, The old name 'Baran' can be still be traced in the old Government documents.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bulandshahr - Census of India|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/09/0911_PART_A_DCHB_BULANDSHAHR.pdf|website=censusindia.gov.in|access-date=2 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Bulandshahar - Dc Msme|url=http://dcmsme.gov.in/dips/14%20DIPS%20Bulandshahar1.pdf|website=dcmsme.gov.in|url-status=dead|access-date=2 May 2020|archive-date=30 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730055042/http://dcmsme.gov.in/dips/14%20DIPS%20Bulandshahar1.pdf}}</ref> According to the book ''Etihasik Sthanavali'', Baran was very important and attractive place for many kings at that time.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Mathur|first1=Vijayendra Kumar|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.401265/mode/2up|title=Etihasik Sthanavali|year=1969|page=608}}</ref> Sir [[Henry Miers Elliot]] writes quoting the Yamini which says that, in his Twelfth Expedition A.H. 409 (1018-1019 AD) after passing by the borders of Kashmir, that is, close under the sub-Himalayan range, and crossing the Jumna, [[Mahmud of Ghazni]] takes Baran.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Elliot|first1=Henry Miers|title=The History of India, as Told by Its Own Historians: The Muhammadan Period, The Posthumous Papers of the Late H. M. Elliot, edited by John Dowson|year=1867|volume=8|page=458}}</ref> Later the seat of power went to Dors and [[Chauhan dynasty|Chauhan]]s, with the rise of Hardatta, a Dor ruler who took possession of [[Bulandshahr|Baran]] along with [[Meerut]] and [[Aligarh|Koil]]. In 1192 CE when [[Muhammad of Ghor|Muhammad Ghauri]] conquered parts of India, his Senapati (Military commander) [[Qutbu l-Din Aibak]] surrounded Fort Baran and with the help of traitors, was able to kill King Chandrasen Dor and in the process take control of the Baran kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of Bulandshahr|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Bulandshahr|last1=Pletcher|first1=Kenneth|date=26 January 2024|website=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]}}</ref> Baran is presently named as [[Bulandshahr]] which mean High city.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|title=History of Bulandshahr|url=http://blessingsonthenet.com/travel-india/destination/article/id/1555/tour/id/431/history-of--bulandshahr|date=|website=Blessings on net|access-date=2 May 2020}}</ref>


It was a rich and prosperous capital state of King Ahibaran's kingdom and numerous copper and gold coins with Greek and Pali inscriptions had been excavated at the site of the fort. According to Asian Folklore society the city Baran was the richest and famous at that time.<ref name="InstituteFolklore1972">{{cite book|author1=Asian Folklore Institute|author2=Society for Asian Folklore|author3=JSTOR (Organization)|author4=American Theological Library Association|title=Asian folklore studies|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ENcfAQAAMAAJ|access-date=19 December 2011|year=1972|publisher=Asian Folklore Institute; [sold by Cellar Book Shop, Detroit, Mich.]}}</ref>
It was a rich and prosperous capital state of King Ahibaran's kingdom and numerous copper and gold coins with Greek and Pali inscriptions had been excavated at the site of the fort. According to Asian Folklore society the city Baran was the richest and famous at that time.<ref name="InstituteFolklore1972">{{cite book|author1=Asian Folklore Institute|author2=Society for Asian Folklore|author3=JSTOR (Organization)|author4=American Theological Library Association|title=Asian folklore studies|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ENcfAQAAMAAJ|access-date=19 December 2011|year=1972|publisher=Asian Folklore Institute; [sold by Cellar Book Shop, Detroit, Mich.]}}</ref>


After the fall of Baran, the Baranwal community scattered to different parts of India, mostly to the Gangetic plains of India, and started living under the various names of Anand, Prasad, Prakash, Gupta, Bharti, Agrawal, Lal, Arya, Shah and Singh.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About us {{!}} Baranwal Community|url=http://www.baranwalmatrimony.org/about|website=baranwalmatrimony.org|url-status=live}}</ref> Few of the baranwals adopted Modi surname, which is also this community.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Patna News - state and center giving barnwal status to obc|language=Hindi|work=[[Dainik Bhaskar]]|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/bihar/patna/news/state-and-center-giving-baranwal-status-to-obc-043047-3688961.html|url-status=live|access-date=5 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Bokaro MLA stirs Vaishya caste cauldron|work=[[Times of india]]|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/Bokaro-MLA-stirs-Vaishya-caste-cauldron/articleshow/51402814.cms|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2020}}</ref>
After the fall of Baran, the Baranwal community scattered to different parts of India, mostly to the Gangetic plains of India, and started living under the various names of Anand, Prasad, Prakash, Gupta, Bharti, Agrawal, Lal, Arya, Shah and Singh.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About us {{!}} Baranwal Community|url=http://www.baranwalmatrimony.org/about|website=baranwalmatrimony.org}}</ref> Few of the baranwals adopted Modi surname, which is also this community.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Patna News - state and center giving barnwal status to obc|language=Hindi|work=[[Dainik Bhaskar]]|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/bihar/patna/news/state-and-center-giving-baranwal-status-to-obc-043047-3688961.html|access-date=5 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Bokaro MLA stirs Vaishya caste cauldron|work=[[Times of india]]|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/Bokaro-MLA-stirs-Vaishya-caste-cauldron/articleshow/51402814.cms|access-date=4 May 2020}}</ref>


== Baranwal gotras ==
== Baranwal gotras ==
{{main article|Baranwal}}
{{main article|Baranwal}}


Historically, there has been no unanimity regarding number and names of gotras, and there are regional differences between the list of gotras. The Baranwals are divided into thirty six [[gotra]]s (exogamous clans). There is also a Goyan and Mittal gotra in this community.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Babb|first1=Lawrence A|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=74tUY0le33UC&pg=PA192|title=Alchemies of Violence: Myths of Identity and the Life of Trade in Western India|publisher=Sage|year=2004|isbn=978-0-7619-3223-9}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=May 2020}}{{page needed|date=May 2020}} Some of the gotras like Kashyap and Kaushik are specific to Rajputs.<ref name="People of India">{{cite book |title=People of India, Volume 16, Part 1|year=2008|publisher=Anthropological Survey of India|location=India|isbn=978-81-7046-302-3|page=131|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dw8wAQAAIAAJ|first1=Kumar Suresh |last1=Singh |edition=1st|access-date=16 May 2011}}</ref>
Historically, there has been no unanimity regarding number and names of gotras, and there are regional differences between the list of gotras. The Baranwals are divided into five [[gotra]]s (exogamous clans).  


{{Columns-list|
{{Columns-list|# Garg
#Garg
# Vatsal (Vatsa)
#Vatsil
# Goyal/Gohil (Gautama)
#Goyal
# Kashyap
#Gohil
# Mudgal
#Karav
# Singhal (Shandilya)|colwidth=1}}
#Deval
#Kashyap
#Vats
#Atri
#Vamdev
#Kapil
#Gaalab
#Singhal
#Aarnay
#Kashil
#Upmanyu
#Yamini
#Parashar
#Kaushik
#Munas
#Katyapan
#Kondilya
#Pulish
#Bhrigu
#Sarve
#Angira
#Krishrabhi
#Udhwalak
#Ashwalayan
#Bharadwaj
#Kankhal
#Mudgal
#Yamadgiri
#Chyawan
#Vedpramiti
#Sanskritayan
}}


== References ==
== References ==
Line 97: Line 71:


=== Bibliography ===
=== Bibliography ===
{{ref begin}}
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |author=Edwin Thomas Atkinson |title=Statistical, Descriptive and Historical Account of the North-Western Provinces of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G9jaXsOc-tEC |year=1876 |publisher=North-Western Provinces Government |isbn= }}
* {{cite book |author=Edwin Thomas Atkinson |title=Statistical, Descriptive and Historical Account of the North-Western Provinces of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G9jaXsOc-tEC |year=1876 |publisher=North-Western Provinces Government |isbn=}}
* {{cite book |author=Frederic Salmon Growse |title=Bulandshahr: Or, Sketches of an Indian District: Social, Historical and Architectural
* {{cite book |author=Frederic Salmon Growse |title=Bulandshahr: Or, Sketches of an Indian District: Social, Historical and Architectural |url=https://archive.org/details/bulandshahrorsk00growgoog |year=1884 |publisher=Medical Hall Press |isbn=}}
|url=https://archive.org/details/bulandshahrorsk00growgoog |year=1884 |publisher=Medical Hall Press |isbn= }}
*{{Cite book |last=Gupta |first=Bholanath |url=https://maharajaahibaran.com/baranwal-vaishya-itihas/ |title=Baranwal Vaishya Itihaas |year=1937 |pages=26 |language=hi}}{{refend}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
*[http://baranwalsevasamitivaranasi.com/about-maharaj-ahibaran Maharaja Ahibaran] at baranwal seva samiti
* [http://baranwalsevasamitivaranasi.com/about-maharaj-ahibaran Maharaja Ahibaran] at baranwal seva samiti


[[Category:Indian royalty]]
[[Category:Indian royalty]]
[[Category:Characters in Hindu mythology]]
[[Category:Legendary Indian people]]
[[Category:Legendary Indian people]]
[[Category:People from Bulandshahr]]

Latest revision as of 19:26, 9 March 2026


Ahibaran
Maharaja Ahibaran
PredecessorMaharaja Parmal
SuccessorMaharaja Bhadrawah
Born26 December
Burial
Baran (now Bulandshahr)
ConsortMaharani Varanavati
HouseIkshwaku
DynastySolar Dynasty
FatherMaharaja Parmal
MotherMaharani Bhadrawati
ReligionHinduism

Maharaja Ahibaran (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) was a legendary Indian king (Maharaja) of Baran, the capital and resident city of children of Pandavas. Maharaja Ahibaran was born on 26 December.[1]

The Baranwal communities are descended from him and also celebrate his birth anniversary every year on 26 December.[2]

Etymology and names[edit | edit source]

Ahibaran has two meanings. Ahivaran means protector of forts. This was the accepted meaning amongst the learnt scholars of ancient and British times in Western UP. One English historian Gousse claimed that it could mean "snake coloured" (Ahi means snake and baran means colours). He is also known as Varan, Varna (which means forts, colours etc).[3]

Legends and beliefs[edit | edit source]

According to local legends, the town of Baran (now called Bulandshahr) was named after king Ahi-baran (literally "cobra-coloured"or one who owns forts, varan means forts and elephants as well). F. S. Growse, in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, theorizes that no such king ever existed, instead he believed that Varana means forts and identified it with Varanavat from Mahabharat where Pandavas and their children settled.[4][5] However, Western historians such as Edwin Atkinson in 1876 and various censuses and gazettes who researched Bulandshahar and nearby cities found numerous evidences of his existence.[6][7][8]

Most Western and modern Indian historians such as Gouse, Atkinson and various British gazetteers found that Ahibaran and his descendants Barnwals were of the Pandava Tuar or modern Tomar Rajput tribe[9][10][11] once ruling over much of modern Delhi, Haryana and Western UP.[12] In Mahabharata, Pandavas shifted their capital to Varnavat from Ahar after the Great war. However, some historians like Pandit Rahul sanskritayan claimed that he was of the Yaudheya republic, based on his studies of local inscriptions and folklores.

The legends describe the ancestry of Ahibaran as follows: The children of King Dharmadat established their separate state, whose children are now called Bais Rajputs. King Harshavardhana was in his lineage.[13] The child of the eldest son Subhankar continued to rule in his native state, Chandravati.[1] Their offspring were King Tendumal and his descendant Maharaja Varaksh who took the side of religion in the war of Mahabharata and died by becoming a partisan of Pandavas.[14] The remaining people left Chandravati and came to North India due to the storm in Chandravati.[2] The clan of Maharaja Varaksha laid the foundation of his kingdom in a place called 'Ahar' in the presence of the Emperor of Hastinapur.[15] In the generation of Maharaja Varaksha, King Parmal descendants from him.[16] King Ahibaran born to King Parmal. King Ahibaran was married to Varanavati, the daughter of Khandav's King, who lives in a dense forest of selection trees located in the western part of the Ikshumati River in Antravredi.[17]


One Agarwal historian has tried to link King Ahibaran as great grandson of Agrasen.[18]

Baran[edit | edit source]

According to Hindu mythology the pandavas had an encounter with Prajapati Daksh, father-in-law of Hindu lord Shiva; the place of their conversation, a pond, is in Bulandshahr. Later, after the fall of Hastinapur, the Pandavas ruled from Ahar, located in the north eastern part of Baran district.[19] Over the years, Maharaja Paramaal built a fort in the region and later, Ahibaran, a Suryavanshi king built a tower named Baran and made the region his capital and named it to Baran.[1]

The ancient palaces, building and temples found at places in Bhatora Veerpur, Ghalibpur in ruined form, are indicative of the antiquity of Baran.[20] There are several other important places in the District from where statues belonging to the medieval age and objects of ancient temples have been found.[21] Even today, several of these historical and ancient objects such as coins, statues and inscriptions etc. are preserved in the State Museum Lucknow.[1]

Varanavati River[edit | edit source]

Varanavati River is a river of north india which flows throughout Bulandshahr district.[22] The Varanavati River flows in almost the entire Bulandshahr district. The history of this river is as old as Bulandshahr. It is also said that the Varanavati River was the most holy river at that time.[23] When Maharaja Ahibaran ruled there, he named the river on his wife name, Varanavati River.[24] Earlier, when the Pandavas ruled there, the river was known as Ikshumati River, it is also described in the Atharvaveda.[25] But presently this river is named after Kali, the Hindu goddess Kali.[26][27]

Baran Tower[edit | edit source]

When Maharaja Ahibaran ruled in Bulandshahr, he also built Baran Tower there.[28][29]

Baran is mentioned in Mahabharata.[30] There is also evidence of baran, The old name 'Baran' can be still be traced in the old Government documents.[31][32] According to the book Etihasik Sthanavali, Baran was very important and attractive place for many kings at that time.[33] Sir Henry Miers Elliot writes quoting the Yamini which says that, in his Twelfth Expedition A.H. 409 (1018-1019 AD) after passing by the borders of Kashmir, that is, close under the sub-Himalayan range, and crossing the Jumna, Mahmud of Ghazni takes Baran.[34] Later the seat of power went to Dors and Chauhans, with the rise of Hardatta, a Dor ruler who took possession of Baran along with Meerut and Koil. In 1192 CE when Muhammad Ghauri conquered parts of India, his Senapati (Military commander) Qutbu l-Din Aibak surrounded Fort Baran and with the help of traitors, was able to kill King Chandrasen Dor and in the process take control of the Baran kingdom.[35] Baran is presently named as Bulandshahr which mean High city.[14]

It was a rich and prosperous capital state of King Ahibaran's kingdom and numerous copper and gold coins with Greek and Pali inscriptions had been excavated at the site of the fort. According to Asian Folklore society the city Baran was the richest and famous at that time.[36]

After the fall of Baran, the Baranwal community scattered to different parts of India, mostly to the Gangetic plains of India, and started living under the various names of Anand, Prasad, Prakash, Gupta, Bharti, Agrawal, Lal, Arya, Shah and Singh.[37] Few of the baranwals adopted Modi surname, which is also this community.[38][39]

Baranwal gotras[edit | edit source]

Main article: Baranwal

Historically, there has been no unanimity regarding number and names of gotras, and there are regional differences between the list of gotras. The Baranwals are divided into five gotras (exogamous clans).

  1. Garg
  2. Vatsal (Vatsa)
  3. Goyal/Gohil (Gautama)
  4. Kashyap
  5. Mudgal
  6. Singhal (Shandilya)

References[edit | edit source]

Citations[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "About District | District Bulandshahr, Government of Uttar Pradesh | India". bulandshahar.nic.in.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Crooke, William (1890). An Ethnographical Hand-book for the N.-W. Provinces and Oudh. North-Western Provinces and Oudh Government Pres. p. 16.
  3. ↑ Edwin Thomas Atkinson 1876, p. 271.
  4. ↑ F. S. Growse (1883). "The town of Bulandshahr". Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. LII (1). Calcutta: Asiatic Society of Bengal: 275.
  5. ↑ Frederic Salmon Growse 1884, p. 62.
  6. ↑ Atkinson, Edwin T. (1876). Statistical descriptive and historical account of the North-Western provinces of India: Ed. ... by Edwin [Felix] Thomas Atkinson. North-Western Provinces' Government Press.
  7. ↑ Pradesh (India), Uttar (1980). Uttar Pradesh District Gazetteers: Bulandshahr. Government of Uttar Pradesh.
  8. ↑ Cotton, James Sutherland; Burn, Sir Richard; Meyer, William (1908). Imperial Gazetteer of India ... Clarendon Press.
  9. ↑ Atkinson, Edwin T. (1876). Statistical descriptive and historical account of the North-Western provinces of India: Ed. ... by Edwin [Felix] Thomas Atkinson. North-Western Provinces' Government Press.
  10. ↑ Singh, Kuar (28 February 2023). Historical and Statistical Memoir of Zila Bulandshahar. BoD – Books on Demand. ISBN 978-3-382-50031-3.
  11. ↑ India), Asiatic Society (Kolkata (1879). Journal.
  12. ↑ Journal of the United Provinces Historical Society. 1936.
  13. ↑ Edwin Thomas Atkinson 1876, p. 66.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "History of Bulandshahr". Blessings on net. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  15. ↑ Singh, Kumar Suresh (2008). People of India, Volume 16, Part 1 (1st ed.). India: Anthropological Survey of India. p. 131. ISBN 978-81-7046-302-3. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
  16. ↑ Frederic Salmon Growse 1884, p. 36.
  17. ↑ Frederic Salmon Growse 1884, p. 98.
  18. ↑ Mittal, J. P. (1991). History of ancient India. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 675. ISBN 9788126906161.
  19. ↑ Edwin Thomas Atkinson 1876, p. 48.
  20. ↑ Baynes, Thomas Spencer (1878). The Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and General Literature. Vol. 4. C. Scribner's sons. p. 515.
  21. ↑ Edwin Thomas Atkinson 1876, p. 55.
  22. ↑ The Missionary Chronicle: Containing the Proceedings of the Board of Foreign Missions and of the Board of Domestic Missions of the Presbyterian Church: and a General View of Other Benevolent Operations. Vol. 17. 1849. p. 233.
  23. ↑ Khan, Zahoor Ali (1987). "Kali Nadi: The History of a River". Indian History Congress. 48: 744. JSTOR 44141794.
  24. ↑ Khan, Zahoor Ali (1987). "Kali Nadi: The History of a River". Indian History Congress. 48: 741–742. JSTOR 44141794.
  25. ↑ Atharvaveda (4.1.7)
  26. ↑ Edwin Thomas Atkinson 1876, p. 59.
  27. ↑ Hydrology and water resources of India By Sharad K. Jain, Vijay P. Singh, p. 349 Springer, The Netherlands. ISBN 1-4020-5179-4.
  28. ↑ "Bulandshahr District". CSR Identity. 2016.
  29. ↑ Frederic Salmon Growse 1884, p. 42.
  30. ↑ Ahich chhatran kalkutan Gadgakulank ch Bharata, Varana vatdhanam ch Yamunash Chev Parvatah (V.19.30) Mahabharata
  31. ↑ "Bulandshahr - Census of India" (PDF). censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  32. ↑ "Bulandshahar - Dc Msme" (PDF). dcmsme.gov.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 July 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  33. ↑ Mathur, Vijayendra Kumar (1969). Etihasik Sthanavali. p. 608.
  34. ↑ Elliot, Henry Miers (1867). The History of India, as Told by Its Own Historians: The Muhammadan Period, The Posthumous Papers of the Late H. M. Elliot, edited by John Dowson. Vol. 8. p. 458.
  35. ↑ Pletcher, Kenneth (26 January 2024). "History of Bulandshahr". Encyclopædia Britannica.
  36. ↑ Asian Folklore Institute; Society for Asian Folklore; JSTOR (Organization); American Theological Library Association (1972). Asian folklore studies. Asian Folklore Institute; [sold by Cellar Book Shop, Detroit, Mich.] Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  37. ↑ "About us | Baranwal Community". baranwalmatrimony.org.
  38. ↑ "Patna News - state and center giving barnwal status to obc". Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). Retrieved 5 May 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  39. ↑ "Bokaro MLA stirs Vaishya caste cauldron". Times of india. Retrieved 4 May 2020.

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

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