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| #REDIRECT[[Nishadas]] | | #REDIRECT[[Nishadas]] |
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| == Identity ==
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| In the earliest of the Indo-Aryan texts, the term "Nishada" may have been used as a generic term for all indigenous non-Aryan tribes rather than a single tribe.{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|pp=67-68}} This is suggested by the fact that according to [[Yaska]]'s ''[[Nirukta]]'', [[Aupamanyava]] explains the [[Rigveda]] term "[[pancha-janah]]" ("five peoples") as the four [[varna in Hinduism|varnas]] of the Indo-Aryan society and the Nishadas.{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|p=68}}
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| Linguist [[Suniti Kumar Chatterji|S. K. Chatterji]] notes that the Nishadas appear to be different from the [[Dasa]]s and the Dasyus, which are the other non-Aryan people mentioned in the Vedic texts. Historian [[Ramaprasad Chanda]] identifies the Nishadas as the original speakers of the [[Munda languages]]. N. K. Dutt also identifies with them pre-[[Dravidian people|Dravidian]] peoples of India, who presumably spoke a language belonging to the [[Austroasiatic languages|Austroasiatic family]], the parent family of the Munda languages.{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|p=69}}
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| The Nishadas are sometimes confused with the [[Nishadha Kingdom|Nisadhas]] ([[IAST]]: Niṣādha), who were a distinct, Indo-Aryan tribe.<ref>{{cite book |author=Haripada Chakraborti |title=Vedic India: political and legal institutions in Vedic literature |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b6-NAAAAMAAJ |year=1981 |publisher=Sanskrit Pustak Bhandar |quote=The Niṣādhas, residing in the Niṣādha country were obviously Aryan tribes and they should not be confused with the Niṣāda, the non-Aryan tribe.}}</ref>
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| == Physical appearance ==
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| The ''[[Shanti Parva]]'' of the ''Mahabharata'' describes the Nishadas having dark skin colour similar to that of charred wood, black hair, [[blood red]]-coloured eyes, and short limbs. The later texts such as the ''[[Vishnu Purana]]'' and the ''[[Vayu Purana]]'' also emphasize the dark skin colour of the Nishadas. The ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'' mentions the Nishadas as having copper-coloured hair, high [[cheekbone]]s, and low-tipped nose.{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|p=68}}
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| == Occupation ==
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| Various ancient texts associate the Nishadas with [[hunting]] and [[fishing]].{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|pp=73-74}}
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| Nishadas are presented as hunters in the ''[[Bala Kanda]]'' of the ''[[Ramayana]]'', Utpala's 8th century commentary on the ''[[Brihat Samhita]]'', and the [[Dharmasutra]]s of Vaikhanasa and Ushanas. The ''[[Adi Parva]]'' of the ''Mahabharata'' describes the Nishada prince ''[[Ekalavya]]'' as the son of an archer, which suggests that [[archery]] was a hereditary trait of the Nishadas.{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|p=74}}
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| The ''[[Manusmriti]]'' and the ''[[Anushasana Parva]]'' of the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' mention fishing as the profession of the Nishadas.{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|p=73}} The ''[[Vishnu Smriti]]'' also seems to consider subsistence on fishing a characteristic of the Nishadas, as attested by Nanda-pandita's commentary on the text and the ''[[Kathasaritsagara|Katha-sarit-sagara]]''.{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|pp=73-74}}
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| The ''[[Raghuvamsha]]'' presents the Nishada as [[boatmen]]. The ''Ayodhya Kanda'' of the ''[[Ramayana]]'', which mentions the Nishada as the name of an occupational [[caste system in India|caste]] ([[jāti]]), states that the Nishada king helped [[Rama]] cross the [[Ganges River]]. The ''[[Harivamsha]]'' states that the Nishadas collected gems and jewels from the river beds.{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|p=74}}
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| Maskarin's commentary on [[Apastamba Dharmasutra|Gautama]] ''Dharmasutra'' suggests that elephant-training was another occupation associated with the Nishadas. This is also corroborated the use of the term "Nishadin" to describe an elephant-keeper in [[Banabhatta|Bana]]'s ''[[Harshacharita|Harsha-charita]]'' and [[Magha (poet)|Magha]]'s ''[[Shishupala Vadha|Shishupala-vadha]]''.{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|p=74}}
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| Several ancient texts present the Nishadas as progeny of parents from different occupational classes, called the [[varna in Hinduism|varnas]] (see [[#Social status|Social status]] section below). However, such classifications are not indicative of the contemporary occupations of the Nishadas: rather, they appear to be a legal attempt to define the status of the Nishadas relative to the other varnas, so that the varna-specific laws could be applied to them.{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|p=73}}
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| == Relations with the early Indo-Aryans ==
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| The Nishadas appear to have been among the first [[indigenous peoples|indigenous tribes]] encountered by the [[Indo-Aryans]] in India. Most of the other indigenous tribes find few mentions in the [[Vedas|Vedic texts]]. The Nishadas appear in these texts several times, and as a full-fledged tribe within the Indo-Aryan social framework.{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|p=67}}
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| ''[[Aitareya Brahmana]]'', an early text, describes the Nishadas as raiders operating in the forests. However, the later [[Shrauta]] texts suggest that they were gradually assimilated into the Indo-Aryan society, and were not considered as [[untouchability|untouchable]] at this time.{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|p=69}} For example:
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| * The ''Apastamba-Shrauta-Sutra'' and the ''Latyayana-Shrauta-Sutra'' indicate that the Nishadas lived in villages: the performance of the ''Vishvajit'' Vedic ritual sacrifice required the performer to live with the Nishadas for three nights, and share their food.{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|p=69}}
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| * The ''Shrauta-Sutras'' of Apastamba, Katyayana, and Varaha, mention the participation of Nishadas in a sacrificial ceremony: A Nishada official (''sthapati'') makes offerings to fire to propitiate the deity [[Rudra]], although this ceremony does not involving chanting of the Vedic [[mantra]]s.{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|p=69}}
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| * The ''Manava-Shrauta-Sutra'' explicitly prescribes a Shrauta (Vedic) sacrifice for a Nishada chief.{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|p=69}}
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| * The ''Satyashadha-Shrauta-Sutra'' mentions a Nishada (a Nishada chief according to a commentary) in connection with the [[agnihotra]] and darsha-purna-masa rituals.{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|p=69}}
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| * The [[Purva Mimamsa Sutras|Purva-Mimamsa-Sutra]] of [[Jaimini]] discusses if the Nishada ''sthapati'' involved in the above-mentioned rituals should be a tribal chief or a person from one of the three higher [[varna in Hinduism|varnas]] ("traivarnika"). It concludes that the ''sthapati'' should be a tribal chief.{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|pp=69-70}}
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| * The ''[[Shatapatha Brahmana]]'' mentions them among the groups whom the Vedic priests taught ''[[Itihasa]]'', the ''[[Atharvaveda]]'', the art of snake-charming (''sarpa-vidya''), and [[demonology]] (''deva-jana-vidya''). The other groups included the [[Asura]]s, the [[Gandharva]]s, the ''selaga''s (possibly robbers or thieves), the snake-charmers, the bird-catchers etc.{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|p=70}}
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| These references suggest that the Indo-Aryans made efforts to assimilate the Nishadas into their own social order, but the Vedic ritual status granted to the Nishadas was limited in nature. Historian [[Ramaprasad Chanda]] speculates that the Nishadas were too numerous and too powerful to be eliminated, enslaved, or expelled by the Indo-Aryans: this may explain the limited attempts to assimilate them.{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|p=70}}
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| It is possible that only the high-class among the Nishadas were inducted into the Indo-Aryan society, while the majority of them remained unassimilated. [[Panini (grammarian)|Panini]]'s ''Ganapatha'' mentions a [[gotra]] called Nishada, which according to scholar [[Damodar Dharmananda Kosambi|D. D. Kosambi]], suggests that some tribal priests were assimilated as [[Brahmin|Brahmanas]] in the Indo-Aryan society.{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|pp=71-72}}
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| == Social status ==
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| The ''Rudra Adhyaya'' of the ancient ''[[Yajurveda]]'' ''[[Samhita]]'' shows reverence to the Nishadas, among others.{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|p=67}}
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| Nevertheless, the Nishadas held a low status in the Indo-Aryan society:{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|p=76}}
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| * [[Yaska]]'s ''[[Nirukta]]'' excludes the Nishadas from the four [[varna in Hinduism|varnas]] of the Indo-Aryan society, quoting [[Aupamanyava]].{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|pp=68, 70}} The text explains the meaning of the word "Nishada" as a being in whom "sin or evil sits down".{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|p=70}}
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| * ''[[Baudhayana sutras|Baudhayana Dharmasutra]]'' and ''[[Arthashastra]]'' state that a [[Brahmin|Brahmana]]'s son from a [[Shudra]] woman should inherit one-tenth of his father's property. Both these texts describe Nishadas as progeny of Brahmana men and Shudra women, but do not apply the inheritance rule to the Nishadas. The ''Baudhayana Dharmasutra'' states that a Nishada son should not receive any inheritance, while the ''Arthashastra'' allows only a maintenance for a Nishada son.{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|p=73}}
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| * The ''[[Shanti Parva]]'' of the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' states that the Nishada originated from the pierced thigh of the tyrant king [[Vena (Hindu king)|Vena]].{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|p=70}}
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| In what appears to be an attempt to define the status of the Nishadas in the [[varna in Hinduism|varna system]], several ancient texts present them as progeny of parents from different varnas. This appears to have been done for legal purposes, since a person's varna status determined how the contemporary law treated them.{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|pp=72-73}} For example:
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| * Multiple sources describe the Nishadas as the children of [[Brahmin|Brahmana]] men and their [[Shudra]] wives. These texts include ''[[Baudhayana sutras|Baudhayana Dharmasutra]]'', ''[[Arthashastra]]'', ''[[Vashistha Dharmasutra]]'', ''[[Manusmriti]]'', ''[[Yajnavalkya Smriti]]'', and the ''[[Anushasana Parva]]'' (48.5) of ''[[Mahabharata]]''.{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|p=72}}
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| * [[Apastamba Dharmasutra|Gautama]], according to his commentators Maskarin and Haradatta, describes the Nishadas as the progeny of a Brahmana father and a [[Vaishya]] mother.{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|pp=72-73}}
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| * The ''Anushasana Parva'' (48.12) and the ''[[Naradasmriti]]'' describe the Nishadas as of mixed [[Kshatriya]] and Shudra parentage.{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|p=73}}
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| Gradually, the Nishadas were relegated to the status of untouchables in the Indo-Aryan society.{{sfn|Vivekanand Jha|1974|p=73}}
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| ==Description in Ramayana==
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| The main profession of Nishadas was fishing and hunting. According to one telling, once, a Nishada had killed one bird from a pair, causing the other bird to be aggrieved by its loss and experience the pangs of pain. Observing this deep pain inspired the sage [[Valmiki]] to write about the legend of king [[Rama]] of [[Ayodhya]] and his dutiful wife queen [[Sita]], who lived in separation due to her capture by the [[rakshasa]] king [[Ravana]].<ref>Ramayana by Valmiki, [[Gita Press]] publication, Gorakhpur, India</ref> In the Ramayana, the king of the Nishadas, named Guha, is stated to be an ally of Rama. He helps Rama and Sita to cross the [[Ganges]] river near [[Shringverpur|Shringiverapura]].
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| [[File:Guha, King of the hunter tribe (Nishadas) helped the rama and his companions to cross the river.jpg|thumb|Painting of Guha helping Rama to cross the river Ganga ]]
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| == References in Mahabharata ==
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| The [[Mahabharata]] speaks of Nishaada as forest hunters and fishermen.<ref>The Cultural Process in India by Irawati Karve, Vol. 51, Oct., 1951 (Oct., 1951), pp. 135-138</ref> Nishadas were mentioned as tribes that have the hills and the forests for their abode and fishing as their chief occupation. They ruled over the hills, plains, land and dominated over the water. They were linked with a king called [[Vena (Hindu King)|Vena]] (see [[Saraswata Kingdom]]) (12,58). Nishadas lived in hamlets (12,328).{{citation needed|reason = please provide a link to the source text; Mahabharata is public domain and several translations are available online |date=August 2013}}
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| Aushmikas, and '''Nishadas''', and Romakas were mentioned as bringing tribute to king [[Yudhishthira]] during his [[Rajasuya]] sacrifice (2,50).
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| === Nishada Kingdom of Ekalavya ===
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| [[Ekalavya]] was the son of Hiranyadhanus, king of the Nishadas (1,134). He came to [[Hastinapura]] to join the [[Kuru Kingdom|military school]] of [[Drona]].
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| Ekalavya's kingdom was the most famous Nishada kingdom during the time of the [[Pandavas]]. This kingdom was visited by [[Sahadeva]] during his military campaign to the south, to collect tribute for [[Yudhishthira]]'s [[Rajasuya]] sacrifice;- [[Sahadeva]], the Kuru warrior, conquered the country of the '''Nishadas''' and also the high hill called Gosringa, and that lord of earth called Srenimat (2,30). Nishada and Srenimat were mentioned together again at (5,4).
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| Ekalavya, the king of the Nishadas, always used to challenge [[Krishna in the Mahābhārata|Vasudeva Krishna]] to battle; but he was slain by Krishna in battle (5,48), (7-178,179) (16,6).
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| [[Arjuna]] had come to Nishada kingdom of Ekalavya, after the [[Kurukshetra War]], to collect tribute for [[Yudhishthira]]'s [[Ashwamedha]] sacrifice.
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| [[Arjuna]] proceeded to the dominions of the Nishada king, viz., the son of Ekalavya. The son of Ekalavya received Arjuna in battle. The encounter that took place between the Kuru hero and the Nishadas was furious. Unvanquished in battle, the valiant son of Kunti defeated the Nishada king who proved an obstacle to the sacrifice. Having subjugated the son of Ekalavya, he proceeded towards the southern ocean. (14,83).
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| === Nishadas on the banks of Saraswati ===
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| A spot named Vinasana on the banks of [[Sarasvati River]] is mentioned as the gate to the kingdom of the Nishadas.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}} There the river is completely dried up and exist as a dry river channel (3,130).{{citation needed|date=November 2014}} [[Pandava]]s were led to this place by their guide viz sage Lomasa, during their pilgrimage all over India.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}}
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| === Nishada Kingdom in the South India ===
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| This kingdom was visited by [[Sahadeva]] during his military campaign to the south, to collect tribute for [[Yudhishthira]]'s [[Rajasuya]] sacrifice;- After defeating the [[Danda Kingdom|Dandakas]] ([[Aurangabad, Maharashtra|Aurangabad]], [[Maharashtra]]) the Kuru warrior, [[Sahadeva]] vanquished and brought under his subjection numberless kings of the Mlechchha tribe living on the sea coast, and the '''Nishadas''' and the cannibals and even the Karnapravarnas, and those tribes also called the Kalamukhas (2,30).
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| This Nishada's battled for the sake of [[Pandavas]] in the [[Kurukshetra War]]:- The [[Dravida Kingdom|Dravida]], the [[Andhra Kingdom|Andhaka]], and the '''Nishada''' foot-soldiers, urged on by [[Satyaki]], once more rushed towards [[Karna]] in that battle ([[Kurukshetra War]]) (8,49).
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| ===Nishada Kingdom of Manimat===
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| Manimat had his kingdom to the south of [[Kosala Kingdom|Kosala]]. This kingdom was visited by [[Bhima]] during his military campaign to the east, to collect tribute for [[Yudhishthira]]'s [[Rajasuya]] sacrifice;- After conquering [[Vatsa Kingdom|Vatsabhumi]] [[Bhima]] defeated the king of the Bhargas, as also the ruler of the Nishadas viz Manimat and numerous other kings (2,29). This kingdom is possibly the [[Jaunpur district|Jaunpur]] district of [[Uttar Pradesh]]. The famous Nishada king named Guha who befriended the [[Kosala Kingdom|Kosala]] prince [[Raghava Rama]] was also the king of this kingdom.
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| ===Nishada Kingdom close to Kalinga and Vanga===
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| A prince named Ketumat is mentioned as battling along with the [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]]s against [[Bhima]], in the [[Kurukshetra War]]. He was mentioned as the son of the Nishada king. He could be the son of Manimat the Nishada king, who was defeated formerly by [[Bhima]]. Ketumat was slain by [[Bhima]] along with the Kalinga heroes (6,54).
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| The [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]], the [[Vanga Kingdom|Vanga]], and the '''Nishada''' heroes, riding on elephants were said to attack [[Arjuna]] in [[Kurukshetra War]] (8,17).
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| Mekalas (a kingdom close to [[Dakshina Kosala Kingdom]], in [[Chathisgad]]) and Utkalas (western [[Orissa, India|Orissa]]), and [[Kalinga (Mahabharata)|Kalinga]]s, and '''Nishadas''' and Tamraliptakas (south of [[West Bengal]]), were mentioned as advancing against [[Nakula]] (8,22). The Kalingas, the [[Vanga Kingdom|Vangas]], the [[Anga Kingdom|Angas]], the '''Nishadas''' and the [[Magadha Kingdom|Magadhas]] were mentioned together on the Kaurava side at (8,70).
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| === Nishadas in Kurukshetra War ===
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| ==== On Pandava Side ====
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| Nishadas were mentioned as battling for the sake of [[Pandavas]] along with the Pauravakas and Patachcharas; at(6,50). The southern Nishadas were also mentioned in the army of [[Pandavas]] (8,49).
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| ==== On Kaurava Side ====
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| Nishada prince Ketumat was mentioned who was slain by [[Bhima]] along with the Kalinga heroes (6,54). Nishada army was mentioned to fight for the sake of [[Kauravas]] at various instances (6-118), (7,44), (8-17,20,22,60,70). [[Bhima]] is said to slay a Nishada prince (other than Ketumat) at (8,60).
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| ===A Mountain Range named Nishada===
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| A mountain range in ancient India is named ''Nishada'', mentioned along with other mountains like Meru, Mahendra, Malaya, Sweta, Sringavat, Mandara, Nila Dardurna, Chitrakuta, Anjanabha, the Gandhamadana mountains and the sacred Somagiri (13,165).
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| ===Nishada as a musical note===
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| Shadaja, Rishabha, together with Gandhara, Madhyama, and likewise Panchama; after this should be known Nishada, and then Dhaivata (14,50). The seven original notes are Shadja, Rishabha, Gandhara, Mahdhyama, Panchama, Dhaivata and Nishada (12,183).
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| === Other References ===
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| *Swords of excellent quality were manufactured in the country of the Nishadas. Pandavas possessed such swords (2,42).
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| *The Utpalas, the Mekalas, the Paundras, the Kalingas, the Andhras, the Nishadas etc. were mentioned as defeated by [[Karna]] (7,4).
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| * The story of a robber of the name of Kayavya, born of a Kshatriya father and a Nishada mother is mentioned at (12,134).
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| *In a remote region in the midst of the ocean, the Nishadas have their fair home (1,28).
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| *Nishada king is equated with an Asura tribe called Krodhavardhana (1,67)
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| *In Indian music, Nishada is the seventh note ([[swara]]) of the octave.
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| ==See also==
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| * [[Kingdoms of Ancient India]]
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| ==References==
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| {{reflist}}
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| === Bibliography ===
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| {{ref begin}}
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| * {{cite book |author=Vivekanand Jha |chapter=From tribe to untouchable: the case of Niṣādas |editor=R. S. Sharma |title=Indian Society: Historical Probings in memory of D. D. Kosambi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZI5hGgAACAAJ |year=1974 |orig-year=1958 |publisher=Indian Council of Historical Research / People's Publishing House|isbn=978-81-7007-176-1 }}
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| *[[Kisari Mohan Ganguli]], ''The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose'', 1883–1896.
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| {{ref end}}
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| {{Mahabharata}}
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| [[Category:Adivasi]]
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| [[Category:Himalayan peoples]]
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| [[Category:Indigenous peoples of South Asia]]
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| [[Category:Ethnic groups in India]]
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| [[Category:Karakoram]]
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