Kamboja Location

[Guest guest]

Dear All, The following write-up is from: http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Kamboja_Location_-_Localization_of_Kamboja/id/5200299 Love and regards,Sreenadh====================================Kamboja Location: Encyclopedia II - Kamboja Location - Localization of KambojaKamboja Location - Localization of Kamboja

Kamboja Location - Linguistic evidence

The most acceptable view is that the ancient Kambojas originally

belonged to the 'Galcha' speaking area (the Iranian Pamirs and

Badakshan) in Central Asia (Linguistic Survey of India, Vol X, p 455,

Dr G. A. Grierson).

Yaska's Nirukata (II/2.8) attests that verb 'shavati' in the sense

'to go' was used by the Kambojas and only the Kambojas (Early Eastern

Iran and Atharvaveda, 1980, 92, Dr Michael Witzel; also Nilukata, Vol

I, Sarup).

shavatir gatikarmaa Kamboje.sv eva bhaa.syate...vikaara enam Aaryaa bha.sante shava iti./

— (Nirukata II/2)

Translation:

The verb 'shavati', meaning 'to go', is used by the Kambojas only..... but its root 'shava' is used by the Indo-Aryans.

The modern Galcha language comprises seven main dialects viz.

Valkhi, Shigali, Srikoli, Jebaka (also called Sanglichi or Ishkashim),

Munjani, Yidga and Yagnobi.

It has been pointed out that the Galcha dialects spoken in Pamirs

and countries on the head waters of Oxus mostly still have the

continuants of the ancient Kamboja 'shavati' in the sense 'to go'

(Linguistic Survey of India, Vol X, p 455-56,468,474,476,500, Dr G. A.

Grierson).

Yagnobi dialect spoken in Yagnobi region at the head-waters of

Zeravshan in the Doab of Oxus and Jaxartes in Tajikstan also contains,

to this date, a relic from Kamboja verb 'shavati' in the sense 'to go'

(Dr J. C. Vidyalankara, Proceedings and Transactions of 6th A.I.O.

Conference, 1930, p 118 cf: op. cit. Vol X, pp 455-56, Dr G. A.

Grierson).

It has also been pointed out that the former language of Badakshan

was a dialect of Galcha which has been replaced with Farsi only in the

last few centuries (Op cit, p 456, Dr Grierson).

Thus, originally, the ancient Kamboja appears to have comprised

Pamirs, Badakshan and possibly parts of Tajikstan including Yagnobe

region in the doab of Oxus of Central Asia. On the east it was bounded

roughly by Yarkand and/or Kashgar, on west by Bahlika (Uttaramadra), on

the northwest by Sogdiana, on the north by Uttarakuru, on the southeast

by Darada and on the south by Gandhara.

Kamboja Location - Vamsa Brahmana and Aitareya Brahmana evidence

The Aupamanyava Kamboja of Vamsa Brahmana (1/18) is spoken of as

pupil of sage Madrakara, who as his name itself indicates, belonged to

the Madra tribe. Dr Zimmer as well as authors of Vedic Index postulate a close connection between the Iranian Uttramadras and the Kambojas. Both are stated to be close neighbors in the north-western part of ancient India (Vedic Index, I, p 84-85, 138).

Jean Przylusky shows that Bahlika (Balkh) was an Iranian settlement of the Madras who were known as Bahlika-Uttaramadras (The Udumbras, Journal Asiatique, 1926, p 11).

Madra king Salya of Mahabharata war has been referred to as a Bahlika

Pungava i.e foremost among the Bahlikas (MBH I. 67.6; I.112.3).

Princess Madri from Madra Royal family has also been referred to as Bahliki i.e princess from Bahlika (MBH I. 124. 21).

This shows that in remote past (Vedic age), Iranian settlement of

the Madras, known as Uttaramadra was located in Bahlika (Bacteria) in

eastern parts of the Oxus country. These Madras have been referred to

as Uttaramadras in Aitareya Brahmana and are also stated to lie across

the Himalaya i.e Hindukush (Aitareya Brahmana, VIII/14).

The Kambojas and Bahlikas (Bactrians) have been paired together (Kambojabahlika)

in several verses of Mahabharata (7.98.13; 6.75.17; 2.27.23-23 etc).

They also find mention as a pair in Valmiki Ramayana (I.6.22),

Kshmendra's Ramayana-Manjri (4/252) as well as in Atharvaveda-Parisia

(57.2.5; cf Persica-9, 1980, p 106, Dr Michael Witzel). This close

association implies that the Bahlikas and the Kambojas shared borders

with each other. Since Bahlikas were in Bactria, their close neighbors,

the Kambojas, most likely occupied the eastern parts i.e.

Badakshan/Pamirs of Oxus country.

Kamboja Location - Ptolemy's evidence

Ancient geographer Ptolemy calls the region fed by Jaxartes and its

tributaries as Komdei (Sanskrit Kamudha). Ammianus Marcellinus calls it

as Komadas. Ptolemy also refers to some tribal people he calls Komoi (=Kamoi) and Komroi and locates them in the mountainous regions of Sogdiana as far as Jaxartes. The Komoi of Ptolemy apparently represents Kamboi

a variant of vulgo Kamboika, Kamboy, Kambo. Ashoka's Rock Edicts V and

XII at Shahbazgarhi and the Jaina Canon Uttradhyana-Sutra (11/16), both

write Kamboya for Kamboja.

Komudha in Indian traditions is the name of mountainous

region, north of mount Meru (Pamir). In the anterior Epic Age, this was

the name given to high table land of the Tartary to north of Himalaya,

from where the Aryans may have pushed their way southwards into Indian

Peninsula and preserved the name as a relic of old mountain worship

(Thomson).

Dr Buddha Parkash identifies the Ptolemian Komdei with the

Komudha-dvipa of the Puranic literature and connects it with the

Iranian Kambojas (India and the World, p 71, Dr Buddha Parkash; also

see Central Asiatic Provinces of Maurya Empire, p 403, Dr H. C. Seth).

This explains as to why the Yagnobi dialect of Yagnobe region in

Zeravshan valley in Tajikstan still contains the relics of ancient verb

'shavti' of the Kamboji language.

Kamboja Location - Raghuvamsa's evidence

Raghuvamsa of Kalidasa (5th c AD) informs that after reducing the

countries of western- Ghats, king Raghu proceeds via land-route to

conquer the Parasikas (Raghu 4.60). The Parasikas loose the battle

(Raghu 4.65). Raghu's forces move in north (kauberi) direction

from Parasika (Sassanian) land and hit Vamkshu (4.67). At Vamkshu,

Raghu's horses take breather and shed off the Kesra (safron)

leaves from their shoulders by rolling in the sands of Vamkshu Banks

(4.67). Here follows the encounter with the Hunas on west Banks of

Vamkshu (Oxus) (4.68). The Hunas in 5th c AD were located in west parts

of Oxus country i.e in Bactria. The Huna forces meet with complete

disaster. Immediately after reducing the Hunas on western bank of Oxus,

Raghu faces the Kambojas (Raghu 4.69). This suggests that the Kambojas

were in close neighborhood to Hunas and were thus located in eastern

Oxus country in 5th c AD.

Following salient points are notable which further reinforce the above view point:

There is reference to Raghu's horse shedding off Kesara (Saffron) from their shoulders on the banks of river Vamshu (skandhaa.nllagna.kunkumakesaraan...(4.67)).

The region on either side of Oxus is still renowned for its quality

saffron crops (Raghu's line of conquest along India's Northern Border,

Proceedings & Transactions of the 6th A.I.O. Conference, 1930, pp

101-120).

There is reference to Kamboja's Walnut trees (akshotaih) being bent

on account of Raghu's elephants being tied to them (4.69). Again, the

region on either side of Oxus is still noted for its walnut produce

(India In Kalidasa, p 61, B. S. Upadhyaya; Indian Historical Quarterly,

III, p 524).

It is also noteable that Kalidasa's reference to immense treasure (tunga.draviynah.rashyah...(4.70))

presented by Kambojas to Raghu also points to the correctness of above

identification of Kamboja in eastern parts of Oxus country

(Badakshan-Pamirs) since even now there are mines of silver, emerald, Amethyst and lapis lazuli

mines extant in Galcha speaking Anderab/Wakhan, Kokach and Munjan in

Badakshan (Geographical Econom. Studies, p 46, Dr Moti Chandra; India

in Kalidasa, 1968, p 61, B. S. Upadhyaya).

Kamboja Location - Evidence from Commentator on Harsha-Carita

Bana Bhatta, the court poet of king Harsha Vardhana of Thanesara wrote Harsha-Carita

in seventh century AD which makes reference to horses from Kambojas.

The Commentator on Harsha-Carita, in his commentary, has stated KAMBOJAH BAHLIKA DESAJAH,

i.e the Kambojas belong to / originate from Bahlika-desa (Quoted by Dr

H. W. Bailey in Ancient Kamboja, Iran and Islam, 1971, p 66). This

ancient evidence may indicate that Bahlika (Bactria) or its eastern

parts may also have formed parts of ancient Kamboja.

Kamboja Location - Hiun Tsang's evidence

Hiun Tsang (7th c AD) refers to one Kumito as an

independently ruled provincial unit in Pamirs (east of Khotlan) stated

to form one of the seventeen political provinces in former Tukharistan

region. Wu-k'ong refers to it as 'Kiomeche', while T'ang calls it

'Kumi'. Ancient Muslim writers refer to it as Kumed or Komadh.

Al-Maqidisi refers to the people living in this region as Kumiji.

The scholars identify this name with Komedon, Cambothi or Kambuson of

the Greek writings. Indian texts refer to it as 'Kamboj' (India and

Central Asia, p 25, Dr P. C. Bagchi; cf: Central Asiatic Provinces of

Maurya Empires, p 403, Dr H. C. Seth; cf: India and the World, p 71, Dr

Buddha Parkash).

That the Kumito (Kamboj) of Hiun Tsang existed as an

independent political territory in/around Pamirs in 7/8th c is also

confirmed from Kalhana's Rajatrangini.

Kamboja Location - Kalhana's evidence

According to ancient text Rajatarangini of Kalhana, a Sanskrit text

from the north, king Lalitaditya Muktapida of Kashmir undertakes to

reduce his neighbing countries. He launches war expedition onto the

region of north from Kashmir and first he fights with the Kambojas

(Rajatrangini: 4.164- 4.165) and deprives them of their horses.

Immediately after the Kambojas, he meets the Tukharas. Tukharas do not

give him fight, but run away even abandoning their horses in the field

(4.166). Then Lalitaditiya meets the Bhauttas in Baltistan in western

Tibet north of Kashmir (4.168)), then the Dardas in Karakorum/Himalaya

(4.169, 4.171), the Valukambudhi (4.172) and then he encounters Strirajya (4.173-174), the Uttarakurus (4.175) and the Pragjyotisha respectively.

Based on this trail of victories of Lalitaditiya, numerous scholars

have located the Kambojas in the eastern Oxus country as immediate

neighbors to Tukharas who were located in western Oxus country including the Bahlika Bactria.

Dr Sircar observes: 'Rajatrangini (4.165-166) places the Kambojas

along with the Tukharas in the upper Oxus valley including the Balkh

and Badakshan' (Purana, Vol V, No 2, July 1963, The Land of Kamboja, p

252, Dr D. C. Sircar) .

Kamboja Location - Ramayana evidence

The Kishkindha Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana (200 BCE - 200 CE) mentions

Shakas (Scythians), Kambojas, Yavanas (Greeks) and the Paradas as close

neighbors in trans-Himalyan region i.e beyond Karakorum/Hindukush

ranges.

Sanskrit:

Kaamboja Yavanaan caiva Shakaan pattanaani ca |

Anvikshya Varadaan caiva Himavantam vicinvatha || 12 ||

— (Ramayana 4.43.12)

The Yavanas here refer to the Bactrian Yavanas (in western Oxus

country), and the Sakas here refer to the Sakas of Sogdiana/Jaxartes

and beyond. The Vardas are same Paradas (Hindu Polity, 1978, p

124, Dr K. P. Jayswal; Goegraphical Data in Early Purana, 1972, p 165,

55 fn, Dr M. R. Singh). The Paradas were located on river Sailoda in

Sinkiang (MBH II.51.12; II.52.13; VI.87.7 etc) and probably as far as

upper reaches of river Oxus and Jaxartes (Op cit, p 159-60, Dr M. R.

Singh). Thus, the Kamboja location in western Oxus country as neighbors

to both the Yavanas and the Sakas is thus pretty much certain.

Kamboja Location - Sumerian evidence

The Sumerian myth of Enmerker and the Lord of Aratta contains

an old reference to Aratta people/country of late Vedic period. The

region is stated to be located beyond Zagros towards eastern Iran and

is stated to be the source of lapis lazuli. Obviously, this refers to

Badakshan which, since remote antiquity, has been the only known source

of lapis lazuli. The Aratta people are first mentioned in Baudhayana Shrautasutra (18.13; 18,44) and Bhaudhayana Dharamasutra

(1.1.30). They belong to north-west since they are bracketed with the

Gandharas. Hence they are close neighbors of the Gandharas. They are

stated to be a despised people. Scholars say that Aratta probably is a (Prakrit) form of Vedic "A-rashtra" or Avestic A-sara meaning without head/government. Geographically, this Vedic Aratta is located at the source of river Rasa in Pamirs.

The above text is based on Early Eastern Iran and the Atharvaveda

(Persica-9, 1980, fn-3, Dr M. Witzel). Investigators like Dr. Koenraad

Elst, Col Cunningham, Dr Buddha Parkash etc also regard Aratta as

Prkritic form of Vedic A-rashtra or Arashtraka meaning

kingless or stateless (See: Evolution of Heroic Tradition in ancient

Panjab, 1971, p 53, Dr Buddha Parkash; Also see: The Age of Imperial

Unity, History and Culture of Indian People, p 49, Ed Dr R. C.

Majumdar, Dr A. D. Pusalkar).

Based on above scenario, the Sumerian/Vedic Aratta can fairly

be taken to be a popular form of Vedic A-rashtra and therefore, it

probably alludes to the kingless/republican Kambojas of

Badakshan/Pamirs. The region obviously lies in trans-Himalaya

(trans-Hindukush) area, which in Aitareya Brahmana is stated to be the

land of republican people like the Uttara Kurus and Uttara Madras etc.

The Kambojas being their immediate neighbors must therefore, be located

in/around this region.

Kamboja Location - Al-Idrisi's evidence

Arabic geographer Al-Idrisi (1099-1166 CE), while writing on

Badakshan, its flora, its fauna, its scenic beauty, its quality horses

& ponis, its precious stones and mineral wealth etc---at the end,

he states that Badakshan shared boundaries with Kanoj. The

Kanoj of Idrisi, in fact, is the Sanskrit Kamboj. Due to misplacement

of dot, the Kamboj got changed to Kanoj in Persian transcription.

Al-Idrisi belonged to 11th c AD. Obviously, the boundaries of ancient

Kamboj had considerably shrunken down at times of Idrisi so that he had

to differentiate Badakshan from the Kamboj located in its contiguity

i.e. Pamirs (Dr Vidyalankara, Dr Kamboj). Otherwise also, the Kanoj of

Idrisi can't be the Kanauj of Uttar-Pradesh since Kanauj of

Uttar-Pradesh does not share boundaries with Badakshan and it is also

located over thousand miles away from Badakshan.

Kamboja Location - Praja Bhatta's evidence

Praja Bhatta, the author of fouth Rajatrangini while writing about history of Moghul dynasty in India calls emperor Babur as a Yavana king from Kambhoja.

Sanskrit:

Kaambhoja.yavaneshen Vabhore.n vipatitah |

tadaiva hastinapuryamebhrahemo nripeshavra || 223 ||

— (Raghu Nath Sinha, Shukarjatrangini tatha Rajatrangini Sangraha: p 110)

Since Vabur (Babur) was native of Fargana in Central Asia, which

region is immediately to the north of Pamirs/Badakshan...the land of

ancient Kambojas therefore, this medieval era evidence, furnishes us

almost with the exact location of ancient Kamboja.

Thus evidence from Hiun Tsang, Kalidasa, Kalhana, Idrisi and Parja

Bhatta etc all seems to locate the ancient Kamboja in eastern parts of

Oxus country, to the north/north-west of Kashmir i.e in

Pamirs-Badakshan. There are many more references in ancient Sanskrit

literature which can be cited and also seem to place the Kambojas in

Badakshan/Pamirs.

Kamboja Location - Conclusion

The above numerous ancient evidence amply supports the Trans-Hindukush region to be the original home of ancient Kambojas.

Dr Aggarwala concluded: "The Kamboja as equivalent to

Pamir-Badakshan satisfies all ancient references and data "

(Geographical Data in Panini's Ashtadhyayi, Journal of Uttara Pradesha

Historical Society, Vol XVI, part I, p 27, Dr V. S. Aggarwala)

This ancient Kamboja location in Pamir-Badakshan originally

suggested by Dr Christian Lassen, has also been endorsed by numerous

eminent scholars like Dr Jaychandra Vidyalankara, Dr Moti Chandra, Dr

A. M Shastri, Dr S. K. Chatterjee, G. A. Grierson, R. R. Pandey, Dr. D.

Devahuti, Dr B. S. Upadhyaya, Dr M. R. Singh, Dr J. L. Kamboj, Raymond

Allchin and others.====================================