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7 fakta kekayaan raja salman yang gak habis 18 turunan
Kekayas or Kaikeyas (Sanskrit: केकय) were an ancient people attested to have been living in north-western Punjab—between Gandhara and the Beas rivers in modern Pakistan since remote antiquity. They were the descendants of the Kshatriyas of the Kekaya Janapada hence called Kekayas or Kaikeyas. The Kekayas were often associated with the Madras, the Usinaras, and the Sibis, and their territory had formed a part of the Vahika country, according to the evidence furnished by Pāṇini.
Contents
- 7 fakta kekayaan raja salman yang gak habis 18 turunan
- Geographical Location the Kekayas
- Kekayas in Vedic texts
- Kekayas of Valmiki Ramayana
- Vishnu Dharmottara Mahapurana
- Traditional origin of Kekayas
- Kekays in Pinis Ashtadhyayi
- Jaina accounts
- Kekayas in Kavyamimamsa of Rajashekhara
- Migration of the Kekayas
- References
Geographical Location the Kekayas
Numerous Puranas include the Kekayas in the list of Gandharas, Yavanas, Shakas, Paradas, Bahlikas, Kambojas, Daradas, Barbaras, Chinas, Tusharas, Pahlavas, and call them as a people of Udichya i.e. of northern division or Uttarapatha. The Kekayas are said to have occupied the land now comprised by three districts of Jhelum, Shahpur and Gujerat, all in Pakistan.
Kekayas in Vedic texts
The Rigvedic Kekayas dwelt on the banks of river Parusni (=Ravi). The king of Kekayas at the time of Janaka of Videha was Ashvapati i.e. lord of horses. Satapatha Brahmana and Chandogiya Upanishada suggest that Kekaya king Ashvapati had instructed a number of Brahmanas viz. Arjuna Aupavesi, Gautama, Satyajna Paulushi, Mahasala Jabala, Budila Asvatarashvi, Indradyumna Bhallaveya, jana Sarkarakshya, Prachinshala, Aupamanyava and Uddaalaka Aruni.
Kekayas of Valmiki Ramayana
There are several references to Kaikeyi in the epic Ramayana. Kekayi, one of the three queens of Dasharatha, the king of Ayodhya was a Kekaya princess. Ramayana testifies that the capital of Kekayas lay beyond river Sudama. River Sudama has been identified with river Saranges of Arrian which flowed also flowed through Kekians. The Vedic texts do not mention name of the capital of Kekaya but Ramayana does inform us that the Kekaya metropolis was Rajagriha or Girivraja. which A. Cunningham has identified with Girjak or Jalalpur on river Jhelum in the Jhelum district but this view has not been accepted by scholars. Ramayana further attests that Kekaya lay beyond Vipasa or Beas and abutted with the country of Gandharava or Gandhara vishaya (country).
Vishnu-Dharmottara Mahapurana
According to Vishnu-Dharmottara Mahapurana also, the capital of the Kekayas lay beyond river Sudama which flowed some distance westwards from the Vitasta or Jhelum river. Prince Bharata, son of princess Kekayi, while going to Kekaya country from Ayodhya had to cross river Vitasta and then after crossing river Sudama, he reached the land of the Kekayas.
Traditional origin of Kekayas
Bhagavata Purana further states that the Usinaras, the Sibi, the Madras, and the Kekayas were the direct descendants of Yayati's son Anu. Sibi or Sivi is stated to be son of Usinara
The same tradition is also furnished by other Puranic texts like Vayu Purana and Matsya Purana as well. The Anavas, derived from Anu, were a tribe of the Rigvedic period and are said to belong to the Iranians.
Kekays in Pāṇini's Ashtadhyayi
Pāṇini refers to the Kaikeyas or Kekayas in his Ashtadhyayi and mentions their land as a part of the Vahika country. The other three countries which formed parts of the Vahika land were the Madra, the Usinara and the Savasa lands.
Jaina accounts
The Jaina texts say that one half of the Kekaya was Aryan and refer to the Kekaya city called Seyaviya.
Kekayas in Kavyamimamsa of Rajashekhara
The 10th century CE Kavyamimamsa of Pandit Rajashekhara furnishes a list of the extant tribes of his times which also includes the Kekayas along with the Shakas, Tusharas, Vokanas, Hunas, Kambojas, Vahlikas, Vahlavas, Limpakas, Tangana, Turukshas, referring to them all as the tribes of Uttarapatha or north division.
Migration of the Kekayas
A branch of the Kekaya seems to have migrated to southern India in later times and established its authority in Mysore country.