Sindhu Kingdom

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This article is about the kingdom of Sindhu in Indian epic literature. For the historical Iron Age kingdom, see Sindhu-Sauvīra. For the historical and present-day region, see Sindh. For the river, see Indus River. For the dynasty from Gujarat, see Saindhava.
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The Kingdom of Sindh in 700 AD.

Sindhu Kingdom or simply Sindhu was an ancient kingdom on the

Harivamsa Purana, often alongside the Sauvira Kingdom. It is believed that Sindhu kingdom was founded by Vrishadarbha, one of sons of Sivi. According to the Glimpses of Ancient Sindh, authored by Mirchandani,[citation needed] its capital was known as Vrsadarbhpura, and Tulsianis, later known as Sindhu, was located at or near the location of the present town of Mithankot (in southern Punjab, Pakistan) the inhabitants of the kingdoms were called Sindhus or Saindhavas. "Sindhu" literally means "river" and "sea".[1] According to the epic Mahabharata, Jayadratha (the husband of Duryodhana's sister) was the king of Sindhus, Sauviras and Sivis. Probably Sauvira and Sivi were two kingdoms close to the Sindhu kingdom and Jayadratha conquered them, holding them for some period of time. Sindhu and Sauvira
seem to have been two warring states fighting each other.

Origin of the name

"Sindhu" means "river" and "sea" in classical

Sapta Sindhu
.

References in the Mahabharata

Sindhu (the Bhojas, the Sindhus, the Pulindakas) is mentioned as a separate kingdom of Bharata Varsha at (6:9).[3] The Kasmiras, the Sindhu Sauviras, the Gandharas (or Gandharvas) were mentioned as kingdoms of Bharata Varsha at (6:9). Sindhu and Sauvira are mentioned as a united country at many places, including (5:19), (6:51), (6:56), (7:107), (8:40), and (11:22).

Cultural affinity

Main article:
Bahlika culture

Culturally, Sindhus were mentioned as similar to the

Sindhu
and its five tributary rivers." (8:44)

Military habits

"The

Mathura
are well skilled in fighting with bare arms. The Southerners are skilled in fighting sword in hand." (12:100)

Battles between Sindhu and Sauvira

At (5:133) we find Kunti telling the story of Vidula who persuaded her son, who was the king of Sauvira but banished by the Sindhu king, to fight against the Sindhus and take back his kingdom from them: "The princess Vidula, one day, rebuked her own son, who, after his defeat by the king of the Sindhus, lay prostrate with heart depressed by despair." (5:133) "It is true, the king of the Sindhus hath many followers. They are, however, all discounted. Rejoice, O son, and make thyself happy in the possession of wealth in the company of the daughters of the Sauviras and do not, in weakness of heart, be ruled over by the daughters of the Saindhavas." (5:134) "Pierced by the wordy arrows of his mother, the son roused himself like a steed of proud mettle and achieved (defeating the Sindhus) all that his mother had pointed out." (5:136)

Jayadratha and Sindhu kingdom

At (3:262) Jayadratha is mentioned as the son of Vriddhakshatra. Jayadratha is mentioned as the son of Sindhu at (1:188). Jayadratha is mentioned as of Sindhu's race at (5:142). Jayadratha is mentioned as the king of Sindhu,

Kamboja
(11:22).

Jayadratha is mentioned as the sole ruler, governing "the rich countries of Saivya,

Kauravas.[citation needed
]

Sindhu in Kurukshetra War

In the

Kauravas under their ruler Jayadratha
. (6:71), (7:10,136)

"

Yavanas, the Sivis and the Vasatis with their Maharathas at the heads of their respective divisions joined the Kaurava
army." (5:198) "A silver boar adorned the standard-top of the ruler of the Sindhus. Decked with golden chains, it was of the splendour of a white crystal." (7:102)

"In

Kshatriyas called Amvastas, and those called Sindhus, and those also that are called Sauviras
, and the heroic dwellers of the country of the five rivers." (6:20)

"Those warriors that are opposed to

Sakas, the Trigartas, the Amvashthas, and the Kekayas, similarly fell upon Arjuna." (6:118) "Bhishma protected by the warriors headed by Saindhava and by the combatants of the East and the Sauviras and the Kekayas
, fought with great impetuosity." (6:52)

Arjuna's words, when Jayadratha and others together attacked and killed his son Abhimanyu, during the Kurukshetra War:

"Thou shalt in tomorrow's battle, O

Kesava, behold the earth strewn by me with the heads of kings cut off by the force, of my shafts! (Tomorrow) I shall gratify all cannibals, rout the foe, gladden my friends, and crush the ruler of the Sindhus, viz. Jayadratha
! A great offender, one who hath not acted like a relative, born in a sinful country, the ruler of the Sindhu, slain by me, will sadden his own. Thou shalt behold that ruler of the Sindhus, of sinful behavior, and brought up in every luxury, pierced by me with my shafts!" (7:73)

Sindhu breed of horse

Horses belonging to Sindhu breed were used extensively in the

Kamvoja breed as also of those born in the country of the Rivers, and of those belonging to Aratta
and Mahi and Sindhu, and of those of Vanayu also that were white in hue, and lastly those of hilly countries" were the different types of horse employed in this war. (6:91)

Steeds from Sindhu "were lean-fleshed, yet strong and capable of a long journey and endued with energy and strength of high breed and docility, free from inauspicious marks, with wide nostrils and swelling cheeks, free from faults as regards the ten hairy curls, [...] and fleet as the winds." (3:71)

Sindhu River

"The river Sindhu (Indus) too is flowing with a current of fresh blood." (3:223) "The seven large rivers including the Sindhu (Indus) though flowing eastwards then flowed in opposite directions. The very directions seemed to be reversed and nothing could be distinguished. Fires blazed up everywhere and the earth trembled repeatedly." (5:84) "The spot where the Sindhu mingleth with the sea, is that tirtha of Varuna." (3:82)

  • "There is a celebrated tirtha of the name of Sindhuttama" (3:82)

Other references

  • Samvarana, a king in the like of
    Puru
    , "with his wife and ministers, sons and relatives, fled in fear, and took shelter in the forest on the banks of the Sindhu extending to the foot of the mountains." (1:94)
  • A sage named Sindhudwipa is mentioned at (9:39–40) and (13:4) as attaining Brahminhood.

Sindhu Kingdom in Harivamsa Purana

In the

Yadavas, led by Krishna, arrived there in search for a place to build the city of Dvārakā. The place was so charming, that some of the Yadavas "started enjoying the heavenly comforts in some of the places there".[4]

References

  1. ^ "From Sindhu To Hindu". AncientVoice: Eternal Voices from the past. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  2. hdl:1887/2691
    .
  3. Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
    )
  4. ISBN 978-8178542188
    .

External links

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