Editing Jat people (section)

==Jat people in Religious history==
===Jat People in Islamic History===
{{main|Jats in Islamic History}}

Jat people & their history have been intertwined with Islam, starting from the 7th Century. It has been mentioned of Jats were living in Arabia and being the earliest people of South Asian origin to become Muslims. They were in Muhammad's army in all the battles he fought. They were later appointed as guards of the treasury of the Islamic Caliphate. However, the largest period of integration and conflict began from the 11th century onwards.<ref>Mujmat ut-Tawarikh, Ed. Vol.I</ref><ref>Dr S.Jabir Raza, The Jats - Their Role and Contribution to the Socio-Economic Life and Polity of North and North West India. Vol I, 2004, Ed Dr Vir Singh</ref> These factors have affected and influenced the Jat people, their history and their culture. These influences include periods of conflict and periods of integration with Jat people, their social institutions and their culture.

==== Jat people in Shāhnāma ====
{{main|Jat people in Shāhnāma}}

According to Dr S.M. Yunus Jaffery, Jatt people have been mentioned in [[Shāhnāma]] ("The epic of kings") <ref> Dr S.M. Yunus Jaffery:The Jats - Their Role and Contribution to the Socio-Economic Life and Polity of North and North West India, Vol.I, 2004. Page 36-37, Ed. by Dr Vir Singh, Publisher - M/S Originals (an imprint of low priced publications), A-6, Nimri commercial Centre, Near Ashok Vihar, Phase-IV, Delhi-110052</ref>, the national epic of Persia (modern [[Iran]]), by Hakīm Abul-Qāsim Firdawsī Tūsī (Persian: حکیم ابوالقاسم فردوسی توسی‎ ), more commonly transliterated as [[Firdowsi]] (935–1020),  the most revered Persian poet. The Shāhnāma tells the mythical and historical past of [[Iran]] from the creation of the world up until the Islamic conquest of Iran in the 7th century. The Shâhnameh recounts the history of Iran, beginning with the creation of the world and the introduction of the arts of civilization (fire, cooking, metallurgy, law) to the [[Aryan]]s and ends with the [[Arab]] conquest of [[Persia]]. The scene that has been drawn by [[Firdowsi]] in his Shahnama is in the legend of Rostam and Sohrab. Sohrab was in search of Rostam, his father. Both, the father and son had heard the heroic deeds of each other, but none of them wanted to disclose his identification. Sohrab while being in search of his father leads his army to the White Castle (Dazh-e-Safid)  in [[Iran]]. Hujir, guardian of the castle, sees the army come and goes to meet them. Sohrab asked Hujir about the heroes and war champions of Iran as under:<ref>Farhang-e-Namha-ye-Shah Nama, compiled by Dr Mansur RastgarFasayi, Published by Moassea-e-Motaleat o Thqiqat-e-Farhangi, Tehran 1370 AH/1991 AD, pages 1090-1094</ref><ref> Dr S.M. Yunus Jaffery:The Jats - Their Role and Contribution to the Socio-Economic Life and Polity of North and North West India, Vol.I, 2004. Page 36-37,  Ed. by Dr Vir Singh, Publisher - M/S Originals (an imprint of low priced publications), A-6, Nimri commercial Centre, Near Ashok Vihar, Phase-IV, Delhi-110052.</ref><ref>Dr S.M. Yunus Jaffery of Delhi university under the title "The Jat in Shah Nama of Firdowsi" is based on the Persian text of Shah Nama by Abdul Qasim bin Ishaq bin Sharaf Shah Firdowsi Tusi, published by Mohammad Ramazani, Mossisa-e-khavar, Tehran 1310 A.H./1931 AD. Dr S.M. Yunus Jaffery has given English Version as well as Persian versions in his article.</ref>

==== Jat People in [[Majmal al-tawarikh|Majmal-ut-Tawarikh]] ====
Majmal-ut-Tawarikh, the first Persian account of the 11th century (1026), refers an interesting legend about the Jat people and Meds. It says that both these people, the descendants of Ham, lived in [[Sind]] on the banks of the river Bahar. They indulged in mutual warfare. It so happens that the Jats overpowered the distressing Meds. But realizing the futility of continuous struggle both the Jats and the Meds begged King Dajushan (Duryodhan) to appoint a King to rule over them and thereby ensure perpetual peace. The King nominated his sister Dassal (Duhsala), who governed them with wisdom. But despite its riches, dignity and greatness, there was no Brahman or wise man in the country. Hence from all over Hindustan thirty thousand Brahmans along with their families were sent there by her brother. Perhaps the name of the famous city Brahmanabad points to the place where the Brahman immigrants first settled. <ref>K.R.Qanungo, History of the Jats, Ed [[Dr Vir Singh]], Delhi, 2003, p. 16</ref>They settled there and in time Sind became flourishing. The queen later on made over small portion of her realm to the Jats and appointed one of them, Judrat, as their chief. She made a similar provision for the Meds also. <ref>Majmal al-tawarikh in Elliot, I, p. 104-105</ref> This narrative involving the mythological figures can not be regarded as a historical fact but would imply that the people designated as Jatts were present at the time of war of Mahabharata.<ref>G.C. Dwivedi, The Jats, Their role in the Mughal Empire, Delhi, Ed [[Dr Vir Singh]], 2003, p. 7</ref>

===Jat People in Hindu History===
====Shiva's Locks Legend of Jat people ====
{{main|Origin of Jats from Shiva's Locks}}

[[Image:450px-Sivakempfort.jpg|thumb|130px|left|Lord Shiva]]
[[Image:Shiva and Parvati.jpg|thumb|130px|Shiva and Parvati]]

The mythological account of '''Origin of Jats from Shiva's Locks''' was propounded by the author of [[Deva Samhita]]. [[Deva Samhita]],<ref>Y.P.Shastri, op.cit., p.40-41</ref>, <ref>Dr [[Ram Swarup Joon]], History of the Jats (Eng), 1967, p.14-15</ref>, <ref>[[Thakur Deshraj]], Jat Itihas, 1934, p. 85-86</ref> is a collection of Sanskrit hymns by Gorakh Sinha during the early medieval period. Devasamhita records an account of the Origin of the Jats in the form of discussion between [[Shiva]] and [[Parvati]] expressed in shloka (verses).  [[Parvati|Pārvatī]] asks [[Shiva]], O Lord Bhutesha, knower of all religions, kindly narrate about the birth and exploits of the [[Jat people|Jat race]]. Who is their father?  Who is their mother? Which race are they? When were they born? Having read the mind of Parvati, Shiva said, "O mother of the world, I may tell you honestly the origin and exploits of the Jats about whom none else has so far revealed anything to you.

There is mention of Jats in ''[[Deva Samhita|Deva Samhitā]]'' <ref> Thakur Deshraj, Jat Itihas (Hindi), Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan, Delhi, 1934, 2nd edition 1992 page 87-88. </ref>  
in the form of powerful rulers over vast plains of [[Central Asia]]. When [[Parvati|Pārvatī]] asks [[Shiva]] about the origin of Jats, their antiquity and characters of Jats, Shiva tells her like this in Sanskrit ''[[shloka]]''-15 as under:    
   
:महाबला महावीर्या, महासत्य पराक्रमाः ''Mahābalā mahāvīryā, Mahāsatya {{IPA|parākramāḥ}}''    
    
:सर्वाग्रे क्षत्रिया जट्‌टा देवकल्‍पा दृढ़-व्रता: ''Sarvāgre [[kshatriya|kshatriyā]] [[Jat|jattā]] Devakalpā {{IPA|dridh-vratāḥ}}'' || 15 ||  
   
:Meaning - "They are symbol of sacrifice, bravery and industry. They are, like gods, firm of determination and of all the [[kshatriya|kshatriyā]], the Jats are the prime rulers of the earth." 

[[Shiva]] explains [[Parvati]] about the origin of Jats in [[Shloka]] –16 of Deva samhita as under:    
   
:श्रृष्टेरादौ महामाये वीर भद्रस्य शक्तित: ''Shrishterādau mahāmāye [[Virabhadra]]sya {{IPA|shaktitaḥ}}''    
   
:कन्यानां दक्षस्य गर्भे जाता जट्टा महेश्वरी ''Kanyānām [[Daksha]]sya garbhe jātā [[Jat|jattā]] maheshwarī.''    || 16 ||  
   
:Meaning – "In the beginning of the universe with the personification of the illusionary powers of [[Virabhadra]] and daughter of [[Daksha]]'s  [[gana]]'s  womb originated the caste of Jats."

[[Parvati|Pārvatī]] asks, in the ''shloka''-17 of '[[Deva Samhita|Deva Samhitā]]'  about the origin and exploits of the Jats, whom none else has so far revealed, [[Shiva]] tells Parvati that:    
   
:गर्व खर्चोत्र विग्राणां देवानां च महेश्वरी ''Garva kharchotra vigrānam devānām cha maheshwarī''    
   
:विचित्रं विस्‍मयं सत्‍वं पौराण कै साङ्गीपितं ''Vichitram vismayam satvam Pauran kai sāngīpitam'' || 17 ||     
    
:Meaning - "The history of origin of Jats is extremely wonderful and their antiquity glorious. The Pundits of history did not record their annals lest it should injure and impair their false pride  of the vipras and gods. We describe that realistic history before you."

The Brahmanical accounts wrongly interpret word ''jata'' as 'locks'. Since Jats were strong followers of [[Shiva]] and were his [[gana]]s. Word 'Jata' should be understod as a federation in the light of Panini's Ashtadhyayi. The Linguistic and Religious Etymology about the origin of the word, 'Jata' is that it finds mention in most ancient Indian literature like [[Mahabharata]] and [[Rig Veda]]. Over sixty clans are named in the [[Rig Veda]].<ref> [[Bhim Singh Dahiya]], Aryan Tribes and the Rig Veda, Dahinam Publishers, 16 B Sujan Singh Park, Sonepat, Haryana,India,1991</ref> In the [[Mahabharata]] as they are mentioned ‘''Jartas''’ in ‘Karna Parva’. The famous [[Sanskrit]] scholar [[Panini (grammarian)|Panini]] (traditionally dated 520-460 BCE, with estimates ranging from the 7th to 4th centuries BCE) has mentioned in his [[Sanskrit]] grammar known as ''[[Astadhyayi|{{IPA|Aṣṭādhyāyī}}]]'' in the form of ''shloka'' as जट झट  सङ्घाते or “''Jata Jhata Sanghate''”.<ref>Dr Mahendra Singh Arya, Dharmpal Singh Dudi, Kishan Singh Faujdar & Vijendra Singh Narwar: Ādhunik Jat Itihasa (The modern history of Jats), Agra 1998, Page-1 </ref> This means that the terms 'Jata' (जट) and 'democratic federation' are synonymous. He has mentioned many [[Jat]] clans as settled in Punjab and North west areas. They are mentioned in the grammar treatise of [[Chandra]] of the [[fifth century]] in the phrase sentence अजय जर्टो हुणान or “''Ajay Jarto {{IPA|Huṇān}}''”, which refers to the defeat of [[Hun]]s by two Jat rulers under the leadership of [[Yasodharman]]. Other Jat ruler who fought with him was [[Baladitya]].

====Jat People in Mahabharata period====

{{main|Jat people in Mahabharata period}}

{{main|The Mahabharata Tribes}}

Jat people find a mention in most ancient Indian literature like [[Mahabharata]] and [[Rig Veda]]. Over sixty clans are named in the Rig Veda.<ref> [[Bhim Singh Dahiya]], Aryan Tribes and the Rig Veda, Dahinam Publishers, 16 B Sujan Singh Park, Sonepat, Haryana,India,1991</ref> In the Mahabharata as they are mentioned ‘''Jartas''’ in ‘Karna Parva’. The famous Sanskrit scholar [[Panini (grammarian)|Panini]] (traditionally dated 520-460 BCE, with estimates ranging from the 7th to 4th centuries BCE) has mentioned in his Sanskrit grammar known as ''[[Astadhyayi|{{IPA|Aṣṭādhyāyī}}]]'' in the form of ''shloka'' as जट झट संघाते or “''Jat Jhat Sanghate''”.<ref>Dr Mahendra Singh Arya, Dharmpal Singh Dudi, Kishan Singh Faujdar & Vijendra Singh Narwar: Ādhunik Jat Itihasa (The modern history of Jats), Agra 1998, Page-1 </ref> This means that the terms 'Jat' and 'democratic federation' are synonymous.

====Jat People in Ramayana period====

In Sarg 42 of Kishkindha Kanda in Ramayana - Directions to Westward Party in search of Sita are given as under:

:Then [[Sugriva]] went to his father-in-law and [[Tara]]'s father [[Sushena]]. He greeted him and said to the great sage '''Maareech's son Archismaan''' who is like Indra and [[Garud]] in valor and the other son of Sage Maareech Archishmaalyaa - "You take 200,000 (2 lakh) [[Vanar]] under the leadership of [[Sushena]] and go to search '''Vaidehee''' in west, '''[[Saurashtra]]''' and '''[[Chandrachitra]]''' (present day [[Mathura]]) Desh. Search for Her in [[Kukshi]] Desh where beetle nut, Bakul and Uddaalk trees grow. There you will search Her in dry lands, waters, forests, mountains etc.

:Further, you will find a sea ([[Arabian Sea]]) in which many sharks and crocodiles live in. Near that sea, you will find a forest where Ketakee, Tamaal, Kaarikel (coconut) trees grow. After that you will find '''Murachee''' and '''[[Jat]]apur cities.''' Next you go to [[Avanti]] (this Avantee is another Avantee), '''Anglepaa and Alakshita'''a.

:After this you will arrive at the mouth of River [[Indus]] ([[Sindhu]]). Near it is Hem Giri Parvat (Som Giri Parvat) which has numerous summits and on which there are many huge tall trees. Here live flying lions who take Timi named [[Matsya]] (fish or sharks) and elephant seals on the trees. You will search this mountain thoroughly. 

Here we find mention of '''[[Jat]]apur city''' means 'the city of Jats' near Avanti and after it is situated [[Sindhu]] River.

[[किष्किन्धाकाण्डे द्विचत्वारिंशः सर्गः ॥४-४२॥]] in [[Ramayana]] mentions Jat in Sanskrit as under:

:वेलातल निवेष्टेषु पर्वतेषु वनेषु च ।
:मुरची पत्तनम् चैव रम्यम् चैव '''[[Jat|जटा पुरम्]]''' ॥४-४२-१३॥

:कपयो विहरिष्यन्ति नारिकेल वनेषु च ।
:तत्र सीताम् च मार्गध्वम् निलयम् रावणस्य च ॥४-४२-१२॥

:[[Avanti|अवंतीम्]] अंगलेपाम् च तथा च अलक्षितम् वनम् ।
:राष्ट्राणि च विशालानि पत्तनानि ततः ततः ॥४-४२-१४॥

:[[Sindhu|सिंधु]] सागरयोः चैव संगमे तत्र पर्वतः ।
:महान् हेम गिरिः नाम शत शृंगो महाद्रुमः ॥४-४२-१५॥

==== Jat in Rajatarangini  ====
[[Rajatarangini]]<ref>[[Kings of Kashmira Vol 2 (Rajatarangini of Kalhana)/Book VIII (i)]] ,p.217</ref> tells that '''[[Jatta|Jaṭṭa]]''' (जट्ट), the minister for peace and war of the lord of '''[[Darvvabhisara|Dārvvābhisāra]]''', and prone to pious work, set up the image of the eight faced '''[[Mahadeva]]''' during the reign of king [[Jayasimha]] (1128 - 1155 AD).