Kamboja

Kamboja Mahajanapada has been part of several controversies as it is mentioned in many languages like Sanskrit, Pali, Greek, Roman, Chinese and other languages. Kamboja’s footprints have been located in several areas in India like Sindh, Balochistan, Mathura, Ayodhya, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and others.

Besides, the footprints have also been found in other countries like Iran, Kandhar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Tibet, Nepal, Assam and others. The capital of Kamboja was Poonch district which in the current times is located in the Rajouri and Hijra areas of Kashmir, while some parts fall in the Northwest frontier.

Facts on Kamboja

Kshatriya Tribes led the kingdom of Kamboja in the Iron Age. The functions of this tribe are mentioned in several documents of Sanskrit and Pali. It is believed that the origin of the Kamboja tribe is from eastern Iran, although this tribal population later settled on the boundaries of India in ancient times.

The controversy here is that other scholars believe that Kamboja Tribe is an Indian habitat from the Vedic era known as Mleccha. It is believed that Kambojas did adopt Hinduism as their religion in the late Vedic era.

It is believed that all western kingdoms were under the supervision of rulers residing in the Capital of Kamboja. The kingdoms were located in the lowest temperatures, which required the general population to use blankets and warm materials.

For this reason, rearing sheep was common, which was used for wool and consumed milk. Payment modes and concepts were also prevalent as the services from horses and soldiers were used in payment modes.

Many scholars believe that Kamboja was an active part of Mahabharat during the Kurukshetra war. They supported both sides of Pandavas and Kauravas. The capital of Kamboja was responsible for training soldiers and horses for the war. It is believed that the Kamboja kingdom had the highest breed of horses while the population had exceptional cavalry skills.

It is said that Kambojas had no existence in the Krita Age, although their multiplication started from the Treta  Yuga. In the Dwapara Yuga, it is believed that Kamboja was a trained and skilled soldier who fought many battles.

Controversies about Kamboja kingdom location

Sanskrit and Pali documents like Vayu Purana (V), Brahmanda Purana (V), Markandeya Purana (57. 36), and Vamana Purana (13.40) explains the locations of Kamboja in Uttarapatha.

Markendya (58), Vishnu Dharmottara (1.9.6) has mentioned the location in the South-West part of India, which is now Gujarat/ Slasher. The Markendya also described the location of Pahlavas, Sindhus, and Sauviras in the north-western part of India. Besides, the Garuda Purana (55.13) mentions that many clans of the Kamboja Tribes were situated near Gujarat and Saurashtra. Bahasa Samhita specifies that clans resided in the southern- western part of Sauvir Dravid.

Kamboja Kingdom

The evidence and instances of Mahabharat reveal that Kamboja depicts the structure of a republic, where democracy held a vital place to formulate policies and norms. In simpler words, the general population had the power to choose the government.

The kingdom ruled the country, including Kamboja, Ashtra, Medra and Kekeya. The kamboja kingdom has developed its own culture and traditions, which do not follow the Vedic culture.

The capital of Kamboja ruled colonial states is currently located in Central India, Aswaka, situated in the Maharashtra region. The other kingdom is located outside India in the southeast region of Cambodia.

Kamboja Kings and its participation in Mahabharat

One of the most popular and main kings of Kamboja was Chadravarman. It is believed that this king belongs to the clans of Asur, Sudakshina and Kamath. The clan was supposed to be Daitya.

The capital of Kamboja, along with other kingdoms, was captured by independent rulers before the Mahabharata. Arjun encountered two regions of Kamboja, located in the Northern area. One of the regions is near Daradas, while another is near the eastern part of the Kamboja Kingdom.

Karna captured the Capital of Kamboja and most of the regions within Kamboja’s reign. The elders of Pandavas wanted Kambojas to fight against Kauravas owing to their skills and collection of horses.

Although the Kambojas were close relatives of the Pandavas, they fought the Kurukshetra war against the Pandavas. Besides, Sudakshina was made the general of the army led by Duryodhana Kaurava.

Mahabharat has an association with the Sakas, Canvas and other tribes of Kamboja in many places that are located in and out of India. The Buddhist texts like Mudrarakasha portray that Kamboja was also a core part of Chandra Gupta Maurya’s army, and they were represented as Uttarapathian warriors who defeated Nandas of the Magadha dynasty.

Conclusion

The capital of Kamboja was Rajouri which is now part of Kashmir. Kambojas are a tribal population who were skilled soldiers and were known for rearing a good breed of horses. Many Kamboja kingdoms were conquered by Arjun and Karna, while Kamboja fought from the Kauravas side in Mahabharata. Many scholars believed that the Kamboja kingdom was located in colder regions; hence rearing sheep for milk and wool was common. There are many facts about Kambojas which are controversial.

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