View source for Kirata kingdom

{{Short description|Mythological kingdom of Sanskrit literature}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Citation needed|reason=unreferenced throughout and passive voice|date=December 2024}}
{{About|the mythical kingdom mentioned in the Mahabharata|the mythological people of the kingdom|Kirata}}
{{Confused|text=[[Kirati people]], an ethnic group}}
{{Other uses|Kirat (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{History of Nepal}}

'''Kirata kingdom''' in [[Sanskrit]] literature and [[Hindu]] mythology refers to any kingdom of the [[Kirati]]s, who were dwellers mostly in the [[Himalaya|Himalayas]] (mostly eastern Himalaya). They took part in the [[Kurukshetra War]] along with [[Parvata kingdom|Parvatas]] (mountaineers) and other [[Himalaya kingdom|Himalayan]] tribes.

== References in Mahabharata ==
The [[Kamboja kingdom|Kambojas]], [[Gandhara kingdom|Gandharas]], [[Kirati people|Kiratas]] and [[Barbaras]] were mentioned{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} together as northern tribes at (12,206).

The [[Yavana kingdom|Yavanas]], the [[Kirati people|Kiratas]], the [[Gandharva kingdom|Gandharvas]], the [[China of Mahabharata|Chinas]], the Savaras, the Barbaras, the [[Saka kingdom|Sakas]], the [[Tushara kingdom|Tusharas]], the Kankas, the Pathavas, the [[Andhra kingdom|Andhras]], the [[Madra kingdom|Madrakas]], the [[Pundra kingdom|Paundras]], the [[Himalaya kingdom|Pulindas]], the Ramathas, the [[Kamboja kingdom|Kamvojas]] were mentioned{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} together as tribes beyond the kingdoms of [[Aryavarta]]. The Aryavarta-kings had doubts on dealing with them. (12,64)

=== Kiratas as a Mlechha tribe ===
[[Kirati people|Kiratas]] were mentioned{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} along with [[Himalaya kingdom|Pulindas]] and [[China of Mahabharata|Chinas]], [[Huna kingdom|Hunas]], [[Pahlava kingdom|Pahlavas]], [[Saka kingdom|Sakas]], [[Yavana kingdom|Yavanas]], Savaras, [[Pundra kingdom|Paundras]], [[Kanchi kingdom|Kanchis]], [[Dravida kingdom|Dravidas]], [[Sinhala kingdom|Sinhalas]] and Keralas. All these tribes were described as [[Mleccha|Mlechha]] tribes. Here they were described as the protectors of sage [[Vasistha]] and his cow against the attack of the king [[Viswamitra]]. (1,177).

=== Territories of Kiratas ===
[[Kirati people|Kiratas]] territories extended along the eastern [[Himalayas|Himalayan]] belt of the mountain ranges.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

====Kiratas of diverse regions in ancient India====
Numerous chiefs of the Kiratas, armed with hunting weapons and ever engaged in hunting activities, eating of fruits and roots and attired in skins (animal-skins or tree-barks), were mentioned to dwell on the northern slopes of the [[Himalaya|Himavat]] and on the mountain from behind which the sun rises ([[Arunachal Pradesh]]) and in the region of Karusha on the sea-coast (could be the mouths of [[Ganges River|Ganges]] in [[Bangladesh]] or the mouths of [[Sindhu]] in Pakistan) and on both sides of the Lohitya mountains (in eastern [[Assam]] and western [[Arunachal Pradesh]]). They were mentioned as bringing tribute to [[Yudhishthira]] during his [[Rajasuya]] sacrifice. They brought with them, loads upon loads of sandal and aloe as also black aloe, and heaps upon heaps of valuable skins and gold and perfumes, and ten thousand serving-girls of their own race, and many beautiful animals and birds of remote countries, and much gold of great splendour procured from mountains (2,51). ''The Kairatas (Kiratas), the [[Darada kingdom|Daradas]], the Darvas, the Suras, the Vaiamakas, the [[Audumbaras|Audumvaras]], the Durvibhagas, the Kumaras, the Paradas along with the [[Bahlika kingdom|Vahlikas]], the [[Kasmira kingdom|Kashmiras]], the [[Gurkha|Ghorakas]] also were mentioned, here as bringin tributes''

The various tribes of Kiratas were mentioned.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} along with the [[Pahlava kingdom|Pahlavas]] and the [[Darada kingdom|Daradas]] and [[Yavana kingdom|Yavanas]] and [[Saka kingdom|Sakas]] and the [[Hara Huna kingdom|Harahunas]] and [[China of Mahabharata|Chinas]] and [[Tushara kingdom|Tukharas]] and the [[Sindhu kingdom|Sindhavas]] and the Jagudas and the Ramathas and the Mundas and the inhabitants of the kingdom of women and the Tanganas and the [[Kekeya kingdom|Kekayas]] and the [[Malava kingdom|Malavas]] and the inhabitants of [[Kasmira kingdom|Kasmira]]. They were described as accepting the sway of [[Yudhishthira]], performing various offices in his palace..{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}(3,51)

The Kiratas who were fierce in battles mostly dwelled in the vastness of the [[Himalaya|Himavat]]. It is believed.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} by some scholars that they were vanquished by [[Karna]].

====Kiratas under the Himalayan kingdom called Pulinda====
[[Himalaya kingdom|Pulinda]] king is described.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} as the king of Kiratas also at (2,4). He is said to attend the inauguration of the new court of [[Pandava]] king [[Yudhishthira]] at [[Indraprastha]] along with many other kings of [[Ancient India]] ([[Names for India|Bharata Varsha]]). His kingdom lay close to the [[Mount Kailash|Kailas]] range in [[Tibet]].

[[Himalaya kingdom|Domains of king Suvahu]], the lord of the [[Pulinda]], is mentioned{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} as situated on the Himalayas abounding in horses and elephants, densely inhabited by the Kiratas and the Tanganas, crowded by hundreds of Pulindas, frequented by the [[Exotic Tribes of Ancient India|exotic tribes]], and rife with wonders. [[Pandavas]] stayed here for some time on their onward-journey to the Himalayan regions (3,140).

Then all those warriors, viz the [[Pandavas]] having in due course happily lived at Badari ([[Badrinath]], [[Uttarakhand]]), for one month, proceeded towards the realm of '''Suvahu, king of the Kiratas''', by following the same track by which they had come. And crossing the difficult Himalayan regions, and the countries of [[China of Mahabharata|China]], [[Tushara kingdom|Tukhara]], [[Darada kingdom|Darada]] and all the climes of [[Himalaya kingdom|Kulinda]], rich in heaps of jewels, those warlike men reached the capital of Suvahu (3,176).

''Their final destination was the source of [[Yamuna]]. Thus they could have made a circular path, from Badari ([[Badrinath]]) to [[Tibet]] and [[Kashmir]] and finally to [[Himachal Pradesh]].''

====Kiratas under Paundraka Vasudeva====
There was a king named [[Paundraka Vasudeva]], who was an enemy of [[Krishna in the Mahābhārata|Vasudeva Krishna]]. This king used to dress like Vasudeva Krishan and mock him. He mentioned{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} to rule over the kingdoms of [[Vanga kingdom|Vanga]] ([[West Bengal]]), [[Pundra kingdom|Pundra]] (north-[[Bangladesh]]) and Kiratas (2,14). The Kiratas mentioned here were those living in the vicinity of [[Darjeeling]] Himalayan region.

==== Kiratas under Bhagadatta ====
[[Kirati people|Kiratas]] and [[China of Mahabharata|Chinas]] were mentioned{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} as forming the army of [[Pragjyotisha kingdom|Pragjyotisha]] ([[Assam]]) king [[Bhagadatta]] (5,19). This army took part in the [[Kurukshetra War]] for the sake of [[Kauravas]] and its size was one Akshouhini (a huge army unit).

====Kiratas conquered by Bhima====
''[[Bhima]], during his military campaign in the eastern countries to collect tribute for [[Pandava]] king [[Yudhishthira]]'s [[Rajasuya]] sacrifice, conquered Kirata kings, close to the [[Videha kingdom]]{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}''

[[Bhima]], the son of [[Pandu]], sending forth expeditions from [[Videha kingdom]], conquered the seven kings of the [[Kirati people|Kiratas]] living about the Indra mountain (2,29). These were considered{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} to be the Kiriatas in [[Nepal]].

====Kiratas conquered by Nakula====
''[[Nakula]] during his military campaign in the western countries to collect tribute for [[Pandava]] king [[Yudhishthira]]'s [[Rajasuya]] sacrifice, conquered Kiratas in the western hills''

[[Nakula]], the son of [[Pandu]], then reduced to subjection the fierce Mlechchas residing on the sea coast (in [[Karachi]] area), as also the wild tribes of the [[Pahlava kingdom|Palhavas]] (an [[Iranian peoples|Iranian]] tribe), the Kiratas, the [[Yavana kingdom|Yavanas]] and the [[Saka kingdom|Sakas]] (2,31).

=== Kiratas in Kurukhsetra War ===
[[Kirati people|Kiratas]] and [[China of Mahabharata|Chinas]] were part of the one [[Akshouhini]] of troops of [[Pragjyotisha kingdom|Pragjyotisha]] ([[Assam]]) king [[Bhagadatta]] who joined the side of the [[Kauravas]](5,19).

Western Kiratas were mentioned{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} along with the [[Saka kingdom|Sakas]], and [[Yavana kingdom|Yavanas]], the [[Sivi kingdom|Sivis]] and the Vasatis as marching in the huge army of [[Kauravas]] (5,198). The Sakas, the Kiratas, the Yavanas, and the Pahlavas were mentioned in a battle-array formed by the [[Kauravas]] (6,20). Similarly, they are mentioned in another battle-array formed on another day at (6,50).

Words of [[Satyaki]] a [[Yadu|Yadava]] chief on the side of [[Pandavas]], during [[Kurukshetra War]]:- Those other elephants 700 in number, all cased in armour and ridden by [[Kirant|Kiratas]], and decked with ornaments, the king of the Kiratas, desirous of his life, had formerly presented to [[Arjuna]].  These were formerly employed in doing good to [[Yudhishthira]]. Behold the vicissitudes that time brings about, for these are now battling against [[Yudhishthira]]. Those elephants are ridden by Kiratas difficult of defeat in battle. They are accomplished in fighting from elephants and are all sprung from the race of [[Agni]]. Formerly, they were all vanquished in battle by [[Arjuna]]. They are now waiting for me carefully, under the orders of [[Duryodhana]]. Slaying with my shafts these Kiratas difficult of defeat in battle, I shall follow in the track of [[Arjuna]] (7,109).

The [[Tushara kingdom|Tusharas]], the [[Yavana kingdom|Yavanas]], the [[Khasas (Mahabharata)|Khasas]], the Darvabhisaras, the [[Darada kingdom|Daradas]], the [[Saka kingdom|Sakas]], the Kamathas, the Ramathas, the Tanganas the Andhrakas (obviously not the southern [[Andhra kingdom|Andhras]]), the [[Himalaya kingdom|Pulindas]], the [[Kirant|Kiratas]] of fierce prowess, the Mlecchas, the Mountaineers, and the races hailing from the sea-side, were all united in battle for the purpose of the [[Kaurava]] king [[Duryodhana]]. (8,73) The ruler of the Kiratas died in battle (8,5).

=== Arjuna's conquests after Kurukhsetra War ===
Countless was the fete of Kshatriyas, of kings in myriads, who fought with [[Arjuna]] on the occasion of his military campaign to collect tribute for [[Yudhishthira]]'s [[Ashwamedha]] sacrifice, for having lost their kinsmen on the field of [[Kurukshetra]]. Innumerable [[Kiratas]] also and [[Yavana kingdom|Yavanas]], all excellent bowmen, and diverse tribes of Mlechechas too, who had been discomfited before (by the [[Pandavas]] on the field of [[Kurukshetra]]), and many Arya kings, possessed of soldiers and animals, encountered [[Arjuna]] in battle (14,73). He battled with the [[Kasi kingdom|Kasis]], the [[Anga kingdom|Angas]], the [[Kosala kingdom|Kosalas]], the Kiratas, and the Tanganas (14,83)

====Absence of [[Brahmins]] among [[Kirati people|Kiratas]]====
The Mekalas, the [[Dravida kingdom|Dravidas]], the Lathas, the [[Pundra kingdom|Paundras]], the Konwasiras, the Saundikas, the [[Darada kingdom|Daradas]], the Darvas, the Chauras, the Savaras, the Varvaras, the Kiratas, the [[Yavana kingdom|Yavanas]], [[Kamboja kingdom|Kambojas]], [[Huna kingdom|Huna]]s, [[Saka]]s and numerous other tribes of Kshatriyas, have gained the status of Sudras through the absence of [[Brahmanas]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

== See also ==
*[[Kirātārjunīya]], poem about Arjuna and Shiva (disguised as a Kirata) in southern India
*[[Kingdoms of Ancient India]]
*[[Kimpurusha kingdom]]
*[[Yalambar]], legendary king of the modern Kirati people

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
*[[Mahabharata]] of [[Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa]], translated to English by Kisari Mohan Ganguli
{{Tribes and kingdoms of the Mahabharata}}

[[Category:Kingdoms in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Himalayan kingdoms (Puranas)]]