Consider a Jat dead only after thirteen days have passed since his death!
Preface
Most of the text on this page is taken from the book “History of the Jats”, authored by Lieutenant Ram Sarup Joon. Ram Sarup Joon (राम सरूप जून) was a Jat historian of repute from village Nuna Mazrah, district Jhajjar, Haryana. He had written this book in Hindi in 1938 which was translated in English in 1967 by his son Lt. Col. Dal Singh. Interestingly, great-grandsons of Lieutenant Ram Sarup Joon, Mr Deepak & Sundeep Joon are also our group members, presently residing in London.
General K.M. Cariappa, Indian Army who read this book and summarised his views about Jats as:
“This is the first time ever I have read such illuminating, impressive and educative write-up about this great class of our people—the Jats. Many ‘cobwebs’ I had in my mind about the origin and history of this virile community—the Jats have now been removed. I have been more than impressed with all that is said in the book. I did not realize that the Jat community was such an ancient community who once ruled Italy and played very important part in the life of far off European countries like Spain, Portugal, Greece, Scandinavia, Turkey and so on.”
I see from the various quotations in this book, from authentic publications by renowned historians, that Jat Community is one of the oldest in our country with a great past both national and international. I see from the various quotations in this book, from authentic publications by renowned historians, that Jat Community is one of the oldest in our country with a great past both national and international. There may be some contradictions against the authenticity of the claims made by author of this book about Jats but until then we must take all that is said in this book as factually correct.
Hence I highly recommend to read this book to all Jat Members to find out more about Jat History.
Ram-Ram
Parveen Ahlawat
Origin of Jats
There are three main theories about the ancient roots of the word ‘JAT’:
1. A race originated from ‘the ‘Jatas’ of ‘Lord Shiva and thus came to be known as Jats.
2. Jat is a phonetic corruption of ‘Yat’ which is from the Sanskrit root -‘ya’ – meaning performer or protector of a Yagya.
3. Jat originated from ‘Yayat’ who was one of the earliest ruler of Chandra Vanshi Aryans.
A detailed analysis of these shows that all the three theories are credible and interconnected. There is a common saying amongst the Jats as follows:
“Jata Jata te Nikso Gangaji ko Prath Jathe va ko Chahiye haro sumran din rath” It means that the Jat was born out of Shiv Ji’s Jata and is the brother of the Ganga; he should, therefore remember God day and night.
According to Shiva Purana, Shavi, or Shiv Ji, the elder son of Raja Ushinar was married to Sati, daughter of Raja Daksha of Kankhal. He became a Yogi. Raja Daksha did not approve of this. When Raja Daksha performed a Yagya, (sacrifice) he invited all except Shiv Ji and Sati. Sati considering it an unintentional omission on the part of her father went uninvited but was completely neglected by Raja Daksha, who neither greeted her nor gave her any present out or the Yagya.
Sati could not bear the insult, jumped into the fire of the Yagya and burnt herself alive. When Shiv Ji’s followers returned and narrated the story, Shiv Ji became furious. He plucked his Jata (long hair) and stuck it against a stone. It broke into two; one piece was transformed into Vir Bhadra and other into an army. On Shiv Ji’s instructions Vir Bhadra went and severed the head of Daksha. Later, Vir Bhadra married the daughter of Daksha and couple gave birth to the Jat race.
One belief is that descendants of Vir Bhadra came to be known as Jats because he was created out of Shiv Ji’s Jatas.
The above story has been presented in the Shiva Purana in a dramatic manner in those days, as was the literary style in those days, and is meant to be interpreted metaphorically and not literally.
Shiva and Parvati
Shiva and Parvati discuss the story of the birth of Jat race.
भगवन सर्व भूतेश सर्व धर्म विदाम्बरः कृपया कथ्यतां नाथ जाटानां जन्म कर्मजम् ।।12।। “God-is almighty, God Is present in every religion, 0 Lord, - kindly narrate the story of the birth of Jat race to me.” Said Parvati.
का च माता पिता ह्वेषां का जाति बद किकुलं । कस्तिन काले शुभे जाता प्रश्नानेतान बद प्रभो ।।13।। Lord Shiva understood the wish of Parvati and said to her:
श्रृणु देवि जगद्वन्दे सत्यं सत्यं वदामिते । जटानां जन्मकर्माणि यन्न पूर्व प्रकाशितं ।।14।। “0 mother of the world, I may tell you the birth and origin of the Jat race in such a way as no one has ever told you”.
महाबला महावीर्या, महासत्य पराक्रमाः । सर्वाग्रे क्षत्रिया जट्टा देवकल्पा दृढ़-व्रता: || 15 || श्रृष्टेरादौ महामाये वीर भद्रस्य शक्तित: । कन्यानां दक्षस्य गर्भे जाता जट्टा महेश्वरी || 16 || गर्व खर्चोत्र विग्राणां देवानां च महेश्वरी । विचित्रं विस्मयं सत्वं पौराण कै साङ्गीपितं || 17 || Lord Shiva said, “0 Parbati, the Jat race is a symbol of sacrifice, bravery and hard work and has ruled the earth from beginning. Jat is a God like race. It is superior to the Brahmins and is a race with strong determination.
Habitation
In the present era, people called Jats live in Northern India all around Delhi. These Jats, however, are only a small representative group, of a once great and vastly populated race, who have retained their original name. The only other members of this race who are partially retaining the title of Jat are Jat Sikhs or Jut Sikhs, as they are called in Punjab.
The word Jat may not be, but these names would be familiar to the student of modern history. In India most of the population of North Western part: of the country, including the area astride River Sindh in West, the Gangetic planes in the East and down to Prayag, Bundel Khand in the South is of Jat origin. This area contains Punjab, part of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Brij and Mewat. Jats have thus lived, from times immemorial, on the most fertile part of India. They did not find it necessary to spread in to the less fertile hilly tracts to the North, the waste lands of Central India or the deserts in Southern and Western parts of Rajasthan.
Jat is in fact only another name of Chandravanshi branch of Aryans which, at one time, extended in the entire area from Northern India to Central Asia and Central Europe. At different times, and in the ancient histories of various countries they have been known by one of the derivatives of word Jat like Yayat, Yat, Yet, Yeti, Yates, Yuchi Jat, Jati, Jutes, Juton, Gat, Gatae, Gatak, Goth etc or by the name of their major sub castes like Shavi, Takshak, Madrak etc.
A Russian historian, K.M Safequadrat, delivered a speech in the International Congress at Moscow in Aug. 1964, which was published in Indian newspapers. He said: “I studied the histories of various sects before I visited India in 1957. It was found that Jats live in an area extending from India to Central Asia and Central Europe. They are known by different names in different countries and they speak different languages but they are all one as regards their origin”.
Characteristics
Physical Features: The Jats have pure Aryan physical features. Their wheatish complexion, oval face with a firm jaw, prominent nose, dark eyes, thin lips, well set teeth, long neck, broad shoulders, thin waist and tall stature are unmistakably Aryan. Hardly any Jat will be found with non-Aryan features. They have retained racial purity due to their homogeneity. It can be safely said that if any people have preserved pure Aryan characteristics it is the Jats, Ahirs and Gujars.
Jatki: Jats speak a dialect akin to Hindi, called Jatki or Haryanvi.
Dress: Their traditional dress is simple. The men’s dress consists of a turban, shirt, dhoti, jooties and cotton or woolen shawl. Women wear orhna (veil) shirt or Angia (short blouse) ghagri (heavy skirt) jooties (country made shoes) and heavy ornaments around the neck, wrists and ankles.
Food: Jats are mostly non-meat eaters as a result of Buddhist influence. Their staple food is wheat or bajra, vegetables and plenty of milk and ghee.
Professions: A Jat generally used to go for only two professions, handed down by his ancestors, agriculture or soldiering, and excels in both. A Jat may starve but will seldom take up a profession involving menial labour for another person. As soldiers they are fearless and loyal but sensitive, and need careful handling and good leadership. As farmers they are very industrious and both men and women work hard on their land. They are very fond and proud of their cattle (specially Murrah breed buffalo), which are amongst the finest breed in the world. Jats meet their simple needs from what they produce and are, therefore, self-reliant. This has had two effects. On one hand, they have managed to live in tact for centuries around Delhi, the capital of India, and could never be coerced in to changing their form or character inspite of numerous changes of governments with different ideologies and religions. On the other hand it has hampered their progress in modern times in educational and technical fields, because they stuck to their land. However, this trend has changed with modernisation of India since 2000 and now younger generation is excelling in education and all fields of employments.
Etiquettes: A Jat is fearless and frank in expression. He neither likes to receive or extend flattery. Jats maintain both friendship and enmity for generations. An old Jat will not die in peace unless he has explained to his descendants the good or evil deeds done unto him by others and taken promise for a return favour or revenge. They are a very hardy lot. There is a popular saying that considers a Jat dead only after thirteen days have passed after his death.
Present Jat Gotras
Only important gotras have been described in detail and also been listed alphabetically. You can access the details for these gotras by clicking at their relevant alphabet listed in contents.
G. Gaharwal, Grewal, Gahlot, Gandhara, Gaur, Gill, Godara, Gondal, Gulia
H. Hala Hanga Chaudhary, Heir and Bhangu, Hudda or Huddha
J. Jakhar, Jatrak or Jattarana, Joon – Maare
K. Kak, Karhwasra, Khaitri (Lahor), Khokhar, Khontal (Kantal), Kilkil Nag or Bhind, King, Kuharh, Kalhari, Khailari, Khalu, Kalhur, Kukarnag, Kakrryan or Kak, Kushan, Kasva
L. Lalla, Lamba – Lamanshi
M. Madrak Madra, Mahe, Mahi, Mehiwal, Meheria, Mahit, Malha, Malo or Malli, Mirh-Midharh-Ajmirh-Sahotas
N. Nandal Tanwar, Naga, Nehra – Naro, Bhatta, Nhaar, Nuhal
P. Parihar, Prathihar, Panwar, Phogat, Ponya, Punia, Punya, Puru, Purnwal, Phalswal or Poruswal
R. Rathi, Ruhal, Rawat, Rae (Tanwar)
S. Sahrawat, Sahi, Saj, Sand, Sangwan – Sanga, Saran – Randhawa – Kajla, Sheoran, Shivran, Shahikasva or Shawal, Shavi, Siddhu, Sindhu, Sihag – Mann, Sikarwal, Sohal, Sohar, Sahu, (Solanki, Chalukya, Chaluk, Chaluc, Chlokya), Sulankhlan or Sulokhan
T. Takhar, Tukhar or Tushar, Takshak, Tank or Tak, Tanwar or Tur, Thukrila, Thainawa, Thin, Thainwar, Tewathiya, Tiwana – Jonjoha, Tushar
U. Uthiraye – Uthwal
V. Virk – Minhas
W. Yodha, Yaudheya, (Johiya)
