Sources of History of Himachal Pradesh

History of Himachal Pradesh: Comprehensive Notes

Himachal Pradesh History

Comprehensive Study of Historical Records and Sources

What is History? Derived from the Greek word ‘Historia’ (Inquiry/Truth). It is the study of human action through written accounts and investigation.

Why It’s Hard to Study Himachal’s History

History is often lost in obscurity due to an extreme scarcity of old records. Here are the 5 main reasons:

1
Never a Single, United Kingdom: The region was divided into small territories (Rajas/Ranas). No central authority existed to create a single, official history.
2
Lack of Royal Patronage: Local rulers did not hire official court historians or chroniclers like the Mughal emperors did.
3
Constant Warfare: Battles between local rulers and foreign aggressors led to the frequent destruction of invaluable records and palaces.
4
Natural Calamities: Earthquakes (like Kangra 1905), floods, and landslides destroyed ancient temples, inscriptions, and monuments.
5
Fragility of Records: Early documents on birch bark (Bhojpatra) or paper decayed easily in the humid mountain climate.

Two-Fold Classification of Historical Sources

I. Archaeological Sources

Physical evidence and artifacts.

II. Literary Sources

Written narratives and documents.

Study Note: Archaeological sources are primary but often insufficient due to limited excavation in the Shivalik regions.

Archaeological Sources of Himachal Pradesh

Archaeological Sources

Core Sources:
  • Stone Tools
  • Coins
  • Inscriptions
  • Monuments (Forts, Temples)
  • Sculptures
Storage Centers:
Bhuri Singh Museum (Chamba) State Museum (Shimla)
Problem: Very less excavation because of financial and technical constraints.

Excavated Areas & Signs of Stone Age

  • Kangra Region: Guler, Chaliara, Dehra, Masrur
  • Early Stone Age Signs: Jwalamukhi, Dehra-Gopipur, Nurpur

Other Prospective Sites

  • Mandi: Balh Valley, Salanu (Manglore), Nawahi (Sarkaghat), Binaul (Siwa Badar), Kao Mamel
  • Shimla: Nirath, Dattnagar, Sholi, Sarahan
  • Kullu: Kullu, Naggar, Bajaura, Jagatsukh, Dashal, Nirmand, Kokhan
  • Kinnaur: Kamru, Sungra, Kothi, Chitkul

Numismatics as Source of History

  • 87 Punch Marked Coins (Arki, Solan): The Earliest Coins.
  • 21 Coins of Appolodotus: Found at Tappa Mewa (Hamirpur).
  • Indo-Greek Coins: Located in Lachori and Sarol (Chamba).
  • Kullu Earliest Coins: King Virayash (1st Century AD).
  • Tribal Coins: Trigarta, Audumbaras, Kuluta, and Kunindas (2nd BC to 2nd AD).

Historical Significance & Interpretation

Crucial Distinction: The presence of foreign coins (Greek/Bactrian) in Himachal Pradesh should not automatically be viewed as proof of foreign invasion or political supremacy.

The Reality: These findings are powerful indicators of widespread trade links and commercial activities. They show that Himachal was connected to global trade routes.

Inscriptions as Source of History

The majority of found inscriptions are stone-based. They are classified based on:

Location:
  • Rock
  • Slab
  • Fountain
  • Sati stone
Purpose:
  • Commemorative
  • Donative
  • Dedicative

Rock

  • Pathyar and Kanihara (Kangra): Earliest examples; written in Brahmi and Kharoshti.
  • Soopur: Cave inscription located at Hatkoti in Shimla.

Slab

  • Prasastis (Eulogies): Found in Baijnath (Kangra).
  • Mentions: Local Chief Lakshmana of Kirgrama and King Jayachandra of Trigarta.

Other Inscriptions

  • Nirmand Copper Plate (7th AD): Issued by Maharaja Samudrasena.
  • Cave Inscriptions: Found at Salanu (Mandi).

Ancient Scripts Used

  • Sharda, Kharoshti, Brahmi, Tankri
  • Kutila, Nagari, Sankha, Bhotia/Tibetan, Sidhamatrika

The Chamba Region

Chamba stands out as the most fertile ground for epigraphy:

  • Highest Number: 36 major inscriptions found.
  • Primary Character: Mostly Donative (recording gifts).
  • Scripts: Predominantly Sharda and Tankari.
  • Storage: Housed in the Bhuri Singh Museum, Chamba.
HP Historical Sources

Literary Sources

1. Persian Sources (Medieval History)

Turkish penetration into Shivalik Hills:
  • 1) Tarikh-i-Yamini / Kitab-ul-Yamini (1020AD) by Utbi
  • 2) Habibus Siyar (1523AD) by Khawand Mir
  • 3) Tarikh-i-Farishta / Gulshan-i-Ibrahimi (1612 10) by Farishta
    • Rebels find Shelter in Lower Parts of HP
  • 1) Tabaqat-i-Nasiri
  • 2) Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi
    • Tughlaq Period:
  • 1) Qasid-i-Badr-i-Chach by Sadr Chach
    • Nagarkot Invasion by Mhmd Tughlaq:
  • 1) Tarikh-i-Firozshahi by Ziauddin Barani
    • Siege of Nagarkot by Firoz Shah Tughlaq:
    • 1) Tarikh-i-Firozshahi by Ziauddin Barani
    • 2) Tarikh-i-Firozshahi by Shams-i-Siraj Afif
    • 3) Tarikh-i-Farishta
    • 4) Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri by Jahangir
    • 5) Muasir-ul-umara by Shahnawaz Khan
      • Ratan Sen of Shivalik Hills:
    • 1) Tuzuk-i-Timuri by Mongol Invader Timur
      • Others:
    • 1) Waqiat-i-Mushtaqi by Rizakulla Mushtaqi
    • 2) Akbar Nama by Abul Fazal
    • 3) Ain-i-Akbari by Abul Fazal
    • 4) Muntakhab-ul-tawarikh by Abdul Qadir Badauni
    • 5) Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri by Jahangir

2. Sanskrit Sources (Ancient History)

Religious:
  • Vedas: Rig Veda mentions Tribes of Himalayan foothills
  • Purana, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Aranyakas
Secular:
  • 1) Ashtadhyayi by Panini
  • 2) Raghuvansham by Kalidas
  • 3) Devichandraguptam by Vishakadatta
  • 4) Mudraraksha by Vishakadatta
  • 5) Rajtarangini by Kalhana

3. Sikh Literature (Modern History)

  • 1) Guru Granth Sahib
  • 2) Bachitra Natak by Guru Gobind Singh
  • 3) Janam Sakhis of Sikh gurus
  • 4) Gur Sobha by Sena Pat
  • 5) Gur Bilas by Bhai Sukha Singh
  • 6) Dabistan-i-Mazahib by Mohsin Fani

Travelogues

  • 1) Heun Tsang (Chinese): (1630-1648) – Mentions Kuluta, Jalandhara, Shrughna
  • 2) Mughal Era: William Finch, Thomas Coryat (Aurangzeb period)
  • 3) Foster (1783)
  • 4) Fraser (1815)
  • 5) Alexander Gerard (1817-18)
  • 6) W. Moorcroft (1820-22)
  • 7) Captain Mundy (1828)
  • 8) Major Archer (1829)
  • 9) Baron Charles Hugel (1835-39)
  • 10) G.T. Vigne (1839) – Visited Chamba in 1839
  • 11) A.P.F. Harcourt (1869-71)

Vamshavalis

Genealogical Rolls

Vamshavalis (Lineage Tracking): Prepared by Rajguru or Kul Purohit at Haridwar.
  • Content: 1. Name of Rulers | 2. Tenure of Rulers | 3. Activities performed
  • Scholars:
    • Moorcroft: 1st to work on HP Vamshavalis
    • Captain Harcourt: Worked on Vamshavali of Kullu
    • Alexander Cunningham: Nurpur, Kangra, Chamba, Mandi Suket
    • 1933: History of Punjab Hill States by J. Hutchinson and J. Ph. Vogel

Latest Findings

  • HP Academy on Language, Art and Culture (Est. 1968)
  • Found 600 Old Manuscripts in Spiti Valley (Topic: Ayurvedic system, Language: Bhoti)
  • Tholang Village of Lahaul Valley (Manuscript finding)

HP History: Green Theme Study Guide

Punjab Hill States History

Classified Analysis of the Three Circles & Socio-Political Structures

I. Classification by Circles (River-Based)

The historical geography of the Punjab Hill States is organized into three distinct “circles,” fundamentally defined by the river systems they occupy:

Circle Geographical Range Dominant State/Clan
Durgar (Jammu) Between Chenab and Ravi Jammu (Jamwal)
Jalandhara (Trigarta) Between Ravi and Sutlej Kangra (Katoch)
Shimla Hill States Between Sutlej and Yamuna Bushahr & Sirmour

II. The Jalandhara (Trigarta) Circle

Modern Context: Kangra, Mandi, Kullu

Key States: Kangra, Mandi, Suket, Chamba, Nurpur, Guler, Kullu, Jaswan, Bangahal.

  • The Katoch Dynasty: The most ancient lineage in the hills. Its primary offshoots formed the states of Jaswan, Guler, Siba, and Datarpur.
  • Chamba’s Unique Position: Notable for being the only state mentioned in both the Jalandhara and Durgar circles, as it is geographically bisected by the River Ravi.

III. The Durgar (Jammu) Circle

Range: Ravi to Chenab
  • Hindu States: Comprised of Jammu (Jamwal), Basohli (Baloria), Jasrota (Jasrotia), Mankot (Mankotia), and Samba (Sambial).
  • Chibhal (Converted) States: Includes Punch, Rajauri, and Bhimber. These states were ruled by Rajputs who converted to Islam while retaining their traditional Rajput social customs.

IV. The Shimla Hill States

This region was historically defined by a fragmentation of power into smaller lordships rather than a singular vast empire.

The “Big Two” Powers:

  • Bushahr: The geographically largest state in this circle, controlling vital trade routes with Tibet.
  • Sirmour: The most influential state in the southern tract, with its capital established at Nahan.

Traditional Lordship Groupings:

  • Bara Sigari (12 Lordships): Including states like Baghal, Baghat, Kunihar, and Kothar.
  • Athara Thakuri (18 Lordships): Including states like Keonthal, Jubbal, Dhami, and Balsan.

V. Socio-Political Terminology

1. Clan Nomenclature & “Als”

Ruling families were further subdivided into “Als”—names derived from the specific territory they governed.

Katoch & Jamwal: 24 als each
Pathania: 22 als
Chambial & Baloria: 12 als each

2. The Title “Mian”

Origin: This title was bestowed by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir.

Context: It was originally used to address the 22 Rajput princes held as hostages at the Mughal court.

Code of Conduct: To maintain the prestige of the “Mian” title, three strict rules were observed:

  • They could not engage in manual labor (specifically, plowing the land).
  • They were required to observe Purdah (social seclusion).
  • They were strictly forbidden from accepting money in exchange for a daughter’s marriage.

3. Royal Salutations & Hierarchy

Jaidea: The exclusive greeting used only for ruling Rajput families (originating from the phrase Jayatu Deva).
Heirarchy of Sons:
  • Tikka: Eldest son / Heir Apparent
  • Dothain: Second son
  • Trithain: Third son
  • Chauthain: Fourth son

4. State and City Names

In many cases, the state and its capital shared the same name (e.g., Chamba, Nurpur, Mandi, and Suket). The specific suffix “Nagar” (The Town) was used for key administrative capitals like Naggar in Kullu and Nagarkot in Kangra.

Himachal Pradesh Historical Series • Detailed Study Guide

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