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Who are Kamboj?

Kamboj (Punjabi: ਕਮ੍ਬੋਜ, Hindi: कम्बोज, Urdu: کمبوہ ) is frequently used as surname or last name by many Kambojs, currently living in India. Their Muslim counter-parts living in Pakistan mostly use Kamboh instead. The Kambojs/Kambohs are the modern reprentatives of ancient Kambojas, a well known Kshatriya tribe of Indo-Aryans, stated to have had both Indian as well as Iranian affinities is frequently used as surname or last name by many Kambojs, currently living in India. Their Muslim counter-parts living in Pakistan mostly use Kamboh instead. The Kambojs/Kambohs are the modern reprentatives of ancient Kambojas, a well known Kshatriya tribe of Indo-Aryans, stated to have had both Indian as well as Iranian affinities [1].

Chudakarma Samskaara of Paraskara Grhya-Sutram [2], Vamsa Brahmana [3] of the of the Sama Veda, the epic Ramayana as well as Mahabharata and some other ancient references attest that a section of the Kambojas also practiced Brahmanism. See : Brahmanism of Ancient Kambojas .

For Kambojas being a Kshatriya tribe,

Overlap with Kshatriya and Brahmin clan names

The modern Kamboj are said to be divided into two divisions of 52 and 84 clans names (the actual number is however somewhat higher than these figures). Dr J. L. Kamboj observes that more than 15 of the Kamboj clan names overlap with that of the Brahmins and over 80 overlap with other Kshatriya and Rajput clans of northern India. But according to S Kirpal Singh, the respective figures are over 25 overlaping with Brahmins and over 100 overlaping with other Kshatriyas and Rajputs. [4] In his well known book Glossary of Tribes and Castes of Punjab and North-west Frontier Province [5], British ethnographer and ethnologist, H. A. Rose, had also observed in early 20th century that there is seen an overlap of the Kamboj clan names with that of the Brahmins and other Kshatriyas. Rose also admitted that the reason of this overlap was not clear to him [6]. But, today with all the information provided in the articles in Wikipedia about the Kambojas, it would seem clear as to why there is such an overlap.

List of Kamboj Gotras (clans)

For more expanded list of Kamboj clans, click here

52 Gotras: Abdal, Ajpal Or Ajapal, Angiarey, Asoi, Bahujad, Bajye or Bajne, Bage, Ban Or Bhaun or Bhawan, Barar, Batti Or Bhatti, Basra, Chak, Chandi, Chandna Or Chandne or Chand, Chatrath, Daberah, Dhanju, Dhot or Dhudi, Dote, Dulai, Handa Or Handey, Jaiya or Jie or Joiye, Jammu, Jaspal Or Jakhpal, Jatmal, Josan Or Jossan, Jaura Or Jaure, Judge, Kadi or Karhi, Khere, Kosle Or Kausle, Karanpal, Kaura Or Kaure, Kayar, Khinda Or Khinde, Kirgil, Lori Or Laure, Mardak, Mehrok Or Mirok, Momi, Mutti or Moti, Nadha Or Nandha Or Nandhey, Nagpal, Nagri Or Nagra, Nandan, Nibber Or Nibher, Padhu Or Pandhu, Patanroy Or Patanrai, Pran, Ratanpal, Sama, Sandha Or Sandhey, Sandher, Sandheyer or Sandheer, Sawan, Soi or Sohi, Shahi, Suner, Tandne, Tarikha or Trikhe, Thind, Tume, Turne Or Turna, Vinayak, Pathan, Unmal

84 Gotras : Aglawe, Ambri Or Ambrey, Angotre, Bagwan Or Bagyan Or Bagban, Bahia, Bangwaye, Bangar Or Bangare, Banjahal Or Bhunjal, Banur, Barham, Barhgotey, Bassi Or Basi, Bastorh, Beeharh Or Beharh, Bhujang, Brahman Or Behman, Chamri Or Chimre, Chaupal Or Chaufal, Cherta Or Churta Or Churawat, Chhanan Or Chhiyanwe, Chhichhoti Or Chhichhote Or Chhachhate Or Chhachha, Chichare Or Chachare, Chimne Or Chimni or Chimna, Chine Or Chini or China, Churiye Or Chirwey Or Chidey Or Charway, Dange, Datane Or Dotane or Datana Or Dutane, Dehar Or Dehal, Dehgal Or Duggal, Dhare, Dheel Or Dhillan, Dhehte, Dode, Doliyan, Fukni, Gadre or Gadra, Gagre or Gagra, Gande Or Gandi, Gandheyor or Gandhare Or Gandhi, Gaure Or Gore Or Rai Gore Or Gori, Geelawe, Ghasitey, Gogan Or Gugan, Gosiley, Gal or Gayile or Goyale, Ghangra, Harse, Jade or Jarhe, Jagman, Jande, Jangle Or Jangli, Jhamb Or Jham, Jhand Or Jhandu, Kalra Or Kalre, Kalar, Kalsia Or Kalsi Or Kalas, Camari or Kamari or Khamare, Khokhar, Kokar Or Kakar Or Kakra, Kukri Or Kukar, Lahere Or Lehri, Lakhi, Lahndey, Latte, Lahange Or Lahinga Or Lahinde, Lall, Machhliye Or Machhle, Magu or Mage, Makore Or Makkar, Mall, Momsarang, Sarang, Mandey or Mande, Melle Or Meliye Or Malle, Multani, Nagambr Or Nigambar, Nehriye Or Nehre Or Ner Or Naru,Or Nehru Or Nauhriye, Nepal Or Nipal or Naipal, Nuri, Pandey Or Pandhey, Padhasi, Sainik, Sandle, Sathand, Senpati Or Senapati, Sapre Or Sapra Or Sawre, Sarnote Or Sarkude, Satte, Sauki or Soki, Soni, Suhagi Or Suhage, Sunehre, Silahre/Sulahre/Sulehre, Sulhiro, Tande, Tagal Or Tugal, Taparhiye, Thathai Or Thathaiya or Thathe, Thingrey Or Thengrey, Topchi

References

  1. See: Vedic index of names & subjects by Dr. Arthur Anthony Macdonnel, Dr Arthur. B Keath, I.84, p 138; Afghanistan, p 58, W. K. Fraser, M. C. Gillet; Afghanistan, its People, its Society, its Culture, Donal N. Wilber, 1962, p 80, 311 etc.
  2. Paraskara Gryya-sutram verse 2.1.2; Commentary: Pt Harihar.
  3. Vamsa Brahmana verse 1.18-19.
  4. The Kambojas Through the Ages, 2005, p 27, 431.
  5. Based on 1880 census of India
  6. Glossary of Tribes and Castes of Punjab and North-West Frontier Province, 1915, Vol II, p 444-445 fns, H. A. Rose

See also