Gurjara vs Gujjar

The term "Gurjara" historically refers to a geographical and territorial designation in Western India, primarily covering regions of present-day Rajasthan and Gujarat. The term has been used in inscriptions, literary texts, and foreign accounts from as early as the 6th century CE and should not be confused with the Gujjar caste, a pastoral community with distinct socio-historical roots.

Origin and Early Usage

The earliest recorded usage of the name "Gurjara" comes from the Gurjaras of Lata, a dynasty that ruled the Lata region (modern-day South Gujarat) between c. 580 CE to c. 738 CE. These Gurjaras are mentioned in several copperplate inscriptions discovered in South Gujarat and used the Traikutaka era (beginning in 249-250 CE) for dating.

The first literary reference to the Gurjara region is found in the Jain text Kuvalayamala by Uddyotana Suri (778 CE), which provides a detailed account of the region's geography and mentions its inhabitants, including Brahmins, Jains, Kshatriyas (Rajputs), and Bhils. Notably, it does not mention any Gujjar caste, suggesting that the term "Gurjara" denoted a region rather than an ethnic or tribal group.

Gurjaradesa and Political Usage

Between the 6th and 12th centuries, the area comprising parts of Patan, Bhinmal, Jalore, Mandore, Didwana, Rajor, and Bayana came to be collectively known as Gurjaradesa. The use of "Gurjara" as a toponymic (place-based) term became common among local Brahmins, Jains, Banias, and Rajputs, particularly when they migrated from this region.

The Imperial Pratihara dynasty, which originated in Bhinmal and later ruled from Ujjain and Kannauj, became associated with the Gurjara region only after conquering it. The Gallaka inscription (795 CE) records that Nagabhata I of the Pratiharas gained fame by defeating the "invincible Gurjaras." Despite ruling the region, the Pratiharas never identified themselves as Gurjaras in their own inscriptions. However, rival dynasties such as the Rashtrakutas often referred to them as Gurjaranaresh (Lord of Gurjara).

A cadet branch of the Pratiharas in Rajor (near Alwar) adopted the name Gurjara-Pratihara, with Manthandev Pratihar explicitly identifying as such in a 960 CE inscription. This line became the progenitors of the Bargujar Rajputs, with the term "BarGujar" meaning "Great Gurjar," indicating political supremacy rather than caste identity.

Historical References

Numerous epigraphic and literary references support the territorial meaning of the term Gurjara:

• Chinese traveler Xuanzang (Yuan Chwang) visited India between 630-644 CE and referred to the Gurjara kingdom with its capital at Bhillamal (Bhinmal).
• The Aihole inscription of Pulakeshin II lists Gurjara alongside Lata and Malava as territorial names.
• Jain texts such as Yasastilaka-Champu (959 CE) and Prabhavakacharita refer to Gurjaras as a people defined by territory, similar to Dravidas, Gaudas, and others.

Gurjara as a Cultural Identity

Over time, the term "Gurjara" was adopted by different communities, leading to the emergence of identifiers such as:

• Gurjara-Brahmins: Including Shrimali, Pareek, Gaur, and Vyas Brahmins, many of whom trace their origins to Bhinmal (Shrimal).
• Gurjara-Jains: Jains who migrated from Gurjaradesa were referred to by this term, distinct from Oswal Jains of Osian.
• Gurjara-Suthars and other artisan communities.

In the 20th century, KM Munshi, a prominent Vyas Brahmin and nationalist, revived the term "Gurjara" as part of the Gurjara Sabha (1914), which also included leaders like M.K. Gandhi and Mohammad Ali Jinnah. This cultural movement contributed to the naming of the modern state of Gujarat in 1960.

Gujjar Caste and Linguistic Evidence

The Gujjar caste, distinct from the historical Gurjaras, is believed to have emerged much later. Many scholars, including Airavat Singh, suggest that the Gujjars evolved from pastoral communities (Rebaris, Vanjaras, Gaddiya Lohars) who migrated from southeast Rajasthan following ecological changes such as the drying of the Sukri river.

Linguistic studies, particularly those by George Abraham Grierson, classify Gojri, the language of Gujjars, as an East Rajasthani dialect, indicating a regional origin rather than a tribal migration from Central Asia. Historical texts such as the Rajatarangini (12th century) mention tribes in Kashmir like Dards, Khasas, and Bhuttas, but not Gujjars, suggesting a post-12th-century migration to the Himalayan regions.

Conclusion

The term "Gurjara" originally referred to a geographic and political region in Western India, not a tribe or caste. While it was used to describe rulers and communities based in this region, its application varied based on context and period. The Gujjar caste, though sharing phonetic similarity, has distinct origins, likely as a pastoral group emerging centuries later.

Hence, conflating the historical "Gurjara" with the modern "Gujjar" caste is a misunderstanding of Indian history. The use of the term Gurjara in historical inscriptions, literature, and regional identity reflects a territorial and cultural connotation, not an ethnic or racial one.