Puru (Vedic tribe)
Indo-Aryan tribes, c. 1700–1400 BCE
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The Purus were an Indo-Aryan tribal alliance or a confederation of tribes that existed between 1700 and 1400 BCE.[6] There were several factions of Purus, one being the Bharatas.[3] The Purus and the Bharatas were the two most prominent tribes in most of the Rigveda.[6] The chief of tribe was called Rajan.[1] The Purus rallied many other groups against King Sudas of the Bharata, but were defeated in the Battle of the Ten Kings (RV 7.18, etc).
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| Puru Paurava | |
|---|---|
| Confederation | |
The Purus and other early Vedic tribes | |
| Ethnicity | Indo-Aryan |
| Location | Northern Indian subcontinent |
| Varna | Kshatriya[1] |
| Descended from | Pururavas[2] |
| Parent tribe | First tribe of Chandra clan |
| Branches | Bharatas[3] |
| Language | Vedic Sanskrit[4] |
| Religion | Historical Vedic religion[5] |
| Surnames | Puruvamsh |
Etymology
The name Puru is of possible Indo-Aryan origin.[7]
Rigveda
In Mandala 6, it is recalled that Purukutsa, chieftain of Purus, had destroyed autumnal forts in the Afghan mountains.[8][9] In Mandala 4, it is stated that as a result of his Ashvamedha (Horse Sacrifice) with the horse Daurgaha, his son Trasadasyu was born.[10][8]
In Mandala 4, Trasadasyu is the chieftain of the Purus. In addition to being the son of Purukutsa, Trasadasyu is also described as Gairikṣita, meaning descendant of Girikṣit.[10][8] Trasadasyu lived on the western side of the Indus River (Sindhu) while Mandala 4 was being composed, but he also moved into the land of Seven Rivers and defeated the Anu-Druhyus and Yadu-Turvashas. He molded the conquered tribes and the Purus into the Pancha-janah (Five Peoples). To celebrate his victory he conducted an Ashvamedha with his horse, Dadhrikā. Dadhrikā is extolled in RV 4.38-40, and in these hymns, Dadhrikā is stated to have become a divine being, the sacrificial horse of the Ashvamedha, and a symbol of Puru and Indo-Aryan dominance. Trasadasyu's son was Tṛkṣi.[8]
Scholars who adhere to Hermann Grassmann's interpretation of Rigveda 7.92.2 state that by Mandala 7, the Purus had reached the Sarasvati river.[11][8]