Misplaced Pages

Raja Sálbán

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
(Redirected from Raja Salban) King of the Indian subcontinent in the 2nd century CE
This article is part of the series
Punjabi folklore
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਲੋਕਧਾਰਾ • پنجابی لوک ریت
Romances
Folk figures
Punjab portal

Raja Sálbán (also known as Salivahan) was a semi-mythical monarch who, according to historical sources and claims, was active during the 1st and 2nd centuries, and is believed to have founded the city and the fort of Sialkot in Punjab in the 2nd century. According to Punjabi folklore, he was father of Puran Bhagat and Raja Rasalu, the protagonist of the Adventures of Raja Rasalu. Salban's historicity and events in his life are debated by historians, and he is regarded as a semi-legendary figure.

Story

Raja Salban's first wife, Queen Icchira gave birth to Puran Bhagat. Upon the suggestion of local astrologers, Puran was sent away from the King for the first 12 years of his life, as it was said that King could not see the face of his son. While Puran was away, the king married a young girl named Luna, who a tanner's daughter. After 12 years of isolation, Puran returned to the royal palace. There, Luna became romantically attracted toward Puran, who was of the same age. Being the step-son of Luna, Puran disapproved of her advances. A hurt Luna accused Puran of violating her honor.

The infuriated monarch ordered Puran to be amputated and killed. The soldiers carried out his orders and cutoff the Puran's hands and legs and threw him in a well in the forest named the Puran's Well. After several years Guru Gorakhnath, who was passing by with his followers, heard voice from the well. He took him out using a single thread and unbaked earthen pot. He was later adopted by Baba Gorkhnath, and himself became a jogi.

Eventually, he confronted his father, and it was due to the ascetic's blessings that the king had another son who eventually became Raja Rasalu, another folk legend that became popular in Punjab.

Historicity

Salban's historicity and the events of his life are debated, and he is regarded by historians as a semi-legendary figure. According to historical claims, Salban defeated the Indo-Scythians in a battle near modern-day Multan in c. 78 CE, and in commemoration, adopted the title 'Sakari', which meant 'foe of the Scythians'. Other historical claims state that he founded the Sialkot fort and the city of Sialkot in the 2nd century. Further claims mention that Salban was the first from the Hindu mythological Yaduvanshi lineage of the Lunar dynasty to settle in Punjab. Some historians have mentioned that he may have been a Scythian or an Indo-Scythian.

Salban's ancestry is also debated. According to historical claims, Salban's ancestor is Raja Gaj who, according to differing claims by historians, either founded the city of Ghazni or Rawalpindi.

Claims of descent

Various historical figures have claimed descent from Salban. Rao Bhati, the common ancestor of the Bhati Rajputs claimed descent from Salban and so did Bhati's descendant, Jaisal Singh, the founder and first monarch of Jaisalmer. Other claims of descent from Salban, via Jaisal Singh's lineage, include the Punjabi Phulkian dynasty.

See also

Notes

  1. Alternatively spelt as 'Raja Sálwan'.

References

  1. Khalid, Haroon (26 December 2022). Walking With Nanak. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. p. 81. ISBN 978-93-5492-847-5.
  2. Anjum, Zafar (13 October 2014). Iqbal: The Life of a Poet, Philosopher and Politician. Random House India. p. 242. ISBN 978-81-8400-656-8.
  3. E.Y, Mbogoni, Lawrence (3 November 2013). Human Sacrifice and the Supernatural in African History. Mkuki na Nyota Publishers. p. 172. ISBN 978-9987-08-242-1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. "Four Legends of King Rasalu of Sialkot". The Folk-Lore Journal. 1 (5): 129–151. 1883. doi:10.1080/17442524.1883.10602650. ISSN 1744-2524. JSTOR 1252821.
  5. ^ Savill, Sheila; Parrinder, Geoffrey; Barker, Mary; Cook, Chris (1977). Pears Encyclopaedia of Myths and Legends: The Orient. London: Pelham. p. 121. ISBN 978-0-7207-1001-4.
  6. ^ Singh, R. L. (1968). India: Regional Studies. National Committee for Geography. p. 165.
  7. ^ Nanda, J. N. (2010). History of the Punjabees. New Delhi: Concept Publishing Company. p. 47. ISBN 978-81-8069-651-0.
  8. ^ Miraj, Muhammad Hassan (8 October 2012). "Pooran Bhagat". dawn.com. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  9. Tareekh-i-Sialkot
  10. Kaul, H. Kumar (1994). Aspects of Yoga. BR publishing corporation. ISBN 9788170188100.
  11. Khalid, Haroon (26 December 2022). Walking With Nanak. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. p. 181. ISBN 978-93-5492-847-5.
  12. ^ Vadivelu, A. (1915). The ruling chiefs, nobles and zamindars of India. Madras: G. C. Loganadham Bros. p. 205.
  13. Imperial Gazetteer of India: Provincial Series: Rajputana. Vol. 23. Calcutta: Superintendent of Government Printing. 1908. pp. 208–209.
  14. ^ Kothiyal, Tanuja (2016). Nomadic Narratives: A History of Mobility and Identity in the Great Indian. Cambridgre University Press. p. 73. ISBN 9781107080317.
  15. ^ Singh, Kirpal (2005). Baba Ala Singh: Founder of the Patiala Kingdom (2nd ed.). Amritsar: Guru Nanak Dev University. pp. 113–120.
  16. Mirchandani, B. D. (1985). Glimpses of Ancient Sind: A Collection of Historical Papers. Bombay: Saraswati M. Gulrajani. p. 11.
  17. Bond, J. W.; Wright, Arnold (2006). Indian States: A Biographical, Historical, and Administrative Survey. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. p. 325. ISBN 978-81-206-1965-4. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
Punjabi folk religion
Categories: