The Nagas of Ancient India

In this video, I am going to talk about the Nagas of Ancient India. Historians do not know who these Nagas were and what was their origin. What we do know is that the Nagas emerged as an important power after the fall of the Kushanas. In this video, I talk about these Nagas who emerged after the decline of the Kushanas. I also talk about the different theories that are given by scholars about the Nagas and their origin.
Reference:-
1. The age of imperial unity (The history and culture of the Indian people Vol
2. Comprehensive History of India Vol.2, The Mauryas and the Satavahanas, Edited by K. A. Nilakanta Sastra
3. The Nagas by Dr Naval Viyogi
4. Aspects of Early Naga cult by Herbert Hartel (ARTICLE)
5. Riddle of the Nagas by M. S. Mate (ARTICLE)
6. The Nagas and the Naga cult in Ancient Indian History by Karunakana Gupta (ARTICLE)
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[@dhanu1221]

Nagas were deployed not only in North India and Central India but also in South India. The Nair(derived from the word of 'Nagar')community in Kerala is also the successor of the Naga clan. Naga worship follows in all Nair families. Every Nair house has a place of naga worship called 'kaavu'.

[@bladey_0_10]

Yes

[@darthvader5558]

Same bro same I'm a Shetty from Mangaluru, in Dakshina Karnataka region we refer to them as 'Naga Bana' and you can find them in mostly every temple and houses

[@tahirmuradbhutta3632]

Ñine .. bhardhivs ..... Bharti....shilling .....bhardhivs ..... Bull.....ganerder... Padavati... Muthara...varansi........4CE...SMUNDAR GUPTA.....BHIR NAGA.... VIR... VAKATKA....3 city ...ksmtipuri..muthara ...7 raja ......nine life pavas ....bhardshiva....

[@tahirmuradbhutta3632]

Naga tribe Subjected to Aryan... Bindusara ..satvana naga....two plate founded in Lahore ... Shisi naga Maheswara naga and bhatta naga ...plate ......not ..it des say live Lahore 323 bc ... post moriya history ....

[@chaitanyarakwal9727]

Katchatheevu

[@bladey_0_10]

I'm a Nair from Kerala. We have Sarpa kaavus in all our temples and in our house as well.

[@darthvader5558]

Same bro same I'm a Shetty from Mangaluru, in Dakshina Karnataka region we refer to them as 'Naga Bana' and you can find them in mostly every temple and houses

[@rohitfulsundar6735]

Why kerala people like beef

[@bladey_0_10]

@@rohitfulsundar6735 Because buffalo meat is tasty

[@dmnxexotic0p55]

This channel is a Goldmine , we need more people like you!!! You're Criminally underrated!!!!

[@JayVardhanSingh]

thanks bhai

[@dmnxexotic0p55]

@@JayVardhanSingh ❤️

[@witchilich]

There was also Nagas of Vindyatabi led by Satrubhanja. In his Asanpat inscription he talks about all Naga clans united to defeat the last Kushans. Tribhuvana Mahadevi is also mentioned to be of the Naga dynasty.

[@dotxh4]

Great video. I've a request. I get confused whenever I read ancient Indian history bcz of timelines and so many empires. Can you please make a 20-25min video explaining the timeline and other important points to remember while reading ancient history?

[@kraut1982]

Yes every video should begin with a quick timeline of when exactly the events in the video happen with reference to other important events in Indian history such as death of Buddha, Ashok’s war with Kaling, Samudragupta’s conquest of Gujarat, Building of Kailash Temple in Ellora etc. Also the year being discussed could be shown in some corner of the screen.

[@JayVardhanSingh]

Thanks for the suggestion. Will keep this mind in my next video. I am also planning to make a overview video on the developments in the Post Mauryan India. Will remember to add Timeline. Thanks again.

[@schibber3726]

@@JayVardhanSingh what you do is great work man 👍

[@muo1kor]

@@JayVardhanSingh Also try to make the timeline pictorial instead of explaining in words. Take UsefulCharts, Khan Academy channels as an inspiration/reference. A mix of maps and timelines would be perfect. More work, I know, but would improve the information quality in your videos. 👍

[@anirudh177]

@@kraut1982 Gujarat was conquered by Chandragupta II Vikramaditya after defeating the Sakas.

[@darthvader5558]

I'm a Shetty from Mangaluru, in Dakshina Karnataka region we have 'Naga Bana', you can find them in mostly every temple and houses

[@mayarajput188]

Pls tell me if there are people who belong to d naga dynasty still in Mangalore as I have heard so about d bunts ,hope m not mistaken

[@sri09]

Great Video !!! Detailed Knowledge presented simply and beautifully. My utmost cheers to your content 👍🏼.

[@JayVardhanSingh]

Thanks Bhai

[@schibber3726]

Great video as always!

[@JayVardhanSingh]

Thank you

[@rajakumarrabidas6713]

Read the book "Nagas: the ancient ruled of India" by Dr. Naval Viyogi.

[@akitodaisuke6532]

In Maharashtra our mahar caste used to use suffix naka after name which was misinterpretation of naga. It was used till 1956 when ambedkar converted to buddhism with lakhs of mahar

[@JayVardhanSingh]

didn't know that, thanks for the information

[@suchithraraghavan5335]

Wasn't ambedkar british stooge

[@akitodaisuke6532]

​@@suchithraraghavan5335 indeed such a foolish would be raised by mostly savarnas. 🤦‍♂️ Ambedkar never worked shoulder to shoulder with British like savarkar. Ambedkar was so much busy for empowering the downtroddens for whom no other indian savarna leader fought for like ambedkar. While all other leaders were busy freedom of india, ambedkar was indulged in for uplifting downtroddens. You can surely say that savarkar was stooge of britishers. How savarkar begged to british. And how savarkar provided information to Britishers of freedom fighters like nana patil.

[@MaheshMahi-ji5oh]

@@akitodaisuke6532 💙👏

[@thestarunboxer2402]

Yess bro nag = nak, nagas are the ancestors of mahar caste peoples

[@shekharb2981]

Excellent information about Naga dynasty..

[@JayVardhanSingh]

Thanks a lot

[@knowledgeringsstalkers1795]

Excellent content

[@VigrahRaj]

I am from the Bais Kshatriya community, according to our legend , at the time of Mahapadma Nanda, our clan displaced and moved towards western India and we were given shelter by Naga's. Hence till today every Bais Kshatriya consider every Naag/snakes his brother and we don't kill the Naga's.

[@chaituchotu8548]

Good of your choice, keep it up sir.

[@businessswot1003]

There are many NAGA temples in MAHARASHTRA Karnataka Kerala

[@surajkuzur5375]

Nice work 👍🙂

[@JayVardhanSingh]

Thanks

[@raginisingh2251]

Nice video

[@kumarmandle302]

Nice information about Naga from encint India thanks.

[@JayVardhanSingh]

thank you

[@kraut1982]

Wow keep bringing up such gems! Never new this dynasty in central India, thought the Nagas were located in Kashmir that is why the later Karkota dynasty. But it does make sense for snakes to be in a tropical -subtropical environment. So the original Nagas may very well be from central India. Any idea if the Nagas of NE have any similarities or they are totally unrelated?

[@JayVardhanSingh]

No idea about the Nagas of modern NE

[@cobidbeksin5200]

The Nagas of NE are not related at all. They are Tibeto Burman animists tribals who never had a kingdom or have any cities. They were called Nagas by Assamese because they were clothed scantily. ( Nanga -> Naga).

[@muzammilibrahim5011]

Can you do a video on Nanda Dynasty and Chandragupta conquest of it?

[@JayVardhanSingh]

Have already done a video on it. Take a look kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnnZeYWHe7l6p80

[@abhiramn474]

Also, do a video on the Gond Kings of chatisgarh or any tribes in India that have risen to power.

[@JayVardhanSingh]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@shekharb2981]

Ancient Mahabharat also spoke about Takshak,Vasuki,Kaliya Naag regimes,Janmejay & host of others. Sanskrit meaning of Naag are people considered dwelling in Nagas ie Mountains...Naag king Vasuki is also mentioned in Rugvedic Samudramanthan around Meru mountain.

[@sairis]

In our western Uttrakhand, there were some villages who used to pray Naag devta as their isht devta and have temples also. I always think why they are so different in religious aspect.

[@srimantpeshwa9203]

There were Naga rulers in Odisha region as mentioned in Asanpat inscription, in Mayurbhanj odisha

[@basantprasadsgarden8365]

The Kings of Ratu(in Ranchi District of Jharkhand) also consider themselves as Nagvanshis.

[@HeyItsVishal]

Bharshiv nagavansha 😍 A much waited video

[@VOICEOFDOUBT]

Another theory tells us that, the nagas were of Ethiopian origin who reached India beofore the Iranian farmers & PIE. Please do look into it. I find it very interesting.

[@bladey_0_10]

Dude what the hell 😂😂

[@dmnxexotic0p55]

Can you make videos on medieval indian history?

[@JayVardhanSingh]

Yes, after completing the Ancient History

[@NUgala]

I was wondering what your credentials are. Are you a university student/prof in the subject? Very curious, as your work deals in subjects that are not at all beginner level. Please let me know. Ty

[@JayVardhanSingh]

I am doing PhD in Ancient Indian History.

[@NUgala]

@@JayVardhanSingh Amazing. Good luck bro

[@JayVardhanSingh]

thank you

[@krishnapatel8831]

Hey jay is it possible to connect with you through socials or something since I want to study Indian history as Indian mythology not just as a hobby and I need guidance don’t know how and where to start or enrol

[@JayVardhanSingh]

you can can't me on twitter. My account's link is in the description.

[@somalicorner]

I have question, what is the connection between nagas of padmavati and the nagas I.e snake Deities? Would be interesting to know who introduced the snake deity religious concept.

[@JayVardhanSingh]

Some historians have tried to argue that the Nagas were of different race/ethnicities. But I don't think we have that kind of evidence to prove this was the case. I think that we can't say for sure what type of connection that existed between the Nagas and the Naga cult.

[@somalicorner]

@@JayVardhanSingh thank you for your answer and reply, much appreciated. Even I came across many theories one of those theories being an ethiopian origin. Because snake worship existed in Ethiopia (among the Cushites) and Southern Arabia ( among the ancient and middle ancient Arabs). Some historians say that, since there has been some trade relations between, Indians, arabs and the Cushitic speaking people of ancient horn of Africa these cultures must have had some cultural influences with each other.

[@AJAYSINGH-ns1vv]

​@@somalicorner arya and nagas both originated from India .

[@kinggengar3865]

Great video, though can you please shed some light on the myth about parts of coastal karnataka, goa and kerala that claim to be land claimed from naga's of the sea by parashuram. Do you think this myth is based on northern aryan expansion to deep south? Snake worship particularly of snake stones and sacred groves has been part of tradition that still thrives today, there is also the fact that krishnadevaraya of vijayanagar and modern bunts also claim descent from nagavanshi kshatriyas, So was there a later southern migration of the Nagas? or were they southerners who expanded North?

[@JayVardhanSingh]

Thank you. I know about the myth but I don't think there's any connection with the movement of Aryans. Similar attempts have been made by some historians to interpret the story of Lord Krishna overcoming the Snake Kaliya. On the question of Naga worship, it is common in different parts of India. So it is hard to say which region influenced which region. I hope I have answered your question.

[@kinggengar3865]

@@JayVardhanSingh Yes it did, thank you

[@sairis]

@@kinggengar3865 , here in our Uttrakhand there are few villages who had Naag as their isht dev. And temples too.

[@ManojKumar-ry7qr]

Great video har har mahadev

[@dragowolfx]

aryan invasion theory is bs allso the bhanja dynasty of mayurbhanj are nagvanshi khetriyas

[@vasantbarde4274]

Sir please give detailed information about Bheel tribes

[@abhiramn474]

Nice video. Any relation to Snakes or Cobras mentioned in Indian lore? Perhpas they were snake worshippers that became depicted as snakes.

[@JayVardhanSingh]

Thank you. It could be but I doubt there were any such associations.

[@AJAYSINGH-ns1vv]

Definitely see shri m on this topic. As the modern day kshatriyas lost the abilities of their forefathars as described in mahabharat ramayan and puranas due to degradation in kaliyuga similarly nagas descendents also degraded in their abilities.

[@kraut1982]

Please do a video on Shilaharas too.

[@JayVardhanSingh]

thanks for the suggestion, will surely do

[@Barca_fan129]

happy lunar new year

[@JayVardhanSingh]

You too!!

[@blakebailey22]

Hello Mr. Singh, I'm sorry this isn't relevant to the video but I've always wondered if there were any henotheistic (choosing one god as the superior while acknowledging the existence of other gods) conflicts in India. With Hinduism being so old and so continuous in the subcontinent, has there ever been any events of militant henotheism?

[@mayankdubey2006]

In south india during the time of cholas some Minor conflicts took place , you and read about 63 nayanars to know about conflicts regarding sects

[@mayankdubey2006]

There were no major conflicts, only minor ones.

[@akk7791]

👍👍

[@occultwiitch9633]

I just had a dream about madhavpur n nagas n i was searching this link together tht wht is link between there. I found ur this video here 🙂 yeah bt naga's clain were extended Frm north to south,east tk west. Cz in my dream i listened vry clearly abt madhavpur place tht was forest area in tht ancient time. Bt in today's time wheere is madhavpur are?

[@AJAYSINGH-ns1vv]

I think you must be from naga clan. And sometimes our ancestors hint us with various means and dream is very common among these methods.

[@pseudogujjar]

Have u read naval viyogis book on nagas ??

[@lukeyznaga7627]

where are the Nagas now? do they live underground in the Hollow Earth?

[@chaithraschaithra1618]

Nagas are human ray unfortunately they becodme dhalith today

[@bladey_0_10]

I am part of Nairs, Nagvanshi Vratya Kshatriya community from Kerala.

[@sripadabhat9520]

The names of these Naga kings sound very similar to current south indian names and very different from their contemporary kings of sindhu ganga valley

[@souvikroy6099]

One correction Bimbisara is from Haryanka dynasty whose son was Ajatashatru , they are present at the time of lord Buddha . Shishunaga dynasty comes after Haryanka dynasty before Maurya dynasty . But you are right that Nagas are a very ancient people .....

[@JayVardhanSingh]

It was in Ashwaghosha's Buddhacharita we find that it is mentioned that Bimbisara belonged to the Haryanka. But the Puranas tell us a different story. According to the Puranas, Bimbisara belonged to the dynasty of Shishunaga. This dynasty got its name from a king of Varanasi whose name was Shishunaga. The Shishunaga which you're talking about was a later king. For more details read 1) The Age of Imperial Unity (pg 18 & 19) 2) Nagas, the Ancient Rulers of India: Their Origin and History by Naval Viyogi (pg 270)

[@souvikroy6099]

@@JayVardhanSingh Thanks for informing me. But I don't think Puranas are too reliable on this matter , we must go through Puranas for reference . But not too dependent on them. I must read the books you mentioned . Please make a video on epic period in ancient India.

[@bahubali5618]

Do nagas people use snake as their insignia? Because many archeological site especially ancient buddhist sites has snakes behind a human figure and buddha. Do you noticed this difference?

[@blablblaaaaaaaaa]

please brother you seem super prepared and full of knowledge,can you tell me a name of a reptilian god that i can worship ? I already worship Lord Shiva and he may be a naga,for sure he is very close to them,but is there a specific nag god,like the most powerful and illuminated one that you know the name of ?

[@AJAYSINGH-ns1vv]

Sheshnag is the king of all nagas as per hindu scriptures so you worship him

[@raviparashar50]

There is one naag . The Manas putri of Shiva called MANASA . She is the goddess of snakes and is widely worshipped.

[@blablblaaaaaaaaa]

damn thank you this is amazing i did not knew it,i write the name down thank you so much again,many many blessings@@raviparashar50

[@blablblaaaaaaaaa]

@@raviparashar50 if you find any other please write it if you don't mind apart from shesha the snake of visnù which is the only one i already know

[@mangairagav9101]

What is your topic in PHD ...

[@omsingh8625]

Being research scholar,I request to analyse all.aspects right.from Kuninds , Bharadwaj decendents,Datta decendents,bhutia/Dev's and Satvahana and vardhana relationship

[@jagdishhooda7853]

Samudragupt were also kartisgis nag

[@andrewstadeker7679]

Interesting enough, In Ancient Egypt you find the hieroglyph for King is called Naga. On the various sculptures and engravings in Ancient Egypt the Kings were mostly crowned with serpents and or cobras. The adorned kings represented a mastery of the kundalini energy on their heads adorned with the cobras. Nagast in Ethiopia also mean King. The Ethiopian Epic, Kebra Nagast, translates to The Glory of the Kings. To deny the Nagas or Indian their African origin is the same as denying the Ancient Egyptians' African origins. Dig Deeper.

[@bladey_0_10]

African origin? Give me a break.

[@rajendragaikwad3963]

Who was the Takshak who killed Jaymanajay?

[@manishagade4675]

Do NAGAS used to meditate

[@sagargaikwad7427]

Lord Buddha was a Shakya, but 1. Nagvanshi people (which are currently Mahar community in Maharashtra) accepted the Lord Buddha's Dhamma n always kept protecting & spreading Dhamma in their rule, 2. thats why snake is carved behind every buddha sculpture to show that Nagas are the protector of buddha n dhamma. 3. In Maharashtra there is a festival called NagPanchami of worshiping Snake, 4. the Cities Nagpur, Nashik, Nagda are the Cities of Nagas or Naglok (Mahar), 5. Mahar community used to keep Nak word after their first name just like SidNak, RayNak.

[@RohanKumar-lt4fn]

Source whatsapp university 🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓 1) nag panchami celebrate all across the india not only Maharashtra Or mahar community 2) mahar are the protector of Buddhism so naga is placed behind buddha😅😅😅 whatsapp university knowledge. Then tell me why this type of naga behind buddha present in Nepal, Myanmar, combodia, Thailand where there is no mahar caste. Or no Maharashtraian second thing naga behind God find in hindu God, jain God and in buddhism this show that due to influence of hinduism buddha and jain religion adopted naga. Why I say due to influence of hinduism because there are enough evidence than any religion in which mention about naga like puran, mahabharat, ramayan Or vedas, like seshnag, vasuki etc. 3) another whatsapp university knowledge proof word start from "" NAG""" Doesn't represent nagvanshi understand. If u have any proof or historical evidence like scripture, traveller book, temple Or engraved in any thing . Idiot I am doing master in history so don't teach me history understand idiot. HISTORY IS NOT WHAT YOU IMAGINE HISTORY IS WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IN PAST UNDERSTAND IDIOT

[@chaithraschaithra1618]

Nagas are today dhaliths

[@bladey_0_10]

​@@chaithraschaithra1618No 😂😂 We are Kshatriyas in Kerala

[@user-nc6oo3mi1e]

In Tamil Nadu worship Nagas. In Sri Lankan history once Naga ruled, have place Nagarkovil and Siva temple, Nagapooshani Amman temple

[@bladey_0_10]

Nayars of Kerala are indeed Nagar

[@balajisingh2992]

Clarify whether Kuberanaga, a princess from Bharashiva or a Kadamba princess?

[@JayVardhanSingh]

Kuberanaga was Naga princess. We don't know whether she was related to the Bharashivas dynasty of the Nagas or not. But she wasn't related to the Kadambas.

[@balajisingh2992]

@@JayVardhanSingh Then why Kalidasa visited Kadamba? Do you need a literary proof, then let me know. Thank you.

[@Infiniteemptiness]

Were Early Gupta's subsidiary to Satvahanas?

[@JayVardhanSingh]

I don't think so.

[@JayVardhanSingh]

I did some research on this and it appear that in some Satavahana inscriptions, Gupta names are mentioned. But historians are not sure whether these Gupta have some relation with the Imperial Guptas.

[@ravindrashelke9586]

Guptas are from fourth and fifth AD. Naganika, the Satvahana queen from first century bce is supposed to be the daughter of a Naga king.

[@vikrantnandanwar5869]

Bhai.. Aryan invasion theory is a myth.... please include recent development in your videos....

[@googleuser4534]

Satvahana was Mahars , originaly a naga clan in maharashtra .

[@sunil6135]

Hindi me channel hai Kya

[@krillin3350]

Which naag ruled the city of “Nagpur”

[@slytherin5960]

Maharathi Simuka of satavahana(bahubali) he is ancestor of Mahar tribe of Maharashtra.

[@sandipmundhe7732]

Kya Mahar Mahar laga rahe ho hum ghumantu the Jo ki ab vanjara or Banjara kahte Hain hamko​@@slytherin5960

[@Rudrakshe_PrincessRK]

Even king parikshit grandson of Arjun was killed by Takshak(naga king)

[@sriramp5934]

There is a theory of Gautama buddha belonged to ethnic Naga. Have you heard of this ?

[@ic5442]

The Buddha himself is attested in multiple Buddhist texts to having proudly stated he's an Ikshwaku & descended from the same ancient tribe as Lord Ram. In fact there's a tragic story associated to the virtual extermination of the Buddha's tribe during his own lifetime which he tried his best to prevent but couldn't. Search for Vidudahba / Virudhaka & his father Prasenjit / Pasenadi of Kosala for more info, if you're interested.

[@JayVardhanSingh]

Haven't heard of it and I don't think it is true.

[@ic5442]

@@JayVardhanSingh was that addressed to me?

[@JayVardhanSingh]

@@ic5442 No

[@ic5442]

@@JayVardhanSingh ok. Great video btw. In fact there are Nagvanshi Rajputs in Bihar, Jharkhand & Odisha too. What exactly is their connection if any to the historical Naga dynasties is unknown. Just as what's the connection of these historical Nagas to the Nagas mentioned in the Mahabharata is unknown. Incidentally, the Nagas in the Mahabharata are said to have inhibited the same areas as the Kurus. In fact the entire conflict between Parikshit & Takshaka may have been an inter generational blood feud as the Nagas were driven out of Khandava Prastha by the Pandava hero Arjuna . The land of Ahichhatra itself denotes association to the Nagas. Naga worshipers were mentioned in the Rg Veda & not in a flattering light too.

[@abhinnakhale7520]

you forgot to tell about nagas of vindhyatavi and nagas of ahichhatra😅

[@meenakshinegi2079]

You are a history rattu. Nagas were super sonic shape shifting snake people with super powers. They were Shaivites.

[@observer-fc7to]

Either you're trolling or you're truly delusional to believe such nonsense 😂

[@bladey_0_10]

So according to you, I'm a shape shifting snake 🐍😂

[@tattvamashi]

I am naga😂 i can change shape ikshadhari😂

[@aravindabelchada8207]

Mangalore is naga loka

[@j.a.yjustanothertiredguy8696]

Yooo my name is Jay vardhan Singh aswell

[@Thinker117]

But naga tribes existed in india in mesolithic age along with gonds, todas, bhils etc. Later on (if we consider aryan invasion to be true) the immigrants dravidians, and aryans migrated to india.

[@bladey_0_10]

Aryan thing is fake

[@mahendrapatel3503]

All old bharat nation mahajanpad kaal .rajans are nagas.that s why we are celebrating the nagpanchmi festival.

[@Mahdi20832]

this is Buddhist art...... please check please 🙏

[@tahirmuradbhutta3632]

Karchota dynesty ore naga ....north and central india

[@himanshunagarwal1019]

I have Nagarwal surname and use Nagar but we are Dalits

[@Septemberhello]

Don't take puranas as historical proof only archeological proof is only authentic

[@abhijitbose8487]

Bhai Hindi se video karo..english se Ved ko Vedas Shiv ko Shiva, Naag to Naaga, bhai colonial hangover still remains..

[@Septemberhello]

Purana is not of any historical authenticity

[@vivekkondawar3122]

Aryans never invaded, they were locals

[@pankajrsingh2555]

He is citing Puranas as reference which are written inDevnagari and likely written during Mughal period. It can’t be credible and coining fictional things among real sounding things from history.

[@bladey_0_10]

Please don't talk about the Aryan fake theory

[@himmsingz]

Why is it fake?