The Kirati people, also spelled as Kirant or Kiranti, are a
Sino-Tibetan
Sino-Tibetan, also cited as Trans-Himalayan in a few sources, is a family of more than 400 languages, second only to Indo-European in number of native speakers. The vast majority of these are the 1.3 billion native speakers of Chinese languages. ...
ethnic group. They are peoples of the
Himalayas
The Himalayas, or Himalaya (; ; ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the planet's highest peaks, including the very highest, Mount Everest. Over 10 ...
, mostly the
Eastern Himalaya
]
The Eastern Himalayas extend from eastern Nepal across Northeast India, Bhutan, the Tibet Autonomous Region to Yunnan in China and northern Myanmar. The climate of this region is influenced by the monsoon of South Asia from June to September. It ...
extending eastward from
Nepal
Nepal (; ne, :ne:नेपाल, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne,
सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in S ...
to
North East India
, native_name_lang = mni
, settlement_type =
, image_skyline =
, image_alt =
, image_caption =
, motto =
, image_map = Northeast india.png
, ...
(predominantly in the Indian state of
Sikkim
Sikkim (; ) is a state in Northeastern India. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north and northeast, Bhutan in the east, Province No. 1 of Nepal in the west and West Bengal in the south. Sikkim is also close to the Silig ...
and the northern hilly regions of
West Bengal
West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the fou ...
, that is,
Darjeeling
Darjeeling (, , ) is a town and municipality in the northernmost region of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located in the Eastern Himalayas, it has an average elevation of . To the west of Darjeeling lies the easternmost province of Nepal ...
and
Kalimpong districts).
Etymology
Kirat means lion-hearted people or people of a lion nature. It also means mountain people.The word Kirata is a derivation from Kirati or Kiranti to name the group of people in
Eastern Nepal
The Eastern Development Region (Nepali: पुर्वाञ्चल विकास क्षेत्र, ''Purwānchal Bikās Kshetra'') was one of Nepal's five development regions. It is also known as Kirata region. It was located at the ...
and
Northeast India
, native_name_lang = mni
, settlement_type =
, image_skyline =
, image_alt =
, image_caption =
, motto =
, image_map = Northeast india.png
, ...
.
History
![Kiranti_or_Kirati_People_(B](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/Kiranti_or_Kirati_People_%28B.C._1500_to_2016_A.D.%29.jpg)
The Kirat ("Kiranti") are an ancient people who have been associated with the history of
Nepal
Nepal (; ne, :ne:नेपाल, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne,
सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in S ...
for thousands of years. Sources from the
Kathmandu Valley describe the Kiratas as early rulers there whom may have been cattle-herding tribes. During the
Kirat Dynasty Kathmandu
, pushpin_map = Nepal Bagmati Province#Nepal#Asia
, coordinates =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name =
, subdivision_type1 = Province
, subdivision_name1 = Bagmati Prov ...
was called
Yela-khom. According to one of the legendary accounts, the primitive kiratis living in
Nepal
Nepal (; ne, :ne:नेपाल, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne,
सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in S ...
also lived in
Sikkim
Sikkim (; ) is a state in Northeastern India. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north and northeast, Bhutan in the east, Province No. 1 of Nepal in the west and West Bengal in the south. Sikkim is also close to the Silig ...
. They are descendents of one of the Primitive tribes. the Kiratis came out of the shakles of primitive living and slowly and gradually marched towards civilization This Kirati tribes, as stated earlier inhabited Sikkim. Dr. A. C. Singh (1983) stated that "Sikkim is known as the home of the Kirati tribesmen from the pre-historic times".
Modern scholarship
![Kirati tribe man](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/Kirati_tribe_man.jpg)
Contemporary historians widely agree that widespread cultural exchange and intermarriage took place in the eastern Himalayan region between the indigenous inhabitants — called the Kirat — and the Tibetan migrant population, reaching a climax during the 8th and 9th centuries.
Another wave of political and cultural conflict between
Khas
Khas people (; ne, खस) popularly known as Khas Arya are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group native to the Himalayan region of South Asia, what is now present-day Nepal, Indian states of Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Sikkim. Historical ...
and Kirat ideals surfaced in the Kirat region of present-day Nepal during the last quarter of the 18th century. A collection of manuscripts from the 18th and 19th centuries, till now unpublished and unstudied by historians, have made possible a new understanding of this conflict. These historical sources are among those collected by
Brian Houghton Hodgson
Brian Houghton Hodgson (1 February 1800 or more likely 1801 – 23 May 1894) was a pioneer naturalist and ethnologist working in India and Nepal where he was a British Resident. He described numerous species of birds and mammals from the Hima ...
(a British diplomat and self-trained orientalist appointed to the
Kathmandu
, pushpin_map = Nepal Bagmati Province#Nepal#Asia
, coordinates =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name =
, subdivision_type1 = Province
, subdivision_name1 = Bagmati Prov ...
court during the second quarter of the 19th century) and his principal research aide, the scholar Khardar Jitmohan.
For over two millennia, a large portion of the eastern
Himalaya
The Himalayas, or Himalaya (; ; ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the planet's highest peaks, including the very highest, Mount Everest. Over 100 ...
was identified as the home of the Kirat people, of which the majority are known today as
Limbu people
The Limbu (exonym) or Yakthung (endonym) are a Sino-Tibetan indigenous tribe (Bhot-Burmeli) of the Himalayan region of eastern Nepal, Sikkim, and western Bhutan.
The original name of the Limbu is ''Yakthung'' () or ''Yakthum''. Limbu males ar ...
,
Rai
RAI – Radiotelevisione italiana (; commercially styled as Rai since 2000; known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane) is the national public broadcasting company of Italy, owned by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. RAI operates many ter ...
,
Sunuwar
The Sunuwar or Koinch (; ''Sunuwār Jāti'') is a Kirati tribe native to Nepal, parts of India (West Bengal and Sikkim) and southern Bhutan. They speak the Sunuwar language. According to the 2001 census of Nepal, 17% of the tribe follow the ...
, and
Yakkha Yakkha may refer to:
* Yakkha people, an ethnic group of South Asia
* Yakkha language, a Sino-Tibetan language
* Yaksha
The yakshas ( sa, यक्ष ; pi, yakkha, i=yes) are a broad class of nature-spirits, usually benevolent, but sometime ...
. In ancient times, the entire Himalayan region was known as the ''Kimpurusha Desha''
Kimpurusha Kingdom Kimpurusha Kingdom refers to the territory of a tribe called Kimpurushas who were one among the exotic tribes of ancient India. These exotic tribes lived in inaccessible regions like the Himalaya mountains.
Kimpurushas were described to be lion-hea ...
(also, Kirata Pradesh).
For over a millennium, the Kirat had inhabited the
Kathmandu Valley, where they installed their own ruling dynasty. According to the
history of Nepal, the Kirats ruled for about 1,225 years (800 BC–300
AD). Their reign had 29 kings. The Kirat population in the valley and the original
Australoids and Austro-Asiatic speakers form the base for what had developed into today's
Newar population. As time passed, other Kirat groups, now known as Limbu, Rai, Yakkha and Sunuwar settled mostly in the
Koshi Koshi or Kōshi may refer to:
Places
*Koshi River, a river in Nepal
*Koshi District, Niigata, a former district in Niigata Prefecture, Japan
* Koshi Province, a historic province of Japan
*Kōshi, Kumamoto, a city in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan
*Ko ...
region of present-day
Sikkim
Sikkim (; ) is a state in Northeastern India. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north and northeast, Bhutan in the east, Province No. 1 of Nepal in the west and West Bengal in the south. Sikkim is also close to the Silig ...
,
Darjeeling
Darjeeling (, , ) is a town and municipality in the northernmost region of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located in the Eastern Himalayas, it has an average elevation of . To the west of Darjeeling lies the easternmost province of Nepal ...
and eastern Nepal. The Limbu people have their own distinct form of
Kirat Mundhum
Kirat Mundum, also known as Kiratism, or Kirati Mundum, is a Folk religion that is indigenous to the Kirati ethnic groups of Nepal, Darjeeling and Sikkim, majorly practiced by Yakkha, Limbu, Sunuwar, Rai, Thami, Jirel, Hayu and Surel pe ...
, known as
Yuma Sammang Yuma Sammang is the goddess of the Limbu community of Nepal. The deity Yuma Sammang (literally: "Mother Earth" or "Grandmother") also known as Ningwaphuma is the most important and popular among Yakthungs (Limbus) and worshiped in all occasion. Yum ...
or ''Yumaism''; they venerate a mythological goddess called
Tagera Ningwaphumang
Tagera Ningwaphumang is the main traditional cultural god of Limbu community. She is often identified as the "Supreme Body of Knowledge" or the "Creator of the World.P.20 The Himalayan Woman: A Study of Limbu Women in Marriage and Divorce By Rex ...
.
In addition to ancestor worship, Kirati people also worship
Mother Nature.
From around the 8th century, areas on the northern frontier of the Kirat region began to fall under the domination of migrant people of Tibetan origin. This flux of migration brought about the domination by Tibetan religious and cultural practices over ancient Kirat traditions. This influence first introduced shamanistic ''
Bön'' practices, which in turn were later replaced by the oldest form of
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (also referred to as Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Lamaism, Lamaistic Buddhism, Himalayan Buddhism, and Northern Buddhism) is the form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet and Bhutan, where it is the dominant religion. It is also in majo ...
. The early influx of Bön culture to the peripheral Himalayan regions occurred only after the advent of ''
Nyingma
Nyingma (literally 'old school') is the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. It is also often referred to as ''Ngangyur'' (, ), "order of the ancient translations". The Nyingma school is founded on the first lineages and transl ...
'', the oldest Buddhist order in
Lhasa
Lhasa (; Lhasa dialect: ; bo, text=ལྷ་ས, translation=Place of Gods) is the urban center of the prefecture-level Lhasa City and the administrative capital of Tibet Autonomous Region in Southwest China. The inner urban area of Lhas ...
and
Central Tibet
Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object.
Central may also refer to:
Directions and generalised locations
* Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...
, which led followers of the older religion to flee to the Kirat area for survival. The Tibetan cultural influx ultimately laid the foundation for a Tibetan politico-religious order in the Kirat regions, and this led to the emergence of two major Tibetan Buddhist dynasties, one in Sikkim and another in
Bhutan
Bhutan (; dz, འབྲུག་ཡུལ་, Druk Yul ), officially the Kingdom of Bhutan,), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is situated in the Eastern Himalayas, between China in the north and India in the south. A mountainou ...
. The early political order of the Kingdom of Bhutan Hadgaon been established under the political and spiritual leadership of the lama
Zhabs-drung ''Ngawang Namgyal''.
Te-ongsi Sirijunga Xin Thebe
Te-ongsi Sirijunga Xin Thebe
Tye-Angsi Sirijanga Sing Thebe Limbu was an 18th-century Limbu scholar, educator, historian, linguist, leader, and philosopher of Limbuwan and Sikkim. He was formally known as ''Sirichongba'' and even more popularly known as "Sirijanga."
Life
...
was an 18th-century
Limbu scholar, teacher, educator, historian, and philosopher of
Limbuwan
Limbuwan is an area of the Himalayan region historically made up of 10 Limbu kingdoms, now part of eastern Nepal. Limbuwan means "abode of the Limbus" or "Land of the Limbus".
In modern times, a political movement in Nepal has developed which ...
(pallo kirat) and Sikkim. Sirijanga researched and taught the
Limbu script
The Limbu script (also Sirijanga script) is used to write the Limbu language. It is a Brahmic type abugida.
History
According to traditional histories, the Limbu script was first invented in the late 9th century by Limbu King Sirijunga Hang a ...
,
Limbu language
Limbu (Limbu: , ''yakthuṅ pan'') is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Limbu people of Nepal and Northeastern India (particularly Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Sikkim, Assam and Nagaland) as well as expatriate communities in Bhutan. The Limbu refer ...
and religion of the Limbus in various part of Limbuwan (Pallo Kirat) and Sikkim. He revived the old Limbu script developed in the 9th century.
History of Limbuwan: Kirat people of Limbu nationality
Limbuwan
Limbuwan is an area of the Himalayan region historically made up of 10 Limbu kingdoms, now part of eastern Nepal. Limbuwan means "abode of the Limbus" or "Land of the Limbus".
In modern times, a political movement in Nepal has developed which ...
had a distinct history and political establishment until its unification with the kingdom of
Gorkha
The Gurkhas or Gorkhas (), with endonym Gorkhali ), are soldiers native to the Indian Subcontinent, chiefly residing within Nepal and some parts of Northeast India.
The Gurkha units are composed of Nepalis and Indian Gorkhas and are recruit ...
in 1774
AD. During King
Prithvi Narayan Shah
Maharajadhiraj Prithvi Narayan Shah (1723–1775) ( ne, श्री ५ बडामहाराजाधिराज पृथ्वीनारायण शाह देव) was the last ruler of the Gorkha Kingdom and first monarch of the ...
's unification of Nepal, the present-day Nepal east of
Arun and west of
Mechi
Mechi ( ne, मेची अञ्चल ) was one of the fourteen zones of Nepal until the restructuring of zones to provinces, comprising four districts; namely Ilam, Jhapa, Panchthar and Taplejung. Its headquarters are at Ilam. It comes u ...
rivers was known as
Limbuwan
Limbuwan is an area of the Himalayan region historically made up of 10 Limbu kingdoms, now part of eastern Nepal. Limbuwan means "abode of the Limbus" or "Land of the Limbus".
In modern times, a political movement in Nepal has developed which ...
(pallo kirat). It was divided into 10 Limbu kingdoms;
Morang
Morang District ( ne, मोरङ जिल्ला ) is located in Province No. 1 in eastern Nepal. It is an Outer Terai district. It borders with Bihar, India to the South, Jhapa to the East, Dhankuta and Panchthar to the North, and Sunsar ...
kingdom was the most powerful and had a central government. The capital of Morang kingdom was Bijaypur (present-day
Dharan
Dharan ( ne, धरान) a sub-metropolitan city in Sunsari District of Province No. 1, Nepal, which was established as a fourth municipality in the Kingdom in 1958. It is the third most populous city in Eastern Nepal after Biratnagar and ...
). After the
Limbuwan–Gorkha war and seeing the threat of the rising power of the
British East India Company
The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and South ...
, the kings and ministers of all the some Yakthung laje ("thibong Yakthung laje") kingdoms of Limbuwan gathered in Bijaypur, and they agreed upon the Limbuwan-Gorkha Treaty ("Nun-Pani Sandhi"). This treaty formally merged the 10 Limbu kingdoms into the Gorkha kingdom but it also had a provision for autonomy of Limbuwan under the "kipat" system.
Kiratology
Kiratology is the study of Kirats the
Mundhum
The Mundhum (also known as ''Peylan'') is the ancient religious scripture and folk literature of the Limbu people. It is an ancient, indigenous religion of Nepal. Mundhum means "the power of great strength" in the Limbu language. The Mundhum cover ...
along with history, cultures, languages and literatures of Kirat ethnic people in
Nepal
Nepal (; ne, :ne:नेपाल, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne,
सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in S ...
,
Darjeeling
Darjeeling (, , ) is a town and municipality in the northernmost region of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located in the Eastern Himalayas, it has an average elevation of . To the west of Darjeeling lies the easternmost province of Nepal ...
,
Sikkim
Sikkim (; ) is a state in Northeastern India. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north and northeast, Bhutan in the east, Province No. 1 of Nepal in the west and West Bengal in the south. Sikkim is also close to the Silig ...
,
Assam
Assam (; ) is a state in northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . The state is bordered by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north; Nagaland and Manipur ...
,
Myanmar
Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John Wells explai ...
, and so on. The Mundum or Mundhum is the book of knowledge on origin, history, culture, occupation and traditions of Kirati people. Noted scholars on Kiratology so far is
Iman Xin Chemjong
Iman Xin Chemjong Limbu, or Iman Singh Chemjong Limbu; was a Limbu historian, writer, linguist, lexicographer, folklorist, and philosopher of Nepal. Chemjong devoted his entire life to studying and documenting various facets of Kirat Limbu tra ...
who did ground breaking contributions on kirat Mundum/Mundhum, history, cultures, and languages. After Chemjong, PS Muringla, BB Muringla and
Bairagi Kainla also contributed towards Kiratology.
Gorkhali hegemony
After the completion of the conquest of the Majha Kirat (Khambuwan / Rai peoples kingdom ) and Wallo Kirat (Sunuwar peoples Kingdom), the
Gorkhali army
The Nepali Army ( ne, नेपाली सेना, translit=Nēpālī Sēnā), technically the Gorkhali Army ( ne, गोरखाली सेना, translit=Gōrakhālī Sēnā, label=none; see '' Gorkhas''), is the land service branc ...
marched east towards the Pallo Kirat (
Limbuwan
Limbuwan is an area of the Himalayan region historically made up of 10 Limbu kingdoms, now part of eastern Nepal. Limbuwan means "abode of the Limbus" or "Land of the Limbus".
In modern times, a political movement in Nepal has developed which ...
) territory. The
Limbu rulers of
Limbuwan
Limbuwan is an area of the Himalayan region historically made up of 10 Limbu kingdoms, now part of eastern Nepal. Limbuwan means "abode of the Limbus" or "Land of the Limbus".
In modern times, a political movement in Nepal has developed which ...
, known as title Raya/Rai (King) had established a weak rule in the Limbuwan region by adopting a policy of mutual understanding with the local yakthung leaders.
After the end of Rana Regime in 2007 BS (1951 AD), when power came back to
Shah dynasty
The Shah dynasty ( ne, शाह वंश), also known as the Shahs of Gorkha or the Royal House of Gorkha, was the ruling Chaubise Thakuri dynasty ; and the founder of Gorkha Kingdom from 1559 to 1768 and later the unified Kingdom of Nepal ...
the autonomous power given to
Limbu Kings was reduced. Gurkhali King Tribhuwan demolished title of
Rai
RAI – Radiotelevisione italiana (; commercially styled as Rai since 2000; known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane) is the national public broadcasting company of Italy, owned by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. RAI operates many ter ...
(means King in English language) to
Subba. When King Mahendra ascended the throne he banished the law which prohibits other tribes right to buy land without permission of Subba (Head of Limbu) of particular area as well as levy and taxes to Subba in 1979.
32 Kirat Kings who ruled in Kathmandu Valley
According to chronicle of Bansawali William Kirk Patrick and Daniel Wright, the Kirata kings of the
Nepal
Nepal (; ne, :ne:नेपाल, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne,
सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in S ...
Valley were:
#King Shree
Yalambar
Yalamber or Yalung, Yalambar, Yalamwar, Yalamver ( Nepali: यलम्बर) was a Kirat warrior and first King of Kirata Kingdom in Nepal. He established Kirata Kingdom in 800 B.C.Kirat Yoyakhha His capital was Yalakhom, present day Kath ...
90years/ राजा श्री यलम्बर - ९० वर्ष
#King Shree Palamba - 81years/राजा श्री पलाम्बा- ८१ वर्ष
#King Shree Melam - 89 years/राजा श्री मेलं - ८९ वर्ष
#King Shree Changming - 42 years/राजा श्री चंमिं - ४२ वर्ष
#King Shree Dhakang - 37 years/राजा श्री धस्कं - ३७ वर्ष
#King Shree Walangcha - 31 years 6 months/राजा श्री वलंच - ३१ वर्ष ६ महिना
#King Shree Jite Dasti - 40 years 8 months/राजा श्री जिते दस्ति - ४० वर्ष ८ mahina
#King Shree Hoorma - 50 years/राजा श्री हुरमा - ५० वर्ष
#King Shree Tooske - 41 years 8 months/राजा श्री तुस्के - ४१ वर्ष ८ महिना
#King Shree Prasaphung - 38 years 6 months/राजा श्री प्रसफुं - ३८ वर्ष ६ महिना
#King Shree Pawa: - 46 years/राजा श्री पवः - ४६ वर्ष
#King Shree Daasti - 40 years/राजा श्री दास्ती - ४० वर्ष
#King Shree Chamba - 71 years/राजा श्री चम्ब - ७१ वर्ष
#King Shree Stungko - 54 years/राजा श्री स्तुङको - ५४ वर्ष
#King Shree Swananda - 40 years 6 months/राजा श्री स्वनन्द - ४० वर्ष ६ महिना
#King Shree Phukong - 58 years/राजा श्री फुकों - ५८ वर्ष
#King Shree Singhu - 49 years 6 months/राजा श्री शिंघु - ४९ वर्ष ६ महिना
#King Shree Joolam - 73 years 3 months/राजा श्री जुलम् - ७३ वर्ष ३ महिना
#King Shree Lukan - 40 years/राजा श्री लुकं - ४० वर्ष
#King Shree Thoram - 71 years/राजा श्री थोरम् - ७१ वर्ष
#King Shree Angsu Barmma - 73 years 6 months/राजा श्री अंशु वर्म्म - ७३ वर्ष ६ महिना
#King Shree Thuko - 83 years/राजा श्री थुको - ८३ वर्ष
#King Shree Gunjong - 72 years 7 months/राजा श्री गुंजं ७२ वर्ष ७ महिना
#King Shree Pushka - 81 years/राजा श्री पुस्क - ८१ वर्ष
#King Shree Tyapamee - 54 years/राजा श्री त्यपमि - ५४ वर्ष
#King Shree Moogmam - 58 years/राजा श्री मुगमम् - ५८ वर्ष
# King Shree Shasaru - 63 years/राजा श्री शसरू - ६३ वर्ष
#King Shree Goongoong - 74 years/राजा श्री गंणं - ७४ वर्ष
#King Shree Khimbung - 76 years/राजा श्री खिम्बुं - ७६ वर्ष
#King Shree Girijung - 81 years/राजा श्री गिरीजं - ८१ वर्ष
#King Shree Khurangja - 78 years/राजा श्री खुरांज - ७८ वर्ष
#King Shree Khigu - 85 years/राजा श्री खिगु - ८५ वर्ष
The
Yele Sambat (Yele Era) is named after Kirat King
Yalambar
Yalamber or Yalung, Yalambar, Yalamwar, Yalamver ( Nepali: यलम्बर) was a Kirat warrior and first King of Kirata Kingdom in Nepal. He established Kirata Kingdom in 800 B.C.Kirat Yoyakhha His capital was Yalakhom, present day Kath ...
. 32 Kirat Kings ruled in the Kathmandu valley for 1963 years 8 months. The Lichhavi dynasty dethroned the Kirat rulers in 158
AD (evidence: statue of Jaya Barma found in Maligaun of Kathmandu). This means that Kirat King Yalambar's reign started BC 1779.8. If we calculate current 2018 + 1779.8 = 3797 is the Kirati new year in Maghe Sakranti in 2018
AD. New year is celebrated in Maghe Sakranti which is around mid-January (January 14–15).
Modern ethnic groups
The Kirati Population in Nepal number approximately one million (around five percent of the Nepalese population) and speak languages belonging to
Tibeto-Burman
The Tibeto-Burman languages are the non- Sinitic members of the Sino-Tibetan language family, over 400 of which are spoken throughout the Southeast Asian Massif ("Zomia") as well as parts of East Asia and South Asia. Around 60 million people spea ...
. Kirant culture is clearly different from the
Tibetan
Tibetan may mean:
* of, from, or related to Tibet
* Tibetan people, an ethnic group
* Tibetan language:
** Classical Tibetan, the classical language used also as a contemporary written standard
** Standard Tibetan, the most widely used spoken dial ...
and Indo-
Nepalese ones, although it has been influenced by them through long term contacts. According to census of 2011, the population of the Kirat peoples, are as following:
In academic literature, the earliest recorded groups of the Kirati are today divided into five groups — the
Yakkha Yakkha may refer to:
* Yakkha people, an ethnic group of South Asia
* Yakkha language, a Sino-Tibetan language
* Yaksha
The yakshas ( sa, यक्ष ; pi, yakkha, i=yes) are a broad class of nature-spirits, usually benevolent, but sometime ...
,
Limbu,
Rai
RAI – Radiotelevisione italiana (; commercially styled as Rai since 2000; known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane) is the national public broadcasting company of Italy, owned by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. RAI operates many ter ...
,
Sunuwar
The Sunuwar or Koinch (; ''Sunuwār Jāti'') is a Kirati tribe native to Nepal, parts of India (West Bengal and Sikkim) and southern Bhutan. They speak the Sunuwar language. According to the 2001 census of Nepal, 17% of the tribe follow the ...
,
Dhimal
The Dhimal or Dhemal(in Nepali:धिमाल) are an Kirati ethnic group residing in the eastern Terai of Nepal. They are a Sino-Tibetan-speaking ethnic group of the eastern Terai. They mainly reside in Morang and Jhapa districts of Nepal a ...
When the Shah kings conquered, they established the headman and as local rulers and were given the title Yakkha as
Dewan
''Dewan'' (also known as ''diwan'', sometimes spelled ''devan'' or ''divan'') designated a powerful government official, minister, or ruler. A ''dewan'' was the head of a state institution of the same name (see Divan). Diwans belonged to the e ...
, Khambu as
Rai
RAI – Radiotelevisione italiana (; commercially styled as Rai since 2000; known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane) is the national public broadcasting company of Italy, owned by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. RAI operates many ter ...
, Limbu as
Subba, Sunuwar as
Mukhiya.
The Kirat groups that today identify themselves using the nomenclature 'Kirat' include the
Khambu (Rai),
Limbu (Subba),
Sunuwar (Mukhia),
Yakkha (Dewan),
Thami (Thangmi) and few segments of the Kirat people like
Bahing The Bahing are a subset of the Indigenous Kirant ethnic group, which is located widely in Okhaldhunga and Solukhumbu District. They can be found in some of the villages like Bulaadi, Chisopani, Moli, Pankhu, Bhadaure, Aapsowra, Rangadeep, Bigutar, M ...
,
Kulung and speakers of
Khaling,
Bantawa
The Bantawa Language (also referred to as An Yüng, Bantaba, Bantawa Dum, Bantawa Yong, Bantawa Yüng, Bontawa, Kirawa Yüng), is a Kirati languages spoken in the eastern Himalayan hills of eastern Nepal by Kirati Bantawa ethnic groups. They us ...
,
Chamling,
Thulung,
Jerung, and other related ethnic groups. The tripartition of the Kirat region in Eastern Nepal documented by Hodgson, divided into three region are Wallo Kirat (Near Kirat), Majh Kirat ( Middle Kirat/ Khambuwan ) and Pallo Kirat (Far Kirat/
Limbuwan
Limbuwan is an area of the Himalayan region historically made up of 10 Limbu kingdoms, now part of eastern Nepal. Limbuwan means "abode of the Limbus" or "Land of the Limbus".
In modern times, a political movement in Nepal has developed which ...
). The region Wallo Kirat, Majh Kirat were predominant by Khambu Kirat and Pallo Kirat were preponderance by Limbu Kirat as known as
Limbuwan
Limbuwan is an area of the Himalayan region historically made up of 10 Limbu kingdoms, now part of eastern Nepal. Limbuwan means "abode of the Limbus" or "Land of the Limbus".
In modern times, a political movement in Nepal has developed which ...
. The
Yakkha Yakkha may refer to:
* Yakkha people, an ethnic group of South Asia
* Yakkha language, a Sino-Tibetan language
* Yaksha
The yakshas ( sa, यक्ष ; pi, yakkha, i=yes) are a broad class of nature-spirits, usually benevolent, but sometime ...
,
Khambu Rai,
Limbu, and
Sunuwar
The Sunuwar or Koinch (; ''Sunuwār Jāti'') is a Kirati tribe native to Nepal, parts of India (West Bengal and Sikkim) and southern Bhutan. They speak the Sunuwar language. According to the 2001 census of Nepal, 17% of the tribe follow the ...
are different from one another and yet they all sit under one umbrella in many respects.
The Kirati people and
Kiranti languages
The Kiranti languages are a major family of Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in Nepal and India (notably Sikkim, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kumai) by the Kirati people.
External relationships
George van Driem had formerly proposed that the Kir ...
between the rivers
Likhu and
Arun, including some small groups east of the Arun, are usually referred to as the Kirat people, which is a geographic grouping rather than a genetic grouping. The Sunuwars inhabit the region westward of River Sun Koshi.
Other groups who claim descent from Kirat
The Kirat were among the earliest inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley and a large percentage of the Newar population is believed to have descended from them. The continuity of
Newar society from the Kirat King
Yalambar
Yalamber or Yalung, Yalambar, Yalamwar, Yalamver ( Nepali: यलम्बर) was a Kirat warrior and first King of Kirata Kingdom in Nepal. He established Kirata Kingdom in 800 B.C.Kirat Yoyakhha His capital was Yalakhom, present day Kath ...
(
Aakash Bhairav) and pre-Licchavi period has been discussed by many historians and anthropologists. The language of the
Newars,
Nepalbhasa
Newar (), or Newari and known officially in Nepal as Nepal Bhasa, is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Newar people, the indigenous inhabitants of Nepal Mandala, which consists of the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding regions in Nepa ...
, a
Sino-Tibetan
Sino-Tibetan, also cited as Trans-Himalayan in a few sources, is a family of more than 400 languages, second only to Indo-European in number of native speakers. The vast majority of these are the 1.3 billion native speakers of Chinese languages. ...
language, is classified as a Kirati language. Similarly, the over 200 non-Sanskritic place names found in the Sanskrit inscriptions of the Licchavi period of the first millennium C.E. are acknowledged to belong to the proto-Newar language; modern variants of many of these words are still used by the Newars today to refer to geographical locations in and around Kathmandu valley. Although the 14th century text Gopalarajavamsavali states that the descendants of the Kirata clan that ruled Nepal before the Licchavis resided in the region of the Tamarkoshi river, a number of Newar caste and sub-caste groups and clans also claim descent from the erstwhile Kirat royal lineage.
Even though most modern Newars are either Hindu or Buddhist or a mixture of the two as a result of at least two millennia of Sanskritization and practice a complicated, ritualistic religious life, vestigal non-Sanskritic elements can be seen in some of their practices that have similarities with the cultures of other Mongoloid groups in the north-east region of India. Sudarshan Tiwari of Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, in his essay "The Temples of the Kirata Nepal" argues that the Newar temple technology based on brick and timber usage and the rectangular temple design used for 'Tantric' Aju and Ajima deities are pre-Licchavi in origin and reflect Newar religious values and geometrical aesthetics from the Kirati period.
Religion
![Khambu Rai Mangpa With Dhyangro Yaledong Festival 2014 Mela Ground Kalimpong](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Khambu_Rai_Mangpa_With_Dhyangro_Yaledong_Festival_2014_Mela_Ground_Kalimpong.jpg)
The Himalayan Kirat people practice
Kirat Mundhum
Kirat Mundum, also known as Kiratism, or Kirati Mundum, is a Folk religion that is indigenous to the Kirati ethnic groups of Nepal, Darjeeling and Sikkim, majorly practiced by Yakkha, Limbu, Sunuwar, Rai, Thami, Jirel, Hayu and Surel pe ...
, calling it "Kirat religion". In early Kirat society, Mundhum was the only law of state.
[P.238 ''The Routledge International Handbook of Religious Education'', Derek Davis, Elena Miroshnikova Routledge, 2013] Kirati people worship nature and their ancestors, and practice
shamanism through
Nakchhong
Nakchhong (नाक्छोङ) are the Shamanic tribal priest of Rai people an ethnic group that is predominantly located in the Himalayas of Nepal, Sikkim, Darjeeling and Kalimpong.
Nakchhong is the main pri ...
.
Major ethnic/caste groups following Kirat Religion in Nepal 2011 Census
Some Kirat Limbus people believe in a mythological god called Tagera Ningwaphuma, a shapeless entity that appears as a bright light, and is worshipped in earthy form as the goddess
Yuma Sammang Yuma Sammang is the goddess of the Limbu community of Nepal. The deity Yuma Sammang (literally: "Mother Earth" or "Grandmother") also known as Ningwaphuma is the most important and popular among Yakthungs (Limbus) and worshiped in all occasion. Yum ...
and her male counterpart 'Theba Sammang'.
The Kirat Limbu ancestor
Yuma Sammang Yuma Sammang is the goddess of the Limbu community of Nepal. The deity Yuma Sammang (literally: "Mother Earth" or "Grandmother") also known as Ningwaphuma is the most important and popular among Yakthungs (Limbus) and worshiped in all occasion. Yum ...
and god of war Theba Sammang are the second most important deities. The Limbus festivals are
Chasok Tangnam (Harvest Festival and worship of goddess Yuma), Yokwa (Worship of Ancestors), Limbu New Year's Day (Maghey Sankranti), Ke Lang, Limbu Cultural Day, Sirijanga Birthday Anniversary. Kirat Rai worship (Sumnima/Paruhang) are their cultural and religious practices. The names of some of their festivals are
Sakela
Sakela () is one of the main festival of Kirat Rai people, an ethnic group indigenous to Eastern Nepal and Sikkim, Kalimpong, and Darjeeling regions of India. Sakela is celebrated twice a year and is distinguished by two names ''Ubhauli'' and ''U ...
, Sakle, Tashi, Sakewa, Saleladi Bhunmidev, and Folsyandar. They have two main festivals: Sakela/Sakewa
Ubhauli
Ubhauli (उभौली) is festival of the Kirat communities of Sunuwar, Rai, Limbu and Yakkha of Nepal , India and around the world by Kirati people celebrated every year marking the migration phase upwards towards the hilly regions when ...
during planting season and Sakela/Sakewa Udhauli during the harvest.
Brigade of Gurkhas
The British had recruited
Gurkha
The Gurkhas or Gorkhas (), with endonym Gorkhali ), are soldiers native to the Indian subcontinent, Indian Subcontinent, chiefly residing within Nepal and some parts of Northeast India.
The Gurkha units are composed of Nepalis and Indian Go ...
s ethnicity-wise; four regiments were composed of Kirati tribes:
Yakkha Yakkha may refer to:
* Yakkha people, an ethnic group of South Asia
* Yakkha language, a Sino-Tibetan language
* Yaksha
The yakshas ( sa, यक्ष ; pi, yakkha, i=yes) are a broad class of nature-spirits, usually benevolent, but sometime ...
,
Limbu,
Rai
RAI – Radiotelevisione italiana (; commercially styled as Rai since 2000; known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane) is the national public broadcasting company of Italy, owned by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. RAI operates many ter ...
,
Sunuwar
The Sunuwar or Koinch (; ''Sunuwār Jāti'') is a Kirati tribe native to Nepal, parts of India (West Bengal and Sikkim) and southern Bhutan. They speak the Sunuwar language. According to the 2001 census of Nepal, 17% of the tribe follow the ...
. The
7th Gurkha Rifles
The 7th Gurkha Rifles was a rifle regiment of the British Indian Army, before being transferred to the British Army, following India's independence in 1947 and after 1959 designated as the 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles.
History
...
was raised in 1902 and recruited Rai, Limbu, Yakkha, and Sunuwar from Eastern Nepal. The
10th Gurkha Rifles and the regiment maintained its assigned recruiting areas in the kirat tribal areas of eastern Nepal as part of a broad reorganisation on 13 September 1901.
11 Gorkha Rifles
The 11 Gorkha Rifles is a Gorkha regiment of the Indian Army that was re-raised after independence. The regiment consists of primarily the Kirant Tribes Rai, Limbu, Yakkha, Sunuwar of Eastern Nepal, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Dooars of West Be ...
composed entirely of kirati non-optees for the British Gorkhas.
[Fools and infantrymen: one view of history (1923-1993), E. A. Vas, Kartikeya Publications, 1995]
Popular culture
On 16 November 2014, French multinational video game developer company Ubisoft launched the game
Far Cry 4
''Far Cry 4'' is a 2014 first-person shooter game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. It is the successor to the 2012 video game ''Far Cry 3'', and the fourth main installment in the ''Far Cry'' series. Set in the fictional ...
. This game is plotted in the fictional mountainous country of Kyrat, which is heavily inspired by the Kirati people and culture.
See also
*
Kirata
The Kirāta ( sa, किरात) is a generic term in Sanskrit literature for people who had territory in the mountains, particularly in the Himalayas and Northeast India and who are believed to have been Sino-Tibetan in origin. The meaning o ...
, Sanskrit term for various ancient and mythical Himalayan peoples
*
Khuwalung
Khuwalung () is a rock in the Kosi River, Saptakoshi river of Nepal sacred to the Kirati people. The rock lies at the confluence of Dudh Koshi, Arun River (China–Nepal), Arun, and Tamur River, Tamor rivers, near the Belaka Municipality, Belaka ...
, a rock in Koshi river sacred to Kirati people
*
Kirata Kingdom
Kirata Kingdom (Kirat) in Sanskrit literature and Hindu mythology refers to any kingdom of the Kirati people, who were dwellers mostly in the Himalayas (mostly eastern Himalaya). They took part in the Kurukshetra War along with Parvatas (mounta ...
, mythological kingdom mentioned in the Mahabharata
*
Banjhakri and Banjhakrini
Banjhākri and Banjhākrini are shamanic deities in the tradition of the Kirati people of Nepal , Sikkim Darjeeling , Kalimpong of India They are a couple, and possibly different aspects of the same being. They are supernatural shamans of ...
, legendary Kirati figures
*
Kirateshwar Mahadev Temple
Kirateshwar Mahadev Temple () is a Hindu temple, identified to be a Hindu pilgrimage site which is located at Legship, West Sikkim, India along the banks of River Rangeet, which has many episodes of the Mahabharata attached to it. The temple is ...
*
Kirat Autonomous State
The Kirat Region is an area of the Himalayas in eastern Nepal which is inhabited by ethnic Kirati people. Currently Province No. 1 of Nepal has been proposed to be named Kirat Pradesh or Kirat State.www.makalukhabar.com
History Kirat Kingdom Li ...
*
Rai people
The Rai are an ethnolinguistic group belonging to the Kirat family and primarily Tibeto-Burman linguistic ethnicity. They mainly reside in the eastern parts of Nepal, the Indian states of Sikkim, West Bengal (predominantly Darjeeling and Kalim ...
*
Limbu people
The Limbu (exonym) or Yakthung (endonym) are a Sino-Tibetan indigenous tribe (Bhot-Burmeli) of the Himalayan region of eastern Nepal, Sikkim, and western Bhutan.
The original name of the Limbu is ''Yakthung'' () or ''Yakthum''. Limbu males ar ...
or the Yakthung
*
Kirat Rai Yayokkha
Kirat Rai Yayokkha (Nepali: किरात राई यायोक्खा) is a social organization of the Rai people, an indigenous ethnic group in Nepal that established in 1990 (2047 B.S.) The word "Kirat" describes the ancient tribes of ...
, an organization of the Rai people
*
Kirat Yakthung Chumlung
Kirat Yakthung Chumlung (Nepali: किरात याक्थुङ चुम्लुङ) (1989) is a social organization of the Limbu indigenous ethnic group of Nepal
Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democrati ...
, an organization of the Limbu people
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Himalayan peoples
Sino-Tibetan-speaking people
Indigenous peoples of Nepal
Ethnic groups in India
Ethnic groups in Northeast India
Kiranti
Old Royal Families of Nepal