Pancha-janah

The Pancha-janah (Vedic Sanskrit: पञ्च जनाः / páñca jánāḥ, "five tribes") is a Sanskrit-language term mentioned in the Vedic literature of ancient India. The exact meaning of the term is uncertain, as various commentators and modern scholars explain it in different ways.[1]

Pre-modern commentaries

According to the Aitareya Brahmana, the pancha-janah include: the gods; the humans; the Gandharvas and the Apsaras; the snakes; and the Fathers. [1]

According to Yaska's Nirukta, Aupamanyava explains the Rigvedic term pancha-janah as the four varnas of the Indo-Aryan society and the Nishadas.[2] The 14th century commentator Sayana also supports this explanation.[1]

According to Yaska, the pancha-janah include the Gandharvas, the Fathers, the gods, the Asuras, and the Rakshasas.[1]

According to the 20th century Sanskrit scholars Arthur Anthony Macdonell and Arthur Berriedale Keith, none of these explanations can be regarded as adequate.[1]

Modern scholars

19th century German Indologists Karl Friedrich Geldner and Rudolf von Roth, the term denotes "all the peoples of the earth", with Vedic Aryans in the middle, and other people in the four directions. Heinrich Zimmer, another German Indologist, has criticized this theory, arguing that inclusion of all of the earth's peoples in this expression is not in harmony with the frequent distinction made between the Aryans and the Dasas in the Vedic texts; that the term -janah is not used for the non-Aryans; that the deities Soma and Indra are mentioned as belonging among the pancha-janah; and that the pancha-janah are mentioned as located on the Sarasvati River.[1]

According to Heinrich Zimmer, the term pancha-janah denotes the five Vedic tribes: Anus, Druhyus, Yadus, Turvashas, and Purus. Zimmer adds that the term may have become more generic in the later period.[1]

References

Arthur Anthony Macdonell; Arthur Berriedale Keith (1995). Vedic Index of Names and Subjects. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 466–467. ISBN 978-81-208-1332-8.
Vivekanand Jha (1974) [1958]. "From tribe to untouchable: the case of Niṣādas". In R. S. Sharma (ed.). Indian Society: Historical Probings in memory of D. D. Kosambi. Indian Council of Historical Research / People's Publishing House. p. 68. ISBN 978-81-7007-176-1.

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[VedicIndex-1] Arthur Anthony Macdonell; Arthur Berriedale Keith (1995). Vedic Index of Names and Subjects. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 466–467. ISBN 978-81-208-1332-8.

[2] Vivekanand Jha (1974) [1958]. "From tribe to untouchable: the case of Niṣādas". In R. S. Sharma (ed.). Indian Society: Historical Probings in memory of D. D. Kosambi. Indian Council of Historical Research / People's Publishing House. p. 68. ISBN 978-81-7007-176-1.