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{{short description|Legendary Indian King}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox royalty
| title = Maharaja Ahibaran
| birth_date = 26 December
| image =
| caption =Image of Maharaja Ahibaran
| predecessor = Maharaja Parmal
| successor = Maharaja Bhadrawah
| queen = Maharani Varanavati
| royal house = Ikshwaku
| dynasty = [[Solar Dynasty]]
| burial_place = Baran (now [[Bulandshahr]])
| father = Maharaja Parmal
| mother = Maharani Bhadrawati
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
}}

'''Maharaja Ahibaran''' ({{langx|sa|अहिबरन|Ahibarana}}) was a legendary Indian king ([[Maharaja]]) of [[Bulandshahr|Baran]], the capital and resident city of children of [[Pandava|Pandavas]]. Maharaja Ahibaran was born on 26 December.<ref name=":0" />

The [[Baranwal]] communities are descended from him and also celebrate his birth anniversary every year on 26 December.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last1=Crooke|first1=William|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tCc-AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA16|title=An Ethnographical Hand-book for the N.-W. Provinces and Oudh|publisher=North-Western Provinces and Oudh Government Pres|year=1890|page=16}}</ref>

== Etymology and names ==

Ahibaran has two meanings. Ahivaran means protector of forts. This was the accepted meaning amongst the learnt scholars of ancient and British times in Western UP. One English historian Gousse claimed that it could mean "snake coloured" (''Ahi means snake and baran means colours''). He is also known as ''Varan'', ''Varna'' (which means forts, colours etc).{{sfn|Edwin Thomas Atkinson|1876|p=271}}

== Legends and beliefs ==

According to local legends, the town of Baran (now called [[Bulandshahr]]) was named after king Ahi-baran (literally "cobra-coloured"or one who owns forts, varan means forts and elephants as well). F. S. Growse, in the Journal of the [[The Asiatic Society|Asiatic Society of Bengal]], theorizes that no such king ever existed, instead he believed that Varana means forts and identified it with Varanavat from Mahabharat where Pandavas and their children settled.<ref name=":4">{{cite journal |author=F. S. Growse |title=The town of Bulandshahr |journal=Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal |volume=LII |issue=1 |publisher=Asiatic Society of Bengal |location=Calcutta |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HTgzAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA275 |year=1883 |page=275 }}</ref>{{sfn|Frederic Salmon Growse|1884|p=62}} However, Western historians such as Edwin Atkinson in 1876 and various censuses and gazettes who researched Bulandshahar and nearby cities found numerous evidences of his existence.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Atkinson |first=Edwin T. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CBTc7SPqr2kC&dq=ahibaran&pg=PA84 |title=Statistical descriptive and historical account of the North-Western provinces of India: Ed. ... by Edwin [Felix] Thomas Atkinson |date=1876 |publisher=North-Western Provinces' Government Press |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Pradesh (India) |first=Uttar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SXUbAAAAIAAJ&q=ahibaran |title=Uttar Pradesh District Gazetteers: Bulandshahr |date=1980 |publisher=Government of Uttar Pradesh |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Cotton |first1=James Sutherland |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fQG2AAAAIAAJ&dq=ahibaran&pg=PA58 |title=Imperial Gazetteer of India ... |last2=Burn |first2=Sir Richard |last3=Meyer |first3=William |date=1908 |publisher=Clarendon Press |language=en}}</ref>

Most Western and modern Indian historians such as Gouse, Atkinson and various British gazetteers found that Ahibaran and his descendants Barnwals were of the Pandava Tuar or modern Tomar Rajput tribe<ref>{{Cite book |last=Atkinson |first=Edwin T. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CBTc7SPqr2kC&dq=Ahibaran+tomar&pg=PA84 |title=Statistical descriptive and historical account of the North-Western provinces of India: Ed. ... by Edwin [Felix] Thomas Atkinson |date=1876 |publisher=North-Western Provinces' Government Press |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Kuar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ttqwEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Ahibaran%22+Pandava&pg=PA6 |title=Historical and Statistical Memoir of Zila Bulandshahar |date=2023-02-28 |publisher=BoD – Books on Demand |isbn=978-3-382-50031-3 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=India) |first=Asiatic Society (Kolkata |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cygzAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22Ahibaran%22+Pandava&pg=PA272 |title=Journal |date=1879 |language=en}}</ref> once ruling over much of modern Delhi, Haryana and Western UP.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KslpoO6_VG4C&q=%22Ahibaran%22+Pandava |title=Journal of the United Provinces Historical Society |date=1936 |language=en}}</ref> In Mahabharata, Pandavas shifted their capital to Varnavat from Ahar after the Great war. However, some historians like Pandit Rahul sanskritayan claimed that he was of the [[Yaudheya]] republic, based on his studies of local inscriptions and folklores.

The legends describe the ancestry of Ahibaran as follows: The children of King Dharmadat established their separate state, whose children are now called Bais Rajputs. King [[Harsha]]vardhana was in his lineage.{{sfn|Edwin Thomas Atkinson|1876|p=66}} The child of the eldest son Subhankar continued to rule in his native state, [[Chandravati]].<ref name=":0" /> Their offspring were King Tendumal and his descendant Maharaja Varaksh who took the side of religion in the war of Mahabharata and died by becoming a partisan of [[Pandava]]s.<ref name=":5" /> The remaining people left Chandravati and came to [[North India]] due to the storm in Chandravati.<ref name=":2" /> The clan of Maharaja Varaksha laid the foundation of his kingdom in a place called 'Ahar' in the presence of the Emperor of Hastinapur.<ref name="People of India">{{cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Kumar Suresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dw8wAQAAIAAJ |title=People of India, Volume 16, Part 1 |publisher=Anthropological Survey of India |year=2008 |isbn=978-81-7046-302-3 |edition=1st |location=India |page=131 |access-date=16 May 2011}}</ref> In the generation of Maharaja Varaksha, King Parmal descendants from him.{{sfn|Frederic Salmon Growse|1884|p=36}} King Ahibaran born to King Parmal. King Ahibaran was married to Varanavati, the daughter of [[Khandava Forest|Khandav]]'s King, who lives in a dense forest of selection trees located in the western part of the Ikshumati River in Antravredi.{{sfn|Frederic Salmon Growse|1884|p=98}}

<br /> One Agarwal historian has tried to link King Ahibaran as great grandson of [[Agrasen]].<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Mittal|first1=J. P.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rrh4tY3v2A4C&pg=PA675|title=History of ancient India|year=1991|page=675|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist |isbn=9788126906161}}</ref>

== Baran ==

According to Hindu mythology the [[pandava]]s had an encounter with [[daksha|Prajapati Daksh]], father-in-law of Hindu lord [[Shiva]]; the place of their conversation, a pond, is in [[Bulandshahr]]. Later, after the fall of [[Hastinapur]], the Pandavas ruled from Ahar, located in the north eastern part of [[Baran district]].{{sfn|Edwin Thomas Atkinson|1876|p=48}} Over the years, Maharaja Paramaal built a fort in the region and later, Ahibaran, a Suryavanshi king built a tower named Baran and made the region his capital and named it to Baran.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=About District {{!}} District Bulandshahr, Government of Uttar Pradesh {{!}} India|url=https://bulandshahar.nic.in/about-district/|website=bulandshahar.nic.in}}</ref>

The ancient palaces, building and temples found at places in Bhatora Veerpur, Ghalibpur in ruined form, are indicative of the antiquity of Baran.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Baynes|first1=Thomas Spencer|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j9B6MKdFUpwC&pg=PA515|title=The Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and General Literature|publisher=C. Scribner's sons|year=1878|isbn=|volume=4|location=|page=515}}</ref> There are several other important places in the District from where statues belonging to the medieval age and objects of ancient temples have been found.{{sfn|Edwin Thomas Atkinson|1876|p=55}} Even today, several of these historical and ancient objects such as coins, statues and inscriptions etc. are preserved in the [[State Museum Lucknow]].<ref name=":0" />

=== Varanavati River ===
Varanavati River is a river of north india which flows throughout [[Bulandshahr district]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ccg7AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA233|title=The Missionary Chronicle: Containing the Proceedings of the Board of Foreign Missions and of the Board of Domestic Missions of the Presbyterian Church: and a General View of Other Benevolent Operations.|year=1849|volume=17|page=233}}</ref> The Varanavati River flows in almost the entire Bulandshahr district. The history of this river is as old as Bulandshahr. It is also said that the Varanavati River was the most [[holy river]] at that time.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Khan|first1=Zahoor Ali|year=1987|title=Kali Nadi: The History of a River|journal=Indian History Congress|volume=48|pages=744|jstor=44141794}}</ref> When Maharaja Ahibaran ruled there, he named the river on his wife name, Varanavati River.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Khan|first1=Zahoor Ali|year=1987|title=Kali Nadi: The History of a River|journal=Indian History Congress|volume=48|pages=741–742|jstor=44141794}}</ref> Earlier, when the Pandavas ruled there, the river was known as Ikshumati River, it is also described in the [[Atharvaveda]].<ref>[[Atharvaveda]] ('''4.1.7''')</ref> But presently this river is named after [[Kali River (Uttar Pradesh)|Kali]], the Hindu goddess [[Kali]].{{sfn|Edwin Thomas Atkinson|1876|p=59}}<ref name="Hydrology and water resources of India">Hydrology and water resources of India By Sharad K. Jain, Vijay P. Singh, p. 349 Springer, The Netherlands. {{ISBN|1-4020-5179-4}}.</ref>

=== Baran Tower ===
When Maharaja Ahibaran ruled in Bulandshahr, he also built Baran Tower there.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bulandshahr District|url=https://csridentity.com/bulandshahr/index.asp|date=2016|website=CSR Identity}}</ref>{{sfn|Frederic Salmon Growse|1884|p=42}}

Baran is mentioned in [[Mahabharata]].<ref>''Ahich chhatran kalkutan Gadgakulank ch Bharata,'' Varana ''vatdhanam ch Yamunash Chev Parvatah'' ('''V.19.30''') [[Mahabharata]]</ref> There is also evidence of baran, The old name 'Baran' can be still be traced in the old Government documents.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bulandshahr - Census of India|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/09/0911_PART_A_DCHB_BULANDSHAHR.pdf|website=censusindia.gov.in|access-date=2 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Bulandshahar - Dc Msme|url=http://dcmsme.gov.in/dips/14%20DIPS%20Bulandshahar1.pdf|website=dcmsme.gov.in|url-status=dead|access-date=2 May 2020|archive-date=30 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730055042/http://dcmsme.gov.in/dips/14%20DIPS%20Bulandshahar1.pdf}}</ref> According to the book ''Etihasik Sthanavali'', Baran was very important and attractive place for many kings at that time.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Mathur|first1=Vijayendra Kumar|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.401265/mode/2up|title=Etihasik Sthanavali|year=1969|page=608}}</ref> Sir [[Henry Miers Elliot]] writes quoting the Yamini which says that, in his Twelfth Expedition A.H. 409 (1018-1019 AD) after passing by the borders of Kashmir, that is, close under the sub-Himalayan range, and crossing the Jumna, [[Mahmud of Ghazni]] takes Baran.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Elliot|first1=Henry Miers|title=The History of India, as Told by Its Own Historians: The Muhammadan Period, The Posthumous Papers of the Late H. M. Elliot, edited by John Dowson|year=1867|volume=8|page=458}}</ref> Later the seat of power went to Dors and [[Chauhan dynasty|Chauhan]]s, with the rise of Hardatta, a Dor ruler who took possession of [[Bulandshahr|Baran]] along with [[Meerut]] and [[Aligarh|Koil]]. In 1192 CE when [[Muhammad of Ghor|Muhammad Ghauri]] conquered parts of India, his Senapati (Military commander) [[Qutbu l-Din Aibak]] surrounded Fort Baran and with the help of traitors, was able to kill King Chandrasen Dor and in the process take control of the Baran kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of Bulandshahr|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Bulandshahr|last1=Pletcher|first1=Kenneth|date=26 January 2024|website=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]}}</ref> Baran is presently named as [[Bulandshahr]] which mean High city.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|title=History of Bulandshahr|url=http://blessingsonthenet.com/travel-india/destination/article/id/1555/tour/id/431/history-of--bulandshahr|date=|website=Blessings on net|access-date=2 May 2020}}</ref>

It was a rich and prosperous capital state of King Ahibaran's kingdom and numerous copper and gold coins with Greek and Pali inscriptions had been excavated at the site of the fort. According to Asian Folklore society the city Baran was the richest and famous at that time.<ref name="InstituteFolklore1972">{{cite book|author1=Asian Folklore Institute|author2=Society for Asian Folklore|author3=JSTOR (Organization)|author4=American Theological Library Association|title=Asian folklore studies|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ENcfAQAAMAAJ|access-date=19 December 2011|year=1972|publisher=Asian Folklore Institute; [sold by Cellar Book Shop, Detroit, Mich.]}}</ref>

After the fall of Baran, the Baranwal community scattered to different parts of India, mostly to the Gangetic plains of India, and started living under the various names of Anand, Prasad, Prakash, Gupta, Bharti, Agrawal, Lal, Arya, Shah and Singh.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About us {{!}} Baranwal Community|url=http://www.baranwalmatrimony.org/about|website=baranwalmatrimony.org}}</ref> Few of the baranwals adopted Modi surname, which is also this community.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Patna News - state and center giving barnwal status to obc|language=Hindi|work=[[Dainik Bhaskar]]|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/bihar/patna/news/state-and-center-giving-baranwal-status-to-obc-043047-3688961.html|access-date=5 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Bokaro MLA stirs Vaishya caste cauldron|work=[[Times of india]]|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/Bokaro-MLA-stirs-Vaishya-caste-cauldron/articleshow/51402814.cms|access-date=4 May 2020}}</ref>

== Baranwal gotras ==
{{main article|Baranwal}}

Historically, there has been no unanimity regarding number and names of gotras, and there are regional differences between the list of gotras. The Baranwals are divided into five [[gotra]]s (exogamous clans).

{{Columns-list|# Garg
# Vatsal (Vatsa)
# Goyal/Gohil (Gautama)
# Kashyap
# Mudgal
# Singhal (Shandilya)|colwidth=1}}

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist|2}}

=== Bibliography ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |author=Edwin Thomas Atkinson |title=Statistical, Descriptive and Historical Account of the North-Western Provinces of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G9jaXsOc-tEC |year=1876 |publisher=North-Western Provinces Government |isbn=}}
* {{cite book |author=Frederic Salmon Growse |title=Bulandshahr: Or, Sketches of an Indian District: Social, Historical and Architectural |url=https://archive.org/details/bulandshahrorsk00growgoog |year=1884 |publisher=Medical Hall Press |isbn=}}
*{{Cite book |last=Gupta |first=Bholanath |url=https://maharajaahibaran.com/baranwal-vaishya-itihas/ |title=Baranwal Vaishya Itihaas |year=1937 |pages=26 |language=hi}}{{refend}}

== External links ==
* [http://baranwalsevasamitivaranasi.com/about-maharaj-ahibaran Maharaja Ahibaran] at baranwal seva samiti

[[Category:Indian royalty]]
[[Category:Legendary Indian people]]
[[Category:People from Bulandshahr]]

Ahibaran - Revision history

WEMBruce20 at 13:56, 9 March 2026