Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences (PJSS)

Vol. 36, No. 2 (2016), pp. 685-692

History Versus Folklore:

Origin of the Parhar Tribe of Cholistan
Abdul Razzaq Shahid, PhD
Associate Professor,
Department of History,
The Islamia University of Bahawalpur.
dr.abrazaq@gmail.com

Zulfiqar Ahmad Tabbasum

M.Phil Scholar
Department of History,
The Islamia University of Bahawalpur.

Abstract
The Origin of every family/tribe, whether of east or west, is involved in
fable. Sherring, Denzil lbbetson and particularly James Tod tried their
level best to provide some information about Tribes and Castes of
different areas of the united India. However, this information is
insufficient as James Tod himself acknowledged the fact while writing
on Parhar Tribe of Rajasthan that he has “no more to say”. Parhar
who once ruled over Kashmir and some parts of Rajasthan, for
centuries, is an important Tribe of Rajasthan/Cholistan whose written
history is not available. Thus present article is based upon oral history
and an attempt has been made to present the origin of Parhar Tribe of
Cholistan in the light of History and Folklore.

Keywords: Rajasthan; Cholistan; Folklore; Pakistani Culture; Pakistani Tribes; History

and Folklore

I. Introduction
Cholistan is a peripheral area of Bahawalpur Division of the Punjab, Pakistan. It
lies in the extreme south of the Punjab with total area of 10399 sq miles. It spread over
districts of Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan. Its length is 480 kms and
its width varies from 32 to 192 kms. Hakra River (Ancient Sarsvati) divides the
Cholistan into lesser Cholistan in the north and greater Cholistan in the south. The
Cholistan desert extends to India in the east and south as the Rajasthan Desert and into
Sindh, Pakistan in the South-West as the Thar Desert.

Cholistan has extreme summer temperature 50c to 60c. The average annual rainfall
varies between 100-250 mm. the evaporate transpiration rate in the desert stands at high
300cm a year. Population of the area is 0.155 million. People are generally nomads and
rising livestock, Cows, sheep, goats and camels, is their main economic activity. The
ground water is mostly brackish and main source of drinking water is the rain water
which is stored in Tobas (water pounds). Pastoral system is characterized by mass
migration of animals and people throughout the year in search of water and forage. In fact
the distribution of rain fall mainly dictates the pattern of movement of nomadic herders.
686 Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences Vol. 36, No. 2

In the past Cholistan was green and prosperous land. Source of irrigation was
Hakra River. With the drying of the river, this area was deserted through desertification
process and left only grazing land. However, Cholistan is a cradle of great Indus
civilization. The river Sarsvati, Ghaghara or Hakra supplied water until 1200 BC, and
about 600 BC it became irregular in flow and consequently vanished. An ancient city of
Gunveriwala in Cholistan, exactly located between Harappa and Monjodaro and its
cultural advancement can be compared with Mesopotamian. Egyptian and Harappan
Civilization. (Pithawal, 1978:225-242)

This center of Indus civilization attracted archeologists and foreign Travelers for
instance, Arlstin, Mortimer Wheeler, Charles Masson, Al-Finston, David Ros, Dr.
Rafique Mughal, Dr. Saif-ur-Rahman Dar and Dr. Anjum Rahmani visited the area for
research pursuit. However, no attempt has yet been made to write about castes and tribes
of Cholistan.

II. Origin of Parhar

According to Hindu Mythology, ignorance and infidelity spread all over the world;
Holy books were neither practiced nor respected and mankind had no way to come out of
this unhappy situation. Under these circumstances Viswamitra the instructor in arms of
Bhagwan thinks about the re-creation of the warriors’ race. In the meanwhile they saw
father of creation at Mount Abu. He too desired them to regenerate warrior race. Thus the
summit of Mount Abu Held where there were Indra, Brahma, Rudra, Vishnu and all the
inferior divinities. (Tod, 1920: vol.III. 1442-1443)

At Mount Abu Indra initiated the work of re-creation. Having formed an image
(Putli) he sprinkled it with the water of life and threw it into the fire-fountain. When he
pronounced the Manter of life (Sanjivan Mantra) a figure slowly emerged from the flame
exclaiming Mar! Mar(slay, slay). He was called Pramar. In this way Brahma re-created
Chulukya or Solanki Rudra formed the third. The image was sprinkled with the water of
the Ganges. When incarnation was being read a black ill-favoured figure arose, armed
with the bow. As his foot slipped when sent against the demons, he was called Parihar.
(Ibid)

There were thirty six Royal races of Rajasthan. It is stated that in the earlier ages
there were two races. Surya and Chandra (Solar and Lunar). Later on four Agnikuls were
added by making six in all. (Ibid. vol. I. 99) the Agnikuls, sons of Agni, are Pramara, the
Parihara, the Chalukya or Solanki and the Chuhan. In the second century A.D. it was
current in South India that Parhars were the only step which claimed fire origin before
Chand. (Ibid. 107) The Parhar or Pariharas is placed by the best genealogists as one of the
thirty six. These thirty six Royal races of Rajasthan are as under:

Table 1
1 Surya (Solar Race) 19 Jaitwa, or Kamari
2 Som, or Chandra (Lunar Race) 20 Gohil
3 Grahilot, or Gahilot ….24 Branches 21 Sarwaiya
4 Yadu …………………... 8 ditto 22 Silar
5 Tuar …………………….17 ditto 23 Dabi
6 Rathor……………………18 ditto 24 Ganr ………………5 Branches
 Abdul Razzaq Shahid, Zulfiqar Ahmad Tabbasum 687

7 Kashwaha, or Kachwaha 25 Doda, or Dor

8 Pramara ……………….35 Branches 26 Gaharwal
9 Chahuman, or Chauhan 26 ditto 27 Bir-Gujar…………..3 Branches
10 Chaluk, or Solauki ……16 ditto 28 Sengarh
11 Parihara ……………….12 ditto 29 Sakarwali
12 Chawara 30 Bais
13 Tak, or Takshak 31 Dahia
14 Jit, Get, or Jat 32 Johya
15 Han or Hun 33 Mohil
16 Katti 34 Nikumpa
17 Balla 35 Rajpali
18 Jhala ……………………2 Branches 36 Dahima
Source: M.A, Sherring, Hindu Tribes and Castes, (London: Trubner and Co, 1872), p 121.

The great bard, Chand says that these thirty six tribes were given gifts of land. To
khehar he gave Kather, to Parhar the coast of Sind, to the heroes of the shell the forest
lands. Ram pramar of Tilang, the Chakravartin lord of Ujain, make the gift. He bestowed
Dehli on the Tours and patan on the Chawaras; Sambhar on the Chauhan and Kaunj on
the Kamdhuj; Mardes on the Parihar, Sorath on the Jadon, the Deccan on Jawala, and
cutch on the Charan”. It seems exaggeration however it indicate that Parhar were no less
important than the other known race of India (Sherring, 1872: 121).

According to Tod, Parhar never played an important part in the history of

Rajhistan, they were subordinate to the tours of Dehli or the Chauhans of Ajmer.
However, the name of Naharrao will always be alive in the pages of history. Who made
an abortive attempt to maintain his independence against Prithwi Raja. (Tod, 1920: vol. I.
110)

Mandor (Maddodara) was the capital of the Parhars, and the chief city of Marwar.
It is placed five miles northward of the modern Jodhpur. When they established their rule
in Rajishtan is uncertain. The Rathor emigrant and princes of Kanouj found an asylum
with the Parhar. The last Parhar ruler was dethrone with the hands of Rathor who
captured the thrown by treachery. The powers of the Parhars have already been vacant by
the princess of Mawar who captured many of the areas of Parhars. Siahji was the founder
of Rathor dynasty in Marwar on the ruins of Parhars of Mandor. Consequently, Parhars
were scattered over Rajhistan.

The Parhars have twelve sub-division, of which the chief were Indah and Sindha.
In the days of Tod these steps of Parhars were found on the banks of river luni. It is
interesting that Tod has given twelve sub-cast of Parhars without mentioning their names.
While, Census report, Rajputana, 1911 contains six sub-clans of Parhars (Ibid. 120).

According to author of Tuhfa-tul-karam, Mir Ali Sher Kanay Thathvi (2006:96).

Parhar was the son of Bhart. To him Parhar’s pedigree is as under:
688 Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences Vol. 36, No. 2

Source: Mir Ali SherKanayThathvi, Tuhafa-Tul-Karam, (Jamshoroo: Sindhi Adab Board, , 2006), p. 96.

In this genealogy Koreja has been shown the real brother of Parhar which seems to
be incorrect. Koreja themselves claim to be Farooqi Qurishi. (Rukan-ud-Din, 2005: 40,
67). In another documents, Gazetteer of the Bahawalpur State, 1904 says that Parhar is
the sub-caste of the Panwar. He has divided the Parhar into four sub-steps. These are (i)
Dangar, (ii) Nachna, and (iii) Mahpa. According to the Gazetteer of the Bahawalpur a
branch of the Parhar, called Burarna, lives in the Rohi and tends camels (Muhammad
Din, 2001: 149). The present folklorists of Parhar tribe of Cholistan gives their pedigree
as under:
 Abdul Razzaq Shahid, Zulfiqar Ahmad Tabbasum 689

Source: Hafiz Muhammad Arif, 26-March, 2014, Chak No. 323/H-R, Mrot

Folklorists of the Parhar give thirteen sub-clans of Parhar as under:

Table 1: Sub-Caste of the Parhar Tribe

Caste Residential Area
Ramothay Fort Marot, an ancient town on Fortrabbas Bahawalpur Road
Baghawat
Quqawat
Baghlay
SoofiWanay
Malawat BhagSer, a village on Haroonabad – Faqir Wali Road
Tarkhani Walar, a village in the south east of the Fortabbas
Pakrani Hasilpur
Gurr Gunj ChhunnaWala, a town on Hasilpur Dahran Wala Road
Rawalani
Gand Rani
Loolay Bahawal Nagar
Source: Pehlwan, 5th February, 2015, Toba Kiarian
690 Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences Vol. 36, No. 2

The folklorists have different stories about the origin of parhar. These are as under:

 There was a traveler namely Satto who reached at Medred. He became to known
that the Raja of Medred is found of Chess. Raja was proud of his expertise in the
game of chess. He never lost but always won the game. Satto wish to play chess
with the Raja but Raja was not ready to play a game with Satto. Satto forced the
Raja to play Chess. Raja asked Satto that the loser would lost his head. Satto and
the Raja both accepted the terms and condition. The secret of Raja’s success was
in fact his trained mice. These mice were responsible to disturb the game and
strategy of the opponent by disturbing king, queen, bishops, pawns etc. This secret
had become open to Satto. Satto was claver enough and he brought cat with him
on the said date. How mouse can dare to come out of its hole in front of a cat. In
this way Satto won the game and the Raja was to pay the price of his bet. The
Raja’s request was turned down by saying that the himself has cut off number of
heads in the past. Queens also requested Satto for mercy and present an offer that
Satto can marry any queen whom he desire. This was also declined. In short, Satto
was ready not to cut off the head of the Raja if he gave his daughter Kokla to him.
The Raja was agreed and Satto brought Kokla to his house. Kokla was married to
Bhart a younger brother of Satto. The son of Bhart, form Kokla, was given the
name of Parhar. Parhar ruled over Medred. Later on, Raja of another state wished
to marry his son with the daughter of ruler of Medred state. Parhars were not in a
position to oppose the enemy so they left Medred and moved to Uch (Kher
Muhammad, 2014).

 About origin of the present Cholistani Parhar it is said that Parhar Jayda has two
sons Rehma and Lola. They were Rajasthani by origin and later on moved to Uch.
There Rehma embraced Islam at the hand of Syed Jala-ul-Din Surkhposh Bukhari.
The descendants of Rehma are known as Ramothey Parhar. They left Uch for
Kehrorpakka and resided at the place known as Sarkarikho or Pakkakho. After
some year they moved to Khairpur and Fort Marot. (Ghulam Rasool, 2015)

 Another popular story runs thus: Jodha son of Rana Bhana was told by someone
that his father and uncle were killed by the Daudputra when he was just a baby.
Jodha arranged an army against Daudputras. Jodha won the battle and many
Daudputras were put to sword. During the fight an old women brought three
unknown children from the rank and file of Jodha. The women did not know about
the parents of these children. One day while playing and jumping here and there
one child fell down the ground the other two said pargia, pargia. From here the
name of the tribe became known to other as Parhar (Muhammad Khan, 2015).

It is reported that there were four brothers of Parhar tribe. They were Rehma, Lola,
Ramotha and Sakhawat. They lived in Bikaner. The Raja of Bikaner wish to marry their
sister. That is the reason these four brother left Bikaner in the night. They themselves
killed their sister and buried in the jungle. When they reached Uch they were seven in
number (including their cousins). Here at Uch they embraced Islam at the hand of Syed
Jala-ud-Din Surkhpost Bukhari. (Ghulam Nabi, 2014)
 Abdul Razzaq Shahid, Zulfiqar Ahmad Tabbasum 691

III. Conclusion
According to Hindu mythology Parhars are the sons of Agni. In the beginning they
were Hindu but letter on they were converted to Buddhism. It was a time when Buddhism
was a dominant religion of the Rajasthan as it is evident from the some prominent
Buddhist Vehars in the present boundaries of the Cholistan. Phulra, Fort Marot, Suivehar
and Pattan Minara were some distinctive religious places of Buddhism.

It has been reported that Parhar were once rulers of Kashmir and some parts of
Rajasthan. When and why they moved from Kashmir to Rajasthan is uncertain for no
historical record is available. However, it can safely be said that here in Rajasthan they
established their small state in Marwar of which capital was Mandor earlier before the
establishment of Muslim rule in India.

In the days of Syed Jalal-uddin Surkhposh Bukhari of Uch (A.D1199-1291).

Parhar lost their rule and moved towards the present area of Cholistan. Here at Uch they
embarrassed Islam at the hands of Syed Jalal Uddin Bukhari and scattered over Cholistan.
It is interesting to note here that while living in Cholistan Parhar produced great Sufi
saints and religious scholars. These are: Hazrat Noor Muhammad Narowala, Moulana
Abdul Aziz Parharvi and MoulanaRukan-uddin. According to pedigree provided by the
gazetteer of Bahawalpur and Parhar folklorists of Cholistan Parhar is the sub-cast of
Panwar. This is contrary to historical facts for Panwar and Parhar are two separate tribe
of thirty six Royal races of Rajasthan. Similarly there is no reason to believe Tuhfatul
Karam and the story of Satto where Bharat is regarded as the founding father of Parhar
tribe. In the pedigree given by Tuhfatul KaramParhar was a real brother of Koreja. But
Koreja claims to be Farooqi Qureshi. According to the above mentioned two story
Parhars homeland was Rajasthan which is contrary to this fact that once Parhar were ruler
of Kashmir and letter on they established their rule in Rajasthan.

The story of Rana Bhana is also fabricated. The authorities on the history of
Bahawalpur like Lala Daulat Roy, Azam Bahawalpuri and Shahamat Ali don’t mentioned
any fight at Rena Bhana between Daud Putra and the sons of RanaBhana. This story
indicates that the original homeland of Parhar is Toba Rana Bhana in Cholistan. Which is
contrary to historical facts.

The story of Rehma, Lola, Sakhawat and Ramotha belong to the ex-state of
Bikaner from where they moved to Uch. The story does not throw light on the origin of
Parhar but tells us Parhar’s March towards Uch. Sherring and Tod are agreed on twelve
sub-caste of Parhar. Sherring gives no details but Tod mentioned Indha and Sindha as
sub-caste of Parhar. The Parhars of Cholistan are not familiar to these two sub-caste and
have not been seen during present survey of Cholistan. Contrary to Tod and Sherring
Census report, Rajputana 1911 contains six sub-clans of Parhars. According to Gazetteer
of Bahawalpur, 1904, there were four sub-caste of Parhar. In short, Tod, Sherring and
present folklorist of Cholistan are agreed on the twelve sub-caste of Parhar but don’t
agreed on origin of Parhar. The simple reason is that the origin of every tribe/family
whether of east or west, is involved in fable.
692 Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences Vol. 36, No. 2

References
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meel publication.
Pithawal, Meneck B. (1978). Historical geography of sindh. Jamshoro : University of
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people. Multan: corvan book centre. Mughal, M. Rafique. (1997). Ancient
Cholistan: Archaeology and architecture. Lahore: Feroz Sons pvt Ltd. Raverty,
Major H.G. (1979). The Mihran of Sindh and its tributaries. Lahore: Sang-e-Meel
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Rukan-u-Din, Maulana. (2005). Makabees-ul-Majalis. Lahore : Al-Faisal Nashraan wa
Tajraan Kutab.
Sheering, M. A. (1872). Hindu Tribes and Caste. London: Trubner & Co.
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university press.
Interview
Ghulam Nabi S/o Muhammad Akbar, Marot : Toba Pannu wala. July 14, 2014.
Ghulam Rasool S/o Muhammad Akbar, Marot : Toba Jalal Sar. July 30, 2015.
Kher Muhammad S/o Bago Khan, Fort Abbas : Chak No. 293/HR. April 07, 2014.
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