Sihag

{| class="toccolours" border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; width: 250px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
|-
| colspan="2" style="margin-left: inherit; background:#FFC0CB; text-align:center; font-size: medium;" |Jat clan: '''Sihag'''
[[Image:Sihagcrossedswords.jpg|230px]]</div>
|- align="center"
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| '''Religion'''
| [[Hinduism]] [[Islam]]
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| '''Varna'''
| [[Kshatriya]]
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| '''Vansh'''
| [[Suryavansha]],

[[Agnivansha]],

[[Nagavansha]]
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| '''Languages'''
| [[Bagri language|Bagri]], [[Haryanvi]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Hindi]]
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| '''Branches
(Alternate names)'''
| Asiagh (असिहाग) ,

Sehwag (सहवाग) ,

Siyag (सियाग) ,

Siag (सिअग) ,

Suhag (सुहाग) ,

Syag (स्याग) ,

Sehag (सेहाग) ,

Siyak (सियाक) ,

Sihak (सिहाक) ,

Syak (स्याक) ,

Sinhwag(सिन्ह्वाग),

Siwal (सिवाल) ,

Bolan (बोलन) ,

Chautala (चौटाला)
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| '''Ruled In'''
| [[Jangladesh]](Rajasthan),

Kot Khokhar ([[Mewar]]),

Pahulkot ([[Mewar]])

<!--| colspan=2 | <small>{{{footnotes}}}</small> -->
|}
'''Sihag''' ([[Hindi]]:{{lang|hi|सिहाग}}), '''Siyag''' ({{lang|hi|सियाग}}), '''Sehwag''' ({{lang|hi|सहवाग}}), or '''Asiagh''' (असिहाग) is a clan of [[Jat people]] found in [[Rajasthan]], [[Haryana]], Western [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Madhya Pradesh]] and [[Punjab region]] in [[India]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Jats, the ancient rulers: a clan study |last=Dahiya |first=Bhim Singh |year=1980 |publisher=Sterling |url=http://books.google.co.in/books?id=-_A8AAAAMAAJ&q=Jats+the+Ancient+Rulers+(A+clan+study)&dq=Jats+the+Ancient+Rulers+(A+clan+study)&ei=j-ygS7-5L6iKkATPwejSBA&cd=1 |accessdate=17 march,2010}}</ref> According to [[Kautilya]] the people who depended on "''Asii''" (sword) for their living were known as Asiagh.<ref>Dr Mahendra Singh Arya, Dharmpal Singh Dudee, Kishan Singh Faujdar & Vijendra Singh Narwar: Ādhunik Jat Itihasa (The modern history of Jats), Agra 1998, p.284</ref><ref>Dilip Singh Ahlawat: Jat viron ka Itihasa</ref>

==Origin==
Sihag originally is a clan of [[Jat people|Jats]] which is an [[Indo-Aryans|Indo-Aryan]] tribal group.<ref>B.S. Dhillon: History and Study of the Jats,ISBN 1-895603-02-1</ref>

The name ''Asiagh (Sihag)'' has frequently been connected to the name of the [[Asii|Asii people]] by historians such as [[James Tod]] <ref>{{cite book |title=The annals and antiquities of Rajastʾhan: or the central and ..., Volume 2 |last=Tod |first=James |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1899 |publisher=Indian Publication Society |page=1010 |url=http://books.google.co.in/books?ei=QfOgS9KvD4TylQSPvZD1CQ&cd=1&id=rjJLAAAAYAAJ&dq=Asiagh+james+tod&q=Asiagh+Asi }}</ref> and further supported by [[Thakur Deshraj]] <ref>{{cite book |title=Jat Itihas (Hindi) |last=Deshraj |first=Thakaur |year=1934 |publisher=Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan |location=Delhi }}</ref>, Bhim Singh Dahiya <ref>{{cite book |page=273 |url=http://books.google.co.in/books?ei=q_WgS-OsGYqukASGucCuCQ&cd=1&id=-_A8AAAAMAAJ&dq=bhim+singh+dahiya+jat&q=Asi+Asiagh |accessdate=}}</ref> and Mangal Sen Jindal<ref>{{cite book |title=History of origin of some clans in India, with special reference to Jats |last=Jindal |first=Mangal Sen |year=1992 |publisher=Sarup & Sons |url=http://books.google.co.in/books?ei=JvagS_WxIIrekwS4zN3nCQ&cd=1&id=XCtuAAAAMAAJ&dq=Mangal+jindal+jat&q=Asi }}</ref>.

People belonging to Sihag [[gotra]] in [[Haryana]] claim common descent with [[Maan]]s, [[Deshwal]]s and [[Dalal]]s.For about 30 generations they have looked upon "Dhana Rao Rathor" as their forefather.The genealogical tables prepared by the bards of these four gotras are incorrect because they called them the descendants of Dhanna Rathaur, when gotras like "Mann and Sihag" existed long before Dhanna Rao.<ref>{{cite book |title=History of the Jats |last=Joon |first=Ram Sarup |year=1968 |publisher=Jaitly Painting [sic] Press |url=http://books.google.co.in/books?cd=1&id=fe88AAAAMAAJ&dq=Ram+Sarup+Joon&q=Sihags+Dalals }}</ref>

==History==
The Sihags are mentioned in the Puranas and the Mahabharat. A ''Sihag'' king offered a gift to [[Yudhisthira]] on his coronation.<ref name="Joon 1968 102">{{cite book |title=History of the Jats |last=Joon |first=R.S. |year=1968 |page=102 }}</ref>

Sihag's are also known as rulers in [[Rajasthan]] then known as [[Jangladesh]]. Kot Khokhar in [[Mewar]] has been the capital of the Sihag rulers. Pahulkot has also been their capital. Some names of these Sihag rulers were Vir Rana, Dhir Rana etc. They are mentioned in the manuscript of genealogical tables in the possession of Gorakh Singh.<ref name="Joon 1968 102"/>

[[Asirgarh]](meaning ''Fort of Asiaghs'') is a site of an ancient fort situated in Burhanpur district of [[Malwa]] region in Madhya Pradesh, India. It is of interest that ancient name of [[Hansi]] in Hisar district of Haryana was also "Asirgarh".

=== Rulers in Jangladesh ===
[[Image:Map rajasthan dist 7 div.png|right|thumb|Northern-most light pink coloured region is "[[Jangladesh]]". It includes the present-day districts of [[Bikaner District|Bikaner]], [[Churu District|Churu]], [[Ganganagar District|Ganganagar]], and [[Hanumangarh District|Hanumangarh]].]]
"Sihag" clan is Known as one of the [[Jat people|Jat]] cantons ruling "[[Jangladesh]]". Prior to 15th century, [[Rajasthan]] was called [[Jangladesh]] <ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.rajasthantourism.gov.in/destinations/bikaner/bikaneroverview.htm
| title = Bikaner
| accessdate = 2007-09-08
}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>.

'''Table of Jat Kingdoms in Jangladesh:'''

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"; border="5"
! S.No. !! Name of Kingdom !! Name of King !! No. of villages !! Capital !! Names of districts
|-
| 1. || '''Sihag''' || Chokha Singh || 150 || [[Sui, Rajasthan|Sui]] ||[[Rawatsar]], [[Baramsar]], [[Purabsar]] [[Dandusar]], [[Gandaisi]]
|-
| 2. || [[Beniwal]] || Raisal Singh || 150 || [[Rasalana]] ||[[Bhukarka]], [[Sanduri]], [[Manoharpur]], [[Kooi]], [[Bae]]
|-
| 3.|| [[Johiya]] || Sher Singh|| 600 || Bhurupal ||[[Jaitpur]], [[Kumanu]], [[Mahajan]], [[Peepasar]], [[Udasar]]
|-
| 4. || [[Punia]] || Kanha Singh || 300 || [[Luddi]] ||[[Bhadra]], [[Ajitpura]], [[Sidhmukh]], [[Rajgarh]], [[Dadrewa]], [[Sankhoo]]
|-
| 5. || [[Saharan]] || Pula Singh || 300 || [[Bhadang]] ||[[Khejra]], [[Phoglo]], [[Buchawas]], [[Sui]], [[Badnu]], [[Sirsila]]
|-
| 6. || [[Godara]]|| Pandu Singh || 700 || [[Shekhsar]] || [[Shekhsar]], [[Pundrasar]], [[Gusainsar]] (Bada), [[Gharsisar]], [[Garibdesar]], [[Rungaysar]], [[Kalu]]
|-
|-
| 7. || [[Kaswan]] || Kanwarpal Singh || 100 ||[[Sidhmukh]] ||
|}

Out of total 2670 villages in the Jangladesh, 2200 villages were under the rule of [[Jat people]].<ref name="Dashrath Sharma 1966, p. 287-288">Dashrath Sharma, Rajasthan through the ages, Jodhpur, 1966, Vol.I, p. 287-288</ref> It was ruled by their own chiefs and largely governed by their own customary law.<ref name="Dashrath Sharma 1966, p. 287-288"/> Each kingdom bore the name of the community, and was subdivided into districts.It is said about Jat territories that ''Saat Patti Sattavan Majh'' (means seven long and fifty-seven small territories).<ref>G.S.L.Devra, op. cit., Cf. Dayaldas ri Khyat, Part II, p. 7-10</ref> At every stage of invasion to India the foreign invaders had to encounter with the Jats of this region. At what period the [[Jat people]] established themselves in the Indian desert is not known. By the 4th century they had spread up to [[Punjab region|Punjab]] in India.<ref>[[Thakur Deshraj]], Jat Itihas, 1934, p. 616-624</ref>

Sihag Jats were rulers in North [[Jangladesh]] prior to the rule of Rathores. Jangladesh coincided with the princely state of [[Bikaner]] in Rajasthan. When Rathores under the leadership of Bika and Kandal were spreading their rule in Jangladesh, At that time about 150 villages were under the rule of Sihag Jats. "''Chokha Singh Sihag''" was their king and their capital was "[[Sui, Rajasthan|Sui]] (Sihaggoti)".It is 12 mile north-east to [[Shekhsar]] in [[Lunkaransar]] district. [[Rawatsar]], Devasar, [[Biramsar]], Moteir, Dandusar and Gandeli were other famous towns in their state.There another capital was "Pallu" which is nearby [[Sui, Rajasthan|Sui]] in [[Nohar]] district. It is said that earlier its name was ''Kot Kiloor'' which afterwards was renamed on the name of ''Pallu'', the daughter of Sihag king.<ref>''Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan''. (1829-1832) [[James Tod]] and William Crooke, Reprint: Low Price Publications, Delhi (1990), Vol.II, Appendix. pp. 1126-1127.</ref><ref>G.S.L.Devra, op. cit., Cf. Dayaldas ri Khyat, Part II, p. 7-10</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=(Adhunik Jat Itihas) ( in Hindi) (The modern history of Jats) |last=Dudee |first=Dharmpal Singh |coauthors=Mahendra Singh Arya,Kishan Singh Faujdar & Vijendra Singh Narwar |year=1998 |publisher=Jaypal Agencies |location=Agra }}</ref>

Chokha Singh Sihag had war with [[Rathore]]s but the [[Godara]] [[Jats]] and [[Delhi Sultanate]] had aligned with Rathores due to which sihag's faced a defeat. Rathores had established good relations with the [[Delhi]] Muslim rulers and became powerful. The lack of harmony and coordination among other Jat rulers led to the defeat of [[Jat states in Rajasthan]] and established the [[Rathore|Rathore Kingdom]] in 1488 AD.It has been known that even after defeat Sihag [[Jats]] did'nt accepted Rathore's rule and hence were invited for conference. They were tricked by Rathors and made captive in the conference hall and ultimately burnt alive. The Jats claimed their right over the land which was under their possession, before the Rathores occupied it and this claim was inherited by their descendants, who used to divide the land among themselves for cultivation. In the early period of their conquest the Rathores could not exercise any definite claim on the land as landlords. However, it was possible only in the 17th century, due to internal rivalries among Jat people, [[Godara]]s surrendered.Later on most of Jat clans in Rajasthan had to accept Rathor's suzerainty in mughal times due to the rathores having made alliance with the mughals.<ref>Ibid, p.203</ref><ref>G.S.L. Devra, op. cit., 7-8, Cf. Dayaldas ri Khyat, part 2, p. 4-5</ref><ref name="Jibraeil 2006, p. 223">Jibraeil: "Position of Jats in Churu Region", The Jats - Vol. II, Ed Dr Vir Singh, Delhi, 2006, p. 223</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">चौधरी हरिश्चंद्र नैन, बीकानेर में जनजाति, प्रथम खंड, पेज 18</ref><ref>Dr Pema Ram, The Jats Vol. 3, ed. [[Dr Vir Singh]],Originals, Delhi, 2007 p. 205-206</ref>

===Sihag's in tree protection movement===
Maharaja Abhay Singh, Ruler of [[Marwar]] ([[Jodhpur]]) state wanted to fell green Khejri ([[Prosopis cineraria]]) trees at village [[Khejarli]] to burn lime for the construction of his new palace. Since, there was a lot of greenery in the [[Bishnois|Bishnoi]] villages even in the middle of [[Thar Desert|Thar desert]], they protested to protect the trees and 363 Bishnois were massacred in the process. Out of these martyrs ''13 persons were from Sihag clan''. This incidence is considered to be the origin of [[Chipko movement]]. It was on Tuesday 10th day of the bright fortnight of the month Bhadrapad (Indian lunar Calendar) in 1730 A.D. The brave Bishnoi lady Amrita Devi played a historical role in this incidence.

Gotra wise number of these martyrs was as under:
[[Adjara|Achara]] (1), [[Badaderi]] (1), [[Badiyani]] (1), [[Chotiya]] (1), [[Degipal]] (1), [[Dudan]] (1), [[Geela]] (1), [[Goyal]] (1), [[Janwar]] (1), [[Jewlia|Javalia]] (1), [[Juriya]] (1), [[Kalirani]] (1), [[Khavi]] (1), [[Khichar]] (1), [[Kupasiya]] (1), [[Lamba (Surname/Gotra)|Lamba]] (1), [[Maal (Surname/Gotra)|Maal]] (1), [[Ranwa|Rinwa]] (1), [[Seegar]] (1)
[[Tadi]] (1), [[Vaasu]] (1), [[Adeena]] (2), [[Bhadiawas]] (2), [[Bola (Surname/Gotra)|Bola]] (2), [[Jhangu]] (2), [[Manjhu]] (2), [[Puniya|Punia]] (2), [[Thalod]] (2), [[Bhanwal]] (3), Burdak (3), [[Chahar (clan)|Chahar]] (3), [[Dhetarwal|Dhatarwal]] (3), [[Potalia]] (3), [[Rahad]] (3), [[Siyol]] (3), [[Badiya]] (4), [[Dhayal]] (4), [[Isram]] (4), [[Karwasra|Karhwasra]] (4), [[Bhangarwas]] (5), [[Dookya|Dukia]] (5), Khava (6), [[Khileri]] (6), [[Lol (gotra)|Lol]] (6), [[Nain (gotra)|Nain]] (6), [[Sahu]] (6), [[Sinwar]] (6), [[Dhaka]] (8), [[Dara (clan)|Dara]] (10), [[Dudi]] (10), [[Kaswan]] (10), [[Khod]] (10), [[Khokhar]] (10), [[Ponwar|Panwar]] (10), '''Sihag''' (13), Not clear (22), [[Jyani]] (15), [[Saharan (gotra)|Saran]] (18), [[Babal]] (22), [[Beniwal]] (25),

=== Folklore ===
Once [[Godara]] king had sent his messenger to King "''Chokha Singh Sihag''" of [[Jangladesh]] to irritate king and provoke him to fight. So, that messenger went to [[Devasar]] village near ''Pallu''. There is a pond in Devasar village where Chokha Singh ji used to take bath and meditated on its shore. Chokha Singh was meditating when that messenger reached him. The messenger reached him and said," I am a messenger of [[Godara]]s, give me some offerings". Chokha Singh replied, " If you want to have food, it will be prepared soon but I don't give offerings." As the messenger was ordered to say to Chokha Singh, he said,"What type of king you are?" On this, Chokha Singh took a handful of water and splashed it onto the messenger. Chokha Singh said," Take this and go away". But the messenger was astonished on seeing that the water had turned into gold [[Ashrafi]]s. When the messenger returned to [[Godara]] king, he told them:-

:"सियागां मैं सम्प घणों, दूजी जात न जोड़
:सियाग चोखै दान दियो, छपन लाख करोड़ "<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref>{{cite book |title=ठाकुर देशराज जाट इतिहास Jat Itihas|last=Deshraj |first=Thakur |year=1934 |publisher=Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan |location=Delhi }}</ref>

There's an old tale famous about ''Pallu'' (capital of Sihag's) in Rajasthan that, once there was a Jat King named ''Mungamdhadka''. He married his daughter ''Pallu'' to ''Sahib'' named prince of Delhi but internally he did'nt wanted to. Therefore he gave venom to Sahib in lunch who afterwords died in Delhi fort. After some time he guided his son for investigating whether Sahib is alive or dead but ironically ''Pallu'' herself killed her brother in anger. After this Jat said -

:"जावै सो आवै नहीं, यो ही बड़ो हिलूर (फितूर)।
:के गिटगी पल्लू पापणी, के गिटगो कोट किलूर ।।"<ref>मरू भारती, वर्ष 12, अंक 1</ref>

=== Mention by Megasthenes ===

Asiagh is one of the [[Jat people|Jat]] clans as described by [[Megasthenes]].
He was an ambassador of [[Seleucus]] I of [[Syria]] to the court of [[Sandrocottus]] ([[Chandragupta Maurya]]) of India, in Pataliputra<ref>[http://websfor.org/alexander/arrian/book5a.asp v,6]</ref>
</blockquote>
According to Megasthenes at that time Asiagh Jats were inhabited in [[Salt Range]] northern [[Punjab region]] known as Amanda.

'':23.Then succeeds a level tract of country known by the general name of Amanda - The Peucolaitae, '''Arsagalitae (Asiagh)''', Geretae ([[Jat]]), '''Asoi (Asiagh)''' - Whereof the tribes are four in number.''<ref>{{cite book |title=Jats, the ancient rulers: a clan study |last=Dahiya |first=Bhim Singh |year=1980 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=-_A8AAAAMAAJ&q=megasthenes+jat&dq=megasthenes+jat&cd=1 |accessdate=17 march,2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Indica |last=. |first=Megasthenes |authorlink= |coauthors= E. A. Schwanbeck|year=1846|publisher=Sumptibus Pleimesii, bibliopolae (Original Oxford University) url=http://books.google.com/books?id=J1MOAAAAQAAJ&dq=megasthenes+indica&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=J2gcSKuBO7&sig=ftZdMs9E4BMm8kKgI9Y2GiAilRQ&hl=en&ei=TM2fSsTuGYGx8Qa34NnbDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9#v=onepage&q=&f=false |ref= }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Megasthenes and Indian Religion- Volume 11 of History and Culture Series |last=Dahlaquist |first=Allan |year=1996|publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] Publ.|location= |isbn=8120813235|page=386 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=xp35-8gTRDkC&pg=PA130&dq=Yamuna&as_brr=0#v=onepage&q=Yamuna&f=false |ref= }}</ref>

== Notable Sihags ==
* [[Virender Sehwag]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040416/edit.htm#8|publisher=''[http://www.tribuneindia.com The Tribune]''|title=Verma’s gift for Sehwag|author=Tribune News Service
|date=2004-04-16|accessdate=2006-04-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20021019/windows/main1.htm|publisher=''[http://www.tribuneindia.com The Tribune]''|title=Top shot|author=Tribune News Service
|date=2002-10-19|accessdate=2006-02-11}}</ref>
* [[Chaudhary Devi Lal]]<ref name="Devi Lal, the man of the masses">[http://books.google.co.in/books?ei=C3qjS8WXIJW2kwS98LjYBw&cd=2&id=7tJHAAAAMAAJ&dq=devi+lal+sihag&q=Lekh+Ram+sihag#search_anchor Devi Lal, the man of the masses]</ref><ref name="books.google.co.in">[http://books.google.co.in/books?id=G0Z457ZOR44C&pg=PA241&dq=devi+lal+sihag&ei=fH-jS6n7JaXSkgTH3M3hBw&cd=5#v=onepage&q=devi%20lal%20sihag&f=false Devi lal Born to Ch. Lakh Ram Sihag]</ref><ref name="ReferenceB">[http://books.google.co.in/books?q=devi+lal+sihag&lr=&sa=N&start=0 Ch. Devi Lal born in Sihag gotra family of landlords]</ref>
* [[Om Prakash Chautala]]<ref name="Devi Lal, the man of the masses"/><ref name="books.google.co.in"/><ref name="ReferenceB"/>
* [[Ajay Singh Chautala]]

==See also==
* [[Jat people]]

==External links==
* [http://www.balvihar-stlouis.com/uplFiles/linkFiles/Megasthenes.htm Megasthenes: Indika - Fragment I]
* [http://www.jatland.com/home/James_Todd_Annals James Tod Annals of Bikaner and Amber]
* [http://www.4jat.com/jat_community_article.asp?jat_community=18 Asiagh at 4Jat]

==References==
{{Ibid|date=May 2010}}
{{reflist}}

{{Gotras of Jats}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sihag}}
[[Category:Jat]]
[[Category:Social groups of Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Social groups of Haryana]]

[[hi:असियाग]]