Khasas - Khasas in Puranic Literature

Khasas in Puranic Literature

Puranas include the Khasas in the ancient Janapada list and place them in the parvatashrayin (mountainous) division of Puranic Bhuvanakosha.

Puranas attest that river Sita (Yarkand) flowed through the country of the Khasas.

The Puranas also attest that river Ganges flowed through the Khasa land.

These Puranic references obviously show that there were more than one settlement of the Khasas.

• Markandeya Purana associates the Khasas with the tribes of Udichya or north division.
• Bhagavata Purana associates the Khasas with the Kiratas, Hunas, Andhras, Pulindas, Pukkasas, Abhiras, Yavanas etc.
• Nilmata Purana mentions the Khasas with the tribes of the Nagas, Paisacas, Darvas, Abhisaras, Gandharas, Shakas, Mundavas, Madaras, and the Yavanas from north-west.
• Skanda Purana asserts that the Khasas, Andhras, Hunas, Kiratas, Pulindas, Pukkashas, Abhiras, Yavanas, Kankas etc. were born from sinful wombs.
• Vishnu Purana brands the Khasas, Kiratas, Hunas, Andhras, Pulindas, Pulkasas, Abhiras, Sumbhas, Yavanas as addicted to sinful acts, but also suggests that they can be purified by seeking refuge with the devotees of the Lord.
• Kalika Purana refers to a war between King Kalika and states that the Khasas and the Kambojas, Shakas, the Barbaras had militarily supported king Kali against Vedic Kalika.
• Vayu Purana mentions that at the end of Kali age, the Khasas and tribes of the Sakas, Yavanas, Gandharas, Katas, Pulindas, Pahlavas, Paradas, Lampakas etc. will be annihilated by king Kaliki. And they were indeed annihilated by king Pramati (Vikramaditya according to Dr V. S. Aggarwala) at the end of Kali age.
• Bhavishya Purana attests that king Pradyota had defeated the Khasas along with the Haras, Hunas, Barvaras, Gurundas, Sakas, Yavanas, Pahlavas, Romatha and the others (Biblical and Modern History of Kali Yuga from Bhavishya Purana).
• Bhagavata Purana claims that the Khasas were also defeated by Bharata.