Reassessing Kirata Identity and Territoriality in Ancient Texts

Abstract

The Kiratas are mentioned as Himalayan tribes in many ancient texts. However who ancient Kiratas were and where their territory was located are much contested topic among historians, academicians, and common folks. Thus this research was carried out to answer the questions in consideration. After careful examination of theoretical and empirical literatures, social constructivism was found an appropriate philosophical foundation.  Whereas hermeneutic theory was selected as theoretical lens to make meaning on Kiratas out of ancient texts.  Ancient texts associated to Kiratas were collected and analyzed thematically to answer the questions. The texts considered for the purpose were from a Lichchavi stone inscription, the Vedas, the Puranas, Vedic epics such as the Ramayana, and the Mahabharata, and works of Megasthenes and Claudius Ptolomy. Those ancient texts were utilized as textual data to explore the historicity of Kirata. At the end the result of the analysis is that Kiratas were a reality in historiography in the Himalayan region. They were of East Asian descent spreading from Mount Kailasha region to the coast of East Sea, the Indian Ocean. They were the conglomerate of many tribes and in multiple countries. Moreover they were literate, civilized, powerful, and prosperous people in ancient period in the Himalayan region. Thus the Kiratas of Himalayan region was a historical reality not a myth.