Kanet
The Kanet is a Hindu caste found in the state of Himachal Pradesh in North India.[1]
Kanet/Kunait(कनेत/कुनैत) is also a Rajput Clan Native to East Himachal.Kanet Rajputs Claim themselves to be the Descendants of Hill Rajas of an Ancient Kingdom. Ethnically and Linguistically kanets/Kunets Rajputs resides in lower hills of Himachal are of an Indo-Aryan Stock Like other Rajput Clans, But there are also of Mixed Mongoloid-Tibetian stock of kanets in Kullu hills and Lahul and are considered as impure by blood and birth. Kanet/Kunait Rajputs that are of indo aryan stock are the Landlords and are also known by Thakur Tittle, Although During British Times they Were Considered as one of the Agriculturalist Caste of Himachal Like Girth.[2] Recent Genetic Analysis showed close genetic affinites b/w the Brahmins and Hill Rajputs with Thakur Kanets. It can be concluded that Originally Kanet was One of the Tribe of Nagavanshi or Chandravanshi Kshatriyas that was ruling the Central Hills and lower valleys of North western Himalayas for a very long time.
Etymology
The modern Name "Kanet/kunet/Kunait" is an Apabhramsha of Kuninda or Kunid [कुणिन्द/कुणीद/कुनिद ~ कुनेत/कुनैत/कनेत]
- Ku/कु changed to ka/क Or ku/कु
- ñi/णि changed to nē/णे/ने/नै
- Da/द changed to ta/त
Origin
According to Cunnigham's Theory of their Origin Kanets are Descendants of Kuninda कुणिन्द/कुणिद Dynasty which Once Ruled the Parts of East Himachal and Uttrakhand for a very long time and before the arrival of Medieval Era(6thCE-12thCE) Rajput Clans Chauhan,Parmar,Chandel from the plains in the region. The Kingdom of Kunindas is Also Mentioned in Mahabharata as Kulinda.They were Defeated by the Arjuna.Kunindas are Also mentioned by Panini in his Ashtadhyayi. A Kulinda/Kuninda Chief Named Subahu/सुबाहु Is mentioned in Mahabharata who joined the Pandavas with his army and Fought Against Kauravas in the Battle.
One of the Great kings of the Kuninda was Rajanaka/Rana Amoghabhuti {राणा अमोघभूति}, who ruled in the mountainous valley of the Sutlej and Yamuna rivers (in today's southern Himachal and far western Uttarakhand in northern India around 200B.C.)
The Greek historian Ptolemy linked the origin of the Kuninda to the country where the rivers Beas, Sutlej, Yamuna and Ganges originate.[3]
One of the Edicts of Ashoka on a pillar is also present at Kalsi, in the region of Garhwal, indicating the spread of Buddhism to the region from the 4th century BCE.
The Kuninda kingdom disappeared around the 3rd century, and from the 4th century, it seems the region shifted to Shaivite beliefs.
Kanet Rajputs could be the descendants of Ruling Family of the Ancient Kuninda Tribe.
Distribution
Kanet/Kunait are Mostly found in eastern Himachal Pradesh i.e in Districts like Solan,Mandi,Sirmour and Shimla with very few representation in Kangra and Hamirpur.
Location of Ancient Kunindas
Kuninda Kingdom | |
|---|---|
| Before 2nd century BCE–3rd century | |
 Location of Kuninda relative to other groups: the Audumbaras, the Vemakas, the Vrishnis, the Yaudheyas, the Pauravas and the Arjunayanas. | |
| Government | monarchy |
| History | |
• Established | Before 2nd century BCE |
• Disestablished | 3rd century |
| Today part of |  India |
See also
References
- ^ A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of Punjab. Low Price Publications. pp. 457–471
- ^ A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of Punjab. Low Price Publications. pp. 457–471
- ^ Ptolemy, Geography 7.1.42: ὑπὸ δὲ τὰς Βιβάσιος καὶ τοῦ Ζαράδρου καὶ τοῦ Διαμούνα καὶ τοῦ Γάγγου ἡ Κυλινδρινή, "and enclosed by the Bibasis, the Zaradros, the Diamuna, and the Ganges is Kylindrinē."