Nikumbh

Ikshvaku Ancestry in Bhagavata Purana

Coronation of Rama with Sita (center on the throne), surrounded by his brothers and other deities including Hanuman (bottom left)

Origin

The Nikumbhs are clan who claim descent from the mythological Suryavansh dynasty. The traditional ancestor of this clan was Kuvalayasva one of the Suryavanshi kings of Ayodhya who having conquered the demon Dhunda, acquired the title of Dhundumara and gave his name to country called Dhundhar or Jaipur. Here his descendants remained and were known as Nikumbhavanshas. Nikumbhas were amongst the earliest Aryan settlers in Rajputana. During the lapse of many centuries they lost their central provinces, and at the time of the Muhammadan conquest only the two outlying districts of Khandesh on the south and Alwar on the north remained to them.^{[citation needed]}

Branches

The Farrukhabad colony was established towards the end of the twelfth century by two Nikumbh adventurers from Awadh called Man and Sahraj, who were invited by raja of Kannauj to expel the aboriginal Bhars. Their descendants rendered valuable assistance to Somvanshi raja Sandi who conferred on then the title nikumbh which means nek-kam or good service.

The Sirnet clan is considered to be of the same stock as the Nikumbhs. The Nikumbh are said to have been given the title of Srinet by an emperor of Delhi, because they would not bow their heads on entering his presence, and when hefixed a sword at the door some of them allowed their necks to be cut through by the sword rather than bend the head. The term Sirnet is supposed to mean headless. The name of Nikumbha has been supplanted in Northern India by that of Raghuvansa, or descendant of Raghu," one of the ancestors of Dasaratha and Rama.

Branches - Nikumbh, Nikam, Nikomph, Nikunj, Kathariya, Sirnet,Nakum in Gujrat

Rulers of Khandesh

• Raja Allashakti Nikumbha ( Nikam ), seventh-century ruler in Khandesh territory who donated Pimpalner in Dhule to Brahmans to perform cultural practice.
• Raja Vairdev Nikumbha ( Nikam ), eighth-century ruler in Khandesh territory who donated villages Bahal and Devagav to Nagsharman Brahman.
• Raja Krishna Nikumbha ( Nikam ), Ruler in Khandesh who had donated palsane village to the Brahmans.
• King Bappaji Nikam, chief of Baglan Area.^[2]
• Nikams (NikumbhRaje) of Khandesh are descendents of old Nikumbh Dynasty. The Rulers of Nikumbhvanshas ruled Khandesh during the period of 1000 - 1858 AD.

References