भारतकोश
भारतीय इतिहास के ६ स्वर्णिम पृष्ठ (वीर सावरकर - विदेशी आक्रान्ताओं पर विजय गाथा)

भारतीय इतिहास के ६ स्वर्णिम पृष्ठ (वीर सावरकर - विदेशी आक्रान्ताओं पर विजय गाथा)

Six Glorious Epochs of Indian History by Veer Savarkar

स्वातंत्र्यवीर विनायक दामोदर सावरकर द्वारा

DevanagariHindipublished494 पृष्ठ

पृष्ठ 29, कुल 494 में से

संदर्भ में पढ़ें
पृष्ठ 29
  1. We generally believe that this magnificent and awe-inspiring tradition of ‘johar’ or self-immolation of large groups of men and women in times of national crisis was originally practised by the Rajputs only. But instances like the one just mentioned, cited by the Greek writers who were astounded to witness them, go to prove that even before the name of the Rajputs was ever heard of, this splendid tradition was followed by our Indian warriors right from the ancient days. The word ‘johar’ is comparatively modern. It was perhaps derived from the war cry ‘Jai Har’! The Indian God of war and destruction is Har, Har, Mahadev! That is why, the Indians fought desperately, inspired by this deafening war cry! The Marathas too used the same war cry ‘Har, Har, Mahadev!’ After fighting to the last, when every hope of success was over, or every chance of escape from the enemy was lost, this johar, this martyrdom, this noblest type of self-sacrifice was resorted to by the Hindus as the last unfailing weapon to save their religion, their nation, their own self-respect and to avoid captivity, abject slavery and hateful conversion! As soon as all men of fighting age were slain on the battlefield after taking the greatest toll of the enemy blood, their wives, mothers, daughters, hundreds of them, with babies at their breasts, used to leap into the burning pyres, specially kept ready for the purpose and were reduced to ashes. This was what was known as ‘Johar’! It was not an easy job! It was the limit of valour and endurance for the sake of keeping up the prestige of one’s self and one’s own religion!
  2. Whoever had donned this exceptional armour of ‘Johar’ and its leaping flames were beyond all attempts of an Alexander, an Alla-ud-Din or a Salim-why, even of Satan himself—to pollute them and convert them to his religion! Confronted with this horrible sacrificial fire, the enemy stood aghast, discomfited and crestfallen.
  3. The above-mentioned ‘Johar’—collective immolation of lives—by the Agrashrenis is one of the many described by the astounded Greek writers, which the Indians preferred to the humiliation of being the captives of the Greeks. The Janapad Republic of Brahmanakas!
  4. At last, when Alexander’s naval force reached the mouth of the Indus, fighting incessantly all the way, it met with yet other independent republics. These ‘janapadas’ or ‘Ganas’ were like the small Greek city-states, and had none amongst them, which could ably withstand with equal numbers, the mighty and numerous army of Alexander. Still one of them, the