1) Dasas
-Dasas, along with Asurs, Panis and Vratyas were used to live during Indus Valley civilization. The origin of Naga and Shiva cults in this region is also attributed to them
–Shivalik hills are believed to have been inhabited during the pre Vedic period by the Dasas.
–Chamuri, Dhuni, Pipru and Sushna were powerful chiefs, who gave strong resistance to Aryans..
-The Dasas originally hostile to Aryans were gradually accepted in to the Aryan culture
-Due to the perpetual efforts of Vishvamittra, the famous Rig Vedic sage, in spite of the opposition of sage Vashishta
2) Kinners
-The natives of Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh
-The renowned poet Kalidasa, who belonged to Ujjain, has described kinners in many of his works. In his famous work “Meghdoota“, he has mentioned the singing kinners who adorned the Kuber’s royal court at Alkapuri
-“Kim+ Nara means “what kind of strange person are they”.
-The learned writer Rahul Sanskritayan in his famous book “Kinner Desh”has written about the live of Kinnaur
-In the Ramayana, Kinners are described as natives of the area around the Shitoda river
-According to “Bhagwat purana” kinner trace their origin from shadow Brahma Look of kinner is that of a halfman and halfhorse means people with Ashwamukha.
–Rig vedas has no mention or reference to kinners. According to a legend Pradumanta, son of lord Krishna was the earliest king of
kinner.
– It is believed that Vir Bhadra, the six times CM of Himachal is 131 descendant of this dynasty.
-‘Santhang‘, the temple of the village deity, is the place where most community activities are performed
3) Kiratas
–Kalhana describes kirats as primitive living in the jungles
-The Bhairvi classic kiratariunjiya” is woven around the historical battle that took place between the kiratas king and Arjuna
–Bhima is said to have defeated seven Kirata kings when he marched towards the Eastern region for victory
–Later on kiratas came to be known as “Mavanas” or “Mavies”. In the region across the Jamuna and the Satluj. The kiratas powerful king was Shambar, who fought against the Aryan king Divodas
-They lived in towns and built forts.
-Ayan crossed the ravi reached “Bess valley” where they came face to face with Kirtas, whose King ruled in the lower Shivalik
Rishi Bhardwaj was advisor of Aryan king Divodas
-The War between divodas and Shambhar lasted for forty years in the end kirats were defeated with destruction of the ninety nine forts Shambar and his aly Verchi were killed at a place named Udubraj
-Aryans also defeated kirang, Parnya and Chamuri .Divodas was succeeded by his son Sudas and Bharadwaj were succeeded by Vashisht
4.Nagas–
-They were worshippers of Nagas- snake
-Their famous kings were Vasu and Takshaka.
-In Hindu mythology there are 8 nagas (serpents) – Shesh, Takshaka, Vasuki, Vajara, Danshan, Kar Kotik, Kemmali, Sankhu and Kali
-Famous shrines of Nagas: “Nagchala” near Mandi town, Rawaisar Lake and “Kamru Naga”.
–Mansa Devi is said to be the goddess of snakes. There is in Kashmir a
historical temple,Aba-Van which in the past had been visited by a great number of snake worshippers
-In Kangra some places such as Shibu-Ka-Than in Nurpur. Saloh in Palampur and Tripal in Kangra where naga shrines known for curing snake bite are situated
-In Chamba at Bharmaur, there is a temple of “Kelang Naga near the village kugti