The Kambojas were a Kshatriya tribe of Iron Age in India, frequently mentioned in Sanskrit and Pali literature. The ancient Kambojas were probably an Indo-Iranian tribe. They are however, sometimes described as Indo-Aryans and sometimes as having both Indian and Iranian affinities. The Kambojas are also described as a royal clan of the Sakas.
Kambojas are mentioned in several Puranic texts like Mahabharata, Vayu Purana, Pali-Buddhist Literature and a lot more. Regarding the location of the Kambojas it has been said that they belonged to a country which in the modern age is known as "Sindh".
Language of Kamboja Tribe
The Kamboja tribe of India used a dialect of the Vedic tongue which was different in some respects from the standard language which in the time of Yaksha was apparently the language of the Madhyadesa that is the region around the Ganges-Yamuna Doab. The Kamboja people had retained the original sense of an ancient verb (savati) while it was lost among other sections of the same people who were separated from them by geographical barriers.
Historical Evidences of Kamboja Tribe
Kamboja Tribes appear to have been one of the early Vedic Tribes. However researchers have often specified that they might be if Iranian descent as well. One of the primary reasons for this speculation is the fact that the Kamboja tribes have not been mentioned in Rig Veda. But there are evidences suggesting that Kambojas although not mentioned in the Rig Veda itself but they were part of the Vedic Aryans in the Rig Vedic era. It is believed that Kambojas dwelled very close to North-West India.
Panini has said that Kambojas were in the habit of completely shaving their heads. Kambojas originally had been members of the Kshatriya clan but with time their position had been degraded to that of the Sudras. Historical records also reveal that Kambojas with time were losing touch with the Brahmanical society because of the coming in of many uncivilised invaders from the foreign countries.
Legend of Kamboja Tribe
An important factor associated with the Kamboja tribe says that the horses of Kamboja were famous throughout all periods of history. The horses were fast and powerful in the real sense of the term. Kamboja is spoken of as a home of horses. Legend says that during the battle of Mahabharata the Kamboja horses were of utmost service. It has been said that the Kambojas were in the habit of capturing horses in the forest by tempting them into an enclosed space by means of aquatic plants which they used smear with honey.
Kambojas had also led a large army to the field of Kurukshetra and used to lay down their lives like valiant Kshatriya soldiers. The Kambojas had also defeated the Pala Kings in Bengal and probably they were the ones who had conquered the kingdom of Gauda.
