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Sage Kambhoja or
Kumbhoja (i.e.
Kambojas) finds
reference in
southern Indian
recensions of
Ramayana. He seems
to have lived
somewhere on the
banks of river
Godavari, in
south-west India
during Ramayana
times. Ancient
Sanskrit references
indicate that
ancient Kambojas
were closely
connected with
Vasishtha. These
ancient texts also
reveal that the
Kambojas and some
other allied Iranian
tribes from
north-west came to
the aid of Vasishtha
clan at the time of
crisis. It
therefore, appears
probable that
Vasishthas may have
acted as Purohits/religious
teachers to the
Kambojas and the
latter may have
regarded them as
their spiritual
guides or gurus. It
also appears likely
that the Vasishtha
Brahmanas were
chiefly responsible
for the learning and
scholarship found
among the ancient
Kambojas. Ramayanic
sage Kumbhoja or
Kambhoja appears to
be a close friend of
sage Agasti. Sage
Agasti was brother
of sage Vasishtha
and was living as a
hermit in
Dakshinapatha. Rama,
Lakshmana and Sita
had paid visit to
the hermitage of
sage Kambhoja, from
there they had
proceeded to
Panchavati during
their Vanwasa period
before Sita was
abducted by Sri
Lankan king Ravana.Some Buddhist inscriptions found in the Pal caves located about a mile north-west of Mhar in Kolaba district of Maharashtra, in Bombay Presidency, contains a reference to a Chief of a Kamboj dynasty as ruling in Kolaba (near Bombay) probably around first century of Christian era. There is still a Kumbhoj (Kambhoj) village and the Hills known by the same name in Alta sub-division (taluq)in Maharashtra |
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