The history of Dhanak caste is great and is ancient since the time of Vishnu purana. It is clearly mentioned in the Vishnu purana the great book of Hindus in India that Dhanvin – Dhanushka means carrying of Dhanush bana – Warrior and a Kshatria.Vishnu puran chapter-bk- iv 20- p367, 4ch-11-p 333-ch-11-335. Confirmed by H.H Willson in his book the Vishnu purana book no. 3 chapter 17-18 p.p 267-276 – Confirmed in Rig veda. Rigvedic Kshatrias. – Rigveda- rv- vii p-18, p-83.1, p-18.14, p-18.11 and p-18.12.
The Dhanushka – Dhanak is also mentioned and confirmed in Vayu purana – p.p 103.5
Neelamati puran – vol.1. Page 62. Clearly depicts Dhanaka-Dhanushkas with soor senas, amsthas, kiratas, yaudhayas and sivis
Ramayana period - Dhanakas known as abhiras, subras, pahlvas,sakas and kiratas.- fighters- ramayana –ch-iv –p40-16-30, iv-p61.7,iv-p42.6, iv-p43.4 and iv-p40.27Mahabharata period -depicts Dhanakas with Sur Senas-Amasthas Sivis-Kekaiyas and Kiratas-Kshatrias. Dhanakas faught Mahabharta war on the side of Pandvas grouped with Pisacas- Daradas-Pundras-Marutas Taganyas tribes. Mahabharta ch- vi.p50-51, 49-50, 11-32.chapter ii,iii,iv,v,vii, viii, ix.
The symbals of Dhanushkas – Dhanakas since puranas and vedas were Surya – Swastika – Om - Dhanush Bana- Dhanwantari(moving arrows). Dhanakas always worshipped Lord shiva – Durga-Kali-Surya
The Ayaka pillar – Nagarjuna konda inscription clearly states that there was a Dhanaka family which had matrimonial alliance with ikshuvaku king- vashishti putra – the great santa mula. His only daughter Santisri was married to mahasenapati maha talvara – Skanda Vishakha Naga-who belonged to Dhanaka family. The historian K.Gopalichari says that the tital of Maha talvara was only heridatory to Dhanaka – Kulhaka family.
Chandragupt maurya period- the greek ambassador writes that the protection of the country was the responcibility of the kshatrias-Dhanakas were safe guarding the fort of patliputra.the Dhanaka presently living along the outer wall of old maurian fort out side patna city. The Dhanakas were the heriditory watchers on the city wall during maurian period.
The Dhanakas faught war under Chandergupta Maurya and took part in Kalinga war under Ashoka the great. This is confirmed by great historian Mr.Holton in his book “ Bihar the heart of India” page 49.
Dhanakas took part in wars expeditions with king Kanishka the great to central asia and mangolia etc. Confirmed by historian
Panini’s Ashtadhyayi confirms Dhanushka- Dhanaka as welder of Dhanush bana – martial fighter. This also confirmed by great historian Mr.V.S. Aggrawala in his book at page no. 421,422 and 432 skt Dhanushkas. – confirmed in wars in ancient India university of Madras 1948.
The great historian R.C. Majumdar confirmed in his book “Gupta period” 200-550 ed page 60 that Dhanak – a kshatria rajpoot
Great historian V.Rama in his book chandradikstar clearly says that only kshatriya could become dhanushdhari – Dhanak Kshatria are the representatives of ancient kshtriyas.
Dhanaka – son of King Durdama – mentioned in Vishnu purana Chapter XI page 416.
Dhanushka Dhanak– king of Maurya dynasty.
Dhanuks – Vaishya family of Banaras – Mr. M.a. Sheerine caste of traders. Ch-vi pp 289 -91.
Dhanaka- Chief sena pati of Nabha Raja’s time who ruled from the formost town of Kopana(1180ad) – historian Mr P.D. Desai Epygraphy book part 2 . Page 216.
Dhanaka – faught wars against Aluddin Khilji for Rana Ratan singh of Mewar. The historical book Padmavat confirms that Dhanaka warriors were gaurding the Chittorr fort from the Remports with bows and arrows.
Dhanakas faught haldi ghati war against Mughal forces with Maharana Partap.
The Dhanakas were always respectable kshatrias and fighters as dhanushdhari since ancient times upto chandergupt maurya period, after that Dhanakas faught many wars for kings and princes in gupta period – harshwardhana – vikramaditya, shakas, kanishkas and rajpoot kings. 100s of wars were faught during this period countless of Dhanak warriors lost their lives – their houses properties were ruined. – Dhanak warriors migrated from one place to another to save their lives. The Dhanakas migrated from Rajasthan to other parts, from Punjab to Jammu and Kashmir and from Haryana to Delhi and from central India to Bihar and from Madhya Bharat (central India) to west India (Gujrat – Maharashtra) etc. The Dhanakas suffered untold sufferings during this period that Dhanak kshatria warrior lost everything and they came to be known as suppressed and depressed and lost its ancient identity during the period of 2000 years of turmoil. They suffered in human treatment from the victor and the high society. The Dhanakas financialy ruined and they became homeless with no lively hood. Therefore during this period the Dhanakas were d graded to lower castes and were known as Shudras later on. The Dhanakas to make their both ends meet and to maintain their livelyhood adopted different proffession at different places , hence they were known by different names in different states.
