Karkotaka

Jat Clan: Karkotaka 	Jat Clan: Karkotaka
Distribution 	Rajasthan
Varna: 	Kshatriya
Vansh 	Nagavansha
Branches: (alternative names)	Karkotaka (कर्कॊटक), Katewa (कटेवा), Kikat, Kikata, Kikatwa
Religion 	Hinduism
Languages 	Hindi and Rajasthani
Karkotaka () was a naga king, who bit Nala at the request of Indra, transforming Nala into a twisted and ugly shape. Karkotaka had deceived Narada who cursed him due to which he could not move a step. Karkotaka was friend of Nala and suggested Nala to go to Rituparna, king of Ayodhya and stay there under a changed name Bahuka.
It is believed that these were the people who lost maximum heads in war with Yavanas, and hence, later on they were also known as Katewas like Shishodia in Rajputs.
The group of people developed their Vamsha according to their system of worship of Devas and Nāgas. The worshippers of Shesha Naga were known as Sheshama and worshippers of Karka Naga were known as Karkotaka. Thus Karkotaka was a Nagavanshi king. The descendants of Karkotaka are still found in Jats of Rajasthan as Katewa clan.
==See also==
*Nagavanshi
*Katewa
==References==
*Encyclopedia for Epics of Ancient India
*Thakur Deshraj: Jat Itihasa (Hindi), Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan, Delhi, 1934, 2nd edition 1992.
*Dr Mahendra Singh Arya, Dharmpal Singh Dudi, Kishan Singh Faujdar & Vijendra Singh Narwar: Ādhunik Jat Itihasa (The modern history of Jats), Agra 1998 (Page 226)
*Rama Shankar Tripathi (1987): History of ancient India, ISBN 81-208-0018-4. 
*Naval Viyogi (2002): Nagas, the ancient rulers of India: their origin and history, ISBN 81-7536-287-1.
Category:Nagas