Bania: Maheshri/ Maheswari
Contents |
Ancient origin of Maheshwaris
The mythical story traces back to a Rajput king, Raja Khandelsen, the ruler of Khandela in Rajasthan[1][2], and his two queens, Rani Suryakuvar and Indrakuvar. The king did not have any children, hence, no one to carry his name or kingdom, and despite performing numerous pujas (prayers), yagnas (fire ceremony) and charitable contributions, the queens were unable to conceive. After sharing his sorrows with Maharishi Yagyavalk, he learned that his circumstances were due to being cursed in a previous life.
Maharishi explained to the king "In your previous life, you earned your living through killing and selling of animal flesh. Once you aimed your bow and arrow at a pregnant deer and killed her. As she died in pain, she placed a curse upon you saying, 'You shall be childless!' However, you felt guilty from this act, and went to Pushkar where you took a bath in the pious pond, to wash off your sins. This religious act helped you become a king in this life. To recover from this past curse, there is one solution that I shall explain to you. Not too far from here in Bhashkar state is a Pipal tree, under which a Shivling (see Lingam) is buried. You should get this Shivling out and make a beautiful temple for Lord Shiva, in which this Shivling must be embellished with respect and devotion." The king did exactly as he was told, in addition he recited the "Om, Namah Sivaya" shloka (a prayer; set of holy words) for two years. This pious and religious act pleased Lord Shiva who in turn blessed the king with a son, who was named Sujansen.
After prince Sujansen's birth, the spiritual advisor made his Kundali (horoscope), to chart out his graha and nakshatra. He shared the graha position findings with King Khandelsen and said "Your son will be handsome, masculine, and powerful; however due to an unforeseen incident he will suffer from sorrow for a short while, but that will eventually result in a happy ending."
Prince Sujansen was married to princess Chadravati, daughter of King Yudhaveer. After their marriage, King Khandelsen handed over the kingdom to his son Sujansen, and moved to the forest for his retirement. One day King Sujansen went into the forest to hunt with his 72 soldiers as part of his routine. As the King and his soldiers were hunting, they got lost and became hungry. Soon, they sensed an aroma, as if someone was cooking good food, and they followed this aroma and reached a place where six rishis were performing a yagna for Lord Shiva. Due to extreme hunger, the king and soldiers started eating prasad, drinking water from the nearby pond that was reserved for the yagna puja, and also started washing their stained bows and arrows in it. This broke the rishis' concentration, and they cursed the king and his 72 soldiers to turn into stones.
Back in the kingdom, the queen and the wives of the 72 soldiers waited for months for their husbands' return. Finally Queen Chandravati went to see Maharishi Jabali. Rishi Jabali explained the situation in its entirety and suggested that she and the wives of the soldiers should go to the temple near the pond and pray to Lord Shiva for their husbands' lives.
At this time, in Kailashparvath, in the Himalayas Lord Shiva and his beautiful wife Parvati were residing. Lord Shiva told Parvati that he needs to visit Earth, some of his worshipers were performing yagna and he needs go and show his satisfaction towards the successful completion of the yagna. Parvati loved her husband dearly, and did not like to part from her husband. This time Parvati insisted to go with Shiva to Earth. Lord Shiva said to Parvati, "Dear, you are very kind hearted, you will not be able to bear the pains of the people living on Earth. As always, you will ask me to take away all of their sorrows, so it is better you stay here till my return to Kailashparvath." But Parvati insisted and said, "No, I must go with you." After a while, Lord Shiva said, "As you wish!" and they both started their journey to Earth where the rishis were performing the yagna.
As Lord Shiva and Parvati reached the site, Parvati saw the queen and all the soldiers' wives crying for their husbands' stone figures. Lord Shiva explained the situation to Parvati. Parvati immediately said to Lord Shiva, "You must give these men another life, because when I can not live without you even for a fraction of a second; how can you expect me to leave this place while these wives are so sorrowful in life without their husbands?" Lord Shiva said "This is what I was afraid of when you decided to join me for this journey; in any case I must do so."
Lord Shiva brought the king and the 72 soldiers back to life, and told king Sujansen, "As you have performed sinful activities, taking away lives of God's creatures, and have misused your power, you have suffered from this incident. From now on, since I am granting all of you a second life, you will be known after my name as 'Mahesh-waris.' You will also stop your role of Kshatriya and become Vaishya, practicing the role of Vaishya Dharam, which is a role of non-violence. Sujansen, to compensate for your violent tendency, from now on you will make a living through donations from your 72 Vaishaya brothers and perform the task of documenting their family trees."
At once, all came to life as if they were awakened from a long sleep. However, they were hesitant to accept their wives, since the wives still belonged to the Kshatriya caste. At this point, Parvati Mata said, "Every couple shall take four parikramas (an act of circling around a God or Goddess in the temple) around me; their gathbandhan (a long scarf used to tie bride and grooms cloth ends together) will be joined automatically." At this, everyone did so, and they re-joined as husbands and wives. This is the reason why four feras (parikramas, in the cernacular also known as "Mama pheras") (see saptapadi) are done outside at Maheshwari weddings, as a reminder of our origin. Lord Shiva gave this blessing to the new 72 Vaishyas on the ninth day of Jyesth, Shukla Paksh in the year nine of Yudhisthira Sanvat. On this day, newlywed brides and grooms are appointed to pray to Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati so that they can also be blessed with children and eternally live a happy and joyous life.
While the 72 soldiers were bathing in the pond, their bows and arrows were melted, and after this the pond was named "Loh-Gal". Due to the incident in this story, new 72 Maheshwari khanp last names were created. After this, additional five Kshatriya last names were also added to the original 72 last names.
HISTORY AND ORIGIN OF MAHESHWARI's
Apart from the usually accepted theory that the current Indian population derived from the mixing of Aryan & Dravidian races, I think there is a third strand of 'Scythians' with a different ethos, coming in groups a few centuries after Jesus. They mainly entered India through the Makran coast (Baluchistan) route to sparsely populated Sindh & Rajasthan areas. By then the Indian society with a 4-tier Caste system was facing a problem.
The warrior caste in the second tier was getting decimated in all-engulfing wars where clans supporting one or the other of the combating force participated. The 'Kshatrapa' or 'S`aka'(Scythian) tribes who were superb archers, horsemen & generally skilled in warfare, filled that niche in Indian society and came to be known as Rajaputras or Rajputs (=progeny of the warriors). Their region was known as 'Rajputana' that is mostly a desert. It is surmised that these tribes originated from northern & eastern coasts of Black Sea. In turn the European Gypsies claim their descent from these later day Indian tribes. Rajputs were intensely 'national', ferociously resisting the Islamic marauders coming from the North Western mountain passes.
The greatest of the mughal Emperors, Akbar, fought and defeated Rana (ruler) Pratap Singh of the Mewar kingdom of Udaipur in Rajputana. Ever since The Rana's court & many of his subjects took a collective vow that they would return to Udaipur when the city is rid of the Muslim rule and left the city with their families. Fashioning bullock carts like moving homes, they roam the country like nomads 'eking' out a livelihood from primitive ironsmithy. Other roaming Gypsies belonging to these tribes are now spread outside Rajputana, who stand out in a crowd by their distinct attire. In modern times this region with forts, its legacy of princely states (till independence) and their quaint customs has become a hot tourist destination for those coming from West.
India has at least one Maheshwari family in each of its 640 districts; although they may not speak the Marwari or Mewari dialect.
According to Ramesh Zawar, former news-editor Loksatta, celebration of the festival of Teej and the biannual Ashtami Puja is a sign that the family is Maheshwari irrespective of the language spoken in the family. As no standardized form of Marwari or Mewari language exists, it is possible that a Maheshwari family may not speak Marwari language; rather they would speak in any Indian language. After originating in Rajasthan (India), being a business community, maheshwaris spread in all over India and in modern times, maheshwaris are found all over the world.
Subcastes
There are 72 subcastes (khanp) in maheshwari caste.The list of subcastes is as follows:- Ajmera Agiwal Ashawa Attal Bagri Baheti Bajaj Baldewa Bangad Bhaiya Bhandari Bhangadia Bhuraria Bhutada Birla Biyani Chandak Chapperwal Chitlangia Daga Damani Dangra Dhoot Dujari Gandhi Gattani Heda Holani Innani Jaithalia Jaju Jjawar Kabra Kakani Kalyani Karnani Karwa Kasat Kela Khatod Kothari Ladha Lahoti Lakhotia Lohia Loya Malani Mall Malpani Malu Mandhana Mantri Mimani Modi Mohta Moona Mundhra Nawandar Newar Pachisiya Phalod Panpalia Pediwal Pugalia Randhad Rathi Saboo Sadani Sarda Sodhani Somani Soni Tapadiya Tawri Thirani Toshniwal Totla Tuwani Darak
Industrialists
Notabale among Maheshwari industrialists are Birla,Bangad,Somany,Dhoot(Videocon Group),Tapadia,Toshniwal,Mohta,
SURNAMES
By Anil G. Bhandari, Maheshwari Family Tree
The following is a list of those 82 original last names (Surnames). There have been several additions to and derivatives from these names due to the family's place of business and/or the trade engaged in.
1. Ajmera 42. Navandhar
2. Asava 43. Pallod
3. Attal 44. Partani
4. Agiwal 45. Porwar
5. Aagsuad 46. Baldua
6. Innani 47. Baaldi
7. Karva 48. Boob
8. Kankani 49. Bangad
9. Kahalia 50. Bihani
10. Kalantri 51. Bidada
11. Kasat 52. Baheti
12. Kacholiya 53. Bajaj
13. Kalani 54. Birla
14. Kabra 55. Bang
15. Kalia 56. Bhandari :- Lathi
16. Khawad 57. Bhattad
17. Gagrani 58. Bhutada
18. Gattani 59. Bhuradia
19. Gadiya 60. Bhansaali
20. Gilada 61. Malooda:- Saboo
21. Daad 62. Malpani
22. Daga 63. Mandhania
23. Chandak 64. Mundhada
24. Chowkhda 65. Mandowara
25. Chachani 66. Maniyar
26. Chhaparwal 67. Modani
27. Jajoo 68. Mantri
28. Jakhetia :- Holani 69. Randad
29. Jhanwar 70. Ladha
30. Tavari 71. Lahoti
31. Toshniwal 72. Lakhotia
32. Totla 73. Soni
33. Tapadia 74. Somani
34. Darak 75. Sodhani
35. Dargad 76. Sarda
36. Devpura 77. Sikchi
37. Dhoot 78. Hurkat
38. Dhupad 79. Heda
39. Navaal 80. Rathi
40. Novlakha 81. Lohia
41. Nyati 82. Parwal
Khanp and UpKhanps
By Anil G. Bhandari, Maheshwari Family Tree
Khanp UpKhanp
Birla Birla, Dhuraya, Gathya, Dhubarya, Garuraya, Gauraya, Badaliya.
Darak Darak, Haldha, Marchunya, Kothari, Chaudhari.
Tosniwal Tosniwal, Nagauri, Mijyali, Modi, Munji, Dama, Nevar, Damdi, Lambu, Singi, Das, Daga, Jhalriya, Jenariya, Bhakrogha, Kothari.
Ajmera Ajmera, Kodyakulthya, Kukdaya, Rai, Randita, Dhaul, Dhaulesiya, Bhagat, Bhagutya, Dabkodya, Doda, Mankya, Vinyayakya, Nausarya, Posraya, Kharad, Khuchya, Padhava.
Bhandari Bhandari, Bhakava, Bhukya, Kala, Gora, Gokanya, Gulchak, Manya, Lathi, Rai, Mirchya, Naresanaya, Nensar.
Chhapparwal Chhapparwal, Dujara, Jusaaj.
Bhattad Bhattad, Sandha, Latad, Halad, Kela, Kahara, Bisani, Bisa, Balwani, Bichhu, Ramani, Jeta, Gandhi, Pithani, Puglia, Bhallad, Muhandasot, Mahara.
Bhutada Bhutada, Chachya, Devgatani, Deodatani, Chaudhari.
Bang Bang,Chhitarka, Sanvalaka, Sobhavat,Tharavat,Patwari,Motawat.
Atal Atal, Gothniwal, Marauthia.
Inani Idani, Nagwadya.
Bhuradia Bhuradia, Kothari, Bambu, Bhugdya.
Bhansali Bhansali
Ladha Ladha, Mody, Munji, Athasnya, Bhakrodha, Hingya, Dagda, Dagadya, Dharani, Jola, Chaudhari.
Malpani Malpani, Mutha, Mody, Junhari, Lulani, Laulan, Bhura.
Sikahi Sikahi, Silar, Silani.
Lahoti Lahoti, Bishar, Kuya, Kaha.
Gadayiya Gadayiya, Chadhari, Higrad.
Gagrani Gagrani, Gagad, Vavechya, Dodaya, Kala, Gaheya.
Khatwad (Khataud) Khatwad, Malani, Maulasaraya, Toda, Muchhal, Duwani, Loya, Khad, Kalya, Lausalya, Gandhi, Gahlada, Naresanya, Saraf, Pahadka, Bhutia, Bhuria, Bhala.
Lakhotia Lakhotia, Jugrama, Bhayiya, Mothadya, Maunana, Parasram, Rice.
Asava Asava, Vyapati, Nag, Mandovara.
Chechani Chechani, Dudani, Kachaulya, Kalkya, Rai, Khad.
Mandhania Manudhaniya, Manudhana, Chaudhari, Syahar, Dhardolya, Sum, Singi, Hira.
Mundhada Mundhada, Morani, Mody, Mahlana, Sesani, Sambharaya, Sakrani, Bharani, Bhaurani, Rajmahuta, Gaurani, Ulani, Dodaya, Dheyaya, Chaudhari, Chamadya, Chavakya, Adernya, Prahaladani, Pansari, Chhota, Kothari, Varifa, Bawari, Baldia, Dammalaka, Athani, Gavlani, Aldia.
Chaukhada Chaukhada
Chandak Chandak, Gorani, Multani, Muknani, Mumani, Madhani, Pragani, Prahaladani, Pungalia, Patwa, Bizani, Bhishani, Bhaia, Sagara, Sanval, Sukhani, Sundarani, Jogad.
Baldua Baldua, Padwar, Pediwal, Radhwani, Kalani, Vediwal.
Baldi Baldi
Bub Bub, Bauradha.
Bangad Bangad, Tapdia Bangad.
Mandovara Mandovara, Matesaraya, Dhaulesaraya, Kesaria.
Totla Totla, Badahaka, Nagla, Patwari, Tela.
Aagiwal Agiwal
Aagsud Aagsud
Partani Partani, Pundpalya, Dagdya, Panpaliya.
Navndhar Navndhar, Dharani, Dhirani, Mimani, Dhanani, Panani, Syahara, Rai, Gandhi.
Naval Naval, Khuval, Maliwal.
Palod Palod, Chitlangia, Ravtya, Lislya, Jujesaraya, Gahlada, Pachisya, Chavdya, Kakraya, Bhakad, Kela, Sethi, Chavta, Maunda, Fogiwal, Jaithalya, Vapdota, Dodya, Mujiwal, Maru, Fausalya.
Taparia Taparia, Chhachhya, Mungrad, Maiya, Kharnalya, Mankya.
Dhoot Dhoot
Dhpad Dhpad
Modani Modani, Bumb, Mody, Mahdana, Mahnan.
Porva Porvar, Parwal, Dagadya.
Devpura Devpura, Kasumbibal.
Mantri Mantri
Naulakha Naulakha, Naugaja.
Davari Gorani, Bhakrice, Bhojani, Gurkani, Khetani, Mohata.
Bania: Maheshri/ Madhya Pradesh
This article was written in 1916 when conditions were different. Even in Readers will be able to edit existing articles and post new articles directly |
From The Tribes And Castes Of The Central Provinces Of India
By R. V. Russell
Of The Indian Civil Service
Superintendent Of Ethnography, Central Provinces
Assisted By Rai Bahadur Hira Lal, Extra Assistant Commissioner
Macmillan And Co., Limited, London, 1916.
NOTE 1: The 'Central Provinces' have since been renamed Madhya Pradesh.
NOTE 2: While reading please keep in mind that all articles in this series have been scanned from the original book. Therefore, footnotes have got inserted into the main text of the article, interrupting the flow. Readers who spot these footnotes gone astray might like to shift them to their correct place.
This important subcaste of Banias numbered about 14,000 persons in the Central Provinces in 191 1, of whom 8000 belonged to the Berar Districts, and the remainder principally to Hoshangabad, Nimar, Wardha and Nagpur. The name is said to be derived from Maheshwar, an ancient town on the Nerbudda, near Indore, and one of the earliest Rajput settlements. But some of them say that their original home is in Bikanir, and tell a story to the effect that their ancestor was a Raja who was turned into stone with his seventy-two followers by some ascetics whose devotions they had interrupted in the forest. But when their wives came to commit sati by the stone figures the god Siva intervened and brought them to life again. He told them to give up the profession of arms and take to trade. So the seventy-two followers were the ancestors of the seventy-two gotras or sections of the Maheshris, and the Raja became their tribal Blidt or genealogist, and they were called Maheshri or Maheswari, from Mahesh, a name of
Siva. In Gujarat the term Maheshri or Meshri appears to be used for all Banias who are not Jains, including the other important Hindu subcastes.
1 See separate article on Jangam.
This is somewhat peculiar, and perhaps tends to show that several of the local subcastes are of recent formation. But though they profess to be named after Siva, the Maheshris, like practically all other Hindu Banias, are Vaishnava by sect, and wear the kiniti or necklace of beads of basil. A small minority are Jains. It is to be noticed that both the place of their origin, an early Rajput settlement of the Yadava clan, and their own legend tend to show that they were derived from the Rajput caste ; for as their ancestors were attendants on a Raja and followed the profession of arms, which they were told to abandon, they could be none other than Rajpiits.
The Maheshris also have the Rajput custom of sending a cocoa- nut as a symbol of a proposal of marriage. In Nimar the Maheshri Banias say they belong to the Dhakar subcaste, a name which usually means illegitimate, though they themselves explain that it is derived from a place called Dhakargarh, from which they migrated. As already stated they are divided into seventy-two exogamous clans, the names of which appear to be titular or territorial. It is said that at their weddings when the bridegroom gets to the door of the marriage-shed, the bride's mother ties a scarf round his neck and takes hold of his nose and drags him into the shed. Sometimes they make the bridegroom kneel down and pay reverence to a shoe as a joke. They do not observe the custom of the pangat or formal festal assembly, which is usual among Hindu castes ; according to this, none ^ Bombay Gazetteer, Hindus of Gujarat, p. 70.
can begin to eat until all the guests have assembled, when they all sit down at once. Among the Maheshris the guests sit down as they come in, and are served and take their food and go. They only have the pajtgat feast on very rare occasions. The Maheshris are one of the richest, most enterprising and influential classes of Banias. They are intelligent, of high-bred appearance, cleanly habits and courteous manners. The great bankers, Sir Kasturchand Daga of Kamptee, of the firm of Bansi Lai Ablrchand, and Rai Bahadur Seth Jiwan Das and Diwan Bahadur Seth Ballabh Das, of Jubbulpore, belong to this subcaste.
