Marwadi-Brahman Sonar: Deccan

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Marwadi-Brahman Sonar

This article is an extract from THE CASTES AND TRIBES OF H. E. H. THE NIZAM'S DOMINIONS BY SYED SIRAJ UL HASSAN Of Merton College, Oxford, Trinity College, Dublin, and Middle Temple, London. One of the Judges of H. E. H. the Nizam's High Court of Judicature : Lately Director of Public Instruction. BOMBAY THE TlMES PRESS 1920 Indpaedia is an archive. It neither agrees nor disagrees with the contents of this article. Secondly, this has been scanned from a book. You can help by sending the corrected version/ additional information to the Facebook page, Indpaedia.com. All information used will be duly acknowledged.

The Brahman Sonars allege that they were originally Kshatriyas who, having adopted the profession of a gold-smith, were degraded from the parent caste. They are believed to have been the offspring of a man born of a Brahman father and a Sonar mother. They are Vaishanavaits and abstain from eating flesh and drinking liquors.

Widows are not allowed to marry again. They have 84 exogamous groups. A few of which are given below :— ^

(1) Bucha (7) Madora

(2) Bahar (8) Lhajayora

(3) Meda (9) Mutaria

(4) Katta (10) . Ladunwad

(5) Jalora (11) Mewachya

(6) Shukadiya (12) Chitiurora.

Brahman Sonars formerly intermarried with Oswal Mahajans.

Both infant and adult marriages are recognised by the caste. The marriage ceremony is of the standard type prevalent among the higher Marwadi castes. Formerly the Sonar bridegrooms were not allowed to strike the Toran on horse back, but this right they have now secured in a court of law. Chunnayati Brahmins are employed as priests in the marriage ceremony. Their special fi;oddess is Chamunda, worshipped in the month of Aswin and on the first eight days oi the light half of Chait. Brahmins are employed for religious services. The dead are burnt and the ashes are thrown on the 3rd day after death into the river Ganges. Their original occupation is that of gold- smith. They are also traders and follow various other professions. They are said to have a dialect of their own which is not under- stood by outsiders.