Agrawal

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Agarwals (also Agarwal or Aggarwal or Agrawalla) are a powerful and influential bania (merchant) and khatri (warrior) community in India. The Agarwal population is about four million.

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[edit] Agroha, the original center of Agarwals

King Agrasen had set out to travel all over India to look for a suitable site to establish his new kingdom. At one place, he found a few tiger cubs and wolf cubs playing together. This indicated to Agrasen and Madhavi, his wife, that this was a veerbhoomi or the Land of the Braves. They decided to establish their capital city at that place. Thus Agroha came into being, about 51 years before the Mahabharata war, near present day Hisar in Haryana. Under the leadership of Agrasen, Agroha became very prosperous. It continued to grow in later years and legend has it that a hundred thousand traders lived in the city at its heyday. An immigrant wishing to settle in the city would be given a rupee and a brick by each of the inhabitants of the city. Thus, he would have a hundred thousand bricks to build a house for himself, and a hundred thousand rupees to start a new business.

The name Aggarwal is derived from Agroha (Sanskrit Agrotaka), the original center of the Agarwals, which is near Hisar in Haryana. From the Hisar region, Aggarwal descendants had migrated mostly to modern day Punjab and Rajasthan some few thousand years ago, while a proportion also migrated to Delhi and Western Uttar Pradesh. Those living in Shekhawati region in Rajasthan are generally called Marwari. (Marwaris are a group of Indo-Aryan people from the Marwar region of Rajasthan in India.)

[edit] Origin of the Agarwal Dynasty

According to Mahalaksmi Vrat Katha, Emperor Agrasen was a renowned Kshatriya leader and a Suryavanshi (lineage from the Sun) born during the last stages of Dwapar Yuga. From Emporer Agrasen arose the Agarwal people. Maharaj Agrasen had fathered 18 children. From these eighteen children started the eighteen gotras of the Agrawals. The Emporer was an icon of non-violence, messenger of peace, an embodiment of Sacrifice, Compassion, Prosperity and a True Socialist. Emperor Agrasen was born to King Ballabh of Pratapnagar. He was the eldest son. According to the Mahalakshmi Vrath, the age then was the last stages of Dvaapar Yug. According to current calendar the birth of Maharaj Agrasen took place about 5185 years ago. King Ballabh was a Suryavamshi (lineage from the Sun). Even when he was very young, Prince Agrasen was very well known for his compassion. He never discriminated against anyone and the subjects were very pleased with the way he conducted himself.

[edit] Mythology

When Agrasen became a young man, he attended the Swyamvara of the daughter of the King Nagaraj, Princess Madhavi . Many kings from around the world attended including Indra, the King of the Devas. In the swayamvara, Princess Madhavi selected Prince Agrasen, by putting the garland on him. This marriage caused a coming together of two different family cultures, Prince Agrasen was a Suryavanshi and Princess Madhavi was a Naagavanshi. Indra, the King of the Devas had been smitten by the beauty of Princess Madhavi and had planned to get married to her. However, now that he had been unable to marry her, he became very jealous and angry with Agrasen. To attain revenge against Agrasen, Indra made sure that Pratap Nagar did not receive any rainfall. As a result, a frightening famine struck the Pratap Nagar kingdom. Emperor Agrasen then waged war against Indra, a dharamyud, whereupon his army vanquished Indra's forces and put them to flight. Faced with this situation, Indra approached Narada (the celestial sage) for mediation between himself and Emperor Agrasen. Narada, then mediated a peace between them. Agrasen started a severe penance to propitiate Lord Shiva in the city of Kashi. Pleased with the penance of Agrasen, Lord Shiva appeared and advised him to propitiate Goddess Mahalakshmi. Maharaj Agrasen again started meditating on Goddess Mahalakshmi, who appeared before him. Goddess Mahalakshmi then blessed Agrasen and suggested that he take up the Vaishya tradition of business for the sake of prosperity of his people. She then asked him to found a new kingdom and promised that she would bless his descendants with prosperity. So he gave up his Kshatriya tradition.


Birth Of Agroha city-

With the blessings of Goddess Mahalakhmi King Agrasen started out with the Queen to travel all over India and select a place for a new kingdom. During his travels, at one place he found a few tiger cubs and wolfs cubs playing together. To King Agrasen and Queen Madhavi, this was an auspicious indication that the area was Veerabhoomi (land of the brave) and they decided to found their new kingdom at that location named Agroha. Agroha became prosperous as agriculture and trade flourished.Maharaj Agrasen, performed many Yagnas (sacrifice) for the prosperity of his people. In those days, performing a yagna was a symbol of prosperity. During one such yagna, Maharaj Agrasen noticed that a horse that had been brought to be sacrificed was trying hard to get away from the sacrificial altar. Seeing this Maharaj Agrasen was filled with pity and then thought as to what prosperity can be achieved by sacrificing mute animals. The idea of Ahimsa grabbed Maharaj Agrasen's mind. The King then discussed it with his ministers. The ministers then said if Maharaj Agrasen turned towards ahimsa, the neighbouring kingdoms might consider it a sign of weakness and feel brave enough to attack Agroha. At this, Maharaj Agrasen mentioned that putting an end to violence and injustice does not mean weakness. He then proclaimed that there should be no violence and killing of animals in his kingdom.Maharaj Agrasen proceeded to conduct 18 Maha Yagnas. He then divided his kingdom among his 18 children and established the 18 gotras after the guru's of each of his children. These same 18 gotras today are like the eighteen chapters of the Bhagavadgita, even though they are different from each other, they are still related to each other to form the whole. Under this arrangement, Agroha prospered very well and flourished. In the latter part of his life, Maharaj Agrasen nominated his eldest son Vibhu to the throne and took up the Vanaprasth Ashram. The prosperity of Agroha, caused heartburn in many of the neighbouring kings and they frequently attacked it. Because of these aggressions, Agroha had to face numerous problems. In due course, the strength of Agroha was sapped. A huge fire engulfed the city of Agroha. Because of the fire, the citizens of the city fled and dispersed into various areas of Bharat. Today, these same people are known as Aggarwals and still have the same 18 gotras that was given to them from their gurus and carry on the fame of Maharaj Agrasen. As per Maharaj Agrasen's guidance the Aggarwals are in the forefront of social service.

[edit] Chronological history

[edit] Early history

The town of Agroha flourished through Maurya, Kushana, Yaudheya, and Tomara period. Agrawal merchant Nattal Sahu and the first Agrawal poet Vibudh Shridhar lived during the rule of Tomar Anangapal of Yoginipur.

[edit] Muslim period

Agroha survived when Hansi was conquered by Turks in the 10th century, but was overrun by Ghori.

In 1354, Feroze Shah founded Hisar near Agroha, and Hisar became a main center of the Agrawals. A Bhattaraka institution based in Hisar had branches in Gwalior and Delhi. During the rule of the Sultans, some of the Agrawals were able to obtain permission to build temples etc.

In early 15th century Agrawals flourished under the Tomars of Gwalior. Many of them became very wealthy and supported carving of idols, and composition of literature.

During the Mughal rule, a few Agrawals were able to secure influential positions in the Mughal court. In 1712, Lala Ratan Chand, originator of Rajvanshi section, was executed because of his involvement in the power struggle.[citation needed]

[edit] British period

During the British rule, a well known freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai was one of the prominent Agrawals to sacrifice his life for the freedom struggle. He was known as Punjab Kesari, or the Lion of the Punjab. He was a key mentor of nationalists like Bhagat Singh and Chandrasekhar Azad. Agrawals became heavily involved in Swadeshi movements (Struggle for Indian Independance) and established major houses like Dalmia-Jain, Bajaj, Singhania etc. Bharatendu Harishchandra was responsible for establishing Hindi as India's national language, and wrote the first history of the Aggarwal community.

Late during the Mughal rule, and during the British East India Company administration, some Agrawals migrated to Bihar and Calcutta, who became the major component of the Marwaris.

[edit] Agrawals today

Some of the richest Indians, like Lakshmi Mittal of Mittal steel, Kuldeep Aggarwal and Ashok Aggarwal of RJS Group, Ltd., Subhash Chandra of Zee TV, Sunil Mittal of Bharti Telecom, Naresh Goyal (Jet Airways), Sajjan Jindal (Jindal Iron & Steel Company Ltd), are Agarwals.

[edit] Gotras

The names associated with these original Clans/Gotras (and variations thereof) are the surnames of the Agarwal community today: Mittal, Bansal, Singhal, Jindal, Kansal, Airan, Tingal, Bindal, Garg, Goyal, Goyan, Mangal, Dharan, Madhukul, Tayal, Bhandal, Kucchal and Naagil. All eighteen of these names are synonymous with the Agarwal surname.

Gotra Original Gotra Lord Saint (Guru) Veda Branch Sutra
Mittal Maitreya Mantrapati Vishwamitra/Maitreya Yajurveda Madhyadini/Madhuri Kaatyayni
Bansal Vatsya Virbhan Vishist/Vatsa Samaveda Kouthmi/Kauttham Gobhil
Singhal Shandalya Sindhupati Shringi/Shandilya Samaveda Koyumi/Kauttham Gobhil
Jindal Gemino Jaitrasangh Bruhaspati/Jaimini Yajurveda Madhyadini/Madhuri Kaatyayni
Kansal Kaushik Manipal Kaushik Yajurveda Madhyadini/Madhuri Kaatyayni
Airan/Aeron Aurva Indramal Atri/Aaurva Yajurveda Madhyadini/Madhuri Kaatyayni
Tingal/Tunghal Taandav Tambolkarna Shandilya/Tandya Yajurveda Madhyadini/Madhuri Kaatyayni
Bindal/Vindal Vishist Vrinddev Yavasya/Vashista Yajurveda Madhuri Kaatyayni
Garg/Gargeya Gargasya Pushpadev Gargacharya or Garg Yajurveda Madhuri Kaatyayni
Goyal Gomil Gendumal Gautam/Gobhil Yajurveda Madhuri Kaatyayni
Goyan/Goin/Goyanor/Gangal Gautan Godhar Purohit/Gautam Yajurveda Madhyadini/Madhuri Kaatyayni
Mangal Maandav Amritsen Mudragal/Mandavya Rigveda/Yajurveda Sakalya Asusai
Dharan/Deran Dhanyas Dhavandev Bhekaar/Ghaumya Yajurveda Madhuri Kaatyayni
Madhukul/Mudgal Mudgal Madhavsen Aashvalayan/Mudgal Rigveda/Yajurveda Saalaya/Sakalya Aslayin
Tayal Taitireya Tarachand Saakal/Taitireya Yajurveda/Kri Madhyadini/Aausthambh Kaatyayni
Bhandal Dhoumya Vasudev Bhardwaj Yajurveda Madhyadini/Madhuri Kaatyayni
Kuchhal/Kachal/Kuchchal Kashyap Karanchand Kush/Kashyap Samaveda Kosami/Kauttham Komaal
Naagil/Nangal/Nagal Naagend Narsev Kaudalya/Nagendra Samaveda Kouthmi/Kauttham Aslayin

[edit] See Also

[edit] References

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