Nagar Brahmins
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Nagar Brahmins are believed to be one of the oldest of the Brahmin groups.
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[edit] Overview
Historians claim the origin of Nagars to be purely Aryan, having come to India from Southern Europe and Central Asia[citation needed]. They migrated through the Hindu Kush to either Trivishtapa or Tibet; later through Kashmir and settled around Kurukshetra.
Around great men gathers many a legend that obscures history. But what is history if not legend agreed upon ? This applies equally to Nagars - a great social group. The earliest written book dealing with the origin of Nagars is the Skand Purana containing some 81,000 Slokas. With a view to prorogate the Brahmin Dharma as against the Buddh belief various writers wrote the Skand Purana from 300 to 770 A.D. sponsored by Skand Gupta and vallabhi emperors. The elite Brahmins, called Nagars were assigned the task of furthering the Brahmin religions. These Nagars were expert interpreters of religion and were working without salary. Mostly they inhabited around Vadnagar or Anandnagar. The kings therefore gave them land for maintenance. These Nagars traveled far and wide and established the shiv belief in Egypt, Babylon, Brazil, Kabul, Indo-china and Cambodia. It is said that after the death of emperor Ashoka (232 B.C.) the Shakas and Yavanas made inclusions.(www.nagar-setu.com)
It is also believed that before Nagars first came to Gujarat in 404 A.D., they lived in Sindh. According to Sir Herber Ridley, Nagars are a cross-breed of "Shaks" & "Dravids." Dr. Bhandaarkar also considers that Nagars have origin outside our country. Nagars from across the borders came first to Kashmir and then they spread out in the states of Rajasthan, Punjab, Utter Pradesh, Bengal, Malva, and Gujarat. After migrating from Kurukshetra they had first settled in Anandpur - Vadnagar of today.
Another view asserts Nagars to be of Greek origin[citation needed]. When Alexander invaded India, he had came with his army through Kashmir. While returning, many Greek soldiers settled in Kashmir. They came into close contact of Pundit community of Kashmir and the progeny that resulted was known as Nagars. Afterwards, Nagars migrated to other parts of the country. Nagars and Greeks are considered similar even today so far as their intelligence and physique are concerned.
A famous historian from Junagadh and a well known Nagar Shri Shambhuprasad Desai had mentioned in his book about the history of Nagars that Nagars first came from Greece, Macedonia, Syria or regions surrounding these places. There is a Nagar ground near Jordan and Israel. Besides, there is a place called Nagar. Also there is also a Nagar community in Iran, who are intelligent and famous and well known as good and efficient administrators. They might have come from there first toKangda (old NAGARKOT) of Himalayas. "NAG" means a mountain and "NAAG" means persons living in mountain region. "R" is a word of sixth tense. All these three put together becomes " NAAGARA " This leads us to to believe that Nagars must be living in the beginning in the regions surrounded by mountains. (Nagar - a man protected by NAG-a mountain)
Current research speculates the Aryan origin to be Hatak or Ladhakh, where the predominant deity is Hatak, Hatkesh or Hatkeshwar. According to the Skandapurana, the land of Hatkeshwar was a gift from Lord Shiva for the Nagars to colonize.
Another version of the legend claims the King of Anarta rebuilt an abandoned city, Chamatkarpur, and consecrated a temple to Hatkeshwar to show his gratitude to the Brahmins. Through the years, and many name changes, the town is currently known as Vadnagar. The inhabitants of the city were known as Nagars.
As time passed, the city of Vadnagar was invaded on more than one occasion. Nagars sought refuge in the nearby areas of Saurashtra and Rajasthan. During this time, they did their best to observe and preserve the code in order to guard their identity. After King Vishaldev conquered Gujarat (around A.C.E. 1040), the King of Ajmer established the cities of Vishnagar (formerly Vishalnagar), Chitrod (or Chitakutpati), Prashnipur, Krashnor, and Sathod (or Shatpad). He offered these cities to the Brahmins who were descendants or an offshoot of the Nagars from Vadnagar.
[edit] Narsi Mehta (1414 - 1481)
Narsi Mehta was a saint from the Nagar Brahmin community. Mahatma Gandhi included his famous bhajan `Vaishnava Jana to tene kahiye' in his daily prayers. This devotional song has become so popular that it has been rendered into almost all indian and many non-Indian languages. Herein are idealised the virtues of a gentleman. They are so universal that every social thinker would endorse them, and accept them as his own ideal.
Vaishnava Jana to tene kahiyeje, peed parayi jaane re...
He is a Vaishnava who feels for the suffering of another And forgets the good he does to another, never taking pride in it. Who cares not for the praise and condemnation of the world nor himself indulges in it. He is not attached to women and wealth; such a one is praiseworthy and a jewel to his family. He is the same to all, is desireless and the women of others he considers like unto his mother. He never speaks falsehood nor has he his eye on another one's wealth. He is no slave of any passion or attachment, and the spirit of renunciation rules his mind. His heart is fixed on the Lord, whom he is restless to meet, really his body is indeed a pilgrim's garb. He is neither avaricious, nor vile nor a victim to wrath and desire. Says Narsi, verily that such a person shall find release from the cycle of rebirth.
[edit] Typical Nagar last names
Major Nagar groups (Naati) also derived in such way like Vadnagara from Vadnagar, Visnagara from Visnagar, Sathodra from Sathod and Chitroda from Chitod.
[edit] Derived from Geographical (Village or City) Names
- Anjaria
- Avasia
- Chhaya
- Dhebar
- Ghoda
- Hathi
- Joshipura
- Kharod
- Kukasia
- Mahudhia
- Mankad or Mankar
- Mankodi
- Pattani
- Rana
- Unakar
- Vasavada
- Veravala
- Vaishnav
[edit] Derived from Family Ancestry
- Antani
- Anantani
- Bavani
- Bhayani
- Kharode
- Kikani
- Maknani
- Premapuri
- Rindani
- Savani
- Vachhchharajani
- Vaishnav
for Creating your Own Family Tree you can visit http://ejunction.nagars.info/Family/
[edit] Derived from Titles Awarded by Rajput and Muslim Rulers
These rulers ruled Gujarat for about eight centuries. Nagars were on prominent positions and were awarded many titles. These twenty surnames include names such as:
- Baxi
- Bhagat
- Desai
- Divan
- Durkal
- Hazrat
- Janita
- Jathhal
- Jha
- Kazi
- Majmudar
- Mazumdar
- Medh
- Munshi
- Parghi
- Pota
- Saiyad
- Swadia
- Jhala
for Creating your Own Family Tree you can visit http://ejunction.nagars.info/Family/
[edit] Derived from Professional Titles
Most of Nagars are professionals. Many surnames were derived from the profession they were engaged in. These names include:
- Pandit
- Acharya
- Buch
- Druv
- Jikar
- Mehta
- Nanavati
- Pandit
- Purohit
- Vaidya
[edit] Other Names
- bhatt
- jani
- Dave
There are several surnames used in various regions in Gujarat.
[edit] From Kachchh
- Kachchhi
- Maru
- Oza
- Jhala
[edit] From Kathiawad
- Dholakia
- Pancholi
- Jha
[edit] Other Nagar last names in Gujarat
- Pandya
- Divetia
- Dwivedi
- Dixit
- Joshi
- Maharaja
- Pathakji
- Raval
- Tripathi
- Trivedi
- Vora
- Vyas
- Pattani
