Oswal
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The Oswal are a social group (and caste) of people from the Indian States of Rajasthan, Gujarat (Halar and Kutch regions) and Punjab who are primarily Jain in religion. Their rituals with respect to birth, marriage, and death are strongly influenced by the Hindu culture.However, there are many oswals who are Hindus and follow the Vaishnavite path. So, called vaishnav oswals constitute about 5 % of the population approximately.
Although Oswals are a small minority (population estimate is approximately 4–5 million people worldwide) they play an important part in the economic life of India. Their diaspora and cummunities can be found in all the major populations centers of India as well as North America, Europe, Africa, Australia, South-East Asia and the Middle East.
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[edit] Origin of Oswal
According to legend, the Oswal caste was created approximately c.2500 years ago by a group of Kshatriyas in the town of Upkeshpattan (Osian) who adopted Jainism as their faith.
[edit] History
The origin of the name "Oswal" is tied to a small village in the Jodhpur District of Indian State of Rajasthan named Osian. There was once a large city at the site of Ossiya (osian). The ancient names by which this city was known at various times were Uplesh Pattan, Urkesh, Melpur Pattan and Navmeri. Upkeshpattan( Today's osian)is said to be analogous to a town situated about 32 miles northwest of Jodhpur in the state of Rajasthan called Osiya (or Osian
According to an Uplesh publication written in 14th Century,Jain Acharya Shree Ratna Prabhu Shvarji, the 7th Acharya in the line of Shree Jain tirthankar Parshvanatha's sect, came here with his five hundred disciples in year 70 after Mahavira's Nirvana. King Upaldev and his very able minister Uhad ruled the city at that time. After receiving proper guidance from Acharya, the King, his minister and more than thousand Rajput soldiers gave up alcohol and meat and adopted Jainism. The Acharya gave this group the name Oshwals or oswals. Thus, a new Jain sect of Oswal Gaccha, the ancestors of the Oswal community, came into existence.).
However, according to another publication "Ossiya Vir Stavan" written in Vikrama Samvat 1712(1656 A.D) by Jain monk 'Naya Pramod Vijay', a folloers of Jain monk 'Hir Udya Vijay' this 'stavan' the city of Ossiya(osian) was founded in vikrama samvat 1011 and the conversion by Acharya took place in vikrama samvat 1017. But in the historical documents published in the city of Bhinmal, it is mentioned that Minister Uhad (the brother of king Punja of Bhinmal) left Bhinmal and founded the city in Vira Nirvana Samvat 70 after Mahavira’s Nirvana. Also, in the documents available from city of Korta(Rajasthan) there is a mention of a conversion of a large group to Jainism by Acharya Shree Ratna Prabha Suri in Osian in the Vira Nirvana Samvat 70 after Mahavira’s Nirvana.
Therefore, from the several historical accounts, it appears that Acharya Shree Ratna Prabha Suri, a leader of Lord Jain tirthankar Parshvanatha ’s sect, established the Oswal Gaccha in the Vira Nirvana Samvat 70 after Bhagvan Mahavira’s Nirvana.
Around 10th or 12th century AD, because of adverse natural conditions, a small number of these Oswal Mahajans left the village of Osian in search of better life and migrated to Sindh - what now is called West Pakistan & southetn part of Rajasthan ie Bhinmal, Jalore, Raniwara, Sanchore. The conditions in Sindh were not any better. So, continued the migration southwards into Kutch, now a part of the State of Gujarat and settled in Vagad district. Later on, some moved to Kanthi district Today, although many Oswal Jains visit Osian, there is a legend that all Jains must leave by sun set or risk being cursed. Today, very few Oswals actually live in Osian.
The original Kshatriyas were joined by people from other castes as Jainism grew as a philosophy.
The Oswals became one amongst the thousands of castes within India. The Kshatriyas in Rajasthan (Rajputs) and the Oswal do share many common social customs and etiquette. As an example, both the Rajasthani Rajputs and Oswals prefer the use of the honorific suffix "Singh" and "-SA" instead of the more common honorific suffix "Ram / Prasad" and "-JI" used in the rest of Hindi-speaking regions.
During the course of Indian history, Oswals are known to have played an important part in assisting many Hindu and Muslim princely states to finance their activities. Many Mughal administrations have placed great value on the Oswals ability to generate revenue. Many Oswals won patronage from various Mughal Emperors due to their strong presence in commercial activities.
An Oswal immigrant who is said to have exercised decisive role in a series of events which culminated in the Battle of Plassey was Jagat Sheth a title bestowed upon him by the Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb and who in revenge of a personal outrage financed and sided with the East India Company to bring about the downfall of Siraj-Ud-Daulah leading the East India Company's primacy in Bengal.
[edit] Goddess of Oswal
Sachiyaymataji is kuldevi (goddess of clan) of all the oswal sect of Jain religion community.
[edit] Religion
The Oswals are primarily adherents of the Shvetambar (The White Clad) school of Jainism. The Hindu Oswals mainly are Vaishnavite (The followers of Vishnu, i.e. who believe Vishnu is the supreme lord) In Rajasthan, they are distinguished by their singular subscription to Jainism whereas other groups such as the Agarwals, Porwals, Maheswaris are primarily Vaishnavite (Hindu).
Additionally, a strong Jain identity can be found amongst all Rajasthani, Marwari, Punjabi and Gujarati Oswal groups as well. Hindu Oswals are generally Marwaris.
Within the caste hierarchy of the Oswals there are sub-groupings of Panca, Dasa and Visa, which mean five (5), ten (10) and twenty (20) respectively. These sub-groupings refer to various caste endogamic structures within the Oswals.
Another sub-group of Oswals within the Kutch and Halar areas of present day Gujarat complete the non-marwari speaking group. These primariliy speak Kutchi or Gujarati as their mother tongue. Over the preceding centuries, many Halar based Oswal families migrated first to East Africa and then to the West and have founded distinct close-knit societies in these countries.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- [1] Halari Visa Oshwals of North America
- [2] Oshwal Association of UK - Article on Halari Oshwal Migration
- [3] Oshwal Education & Relief Board of Kenya
- [4] Halari Visa Oshwal Community of Nairobi
- [5] Shri Kutchi Visa Oswal Seva Samaj
- [6] Kutchi Dasa Oshwal Jain Gnati
- [7] Oswal Group
- [8] Kutchi Oswal Jains of North America
For much more detailed information about Oswals, see http://www.oswals.net/
