Bania (caste)

Hinduism •  Jainism

Baniya (Hindi: बनिया) is an occupational community of merchants, bankers, money-lenders, dealers in grains, spices and in modern times numerous commercial enterprises. Baniya is a distinct caste mostly coming from North India and West India but spread now all over India. They are also found in Nepal. In Nepal They were the leaders and commandent in cheif of the Gorkhali Army. Chief (senapati) Bali Baniya was the cheif of gorkhali army when the troop attacked Nuwakot for the first time during the rule of Prithivi Narayan Shah. Baniya are the Pure chhetris of Nepal. They are know for their help and soft hearted who helped others also. They can die for others. They are the true citizens of Nepal. They have various subcastes like Agarwals, Maheshwaris, Porwals, Jaiswals, Oswals and Baranwals.

Banyia is derived from the Sanskrit word vaanijya^[2] which means trade and commerce.^[3][4]

Nearly all Baniyas wore sacred thread and abstained from flesh. But, like in other castes the practice may have declined in recent decades. The subcastes of Baniyas are no more than mere sub-clans. For example, in 1911 census in Central India; 43,000 of the 2,00,000 Baniyas returned no subcaste.^[5]

Baniyas may follow the religions, Hinduism or Jainism. Baniyas tended to avoid flesh and ban widow remarriage although these practices have declined too in recent centuries. English historians report numerous sub-divisions even in one subcaste. For example, Agarwals had sub-divisions of Bisa, Dasa and Pancha declining in status. But in modern times these divisions have become obsolete and are no more followed mostly due to Hindu reform movements to simplify Hindu society.

Baniyas are probably stricter than any other castes in their adherence of a vegetarian diet; although as has been said before the orthodoxy among the Brahmins and Baniyas have declined in recent decades.

Etymology

According to various censuses of India the word Baniya is derived from the Sanskrit banijya (trade); and as the name implies,lives solely for and by commerce.Baniyas hold a considerable area of land in the east of the provinces; but it is very rarely indeed that he follows any other than mercantile pursuits.The commercial enterprise and intelligence of the class is great,and the dealings of some of the great Baniyas houses of Delhi, Bikaner and Marwar of most extensive nature. However the Baniyas of the villages are mostly poor.^[6][7]

Sub-divisions

The Agarwals are generally considered to be the largest and most influential of the baniya communities from northern India.^[8] The Banyia consist of a number of distinct endogamous communities. These communities are also commonly known by their respective clan-names.^[9] There main sub-divisions are as follows:^[10]

Bania of Gujarat

The Baniya community of Gujarat, such as Shahs, Gandhis, Ambanis, Sarabhais, Mehtas, Parekhs, Parikhs, Kotharis and Desais.^[11]

See also

• Vaishya
• Agrawal
• Punjabi Bania
• Forward Castes

References

1. ^ Joshua Project. "Baniya Ethnic People in all Countries". Joshua Project. http://www.joshuaproject.net/peoples.php?peo3=16318. Retrieved 2010-08-17. 
2. ^ The tribes and castes of Bombay - Google Books. Books.google.co.in. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=FoT6gPrbTp8C&pg=PA134&dq=yadavs+are+chandravanshi+kshatriyas&hl=en&ei=lIrbTcjnKc_orQeZkOXeDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 2011-09-14. 
3. ^ HISTORY OF SIRSA TOWN - By Jugal kishore Gupta. Books.google.com. http://books.google.com/books?id=G0Z457ZOR44C&pg=PA8&dq=gupta++bania&lr=&as_brr=3&client=firefox-a. Retrieved 2011-09-14. 
4. ^ The Tribes And Caste Of The Central Provinces Of India - By Robert Vane Russel. Books.google.com. http://books.google.com/books?id=aEVnwBWvOmkC&pg=PA52&dq=bania+caste&lr=&as_brr=3&ei=_npVSpXUCoPYNaX68bUH&client=firefox-a. Retrieved 2011-09-14. 
5. ^ The Tribes And Castes Of The Central Provinces Of India, Volume Ii - By R. V. Russell. Books.google.com. http://books.google.com/books?id=zl2mSCfgyu4C&pg=PA164&dq=bania+caste&lr=&as_brr=3&ei=LHpVSsnkLZPANrvRtKIH&client=firefox-a. Retrieved 2011-09-14. 
6. ^ Various census of India - Google Books. Books.google.co.in. 2007-07-02. http://books.google.co.in/books?ei=OJuJTZmRGpHirAeNsIDcDg&ct=result&id=RwEJAAAAQAAJ&dq=ahirs+of+bikaner&q=bikaner. Retrieved 2011-09-14. 
7. ^ Various census of India Page cxxviii
8. ^ The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India, Volume II - By R.V. Russell. Books.google.com. http://books.google.com/books?id=FvDZTNvhUekC&pg=PA193&dq=Agarwal+bania+caste&lr=&as_brr=3&ei=0oRVSuCIN6aGNeGz6KAH&client=firefox-a. Retrieved 2011-09-14. 
9. ^ The Tribes And Castes Of The Central Provinces Of India - By R.V. Russell, Hira Lal. Books.google.com. http://books.google.com/books?id=nYLfjLj8AGkC&pg=PA113&dq=bania+caste&lr=&as_brr=3&ei=LHpVSsnkLZPANrvRtKIH&client=firefox-a. Retrieved 2011-09-14. 
10. ^ People of India by Sir Herbert Risely
11. ^ Passport India - By Manoj Joshi. Books.google.com. http://books.google.com/books?id=5ieVED5hBDgC&pg=PA45&dq=Agarwal+bania+caste&lr=&as_brr=3&ei=lYVVSoneCJKINJHp6LUH&client=firefox-a. Retrieved 2011-09-14.