Kabiraj & Kaviraj (surname)

Contents

Surname Kabiraj

In old days the people practicing Ayurveda in India were also called Kabi (Vaidhya). Many of them were attached to Royal courts to treat kings and the royal family. As such they were given title of Kabiraj. The descendants of such persons started using Kabiraj as a surname. The word Kabi for a Vaidhya was used generally in Eastern India (Bengal, Assam, Orissa) as such these surname is often found in persons originating from these regions.[1][2]

Surname Kaviraj

Similarly, there were poets, singers & musicians attached to royal court in medieval India. In Hindi and many other Indian languages, like Gujarati, such persons are identified as Kavi. A many of them, were given honorary title of Kaviraj.[3][4] The descendants of such persons also started using the surname Kaviraj. One of the community where this surname is often found is Charan, who took singing as profession. The other such community are Gadhvi, Barot.

Essence

So, the surname Kabiraj and Kaviraj though identical is attached with two types of profession, Vaidhya (Ayurvedic Doctor) or Kavi (Professional Singer, poet, writer or bard), respectively.

References

  1. ^ [1] Encyclopaedia of primitive tribes in India, Volume 1 By P. K. Mohanty
  2. ^ [2] Sanskritization vs nirbakization by Paśupati Prasāda Māhāta
  3. ^ [3] Report on the antiquities in the Bidar and Aurangabad districts:in the territories of His Highness the nizam of Haidarabad, being the result of the third season's operations of the Archæological survey of Western India, 1875-76
  4. ^ [4] SELECTIONS FRM THE RECORDS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA 1884