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• Rajasthani • Himachal.Hindi • English |
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• Hinduism |
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Rajpurohit (राजपुरोहित) is a subgroup of Hindu Brahmins (Brāhmaṇa, ब्राह्मणः) with its roots in Rishikul (great revered Indian sages from Vedic era) and later Brahaminical Gupta period in India.All brahami has origanally seven gotra came from seven rishi.
They are considered as the oldest brahmins who were associated with the ruling class of a kingdom since ancient ages in India. As a tradition Rajpurohits were not only involved in heading the religious rites and duties but also provide selfless service to the state, they were considered to be guardians of the state. They were as much into mentoring royal house, educating princes, guiding king on the path of dharma, providing advise on the matters of welfare of the state, performing religious duties as they were into helping in maintaining the security of kingdom by being actively involved in battles. Guru Dronacharya and Kripacharya were the Rajpurohits of the ancient kingdom of Hastinapur who participated in the great war of Mahabharata on behalf of the state during fall of the Dvapara Yuga. Present day Rajpurohits also trace this spirit of martial hood from the great Brahmin warrior sage Parashurama. As an example, the Junagarh fort in Bikaner houses memorial of Jagram ji Rajpurohit who died fighting for the cause of the state. As a custom, every wedding in the royal family of Bikaner is incomplete without paying homage to him. Such cenotaphs and headstones of Rajpurohits can be found all over Marwar and Bikaner. Chanakya (Sanskrit: चाणक्य Cāṇakya) (c. 350-283 BCE) was an adviser, a prime minister and Rajpurohit to the first Maurya Emperor Chandragupta (c. 340-293 BCE), and architect of his rise to power. Along with the other surnames like Dixit,Sharma, Goswami etc., Purohit/Rajpurohit is also used as a surname among the Brahmins.
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Presently Rajpurohits as a community majorly dwell in the state of Rajasthan in India. There are more than 100 sub-castes of Rajpurohit each associated with one ruling ancient Kshatriya clan or the other. Some of them are Raithala,Sevad, chawandiya, Siya/Siha, Jagarwal, Udesh, Manana, Mutha, Sodha, Rajguru/Rajgur/Rajgar, Raigur/Raigar, Paliwal, Gundecha, Santhua,shreegod,johi,Panchlod, Sidhap, Udesh/Audichya, Dudawat, Trambkoti, Balvasa/Balocha, Ridwa, Aboti, Joshi, Vyas, Podharwal,vora, Fandar,gorakha, Daviyal, Kevancha, Sepau, Kesariya, Bakaliya, Makwana, Ojha, Ajariya, Badmera, Sanchora, Titopa, Dadala, Kedariya,Jui, Vyas, Radbada & Halsiya,sothada,bakliya,sindap,punayacha,moomariya. Each of these sub-castes individually had been Rajpurohit(Royal caretakers/priests) of a Kshatriya clan in India and were in lineage to various ancient Rishis. As a normal practice of those times the marriage relationships between rajpurohit families associated with different gotras was common place. With the passage of time the kingdoms were created and decimated but these Brahmins were woven together in a community named Rajpurohit. Rajpurohit as a community is a group of brahmins who are/were royal caretakers and priests of a Hindu Kingdom in medieval times. Over last few centuries, Rajpurohits were inculcated into feudal structure of Rajasthan as they time to time received grants of villages called Jagirs from rulers. Consequently, they came closer to Rajputs in terms of tradition, way of living and customs. Though they retained the Brahminical customes of vegetarianism, wearing of Janeu etc. They address each other as Jagirdars and normally have Singh as their middle name.
Today the members of Rajpurohit community have spread across the length and breadth of the world. The major occupations of Rajpurohits are Farming, Food & Catering, Cloth & Textile merchants and Cosmetics. While many of them have managed to get into prestigious jobs and professional degrees.
Apart from Rajasthan, there is also a brahmin Rajpurohits community living in hills of Himachal Pradesh. They differ from the martial Rajpurohits of Rajasthan. Some of these Rajpurohits in eastern Himalaya hills later migrated during wars or later Islamic invasions from the east via the Tibet silk route to Kashmir and settled down in lower north Himalayan regions in remote hilly areas establishing the origin goddess temples like the Kamakhya temple in Himachal.Some of these migrant Rajpurohits were patronised by the local Kings with privileges similar to other Rajpurohits. The history of the Rajpurohits in lower Himalayas is recorded about 800 years as in the Kamakhya temple in the remote forest area near the village Polian Purohitans in Himachal Pradesh.
Rajpurohit a Title bestowed upon those learned Brahmins, who were masters in 4 arts i.e. mantra's( all rituals), economics, politics and warfare.They were the "Brain of King's". They looked after the administrative running of the kingdoms.In the course of their service to the kingdom, according to ancient traditions, the kings use to award few non-taxable villages or land known as Sasan Jagir and donated call Doli Jagir within his kingdom to their Rajpurohits. These villages or land were considered to be free from any ruler, and were outside the ambit of any form of tax. Also any member of Kshatriya clan were barred to reside in such jagirs. Even today, this is a fact in many parts of Rajasthan. Since in India, the majority of Rathori raj was prevalent in Rajasthan before the independence of India, the Rajpurohit caste is prominently found in Marwar & Godwad region of Rajasthan i.e. Jodhpur, Jalore, Pali, Nagaur, Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Churu & Sirohi districts of Rajasthan. Most of the Rajpurohits who live in other parts of India, can trace back their roots, up to one to two generations, back to some village of Rajasthan. However some parts of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh with their common boundary with Rajasthan do have members from Rajpurohit community residing there.
Since the Rajpurohits are believers of Indo-Aryan tradition, some practice Sanātana Dharma.They believe in preserving ancient Hindu Vedic Culture and follow majority of common Hindu customs and rituals. A male rajpurohit has Janeu, the sacred thread on his shoulder, denoting that the bearer should be pure in his thought, word and deed. The sacred thread reminds the bearer to lead a regulated life with purity in his thought, word and deed. These threads also represent the debt that is owed to the spiritual guru, parents and society. Rajpurohits are pure vegetarian and generally non-drinkers. They normally use Rajasthani/Marwari, a major language spoken in the western Rajasthan.
It is commonly believed that the previous two centuries were more or less a Dark Age for Rajpurohit community. By the mid 19th century almost all the Kshatriya kingdoms of Rajasthan came under British protectorate. The British interference increased in the matter of states and this had its own repercussions on Rajputs and Rajpurohits. Kingship distanced itself from Kshatriya Dharma and the role of Rajpurohits also diminished in statecraft. The taxfree Jagirs ensured that education lost its importance. Over centuries Rajpurohits saw transformation from a highly educated Vedic community to a primarily agrarian society.
Mediaeval social evils of Purdah(Veil) system, Dowry etc. were also inculcated in the Rajpurohit Society. Once fountainheads of education and moral torch bearers of Sanātana Dharma in India, members of the Rajpurohit society were now reduced to a largely illiterate agrarian society. With the advent of Indian independence in 1947, the community saw itself much diminished in economic and political influence.
In past six decades, many of the community members migrated to various Indian cities in search of business opportunities. Learning from the changing situation and persistence of people like Sant Atmanand Ji Maharaj who opened several youth hostels, the community saw a boost in education. This resulted in many community members joining state and central services along with other professions. Although education levels are on the rise but there is still room for improvement in the area of education for women education; the area is very conservative and as a result of this, women's education levels have been very low.
Politically, a strong benevolence in Hindu Dharma made right wing political parties an obvious choice for the community. Resulting in majority of community votes going to parties like Jansangh and later on BJP. But modern politics being an unknown turf coupled with political immaturity, Rajpurohits have mostly been a vote bank to political parties. Even in the regions with strong presence of Rajpurohits, hardly any political party historically choose a representative from them. This situation owed much to lack of unity between community members and their personal egos. Until recently, when other communities were keeping their own welfare and political representation above and over political ideologies, Rajpurohits still seemed to be living in a neverland of idealism. Community awakened and came together after Sant Khetaram ji Maharaj/Kheteshwar ji Maharaj sacrificed himself in mid 1980s, for the greater good of humanity as a whole and Rajpurohits in particular. Gradually, there had been a political awakening in the community with number of political representatives from community in both major political parties, increasing in 21st century.[1]
Child Marriages are decreasing but Dowry system, lavish marriages and Nyat (function after someone's demise) etc. are eating up lot of community resources and finances. Opium addiction has also came up as a challenge to the community which needs immediate attention.
The kuldevi of thanak rajpurohits is mumba devi mumbai in mumbai (Maharastra). The temple is situated at kalba devi road.If u want to go there you have to go marinlines station in mumbai.The temple is only 13 minute walking distance from marinlines station. The gotra of Thanak rajpurohit is parasar.Now thanak rajpurohit living in several villages like Jhabra(Jaislmer),Sanatra(barmer),Khichan(jodhpur) and some villages of gujrat state.
The kuldevi of vyas rajpurohits is umiya mata in uja (Gujarat). Kkuldev is nilkant mahadev in ramseen in apeshwar mahadev temple. they were rural of there area and have a kingdom extending from aabu pravat in east to sundha mata in west, and they are succession of adi rishi ved vyas vyas belong from suryvanshi. Vyas live primarily in Rajasthan, and their village of origin is Ramseen.
Kuldevi of Jagarwal Rajpurohits is Jageshwari Devi/Jwalamukhi Devi.
Jagarwal migrated from Sesali Village of Jalore district in Rajasthan. Jagarwals were Rajpurohits of Parmara Rajputs who were rulers of Jalore. Bal Rishi/Jabali Rishi was ancestor of Jagarwals. Jalore/Jabalipur was named after him. Bal Rishi had twelve Sasan villages (Tax free villages) including Balwara . Later on Jagarwals became Rajpurohits of Sindhal Rathore Rajputs.
Before independence Jagarwal Rajpurohits had many Sasan Jagir villages in Marwar and Godwad region including Jasnagar, Kakindra, Lambiyan,Anwloj, Rewatada, Veerana, Rewat, Modran, Dakatara, Bagra(Marwar), Basda Dhanji, Dhola Sasan, Akadada, Dhariya, Punadiya, Lapod, Auwa Sasan, Champa Khedi and Dhangadwas etc. NARPAT SINGH K.JAGARWAL BASDA DHANJI
Gotra Rishi of Sewad Rajpurohits is Maharishi Bharadwaj while Bishasth maata(the goddess with twenty hands) being the Kuldevi. The term Sewad is derived from Shri Goud linking them with a larger Pancha-Gauda Brahmin family of Northern India.
It is said that their ancestor Rajpurohit Devpal Dev Ji came to Marwar with Rao Sheoji Rathore from Kannauj. A family known to us as the "Gahadvala" dynasty ruled Kannauj in 12th century AD; their best-known dynast was Raja Jaichand, their last king. The Gahadvalas were displaced from Kannauj by the invasion, in 1194 CE, of Muhammad of Ghor. It is said that Rao Sheoji, a surviving grandson of Jaichand, on pilgrimage to Dwarika along with Rajpurohit Devpal Dev around 1272 samvatsari, met a few Paliwal Brahmins at Pushkar. Pali was a flourishing and prosperous trade center en route Persia, central Asia and Middle-East and beyond. It was governed by local brahmins. The Brahmins requested Rao Sheoji to come to Pali and help them get rid of local tribal people and marauding bands, who were harassing and looting them time to time. Rao Sheoji and his fellow men defeated tribal chiefs first and eventually succeeded in conquering Pali from the brahmins as well. This was the first conquest of Rathores in present day Marwar and paved the way for building up of Rathori Raj. Then they expanded to Khed near today's Balotra defeating Gahlot Rajputs, and slowly with time conquered Malani region from other local Rajput clans. Rajpurohit Devpal Dev was given many villages as jagir. The services lent by Rajpurohits to the state was rewarded with more jagiri lands by Rathore kingdom during the course of time
Prominent Sewad villages are thob,Tunkalia,chavnadiya khurd purohitasani kheapa, Bhensar, Tivri, Bhensar Kotwali, Mohrai,talkiya , bikarlai ,Kalyanpura,mahabar and bhawnda,badli,baori, khara bera,ghewra,ghantiala,narwa,dhandora,khichan,kisnasar, ratanpura , biti , panchlodiya ,
' ( Son of maharishi vishishtha ) ---- KULDEVI - Matha hingalaj matha All Sindap is come from sidhaspur at persent in gujrat palan pur dist . In 8 century mugal aakrmankary attek on India that time he attek on allso sidhapur that time so many pepole kill by attekers .usake bad vaha se jo rajpurohit bache vo alag alag hua or unase 5 village base jo fulasar, silor, fular, madpuriya, & nadol the .abunase kei gav ho chuke he jese dhava, jetiwas,devali pabuji ki, esali ext. sindap"s kuldevi hinglaj matha in Pakistan,
Maharishi Vashishtha is the ancestor of Rajgurus. Their Kuldevi is Sarshawti Maata.About 5 km south of Pindwara on the way to Abu Road, is the village of Ajari. 2 km away from Ajari village, is temple of Mahadeo and Sarswati. The scenery is picturesque, honey-combed with date-trees and a small rivulet flows nearby. Small hillocks form a wonderful background. The temple is enclosed by s high wall. Inside it is a Kundi of 30' x 20' size. Markandeshwar Rishi is said to have meditated here. There is small image of god Vishnu and one that of goddess Sarswati. Nearby is pond commonly known Gaya-Kund where people immerse the mortal remains. On every Jeshtha Sudi 11 and Baisakh Sudi 15 a fair is held here. In Ajari village there is temple of sati maa most of rajguru also visit this temple.
Prominent Rajguru villages are Balera, Silore, Bisu Rajguran, Doli, Radwa, Vani, Pandit ji ki Dhaani(Bethwasiya, Osian) Basni Purohitan Osian, Odwada (Jalore), Chadwal, Bawali, paovta (jalore )Kailashnager,manora,raipuria,sanpur, bavali, Vaan of sirohi Dist, Patau (near Kalyanpur) and Langera. Balera is a Saasan village of Rajgurus having Kuldevi Koobar Maataji Temple. The Silore village is often spoken as "Sasan bada Silore gaanv".
Panchlod: It is been said that the gotra been named on five brothers who split in marwar and formed their own five villages respectively.Two of the famous Panchlod villages among five villages are DHARAMDHARI AND SUMDHAND.
Gotra Rishi of Siha Rajpurohits is Maharshi Parashara. Chamunda Maata is Kuldevi of the Siha Rajpurohits.
Siha Rajpurohits are said to have originated at the banks of river Godavari in modern day Maharashtra and hence belong to a larger Panch-Dravida brahmin family. The region was controlled from 6th to 8th Century AD by Badami Chalukyas who later moved northwards to Gujarat and came to be known as Solankis in 10th Century AD. Sihas were their Rajpurohits. The word Siha originates from the town Sihor (also called Singhor), their place of dewelling in Gujarat. When Guhilots moved to present day Rajasthan, Sihas accompanied them as their Rajpurohits. It is said that Guhila (Guha - cave born), the ancestor of Gahlot and Sisodia clans of Rajputs was son of a Brahmin, who took to Kshatriya Dharma owing to insecurities of those times. Some of his clan members continued as Brahmins and were Rajpurohits of Gahlots. A branch of Gahlots moved to Marwar and set a kingdom at Kher/Khergarh near present day Balotra. They were defeated by Rathores in 13th Century AD and moved towards Gujarat. Some of their Rajpurohit Brahmins stayed back and with time were engulfed in larger Rajpurohit community of Marwar.
In Rathore Raj Bhatelai, Hingola, Bambore, Meghlasia, Balotra, Golian - these seven villages are sibling villages maintained as Jagirs of Siha Rajpurohits. The first four villages fall in the Jodhpur District while remaining three villages are in Barmer District. Balotra is named after Baala/Vaala Ji Siya, while Golian (also called Bhinda Kuan) was awarded to his brother Bhinda Ji. Balotra has eventually grown to be the largest of all jagirs owned by Rajpurohits.
KulDevi of Gundesha/Gundecha is Rohini Maata. The Main Temples are in Sadri, Gundoj and Barwa Devnagari dhaam. Villages are Mori, Barwa Devnagari dhaam, Mada, Lopi, Norwa, Nimbada, Mandal, Varka, Garasani, Asop and Maada. Maada being oldest and big village. These villages were not gifted or donated by rulers, but were rather captured by Gundechas after battling local Bhil tribes.
Maharishi Piplad, son of Maharishi Dadhichi is the gotra Rishi. Rohini Maata is Kuldevi of muthas, the temple of Rohini Maata is located in Vandar.
Their lineage is drawn from veer Shri Somoji. There are five villages of Muthas, Rungari, Pilowani, Vanadar, Ghenari and Shivtalav. Rungari is the oldest village among all five villages. Shivtalav is at a distance whereas rest four villages share boundaries. These five villages are collectively called Shon/Sansan, which means affluent or ruling class.
Pithalji Sodha(Rajpurohit) came with Rao Sheoji and Rajpurohit Devpal Dev from Kannauj to Marwar. He brought the idol of Maa Nagnechaya, kuldevi of Sodha's and Rathore's. They are main trustees of Maa Nagnechaya Temple(Naagana). Mandli, Tarsinghdi, Mayalawas, Gudanal, Megawas, Deriya, Simrakhia, Rewada and Bassi are their jagiri villages.
Gotra Rishi of Siha Rajpurohits is Maharshi Parashara. Chamunda Maata is Kuldevi of the Siha Rajpurohits.
Siha Rajpurohits are said to have originated at the banks of river Godavari in modern day Maharashtra and hence belong to a larger Panch-Dravida brahmin family. The region was controlled from 6th to 8th Century AD by Badami Chalukyas who later moved northwards to Gujarat and came to be known as Solankis in 10th Century AD. Sihas were their Rajpurohits. The word Siha originates from the town Sihor (also called Singhor), their place of dewelling in Gujarat. When Guhilots moved to present day Rajasthan, Sihas accompanied them as their Rajpurohits. It is said that Guhila (Guha - cave born), the ancestor of Gahlot and Sisodia clans of Rajputs was son of a Brahmin, who took to Kshatriya Dharma owing to insecurities of those times. Some of his clan members continued as Brahmins and were Rajpurohits of Gahlots. A branch of Gahlots moved to Marwar and set a kingdom at Kher/Khergarh near present day Balotra. They were defeated by Rathores in 13th Century AD and moved towards Gujarat. Some of their Rajpurohit Brahmins stayed back and with time were engulfed in larger Rajpurohit community of Marwar.
In Rathore Raj Bhatelai, Hingola, Bambore, Meghlasia, Balotra, Golian - these seven villages are sibling villages maintained as Jagirs of Siha Rajpurohits. The first four villages fall in the Jodhpur District while remaining three villages are in Barmer District. Balotra is named after Baala/Vaala Ji Siya, while Golian (also called Bhinda Kuan) was awarded to his brother Bhinda Ji. Balotra has eventually grown to be the largest of all jagirs owned by Rajpurohits.
KulDevi of Gundesha/Gundecha is Rohini Maata. The Main Temples are in Sadri, Gundoj and Barwa Devnagari dhaam. Villages are Mori, Barwa Devnagari dhaam, Mada, Lopi, Norwa, Nimbada, Mandal, Varka, Garasani, Asop and Maada. Maada being oldest and big village. These villages were not gifted or donated by rulers, but were rather captured by Gundechas after battling local Bhil tribes.
Maharishi Piplad, son of Maharishi Dadhichi is the gotra Rishi. Rohini Maata is Kuldevi of muthas, the temple of Rohini Maata is located in Vandar.
Their lineage is drawn from veer Shri Somoji. There are five villages of Muthas, Rungari, Pilowani, Vanadar, Ghenari and Shivtalav. Rungari is the oldest village among all five villages. Shivtalav is at a distance whereas rest four villages share boundaries. These five villages are collectively called Shon/Sansan, which means affluent or ruling class.
Pithalji Sodha(Rajpurohit) came with Rao Sheoji and Rajpurohit Devpal Dev from Kannauj to Marwar. He brought the idol of Maa Nagnechaya, kuldevi of Sodha's and Rathore's. They are main trustees of Maa Nagnechaya Temple(Naagana). Mandli, Tarsinghdi, Mayalawas, Gudanal, Megawas, Deriya, Simrakhia, Rewada and Bassi are their jagiri villages.
'( son of maharishi pipad ) ==Kuldevi -- Rohini mata temple at vandar & gundoj
village
BASDA DHANJI- rising economy power of the rajpurohit