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Jainism Portal |
Shah is an Indian family name found mainly in the North Indian states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
The surname has been adopted by the Jain and Hindu bania (traders). Many Jains, vaishnavas, especially from Gujarat and southern Rajasthan, have the last name "Shah". Its variants include "Sah", "Shaha", "Sahu", "Sha" or "Shaw".
Sometimes the Indian surname "Shah" is mistakenly thought that it is derived from the Persian "Shah" meaning "King". Actually it is of Indian origin.[1] It is derived from Sanskrit Sadhu (meaning gentleman) and Prakrit Sahu, while the actual spelling "Shah" in Western culture was popularized by the title of the former Persian King. As a result, especially in Western culture, the usuage of the spelling "Shah" has become far more pronounced than the other variants.[2] The word Sadhu/Sahu is also separately used to indicate a Jain monk. See Namokar Mantra.
In the Gujarat region, the surname Shah derives from the Gujarati sah (from Sanskrit Sahukarah, "merchant"). Originally Sahukaar, the surname appears to have been altered under the influence of the Persian word for 'king' (Shah) or its variants.
In numerous 12-13th century inscriptions the shravaka who installed the image, is given the title "Sahu".[3]
| सं १५१० वर्षे माघ सुदी ८ सोमे गोपाचल दुर्गे तोमर वंशान्वये राजा श्री डूंगरेन्द्र देव राज्य पवित्रमाने श्री काष्ठासंघ माथुरान्वये भट्टारक श्री गुणकीर्ति देवास्तत्पट्टे श्री मलयकीर्ति देवास्ततो भट्टारक गुणभद्रदेव पंडितवर्य रइघू तदाम्नाये अग्रोतवंशे वासिलगोत्रे सकेलहा भार्या निवारी तयोः पुत्र विजयष्ट शाह ... साधु श्री माल्हा पुत्र संघातिपति देउताय पुत्र संघातिपति करमसीह श्री चन्द्रप्रभु जिनबिंब महाकाय प्रतिष्ठापित प्रणमति ..शुभम् भवतु ..|| |
| A Gwalior Fort Inscription 1453 CE[4] |
For example:
Here the word Sahu is equivalent to Sanskrit word "sadhu". Some inscriptions use "sadhu" itself :
madhavannandinugrahitah sadhu-shri sarvadharah .."
The word Sadhu here does not mean a monk but a "gentleman". Some inscriptions abbreviate sahu by just "sa" just like we write "Mr.".
In some business communities, genealogies are recited during marriages, all ancestors would be respectfully called "sahu".The term "sahukari" means the profession of banking/trading. In the Bundelkhand Jain community, the father-in-law (or son's/daughter's father-in-law) used to be called "sahaji". Thus the words "Shah" etc. all indicate a respected member of the mercantile community. Today it is used by Gujarati business communities.
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| This page or section lists people with the surname Shah (Indian family name). If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name(s) to the link. |