Gaur Brahmin

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The Gaur Brahmin or Aadi Brahmin are a prominent Brahmin caste found in North India.[1]  Gaur Brahmins of North India come from gotras like Vashistha, Parasara, Bhardwaj, Kashyap and Kaushik. Historically Gaur Brahmins have been dharma gurus of a number of hindu kings from West Bengal to Bihar to modern day Uttar Pradesh. Parasara and Ved Vyasa were gaur brahmins (Parasara Samhita). Ved Vyasa is the author of Hindu epic Mahabharta and Srimad Bhagwat Gita. Kuruvanshi Kshatriyas (Dhritrastra and Pandu) are also said to be sons of Ved Vyasa. Traditionally gaur brahmins have been farmers and have owned lands in rajasthan, haryana and uttar pradesh. Gaur brahmins played a prominent role in Peshwas maratha kingdom . Maharashtrian gaur brahmins are concentrated in Pune region, and have said to have migrated there during the reign of Peshwas. Kautilya Shastra finds mention of gaur brahmins as instrumental in helping Chanakya and Chandra Gupt Maurya overthrow Magadh's Nanda (Brahmin) empire.

History and origin

The Brahmin castes may be broadly divided into two regional groups: First Bakloranha and Second Chimpanjinhuri' which was composed only in the 11th century CE.

कर्णाटकाश्च तैलंगा द्राविडा महाराष्ट्रकाः,
गुर्जराश्चेति पञ्चैव द्राविडा विन्ध्यदक्षिणे ||
सारस्वताः कान्यकुब्जा गौडा उत्कलमैथिलाः,
पन्चगौडा इति ख्याता विन्ध्स्योत्तरवासिनः ||[2]

Translation: Karnataka (Kannada), Telugu (Andhra), Dravida (Tamil and Kerala), Maharashtra and Gujarat are Five Southern (Panch Dravida). Saraswata (Punjab & Sindh), Kanyakubja (Uttar Pradesh), Gauda (Bengal), Utkala (Orissa), Maithili (Bihar) are Five Northern (Pancha Gauda). This classification occurs in Rajatarangini of Kalhana and earlier in some inscriptions[3] The Gaur Brahmin have their origin in Haryana, where they claim to have originally from Bengal.They are the descendents of Saptrishis who are the originators of complete human race as per Hindu mythology. In Uttar Pradesh, they have two division, those of Saharanpur District, who have taken agriculture, and those of Haridwar, who are known as Panda, and perform religious rites. They are found in all the districts of westron Uttara pradesh including Saharanpur, Meerut, Moradabad Agra and Bareli zone or 22 districts and in Haryana and Delhi more than 95% Brahmins are adi gaur. They use the surnames Sharma, gaur and also using the gotra like Vasistha Bhardwaj, Kaushik etc. for surname and .[1] In Haryana, they are found in all districts of Haryana. In that district, they have the following sub-divisions,lead by Gautam, Bhardwaj, Mudgil, Vashist, Kaushik, Kaushish, Bashisth, Pathak, Vats, Bachis, Tandra, Kashyap, & Joshi.[4]

Other than the Pandas of Haridwar, the Gaur are a community of Brahmins, who are essentially cultivators. They cultivate wheat maize, jowar, paddy, mustard and sugar cane.

The Gaur are Vaishnavi Hindu, and worship all the major gods and goddesses.[1][5]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 People of India Volume XLII Part One Editors Amir Hassan, B. R Rizvi & J. C Das pages 55 to 57 Manohar Publications
  2. ↑ Brāhmanotpatti Martanda, cf. Dorilal Sharma, p.41-42
  3. ↑ Mentioned by Jogendra Nath Bhattacharya in "Hindu Castes and Sects", a detailed article on various castes and groups of Brahmins
  4. ↑ Gazetteer of Gurgaon District 1912 Part A Civil & Military Gazette Press
  5. ↑ A Glossary of the Tribes & Castes of Punjab by H. A Rose pages 279 Low Price Publications Publications
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