Agrawal

Agrawal (Agarwal, Agrawala, Agarwala, Aggarwal) is a community found throughout northern India, including in Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh. Other related communities include Maheshwaris, Khandelwals, and Oswals.^[1]

Most Agrawals follow Hinduism, although some are Jains. The texts and legends of the Agrawal community trace the origin of Agrawals to the legendary king Agrasena of the Solar Dynasty who adopted Vanika dharma. Literally, Agrawal means the "children of Agrasena" or the "people of Agroha", a city in ancient Kuru Panchala, near Hisar in Haryana region said to be founded by Agrasena.

Members of the Agrawal community are known for their business acumen and have for many years been influential and prosperous in India.^[2]

Legend

The Agrawals claim descent from king Agrasena of the mythological Solar Dynasty who adopted Vanika dharma for the benefit of his people.^{[3][lower-alpha 1]} Literally, Agrawal means the "children of Agrasena" or the "people of Agroha", a city in ancient Kuru Panchala, near Hisar in Haryana said to be founded by Agrasena.^[4]

History

Agrasen ki Baoli in Delhi. It is believed that it was originally built by the Agrasen^[3] during the Mahabharat epic era^[5][6] and rebuilt in the 14th century by the Agrawal community

Migration to Delhi

The Agrawal merchant Nattal Sahu, and the Agrawal poet Vibudh Shridhar lived during the reign of the Tomara King Anangapal of Yoginipur (now Mehrauli, near Delhi).^[7]

In 1354, Firuz Shah Tughluq had started the construction of a new city near Agroha, called Hisar-e-Feroza ("the fort of Firuz"). Most of the raw material for building the town was brought from Agroha.^[8] The town later came to be called Hisar. Hisar became a major center of the Agrawal community.

Migration to Eastern India

Later, during the Mughal rule, and during the British East India Company administration, some Agrawals migrated to Bihar and Calcutta, who became the major component of the Marwaris.^[9]

Agrawals during the Mughal era

Some Agrawals rose to prominent positions in this period. Sahu Todar was a supervisor of the royal mint at Agra, who had rebuilt the 514 Jain stupas at Mathura in 1573, during the rule of Akbar.^[10]

Sah Ranveer Singh was a royal treasurer during the rule of Akbar. He was awarded a jagir in western UP, where he established the town Saharanpur. His father as well as son and grandson had built several Jain temples,^[10] including the one at Kucha Sukhanand in Delhi.

Lala Ratan Chand became the diwan of Mughal emperor Farrukhsiyar (1713–1719) in 1712, and was given the title of Raja. He was associated with the Saiyid Brothers, who served as the king makers for several years, and became involved in the court intrigues. He was executed during the battle of Hasanpur by the order of the new emperor Muhammad Shah (1719–1748) in 1719. He became the founder of the Rajvanshi Agrawals.^[11]

Categories

According to the legend, the Agrawal community developed twenty rules of conduct. Those who followed all the twenty rules were called Bisa Agrawal, those who followed only ten rules were called Dassa Agrawals,those who followed only five were called Punj Agrawals and so on.^[12]

In his book Agarwalon ki Utpatti, Bhartendu Harishchandra categorised Agrawals in four branches according to their places or inhabitation:^[12][13]

1. Marwaris
2. Deswal
3. Easterners
4. Westerners

Religion

Most Agrawals follow Hinduism, although some are Jains.

Notable people

References

Notes

Citations