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{{Short description|Legendary Indian king of Agroha}}
{{use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox royalty
{{Infobox royalty
| title              = Maharaja Agrasen
| title              = Maharaja Agrasen
| image              =  
| image              = Maharja Agrasena.jpeg
| caption            =  
| caption            =  
| predecessor        = Maharaja Vallabh
| predecessor        = Maharaja Vallabh
| successor          = Vibhu
| successor          = Shail
| queen              = Maharani Madhavi
| queen              = Nandini
| issue              = Vibhu
| issue              = Vibhu
| royal house        =  
| royal house        =  
| dynasty            =  
| dynasty            = [[Solar dynasty|Suryavanshi]]
| father            = Maharaja Vallabh
| father            = Maharaja Vallabh
| mother            = Bagwati Devi
| mother            = Bagwati Devi
}}
}}
'''Agrasen''' was a legendary Indian king of [[Agroha Mound|Agroha]], a city of traders. He is credited with the establishment of a kingdom of traders in North India named Agroha, and is known for his compassion in refusing to slaughter animals in ''[[yajna]]s''.
'''Agrasen''' was a legendary Indian king of [[Agroha Mound|Agroha]], a city of traders. He is the descendant of [[Kusha (Ramayana)|Kush]], son of lord [[Rama|Ram]]{{citation needed|date=June 2022}} and he was born in 35th generation after lord [[Rama|Ram]]. He is credited with the establishment of a kingdom of traders in North India named Agroha, and is known for his compassion in refusing to slaughter animals in ''[[yajna]]s''. On suggestion of goddess [[Lakshmi|Mahalakshmi]] he gave up [[Kshatriya]] tradition and opted [[Vaishya]] tradition and she also gave her words of bestowing prosperity there for him and his descendants.


The Government of India issued a postage stamp in honour of Maharaja Agrasen in 1976.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.agarwalsabha.org/agradhara/2016/sep16.pdf |title=Maharaja Agrasen Dak Ticket Samaroh ki kuchh Yaden, Omprakash Agrawal, Agradhara, Sept 2016, p. 32  |access-date=22 October 2018 |archive-date=22 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222184750/http://agarwalsabha.org/agradhara/2016/sep16.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=KCR Praises Vaisyas to Skies, Says The Community Knows Art of Life|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/KCR-Praises-Vaisyas-to-Skies-Says-The-Community-Knows-Art-of-Life/2014/09/26/article2449852.ece}}</ref>
The Government of India issued a postage stamp in honour of Agrasen in 1976.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.agarwalsabha.org/agradhara/2016/sep16.pdf |title=Maharaja Agrasen Dak Ticket Samaroh ki kuchh Yaden, Omprakash Agrawal, Agradhara, Sept 2016, p. 32  |access-date=22 October 2018 |archive-date=22 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222184750/http://agarwalsabha.org/agradhara/2016/sep16.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=KCR Praises Vaisyas to Skies, Says The Community Knows Art of Life|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/KCR-Praises-Vaisyas-to-Skies-Says-The-Community-Knows-Art-of-Life/2014/09/26/article2449852.ece}}</ref>


[[File:Agrasen ki Baoli, New Delhi, India - 20070127.jpg|250px|thumb|[[Agrasen ki Baoli]] in [[Delhi]]. The current structure was built in the 14th century by the [[Agrawal]] community, which traces its origin to King Agrasen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.agrasenkibaoli.com |title=Agrasen Ki Baoli |publisher=AgrasenKiBaoli.com |access-date=2015-08-04}}</ref> It is believed that the original structure was built by the king Agrasen<ref>Mittal, J.P. (2006), History of Ancient India (4250&nbsp;BC to 637&nbsp;AD) page 675, {{ISBN|978-81-269-0616-1}} (This author considers King Agrasen an actual historical figure)</ref> during the [[Mahabharat]] epic era.]]
[[File:Agrasen ki Baoli, New Delhi, India - 20070127.jpg|250px|thumb|[[Agrasen ki Baoli]] in [[Delhi]]. The current structure was built in the 14th century by the [[Agrawal]] community, which traces its origin to King Agrasen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.agrasenkibaoli.com |title=Agrasen Ki Baoli |publisher=AgrasenKiBaoli.com |access-date=2015-08-04}}</ref> It is believed that the original structure was built by the king Agrasen<ref>Mittal, J.P. (2006), History of Ancient India (4250&nbsp;BC to 637&nbsp;AD) page 675, {{ISBN|978-81-269-0616-1}} (This author considers King Agrasen an actual historical figure)</ref> during the [[Mahabharat]] epic era.]]
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== Origin of the legend ==
== Origin of the legend ==


The Agrasen legend can be traced to ''Agarwalon ki Utpatti'' ("Origin of the Agarawals"), an 1871 essay written by [[Bharatendu Harishchandra]] (1850-1885), a noted Agrawal author and poet. He claimed to have compiled the legend from "tradition" and "ancient writings", especially a text called ''Sri Mahalakshmi Vrat Ki Katha''. He stated that ''Sri Mahalakshmi Vrat Ki Katha'' was contained in the ''[[Bhavishya Purana]]'', which exists in several recensions. However, independent researchers have been unable to find the legend in any version of ''Bhavishya Purana''.{{sfn| Lawrence A. Babb|2004|p=199}}
The Agrasen legend can be traced to ''Agarwalon ki Utpatti'' ("Origin of the Agarawals and Agrahari"), an 1871 essay written by [[Bharatendu Harishchandra]] (1850-1885), a noted Agrawal author and poet. He claimed to have compiled the legend from "tradition" and "ancient writings", especially a text called ''Sri Mahalakshmi Vrat Ki Katha''. He stated that ''Sri Mahalakshmi Vrat Ki Katha'' was contained in the ''[[Bhavishya Purana]]'', which exists in several recensions. However, independent researchers have been unable to find the legend in any version of ''Bhavishya Purana''.{{sfn| Lawrence A. Babb|2004|p=199}}


In 1976, the Agrawal historian Satyaketu Vidyalankar published a copy of the ''Mahalakshmi Vrat Ki Katha'' in his ''Agrwal Jati Ka Prachin Itihas'' ("Ancient History of the Agrawal caste"). He stated that he had found this copy in the personal library of Bharatendu Harishchandra. However, the text does not contain any clue about its origin.{{sfn| Lawrence A. Babb|2004|p=199}}
In 1976, the Agrawal historian Satyaketu Vidyalankar published a copy of the ''Mahalakshmi Vrat Ki Katha'' in his ''Agrwal Jati Ka Prachin Itihas'' ("Ancient History of the Agrawal caste"). He stated that he had found this copy in the personal library of Bharatendu Harishchandra. However, the text does not contain any clue about its origin.{{sfn| Lawrence A. Babb|2004|p=199}}
== Legends and beliefs ==
Agrasen was a ''[[kshatriya]]''  king of the [[Suryavansha|Solar Dynasty]] who adopted ''[[Vanika]]'' [[dharma]] for the benefit of his people.<ref name="People_of_India">{{cite book
| last = Singh
| first = Kumar Suresh
|author2= B. V. Bhanu
| title = People of India
| year = 2004
| publisher = Popular Prakashan (Mumbai), [[Anthropological Survey of India]] (Kolkata)
| oclc = 58037479
| isbn = 81-7991-100-4
| url = https://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN8179911004&id=DEAlCTxJowUC&pg=PA46
| access-date = 2007-04-19
| page = 46
}}</ref><ref name=Mittal>[https://books.google.com/books?id=rrh4tY3v2A4C&pg=PA675 History of Ancient India - By J.P. Mittal]</ref>  Literally, Agrawal means the "children of Agrasen" or the "people of [[Agroha (town)|Agroha]]", a city in ancient [[Kuru (kingdom)|Kuru]] [[Panchala]], near [[Hisar, Haryana|Hisar]] in [[Haryana|Haryana region]] said to be founded by Agrasen.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=zN5cB9r90QMC&pg=PA120&dq=agrasen&lr=&as_brr=3&client=firefox-a Speeches and Writings] by [[Har Bilas Sarda]]</ref>
He is said to have married 17 naga-kanyas.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/gazetteerbombay00unkngoog#page/n275/mode/2up Bombay Presidency Gazetteer], 1885, pages 262–263</ref>
According to Bharatendu Harishchandra's account, Maharaja Agrasen was a [[Suryavansha|Suryavanshi]] [[Kshatriya]] king, born during the last stages of [[Dwapar Yuga]] in the [[Mahabharat]] epic era, he was contemporaneous to Lord Krishna.He was Son of King Vallabha dev who was Descendant of kush(Lord Rama's Son). He was also descendant of Suryavanshi [[King Mandhata]]. [[King Mandhata]] had two sons, Gunadhi and Mohan. Agrasen was the eldest son of the King Vallabh, descendant of Mohan, of Pratapnagar. Agrasen fathered 18 children, from whom the Agrawal [[Gotra|gotras]] came into being.
Agrasen attended the ''[[swayamvara]]'' of Madhavi, the daughter of the King Nagaraj Kumud. However, [[Indra]], the God of Heaven and also the lord of storms and rainfall, wanted to marry Madhavi, but she chose Agrasen as her husband. Because of this, Indra became furious and decided to take revenge by making sure that Pratapnagar do not receive any rain. As a result, a famine struck Agrasen's kingdom, who then decided to wage a war against Indra. Sage [[Narada]] was approached by Indra, who mediated peace between Agrasen and Indra. As per the advice of Maharishi Garg, he also married Sundaravati to increase his wealth and health.
Another belief states King Agrasen to be the elder brother of [[Surasena|Shoorsen]] [[Vrishni]] and elder grandfather of [[Balarama]] and [[Krishna]] Vrishni  of Mahabharata, descendant of King [[Yayati]] of [[Khandava Forest|Khandavprastha]]. It was built after several attacks faced from [[Jarasandha]] of [[Magadha Kingdom]] in Mahabharata period. Agroha was called as Agreya in its original period. Agroha was the birthplace of Maharaj Agrasen, and Agra was his kingdom.King Agrasen made it capital of his state, a city in ancient Kuru Panchala, while his younger brother Shoorsen, including Balarama and Shri Krishna decided to stay at [[Dvārakā]].
He is well renowned due to his famous policy of one brick and one coin. It is said that one who came to his kingdom, to be a citizen, was given 1 brick and 1 coin by every other resident. The coins he would end up with, would provide money to set up a new business(thus ensuring his income) and the bricks would help him build his house.


== Agrawal gotras ==
== Agrawal gotras ==
{{main article|Agrawal}}
{{main article|Agrawal}}


According to Bharatendu Harishchandra's narrative, the Agrawals are divided into seventeen and a half [[gotra]]s (exogamous clans), which came into being from seventeen and a half sacrifices performed by Agrasen. The last sacrifice is considered "half" because it was abandoned after Agrasen expressed remorse for the violent animal sacrifices. Bharatendu also mentions that Agrasen had 17 queens and a junior queen, but does not mention any connection between these queens and the formation of the gotras. Neither does he explain how sacrifices led to the formation of the gotras.{{sfn|Lawrence A. Babb|2004|pp=201-202}} Another popular legend claims that a boy and girl from the Goyal gotra married each other by mistake, which led to the formation of a new "half" gotra.{{sfn|M. S. Gore|1990|p=69}}
According to Bharatendu Harishchandra's narrative, the Agrawals are divided into seventeen and a half [[gotra]]s (exogamous clans), which came into being from seventeen and a half sacrifices performed by Agrasen. The last sacrifice is considered "half" because it was abandoned after Agrasen expressed remorse for the violent animal sacrifices. Bharatendu also mentions that Agrasen had 17 queens and a junior queen, but does not mention any connection between these queens and the formation of the gotras. Neither does he explain how sacrifices led to the formation of the gotras.{{sfn|Lawrence A. Babb|2004|pp=201-202}} Another popular legend claims that a boy and girl from the Goyan gotra married each other by mistake, which led to the formation of a new "half" gotra.{{sfn|M. S. Gore|1990|p=69}}


Historically, there has been no unanimity regarding number and names of these seventeen and a half gotras, and there are regional differences between the list of gotras. The Akhil Bhartiya Agrawal Sammelan, a major organization of Agrawals, has created with a standardized list of gotras, which was adopted as an official list by a vote at the organization's 1983 convention.{{sfn|Lawrence A. Babb|2004|pp=193-194}} Because the classification of any particular gotra as "half" is considered insulting, the Sammelan provides a list of following 18 gotras:{{sfn|Lawrence A. Babb|2004|p=192}}
Historically, there has been no unanimity regarding number and names of these seventeen and a half gotras, and there are regional differences between the list of gotras. The Akhil Bhartiya Agrawal Sammelan, a major organization of Agrawals, has created with a standardized list of gotras, which was adopted as an official list by a vote at the organization's 1983 convention.{{sfn|Lawrence A. Babb|2004|pp=193-194}} Because the classification of any particular gotra as "half" is considered insulting, the Sammelan provides a list of following 18 gotras:{{sfn|Lawrence A. Babb|2004|p=192}}
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[[Category:Characters in Hindu mythology]]
[[Category:Characters in Hindu mythology]]
[[Category:Legendary Indian people]]
[[Category:People from Hisar district]]

Latest revision as of 14:07, 6 June 2022


Agrasen
Maharaja Agrasen
Maharja Agrasena.jpeg
PredecessorMaharaja Vallabh
SuccessorShail
ConsortNandini
IssueVibhu
DynastySuryavanshi
FatherMaharaja Vallabh
MotherBagwati Devi

Agrasen was a legendary Indian king of Agroha, a city of traders. He is the descendant of Kush, son of lord Ram[citation needed] and he was born in 35th generation after lord Ram. He is credited with the establishment of a kingdom of traders in North India named Agroha, and is known for his compassion in refusing to slaughter animals in yajnas. On suggestion of goddess Mahalakshmi he gave up Kshatriya tradition and opted Vaishya tradition and she also gave her words of bestowing prosperity there for him and his descendants.

The Government of India issued a postage stamp in honour of Agrasen in 1976.[1][2]

Agrasen ki Baoli in Delhi. The current structure was built in the 14th century by the Agrawal community, which traces its origin to King Agrasen.[3] It is believed that the original structure was built by the king Agrasen[4] during the Mahabharat epic era.

Origin of the legend[edit]

The Agrasen legend can be traced to Agarwalon ki Utpatti ("Origin of the Agarawals and Agrahari"), an 1871 essay written by Bharatendu Harishchandra (1850-1885), a noted Agrawal author and poet. He claimed to have compiled the legend from "tradition" and "ancient writings", especially a text called Sri Mahalakshmi Vrat Ki Katha. He stated that Sri Mahalakshmi Vrat Ki Katha was contained in the Bhavishya Purana, which exists in several recensions. However, independent researchers have been unable to find the legend in any version of Bhavishya Purana.[5]

In 1976, the Agrawal historian Satyaketu Vidyalankar published a copy of the Mahalakshmi Vrat Ki Katha in his Agrwal Jati Ka Prachin Itihas ("Ancient History of the Agrawal caste"). He stated that he had found this copy in the personal library of Bharatendu Harishchandra. However, the text does not contain any clue about its origin.[5]

Agrawal gotras[edit]

Main article: Agrawal

According to Bharatendu Harishchandra's narrative, the Agrawals are divided into seventeen and a half gotras (exogamous clans), which came into being from seventeen and a half sacrifices performed by Agrasen. The last sacrifice is considered "half" because it was abandoned after Agrasen expressed remorse for the violent animal sacrifices. Bharatendu also mentions that Agrasen had 17 queens and a junior queen, but does not mention any connection between these queens and the formation of the gotras. Neither does he explain how sacrifices led to the formation of the gotras.[6] Another popular legend claims that a boy and girl from the Goyan gotra married each other by mistake, which led to the formation of a new "half" gotra.[7]

Historically, there has been no unanimity regarding number and names of these seventeen and a half gotras, and there are regional differences between the list of gotras. The Akhil Bhartiya Agrawal Sammelan, a major organization of Agrawals, has created with a standardized list of gotras, which was adopted as an official list by a vote at the organization's 1983 convention.[8] Because the classification of any particular gotra as "half" is considered insulting, the Sammelan provides a list of following 18 gotras:[9]

  1. Bansal
  2. Goyal
  3. Kucchal
  4. Kansal
  5. Bindal
  6. Dharan
  7. Singhal
  8. Jindal
  9. Mittal
  10. Tingal
  11. Tayal
  12. Garg
  13. Bhandal
  14. Nangal
  15. Mangal
  16. Airan
  17. Madhukul
  18. Goyan

The existence of all the gotras mentioned in the list is controversial, and the list does not include several existing clans such as Kotrivala, Pasari, Mudgal, Tibreval, and Singhla.[10]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "Maharaja Agrasen Dak Ticket Samaroh ki kuchh Yaden, Omprakash Agrawal, Agradhara, Sept 2016, p. 32" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 February 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  2. ↑ "KCR Praises Vaisyas to Skies, Says The Community Knows Art of Life".
  3. ↑ "Agrasen Ki Baoli". AgrasenKiBaoli.com. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  4. ↑ Mittal, J.P. (2006), History of Ancient India (4250 BC to 637 AD) page 675, ISBN 978-81-269-0616-1 (This author considers King Agrasen an actual historical figure)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lawrence A. Babb 2004, p. 199.
  6. ↑ Lawrence A. Babb 2004, pp. 201-202.
  7. ↑ M. S. Gore 1990, p. 69.
  8. ↑ Lawrence A. Babb 2004, pp. 193-194.
  9. ↑ Lawrence A. Babb 2004, p. 192.
  10. ↑ Lawrence A. Babb 2004, p. 193.

Bibliography[edit]

External links[edit]

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