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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 = | | successor = Shail | ||
| queen = | | 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 | 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 BC to 637 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 BC to 637 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 | 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}} | ||
== 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 | 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}} | ||
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em| | {{columns-list|colwidth=15em| | ||
# | # Bansal | ||
# Goyal | # Goyal | ||
# Kucchal | # Kucchal | ||
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# Tingal | # Tingal | ||
# Tayal | # Tayal | ||
# | # Garg | ||
# Bhandal | # Bhandal | ||
# Nangal | # Nangal | ||
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*[http://www.agrasen.com/agrasen.html Maharaja Agrasen] at agrasen.com | *[http://www.agrasen.com/agrasen.html Maharaja Agrasen] at agrasen.com | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Characters in Hindu mythology]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:People from Hisar district]] | ||