'''Gaur Brahmins''' (also spelled '''Gor''', '''Gour''', '''Gaud''' or '''Gauda''') are a landholding class of [[Brahmin]]s in India. The Gaur Brahmins are one of the five [[Pancha Gauda]] Brahmin communities that live in the north of the [[Vindhya]]s.<ref name="JGL_2002">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch |url-access=registration |title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z |author=James G. Lochtefeld |publisher=Rosen |year=2002 |isbn=9780823931804 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch/page/490 490]–491 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lXyWE6KbG8oC&pg=PA168 |title=Caste in Life: Experiencing Inequalities |editor=D. Shyam Babu and [[R. S. Khare|Ravindra S. Khare]] |publisher=Pearson Education India |year=2011 |isbn=9788131754399 |page=168 }}</ref>
'''Gaur Brahmins''' ({{IPA|hi|ɡɔːɽ|ipa}}, also spelled '''Gor''', '''Gour''', '''Gaud''' or '''Gauda''') are a community of [[Brahmin]]s in India. They are one of the five [[Pancha Gauda]] Brahmin communities that live north of the [[Vindhya Range|Vindhyas]].<ref name="JGL_2002">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch |url-access=registration |title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z |author=James G. Lochtefeld |publisher=Rosen |year=2002 |isbn=9780823931804 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch/page/490 490]–491 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lXyWE6KbG8oC&pg=PA168 |title=Caste in Life: Experiencing Inequalities |editor=D. Shyam Babu and [[R. S. Khare|Ravindra S. Khare]] |publisher=Pearson Education India |year=2011 |isbn=9788131754399 |page=168}}</ref>
== Origins ==
== Demographics ==
[[File:Ghaggar-Hakra ancient river bed.svg|thumb|Ghaggar-Hakra river bed from where Gaur Brahmins originated]]
Gaur Brahmins are most numerous in the western half of [[Northern India]], particularly in the states of [[Haryana]], [[Rajasthan]], and western parts of [[Western Uttar Pradesh|Uttar Pradesh]] and [[Madhya Pradesh]], but a significant number are present in other northern states of India also.<ref name="NJC_2017">{{cite book |author=James G. Lochtefeld |url=https://archive.org/details/TheIllustratedEncyclopediaOfHinduism.../page/n273/mode/2up |title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism |publisher=Rosen |year=2002 |isbn=9780823931804 |pages= |url-access=registration |archive-url= |archive-date=}}</ref>
Gaur Brahmins likely originated from the [[Kurukshetra]] region.<ref name=":0" /> Today, they are most numerous in the western half of [[Northern India]], particularly in the states of [[Haryana]], [[Punjab]], [[Rajasthan]] as well as in the western parts of [[Uttar Pradesh]] and [[Madhya Pradesh]], but a significant amount are present in other northern states of India as well.<ref name="NJC_2017">{{cite book |author=James G. Lochtefeld |url=https://archive.org/details/TheIllustratedEncyclopediaOfHinduism.../page/n273/mode/2up |title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism |publisher=Rosen |year=2002 |isbn=9780823931804 |pages= |url-access=registration |archive-url= |archive-date=}}</ref>
The Gaurs claim that the other four main divisions of North Indian Brahmins were originally Gaur, and have acquired their present designations of [[Saraswat|Saraswat Brahmins]], [[Kanyakubja Brahmin]]s, [[Maithil Brahmin]]s and [[Utkala Brahmin]]s by immigrating to the provinces where they are now found. In Sir George Campbell's Ethnology of India, it is suggested that Gaurs may have derived their names from the [[Ghaggar|Ghaggar-Hakra River]], which, in ancient times, was a tributary of the [[Sarasvati River|Saraswati]] and now discharges its waters into the Sutlej near [[Firozpur]]. <ref name=":0">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xlpLAAAAMAAJ |title= Hindu Castes and Sects: An Exposition of the Origin of the Hindu Caste System and the Bearing of the Sects Towards Each Other and Towards Other Religious Systems |editor=[[Jogendra Nath Bhattacharya]] |publisher=Spink Thacker |year=1896 |isbn=9781298966339 |page=52 }}</ref> Unlike other Brahmins, a group known as Adi Gaurs practise agriculture and {{not a typo|till}} their soil with their own hands, although Campbell acknowledges thathey, too, produce some sanksrit scholars, including one Pandit Gauraswami, a leading scholar in [[Varanasi]].<ref name=":0"/> Another group of agricultural Gaurs is known as Taga, because they wear the [[Upanayana|sacred thread]] (also called a taga) of Brahmins, but do not engage in any traditional scholarly or priestly activities.<ref name=":0" /> Because of this, the Taga have at times not been considered equal to other Brahmins, including other Gaur Brahmins.<ref>{{cite book |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=1883 |title=Gazzeteer of the Gurgaon District |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YacIAAAAQAAJ&q=gaur|page=58}}</ref>
Brahmins, mostly Gaurs, have a significant population in [[Delhi]], around 12% - 14%, larger than the combined population of [[Jats]] and [[Gujjars]]. They play a dominant role in the region's politics.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=Rajesh |date=4 December 2013 |title=Fight for Brahmin votes intensifies |url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2013/india/fight-for-brahmin-votes-intensifies.html |work=The Pioneer |access-date=27 April 2023}}</ref>{{clarify|reason=source seems to contradict itself, mentioning Gaur & then a long list of others|date=October 2023}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Yadav |first=Sanjay |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CTBBL1q5C_EC&pg=PA14 |title=The Invasion of Delhi |date=2008 |publisher=Worldwide Books |pages=14,15 |isbn=978-81-88054-00-8}}</ref>
The [[Manusmriti]] describes the Brahmins of the [[Kurukshetra]] area as follows:
{{blockquote|text=[[Kurukshetra]] and the land of [[Matsya (tribe)|Matsyas]], [[Pañcāla]] and [[Surasena|Sursenkas]] constitutes the land of Brahmin seers which borders on the Brahmavarta. All the people on Earth should learn their respective practices from a [[Brahmin]] born in that land.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Manu (Lawgiver) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VmfXnfB-474C&pg=PA24 |title=The Law Code of Manu |date=2004 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-280271-2 |language=en}}</ref>}}
== Military ==
== Military ==
[[File:9th Bhopal Regiment Gaur Brahmins.jpg|thumb|Group photo of Gaur Brahmin soldiers of Haryana in the [[9th Bhopal Infantry]] at [[Faizabad]] on the eve of going to war]]
During World War I, Gaur Brahmins were recruited to regiments and companies of the [[British Indian Army]], notably the [[1st Brahmans]] and [[3rd Brahmans]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Yadav |first=Atul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pH9aEAAAQBAJ&dq=pandit+lal+chand&pg=PA22 |title=Valour Unlimited: Haryana and the Indian Armed Forces (1914-2000) |publisher=K.K. Publications |year=2022 |page=25}}</ref>
During [[British Raj]], Gaur Brahmins were one of the Brahmin sub-castes who were described as "[[martial race]]" by British.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Toland |first1=Judith D. |title=Ethnicity and the State |date=28 July 2017 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-351-29458-4 |page=67 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bpcuDwAAQBAJ&q=gaur+Brahmin+martial+race&pg=PT67 |language=en}}</ref>
== Politics ==
== Social status ==
Brahmins, mostly Gaurs, have a significant population in [[Delhi]], around 12% - 14%, larger than the combined population of Jats and Gujjars.<ref name=":3"/> They play a dominant role in the region's politics.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=Rajesh |date=4 December 2013 |title=Fight for Brahmin votes intensifies |url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2013/india/fight-for-brahmin-votes-intensifies.html |work=The Pioneer |access-date=27 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Yadav |first=Sanjay |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CTBBL1q5C_EC&pg=PA10 |title=The Invasion of Delhi |date=2008 |publisher=Worldwide Books |isbn=978-81-88054-00-8 |language=en}}</ref>
In places where Gaur Brahmins reside, Brahmins who are not of the Gaur community are often considered to have an inferior status.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sharma |first=K. L. |url=https://archive.org/details/caste_social_inequality_and_mobility_in_rural_india_reconceptualizing |title=Caste, Social Inequality and Mobility in Rural India: Reconceptualizing the Indian Village |date=2 February 2019 |publisher=SAGE Publishing India |isbn=978-93-5328-202-8 |page=80}}</ref>
== Notable Gaur Brahmins ==
== Notable people ==
=== Religious figures ===
* [[Ramananda]] – 15th-century saint and religious reformer<ref>{{Cite book |last=Macauliffe |first=Max Arthur |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5B0JEN2ct94C&dq=gaur+brahman&pg=PA100 |title=The Sikh Religion: Its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors |date=28 March 2013 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-108-05548-2 |page=100}}</ref>
* [[Dadu Dayal]] – 16th-century saint and poet<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nindi Punj |url=http://archive.org/details/DaduPanthReligiousChangeIdentityFormationInJaipurStateJamesHastingsM.Thesis |title=Dadu Panth Religious Change & Identity Formation In Jaipur State James Hastings M. ( Thesis) |language=English}}</ref>{{page needed|date=June 2023}}
* [[Bhagat Parmanand|Parmananda]] – 15th century saint and poet<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Mohinder Pal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B4HXAAAAMAAJ&q=gaur+brahmin |title=Why Americans Love Meditation and Sikhism |date=2006 |publisher=Mohinder Pal Singh |isbn=978-81-903783-0-7 |page=167}}</ref>
* [[Bhai Almast]] – 16th century religious figure<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Bhupender |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GZOjEAAAQBAJ&dq=Balu+Hasna&pg=PA119 |title=BABA NANAK SHAH FAKIR |date=23 December 2022 |publisher=Blue Rose Publishers |isbn=978-93-5704-660-2 |page=119}}</ref>
* [[Bhai Balu Hasna]] – 16th century religious figure<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Bhupender |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GZOjEAAAQBAJ&dq=Balu+Hasna&pg=PA119 |title=BABA NANAK SHAH FAKIR |date=23 December 2022 |publisher=Blue Rose Publishers |isbn=978-93-5704-660-2 |language=en |page=119}}</ref>
*[[Bhatt Kirat]] – 17th-century poet whose stanzas have been included in ''[[Guru Granth Sahib]]''<ref name="Sikh Reference">{{Cite book |last=Dilagīra |first=Harajindara Siṅgha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mRpuAAAAMAAJ&q=kirat+bhatt+gaur+mathura+bhatt |title=The Sikh Reference Book |date=1997 |publisher=Sikh Educational Trust for Sikh University Centre, Denmark |isbn=978-0-9695964-2-4|pages=}}</ref>
* [[Bhatt Mathura]] – bard whose 14 hymns are present in ''Guru Granth Sahib''<ref name="Sikh Reference"/>
===Historical figures ===
===Historical figures ===
* [[Brahmjit Gaur]] – general in [[Sher Shah Suri]]'s army<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sarvānī |first=ʻAbbās Khān |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UQYhAAAAMAAJ&q=brahmjit+gaur |title=Tārīk̲h̲-i-Śēr Śāhī |date=1974 |publisher=K. P. Jayaswal Research Institute |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Javed |first=Ajeet |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DWhuAAAAMAAJ&q=brahmjit+gaur |title=Heritage of Harmony: An Insight Into Medieval India |date=2002 |publisher=Gyan Publishing House |isbn=978-81-212-0817-8 |language=en}}</ref>{{page needed|date=June 2023}}
* [[Bhai Almast]] – 16th-century religious figure<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Bhupender |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GZOjEAAAQBAJ&dq=Balu+Hasna&pg=PA119 |title=BABA NANAK SHAH FAKIR |date=23 December 2022 |publisher=Blue Rose Publishers |isbn=978-93-5704-660-2 |page=119}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Harbans |url=https://archive.org/details/TheEncyclopediaOfSikhism-VolumeIA-d/page/84/mode/1up?q=Gaur |title=The Encyclopedia Of Sikhism Vol. I |year=1992 |isbn=81-7380-100-2 |publisher=Punjabi University, Patiala |language=en |page=85-86}}</ref>
* [[Hemu]] – 16th-century ruler<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sarker |first1=Sunil Kumar |title=Himu, the Hindu "Hero" of Medieval India: Against the Background of Afghan-Mughal Conflicts |date=1994 |publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist |isbn=978-81-7156-483-5 |page=36 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H8GH0MBWfcoC&dq=Hemu+Bhargav+gaur+brahmin&pg=RA1-PA36}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Bhargava |first1=Moti Lal |title=Hemu and His Times: Afghans Vs. Mughals |date=1991 |publisher=Reliance Publishing House |isbn=978-81-85047-93-5 |page=13 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yFBuAAAAMAAJ&q=Hemu+Bhargav+gaud+brahmin |quote=Hemu was born in a Bhargava Dhusar family , a sub - caste of Gaur Brahmins}}</ref>
* [[Bhai Balu Hasna]] – 16th-century religious figure<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Bhupender |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GZOjEAAAQBAJ&dq=Balu+Hasna&pg=PA119 |title=BABA NANAK SHAH FAKIR |date=23 December 2022 |publisher=Blue Rose Publishers |isbn=978-93-5704-660-2 |language=en |page=119}}</ref>
* [[Rao Nandlal Chaudhary]] – 16th-century political leader, founder of [[Indore]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Farooqui |first=Amar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BfPBAAAAIAAJ&q=rao+nandlal+chaudhary+gaur+brahmin |title=Smuggling as Subversion: Colonialism, Indian Merchants, and the Politics of Opium |date=1998 |publisher=New Age International |isbn=978-81-224-1152-2 |page=34 |quote=The Srigaur Brahman family of Rao Nandlal}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Kamdar |first1=Keshavlal H. |title=History of the Mughal Rule in India, 1526-1761 |date=1933 |publisher=M. C. Kothari |page=254 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pA4dAAAAMAAJ&q=Rao+Nandlal+Chaudhary+gaud+brahmin |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Khushal Singh Jamadar]] – 19th-century military and administrative officer<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gopal |first=Madan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s3ycAAAAMAAJ&q=Gaur+brahmin |title=Life and Times of Dyal Singh Majithia |date=1999 |publisher=Uppal Publishing House |isbn=978-81-7658-002-1 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Falcon |first=Robert Worgan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LLcbM7qePMwC&dq=Khushal+SIngh+Gaur+brahmin+majithia&pg=PA122 |title=Handbook on Sikhs for the Use of Regimental Officers |date=1896 |publisher=Pioneer Press |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Tansen]] – 16th-century musician, composer and singer in the court of Mughal Emperor [[Akbar]]<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=USnuRSLccZAC&q=Tansen+gaur+brahmin |title=Journal of Indian History |date=2008 |publisher=Department of Modern Indian History |page=44}}</ref>
* [[Tej Singh]] – 19th-century military and politically leader<ref>{{cite book |last=Williams |first=Donovan |title=Life And Times Of Ranjit Singh |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.111048/page/n280/mode/1up |publisher=V.V.R.I. Press |page=268 |year=1970 |access-date=17 January 2017}}</ref>
* [[Khushal Singh Jamadar]] – 19th-century military leader and later ruler<ref>{{cite book |last=Latif |first= Syed Muhammad |date=1891 |title=History Of The Panjab |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.34649/page/n414/mode/1up |publisher=Calcutta Central Press Company Limited |page=391 |access-date=29 November 2009 |quote=This period of the great Sikh leader’s life was marked by the extraordinary favours lavished on a young Gaur Brahman, of Hindostan, named Khushhila. He was the son of Har Govind, a poor Brahman shopkeeper}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Grewal |first=J.S. |date=1990 |title=The Sikhs of the Punjab |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2_nryFANsoYC&pg=PA107 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |page=107 |isbn=0-521-63764-3 |access-date=15 April 2014 }}</ref>
* [[Madan Mohan Malaviya]] – educationist and Indian independence activist<ref>{{Cite web |last=Excelsior |first=Daily |date=24 December 2014 |title=A Staunch Nationalist |url=https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/staunch-nationalist/ |access-date=23 April 2023 |website=Jammu Kashmir Latest News {{!}} Tourism {{!}} Breaking News J&K |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Tej Singh]] – 19th-century military and political leader{{sfn|Latif|1891|p=414}}{{sfn|Latif|1891|p=537}}<ref>{{cite book |last=Williams |first=Donovan |title=Life And Times Of Ranjit Singh |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.111048/page/n280/mode/1up |publisher=V.V.R.I. Press |page=268 |year=1970 |access-date=17 January 2017}}</ref>
* [[Madan Mohan Malaviya]] – educationist and Indian independence activist<ref>{{Cite web |last=Excelsior |first=Daily |date=24 December 2014 |title=A Staunch Nationalist |url=https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/staunch-nationalist/ |access-date=23 April 2023 |website=Jammu Kashmir Latest News {{!}} Tourism {{!}} Breaking News J&K |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Politicians ===
* [[Tika Ram Paliwal]] – politician, former [[Chief Minister of Rajasthan]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chawla |first1=Prabhu |title=Rajasthan Loyals is Ultimate Caste Game |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/prabhu-chawla/2023/jun/11/rajasthan-loyals-is-ultimate-caste-game-2583778.html |access-date=19 June 2023 |work=The New Indian Express |date=11 June 2023}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite news |date=7 August 2017 |title=For Paliwal Brahmins, it's a day to shun all celebrations |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/for-paliwal-brahmins-its-a-day-to-shun-all-celebrations/articleshow/59951386.cms |access-date=27 April 2023 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>
=== Artists ===
=== Artists ===
* [[Lakhmi Chand]] – poet, founder of [[Saang|Haryanvi Saang Culture]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 December 2020 |title=पंडित लखमी चंदः कुछ याद उन्हें भी कर लें |url=https://www.aajtak.in/india-today-hindi/society/story/haryana-pundit-lakhmi-chand-actor-yashpal-sharma-1180366-2020-12-27 |access-date=17 June 2023 |website=आज तक |language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=भारती |first=कंवल |date=20 February 2023 |title=हरियाणवी समाज के प्रदूषक लोक कवि लखमी चंद |url=https://www.forwardpress.in/2023/02/literature-haryanvi-folk-lakhmi-chand/ |access-date=17 June 2023 |website=Forward Press |language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Vyas |first=S. K. |date=3 July 2019 |title=गौड़ ब्राह्मण सभा में सांग सम्राट पंडित लख्मीचंद की स्मृति में कार्यक्रम 14 को |url=http://tribunenewsline.com/गौड़-ब्राह्मण-सभा-में-सां/ |access-date=17 June 2023 |website=TribuneNewsline.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>
* [[Lakhmi Chand]] – poet, founder of [[Saang|Haryanvi Saang culture]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=भारती |first=कंवल |date=20 February 2023 |title=हरियाणवी समाज के प्रदूषक लोक कवि लखमी चंद |url=https://www.forwardpress.in/2023/02/literature-haryanvi-folk-lakhmi-chand/ |access-date=17 June 2023 |website=Forward Press |language=hi}}</ref>
{{Gallery
|title=Notable Gaur Brahmins
|width=150 |height=200
|align=center
|File:Stamp of India - 2002 - Colnect 158243 - Swami Ramanand.jpeg|[[Ramananda]]|alt1=Ramananda
|File:Portrait of Jamadar Khushal Singh seated leaning against a bolster. Indian, Pahari, ca.1830–40.jpg|Portrait of [[Khushal Singh Jamadar]]|alt3=Raja Khushal Singh
|File:Miniature painting of a seated Raja Tej Singh with a sword on his lap and shield on his back.jpg|Painting of [[Tej Singh]]|alt4=Raja Tej Singh
|File:Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya ji at the BHU Varanasi.jpg|[[Madan Mohan Malviya]] at the [[Banaras Hindu University]]|alt5=Malviya
|File:Pandit Lakhmichand.jpg|Bust of [[Lakhmi Chand]]|alt6=Lakhmi Chand
}}
==See also==
==See also==
*[[Forward Castes]]
*[[Forward Castes]]
*[[Garha|Gaur Muslims]]
*[[Ateshgah of Baku]]
*[[Gabr]]
*[[Gabr]]
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{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gauda Brahmins}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gaur Brahmins}}
[[Category:Agricultural castes]]
[[Category:Brahmin communities across India]]
[[Category:Brahmin communities of Haryana]]
[[Category:Brahmin communities of Haryana]]
[[Category:Brahmin communities of Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Brahmin communities of Madhya Pradesh]]
Gaur Brahmins (IPA:[ɡɔːɽ], also spelled Gor, Gour, Gaud or Gauda) are a community of Brahmins in India. They are one of the five Pancha Gauda Brahmin communities that live north of the Vindhyas.[1][2]
Gaur Brahmins are most numerous in the western half of Northern India, particularly in the states of Haryana, Rajasthan, and western parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, but a significant number are present in other northern states of India also.[3]
Brahmins, mostly Gaurs, have a significant population in Delhi, around 12% - 14%, larger than the combined population of Jats and Gujjars. They play a dominant role in the region's politics.[4][clarification needed][5]
