Gaur Brahmins
Gaur Brahmins (also spelled Gor, Gour, Gaud or Gauda) are a landholding class of Brahmins in India. The Gaur Brahmins are one of the five Pancha Gauda Brahmin communities that live in the north of the Vindhyas.[1][2]
 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Delhi • Rajasthan • Punjab • Haryana • Western Uttar Pradesh • Madhya Pradesh | |
| Languages | |
| Haryanvi • Punjabi • Rajasthani • Hindi | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism • Islam • Sikhism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Brahmins • Pancha Gauda • Garha |
Origins
Gaur Brahmins likely originated from the Kurukshetra region.[3] 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.[4]
The Gaurs claim that the other four main divisions of North Indian Brahmins were originally Gaur, and have acquired their present designations of Saraswat Brahmins, Kanyakubja Brahmins, Maithil Brahmins and Utkala Brahmins 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-Hakra River, which, in ancient times, was a tributary of the Saraswati and now discharges its waters into the Sutlej near Firozpur. [3] Unlike other Brahmins, a group known as Adi Gaurs practise agriculture and 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.[3] Another group of agricultural Gaurs is known as Taga, because they wear the sacred thread (also called a taga) of Brahmins, but do not engage in any traditional scholarly or priestly activities.[3] Because of this, the Taga have at times not been considered equal to other Brahmins, including other Gaur Brahmins.[5]
The Manusmriti describes the Brahmins of the Kurukshetra area as follows:
Kurukshetra and the land of Matsyas, Pañcāla and 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.[6]
Military
During British Raj, Gaur Brahmins were one of the Brahmin sub-castes who were described as "martial race" by British.[7]
Politics
Brahmins, mostly Gaurs, have a significant population in Delhi, around 12% - 14%, larger than the combined population of Jats and Gujjars.[8] They play a dominant role in the region's politics.[8][9]
Notable Gaur Brahmins
Religious figures
- Ramananda – 15th-century saint and religious reformer[10]
- Dadu Dayal – 16th-century saint and poet[11][page needed]
- Parmananda – 15th century saint and poet[12]
- Bhai Almast – 16th century religious figure[13]
- Bhai Balu Hasna – 16th century religious figure[14]
- Bhatt Kirat – 17th-century poet whose stanzas have been included in Guru Granth Sahib[15]
- Bhatt Mathura – bard whose 14 hymns are present in Guru Granth Sahib[15]
Historical figures
- Brahmjit Gaur – general in Sher Shah Suri's army[16][17][page needed]
- Hemu – 16th-century ruler[18][19]
- Rao Nandlal Chaudhary – 16th-century political leader, founder of Indore.[20][21]
- Tansen – 16th-century musician, composer and singer in the court of Mughal Emperor Akbar[22]
- Khushal Singh Jamadar – 19th-century military leader and later ruler[23][24]
- Tej Singh – 19th-century military and political leader[25][26][27]
- Madan Mohan Malaviya – educationist and Indian independence activist[28]
Politicians
- Tika Ram Paliwal – politician, former Chief Minister of Rajasthan[29][30]
Artists
- Lakhmi Chand – poet, founder of Haryanvi Saang Culture[31][32][33]
Portrait of Khushal Singh Jamadar
Painting of Tej Singh
- Pandit Lakhmichand.jpg
Bust of Lakhmi Chand
See also
References
- ↑ James G. Lochtefeld (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z. Rosen. pp. 490–491. ISBN 9780823931804.
- ↑ D. Shyam Babu and Ravindra S. Khare, ed. (2011). Caste in Life: Experiencing Inequalities. Pearson Education India. p. 168. ISBN 9788131754399.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Jogendra Nath Bhattacharya, ed. (1896). 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. Spink Thacker. p. 52. ISBN 9781298966339.
- ↑ James G. Lochtefeld (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Rosen. ISBN 9780823931804.
- ↑ Gazzeteer of the Gurgaon District. 1883. p. 58.
- ↑ Manu (Lawgiver) (2004). The Law Code of Manu. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-280271-2.
- ↑ Toland, Judith D. (28 July 2017). Ethnicity and the State. Routledge. p. 67. ISBN 978-1-351-29458-4.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Kumar, Rajesh (4 December 2013). "Fight for Brahmin votes intensifies". The Pioneer. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
- ↑ Yadav, Sanjay (2008). The Invasion of Delhi. Worldwide Books. ISBN 978-81-88054-00-8.
- ↑ Macauliffe, Max Arthur (28 March 2013). The Sikh Religion: Its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors. Cambridge University Press. p. 100. ISBN 978-1-108-05548-2.
- ↑ Nindi Punj. Dadu Panth Religious Change & Identity Formation In Jaipur State James Hastings M. ( Thesis).
- ↑ Singh, Mohinder Pal (2006). Why Americans Love Meditation and Sikhism. Mohinder Pal Singh. p. 167. ISBN 978-81-903783-0-7.
- ↑ Singh, Bhupender (23 December 2022). BABA NANAK SHAH FAKIR. Blue Rose Publishers. p. 119. ISBN 978-93-5704-660-2.
- ↑ Singh, Bhupender (23 December 2022). BABA NANAK SHAH FAKIR. Blue Rose Publishers. p. 119. ISBN 978-93-5704-660-2.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Dilagīra, Harajindara Siṅgha (1997). The Sikh Reference Book. Sikh Educational Trust for Sikh University Centre, Denmark. ISBN 978-0-9695964-2-4.
- ↑ Sarvānī, ʻAbbās Khān (1974). Tārīk̲h̲-i-Śēr Śāhī. K. P. Jayaswal Research Institute.
- ↑ Javed, Ajeet (2002). Heritage of Harmony: An Insight Into Medieval India. Gyan Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-212-0817-8.
- ↑ Sarker, Sunil Kumar (1994). Himu, the Hindu "Hero" of Medieval India: Against the Background of Afghan-Mughal Conflicts. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 36. ISBN 978-81-7156-483-5.
- ↑ Bhargava, Moti Lal (1991). Hemu and His Times: Afghans Vs. Mughals. Reliance Publishing House. p. 13. ISBN 978-81-85047-93-5.
Hemu was born in a Bhargava Dhusar family , a sub - caste of Gaur Brahmins
- ↑ Farooqui, Amar (1998). Smuggling as Subversion: Colonialism, Indian Merchants, and the Politics of Opium. New Age International. p. 34. ISBN 978-81-224-1152-2.
The Srigaur Brahman family of Rao Nandlal
- ↑ Kamdar, Keshavlal H. (1933). History of the Mughal Rule in India, 1526-1761. M. C. Kothari. p. 254.
- ↑ Journal of Indian History. Department of Modern Indian History. 2008. p. 44.
- ↑ Latif, Syed Muhammad (1891). History Of The Panjab. Calcutta Central Press Company Limited. p. 391. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
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
- ↑ Grewal, J.S. (1990). The Sikhs of the Punjab. Cambridge University Press. p. 107. ISBN 0-521-63764-3. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
- ↑ Latif 1891, p. 414.
- ↑ Latif 1891, p. 537.
- ↑ Williams, Donovan (1970). Life And Times Of Ranjit Singh. V.V.R.I. Press. p. 268. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
- ↑ Excelsior, Daily (24 December 2014). "A Staunch Nationalist". Jammu Kashmir Latest News | Tourism | Breaking News J&K. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ↑ Chawla, Prabhu (11 June 2023). "Rajasthan Loyals is Ultimate Caste Game". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ↑ "For Paliwal Brahmins, it's a day to shun all celebrations". The Times of India. 7 August 2017. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
- ↑ "पंडित लखमी चंदः कुछ याद उन्हें भी कर लें". आज तक (in हिन्दी). 27 December 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ↑ भारती, कंवल (20 February 2023). "हरियाणवी समाज के प्रदूषक लोक कवि लखमी चंद". Forward Press (in हिन्दी). Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ↑ Vyas, S. K. (3 July 2019). "गौड़ ब्राह्मण सभा में सांग सम्राट पंडित लख्मीचंद की स्मृति में कार्यक्रम 14 को". TribuneNewsline.com. Retrieved 17 June 2023.