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Bhanushali
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| Bhanushali | |
|---|---|
| Guru | Sant Odhavramji Maharaj |
| Languages | Kutchhi, Gujarati, Hindi, Sindhi |
| Populated states | Gujarat, Maharashtra |
| Subdivisions | Mav , Bhadra, Joisar, Gajra, Gori |
| Website | www.bhanusamaj.org |
Bhanushali (Gujarati : / Bhānshali / Bhansali)[1] is a Hindu agrarian community of Vaishya varna. The majority reside in Kutch district of the Indian state of Gujarat. Some are also found in the Saurashtra region and other parts of Gujarat.[2]
History
The Bhanushali are chiefly farmers and traders.[3] Although they claim to be of Kshatriya descent, but are recognized as Vaishya.[1] Jyotindra Jain theorized that the Bhanushalis migrated to Gujarat from Sindh, based on their worship of Hinglaj Mata. He also believed that the Lohanas and Bhanushalis shared a common home in Sindh before their migration to Gujarat.[1]
Colonial sources noted that the Bhanushalis were subordinate to Lohana and Bhatias.[3]
Communities
Bhanushalis are at present divided in to two subgroups, according to where they live. The Kutchhi Bhanushali Community (have ancestry in Kutch region) and Halai Bhanushali Community (have ancestry in Halar (Jamnagar) region).
Surname
Bhanushalis often use their community name also as their surname and as such you can find many people using Bhanushali surname. However, other surnames among this community are Shethia, Amal, Kataria, Hemani, Damani, etc. etc. It is said that Bhanushali's had 96 surnames. Few others are Katarmal ,Nanda, Gori, Bhadra, Hurabada, Joisher, Joisar, Mithiya, Gajra, Mange, Fuliya, Visariya, Nakhva, Chandra, Dhabha, Chunada, Mengar, Khichda, Vador, Maajania, Mav, Motani, Ratda, Dama, Gajra, Dama. Kanakhara, Nanda, joisar, And Bhadra are said to be most largely used surnames.[4]
Occupation
Bhanushalis are mainly involved in agriculture and farming. Now in 21st century Bhanushali community diversified in various fields of construction, manufacturers of various products based in Mandvi, Ahmedabad, Vapi, Valsad, Mumbai & various cities.[1]
Religion
Bhanushalis worship different kuldevis as per their clan names / surnames.[5] They follow Hindu customs and beliefs.[6] They also worship Veer Dada Jashraj and claim, like Lohanas, that he belonged to their community. Bhanushalis chiefly worship Hinglaj, whose main temple Hinglaj Mata mandir is in Baluchistan, Pakistan, their ancestral home.some people are convert to ismaili aga khani community.. [1]
Main places
Purandham, Bhanushali Dwaro Mandvi.[7]
Kutchi Lal rameshwar Ashram.Haridwar
Kranti Teerth, Shyamji Krishna Verma Memorial, Mandvi.
Rata Talav Mandir (Shri Kutchi Bhanushali Sant Shri Odhavram Maharaj Sarvajanik Seva Mandal).[8]
Sant Odhavramji Jakhau Dham , Jakhau.
Lohanas
Bhanushalis shared their early home in Sind with Lohanas and seem to share history.[1] Like Lohanas, Bhanushalis are involved in trading and gained visibility in business. Like Lohanas they worship Dada Jashraj as their kuladevata and Harkor, as Kuldevi. Many Bhanushalis surnames are also found among Lohana community.[citation needed]
Notable people
- Shyamji Krishna Verma, Indian revolutionary fighter of Bhanushali community from Mandvi Kutch
- Odhavram, Torch bearer for educating Bhanushali Clan
- Dhvani Bhanushali, Indian Singer
- Jay Bhanushali, Indian television actor
- Kishore Bhanushali, Indian actor and stand-up comedian
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Jain, Jyotindra (1980). Folk art and culture of Gujarat: guide to the collection of the Shreyas Folk Museum of Gujarat. University of Michigan. OCLC 499443714.
- ↑ Gillow, John (2008). Indian Textiles. Thames & Hudson. p. 221.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Fischer-Tiné, Harald (2015). Shyamji Krishnavarma: Sanskrit, Sociology, Anti-Imperialism. p. 3.
- ↑ Bhanushalis Samaj (2018). "About Bhanushalis Community".
- ↑ Berger, Peter (2010). The anthropology of values: essays in honour of Georg Pfeffer. Longman. p. 366. ISBN 9788131728208. OCLC 695854817.
- ↑ Urmi Chanda-Vaz (January 20, 2018). "Indian millennials are embracing religious and spiritual tattoos, as indigenous cultures reject them".
- ↑ "Purandham – Bhanu Samaj – Jan Seva Te Prabhu Seva". Retrieved 2021-05-01.
- ↑ "Rata Talav Mandir (Shri Kutchi Bhanushali Sant Shri Odhavram Maharaj Sarvajanik Seva Mandal),Rato talav, Kachchh, gujarat, India". indiasthan.com. 2021-01-19. Retrieved 2021-05-01.