Awasthi

Awasthi is a surname of a particular sub-caste of Brahmins of Nepal and India. The Awasthi Brahmins belong to the kanya-kubja Brahman categories of Brahmans of northern India as well as in western areas of Nepal], but also in Gaur, Saryupari and Sannaadhya.

History

For last several centuries, Awasthi Brahmins have been located in and around Kanpur and Unnao (and the adjoining hinterland i.e. from Kannauj) located in the fertile Gangetic plains of Awadh, presently forming part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Awasthi Brahmins are also found in Kangra district of North Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. They have been residing there for several centuries. Awasthi Brahmins are also located at village Naret & Pantgaon (Askote). It is believed that in ancient times two Awasthi Brahmins came from Kanya Kubz to Naret for some adventure. One of them was overwhelmed by beauty of that place and decided to live there Since then. Some of them are now started living at Jauljibi, Dutibagad, Chamtoli and other places in the Pithoragarh district of Kumaon, Uttarakhand State for last several generations. According to another theory, Awasthi Brahmins have migrated from Uttar Pradesh, however there is no recorded proof for this. The geographical area, where majority of Awasthi families are presently located, for last several centuries, has a rich historical heritage and is a crystal ball of ancient as well as the modern Indian civilization. When India is ruled by Muslims then they migrate to far-western Nepal to protect their religion, culture. Some of them migrated and settled in Gueli and Selagaun villages of Dadeldhura district. These Awasthis are descendants of Pt. Hatairaj Awasthi.

No credible source of information exists as regards to the period Awasthi Brahmins have been residing in Awadh area. There is also no complete and authoritative count of North Indian Brahmin sub-castes (or any other castes / sub-castes) in India. For example, Rev. M.A. Sherring in the 1860s, had compiled names of about 2,000 sub-castes of Brahmins in his second volume of his Hindu Tribes and Castes.where are the kul guru ( jathere )of Modgil Gotra, Awasthis is still a mystery .

Reference to ancestry

According to studies conducted by Rev. M A Sherring, all the chief Brahmin gotras are descended from the Saptarishis (sapta means seven and rishiss means sages in Sanskrit). The other meaning of Saptarishis is constellation of Great Bear (Ursa Major).

According to Indian mythology, these seven sages were Brigu, Angirh, Atri, Viswamitra, Kashyap, Vashisht, and Agastya. Awasthi Brahmins belong to sage Atri Gotra, and sage Upamanyus, along with sages like Vishisht, Kundin, Parashara and Jatukaraniya followed the school of (thought) of sage Vasistha. Mythological evidences suggest that the Sage Upamanyus followed the Yajur Veda. The Awasthi Brahmins located in District Pithoragagh of Uttarakhand State belong to Agastya Gotra and are Yajurvedadhyayi. From the ancient time of the Vedic period, Awasthi Brahmins have always excelled in intellectual and martial pursuits. In Brahmin hierarchical level, they are like Shukla, Mishra and Vajpayee Brahmins.

Awasthi Brahmins who have been living in the Malwa region of M.P.,are mostly Shandhya Brahmins.According to old history & "JAGAS" records most of the Awasthi families spreading all over in M.P.migrated here from Rajasthan . The presence of famous Awasthi ji ki bawadi & sati chaura lokated at historical place Shahabad,a small town of Baran district in Rajasthan certify this fact. It is considered as the " Pahala Khera" or the most sacred place of Shandhya Awasthi Brahmin

Vansh Vreksha and villages of Askote region in Uttarakhand district of Pithoragarh

Awasthi Brahmin families lived in Naret and Pant Gaon in the hills of Uttarakhand. They are closely associated with Pal Raj Vansh of Askote state as Deewan for kings court. The Brahmin migrated in Askote region somewhere from plains of Uttar Pradesh. The Razwar (a King with limited power to collect land revenue) of Askote requested the first man as highness Rajpurohit. He first man who came to Askote was Pt. Kaamal Dev Jyu. The king of Askote met the Kailash Yatri Pandit Kamal Devjyu Awasthi at Yatra PARAV nearby his Court At BAGARIHAT/UKKU and made agree to him to be his RAJ PUROHI. The village Naret was gifted to Kamal dev ji by the Razwar (King) of Askote Riyasat. Some other villages as Chamtoli, Pantgaon, Dutibagad, Jauljibi purchased or occupied by later generations. These are the basic villages of Awasthi families of Askote. Dr.Yogendra Kumar Awasthi S/O DhaniRam Sharma S/O HeeraLal Awasthi Vill+Post-Mahgora Khair,Dist-Aligarh UP-202155. (Science & Technology in RF & Microwave Communication)

The Vansh Vreksha of Awasthi is collectively prepared by Pt. M.D. Awasthi, Dr. D.D. Awasthi, Dr. S.C. Awasthi, Shri A.M. Awasthi, Sri M.M. Awashti, Sri H.B. Awasthi, and computer version by N.B. Awasthi (writer and social worker).

Language

Being residing in the ancient land of Awadh and their gotra being Upamanyus, who was indoctrinated in the school (of thought) of sage Vashist, the surname Awasthi is likely to be a shortened "Awadhi" form and derivative of “Awadh-Vashist”.

The mother tongue of Awasthi Brahmins is Awadhi, an Indo-Aryan language, akin to Hindi. Awadhi is the language, in which, the famed epic Sri Ramacharit Manas was written by Tulasi Das. Like most of the north Indian Brahmins, Awasthi Brahmins do not allow consanguineous marriages, which are in vogue in some social groups in other parts of India.

Barkha Awasthi is also known Awasthis in Kumaon speak Kumaoni.Awasthis from Pithoragadh migrated to Western Nepal during the neapali invasion in Kumano. They are residing at Khatali village of Baitadi District, in Nepal. Some Awasthis migrated to Gajela village of Dadeldhura District in Nepal.

Current

Awasthi Brahmins are known to be well literate, thinkers and intellectuals and that is why many known writers and academicians have come from this caste. In the 21st century of the globalized world Awasthi's have also spread in all parts of India and because of their intellect and academic qualifications several of them have been able to create their mark in the government and private organizations spreading all over India. Now Awasthi’ s are not limited to Awadh region and they can be found in many parts of India including MP, Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and all other industrial states which are prospering.