Ambashtha: Difference between revisions
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== Bihar == |
== Bihar == |
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Ambastha Kayasthas form a sub-caste of the larger [[Kayastha]] community of India. |
Ambastha Kayasthas form a sub-caste of the larger [[Kayastha]] community of India. According to historian [[Dineshchandra Sircar|Dc Sircar]] in ancient India, there was a powerful tribe known as Ambastha located in the Punjab region. During Alexander's invasion, they had 60000 infantry, 6000 horsemen, and 500 chariots. After the invasion of Alexander, these Ambasthas migrated to Bihar and merged with the native Kayastha community.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Sinha |first=Bindeshwari Prasad |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ryhuAAAAMAAJ |title=Kayasthas in Making of Modern Bihar |date=2003 |publisher=Impression Publication |pages=13 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Sahay |first=Keshari N. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MWpuAAAAMAAJ |title=Ambastha Kayastha: The Evolution of a Family and Its Socio-cultural Dimensions |date=2001 |publisher=Commonwealth Publishers |isbn=978-81-7169-660-4 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MihuAAAAMAAJ|title=The Kāyasthas: a study in the formation and early history of a caste|last=Gupta|first=Chitrarekha|date=1996|publisher=K.P. Bagchi & Co.|isbn=9788170741565|location=|pages=60|language=en|quote=But Bihar was not the original homeland of the Ambashthas. The Ambashthas were a famous tribe from Western Punjab and have been mentioned in the Mahabharata.}}</ref> |
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==Early medieval Bengal== |
==Early medieval Bengal== |
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==Present== |
==Present== |
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At present, Ambashtha Kayasthas exist as a sub-caste of [[Kayastha]]s, the [[Chitraguptavanshi Kayastha]]s, mainly in the Hindi-speaking areas of India mostly in [[Uttar Pradesh|U.P]], [[Bihar]], and [[West Bengal]].<ref name="Russell"/> |
At present, Ambashtha Kayasthas exist as a sub-caste of [[Kayastha]]s, the [[Chitraguptavanshi Kayastha]]s, mainly in the Hindi-speaking areas of India mostly in [[Uttar Pradesh|U.P]], [[Bihar]], and [[West Bengal]].<ref name="Russell">{{cite book |last=Russell |first=R.V. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=53qCQY5VzvsC&pg=PT372 |title=The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India, Volume III of IV |date=28 September 2020 |publisher=Library of Alexandria |isbn=978-1-46558-303-1}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 10:51, 30 July 2022
Ambashtha or Ambastha is a caste or sub-caste or a community of Hindus found in various regions of India. According to Hindu scriptures, their traditional occupation was the practice of medicine.[1][2]
Varna status
Ridgeon mentions the myth related to the origin of the four varnas in the Rigveda,[1] and says that to explain "the great number of castes, a theory was developed that unions between men and women of different varnas produced offspring of various castes".[1] The term Ambastha refers to the offspring of a Brahmin father and a Vaishya mother by the law of Manu.[3] Regarding their varna status, there are different statements in different scriptures, Jataka tales mention them as agriculturists, Ambastha Sutta, a Buddhist text regards them as Brahmins. By analyzing these B.P Sinha interpreted them as a tribe of Kshatriyas who took many different professions like priesthood, farming, and medicine. However, Historian S.N Majumder thinks they were Brahmakshatriyas.[4][5]
Citing the Hindu text Parasara, Leslie mentions that the Ambastha is supposed to treat the Brahmins only, and hence considered as "a clean caste, definitely below the brahman, but certainly well within the twice-born group". The term Ambastha is still sometimes used to describe Vaidyas, but in earlier times it was used for a certain small section of Vaidyas who were favored by orthodox Brahmins. This also separates an ordinary Vaidya from Ambasthas.[6][better source needed]
Mythology
In the ancient Indian epic Mahabharata, a warrior tribe named Ambastha has been mentioned. They have been described as inhabitants of the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent (near Lahore), and they were conquered by Nakula and paid tribute to Yudisthira. They fought in the Kurukshetra war (initially for the Pandavas but later for Drona).[7] They played a very important part for Kauravas.[8]
Bihar
Ambastha Kayasthas form a sub-caste of the larger Kayastha community of India. According to historian Dc Sircar in ancient India, there was a powerful tribe known as Ambastha located in the Punjab region. During Alexander's invasion, they had 60000 infantry, 6000 horsemen, and 500 chariots. After the invasion of Alexander, these Ambasthas migrated to Bihar and merged with the native Kayastha community.[4][9][10]
Early medieval Bengal
In the Brihaddharma Purana the Ambashthas and the Baidyas/Vaidyas were considered as the same caste in its list of 36 castes but another text, the Brahma Vaivarta Purana considered them as two separate sub-castes. Bharatmallik (17th century), the author of the Chandraprabha and Bhattitika introduced himself as both Vaidya and Ambashtha, which indicates both the castes may have been considered as one in early medieval Bengal.[11]
Present
At present, Ambashtha Kayasthas exist as a sub-caste of Kayasthas, the Chitraguptavanshi Kayasthas, mainly in the Hindi-speaking areas of India mostly in U.P, Bihar, and West Bengal.[12]
References
- ^ a b c Ridgeon, Lloyd (2003). Major World Religions: From Their Origins To The Present. RoutledgeCurzon. p. 45. ISBN 978-1-13442-935-6.
- ^ Manu, Patrick Olivelle; Suman Olivelle (2005). Manu's Code of Law. Oxford University Press. p. 208. ISBN 978-0-19517-146-4.
- ^ Muir, J. The People of India, Their religions and institutions.
- ^ a b Sinha, Bindeshwari Prasad (2003). Kayasthas in Making of Modern Bihar. Impression Publication. p. 13.
- ^ Law, Bimala Churn (March 2007). Ancient Indian Tribes. Read Books. p. 96. ISBN 978-1-4067-5180-2.
- ^ Leslie, Charles M. (1976). Asian Medical Systems: A Comparative Study. University of California Press. p. 37. ISBN 978-0-52003-511-9.
- ^ Garg, G.R. (1992). Encyclopaedia of the Hindu World. p. 377. ISBN 9788170223757.
- ^ Jain, Sandhya (19 March 2022). Adi Deo Arya Devata: A Panoramic View oF Tribal-Hindu Cultural Interface. Notion Press. ISBN 979-8-88530-378-1.
- ^ Sahay, Keshari N. (2001). Ambastha Kayastha: The Evolution of a Family and Its Socio-cultural Dimensions. Commonwealth Publishers. ISBN 978-81-7169-660-4.
- ^ Gupta, Chitrarekha (1996). The Kāyasthas: a study in the formation and early history of a caste. K.P. Bagchi & Co. p. 60. ISBN 9788170741565.
But Bihar was not the original homeland of the Ambashthas. The Ambashthas were a famous tribe from Western Punjab and have been mentioned in the Mahabharata.
- ^ Roy, Niharranjan (1993). Bangalar Itihas:Adiparba (in Bengali), Kolkata:Dey's Publishing, ISBN 81-7079-270-3, pp.227,246-7
- ^ Russell, R.V. (28 September 2020). The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India, Volume III of IV. Library of Alexandria. ISBN 978-1-46558-303-1.
- Ambastha Kayastha (The Evolution of a Family and Its Socio-Cultural Dimensions)/K.N. Sahay. New Delhi, Commonwealth, 2001, xxi, 344 p. 42. ISBN 81-7169-660-0.