Kushwaha

Kushwaha is a community of the Indian subcontinent,which has traditionally been involved in agriculture, farming and similar professions like other Kshatriya caste. Kushwaha generally claim decent from Kusha (Sanskrit: कुश), in Hindu mythology, was one of the twin sons of Lord Rama and Sita (the other being Lava) in Solar Dynasty Surya Vansha. Kushwaha is a Suryavanshi Kshatriya community of the Indian subcontinent,which had been great warriors and ruled India many times in History.Historically they have been the land-owning aristocracy of the villages.

Demographics

The Kushwaha [i.e Koeri, Kachi, Kachhwaha, Maurya, Shakya,Mahto,Verma etc] are found in large numbers in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, WB, as well as in Nepal and Mauritius. They are a numerous group comprising 10-15% population in these states and numbering around five crore on a rough basis. They are especially populous in Eastern UP, Bundelkhand, Jhansi, parts of central UP, Udaipur, Western Bihar,Samastipur,muzaffarpur,vaishali, Jharkhand, Indore, Rajasthan (kota, Baran, chhabra, Chhipabarod) Jhakawar etc. They are uniformly distributed over rest of the state.

Migrant populations have also settled in Gujrat, West Bengal, Delhi, Mumbai and Assam.

Origins

Kusha (Sanskrit: कुश), in Hindu mythology, was one of the twin sons of Lord Rama and Sita (the other being Lava). Born in the Forest after Sita had been banished from Ayodhya, they were educated and trained in various skills and were under the care of Sage Valmiki. When Rama performed the Ashvamedha Yagya, then they challenged their father (who was at this point unknown to them) to a duel by holding up the Yagya horse. When Rama found out their identity, he took them back to Ayodhya. The illustrious line of kings which ruled Kashi (Kasi), also called Varanasi was derived from him. The Maurya dynasty, an empire that ruled the Indian sub-continent (320-185 BC) claimed descent from Kush. Such descriptions are found amongst Hindu scriptures. Pali and Jain scriptures have great descriptions of both Ikshvaku and Mauryas. Both the dynasties were great supporters of Jainism.

Kushwaha generally claim decent from Kush(son of Lord Rama),Maurya dynasty and Maurya empire also from same origin according to puranic & Boddh granthas(Yayurved & Dasrath jatak). Kushwaha claim historical linkages with kingdoms of Kasi Kosala,Mauryas, Kushans and numerous Jain-Buddhist Kshatriya kingdoms in Northern and Eastern India.

Current Status

Most use common surnames such as Singh, Sinha, Kumar, Prasad, Verma, Mehta, Bhagat, Maurya, Shakya, Saini etc. amongst Kushwaha community in Eastern Uttar Pradesh , Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. Kushwaha as a specific surname is not as popular though around 25% of the community may be using this surname.

Religion

Kushwaha are generally followers of Hinduism. They are vegetarian though those living in cities may have turned non-vegetarian in a some way. Popular Gods and Goddesses among Kushwaha are Lord Shiva, Goddess Durga, SriRama, Lakshman, Sita and Hanuman.Kushwaha also follows Buddhism & Jainism.

Contribution to Buddhism and Jainism

[Buddhism]

Ashoka embraced Buddhism, following the Kalinga War, he renounced expansionism and aggression, and the harsher injunctions of the Arthashastra on the use of force, intensive policing, and ruthless measures for tax collection and against rebels. Ashoka sent a mission led by his son and daughter to Sri Lanka, whose king Tissa was so charmed with Buddhist ideals that he adopted them himself and made Buddhism the state religion. Ashoka sent many Buddhist missions to West Asia, Greece and South East Asia, and commissioned the construction of monasteries, schools and publication of Buddhist literature across the empire. He is believed to have built as many as 84,000 stupas across India, and he increased the popularity of Buddhism in Afghanistan. Ashoka helped convene the Third Buddhist Council of India and South Asia's Buddhist orders, near his capital, a council that undertook much work of reform and expansion of the Buddhist religion.

[Jainism]

Emperor Chandragupta Maurya became the first major Indian monarch to initiate a religious transformation at the highest level when he embraced Jainism, a religious movement resented by orthodox Hindu priests who usually attended the imperial court. At an older age, Chandragupta renounced his throne and material possessions to join a wandering group of Jain monks. Chandragupta was a disciple of Acharya Bhadrabahu. It is said that in his last days, he observed the rigorous but self purifying Jain ritual of santhara i.e. fast unto death, at Shravan Belagola in Karnatka.However, his successor, Emperor Bindusara, preserved Hindu traditions and distanced himself from Jain and Buddhist movements.Samprati, the grandson of Ashoka also embraced Jainism. Samrat Samprati was influenced by the teachings of Jain monk Arya Suhasti Suri and he is known to have built 1,25,000 Jain Temples across India. Some of them are still found in towns of Ahmedabad, Viramgam, Ujjain &Palitana. It is also said that just like Ashoka, Samprati sent messengers & preachers to Greece, Persia & middle-east for the spread of Jainism. But till date no research has been done in this area. Thus, Jainism became a vital force under the Mauryan Rule. Chandragupta & Samprati, are credited for spread of Jainism in Southern India. Lakhs of Jain Temples & Jain Stupas were erected during their reign. But due to lack of royal patronage & its strict principles, along with rise of Shankaracharya & Ramanujacharya, Jainism,once the major religion of southern India, declined.

Titles/Last Names Associated with Kushwaha Dynasty

Here is list of titles used by our community in different part of INDIA/world.

• J&K - Saini, Bhaji
• Himanchal Pradesh -Kushwaha, Saini , Thakur
• Punjab - Saini, Maurya, Kushwaha
• Hariyana - Saini, Mali, Shakya, Gahlot
• Delhi- Saini, Mali, Shakya, Maurya, Kushwaha,Thakur,Verma
• Rajasthan - Saini, Mali, Shakya, Maurya, Kushwaha,Kuchhawaha,Chaudhary
• Gujrat - Saini, Mali, Maurya, Kushwaha
• Madhya Pradesh - Kushwaha, Kachhi, Kuchhawaha,Murar,Maurya,Mourya ,
• Utter Pradesh - Singh,Koiri, Koiry, Murav, Verma, Bhagat, Kacchi,Maurya,Kushwaha,Mourya,Shakya,Saini
• Bihar - Mahto,[Bhagat], Maurya, Kushwaha, Singh, Bhagat,Mandal, Dangee, Kapadi, Mehta,Prasad,Shakya
• Bangal - Koiri, Koiry, Kushwaha, Maurya, Mahto
• Orissa - Muri, Mali,Phulmali, Bhajmali, Sagberiya
• Maharashtra - Kachhiya, Phule, Saini, Maurya, Bhujbal,Vankhede, Kushwaha,Mourya
• Andhra Pradesh - Phule, Kachhi,
• Karnataka - Jeeremali, Phulmali,
• Asam - Koiri, Moriya, Mahto, Maurya, Kushawaha