Kushwaha: Difference between revisions
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'''Kushwaha''' is a community of the [[Indian subcontinent]], which has traditionally been involved in agriculture (including [[beekeeping]]).<ref>{{cite book|last=Harper|first=Malcolm|title=Inclusive Value Chains: A Pathway Out of Poverty|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=VODZCM5qblYC&pg=PA182|year=2010|publisher=World Scientific|isbn=9789814293891|pages=182, 297|accessdate=2012-02-06}}</ref> The term has been used to represent at least three subcastes, being those of the Kachchis, [[Koeri]]s and [[Murao]]s. They claim descent from the mythological [[Suryavansh]] or [[Solar Dynasty|Solar]] dynasty via [[Kusha]], who was one of the twin sons of [[Rama]] and [[Sita]]. Previously, they had claimed their origins to be from [[Shiva]]. |
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Kushwaha is a [[Suryavanshi Kshatriya]] <ref>{{cite book |title=Fascinating Hindutva: saffron politics and Dalit mobilisation |first=Badri |last=Narayan |publisher=SAGE |year=2009 |isbn=9788178299068 |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=8bJ_rhfu6yUC |page=25 |accessdate=2012-02-06}}</ref> 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 also been involved in agriculture, farming,trading 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). |
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The Kushwaha are found in large numbers in [[West Bengal]], [[Bihar]], [[Jharkhand]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Chhatisgarh]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Rajasthan]], Nepal, and Mauritius. They are a numerous group comprising 12-17% population in these states and numbering around 10 crore on a rough basis.{{cn|date=February 2012}} They are especially populous(25-35%) in [[Samastipur]], [[Vaishali]], [[Muzaffarpur]], [[Nalanda]], [[Rohtas]], [[Gaya]], [[Buxar]], [[Siwan]], [[West Champaran]] and [[East Champaran]] in Bihar. [[Bundelkhand]], [[Jhansi]], [[Gorakhpur]] and [[Varanashi]], in Uttar Pradesh [[Bokaro]], [[Hajaribagh]], [[Giridih]] and [[Ranchi]] in Jharkhand [[Gwalior]], [[Indore]], [[Bhopal]] and [[Jabalpur]] in Madhya Pradesh [[Kota]], [[Baran]], [[Chhabra]], [[Chhipabarod)]] [[Jhakawar]] in Rajasthan [[Lehan]], [[Janakpur]] and [[Kathmandu]] in Nepal. They are uniformly distributed over rest of the state. |
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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.[citation needed] They are especially populous in Eastern UP, Bundelkhand, Jhansi, parts of central UP, Udaipur, Western Bihar,Samastipur,muzaffarpur,vaishali, Jharkhand, Indore etc. They are uniformly distributed over rest of the state. |
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[[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. |
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| ⚫ | [[Maurya]] generally claim decent from Kush(son of Lord Rama), Kushwaha 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 <ref>{{cite book |title=Daughters of the earth: women and land in Uttar Pradesh |first=Smita Tewari |last=Jassal |publisher=Technical Publications |year=2001 |isbn=9788173043758 |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=T6gnJmoLRZQC |pages=51-53 |accessdate=2012-02-06}}</ref> kingdoms in Northern and Eastern India. |
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== Current Status == |
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Most use common surnames such as [[Singh]],[[ 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. |
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==Titles/Last Names Associated with Kushwaha Dynasty== |
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Here is list of titles used by our community in different part of INDIA/world. |
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*J&K – [[Saini]], Bhaji |
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*Himanchal Pradesh -Kushwaha, Saini |
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*Punjab - Saini, [[Maurya]], Kushwaha |
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*Hariyana - Saini, Mali, Shakya, |
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*Delhi- Saini, Mali, [[Shakya]], Maurya, Kushwaha,Thakur,[[Verma]] |
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*Rajasthan - Saini, Mali, Shakya, Maurya, Kushwaha,Kuchhawaha,[[Chaudhary]] |
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*Gujrat - Saini, Mali, Maurya, Kushwaha |
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*Madhya Pradesh - Kushwaha, Kachhi, Kuchhawaha,Murar,Maurya,Mourya , |
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*Utter Pradesh – [[Singh]],Koiri, Koiry, Murav, Verma, [[Bhagat]], Kacchi,Maurya,Kushwaha,Mourya,Shakya,Saini |
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*Bihar - Mahto,Bhagat, Maurya, Kushwaha, Singh, Bhagat,[[Mandal]], Dangee, Kapadi, [[Mehta]],Prasad,Shakya |
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*Bangal - Koiri, Koiry, Kushwaha, Maurya, Mahto |
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*Orissa - Muri, Mali,Phulmali, Bhajmali, Sagberiya |
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*Maharashtra – Saini, Maurya, Kushwaha,Mourya |
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*Andhra Pradesh - Phule, Kachhi, |
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*Karnataka - Jeeremali, Phulmali, |
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*Asam - Koiri, Moriya, Mahto, Maurya, Kushawaha |
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== Religion == |
== Religion == |
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Members of the Kushwaha community generally follow Hinduism and some of them still follow Buddhism and Jainism. |
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{{unreferenced section|date=February 2012}} |
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Members of the Kushwaha community follow various religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Those who are Hindu also respect [[Buddha]] because they consider him to be an [[avatar]] of [[Vishnu]]. They are traditionally [[vegetarian]] but those living in cities may have turned non-vegetarian in a some way. Popular gods and goddesses among Kushwaha are Rama, Sita, [[Lakshman]], Buddha and [[Hanuman]]. |
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==Contribution to [[Buddhism]] and [[Jainism]]== |
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Buddhism <ref>{{cite book |title=The legend of King Aśoka: a study and translation of the Aśokāvadāna|first=John|last=Strong |publisher=Narendra Prakash Jain |year=1983|isbn=978-81-208-06160|url=http://books.google.co.in/books/about/The_legend_of_King_A%C5%9Boka.html?id=Kp9uaQTQ8h8C&redir_esc=y }}</ref> |
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[[Ashoka ]] become ambassador of Buddhism after Kaling war and spread it across India. At one point of time Buddhism became the dominant religion. |
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When [[Chandragupta Maurya]] was in his fifties, he became fascinated with [[Jainism]], an extremely ascetic belief system. His guru was the Jain saint Bhadrabahu. He supported and advocated Jainism until he died. |
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In 298 BCE, the emperor renounced his rule, handing over power to his son Bindusara. Chandragupta traveled south to a cave at Shravanabelogola, now in Karntaka. There, the founder of the Mauryan Empire meditated without eating or drinking for five weeks, until he died of starvation. This practice is called sallekhana or santhara. |
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==Classification== |
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An organisation claiming to represent the Kushwaha subcastes of the Kachchis, Koeris and Muraos petitioned for those groups to be officially recognised as being of the [[Kshatriya]] [[Varna (Hinduism)|varna]] in 1928. This action by the All India Kushwaha Kshatriya Mahasabha reflected a general trend for social upliftment by communities that had traditionally been classified as being in the [[Shudra]] varna. The process, which has been called [[sanskritisation]], was a feature of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century caste politics.<ref>{{cite book |title=India's silent revolution: the rise of the lower castes in North India |first=Christophe |last=Jaffrelot |edition=Reprinted |publisher=C. Hurst & Co. |year=2003 |isbn=9781850656708 |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=OAkW94DtUMAC |page=199 |accessdate=2012-02-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=History of anthropological thought |first1=Vijay S. |last1=Upadhyay |first2=Gaya |last2=Pandey |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |year=1993 |isbn=9788170224921 |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=SNw5zVN1V0oC |page=436 |accessdate=2012-02-06}}</ref> The process was based on the concept of [[Vaishnavism]], which promoted the worship and claims of descent from Rama or Krishna as a means to assume the trappings of Kshatriya symbolism and thus permit the wearing of the [[sacred thread]] even though the physical labour inherent in their cultivator occupations intrinsically defined them as Shudra. In the case of the Kushwahas, this movement caused them to abandon their claims to be descended from [[Shiva]] in favour of an alternate myth that claimed descent from Rama. Smita Jassal includes the [[Kachwaha]] among this group of subcastes,<ref>{{cite book |title=Daughters of the earth: women and land in Uttar Pradesh |first=Smita Tewari |last=Jassal |publisher=Technical Publications |year=2001 |isbn=9788173043758 |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=T6gnJmoLRZQC |pages=51-53 |accessdate=2012-02-06}}</ref> while in 1921 Ganga Prasad Gupta had published a book offering a proof of the Kshatriya status of, according to Badri Narayan, "castes like Koeri, Kachchi, Murao and Kushwaha".<ref>{{cite book |title=Fascinating Hindutva: saffron politics and Dalit mobilisation |first=Badri |last=Narayan |publisher=SAGE |year=2009 |isbn=9788178299068 |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=8bJ_rhfu6yUC |page=25 |accessdate=2012-02-06}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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*[[Shakya]] |
*[[Shakya]] |
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*[[Kurmi]] |
*[[Kurmi]] |
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[[Category:Indian castes]] |
[[Category:Indian castes]] |
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[[Category: Maurya Empire]] |
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[[Category:Suryavansha]] |
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[[Category:Kshatriya]] |
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[[Category:Ikshvaku]] |
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Revision as of 21:59, 8 February 2012
Kushwaha is a Suryavanshi Kshatriya [1] 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 also been involved in agriculture, farming,trading 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).
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.[citation needed] They are especially populous in Eastern UP, Bundelkhand, Jhansi, parts of central UP, Udaipur, Western Bihar,Samastipur,muzaffarpur,vaishali, Jharkhand, Indore 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. Maurya generally claim decent from Kush(son of Lord Rama), Kushwaha 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 [2] kingdoms in Northern and Eastern India.
Current Status
Most use common surnames such as Singh,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.
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
- Punjab - Saini, Maurya, Kushwaha
- Hariyana - Saini, Mali, Shakya,
- 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 – Saini, Maurya, Kushwaha,Mourya
- Andhra Pradesh - Phule, Kachhi,
- Karnataka - Jeeremali, Phulmali,
- Asam - Koiri, Moriya, Mahto, Maurya, Kushawaha
Religion
Members of the Kushwaha community generally follow Hinduism and some of them still follow Buddhism and Jainism.
Buddhism [3] Ashoka become ambassador of Buddhism after Kaling war and spread it across India. At one point of time Buddhism became the dominant religion.
When Chandragupta Maurya was in his fifties, he became fascinated with Jainism, an extremely ascetic belief system. His guru was the Jain saint Bhadrabahu. He supported and advocated Jainism until he died.
In 298 BCE, the emperor renounced his rule, handing over power to his son Bindusara. Chandragupta traveled south to a cave at Shravanabelogola, now in Karntaka. There, the founder of the Mauryan Empire meditated without eating or drinking for five weeks, until he died of starvation. This practice is called sallekhana or santhara.
See also
References
- ^ Narayan, Badri (2009). Fascinating Hindutva: saffron politics and Dalit mobilisation. SAGE. p. 25. ISBN 9788178299068. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
- ^ Jassal, Smita Tewari (2001). Daughters of the earth: women and land in Uttar Pradesh. Technical Publications. pp. 51–53. ISBN 9788173043758. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
- ^ Strong, John (1983). The legend of King Aśoka: a study and translation of the Aśokāvadāna. Narendra Prakash Jain. ISBN 978-81-208-06160.