Bhavsar

Bhavasar, Bhaosar, Bhawsar, Bhawasar, Rangrez, Bhavsar Kshatriya
Classification	Claim Kshatriya varna
Religions	Hinduism, Jainism
Languages	Gujarati, Marathi, Bagri
Populated states	Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
Subdivisions	Bhavasar

The Bhavasar (Template:Lang-gu, Marathi: भावसार), are an ethnic group in India, traditionally associated with woodblock printing on textiles and tailoring. While Gujarati Bhavsars refer to themselves as just Bhavsars, Maharashtrian Bhavsars refer to themselves as, 'Bhavsar Kshathriya'. Bhavsar or Bhāvasār could also be the surname of some of the people of this ethnic group. Rangāreys are also considered a sub-group of Mahārāshtrian Bhavsars. Nāmdev Shimpis are considered a different group, although they bifurcated from the Maharashtrian Bhavsars, giving up non-vegetarianism as Tāmasic, according to the beliefs of Sant Nāmdev - however they use the same surnames as Maharashtrian Bhavsars.

Legendary origin

When Sati, the wife of Shiva and the first incarnation of Parvati, sacrificed herself at a yagna being performed by her father, the King Daksha, a very distraught Shiva started dancing with her body. The world was terrorized from this Tandava Nritya and to stop the devastating penance, Vishnu used his Sudarshan chakra (the whirling knife on his finger tip) and completely cut up Sati's body in several pieces. Wherever her body parts fell, a temple was erected to commemorate different manifestations of Shiva and Parvati and became a Hindu pilgrimage centre. They are called Peetha or Shakti Peethas. These temples are scattered from present day Pakistan and India to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Sati is also called Devi or Shakti (Strength). Sati was reborn later as the daughter of the King of Mountains, the Himalayas and hence she was called Parvati or the daughter of Parvat (Mountain). Parvati married Shiva on the fourteenth day of the rising moon (Sukla paksha) in the month of Margasheersha (around Spring) which is the festival of Shiva Ratri (the night of Shiva).

Devi's mind or brain fell here and the idols are Devi as Kotari (Durga) and Shiva as Bhimlochan (Terrible eyed or the third eye). The location is in a cave on the western part of Pakistan near Karachi. This temple emerged as Hingulaya / Hinglaj.

The Bhavasar claim the Kshatriya varna, stating a legendary descent from Kshatriyas who survived extermination by Parshuram by taking shelter in the temple of the goddess Hingulaambikaa.

According to the epic stories, the legendary Parshuram, who was said to be an avatar of Vishnu, had vowed vengeance against the kshatriyas (the community of warriors) and had wiped most of the kshatriyas off the earth. This scenario had worried two young princes Bhavsingh and Sarsingh from Saurashtra who had foreseen their dynasty meeting its end. The princes had been directed to appeal to the Hindu Goddess Hinglaj (Durga/Ambaji/Bhavani/Mataji/Kali) at the holy shrine situated on the banks of the Hingol River in Baluchistan near Sindh, now in Pakistan, where the Hindu Goddess assured protection of their dynasty by compelling Parshuram to leave them alone, on the condition that none from their community would confront Parshuram as he too was a son for her. The Bhavsar community was named after these two princes, Bhavsingh and Sarsingh.

The Bhavasar's legendary origin dates back to Saurashtra. Tradition holds the community was formed by Bhavsingh and Sarsingh, two young princes from north-western India. The princes prayed to the goddess Hinglaj (kuldevi, the clan goddess of Bhavsars) for protection from Parashuram, who had vowed to destroy all Kshatriyas. The shrine where Bhavsingh and Sarsingh had prayed to the goddess is located in Hinglaj, near Karachi in present-day Pakistan. The Bhavsar samaj has negotiated with the Pakistani government for regular pilgrimage to Hinglaj.

The Bhavsar community appears to have originated in the Sindh area which came under Pakistan after the partition at independence. The community fled from Hinglaj when Muslim invaders tried to kill them for not converting to Islam by force and settled in Gujarat and Maharashtra in the Middle Ages. The Marathi Bhavsars moved to the South of India up to Tamil Nadu, settling along the way in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Another branch moved West to Vidharbha and Madhya Pradesh.

The Bhavsars identify themselves as Kshatriyas. However, historical evidence is available to support the warrior heritage. Initially, the community was not advanced educationally, but in the last few decades, a number of educated professionals and entrepreneurs have come up and have spread overseas also.

Culture and demographics

Bhavsars are found mostly in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. All have adapted to their local culture and traditions to varying degrees. However, Gujarat and Maharashtra are the primary regions from where the more recent migrations have occurred. Though Bhavsars are Kshatriya, most Gujarati Bhavsars follow Vaishnavism, while some others follow Jainism. The Maharashtrian Bhavsars started migrating to South India from the time of Shivaji and have settled in the South for several generations; however, they have maintained their Maharashtrian cultural ties to this day and date.

Diet

Traditionally, the Maharashtrian Bhavsars are non-vegetarians while the Gujarati Bhavsars are vegetarian. The Maharashtrian Bhavsars have their local cuisines developed with a strong influence of Maharashtrian cuisine. Traditionally, in this community, the oldest woman of the family was given importance as the Gruhalakshmi of the family (Blessing for the prosperity of the family) and She decided what was to be cooked on a daily basis and on different occasions - every family used to give importance to lunch and dinner, sat on the floor together and ate with their hands.

Languages

The Bhavasar community in Rajasthan speaks Bagri, a Rajasthani language. Further south, a very large number of Bhavsars have either Gujarati or Marathi as their mother tongue. Migrants to states other than Gujarat or Maharashtra invariably continue to speak their native mother tongue while being multilingual with the local language. For example, migrants from Maharashtra to the southern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu speak marathi, while being multilingual with the local language/s.

In Gujarat, the community has two linguistic divisions - Gujarati and Marathi, which are endogamous (but slowly opening up) in nature. There is also a creole of Gujarati and Marathi called Bhavsari spoken in certain areas near Gujarat.

Surnames

Some families from the Bhavsar community use Bhāvsār as their last name, for the purpose of identity. However, the Bhavsars from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have surnames in the Maharashtrian tradition, i.e. Hanchate, Jhingādē (Zingādey), Kakade, Abhangē, Anchalkar, Amathē, Asāwalē, Ashtkar, Astikar, Bagarē, Baglē, Bakrē, Bāngrē, Bārtakkē, Basūthkar, Bēlamkar, Bēndrē, Bēdrē, Bhāmbōrē, Bhāndēkar, Bhōpē, Bibēkar, Bōdhanē, Bōmalē, Bōmbōlē, Bōndādē, Bōndāgē, Bōngālē, Bŭlbŭlē, Chŭtkē, Danthakālē, Dhāyfūlē, Dhōngadē, Dhŭmalē, Dōijōdē, Dŭdhānkar, Gaddālē, Gānŭrē, Ghanāthē, Geethē, Gōddē, Gōjjē, Gōndhalē, Gōndhkar, Gŭjar (or Gŭjjar / Gŭrjar), Halālē, Hambar (pronounced Humberr), Hambarkar (Ambarkar), Havlē, Hibarē (Hebbarē), Hīraskar, Hiravē, Ijanthkar, Jādhav, Jawalē, Jawalkar, Jirafē, Kālēkar, Karnē, Karmŭsē, Katārē, Khambayathkar, Khamitkar (Kamithkar), Khandetōd, Khōkalē, Khōlē (Khoalay), Kōlēkar, Kōkney / Kōknē (pronounced Koakney), Kshīrsāgar, Kŭntē (Kŭntey), Limkar, Lingarkar, Lōkharē, Lōkhandē, Mahindrakar (Mahēndrakar), Mālwadē, Mālvē, Mālwē, Mālwādkar, Mankŭskar, Māndharē, Mīrajkar, Mŭlē (Mŭlay), Mŭsalē, Navalē, Neemkar, Pākharē, Patālay, Patangē (Pathangay), Pētkar, Pēsay (or Pisē / Pissay), Pŭkālē (Pōkāley), Rangdal, Rākhōndē, Rāo, Rāmpŭrē, Ransŭbhē, Rēlēkar, Sākhrē, Sarōdē (Sarvadē), Shintrē, Shamgŭlē, Simgēkar, Sūthrāvē (Soothraawey), Sŭlākhē, Tāndalē (Tāndŭlae), Tāndŭlēkar, Tēmkar, Thaelkar (Tēlkar), Tikārē, Tōranē, Ŭrankar, Ŭttarkar, Vādey, Valasē, Vaijwadē, Vaikŭnthē, Zādē (Jhādē) etc. Katyārmal and Kāpadiā are surnames used by Gujarati Bhavsars (apart from Bhāvsār).

Weddings

The weddings among Bhavsars are given a lot of importance. The wedding takes place as a Hindu Wedding Ceremony which has a number of rituals and customs. The community follows the system of arranged marriages which are usually decided by the parents or an older family member. The match could be selected by parents, or by the elder member of the family. However, the modern practice is to choose from a matchmaking agent, matrimonial site, or a trusted third party. The community has their own way of performing the marriage, although most of it is like a traditional Hindu Wedding Ceremony. Love marriages have also started happening, by which the bride is either accepted as part of the community, if she married a Bhavsar groom or is considered to have become part of a different community, if she married a non-Bhavsar groom.

Religion

Traditionally, Bhavsars were very religious and spiritualistic people. They worship Hinglaj Mata or Hingulambika who all Bhavsars claim as their original deity. The oldest temple dedicated to this deity is in the Baluchistan province of present day Pakistan. It should be noted that the Hinglaj temple is an important place of pilgrimage to other Hindus of that area and is maintained by a small Hindu community that remains there. Bhavsars may be one of the communities that resided in that area and worshiped the same goddess. There is no other older temple or deity in any other part of India that is commonly worshiped by the Bhavsars. It is therefore reasonable to assume that the Bhavsar community had its origin in the north-western part of undivided India (present day Pakistan).

Bhavsar Samaj

Bhavsars have their traditional caste council known as the Bhavsar Samaj or Bhavasar Kshatriya Samaj. The main function of the jāthi panchāyath (caste council) is to settle inter-family feuds, quarrels, etc. The office bearers of these panchayats are elected.

Notables

Sant Namdev

Main article: Namdeo

Whose gurbani is included in the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs. Namdev Panthi: A bhagat of fame, said to have been one of the disciples of Saint Ramanand, was Sant Namdev, the Chhimba or cotton-carder. However he was a Maharashtrian Bhavsar, as his surname was Relekar.

• Natvar Bhavsar, famous Indian-American painter.
• Pujya Mota, a Hindu saint (1898–1976).
• Raj Bhavsar, (1980-) : US Olympic gymnast 2008 bronze medal winner.
• Shashikala Jawalkar, Bollywood actress

See also

• Saint Namdev
• Raj Bhavsar
• Pujya Mota
• Sonali Bendre

Further reading

• Advanced communities among the Kshatriyas of Malwa and Western India - Shankar Patwardhan, Arvind Vyas Paper no. AS056/2007 submitted to Anthropological Survey Of India

External references

• Bhavasar Kshatriya Samaj
• Bhavasar Kshatriya Samaj