Bania (caste)
 |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
•  India | |
| Languages | |
| • Hindi | |
| Religion | |
| • Hinduism 100% • | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| • Vaishya |
Bania is derived from the Sanskrit word vaanijya which means trade and commerce.[2][3]
Bania is an occupational caste of bankers, money-lenders, dealers in grains, spices and in modern times numerous commercial enterprises. Baniya is a distinct caste mostly coming from Western India and Central India but spread now all over India. They have various subcastes like Mittals, Agarwals, Porwals, Oswals and Baranwals. Nearly all Baniyas wore sacred thread and abstained from flesh. But, like in other castes the practice may have declined in recent decades. The subcastes of Baniyas are no more than mere sub-clans. For example, in 1911 census in Central India; 43,000 of the 2,00,000 Baniyas returned no subcaste. [4]
Nearly all of Banias come from colloquial Rajputana (Rajasthan), Bundelkhand region in Central India among other parts of Madhya Pradesh & Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat. Most of them have legends of Kshatriya origins. Aggarwalas say that their ancestor was a Kshatriya king who and whose sons married Naga princesses. Agraharis claim mixed descent from Brahmins and Vaishyas. Baranwals similarly claim descent from a Kshatriya Tomar King with capital in Bulandshahar. The Oswals say that their ancestor was the Marwari king of Osnagar in Marwar who along with his followers was converted by a Jain mendicant. The Nemas state that their ancestors were fourteen Rajput kings who took to trade and abandoned arms. Rest of them have similar stories of origin. Most English historians were of the view that Baniyas were those offshoot of the Marwari's who took to commerce and learnt to read and write.
Baniyas follow both the Vaishnava sect of Sanatan Dharma and Jainism. Most of the Baniyas tended to avoid flesh and ban widow remarriage although these practices have declined too in recent centuries. English historians report numerous sub-divisions even in one subcaste. For example, Agarwals had sub-divisions of Bisa, Dasa and Pancha declining in status. But in modern times these divisions have become obsolete and are no more followed mostly due to Hindu reform movements to simplify Hindu society.
Banias are probably stricter than any other castes in their adherence of a vegetarian diet; although as has been said before the orthodoxy among the Brahmins and Banias have declined in recent decades.
History of Name
According to Various census of India the word Banya is derived from sanskrit banijya or trade; and as the name implies,lives solely for and by commerce.Banias hold a considerable area of land in the east of the provinces; but it is very rarely indeed that he follows any other than mercantile pursuits.The commercial enterprise and intelligence of the class is great ,and the dealings of some of the great banyas houses of Delhi, Bikaner and Marwar of of most extensive nature.However the banyas of the villages are mostly poor.[5][6]
Sub-divisions
The Agarwals are generally considered to be the largest and most influential of the bania communities from northern India.[7] The Bania consist of a number of distinct endogamous communities. These communities are also commonly known by their respective clan-names.[8] There main sub-divisions are as follows:[9]
| Caste | Gotras | Languages | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agarwal | Airan/Aeron, Bansal, Bindal, Dharan, Dhoumya, Garg, Goyal, Goyan, Jindal, Kansal, Kuchal, Mangal, Mittal, Mugdal, Nagil, Singhal, Tayal and Tingal | Hindi, Haryanvi and Punjabi | Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar |
| Agrahari | Haryanvi and Hindi | Haryana, Delhi, rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar | |
| Arora | Punjabi, Haryanvi, Multani, Seraiki, Hindi, Sindhi | Mercantile, Trade caste of Punjab (India)Wictionary. | |
| Barahseni | Hindi | Uttar Pradesh | |
| Barnwal | Kashyap, Garg | Hindi | Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand |
| Dhromer | Kashyap, Kuchchal | Hindi | Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh |
| Gahoi | Nigoria, Mahtele, Nigotia and Kankane | Hindi | Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh |
| Omar or Umar | Kashyap | Hindi, Bhojpuri, Angika | Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh |
| Ghate Bania | Bishnoi | Haryanvi and Hindi | Haryana and Uttar Pradesh |
| Hindi | Uttar Pradesh | ||
| Kasuadhan | Hindi | Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh | |
| Kesarvani | Hindi | Uttar Pradesh | |
| Khadayata | Gujarati | Gujarat | |
| Khandelwal | Ameriya ,Buhkhmaria,Manak bohra, Khunteta, Badhera, Kayathwal, Kasliwal, Kharwal, Tatar, Tamoliya,Dusad, Natani, Patodia, Bhandariya, Labhi, Sankhuniya, Shahara, Soni, Dhokaria, Jhalani,Audh, Kedawat, Tambi, Budhwaria, Pitalia, Ghia, Jasoria, Thakuria, NirayanWal, Pharsoiya, Dans, Vaid,Sethi, Kath, Dangayach, Badaya, Baburiya, Basur, Mali, Atoliya, Kulwal, Jhanginiya, Badgoti, Mamodia, Haldia, Methi, Mangodariya,Katta, Todwal, Nainiwal, Rawat, Kodiya, Saounkhiya, Bajargan, Biswal, Maherwal, Sambharia, Singodiya, Ghiya, Aankad, KilKiliya, Matha, Goliya, Khatodia, Pabuwal, Nainawa,Vakra, Siroya, Machiwal, Banawadi, Bamb, Manak,Bohara, Dhamani, Bhangala, Rajoria, Mali | Rajasthani and Hindi | Rajasthan |
| Lohia | Hindi | Uttar Pradesh | |
| Maheshwari | Rajasthani, Haryanvi | Rajasthan and Haryana | |
| Mathur Vaishya | Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh | ||
| Oswal | Rajasthan and Punjab (India) | ||
| Parwal | |||
| Parwar | |||
| Porwal | Jangda Porwal( Gharia, Kamriya, Dhanotia, farkya, Choudhary, Mandlia, Mehta, Sethiya, Kala, Udia etc.) | Rajasthani, Malwi | Rajasthan , Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat |
| Omar or Umar | Kashyap | Hindi, Bhojpuri, Angika | Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh |
| Roniaur | Hindi | Uttar Pradesh and Bihar | |
| Sinduria | Hindi | Bihar | |
| Sunga | Rajasthani | Rajasthan | |
| Sunwani | Hindi | Uttar Pradesh | |
| Unai Sahu | Hindi | Uttar Pradesh |
Bania of Gujarat
The merchant community of Gujarat, such as Shahs, Gandhis, Ambanis, Sarabhais, Mehtas, Parekhs, Parikhs, Kotharis and Desais,bhagats, are also banias.[10]
See also
References
- ^ Joshua Project. "Bania Ethnic People in all Countries". Joshua Project. Retrieved 2010-08-17.
- ^ HISTORY OF SIRSA TOWN - By Jugal kishore Gupta
- ^ THE TRIBES AND CASTE OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES OF INDIA - By ROBERT VANE RUSSEL
- ^ THE TRIBES AND CASTES OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES OF INDIA, VOLUME II - By R. V. RUSSELL
- ^ http://books.google.co.in/books?ei=OJuJTZmRGpHirAeNsIDcDg&ct=result&id=RwEJAAAAQAAJ&dq=ahirs+of+bikaner&q=bikaner
- ^ Various census of India Page cxxviii
- ^ The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India, Volume II - By R.V. Russell
- ^ THE TRIBES AND CASTES OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES OF INDIA - By R.V. RUSSELL, HIRA LAL
- ^ People of India by Sir Herbert Risely
- ^ Passport India - By Manoj Joshi
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