Kushwaha
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.