Mohyal Brahmin
Mohyal Brahmin is an Indian Jati with origins in the Punjab region. The members of this clan originate from the broader Saraswat Brahmin group and comprise seven sub-clans named Bali, Bhimwal, Chhibber, Dutt, Lau, Mohan and Vaid. These each claim their lineage from one of seven different Brahmin rishis.
The majority of them identify as Hindu, but some also identify with being Sikh. A very small minority of Mohyals also have an association with Shia Islam due to their role in the Battle of Karbala, these Mohyals are called Hussaini Brahmins.[1]
Vedic origins
The Mohyals are split into subgroups - jatis - with each family claiming their lineage can be traced to a specific Vedic figure.
| House (family) Name | Vedic origin figure |
|---|---|
| Bali | Parashar |
| Bhimwal | Kaushal |
| Chhibber/Chibber | Bhrigu |
| Datt/Dutt/Dutta | Bharadwaja |
| Lau | Vasishtha |
| Mohan | Kashyap |
| Vaid | Dhanvantri |
Contributions to Sikhism
Spirituality and identity
Guru Nanak, continuing in the tradition of Bhakti Saints, revitalised ('Hindu') wisdom in order to make to accessible for the common people of Late Medieval India.[2][page needed] As apart of this transformation, many Punjabi Hindus, including the Mohyals, revered and followed Guru Nanak.[citation needed] This devotion towards Nanak's mat (teachings/wisdom) led them to follow Nanak's successors and then assist in the creation of the Sikh ethos. Moreover, as the latter Gurus became martial, this community was a natural home for the warrior-class of Punjabi Hindus.[3][page needed] A distinct Sikh religious identity was not created until the 19th century, thus, referring to the period of the Gurus as Sikhism is problematic.[4][page needed]
Guru period
Other notable Mohyals include the brothers Bhai Mati Das and Bhai Sati Das, who both died alongside the ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, for protecting Indic civilisation against Islamism.[5][page needed] As the family of the latter Gurus and this Chhibber family were close, Bhai Chaupa Singh Chhiber became a care-taker of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth guru.[6][full citation needed]
References
- ^ Fazl, Abul (November 5, 2014). "The Brahmins Who Fought For Imam Hussain At Karbala". Kashmir Observer Online. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Bhakti religion in North India : community identity and political action. Lorenzen, David N. Albany: State University of New York Press. 1995. ISBN 0-585-04526-7. OCLC 42854916.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ McLeod, W. H. (1989). Who is a Sikh? : the problem of Sikh identity. Oxford: Clarendon Press. ISBN 0-19-826548-4. OCLC 19125681.
- ^ Oberoi, Harjot. (1994). The Construction of religious boundaries : culture, identity, and diversity in the Sikh tradition. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-61592-8. OCLC 30157084.
- ^ Prithi Pal Singh, 1928- (2006). The history of Sikh gurus. New Delhi: Lotus Press. ISBN 81-8382-075-1. OCLC 297207913.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ The Making of the Sikh Rehatnamas (2008) - Dr S S Kapoor and Mrs Mohinder Kaur Kapoor