The Kasaudhan are a Hindu

Hindu

Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...

 caste

Caste

Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...

 found in the states of Bihar

Bihar

Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....

, Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....

 and Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...

 in India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. There Gotra is Kashyap made after rishi Kashyapa, hence they use surname as 'Kashyap' or 'Kasaudhan' or 'Gupta' .

Origin

The name Kasaudhan is said to be derived from the words kaansa ("bell-metal") and dhana ("wealth"). According to other traditions, their ancestors migrated from Kashmir

Kashmir

Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...

. The Kasaudhan are a Bania

Bania (caste)

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...

 sub-caste. They are divided into the Sath and Eksath groups. The Kasaudhan are endogamous, although there are cases of intermarriage with other Bania communities such as the Kesarvani

Kesarvani

The Kesarwani are a Bania sub-caste found in North India . They are also known as Bani or Bakkal. While in Bihar, they are also known as Keshri.-History and origin:...

, Kalwar

Kalwar

The Kalwar, Kalal or Kalar is a geographical title used by the Kalwar clan of Chandravanshi or Somvanshi Rajputs and Thakurs of Kalwar Thikana near Jaipur in Rajasthan referring to various geographical locations present globally viz. Kalal province in Pakistan, Qalal Azerbaijan, Kalar Iraq, Kalar...

, Barnwal

Barnwal

Barnwal , also spelt as Baranwal, Varanwal or Barnawal, is a Baniya community in India and Nepal.-Legend:According to a Hindi-language historical account Baranwal Darshan, the Baranwal community is descended from King Ahibaran, a Suryavanshi Kshatriya and the great grandson of the legendary king...

 and Jaiswal

Jaiswal

Jaiswal or Jayswal or Jayaswal is a geographical title referring to Jayasnagar or Jassowal or Jaisalmer or Jaswal,_Pakistan or Jaswal Pani or Jaswan or Jais Province, shared by several communities in India including"* Jaiswal Brahmins...

.

In Bihar

Bihar

Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....

, the Kasaudhan claim to have originated from Kashmir, and settled in Bihar during the period of the Mughal Empire

Mughal Empire

The Mughal Empire ,‎ or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...

. They are found mainly in the districts of Bhagalpur

Bhagalpur

Bhagdattpuram was one of the most influential towns in "Aryavarta" . It is supposed to have been concurrent to Patliputra or Patna. Bhagdattpuram finds its mention in the Vedas and Ramayana as well. It is supposed to be the kingdom of Daanvir Karna, the son of Kunti and the Sun God...

 and Munger

Munger

Munger town is the headquarters of Munger district, in the Indian state of Bihar. Historically, Munger is known for its manufacturing of iron articles such as firearms and swords. One of the major institutions in Munger is Bihar School of Yoga. It is one of the foremost learning center in the...

. The Kasaudhan of Bihar speak the Angika language

Angika language

Angika is an Indo-Iranian language of the Anga region of India, a 58,000 km² area approx. that falls within the states of Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal....

.

Present circumstances

The Kasaudan are primarily are trading community. Many are also absentee landowners. They are also the traditional money lenders in the Awadh

Awadh

Awadh , also known in various British historical texts as Oudh or Oude derived from Ayodhya, is a region in the centre of the modern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, which was before independence known as the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh...

 villages. Their customs are similar to other Bania communities.

In Bihar

Bihar

Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....

, many Kasaudhan are landowners, but there is a growing urbanization. Many are now petty businessmen, trading in spices, grocery and hardware.