Rajpurohit
Encyclopedia
Rajpurohit is a subgroup of Hindu
Brahmin
s with its roots in Rishi
kul (great revered Indian sages from Vedic
era) and later Brahaminical Gupta period in India.
They are considered as the oldest brahmins who were associated with the ruling class of a kingdom since ancient ages in India. As a tradition Rajpurohits were not only involved in heading the religious rites and duties but also provide selfless service to the state, they were considered to be guardians of the state. They were as much into mentoring royal house, educating princes, guiding king on the path of dharma
, providing advise on the matters of welfare of the state, performing religious duties as they were into helping in maintaining the security of kingdom by being actively involved in battles. Guru Dronacharya and Kripacharya were the Rajpurohits of the ancient kingdom of Hastinapur who participated in the great war of Mahabharata
on behalf of the state during fall of the Dvapara Yuga
. Present day Rajpurohits also trace this spirit of martial hood from the great Brahmin
warrior sage Parashurama
. As an example, the Junagarh fort in Bikaner houses memorial of Jagram ji Rajpurohit who died fighting for the cause of the state. As a custom, every wedding in the royal family of Bikaner is incomplete without paying homage to him. Such cenotaphs and headstones of Rajpurohits can be found all over Marwar
and Bikaner. Chanakya
(Sanskrit: चाणक्य Cāṇakya) (c. 350-283 BCE) was an adviser, a prime minister and Rajpurohit to the first Maurya Emperor Chandragupta (c. 340-293 BCE), and architect of his rise to power. Along with the other surnames like Dixit,Sharma, Goswami etc., Purohit/Rajpurohit is also used as a surname among the Brahmins.
in India. There are more than 100 sub-castes of Rajpurohit each associated with one ruling ancient Kshatriya
clan or the other. Some of them are Raithala,Sevad, chawandiya, Siya/Siha, Jagarwal, Udesh, Manana, Mutha, Sodha, Rajguru/Rajgur/Rajgar, Raigur/Raigar, Paliwal
, Gundecha, Santhua,shreegod,johi,Panchlod, Sidhap, Udesh/Audichya, Dudawat, Trambkoti, Balvasa/Balocha, Ridwa, Aboti, Joshi, Vyas, Podharwal,vora, Fandar,gorakha, Daviyal, Kevancha, Sepau, Kesariya, Bakaliya, Makwana, Ojha, Ajariya, Badmera, Sanchora, Titopa, Dadala, Kedariya,Jui, Vyas, Radbada & Halsiya,sothada,bakliya,sindap,punayacha,moomariya. Each of these sub-castes individually had been Rajpurohit(Royal caretakers/priests) of a Kshatriya
clan in India and were in lineage to various ancient Rishis. As a normal practice of those times the marriage relationships between rajpurohit families associated with different gotra
s was common place. With the passage of time the kingdoms were created and decimated but these Brahmins were woven together in a community named Rajpurohit. Rajpurohit as a community is a group of brahmins who are/were royal caretakers and priests of a Hindu
Kingdom in medieval times. Over last few centuries, Rajpurohits were inculcated into feudal structure of Rajasthan
as they time to time received grants of villages called Jagir
s from rulers. Consequently, they came closer to Rajput
s in terms of tradition, way of living and customs. Though they retained the Brahminical customes of vegetarianism
, wearing of Janeu etc. They address each other as Jagirdars and normally have Singh as their middle name.
Today the members of Rajpurohit community have spread across the length and breadth of the world. The major occupations of Rajpurohits are Farming, Food & Catering, Cloth & Textile merchants and Cosmetics. While many of them have managed to get into prestigious jobs and professional degrees.
Apart from Rajasthan
, there is also a brahmin
Rajpurohits community living in hills of Himachal Pradesh
. They differ from the martial Rajpurohits of Rajasthan
. Some of these Rajpurohits in eastern Himalaya hills later migrated during wars or later Islamic invasions from the east via the Tibet
silk route to Kashmir and settled down in lower north Himalayan regions in remote hilly areas establishing the origin goddess temples like the Kamakhya temple
in Himachal.Some of these migrant Rajpurohits were patronised by the local Kings with privileges similar to other Rajpurohits. The history of the Rajpurohits in lower Himalayas is recorded about 800 years as in the Kamakhya temple
in the remote forest area near the village Polian Purohitans in Himachal Pradesh
.
bestowed upon those learned Brahmin
s, who were masters in 4 arts i.e. mantra's( all rituals), economics, politics and warfare.They were the "Brain of King's". They looked after the administrative running of the kingdoms.In the course of their service to the kingdom, according to ancient traditions, the kings use to award few non-taxable villages or land known as Sasan Jagir
and donated call Doli Jagir
within his kingdom to their Rajpurohits. These villages or land were considered to be free from any ruler, and were outside the ambit of any form of tax. Also any member of Kshatriya
clan were barred to reside in such jagirs. Even today, this is a fact in many parts of Rajasthan
. Since in India, the majority of Rathor
i raj was prevalent in Rajasthan
before the independence of India, the Rajpurohit caste is prominently found in Marwar
& Godwad region of Rajasthan
i.e. Jodhpur
, Jalore
, Pali
, Nagaur
, Barmer
, Jaisalmer
, Bikaner, Churu
& Sirohi
districts of Rajasthan. Most of the Rajpurohits who live in other parts of India, can trace back their roots, up to one to two generations, back to some village of Rajasthan. However some parts of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh
with their common boundary with Rajasthan
do have members from Rajpurohit community residing there.
tradition, some practice Sanātana Dharma.They believe in preserving ancient Hindu Vedic
Culture and follow majority of common Hindu
customs and rituals. A male rajpurohit has Janeu, the sacred thread on his shoulder, denoting that the bearer should be pure in his thought, word and deed. The sacred thread reminds the bearer to lead a regulated life with purity in his thought, word and deed.
These threads also represent the debt that is owed to the spiritual
guru, parents and society. Rajpurohits are pure vegetarian
and generally non-drinkers. They normally use Rajasthani
/Marwari
, a major language spoken in the western Rajasthan
.
kingdoms of Rajasthan
came under British protectorate. The British interference increased in the matter of states and this had its own repercussions on Rajput
s and Rajpurohits. Kingship distanced itself from Kshatriya
Dharma
and the role of Rajpurohits also diminished in statecraft. The taxfree Jagir
s ensured that education lost its importance. Over centuries Rajpurohits saw transformation from a highly educated Vedic
community to a primarily agrarian society
.
Mediaeval social evils of Purdah
(Veil
) system, Dowry
etc. were also inculcated in the Rajpurohit Society. Once fountainheads of education and moral torch bearers of Sanātana Dharma in India, members of the Rajpurohit society were now reduced to a largely illiterate agrarian society
. With the advent of Indian independence in 1947, the community saw itself much diminished in economic and political influence.
In past six decades, many of the community members migrated to various Indian cities in search of business opportunities. Learning from the changing situation and persistence of people like Sant Atmanand Ji Maharaj who opened several youth hostels, the community saw a boost in education. This resulted in many community members joining state and central services along with other professions. Although education levels are on the rise but there is still room for improvement in the area of education for women education; the area is very conservative and as a result of this, women's education levels have been very low.
Politically, a strong benevolence in Hindu Dharma made right wing political parties an obvious choice for the community. Resulting in majority of community votes going to parties like Jansangh and later on BJP. But modern politics being an unknown turf coupled with political immaturity, Rajpurohits have mostly been a vote bank to political parties. Even in the regions with strong presence of Rajpurohits, hardly any political party historically choose a representative from them. This situation owed much to lack of unity between community members and their personal egos. Until recently, when other communities were keeping their own welfare and political representation above and over political ideologies, Rajpurohits still seemed to be living in a neverland of idealism. Community awakened and came together after Sant Khetaram ji Maharaj/Kheteshwar ji Maharaj sacrificed himself in mid 1980s, for the greater good of humanity as a whole and Rajpurohits in particular. Gradually, there had been a political awakening in the community with number of political representatives from community in both major political parties, increasing in 21st century.
Child Marriage
s are decreasing but Dowry
system, lavish marriages and Nyat (function after someone's demise) etc. are eating up lot of community resources and finances. Opium
addiction has also came up as a challenge to the community which needs immediate attention.
they were rural of there area and have a kingdom extending from aabu pravat in east to sundha mata in west, and they are succession of adi rishi ved vyas
vyas belong from suryvanshi. Vyas live primarily in Rajasthan, and their village of origin is Ramseen.
Jagarwal migrated from Sesali Village of Jalore
district in Rajasthan. Jagarwals were Rajpurohits of Parmara Rajputs who were rulers of Jalore. Bal Rishi/Jabali Rishi
was ancestor of Jagarwals. Jalore/Jabalipur was named after him. Bal Rishi had twelve Sasan villages (Tax free villages) including Balwara . Later on Jagarwals became Rajpurohits of Sindhal Rathore
Rajputs.
Before independence Jagarwal Rajpurohits had many Sasan Jagir villages in Marwar
and Godwad region including Jasnagar, Kakindra, Lambiyan,Anwloj(Roopsingh\Deepsingh s\o Savaji), Rewatada, Veerana, Rewat, Modran, Dakatara, Bagra
(Marwar), Basda Dhanji, Dhola Sasan, Akadada, Dhariya, Punadiya, Lapod, Auwa Sasan, Champa Khedi and Dhangadwas etc.
of Sewad Rajpurohits is Maharishi
Bharadwaj while Bishasth maata(the goddess with twenty hands) being the Kuldevi. The term Sewad is derived from Shri Goud linking them with a larger Pancha-Gauda
Brahmin family of Northern India.
It is said that their ancestor Rajpurohit Devpal Dev Ji came to Marwar with Rao Sheoji
Rathore
from Kannauj
. A family known to us as the "Gahadvala
" dynasty ruled Kannauj
in 12th century AD; their best-known dynast was Raja Jaichand
, their last king. The Gahadvalas were displaced from Kannauj by the invasion, in 1194 CE, of Muhammad of Ghor
. It is said that Rao Sheoji
, a surviving grandson of Jaichand, on pilgrimage to Dwarika
along with Rajpurohit Devpal Dev around 1272 samvatsari, met a few Paliwal
Brahmins at Pushkar
. Pali
was a flourishing and prosperous trade center en route Persia, central Asia and Middle-East and beyond. It was governed by local brahmins. The Brahmins requested Rao Sheoji
to come to Pali
and help them get rid of local tribal people and marauding bands, who were harassing and looting them time to time. Rao Sheoji
and his fellow men defeated tribal chiefs first and eventually succeeded in conquering Pali from the brahmins as well. This was the first conquest of Rathore
s in present day Marwar
and paved the way for building up of Rathori Raj. Then they expanded to Khed near today's Balotra
defeating Gahlot
Rajputs, and slowly with time conquered Malani
region from other local Rajput
clans. Rajpurohit Devpal Dev was given many villages as jagir
. The services lent by Rajpurohits to the state was rewarded with more jagiri lands by Rathore kingdom during the course of time
Prominent Sewad villages are khedapa, Bhensar, Tivri, Bhensar Kotwali, Mohrai, Kalyanpur and Badli.
All Sindap is come from sidhaspur at persent in gujrat palan pur dist . In 8 century mugal aakrmankary attek on India that time he attek on allso sidhapur that time so many pepole kill by attekers .usake bad vaha se jo rajpurohit bache vo alag alag hua or unase 5 village base jo fulasar, silor, fular, madpuriya, & nadol the .abunase kei gav ho chuke he jese dhava, jetiwas,devali pabuji ki, esali ext. sindap"s kuldevi hinglaj matha in Pakistan,
Vashishtha is the ancestor of Rajgurus. Their Kuldevi is Sarshawti Maata.About 5 km south of Pindwara on the way to Abu Road, is the village of Ajari. 2 km away from Ajari village, is temple of Mahadeo and Sarswati. The scenery is picturesque, honey-combed with date-trees and a small rivulet flows nearby. Small hillocks form a wonderful background. The temple is enclosed by s high wall. Inside it is a Kundi of 30' x 20' size. Markandeshwar Rishi is said to have meditated here. There is small image of god Vishnu and one that of goddess Sarswati. Nearby is pond commonly known Gaya-Kund where people immerse the mortal remains. On every Jeshtha Sudi 11 and Baisakh Sudi 15 a fair is held here. In Ajari village there is temple of sati maa most of rajguru also visit this temple.
Prominent Rajguru villages are Balera, Silore, Bisu Rajguran, Doli, Radwa, Vani, Pandit ji ki Dhaani(Bethwasiya, Osian
) Basni Purohitan Osian
, Odwada (Jalore), Chadwal, Bawali, paovta (jalore )Kailashnager, Vaan of sirohi Dist, Patau (near Kalyanpur) and Langera. Balera is a Saasan village of Rajgurus having Kuldevi Koobar Maataji Temple. The Silore village is often spoken as "Sasan bada Silore gaanv".
Panchlod:
It is been said that the gotra been named on five brothers who split in marwar and formed their own five villages respectively.Two of the famous Panchlod villages among five villages are DHARAMDHARI AND SUMDHAND.
. Chamunda
Maata is Kuldevi of the Siha Rajpurohits.
Siha Rajpurohits are said to have originated at the banks of river Godavari in modern day Maharashtra
and hence belong to a larger Panch-Dravida brahmin family. The region was controlled from 6th to 8th Century AD by Badami
Chalukyas who later moved northwards to Gujarat and came to be known as Solanki
s in 10th Century AD. Sihas were their Rajpurohits. The word Siha originates from the town Sihor
(also called Singhor), their place of dewelling in Gujarat. When Guhilots moved to present day Rajasthan, Sihas accompanied them as their Rajpurohits. It is said that Guhila (Guha - cave born), the ancestor of Gahlot
and Sisodia
clans of Rajput
s was son of a Brahmin
, who took to Kshatriya
Dharma owing to insecurities of those times. Some of his clan members continued as Brahmin
s and were Rajpurohits of Gahlot
s. A branch of Gahlot
s moved to Marwar
and set a kingdom at Kher/Khergarh near present day Balotra
. They were defeated by Rathore
s in 13th Century AD and moved towards Gujarat. Some of their Rajpurohit Brahmins stayed back and with time were engulfed in larger Rajpurohit community of Marwar
.
In Rathore
Raj Bhatelai, Hingola, Bambore, Meghlasia, Balotra
, Golian - these seven villages are sibling villages maintained as Jagirs of Siha Rajpurohits. The first four villages fall in the Jodhpur
District while remaining three villages are in Barmer
District. Balotra
is named after Baala/Vaala Ji Siya, while Golian (also called Bhinda Kuan) was awarded to his brother Bhinda Ji. Balotra
has eventually grown to be the largest of all jagir
s owned by Rajpurohits.
Villages are Mori, Barwa Devnagari dhaam, Mada, Lopi, Norwa, Nimbada, Mandal, Varka, Garasani, Asop and Maada. Maada being oldest and big village. These villages were not gifted or donated by rulers, but were rather captured by Gundechas after battling local Bhil
tribes.
Piplad, son of Maharishi
Dadhichi
is the gotra Rishi
. Rohini Maata is Kuldevi of muthas, the temple of Rohini Maata is located in Vandar.
Their lineage is drawn from veer Shri Somoji. There are five villages of Muthas, Rungari, Pilowani, Vanadar, Ghenari and Shivtalav. Rungari is the oldest village among all five villages. Shivtalav is at a distance whereas rest four villages share boundaries. These five villages are collectively called Shon/Sansan, which means affluent or ruling class.
and Rajpurohit Devpal Dev from Kannauj
to Marwar
. He brought the idol of Maa Nagnechaya, kuldevi of Sodha's and Rathore
's. They are main trustees of Maa Nagnechaya Temple(Naagana). Mandli, Tarsinghdi, Mayalawas, Gudanal, Megawas, Deriya, Simrakhia, Rewada and Bassi are their jagiri villages.
paliwal
Kuldevi -- Rohini mata temple at vandar & gundoj
village
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...
Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
s with its roots in Rishi
Rishi
Rishi denotes the composers of Vedic hymns. However, according to post-Vedic tradition, the rishi is a "seer" to whom the Vedas were "originally revealed" through states of higher consciousness. The rishis were prominent when Vedic Hinduism took shape, as far back as some three thousand years...
kul (great revered Indian sages from Vedic
Vedic
Vedic may refer to:* the Vedas, the oldest preserved Indic texts** Vedic Sanskrit, the language of these texts** Vedic period, during which these texts were produced** Vedic pantheon of gods mentioned in Vedas/vedic period...
era) and later Brahaminical Gupta period in India.
They are considered as the oldest brahmins who were associated with the ruling class of a kingdom since ancient ages in India. As a tradition Rajpurohits were not only involved in heading the religious rites and duties but also provide selfless service to the state, they were considered to be guardians of the state. They were as much into mentoring royal house, educating princes, guiding king on the path of dharma
Dharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
, providing advise on the matters of welfare of the state, performing religious duties as they were into helping in maintaining the security of kingdom by being actively involved in battles. Guru Dronacharya and Kripacharya were the Rajpurohits of the ancient kingdom of Hastinapur who participated in the great war of Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
on behalf of the state during fall of the Dvapara Yuga
Dvapara Yuga
Dvapara Yuga or Dwapara Yuga is the third out of four yugas, or ages, described in the scriptures of Hinduism. This yuga comes after Treta Yuga and is followed by Kali Yuga...
. Present day Rajpurohits also trace this spirit of martial hood from the great Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
warrior sage Parashurama
Parashurama
Parashurama , is the sixth avatar of Vishnu and belongs to the treta yuga, and is the son of a Brahmin father Jamadagni and mother Renuka. He is considered one of the seven immortal human. He received an axe after undertaking a terrible penance to please Shiva, from whom he learned the methods of...
. As an example, the Junagarh fort in Bikaner houses memorial of Jagram ji Rajpurohit who died fighting for the cause of the state. As a custom, every wedding in the royal family of Bikaner is incomplete without paying homage to him. Such cenotaphs and headstones of Rajpurohits can be found all over Marwar
Marwar
Marwar is a region of southwestern Rajasthan state in western India. It lies partly in the Thar Desert. In Rajasthani dialect "wad" means a particular area. The word Marwar is derived from Sanskrit word 'Maruwat'. English translation of the word is 'The region of desert'., The Imperial Gazetteer...
and Bikaner. Chanakya
Chanakya
Chānakya was a teacher to the first Maurya Emperor Chandragupta , and the first Indian emperor generally considered to be the architect of his rise to power. Traditionally, Chanakya is also identified by the names Kautilya and VishnuGupta, who authored the ancient Indian political treatise...
(Sanskrit: चाणक्य Cāṇakya) (c. 350-283 BCE) was an adviser, a prime minister and Rajpurohit to the first Maurya Emperor Chandragupta (c. 340-293 BCE), and architect of his rise to power. Along with the other surnames like Dixit,Sharma, Goswami etc., Purohit/Rajpurohit is also used as a surname among the Brahmins.
Historical evolution as a community
Presently Rajpurohits as a community majorly dwell in the state of RajasthanRajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
in India. There are more than 100 sub-castes of Rajpurohit each associated with one ruling ancient Kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
clan or the other. Some of them are Raithala,Sevad, chawandiya, Siya/Siha, Jagarwal, Udesh, Manana, Mutha, Sodha, Rajguru/Rajgur/Rajgar, Raigur/Raigar, Paliwal
Paliwal
Paliwal is a surname in India that many families have adopted from their place of origin: Pali. Pali was for many years a center of trade and commerce, located in the current state of Rajasthan in India...
, Gundecha, Santhua,shreegod,johi,Panchlod, Sidhap, Udesh/Audichya, Dudawat, Trambkoti, Balvasa/Balocha, Ridwa, Aboti, Joshi, Vyas, Podharwal,vora, Fandar,gorakha, Daviyal, Kevancha, Sepau, Kesariya, Bakaliya, Makwana, Ojha, Ajariya, Badmera, Sanchora, Titopa, Dadala, Kedariya,Jui, Vyas, Radbada & Halsiya,sothada,bakliya,sindap,punayacha,moomariya. Each of these sub-castes individually had been Rajpurohit(Royal caretakers/priests) of a Kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
clan in India and were in lineage to various ancient Rishis. As a normal practice of those times the marriage relationships between rajpurohit families associated with different gotra
Gotra
In the Hindu society, the term Gotra broadly refers to people who are descendants in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor. Panini defines gotra for grammatical purposes as apatyam pautraprabhrti gotram , which means "the word gotra denotes the progeny beginning with the son's son"...
s was common place. With the passage of time the kingdoms were created and decimated but these Brahmins were woven together in a community named Rajpurohit. Rajpurohit as a community is a group of brahmins who are/were royal caretakers and priests of 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...
Kingdom in medieval times. Over last few centuries, Rajpurohits were inculcated into feudal structure of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
as they time to time received grants of villages called Jagir
Jagir
In historic India, a jagir was a small territory granted by the ruler to an army chieftain in fairly short terms usually of three years but not extending beyond his lifetime, in recognition of his military service...
s from rulers. Consequently, they came closer to Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
s in terms of tradition, way of living and customs. Though they retained the Brahminical customes of vegetarianism
Vegetarianism
Vegetarianism encompasses the practice of following plant-based diets , with or without the inclusion of dairy products or eggs, and with the exclusion of meat...
, wearing of Janeu etc. They address each other as Jagirdars and normally have Singh as their middle name.
Today the members of Rajpurohit community have spread across the length and breadth of the world. The major occupations of Rajpurohits are Farming, Food & Catering, Cloth & Textile merchants and Cosmetics. While many of them have managed to get into prestigious jobs and professional degrees.
Apart from Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
, there is also a brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
Rajpurohits community living in hills of Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east...
. They differ from the martial Rajpurohits of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
. Some of these Rajpurohits in eastern Himalaya hills later migrated during wars or later Islamic invasions from the east via the Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
silk route to Kashmir and settled down in lower north Himalayan regions in remote hilly areas establishing the origin goddess temples like the Kamakhya temple
Kamakhya Temple
The Kamakhya Temple is a Shakti Peeth temple situated on the Nilachal Hill in western part of Guwahati city in Assam, India. It is the main temple in a complex of individual temples dedicated to different forms of the mother goddess as the Dasa Mahavidya, including Bhuvaneshvari, Bagalamukhi,...
in Himachal.Some of these migrant Rajpurohits were patronised by the local Kings with privileges similar to other Rajpurohits. The history of the Rajpurohits in lower Himalayas is recorded about 800 years as in the Kamakhya temple
Kamakhya Temple
The Kamakhya Temple is a Shakti Peeth temple situated on the Nilachal Hill in western part of Guwahati city in Assam, India. It is the main temple in a complex of individual temples dedicated to different forms of the mother goddess as the Dasa Mahavidya, including Bhuvaneshvari, Bagalamukhi,...
in the remote forest area near the village Polian Purohitans in Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east...
.
Demography
Rajpurohit a TitleTitle
A title is a prefix or suffix added to someone's name to signify either veneration, an official position or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may even be inserted between a first and last name...
bestowed upon those learned Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
s, who were masters in 4 arts i.e. mantra's( all rituals), economics, politics and warfare.They were the "Brain of King's". They looked after the administrative running of the kingdoms.In the course of their service to the kingdom, according to ancient traditions, the kings use to award few non-taxable villages or land known as Sasan Jagir
Jagir
In historic India, a jagir was a small territory granted by the ruler to an army chieftain in fairly short terms usually of three years but not extending beyond his lifetime, in recognition of his military service...
and donated call Doli Jagir
Jagir
In historic India, a jagir was a small territory granted by the ruler to an army chieftain in fairly short terms usually of three years but not extending beyond his lifetime, in recognition of his military service...
within his kingdom to their Rajpurohits. These villages or land were considered to be free from any ruler, and were outside the ambit of any form of tax. Also any member of Kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
clan were barred to reside in such jagirs. Even today, this is a fact in many parts of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
. Since in India, the majority of Rathor
Rathor
Rathor may refer to:* Rathore or Rathor, a Suryavanshi Rajput clan of India and Pakistan* Rathor, Pakistan...
i raj was prevalent in Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
before the independence of India, the Rajpurohit caste is prominently found in Marwar
Marwar
Marwar is a region of southwestern Rajasthan state in western India. It lies partly in the Thar Desert. In Rajasthani dialect "wad" means a particular area. The word Marwar is derived from Sanskrit word 'Maruwat'. English translation of the word is 'The region of desert'., The Imperial Gazetteer...
& Godwad region of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
i.e. Jodhpur
Jodhpur
Jodhpur , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital, Jaipur and from the city of Ajmer. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar...
, Jalore
Jalore
Jalor, also known as Jalore , is a city in Rajasthan state of western India. It is the administrative headquarters of Jalor District.- Geography :...
, Pali
Páli
- External links :* *...
, Nagaur
Nagaur
Nagaur is a city in the state of Rajasthan in India. It is the administrative headquarters of Nagaur District. The Nagaur city lies about midway between Jodhpur and Bikaner. It was founded by the Naga Kshatriyas.- History :...
, Barmer
Barmer, Rajasthan
Barmer is the headquarters of the Barmer district in the state of Rajasthan, India. It is a city and a municipality.-Origin of name:...
, Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer
Jaysalmer , nicknamed "The Golden City", is a town in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital Jaipur. It was once known as Jaisalmer state. The town stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone, crowned by a fort, which contains the palace and several ornate Jain...
, Bikaner, Churu
Churu
Churu is a town in the desert region of Rajasthan state of India. It is the administrative headquarters of Churu District. It lies in the Thar Desert on the National Highway-65 connecting Pali to Ambala and is a junction station on the railway line to Bikaner...
& Sirohi
Sirohi
Sirohi is a city in southern Rajasthan state in western India. It is the administrative headquarters of Sirohi District, and was formerly the capital of the princely state of the same name. Nearest railway station to Sirohi is Sirohi Road station.-Geography:...
districts of Rajasthan. Most of the Rajpurohits who live in other parts of India, can trace back their roots, up to one to two generations, back to some village of Rajasthan. However some parts of Gujarat and 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....
with their common boundary with Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
do have members from Rajpurohit community residing there.
Beliefs
Since the Rajpurohits are believers of Indo-AryanIndo-Aryans
Indo-Aryan is an ethno-linguistic term referring to the wide collection of peoples united as native speakers of the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-Iranian family of Indo-European languages...
tradition, some practice Sanātana Dharma.They believe in preserving ancient Hindu Vedic
Vedic
Vedic may refer to:* the Vedas, the oldest preserved Indic texts** Vedic Sanskrit, the language of these texts** Vedic period, during which these texts were produced** Vedic pantheon of gods mentioned in Vedas/vedic period...
Culture and follow majority of common 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...
customs and rituals. A male rajpurohit has Janeu, the sacred thread on his shoulder, denoting that the bearer should be pure in his thought, word and deed. The sacred thread reminds the bearer to lead a regulated life with purity in his thought, word and deed.
These threads also represent the debt that is owed to the spiritual
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
guru, parents and society. Rajpurohits are pure vegetarian
Vegetarianism
Vegetarianism encompasses the practice of following plant-based diets , with or without the inclusion of dairy products or eggs, and with the exclusion of meat...
and generally non-drinkers. They normally use Rajasthani
Rajasthani language
Rajasthani Rajasthani Rajasthani (Devanagari: , Perso-Arabic: is a language of the Indo-Aryan languages family. It is spoken by 50 million people in Rajasthan and other states of India and in some areas of Pakistan. The number of speakers may be up to 80 million worldwide...
/Marwari
Marwari language
The Marwari language , also variously Marvari, Marwadi, Marvadi), is spoken in the Indian state of Rajasthan. Marwari is also found in the neighboring state of Gujarat and Haryana and in Eastern Pakistan...
, a major language spoken in the western Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
.
Current State of Community
It is commonly believed that the previous two centuries were more or less a Dark Age for Rajpurohit community. By the mid 19th century almost all the KshatriyaKshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
kingdoms of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
came under British protectorate. The British interference increased in the matter of states and this had its own repercussions on Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
s and Rajpurohits. Kingship distanced itself from Kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
Dharma
Dharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
and the role of Rajpurohits also diminished in statecraft. The taxfree Jagir
Jagir
In historic India, a jagir was a small territory granted by the ruler to an army chieftain in fairly short terms usually of three years but not extending beyond his lifetime, in recognition of his military service...
s ensured that education lost its importance. Over centuries Rajpurohits saw transformation from a highly educated Vedic
Vedic
Vedic may refer to:* the Vedas, the oldest preserved Indic texts** Vedic Sanskrit, the language of these texts** Vedic period, during which these texts were produced** Vedic pantheon of gods mentioned in Vedas/vedic period...
community to a primarily agrarian society
Agrarian society
An agrarian society is a society that depends on agriculture as its primary means for support and sustenance. The society acknowledges other means of livelihood and work habits but stresses the importance of agriculture and farming, and was the most common form of socio-economic oganization for...
.
Mediaeval social evils of Purdah
Purdah
Purdah or pardeh is the practice of concealing women from men. According to one definition:This takes two forms: physical segregation of the sexes, and the requirement for women to cover their bodies and conceal their form....
(Veil
Veil
A veil is an article of clothing, worn almost exclusively by women, that is intended to cover some part of the head or face.One view is that as a religious item, it is intended to show honor to an object or space...
) system, Dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
etc. were also inculcated in the Rajpurohit Society. Once fountainheads of education and moral torch bearers of Sanātana Dharma in India, members of the Rajpurohit society were now reduced to a largely illiterate agrarian society
Agrarian society
An agrarian society is a society that depends on agriculture as its primary means for support and sustenance. The society acknowledges other means of livelihood and work habits but stresses the importance of agriculture and farming, and was the most common form of socio-economic oganization for...
. With the advent of Indian independence in 1947, the community saw itself much diminished in economic and political influence.
In past six decades, many of the community members migrated to various Indian cities in search of business opportunities. Learning from the changing situation and persistence of people like Sant Atmanand Ji Maharaj who opened several youth hostels, the community saw a boost in education. This resulted in many community members joining state and central services along with other professions. Although education levels are on the rise but there is still room for improvement in the area of education for women education; the area is very conservative and as a result of this, women's education levels have been very low.
Politically, a strong benevolence in Hindu Dharma made right wing political parties an obvious choice for the community. Resulting in majority of community votes going to parties like Jansangh and later on BJP. But modern politics being an unknown turf coupled with political immaturity, Rajpurohits have mostly been a vote bank to political parties. Even in the regions with strong presence of Rajpurohits, hardly any political party historically choose a representative from them. This situation owed much to lack of unity between community members and their personal egos. Until recently, when other communities were keeping their own welfare and political representation above and over political ideologies, Rajpurohits still seemed to be living in a neverland of idealism. Community awakened and came together after Sant Khetaram ji Maharaj/Kheteshwar ji Maharaj sacrificed himself in mid 1980s, for the greater good of humanity as a whole and Rajpurohits in particular. Gradually, there had been a political awakening in the community with number of political representatives from community in both major political parties, increasing in 21st century.
Child Marriage
Child marriage
Child marriage and child betrothal customs occur in various times and places, whereby children are given in matrimony - before marriageable age as defined by the commentator and often before puberty. Today such customs are fairly widespread in parts of Africa, Asia, Oceania and South America: in...
s are decreasing but Dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
system, lavish marriages and Nyat (function after someone's demise) etc. are eating up lot of community resources and finances. Opium
Opium
Opium is the dried latex obtained from the opium poppy . Opium contains up to 12% morphine, an alkaloid, which is frequently processed chemically to produce heroin for the illegal drug trade. The latex also includes codeine and non-narcotic alkaloids such as papaverine, thebaine and noscapine...
addiction has also came up as a challenge to the community which needs immediate attention.
Vyas
The kuldevi of vyas rajpurohits is umiya mata in uja (Gujarat). Kkuldev is nilkant mahadev in ramseen in apeshwar mahadev temple.they were rural of there area and have a kingdom extending from aabu pravat in east to sundha mata in west, and they are succession of adi rishi ved vyas
vyas belong from suryvanshi. Vyas live primarily in Rajasthan, and their village of origin is Ramseen.
Jagarwal
Kuldevi of Jagarwal Rajpurohits is Jageshwari Devi/Jwalamukhi Devi.Jagarwal migrated from Sesali Village of Jalore
Jalore
Jalor, also known as Jalore , is a city in Rajasthan state of western India. It is the administrative headquarters of Jalor District.- Geography :...
district in Rajasthan. Jagarwals were Rajpurohits of Parmara Rajputs who were rulers of Jalore. Bal Rishi/Jabali Rishi
Rishi
Rishi denotes the composers of Vedic hymns. However, according to post-Vedic tradition, the rishi is a "seer" to whom the Vedas were "originally revealed" through states of higher consciousness. The rishis were prominent when Vedic Hinduism took shape, as far back as some three thousand years...
was ancestor of Jagarwals. Jalore/Jabalipur was named after him. Bal Rishi had twelve Sasan villages (Tax free villages) including Balwara . Later on Jagarwals became Rajpurohits of Sindhal Rathore
Rathore
The Rathore is a Suryavanshi Rajput clan same caste as Lohana. Their Kuldevi is Nagnechiya Mata and "Karani Mata". Rathores are originally from Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh. Rathores are historically considered the samurais of India...
Rajputs.
Before independence Jagarwal Rajpurohits had many Sasan Jagir villages in Marwar
Marwar
Marwar is a region of southwestern Rajasthan state in western India. It lies partly in the Thar Desert. In Rajasthani dialect "wad" means a particular area. The word Marwar is derived from Sanskrit word 'Maruwat'. English translation of the word is 'The region of desert'., The Imperial Gazetteer...
and Godwad region including Jasnagar, Kakindra, Lambiyan,Anwloj(Roopsingh\Deepsingh s\o Savaji), Rewatada, Veerana, Rewat, Modran, Dakatara, Bagra
Bagra
Bagra is a village in the Jalore district in the Marwar region in Rajasthan state in India. Bagra lies 18 km south of the town of Jalore on Jalore-Sirohi road.-History:...
(Marwar), Basda Dhanji, Dhola Sasan, Akadada, Dhariya, Punadiya, Lapod, Auwa Sasan, Champa Khedi and Dhangadwas etc.
Sewad
Gotra RishiRishi
Rishi denotes the composers of Vedic hymns. However, according to post-Vedic tradition, the rishi is a "seer" to whom the Vedas were "originally revealed" through states of higher consciousness. The rishis were prominent when Vedic Hinduism took shape, as far back as some three thousand years...
of Sewad Rajpurohits is Maharishi
Maharishi
Maharishi is the anglicized version of the Sanskrit word Maharshi महर्षि . Maharishi is often use as an addition to a person's name as an honorary title. The term was first seen in modern English literature in the 18th century...
Bharadwaj while Bishasth maata(the goddess with twenty hands) being the Kuldevi. The term Sewad is derived from Shri Goud linking them with a larger Pancha-Gauda
Pancha-Gauda
Pancha-Gauda and Pancha-Dravida are two chief divisions of Brahmins, as per the śloka from Rājatarangini of / Kalhana:कर्णाटकाश्च तैलंगा द्राविडा महाराष्ट्रकाः ,गुर्जराश्चेति पञ्चैव द्राविडा विन्ध्यदक्षिणे ||सारस्वताः कान्यकुब्जा गौडा उत्कलमैथिलाः,...
Brahmin family of Northern India.
It is said that their ancestor Rajpurohit Devpal Dev Ji came to Marwar with Rao Sheoji
Rao Sheoji
Rao Seoji was a Rajput belonging to the Rathore clan. His father was Setram Rathore.-History:Rao Sheoji fought many battles against his own relatives and was responsible for killing many of them. This prompted him to undertake a pilgrimage to Dwarka. On the way to Dwarka, he received customary...
Rathore
Rathore
The Rathore is a Suryavanshi Rajput clan same caste as Lohana. Their Kuldevi is Nagnechiya Mata and "Karani Mata". Rathores are originally from Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh. Rathores are historically considered the samurais of India...
from Kannauj
Kannauj
Kannauj , also spelt Kanauj, is a city, administrative headquarters and a municipal board or Nagar Palika Parishad in Kannauj district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city's name is traditionally derived from the term Kanyakubja . Kannauj is an ancient city, in earlier times the capital...
. A family known to us as the "Gahadvala
Gahadvala
The Gahadvala or Gaharwar is a Hindu Rajput dynasty that ruled the kingdom of Kannauj for around a hundred years, beginning the late 11th century.-Rebuilding of Kannauj Kingdom:...
" dynasty ruled Kannauj
Kannauj
Kannauj , also spelt Kanauj, is a city, administrative headquarters and a municipal board or Nagar Palika Parishad in Kannauj district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city's name is traditionally derived from the term Kanyakubja . Kannauj is an ancient city, in earlier times the capital...
in 12th century AD; their best-known dynast was Raja Jaichand
Jaichand of Kannauj
Jaichand was the Rajput ruler of Kannauj. He was the father of Sanyogita, Prithvi Raj Chauhan's wife. Jaichand was the name of the last ruler of Kannauj belonging to the Rathore dynasty.-Sources:...
, their last king. The Gahadvalas were displaced from Kannauj by the invasion, in 1194 CE, of Muhammad of Ghor
Muhammad of Ghor
Sultan Shahāb-ud-Din Muhammad Ghori , originally called Mu'izzuddīn Muḥammad Bin Sām , was a ruler of the Ghurid dynasty who reigned over a territory spanning present-day Afghanistan, Pakistan and northern India.Shahabuddin Ghori reconquered the city of Ghazna Sultan Shahāb-ud-Din Muhammad Ghori...
. It is said that Rao Sheoji
Rao Sheoji
Rao Seoji was a Rajput belonging to the Rathore clan. His father was Setram Rathore.-History:Rao Sheoji fought many battles against his own relatives and was responsible for killing many of them. This prompted him to undertake a pilgrimage to Dwarka. On the way to Dwarka, he received customary...
, a surviving grandson of Jaichand, on pilgrimage to Dwarika
Dwarka
Dwarka also spelled Dvarka, Dwaraka, and Dvaraka, is a city and a municipality of Jamnagar district in the Gujarat state in India. Dwarka , also known as Dwarawati in Sanskrit literature is rated as one of the seven most ancient cities in the country...
along with Rajpurohit Devpal Dev around 1272 samvatsari, met a few Paliwal
Paliwal
Paliwal is a surname in India that many families have adopted from their place of origin: Pali. Pali was for many years a center of trade and commerce, located in the current state of Rajasthan in India...
Brahmins at Pushkar
Pushkar
Pushkar is a town in the Ajmer district in the state of Rajasthan, India. It is situated at 14 km North West from Ajmer at an average elevation of 510 metres , and is one of the five sacred dhams...
. Pali
Páli
- External links :* *...
was a flourishing and prosperous trade center en route Persia, central Asia and Middle-East and beyond. It was governed by local brahmins. The Brahmins requested Rao Sheoji
Rao Sheoji
Rao Seoji was a Rajput belonging to the Rathore clan. His father was Setram Rathore.-History:Rao Sheoji fought many battles against his own relatives and was responsible for killing many of them. This prompted him to undertake a pilgrimage to Dwarka. On the way to Dwarka, he received customary...
to come to Pali
Páli
- External links :* *...
and help them get rid of local tribal people and marauding bands, who were harassing and looting them time to time. Rao Sheoji
Rao Sheoji
Rao Seoji was a Rajput belonging to the Rathore clan. His father was Setram Rathore.-History:Rao Sheoji fought many battles against his own relatives and was responsible for killing many of them. This prompted him to undertake a pilgrimage to Dwarka. On the way to Dwarka, he received customary...
and his fellow men defeated tribal chiefs first and eventually succeeded in conquering Pali from the brahmins as well. This was the first conquest of Rathore
Rathore
The Rathore is a Suryavanshi Rajput clan same caste as Lohana. Their Kuldevi is Nagnechiya Mata and "Karani Mata". Rathores are originally from Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh. Rathores are historically considered the samurais of India...
s in present day Marwar
Marwar
Marwar is a region of southwestern Rajasthan state in western India. It lies partly in the Thar Desert. In Rajasthani dialect "wad" means a particular area. The word Marwar is derived from Sanskrit word 'Maruwat'. English translation of the word is 'The region of desert'., The Imperial Gazetteer...
and paved the way for building up of Rathori Raj. Then they expanded to Khed near today's Balotra
Balotra
Balotra is a city in Barmer District of Rajasthan state in India. It is about 100 km from Jodhpur. The town is famous for hand block printing and textile industry and for an annual desert and tribal fair at Tilwara. The town is well connected with Jodhpur by rail and buses at frequent...
defeating Gahlot
Gahlot
Gahlot is a Rajput clan in India, which traces its ancestry to the Suryavanshi Kshatriyas. The variations of the name include Gehlot, Guhila, Gohil or Guhilote. As a clan name, Gahlot and its variations are found among a number of communities which includes the Rajputs,& GurjarsThe royal Gahlots...
Rajputs, and slowly with time conquered Malani
Malani
Roko Malani was the eldest son of Rasolo, the first Tui Nayau , and of Laufitu a high-ranking lady of Totoya and Tongan descent. He succeeded to the title Roko Sau, after engineering a successful coup d'état and slaying his uncle, Matawalu, the fourth Roko Sau, in battle...
region from other local Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
clans. Rajpurohit Devpal Dev was given many villages as jagir
Jagir
In historic India, a jagir was a small territory granted by the ruler to an army chieftain in fairly short terms usually of three years but not extending beyond his lifetime, in recognition of his military service...
. The services lent by Rajpurohits to the state was rewarded with more jagiri lands by Rathore kingdom during the course of time
Prominent Sewad villages are khedapa, Bhensar, Tivri, Bhensar Kotwali, Mohrai, Kalyanpur and Badli.
sindap
' ( Son of maharishi vishishtha ) ---- KULDEVI - Matha hingalaj mathaAll Sindap is come from sidhaspur at persent in gujrat palan pur dist . In 8 century mugal aakrmankary attek on India that time he attek on allso sidhapur that time so many pepole kill by attekers .usake bad vaha se jo rajpurohit bache vo alag alag hua or unase 5 village base jo fulasar, silor, fular, madpuriya, & nadol the .abunase kei gav ho chuke he jese dhava, jetiwas,devali pabuji ki, esali ext. sindap"s kuldevi hinglaj matha in Pakistan,
Rajguru
MaharishiMaharishi
Maharishi is the anglicized version of the Sanskrit word Maharshi महर्षि . Maharishi is often use as an addition to a person's name as an honorary title. The term was first seen in modern English literature in the 18th century...
Vashishtha is the ancestor of Rajgurus. Their Kuldevi is Sarshawti Maata.About 5 km south of Pindwara on the way to Abu Road, is the village of Ajari. 2 km away from Ajari village, is temple of Mahadeo and Sarswati. The scenery is picturesque, honey-combed with date-trees and a small rivulet flows nearby. Small hillocks form a wonderful background. The temple is enclosed by s high wall. Inside it is a Kundi of 30' x 20' size. Markandeshwar Rishi is said to have meditated here. There is small image of god Vishnu and one that of goddess Sarswati. Nearby is pond commonly known Gaya-Kund where people immerse the mortal remains. On every Jeshtha Sudi 11 and Baisakh Sudi 15 a fair is held here. In Ajari village there is temple of sati maa most of rajguru also visit this temple.
Prominent Rajguru villages are Balera, Silore, Bisu Rajguran, Doli, Radwa, Vani, Pandit ji ki Dhaani(Bethwasiya, Osian
Osian
Osian is an ancient town located in the Jodhpur District of Rajasthan state in western India. It is an oasis in the Thar Desert-http://marupradesh.org/, north of the district headquarters at Jodhpur, on a diversion off the main Jodhpur – Bikaner Highway.It is also known as Khajuraho of...
) Basni Purohitan Osian
Osian
Osian is an ancient town located in the Jodhpur District of Rajasthan state in western India. It is an oasis in the Thar Desert-http://marupradesh.org/, north of the district headquarters at Jodhpur, on a diversion off the main Jodhpur – Bikaner Highway.It is also known as Khajuraho of...
, Odwada (Jalore), Chadwal, Bawali, paovta (jalore )Kailashnager, Vaan of sirohi Dist, Patau (near Kalyanpur) and Langera. Balera is a Saasan village of Rajgurus having Kuldevi Koobar Maataji Temple. The Silore village is often spoken as "Sasan bada Silore gaanv".
Panchlod:
It is been said that the gotra been named on five brothers who split in marwar and formed their own five villages respectively.Two of the famous Panchlod villages among five villages are DHARAMDHARI AND SUMDHAND.
Siha/Siya/Singha
Gotra Rishi of Siha Rajpurohits is Maharshi ParasharaParashara
' is a Rigvedic Maharishi and author of many ancient Indian texts. Parāśara was the grandson of Vashista, the son of Śakti Maharṣi, and the father of Vyasa. There are several texts which give reference to Parāśara as an author/speaker...
. Chamunda
Chamunda
Chamunda , also known as Chamundi, Chamundeshwari and Charchika, is a fearsome aspect of Devi, the Hindu Divine Mother and one of the seven Matrikas . She is also one of the chief Yoginis, a group of sixty-four or eighty-one Tantric goddesses, who are attendants of the warrior goddess Durga...
Maata is Kuldevi of the Siha Rajpurohits.
Siha Rajpurohits are said to have originated at the banks of river Godavari in modern day Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
and hence belong to a larger Panch-Dravida brahmin family. The region was controlled from 6th to 8th Century AD by Badami
Badami
Badami , formerly known as Vatapi, is a town and headquarters of a taluk by the same name, in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, India. It was the regal capital of the Badami Chalukyas from 540 to 757 AD. It is famous for rock cut and other structural temples...
Chalukyas who later moved northwards to Gujarat and came to be known as Solanki
Solanki
The Solanki was a royal Hindu Indian dynasty that ruled parts of western and central India between the 10th to 13th centuries. A number of scholars including V. A. Smith assign them Gurjar origin....
s in 10th Century AD. Sihas were their Rajpurohits. The word Siha originates from the town Sihor
Sihor
Sihor is an ancient, historical medium sized town, a municipality in Bhavnagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Placed along the river Gautami, this erstwhile capital of the Gohil Rajputs, surrounded by hills is situated about 20 km from Bhavnagar...
(also called Singhor), their place of dewelling in Gujarat. When Guhilots moved to present day Rajasthan, Sihas accompanied them as their Rajpurohits. It is said that Guhila (Guha - cave born), the ancestor of Gahlot
Gahlot
Gahlot is a Rajput clan in India, which traces its ancestry to the Suryavanshi Kshatriyas. The variations of the name include Gehlot, Guhila, Gohil or Guhilote. As a clan name, Gahlot and its variations are found among a number of communities which includes the Rajputs,& GurjarsThe royal Gahlots...
and Sisodia
Sisodia
The Sisodia are Chattari Rajputs of the Suryavanshi lineage who ruled the kingdom of Mewar in Rajasthan. Prior to Rana Hamir the clan was known as Gehlot or Guhilot. In 1303 CE Alla-ud-din Khilji attacked Chittor...
clans of Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
s was son of a Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
, who took to Kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
Dharma owing to insecurities of those times. Some of his clan members continued as Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
s and were Rajpurohits of Gahlot
Gahlot
Gahlot is a Rajput clan in India, which traces its ancestry to the Suryavanshi Kshatriyas. The variations of the name include Gehlot, Guhila, Gohil or Guhilote. As a clan name, Gahlot and its variations are found among a number of communities which includes the Rajputs,& GurjarsThe royal Gahlots...
s. A branch of Gahlot
Gahlot
Gahlot is a Rajput clan in India, which traces its ancestry to the Suryavanshi Kshatriyas. The variations of the name include Gehlot, Guhila, Gohil or Guhilote. As a clan name, Gahlot and its variations are found among a number of communities which includes the Rajputs,& GurjarsThe royal Gahlots...
s moved to Marwar
Marwar
Marwar is a region of southwestern Rajasthan state in western India. It lies partly in the Thar Desert. In Rajasthani dialect "wad" means a particular area. The word Marwar is derived from Sanskrit word 'Maruwat'. English translation of the word is 'The region of desert'., The Imperial Gazetteer...
and set a kingdom at Kher/Khergarh near present day Balotra
Balotra
Balotra is a city in Barmer District of Rajasthan state in India. It is about 100 km from Jodhpur. The town is famous for hand block printing and textile industry and for an annual desert and tribal fair at Tilwara. The town is well connected with Jodhpur by rail and buses at frequent...
. They were defeated by Rathore
Rathore
The Rathore is a Suryavanshi Rajput clan same caste as Lohana. Their Kuldevi is Nagnechiya Mata and "Karani Mata". Rathores are originally from Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh. Rathores are historically considered the samurais of India...
s in 13th Century AD and moved towards Gujarat. Some of their Rajpurohit Brahmins stayed back and with time were engulfed in larger Rajpurohit community of Marwar
Marwar
Marwar is a region of southwestern Rajasthan state in western India. It lies partly in the Thar Desert. In Rajasthani dialect "wad" means a particular area. The word Marwar is derived from Sanskrit word 'Maruwat'. English translation of the word is 'The region of desert'., The Imperial Gazetteer...
.
In Rathore
Rathore
The Rathore is a Suryavanshi Rajput clan same caste as Lohana. Their Kuldevi is Nagnechiya Mata and "Karani Mata". Rathores are originally from Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh. Rathores are historically considered the samurais of India...
Raj Bhatelai, Hingola, Bambore, Meghlasia, Balotra
Balotra
Balotra is a city in Barmer District of Rajasthan state in India. It is about 100 km from Jodhpur. The town is famous for hand block printing and textile industry and for an annual desert and tribal fair at Tilwara. The town is well connected with Jodhpur by rail and buses at frequent...
, Golian - these seven villages are sibling villages maintained as Jagirs of Siha Rajpurohits. The first four villages fall in the Jodhpur
Jodhpur
Jodhpur , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital, Jaipur and from the city of Ajmer. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar...
District while remaining three villages are in Barmer
Barmer
Barmer may refer to the following places:*Barmer district, a district of Rajasthan state, India**Barmer , a Lok Sabha parliamentary constituency of Rajasthan**Barmer, Rajasthan, a city in Barmer district...
District. Balotra
Balotra
Balotra is a city in Barmer District of Rajasthan state in India. It is about 100 km from Jodhpur. The town is famous for hand block printing and textile industry and for an annual desert and tribal fair at Tilwara. The town is well connected with Jodhpur by rail and buses at frequent...
is named after Baala/Vaala Ji Siya, while Golian (also called Bhinda Kuan) was awarded to his brother Bhinda Ji. Balotra
Balotra
Balotra is a city in Barmer District of Rajasthan state in India. It is about 100 km from Jodhpur. The town is famous for hand block printing and textile industry and for an annual desert and tribal fair at Tilwara. The town is well connected with Jodhpur by rail and buses at frequent...
has eventually grown to be the largest of all jagir
Jagir
In historic India, a jagir was a small territory granted by the ruler to an army chieftain in fairly short terms usually of three years but not extending beyond his lifetime, in recognition of his military service...
s owned by Rajpurohits.
Gundesha/Gundecha
KulDevi of Gundesha/Gundecha is Rohini Maata. The Main Temples are in Sadri, Gundoj and Barwa Devnagari dhaam.Villages are Mori, Barwa Devnagari dhaam, Mada, Lopi, Norwa, Nimbada, Mandal, Varka, Garasani, Asop and Maada. Maada being oldest and big village. These villages were not gifted or donated by rulers, but were rather captured by Gundechas after battling local Bhil
Bhil
Bhils are primarily an Adivasi people of Central India. Bhils are also settled in the Tharparkar District of Sindh, Pakistan. They speak the Bhil languages, a subgroup of the Western Zone of the Indo-Aryan languages....
tribes.
Mutha
MaharishiMaharishi
Maharishi is the anglicized version of the Sanskrit word Maharshi महर्षि . Maharishi is often use as an addition to a person's name as an honorary title. The term was first seen in modern English literature in the 18th century...
Piplad, son of Maharishi
Maharishi
Maharishi is the anglicized version of the Sanskrit word Maharshi महर्षि . Maharishi is often use as an addition to a person's name as an honorary title. The term was first seen in modern English literature in the 18th century...
Dadhichi
Dadhichi
Dadhichi, also known as Dadhyancha, is an important character in Hindu mythology. He is revered amongst the greatest of sages and is portrayed as an example that no sacrifice is too great when the result is the good of the world. His bones are marked as symbol on the India's highest gallant award...
is the gotra Rishi
Rishi
Rishi denotes the composers of Vedic hymns. However, according to post-Vedic tradition, the rishi is a "seer" to whom the Vedas were "originally revealed" through states of higher consciousness. The rishis were prominent when Vedic Hinduism took shape, as far back as some three thousand years...
. Rohini Maata is Kuldevi of muthas, the temple of Rohini Maata is located in Vandar.
Their lineage is drawn from veer Shri Somoji. There are five villages of Muthas, Rungari, Pilowani, Vanadar, Ghenari and Shivtalav. Rungari is the oldest village among all five villages. Shivtalav is at a distance whereas rest four villages share boundaries. These five villages are collectively called Shon/Sansan, which means affluent or ruling class.
Sodha
Pithalji Sodha(Rajpurohit) came with Rao SheojiRao Sheoji
Rao Seoji was a Rajput belonging to the Rathore clan. His father was Setram Rathore.-History:Rao Sheoji fought many battles against his own relatives and was responsible for killing many of them. This prompted him to undertake a pilgrimage to Dwarka. On the way to Dwarka, he received customary...
and Rajpurohit Devpal Dev from Kannauj
Kannauj
Kannauj , also spelt Kanauj, is a city, administrative headquarters and a municipal board or Nagar Palika Parishad in Kannauj district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city's name is traditionally derived from the term Kanyakubja . Kannauj is an ancient city, in earlier times the capital...
to Marwar
Marwar
Marwar is a region of southwestern Rajasthan state in western India. It lies partly in the Thar Desert. In Rajasthani dialect "wad" means a particular area. The word Marwar is derived from Sanskrit word 'Maruwat'. English translation of the word is 'The region of desert'., The Imperial Gazetteer...
. He brought the idol of Maa Nagnechaya, kuldevi of Sodha's and Rathore
Rathore
The Rathore is a Suryavanshi Rajput clan same caste as Lohana. Their Kuldevi is Nagnechiya Mata and "Karani Mata". Rathores are originally from Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh. Rathores are historically considered the samurais of India...
's. They are main trustees of Maa Nagnechaya Temple(Naagana). Mandli, Tarsinghdi, Mayalawas, Gudanal, Megawas, Deriya, Simrakhia, Rewada and Bassi are their jagiri villages.
paliwal
'( son of maharishi pipad )
Kuldevi -- Rohini mata temple at vandar & gundojvillage
Notable Rajpurohits
- Brahmarshi Sant Khetaram ji Maharaj/Kheteshwar ji Maharaj - Revered saint who laid down his mortal beings for greater good of common folk - see AsotraAsotraAsotra is the site of world's second Brahma Temple built by late Brahmarshi Sant Khetaram ji Maharaj. The first being Pushkar.-Location:...
- Brahmarshi Sant Tulsaram ji Maharaj - Present head of Brahma Temple, AsotraAsotraAsotra is the site of world's second Brahma Temple built by late Brahmarshi Sant Khetaram ji Maharaj. The first being Pushkar.-Location:...
- Sant Atmanand ji Maharaj - Revered educationist of the community
- Late Shri. Balkishan ji Purohit(Madri) - 1st Purohit R.P.S (1901-1959)
- Late Dr. Devi singh ji 'Sarvan' Ratlam(M.P.) - Freedom fighter & Ex-Health Minister of Madhya PradeshMadhya PradeshMadhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
- Late Shri. Vijai singh ji Rajpurohit(Madri) - 1st Purohit I.R.S (1925-1994)
- Late Mohan Singh ji 'Ghenari' - He was the Dean of first Vetanary College of India - was popularly called Dean Sahab
- Late Tikam Singh ji 'Kanodia' - Retd. Adl. S.P. (Rajasthan PoliceRajasthan PoliceThe Rajasthan Police is the law enforcement agency for the state of Rajasthan in India. The Rajasthan Police has its headquarters in Jaipur, the state capital. The motto of the force is "Sevarth Katibaddhta", which means "Committed to serve".- History :...
) - Late Pukhraj Singh ji Rajpurohit, Bawari Khurd (PhalodiPhalodiPhalodi is a city and a municipality in Jodhpur district in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is situated between latitude 27°-06 to 27°-09 north and 72°-20 to 72°-23east. It has an average elevation of 303 metres...
), Retd. Addl SP (Rajasthan PoliceRajasthan PoliceThe Rajasthan Police is the law enforcement agency for the state of Rajasthan in India. The Rajasthan Police has its headquarters in Jaipur, the state capital. The motto of the force is "Sevarth Katibaddhta", which means "Committed to serve".- History :...
) - Mr. Dalpat Singh 'Dinkar' - Indian Police ServiceIndian Police ServiceThe Indian Police Service , simply known as Indian Police or IPS, is one of the three All India Services of the Government of India...
, Inspector General of Police (Rajasthan PoliceRajasthan PoliceThe Rajasthan Police is the law enforcement agency for the state of Rajasthan in India. The Rajasthan Police has its headquarters in Jaipur, the state capital. The motto of the force is "Sevarth Katibaddhta", which means "Committed to serve".- History :...
) - Mr. Shankar Singh - Former MLA (AhorAhorAhor or Ahore is a village in Jalore District of Rajasthan state in India. It is situated 17 km east of the Jalore on Jalore-Sanderao road. It is the headquarters of the tehsil by the same name.-Geography:Aho-Bhenswara...
Constituency, Jalore) - Mr. Bhanwar Lal Ji - Former MLA (MakranaMakranaMakrana is a town in the Nagaur district of Indian state of Rajasthan. Makrana is famous for the white stone as marble mined from the mines around it. It is said that the Taj Mahal was built from Makrana marble. Makrana is a small town, but it has plenty of marble outcrops. Most of the residents...
Constituency, Nagaur) - Mr. Rajendra Singh - Chairman of Gou Seva Ayog, Government of Rajasthan
- Mr. M L Rajpurohit - MLA (Dhanera constituency, GujratGujratGujrat is a city in Pakistan. It is the capital of Gujrat District and the Gujrat Tehsil subdivision in the Punjab Province. People living in Gujrat refer to themselves as Gujratis, which sometimes leads to confusion with people from the Indian state of Gujarat which adjoins Pakistan...
) - Mr. Suresh Rajpurohit - Indian Police ServiceIndian Police ServiceThe Indian Police Service , simply known as Indian Police or IPS, is one of the three All India Services of the Government of India...
KeralaKeralaor Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
Cadre, DIG CBI, JaipurJaipurJaipur , also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, the city today has a population of more than 3.1 million.... - Dr. Bharat Singh Rajpurohit- Indian Foreign ServiceIndian Foreign ServiceThe Indian Foreign Service is the foreign service of India. It is the body of career diplomats of India.The Indian Foreign Service is part of the Central Civil Services of the Government of India...
, Second Secretary (Political) at the Indian Embassy in AbuDhabi, United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab EmiratesThe United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a... - Mr. Sanjay Purohit - CEO of a USA based consultancy firm. Is a former IASIAS- Accounting, Auditing :*International Accounting Standards*Internal Audit Service - Science :*Institute for Advanced Study**IAS computer, built at the Institute for Advanced Study*Indian Academy of Sciences...
officer, completed his Master's from IIT Mumbai and is an MBA (Gold Medalist) from IIM Ahmedabad - Mr. Durg Singh Kanodia - Retd. Adl. S.P.(Rajasthan PoliceRajasthan PoliceThe Rajasthan Police is the law enforcement agency for the state of Rajasthan in India. The Rajasthan Police has its headquarters in Jaipur, the state capital. The motto of the force is "Sevarth Katibaddhta", which means "Committed to serve".- History :...
) - Prof. Dalpat Singh Rajpurohit 'Sokra' - Professor Columbia UniversityColumbia UniversityColumbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, New York (U.S.A.) - Bramchari Sant Devpuri ji Maharaj - Dugarpuri ji ka math ChohtanChohtanChohtan is a village in Barmer district of Rajasthan state. It is a tehsil headquarter.There are several temples in the area, including Viratra, Deri Dungar, and Sunya mata ka mandir.-Geography:...
- Mr. Heer Singh Rajpurohit Retd. Pharmacist (USA since 1975) educated from (B.I.T.S)
See also
- AsotraAsotraAsotra is the site of world's second Brahma Temple built by late Brahmarshi Sant Khetaram ji Maharaj. The first being Pushkar.-Location:...
- Brahma Temple - Vedic priesthoodVedic priesthoodPriests of the Vedic religion were officiants of the yajna service. As persons trained for the ritual and proficient in its practice, they were called '...
- VasisthaVasisthaVashist in the seventh, i.e the present Manvantara, and the Rajpurohit / Rajguru of the Suryavansha or Solar Dynasty. He was the mānasaputra of Brahma. He had in his possession the divine cow Kamadhenu, and Nandini her child, who could grant anything to their owners...
- ParasharaParashara' is a Rigvedic Maharishi and author of many ancient Indian texts. Parāśara was the grandson of Vashista, the son of Śakti Maharṣi, and the father of Vyasa. There are several texts which give reference to Parāśara as an author/speaker...
- BrahminBrahminBrahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
- RajasthanRajasthanRājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
- BalotraBalotraBalotra is a city in Barmer District of Rajasthan state in India. It is about 100 km from Jodhpur. The town is famous for hand block printing and textile industry and for an annual desert and tribal fair at Tilwara. The town is well connected with Jodhpur by rail and buses at frequent...
- City founded by Vaala Ji 'Siya' in BarmerBarmerBarmer may refer to the following places:*Barmer district, a district of Rajasthan state, India**Barmer , a Lok Sabha parliamentary constituency of Rajasthan**Barmer, Rajasthan, a city in Barmer district... - Bagra (Marwar) - Village founded by Bagaji 'Jagarwal'
- Kanodia PurohitanKanodia PurohitanRajpurohitsKanodia Purohitan is one of the oldest village of Sevad Rajpurohits. It was awarded to Dharayatji Rajpurohit. It is situated on Jaisalmer highway, 120 km from Jodhpur.It is a three-crop village...
External links
- singh Raigur from Kharokara Purohitaan Jai Data Ri Hukam
- Jai Raghunath Ji Ri Saa to all Rajpurohit Community
- Connecting Rajpurohit Globally....
- http://www.rajpurohit.com/www.Rajpurohit.com
- of Rajpurohits - Jai Sri Raghunath Ji Ri Saa.
- peek into our small world, hi-Rajpurohit
- a glimpse of us, hi-Rajpurohit
- http://satyawansingh-rajpurohit.tripod.com/