Gwalvanshi
Gwalvanshi is a term for those who claim descent from the Gwala or herdsman dynasty and the Gopis, who danced with the god Krishna in the woods of Vrindavan and Gokul.[1] The term indicates an association with sacred cows.
Etymology
Original word Gaur becomes and then Gwal. Gaur, Gor or Gorya, a very ancient Yadav clan of Epic Mahabharata. The term Gwal was derived from Gopal or "protector of cows".[2][3] Amarkosa, an ancient Sanskrit text treats them as synonym of Abhira.[4][5]
Structure
Krishna was raised between Gwals who were his childhood friends. Mahabharata says Gaurs are part of Yaduvanshi Kshatriyas.[6] The Gwallas of Bengal, Yadavs of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar,[7][8] West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand are Gwalvanshi. [1] According to British historian Elliot, Gwalvanshi do not have gotras (Clans or sub divisions).[7]
Distribution
- Uttar Pradesh Azamgarh, Banares, Bhadohi, Jaunpur, Pratapgarh, Allahabad, Gorkakhpur and Mirzapur District.[8][9]
- Bihar has Gopalganj, Banka, Darbhanga, Siwan, Sahabad, Sasaram, Gaya, Rohtas, Palamau, Hazaribag[10] Chhapra, Madhubani, Munger.[11] According to history professor Rahul Shukla, the Gwalvanshi Ahirs had settled in Azamgarh, Varanasi, Gorkakhpur, Mirzapur etc., besides in Bihar. "They were cultivators or tenants in eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. At the turn of the century, they evolved into business and other vocations in a big way. [12]
Caste politics
The transformation of all Ahirs (Yaduvanshi Ahirs, Nandvanshi and Gwalvanshi) into Yaduvanshi Yadavs was promoted by the All India Yadav Mahasabha which was founded in 1927.[13]
See also
References
- 1 2 H.A. Rose; IBBETSON; Maclagan (1 December 1996). Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province. Asian Educational Services. pp. 437–. ISBN 978-81-206-0505-3. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
- ↑ Vijay Kumar (2005). Baby Names for Boys. Lotus Press. p. 63. ISBN 9788190191234.
- ↑ Dan Landis, Rosita D. Albert (2012). Handbook of Ethnic Conflict: International Perspectives Volume 0 of International and Cultural Psychology. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 162. ISBN 9781461404484.
- ↑ Reginald E. Enthoven (1990). The Tribes and Castes of Bombay, Volume 1. Asian Educational Services. p. 23. ISBN 9788120606302.
- ↑ J. N. Singh Yadav (2001). Yadavas of South India. Yadava Publications, 2001 Original from the University of Michigan. pp. 2,3.
- ↑ Edward Balfour (1885). The cyclopædia of India and of eastern and southern Asia, commercial industrial, and scientific: products of the mineral, vegetable, and animal kingdoms, useful arts and manufactures. Bernard Quaritch. p. 1183. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
- 1 2 Various census of India. 1872. pp. 172–173. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
- 1 2 Matthew Atmore Sherring (1872). Hindu Tribes and Castes. Thacker, Spink & co. pp. 333–. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
- ↑ Jobs go to people from Yadav-belt – The Times of India
- ↑ Sudhir Kumar Karan (2004). Thus Flows The Ganges. Mittal Publications. pp. 61–. ISBN 978-81-7099-923-2. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
- ↑ Crumbling Yadav Bastion | Open Magazine
- ↑ http://www.firstpost.com/politics/azamgarh-why-mulayam-cannot-take-yadav-votes-for-granted-1517631.html?utm_source=ref_article
- ↑ Lucia Michelutti (2008). The vernacularisation of democracy: politics, caste, and religion in India. Routledge. p. 80. ISBN 978-0-415-46732-2. Retrieved 31 May 2011.