Kapadi

Kapadi is one of the minority Hindu community of India, who are followers of Kapadi Sampradaya.

History

Origin of Kapadi community, according to the folklore, is associated with Lord Rama. The legend states that Rama visited a place called Hingadajki ( now in Saudi Arabia ), dressed as a Kapadi, to get rid of the sin of killing the Ravana, who was a Brahmin by birth.^[1]

This dress was given by Rama to one Laljusraj, who accompanied him on the trip. Laljusraj is said to be founder of Kapadi sect. It is believed that it is the same dress, that is preserved at Mekan Dada Temple at Dhrang.^[1]^[2]

Kapadi community are mainly found in Kutch, Gujarat, where they are held in very high regards and there are many followers of this sect. Kapadi are considered to be descendant of Kshatriya princes.

A Kapadi priest or saint is called Dada as a mark of respect. In Kutch, Kapadi priests, hold the post of chief priest of temple of Ashapura Mata at Mata no Madh, which is chief deity or Kuldevi of Jadeja rulers of Kutch. They are known as Rajabawa, and were given villages as an estate by the rulers of Kutch.^[1]

Divisions of Kapadi Sect

There are main four groups of Kapadi Sampradaya.^[1]

Ramsnehi Kapadi - who worship Rama as their chief deity and are found in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh & Uttar Pradesh
Ashapuri Kapadi - who worship Ashapura Mata, and were originally located in Kutch but have now migrated to other areas.
Sravani Kapadi - who are mainly found in Banaskantha district of Gujarat
Makadbanth Kapadi - who are followers of Mekan Dada, and are the most recent sect of Kapadi community.

Customs

The community consider themselves at par with other upper caste community and this is accepted by others also.^[1]

Temple of Shree Jai Raja Kapadi Dada, a saint of Kapadi community, housing his Samadhi at Village Dabada in Kutch. Note mention of Aum and Jee Naam, religious symbol of Kapadi Sampradaya embedded on the main gate written in Gujarati script and deep saffron color.

The dead among Kapadi are given samadhi. Only Raja Bawas are cremated.^[1]

The agriculture is main occupation of Kapadi community, others being involved in small business and jobs.

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 Gujarat, Part 1 By Kumar Suresh Singh, Rajendra Behari Lal, Anthropological Survey of India.
↑ Kutch in festival and custom By K. S. Dilipsinh

Gujarati people

Brahmin communities	Aboti Brahmin Anavil Brahmin Audichaya Brahmins Bardai Brahmins Bhattmewada Brahmins Chauriyasi Mewada Brahmin Girnara Brahmin Jesthi Brahmins Khedaval Brahmin Modh Brahmins Nandwana Brahmins Nagar Brahmins Nodera Brahmin Sachora Brahmins Sakaldwipiya Sidhra-Rudhra Brahmins Sompura Brahmins Sompura Salats

Kshatriya communities	Babaria Bhanushali Bhatti Chavda Chauhan Chudasama Dabhi Dodiya Kachhotia Kapadi Karadiya Kathi Darbar Khant Gohil Gori Jadeja Jethwa Jhala Jinkara Manka Maher Mahyavanshi Mahiya Darbar Nadoda Parmar Puvar Raizada Rathor Rehvar Sarvaiya Sagar Sikligar Sodha Solanki Thakore Vala Vaghela Wagher

Vaishya communities	Bhatia Luhana Modh Vanik Modh Ghanchi Soni

Farming communities	Anjana Chaudhari Koli Kunbi

Agricultural communities	Ahir Bharwad Rabari

Genealogist communities	Barot Charan Gadhvi

Artisan communities	Bhambi Khalpa Bhambi Rohit Bhambi Sindhi Mochi Bhavsar Brahma Kshatri Gihara Gurjar Kshatriya Kadia Koshti Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya Mistry Mestri Panchal Gurjar Suthar Prajapati Shenva Sompura Salat Sathwara Salat Vankar Vanzha Valand

Tribal communities	Bamcha Bhil Bhil Dungri Garasia Bhil Vasava Bhoi Chaudhari Damor Dangi Dhanka Dhodia Dubla Gamit Garasia Godha Kharwa Kolis Mangela Kolis Meghwal Naikda Padhar Padharia Patanwadia Pateliya Rathodia Rathwa Tirgar Thori Vagri Warli

Muslim communities	Alavi Bohra Ansari Baloch Bhadala Chhipa Chundrigar Dawoodi Bohra Halaypotra Hingorja Hingora Jats of Kutch Juneja Kadia Kagzi Ker Khaskheli Khoja Machiyar Makrani Makwana Muslim Malik (caste) Mandali Mansoori Memon Meta Qureshi Miyana Molesalam Momna Multani Multani Lohar Mutwa Nagori Nayak Node Panar Patani Bohra Patni Jamat Pathans of Gujarat Salaat Samma Sandhai Muslims Shaikhs of Gujarat Shaikhda Sayyid of Gujarat Siddi Sipahi Sulaymani Bohra Sunni Bohra Tai Turk Jamat Vora Patel Vyapari Wagher

Jain communities	Navnat

Other communities	Parsi

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