Rajpurohit

Chankya was a Prime Minister and Rajpurohit to the first Maurya Emperor Chandragupta
Chanakya

Rajpurohit (राजपुरोहित) is a subgroup of Hindu Brahmins (Brāhmaṇa, ब्राह्मणः) with its roots in Rishikul (great revered Indian sages from Vedic era) 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, 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 Rajasthan 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, Siya/Siha, Jagarwal, Udesh, Manana, Mutha, Sodha, Rajguru/Rajgur/Rajgar, Raigur/Raigar, Paliwal, Gundecha, Santhua, Panchlod, Sidhap, Udesh/Audichya, Dudawat, Trambkoti, Balvasa/Balocha, Ridwa, Aboti, Joshi, Vyas, Podharwal, Fandar, Daviyal, Kevancha, Sepau, Kesariya, Bakaliya, Makwana, Ojha, Ajariya, Badmera, Sanchora, Titopa, Dadala, Kedariya, Joshi/Jui, Radbada & Halsiya. 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 gotras 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 medival times. Over last few centuries, Rajpurohits were inculcated into feudal structure of Rajasthan as they time to time received grants of villages called Jagirs from rulers. Consequently, they came closer to Rajputs 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.

Demography

Rajpurohit a Title bestowed upon those learned Brahmins, 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 Rathori 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 for quite some time.

Beliefs

Since the Rajpurohits are believers Indo-Aryan 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. It denotes that 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.

Current State of Community

It is commonly believed that previous two centuries were more or less Dark Age for Rajpurohit community. By mid 19th century almost all the Kshatriya kingdoms of Rajasthan came under British protectorate. The British interference increased in the matter of states and this had its own repercussions on Rajputs and Rajpurohits. Slowly and slowly, Kingship distanced from Kshatriya Dharma and the role of Rajpurohits also diminished in statecraft. The taxfree Jagirs ensured that education lost its importance. Over centuries Rajpurohits saw transformation from a highly educated Vedic community to a primarily agrarian society.

Medival 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 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 clout.

In past six decades, many of the community members migrated to various Indian cities in search of business opportunities. With sheer hard work several of them are now successful businessmen. Learning from 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 a scope of improvement in women education. Having developed conservatism over years, women 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 BJP. But modern poltics 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 politcal representatives from community in both major parties, BJP and Indian National Congress increasing in 21st century.

Child Marriages 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.

Sant KhetaramJi / Kheteshwar Ji Maharaj

Lord kheteshwar
Name Kheteshwar Maharaj
Birth Date 22 April 1912
Birth Name Khetaram
Father Shri. Shersingh Ji Rajpurohit (Udesh)
Mother Smt. Sanagari Devi
Birth Place Khed Village
District Jalore
State Rajasthan
Vairagya At age 12
Guru Shri Ganeshanandan Ji Maharaj

Late Sant KhetaramJi / Kheteshwar Ji Maharaj was a true saint by means of dharma and karma. He was a divine soul who had followers cutting across all castes and creeds. He revitalized the importance of spiritual means to achieve self-realization and emphasizing humanity above all other man made barriers like casteism etc. The divine being laid down his fleshy tabernacle on May 6, 1984 and left for heavenly abode after inaugurating the Lord Brahma Temple on May 5, 1984 i.e. after establishing the idol of BrahmaJi. His disciples and his community members- Rajpurohits overwhelmed with emotions then built a vast and beautiful temple dedicated to the late saint in the near vicinity of the Brahma mandir housing a lifesize idol of the saint. Makrana marble has been used for erecting the cenotaph of Sant Shri Kheteshwar Ji Maharaj.

The place has now developed as a major tourist attraction of the region pulling thousands of tourists and devotees each year. Every year on 5th day of the bright half of Vaisakh month (May) the Pran-Prathishta ceremony is commemorated. On the next day, the death anniversary of Sant Kheteshwar Ji Maharaj (the founder of the temple) is observed. Other major festivals celebrated here are - Mahashivratri and Guru Poornima.

BramhaJi Temple at Asotra

Asotra

Asotra is the site of world's second Brahma Temple built by late Brahmarshi Sant Khetaram Ji Maharaj. The first being Pushkar. Asotra is a village located in Barmer district of Rajasthan, near the city of Balotra which is at a distance of 10 km. Pachpadra is 17 km to the north, Umarlai is 17 km to the north-east and Meli is 18 km to the east of Asotra. Balotra Junction Railway Station is the nearest railhead. Jodhpur Airport at a distance of 100 km, serves Asotra.

Barmer District Map

The Temple

Lord Brahma is the prominent lord god of the Hindu triad. The other two are Vishnu and Mahesh. Brahma is the lord of creation. There is one temple of Brahma at Pushkar. The other is here. The yellow (golden stone) of Jaisalmer has been used in the construction of main entrance hall. The rest of the temple is made of Jodhpur Stone (Chhitar Stone). The idol of Shri Brahma Ji is made of Marble. The carving work, however is unique. The foundation of the temple was laid on 20 April 1961 but the deity was enthroned on 6 May 1984. The chief deity is lord Brahma, his consort Gayatri's idol is also by the side of the chief deity. The idol is indeed, unique piece of sculptural elegance. There are idols of various Vedic sages Maharishi Uddalak, Maharishi Vashishta, Maharishi Kashyap, Maharishi Gautam, Maharishi Pippalada, Maharishi Parashara and Maharishi Bhardwaj. Rajpurohit brahmins trace their Vedic lineage from these sages. The temple has been built mainly by the Rajpurohit community. A big condoned off place is there for birds to pick up grain. Every day 200 Kilogram of grain is fed to birds. The vast lodge can house hundreds of visitors in its 102 rooms and 11 halls. Charges are very nominal. The present Mahant (Manager priest) Sant Tulsaram Ji Maharaj is doing a commendable job in propagating the message of love and peace along with heading various programs for social welfare. An education institution, in the name of Sant Khetaram Ji Maharaj is being run. A higher secondary school is also proposed. Free charitable preparation of food is performed every day which is served to visitors and devotees much like the langar pratha common among Sikhs. A well managed kine house (gaushala) houses 350 cows. Gau-seva has as a prime importance in the vedic sanatana dharma.

Lord Kheteshwar Temple

Gotras

Gundesha

Villages of Gundesha are Barwa, Mada, Norwa, lopi, Nimbada, Garasani, Asop, Mandal and Varka. Nimbara is oldest and very big village among them.The kuldevi of gundesha is Rohini Maata. The temple of Rohini Maata is located in Vandar, From year 2009 new construction for RohiniMaata temple started and it may be possible to complete in year 2010(current year). Gundeshas are known in business as well.

Sevad

Sevad is one of the major subcaste/gotra of Rajpurohits which envelops about 40 percent of Rajpurohit community. They are Rajpurohits of Rathores and were given Jagirs all over the Rathori States (Marwar, Bikaner, Kishangarh, Idar {Himmatnagar}, Ratlam, Jhabua, Sailan, Sitamau, Alirajpur. Their Gotra is Bhardwaj and Kuldevi is Bisotmata or Bishasthmata.

It is said that their ancestor Rajpurohit Devpal Dev came to the region of Marwar with Rao SheoJi Rathore from Kannauj. A family known to us as the "Gahadvala" dynasty ruled Kannauj; 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 Rathores in present day Marwar and paved the way for building up of Rathori Raj. Then they expanded to khed near today's Balotra and slowly with time conquered Malani region from local Rajput clans.

Rajpurohit Devpal Dev was given many villages as jagir. The service lent by Rajpurohits to the state was rewarded with more jagiri lands by Rathore kingdom during the course of time.

Main Jagiri villages or Thikana of Sevad rajpurohits are: Kanodia Purohitan, Desalsar Purohitan , Kalyanpura(Churu) Thob(Osian), Barli, Tinwari, Khichan, Kharabera Purohitan, Mehri Purohitan(Sardarshahar), Heyadesar (Nokha), Kisnasar (Nokha), Rasisar (Bikaner), Mohrai, Tunkaliya, Dhandhora, Jatiawas, Ghevda, Ghantiyala, Bavri (Phalodi), Chavandia, Bhavanda, Dhundhiyadi (Nagaur), Talkia, Rupawas, Chadwas, Dodu (Nagaur), Toliyasar, Borawar, Kuchaman, Panchdoliya, Pachava, Maroot, Purohiton Ka Bass Bikarlai,surayata etc

Sodha

PithalJi Sodha(Rajpurohit) came with Rao SheoJi and Rajpurohit Devpal Dev from Kannauj, he brought the idol of Maa Nagnechaya, kuldevi of Sodha's and Rathore's. Since then Sodha Rajpurohits are main trustees of Maa Nagnechaya Temple(Nagana). Sodha's(Rajpurohit) Kuldevi Shree Nagnechaya Maa and Shree Someshwar Mahadev temples Pran-Pratishtha was performed at Mayalawas Purohitan (Ta.-Siwana,Dist.-Barmer) on 7 May 2009. The gotra of Sodha rajpurohits is Bharadwaj.

They were given villages as jagir and these are Mandli Guman SinghJi, Tarsinghdi, Mayalawas ,Ludrada ,Gudda-Nal, Megawas,Melibanda, Deriya, Simrakhia, Rewada, and Bassi(Jodhpur) .

Raygur

Maharishi Vashishtha is the ancestor of Rajgurus. Their Kuldevi is saraswati mata and kuldev is markandeswar mahadev the temple at ajari in pindwada tahasil of sirohi district , and their prominent villages are Balera, Silore, Bisurajguran, Doli, Radwa, Vani,rajguru basni,Odwada and Langera. Balera village is sansan of rajguru& our kuldevi KoobarmataJi old Tempel in balera village. The Silore village is often spoken as "Sasan bada Silore gaanv".village chitrodi jalore.

Manana

Manana is one of the major Rajpurohit community. Main Jagiri villages or Thikana of Manana Rajpurohits are , Narnadi, Manana basni,Patau,Sarwari Purohitan and Kaludi.

Jagarwal

Jagarwal is a subcaste/gotra of Rajpurohit caste. The gotra of Jagarwal rajpurohits is Vasistha. Brahmarshi Vasistha was Rajpurohit / Rajguru of Suryavanshi Kshatriyas / Sun Dynasty. Jagarwal Rajpurohits migrated from Sesali Village of Jalore district in Rajasthan. Jagarwal Rajpurohits were Rajpurohits of Parmara Rajputs who were rulers of Jalore. Bal Rishi / Jabali Rishi was ancestor of Jagarwal Rajpurohits. Jalore / Jabalipur was named after Bal Rishi / Jabali Rishi. Bal Rishi had 12 Sasan villages (Rent free villages) including Balwara. Later on Jagarwal Rajpurohits became Rajpurohits of Sindhal Rathore rajputs. Kuldevi of Jagarwal Rajpurohits is Jageshwari Devi / Jwalamukhi Devi.

Before independence Jagarwal Rajpurohits had many Sasan Jagir villages in Marwar & Godwad region i.e. Jasnagar, Kakindra, Lambiyan, Rewatada, Veerana, Rewat, Modran, Dakatara, Bagra (Marwar), Basda DhanJi, Dhola Sasan, Akadada, Dhariya, Punadiya, Lapod, Auwa Sasan & Champa Khedi, Dhangadwas etc.

Mutha

In current time Mutha's are an affluent Gotra among Rajpurohits in Rajasthan and their lineage is drawn from Shri SomoJi. There are five villages of Muthas namely Rungari, Pilowani, Vanadar, Ghenari and Shivtalav.Rungari is the oldest village among all five villages and persons of all four villages respects Rungari as big brother,and Shivtalav is at a distance whereas rest four villages share boundaries. These four villages are collectively called Shon/Sansan, which means affluent and ruling class.Rohini Maata is kuldevi of mutha,the temple of Rohini Maata is located in Vandar,From year 2009 new construction for RohiniMaata temple started and it may be possible to complete in year 2010(current year).The MaataJi temple development started with support of all Rajpurohit from Vandar. Muthas lay great emphasis on education and as a result, there are quite a many doctors and engineers (with a few students from Indian Institute of Technology(IIT)). Many of them are into Rajasthan Administrative Service(RAS) and in various government departments. Few have settled in metros and outside India, still all keep in touch and visit their villages quite often. There is a close bounding in Muthas- in fact, They come to their villages from all over to celebrate Holi festival which lasts for a week at these places. Woman literacy is very high in this "Gotra" and there are graduates and postgraduates from villages. Locality of these villages is almost same e.g. all villages are situated on the bank of river Sumeri/Bandi at the heart of Aravali Mountain. all villages have similar entrance via 'Perole' means Huge Gate single entrance,and have the temple of Charbhujanath, all villages have large Banyan trees in "akhriya" which give cool shadow to villagers,simalar well called "ponaga" and water tank for supply of pure drinking water.

Shreerakh

Main Jagiri Villages or Thikana of Shreerakh rajpurohits are: Phogera,Bisukala, Girab, Goradiya.

Balwacha

The villages of Balwacha or Balwasa are Purada, Parakhiya.yes only two village of balwasa .

Siha/Siya

Gotra Rishi of Siha Rajpurohits is Maharshi Piplad. Chamunda Mata 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 by Badami Chalukyas who later moved northwards to Gujarat and came to be known as Solankis. Sihas were their Rajpurohits. When Guhilots moved to present day Rajasthan, Sihas accompanied them as their Rajpurohits. 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 was awarded to his brother Bhinda Ji. Balotra has eventually grown to be the largest of all jagirs owned by Rajpurohits.

Dudawat

Dudawat is a subcast of Rajpurohit. Araba is the largest Village of Dudawats(Dist.Barmer) there are around 500 Famalies. the First Person From the entire Rajpurohit Community to become a IAS is from ARABA. Ajeet,Kuwarda,sangaria are also some Villages of Dudawats.The kuldevi of dudawat is shemkarni mata (Bhinmal).

Kashyap

The villages of Kashyap godras are Bhagli Purohitan(Sepau) dist - Jalore. their Kuldevi name is Hinglaj MataJi.

Notable Rajpurohits

Chetan Rajpurohit

References

Notes

Aside from being a community, Rajpurohit is synonymous with Rajguru as an ancient term for a type of Brahmin. Hermann Kulke and Dietmar Rothermund note that "There is much evidence in ancient texts that there were two ideal types of Brahmins in those days, the royal priest or advisor (rajpurohit, rajguru) and the sage (rishi) who lived in the forest and shared his wisdom only with those who asked for it."[1] Its modern use in this sense has been described by Sumit Sarkar as a "self-conscious archaism".[2]

The above data is for knowledge purpose only. I, the editor of this page does not claim my rights on any of the above data or images used.

    Citations

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