| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| India | |
| Languages | |
| • Hindi • Braj Bhasha | |
| Religion | |
| • Hinduism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| • Ahir• Yaduvanshi Ahirs |
The Ahars are a Hindu caste in India. The term "Ahar" was historically associated with the Yadav caste, along with the term "Ahir". The group labelled Ahar were generally found in a few west-central districts of India, but in the 1931 census of India appeared in large numbers recorded in the north-central districts, though not in any of the districts between the former and latter. [1] They claim to be descended from Yadu Race. [2]
Ahar, also called Ahir or Yadav is a peasant or agricultural caste of North India. [3] [4] [5] Lord Krishna himself belonged to the tribe of the Yadavas, or descendants of Yadu. [6]
According to M. A. Sherring (1872), this clan is most probably connected with the Ahirs already noticed, although they will by no means acknowledge any relationship to them. What-ever may have been their origin, there is no question that now they are a separate caste yet their claim to be descended from the Yaduvansis is the same as that put forward by the Ahirs. According to Sir H. Elliot, the clans designated as Bhatti, Nagawat, Naugorl, Rukar, Basian, Ora, Bukiain, Diswar (Deshwal), Bhusialn, and Birraria, belong to this caste. [7]
Sanskritisation is a term in sociology which refers to the process by which castes or tribes placed lower in the caste hierarchy seek 'upward' mobility by emulating the rituals and practices of the dominant castes or upper castes. It is a process similar to "passing" in sociological terms. This term was made popular by Indian sociologist M. N. Srinivas in the 1950s. Sanskritisation has in particular been observed among mid-ranked members of caste-based social hierarchies.
The Dhangars are a herding caste of people found in the Indian states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. They are referred as Gavli in southern Maharashtra, Goa and northern Karnataka, Golla in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and Ahir in northern Maharashtra. Some Gavlis live in forested hill tracts of India's Western Ghats. Gavli, also known as Dange or Mhaske, and Ahir are a sub-caste of Dhangar. However, there are many distinct Gavli castes in Maharashtra and Dhangar Gavli is one of them.
Ahir or Aheer are a community of traditionally non-elite pastoralists in India, most members of which identify as being of the Indian Yadav community because they consider the two terms to be synonymous. The Ahirs are variously described as a caste, a clan, a community, a race and a tribe.
Yadav refers to a grouping of traditionally non-elite, peasant-pastoral communities or castes in India that since the 19th and 20th centuries have claimed descent from the mythological king Yadu as a part of a movement of social and political resurgence. The term Yadav now covers many traditional peasant-pastoral castes such as Ahirs of the Hindi belt and the Gavli of Maharashtra.
Sadgop, also spelled as Sadgope, is a Bengali Hindu Yadav (Gopa) caste. Traditionally they are engaged in dairy-farming and cultivation. However, historically the Sadgop kings had ruled some parts of Rarh region in western Bengal such as Gopbhum, Narajole, Narayangarh and Balarampur. As of late nineteenth century they were one of the fourteen castes belonging to 'Nabasakh' group. As per census report of 1931, Sadgops predominantly lived in the Western Bengal districts of Midnapore, Burdwan and Birbhum.
The Ahir is a Hindu caste of Northern India.The Ahir clans are spread almost all over country.
Gavli, Gawli or Gavali is a Hindu caste found in the Indian states of Maharashtra and Madhya pradesh. They a part of the Yadav community.
Aphariya (Abhirya) also spelt as Affariya, Afariya or Phariya) is a clan of Yaduvanshi Aheer or Yadava. Aphariyas ruled the Ahirwal state of Haryana.
Jadam is the name of an Indian gotra, or clan, which forms part of the north-Indian caste group referred to as Ahir usually found in the state of Haryana, India.
Khoro is a clan of Ahirs of Haryana in India. Rewari was once under Khoro Ahir rulers. Dr. Hameeda Khoro is a famous politician of Sindh.
The Abhira people were a legendary people mentioned in ancient Indian epics and scriptures as early as the Vedas. A historical people of the same name are mentioned in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea. The Mahabharata describes them as living near the seashore and on the bank of the Sarasvati River, near Somnath in Gujarat and in the Matsya region also.
Yaduvanshi Rajputs is a term used for describing various Rajputs clans. Prominent among them are Bhatis, Jadejas, Jadaun, Sammas and Chudasamas.
The Golla are a Telugu-speaking pastoral community primarily living in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana with smaller numbers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. They are related to other pastoral-herding castes like Gulla, Gullar, Gollewar, Gavli and Dhangar and are a part of the larger Yadav community. They are classified as a Backward Caste.
Phatak or Phaatak is a sub-caste of the Indian Ahir-Yadav community.
The Yaduvanshi Aheer or Yaduvanshi Ahir claim descent from god Krishna of the ancient Yadava clan. The Ahirs have three major classifications - Yaduvanshi, Nandavanshi and Gwalavanshi. Yaduvanshis claim descent from Yadu, Nandavanshis claim descent from Nanda, the foster father of Krishna and Gwalavanshis claim descent from gopis and gopas of Krishna's childhood.
Gopal or Gauda is an Indian caste, from Odisha State in East India. Their traditional occupations include dairy farming, cattle herding, cultivation and carrying palanquins of deities. They also worked as Paikas (soldiers) under the kings. Gopal is the name of the milkmen or herdsmen caste in Odisha, which is known by other names in various parts of India.
Yadu is the founder of the Yadu dynasty in Hinduism. He is described to be the eldest son of King Yayati, and his queen, Devayani.
Krishnaut or Kishnaut Ahir is a subclan of the Yadav (Ahir) caste found in Bihar, Jharkhand and Nepal. The term Krishnaut which to them denotes their descent from Lord Krishna.
Yadavs in Bihar refers to the people of Yadav community of the Indian state of Bihar. They are also known as Ahir, Gope, Rai etc. The Yadavs form nearly 14.26 % of the state's population and are included in the Other Backward Class category in the Bihar state of India. Ahirs are among the land owning caste in the plains of Bihar.
The Majhraut or Majraut is a clan of Ahir (Yadav) that inhabits the Indian state of Bihar and Jharkhand. They are also found in different parts of Nepal. They are believed to be descended from the Yadav king Madhu who ruled Mathura.