Origin and history
Bundelas originated from Bundelkhand, but later came to parts of Bihar and Jharkhand. [4] As they were from land owning communities, they became wealthy zamindars with time and also had influential political positions. [5]
The Banaut [1] (also known as Bandaut) [2] is a Bundela Rajput clan found in the Indian states of Bihar and Jharkhand. Earlier people called them Bandaut because they believed that they are demigods of forests because they save Ban (forests) and also the lives of people from invaders. [3] They are said to have left Orchha, Jhansi, Mahoba and other parts of Bundelkhand during the Mughal period and migrated to Bihar and Jharkhand. [3] In the present, Bundela are part of the community of Anga Region.
Bundelas originated from Bundelkhand, but later came to parts of Bihar and Jharkhand. [4] As they were from land owning communities, they became wealthy zamindars with time and also had influential political positions. [5]
Banaut have their particular village deities such as Maa Kali, HanumanJi, Ram- Janaki and Radhakrishna. [5]
The Gotras of Banaut Rajputs are Bhardwaj, Dhenu, Vaksh, Kaushik, Garg, Sandilya and Vishwamitra. [2]
All of the Bundelas follow Sanatan Dharma as their religion.
Most of the Banauts live in the native villages of Anga Region of Bihar, namely Bhagalpur, Munger, Katihar, Purnia, Banka and in some parts of Saharsa and Araria. They live in parts of Jharkhand, namely Hazaribagh and Chatra and Santhal Pargana Division. Many have migrated to bigger cities like Patna, Ranchi and Delhi for better job opportunities and lifestyles.
A majority of the Banaut Rajputs speak the regional language of Anga Region - Angika along with other languages such as Hindi and English. [3]
Some of the villages of Bundela with significance: [6]
Their marriage relations are in those twenty and odd villages making them a closely connected and well-knit community.
Singh is a title, middle name, or surname that means "lion" in various South Asian and Southeast Asian communities. Traditionally used by the Hindu Kshatriya community, it was later mandated in the late 17th century by Guru Gobind Singh for all male Sikhs as well, in part as a rejection of caste-based prejudice and to emulate Rajput naming conventions. As a surname or a middle name, it is now found throughout the world across communities and religious groups, becoming more of a generic, caste-neutral, decorative name.
Bundelkhand is a geographical and cultural region and a proposed state and also a mountain range in central & North India. The hilly region is now divided between the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, with the larger portion lying in the latter state.
The Bundela is a Rajput clan. Over several generations, the cadet lineages of Bundela Rajputs founded several states in area what came to be known as Bundelkhand anciently known as Chedi Kingdom from the 16th century.
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The Kaikadi are a community in the Indian states of Maharashtra and Karnataka. Their name is derived from kai and kade, while the community derives its name from kai and kadi. Traditionally, they were nomadic, mainly wandering in the Vidarbha region of the state, but most have now settled down. They speak Kaikadi, a Dravidian language closely related to Tamil with significant Indo-Aryan admixture. They practice the puberty function like other Tamil communities.
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Rawat is a surname of people belonging to Hindu Rajput community. It is used as a surname, but during the medieval period it was a designation or title given to a soldier who performed exceptionally well in war. Types of Rawat are Chauhan Rawat, Pawar Rawat, Sisodiya Rawat, Dogra Rawat etc. from Uttarakhand and U.P divisions in the Indian state of Uttarakhand and Rajputs of Uttarakhand.
Gour or Goud is a caste of Jharkhand similar to Gopal (caste) of Odisha. Locally they are also known as Ahir, Gour Gowala. Most of them speak the local form of Odia language which they lebel as Singhbhumi Odia.
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