Hindu Ghosi

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Hindu Ghosi
Religions Hinduism
SubdivisionsMukhia, Ghurcharhe, Charia, Kasab, Mukhia, Rautele, Saundele, Mattha & Phatak etc.

The Hindu Ghosi [1] are a community of the Ahirs in India. [1] They are divided into various sections and lineages. [2] The Ghosis have a system of panches and hereditary chaudhris. If one of the latter's line fails, his widow may adopt a son to succeed him, or, failing such adoption, the panch elects a fit person. [2]

Contents

Origin

The Hindu Ghosi claim descent from Nanda the foster father of Krishna. [2]

They also claim their importance saying that the sacred texts have mentioned them under the name of Ghosas. [3] The term Ghosa refers to a settlement of the Abhira people [4] or a temporary encampment of cowherds, which was the occupation of those people. [5]

Colonial description

The largest subdivisions of Ahir in Braj region are the Ghosis, Kamarias, Phataks and Nandvanshis. However today they all recognise themselves to be Nandvanshi Ahirs. [6] [7] [8]

In the Braj region, the Ghosi and other subdivisions of Ahirs were gradually absorbed into the Nandvanshi category of landlords and into the Gwalvanshi subdivision as a consequence of British so-called "official" ethnographies and racial theories. [9] The landlords liked the Gwalvanshi title because they considered it to be prestigious. [10] [7] [11]

Distribution

In the Braj area, the Ghosis are among the largest subdivisions of Ahirs along with the Kamarias, Phataks, Gwalvanshis and Nandvanshis. [12] [7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 SurvaVanshi, Bhagwansingh (1962). Abhiras their history and culture.
  2. 1 2 3 Ibbetson, Sir Denzil; Maclagan (1990). Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province. Asian Educational Services. ISBN   978-81-206-0505-3.
  3. ↑ Michelutti, Lucia (2002). Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town (PDF). London School of Economics and Political Science University of London. pp. 94, 95. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  4. ↑ Roy, Janmajit (2002). Theory of Avatāra and Divinity of Chaitanya. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 157. ISBN   978-8-12690-169-2.
  5. ↑ Bhattacharya, Sunil Kumar (1996). Krishna-cult in Indian Art. M.D. Publications. p. 126. ISBN   978-8-17533-001-6.
  6. ↑ Lucia, Michelutti (2002). Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav (PDF). London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London. p. 96. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 Michelutti, Lucia (29 November 2020). The Vernacularisation of Democracy: Politics, Caste and Religion in India. Taylor & Francis. ISBN   978-1-000-08400-9.
  8. ↑ Singh, K. S. (1998). People of India: Rajasthan. Popular Prakashan. ISBN   978-81-7154-766-1.
  9. ↑ Rose, Horace Arthur; Ibbetson, Sir Denzil (1911). A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province: Based on the Census Report for the Punjab, 1883. superintendent, Government printing, Punjab.
  10. ↑ Michelutti, Lucia (2002). "Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town" (PDF). PhD Thesis Social Anthropology. London School of Economics and Political Science University of London. pp. 90–91, 95. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  11. ↑ Maharashtra State Gazetteers: Aurangabad. Director of Government Printing, Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra State. 1977.
  12. ↑ Michelutti, Lucia (2002). "Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town" (PDF). PhD Thesis Social Anthropology. London School of Economics and Political Science University of London. p. 93. Retrieved 27 May 2015.

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