Hindu Ghosi
| Hindu Ghosi | |
|---|---|
| Religions | Hinduism |
| Subdivisions | Rawat, Mukhia, Ghurcharhe, Charia, Kasab, Mukhia, Rautele, Saundele, Mattha, Dahiya & Phatak etc. |
The Hindu Ghosi[1] are a community of 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 fail, his widow may adopt a son to succeed him, or, failing such adoption, the panch elects a fit person.[2]
Origin
[edit]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
[edit]
The largest subdivisions of Ahir in Braj region are the Ghosis, Kamarias, Phataks and Nandvanshis. However today they all claim to be Yaduvanshis.[6][7]
In the Braj region, the Ghosi and other subdivisions of Ahirs were gradually absorbed into the Nandvanshi category of landlords and into the Gopavanshi subdivision as a consequence of British so-called "official" ethnographies and racial theories. The landlords liked the Yaduvanshi title because they considered it to be prestigious and thus started claiming it.[8][7]
Distribution
[edit]In the Braj area, the Ghosis are among the largest subdivisions of Ahirs along with the Kamariyas, Phataks, Gwalvanshis and Nandvanshis.[9][7]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b SurvaVanshi, Bhagwansingh (1962). Abhiras their history and culture.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Roy, Janmajit (2002). Theory of Avatāra and Divinity of Chaitanya. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 157. ISBN 978-8-12690-169-2.
- ^ Bhattacharya, Sunil Kumar (1996). Krishna-cult in Indian Art. M.D. Publications. p. 126. ISBN 978-8-17533-001-6.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c Michelutti, Lucia (29 November 2020). The Vernacularisation of Democracy: Politics, Caste and Religion in India. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-08400-9.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
Further reading
[edit]- Michelutti, Lucia (2008). The Vernacularisation of Democracy: Politics, Caste, and Religion in India. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-41546-732-2.