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==Modern communities== |
==Modern communities== |
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Traditionally, the Vaishyas served as farmers, chieftains, soldiers, and zamindars. Historical evidences are available of their political dominance from the eleventh century. During the era of British dominance of India, they mostly farmed for a living. Today, the Vaisya community consists of several [[jāti]]s, notably the [[Agrawal]]s,<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Singh |editor-first = Kumar Suresh |editor-link=Kumar Suresh Singh |first1= B. V. |last1=Bhanu |first2=V. S. |last2=Kulkarni |title=People of India: Maharashtra, Part One |volume=XXX |year=2004 |publisher=Popular Prakashan, for [[Anthropological Survey of India]] |location=Mumbai |oclc=58037479 |isbn=8179911004 |url=http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN8179911004&id=DEAlCTxJowUC&pg=PA46 |accessdate=2012-04-25 |page=46}}</ref> the [[Barnwal]]s, the [[Gahoi]]s, the [[Kasuadhan]]s, the Patwa, the [[Khandelwal Vaishya|Khandelwal]]s, the [[Oswal]]s, Rastogis, [[Lohana]]s and the [[Maheshwari]]s of the north; the [[Arya Vaishyas]] of the south Vanika Vaishyas of the Kerala, [[Kaikolar|Cenkuntar]]<ref>[http://books.google.co.in/books?id=Vp_la9QMGIQC&pg=PA203&dq=&hl=en&sa=X&ei=OWiMT9nVCKahmQXb9MznCQ&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false The New Wind: Changing Identities in South Asia - Google Books<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> of Tamil Nadu, the [[Vaishya Vani]]s of Konkan and Goa, Ladshakhiy Wani in North and Western Maharashtra and the [[Modh]], Beesa Neema, Dasa Neema, Dasore, Parekhs and [[Patidar]]s of the west. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 23:42, 2 May 2012
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Vaishya (Sanskrit: वैश्य Vaiśya) is one of the four varnas of the Hindu social order.
Duties of Vaishyas
According to the Hindu texts, the duties of a Vaishya, as described, are Cow protection , Agriculture(trade),and(born of his own nature).[1] The Vaisyas, along with the Kshatriyas, claim to be of the 'twice born' (dvija) castes of the classical theory.[2] Indian traders were widely credited for the spread of Indian culture to regions as far as southeast Asia.[3]
Historically, Vaisyas have played a much larger role in Indian affairs apart from trade and commerce, according to many historians Gupta dynasty of the Gupta Empire was a Vaishya dynasty, according to historian, Ram Sharan Sharma, Guptas were a Vaishya dynasty, "who may have appeared as a reaction against oppressive rulers".[4] A.S. Altekar, a historian and archaeologist, who has written and several books on Gupta coinage,[5] also regarded the caste of the Guptas as Vaishya on the basis of the ancient Indian texts on law, which prescribe the name-ending with Gupta for a member of the Vaishya caste. In opinion of art historian Dr. R. A. Agarawala, "Guptas" are said to be of Agrawal Vaishya community, as their Dharana Gotra is one of the gotras among the seventeen and half gotras of Agrawals.[citation needed] The historian H.C. Raychaudhuri, also holds that the Guptas belonged to the Dharana Gotra.[citation needed] According to Raichaudhuri, the Guptas were related to queen Dharini of Agnimitra, wife of the son of king Pushyamitra Shunga. Raychoudhuri drew this theory about the pedigree of the Guptas based on the Riddhapura copper-plate inscription of Prabhabati Gupta, daughter of Chandragupta II.[citation needed] In her records she claimed herself to be a descendant of the Dharana Gotra.[citation needed]
Historians claim King Harsha of North India to be of Vaishya caste.[citation needed]
Modern communities
Traditionally, the Vaishyas served as farmers, chieftains, soldiers, and zamindars. Historical evidences are available of their political dominance from the eleventh century. During the era of British dominance of India, they mostly farmed for a living. Today, the Vaisya community consists of several jātis, notably the Agrawals,[6] the Barnwals, the Gahois, the Kasuadhans, the Patwa, the Khandelwals, the Oswals, Rastogis, Lohanas and the Maheshwaris of the north; the Arya Vaishyas of the south Vanika Vaishyas of the Kerala, Cenkuntar[7] of Tamil Nadu, the Vaishya Vanis of Konkan and Goa, Ladshakhiy Wani in North and Western Maharashtra and the Modh, Beesa Neema, Dasa Neema, Dasore, Parekhs and Patidars of the west.
See also
References
- ^ The First Great Political Realist By Roger Boesche
- ^ Western sociologists on Indian society By Gurmukh Ram Madan
- ^ Asia in western and world history By Ainslie Thomas Embree, Carol Gluck
- ^ "Early medieval Indian society: a study in feudalisation - R.S. Sharma - Google Books". Books.google.co.in. Retrieved 2012-01-26.
- ^ List of Altekar's publications in the Open Library.
- ^ Bhanu, B. V.; Kulkarni, V. S. (2004). Singh, Kumar Suresh (ed.). People of India: Maharashtra, Part One. Vol. XXX. Mumbai: Popular Prakashan, for Anthropological Survey of India. p. 46. ISBN 8179911004. OCLC 58037479. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
- ^ The New Wind: Changing Identities in South Asia - Google Books