Mahuri
Encyclopedia
Mahuri is a Hindu
caste
(jāti
) under Vaisya varna.
Mahuri Vaisya people are reported to have migrated from the city of Mathura and surrounding rural locations to the then suba of Bengal
under the Mughal Empire
. As a faithful community, the Mahuri Vaisya community still continue to worship Mata Mathurashani Devi, an incarnation of Shakti
, as their family deity.
, which is named Sukha Sagar (that is, the Ocean of Bliss), there is a mythical
story which states that Brahma
felt that the Avatar
(incarnation) of Krishna
had already taken place on the earth (Prithvi
). He dispatched an emissary to Mathura region to ascertain the factual position. There the emissary found that Krishna was moving around with Gopas and Gopi
s in and around Vrindavan
. After some time, Krishna went somewhere, leaving the Gopas and Gopis alone for sometime. During Krishna's absence, Brahma's emissary put all the Gopas and Gopis inside a cave and closed the opening of the cave. Upon his return, when Krishna found that all the Gopas and Gopis had disappeared, he, by his divine power, created duplicates of them, and sent them to their respective homes.
After some time, the real Gopas and Gopis could come out of the cave, and when they reached their homes, they found their identical figures occupying the houses. Somehow, they evicted them from their houses. Now, the Gopas and Gopis created of Krishna's divine maya
came to him, and prayed for shelter. Krishna advised them to reside in the fourteen forest hamlets around Vrindavan, and directed them that for livelihood they should engage themselves in trade and commerce.
It is believed by some of the Mahuri people that these Gopas and Gopis created by the divine maya of Krishna are their ancestors, and Mahuri people derive their surnames, as described below, from the names of the forest hamlets where they had originally settled as directed by Krishna.
.
It is believed that Lord Krishna
advised the ancient ancestors of the Mahuri to engage themselves in trade and commerce—that is, to take up the ways of the Vaisya—in order to earn their livelihood. They settled in fourteen hamlets nestled in the forests of Vrindavana (now Vrindavan
) around the ancient city of Mathura, whence the name "Mahuri". The fourteen original Mahuri surnames or family names (referred to by modern Mahuri Vaisya as "khatas") are derived from the names of these forest hamlets.
s of Mahuri Vaisya people as well as certain mythological and historical evidences suggest that roots of the Mahuri Vaisya (not necessarily with the same name "mahuri") may be traced back to two millennia before—even to the Maurya
and Gupta
periods.
Although Mahuri people have been coming to places in the Suba of Bengal during the heyday of the Mughal Empire (around 500 years before) for trade and commerce, the large waves of migrations reportedly took place around 250 years before. Scores of families reached the place Bihar-E-Sharif located in the present day state of Bihar
, India. Over a period of several decades, the Mahuri Vaishya folks reached the hinterland
of Chota Nagpur Plateau
(or Chhota Nagpur) and got located in a number of villages.
Before this, they had already settled in several fertile locations of the areas of the Magadha
. Ultimately, the heritage city of Gaya
, in several senses, emerged as the "capital city" of all the Mahuri Vaisya people. From the early 20th Century, several mahuri families migrated to the places located in the present day states of the West Bengal
and Orissa
. By the end of the last century, the dynamism of the Mahuri Vaishya took them to several parts of India, particularly to the metropolitan cities of Calcutta, New Delhi
and Mumbai
. Now, Mahuri Vaisya families may be found, albeit in a very small number, in almost all the time zones across the globe. A number of them have also shed their traditional vocation of trade and commerce, and are engaged in a variety of other professions.
Nowadays Mahuris have started spreading all over the world for their business and employment. Like in India most of the Mahuris are in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and also in other parts of Southern India.
Now these days 10% of mahuries are located in jharkhand near harina colony.....they are called Gupta over there...
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
(jāti
Jati
Jāti is the term used to denote clans, tribes, communities and sub-communities in India. It is a term used across religions. In Indian society each jāti typically has an association with a traditional job function or tribe, although religious beliefs Jāti (in Devanagari: जाति Tamil:சாதி) (the...
) under Vaisya varna.
Mahuri Vaisya people are reported to have migrated from the city of Mathura and surrounding rural locations to the then suba of Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
under the Mughal Empire
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
. As a faithful community, the Mahuri Vaisya community still continue to worship Mata Mathurashani Devi, an incarnation of Shakti
Shakti
Shakti from Sanskrit shak - "to be able," meaning sacred force or empowerment, is the primordial cosmic energy and represents the dynamic forces that are thought to move through the entire universe in Hinduism. Shakti is the concept, or personification, of divine feminine creative power, sometimes...
, as their family deity.
Mythology
In a part of the Bhagavata PuranaBhagavata purana
The Bhāgavata Purāṇa is one of the "Maha" Puranic texts of Hindu literature, with its primary focus on bhakti to the incarnations of Vishnu, particularly Krishna...
, which is named Sukha Sagar (that is, the Ocean of Bliss), there is a mythical
Hindu mythology
Hindu religious literature is the large body of traditional narratives related to Hinduism, notably as contained in Sanskrit literature, such as the Sanskrit epics and the Puranas. As such, it is a subset of Nepali and Indian culture...
story which states that Brahma
Brahma
Brahma is the Hindu god of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. According to the Brahma Purana, he is the father of Mānu, and from Mānu all human beings are descended. In the Ramayana and the...
felt that the Avatar
Avatar
In Hinduism, an avatar is a deliberate descent of a deity to earth, or a descent of the Supreme Being and is mostly translated into English as "incarnation," but more accurately as "appearance" or "manifestation"....
(incarnation) of Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
had already taken place on the earth (Prithvi
Prithvi
Prithvi is the sanskrit name for earth and its essence Prithivi Tattwa, in the form of a mother goddess or godmother. Prithvi is also called Dhra, Dharti, Dhrithri, meaning that which holds everything. As Prithvi Devi, she is one of two wives of Lord Vishnu. His other wife is Lakshmi. Prithvi is...
). He dispatched an emissary to Mathura region to ascertain the factual position. There the emissary found that Krishna was moving around with Gopas and Gopi
Gopi
Gopi is a word of Sanskrit origin meaning 'cow-herd girl'. In Hinduism specifically the name gopi is used more commonly to refer to the group of cow herding girls famous within Vaishnava Theology for their unconditional devotion to Krishna as described in the stories of Bhagavata Purana and...
s in and around Vrindavan
Vrindavan
Vrindavan also known as Vraj is a town in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India...
. After some time, Krishna went somewhere, leaving the Gopas and Gopis alone for sometime. During Krishna's absence, Brahma's emissary put all the Gopas and Gopis inside a cave and closed the opening of the cave. Upon his return, when Krishna found that all the Gopas and Gopis had disappeared, he, by his divine power, created duplicates of them, and sent them to their respective homes.
After some time, the real Gopas and Gopis could come out of the cave, and when they reached their homes, they found their identical figures occupying the houses. Somehow, they evicted them from their houses. Now, the Gopas and Gopis created of Krishna's divine maya
Maya (illusion)
Maya , in Indian religions, has multiple meanings, usually quoted as "illusion", centered on the fact that we do not experience the environment itself but rather a projection of it, created by us. Maya is the principal deity that manifests, perpetuates and governs the illusion and dream of duality...
came to him, and prayed for shelter. Krishna advised them to reside in the fourteen forest hamlets around Vrindavan, and directed them that for livelihood they should engage themselves in trade and commerce.
It is believed by some of the Mahuri people that these Gopas and Gopis created by the divine maya of Krishna are their ancestors, and Mahuri people derive their surnames, as described below, from the names of the forest hamlets where they had originally settled as directed by Krishna.
Surnames
The Mahuri Vaisya have 14 surnames (family names), each with a different gotraGotra
In the Hindu society, the term Gotra broadly refers to people who are descendants in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor. Panini defines gotra for grammatical purposes as apatyam pautraprabhrti gotram , which means "the word gotra denotes the progeny beginning with the son's son"...
.
It is believed that Lord Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
advised the ancient ancestors of the Mahuri to engage themselves in trade and commerce—that is, to take up the ways of the Vaisya—in order to earn their livelihood. They settled in fourteen hamlets nestled in the forests of Vrindavana (now Vrindavan
Vrindavan
Vrindavan also known as Vraj is a town in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India...
) around the ancient city of Mathura, whence the name "Mahuri". The fourteen original Mahuri surnames or family names (referred to by modern Mahuri Vaisya as "khatas") are derived from the names of these forest hamlets.
- Athaghara (अठघरा) - "Athaghara" khata is derived from "khelvan" which is believed to be the lila-ashali of Lord Krishan and Radha. A pond named "mansarovar" was believed to be located in the "khelwan". "Chandra muni" is the gotra of athaghara.
- Bargaway (बढ़गवे) - Bargaway derives their Khata from "bahulavana". Krishan-kunda and temples of Baldeojee and Bahula cow are located here. The gotra of Bargaway is "Kanta muni".
- Barahapuriya - Barahapuriyas derive their khata from "madhuwan" where their ancestors used to reside. In this place, one king by the name of Brihat Sen is reported to have performed yagya under the priesthood of Shanta rishi. It is believed that the children performed yagya. It is believed that "barahapuriyas" are descendants of "baraha-sainis". The gotra of "barahpurias" is "vashista muni" gotra.
- Bhadani (भदानी) surname was acquired by the families who resided in the hamlet of Bhadrawana. Bhadanis belong to Usha Muni gotra. (This name is also used by some other social groups in the Indian Subcontinent, but often with a modified spelling - e.g. Badani.)
- Charanpahari (चरणपहाढ़ी) - In Vrindavana area there are 5 hillocks, GowardhanGovardhan hillGovardhan is a hill located near the town of Vrindavan, in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India. It considered as sacred by a number of traditions within Hinduism....
, Varasatu, Nandishawar, Charanpahari and Dushari Charanpahari. These small mountains gave the Khata "Charanpahari". The gotra of "charanpahari" is "Saravesh muni". - Ekghara - From the "vatsha-vana", Lord Brahama is reported to have stolen some calves. Here, Gwal Mandol and Haribole thirthas are located. It is believed that "Ekghara" families used to reside in "vatsha-vana". "Chandra muni" is the gotra of "Ekghara".
- Kandhaway is given to those families who resided in the hamlet of Kaamvana. Kandhaways belong to the gotra of Kashyap muni.
- Kapasimey (कपसीमे) - Kapasimey is derived from the "kumudvan". Here, there is the shrine of Mahaprabhujee. The gotra of Kapasimey is "Shandilya muni".
- Kutariyaar (कुटरियार) - Families residing in the "bhandeervana" acquired "Kutariyaar" khata. A well by the name "Bhandeer" is here. It is believed that this well appeared when the lord Krishan annihilated the demon "vatasha-ashur". "Sharan muni" is perhaps the gotra of "kutariyaar".
- Lohani (लोहानी) is given to families who resided in the hamlet of Lohawana (near the cave of the demonDemoncall - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
Lohasur). Lohani folks were initiated in the school of "kapila Muni" and accordingly their gotra is "kapil muni". - Pawanchaudaha - The temple of "pawan mohan jee" is located in Mahavan. Families residing in this area derived the Khata "Pawanchaudaha". The gotra of "Pawanchaudaha" is "Surya muni".
- Seth Or Gupta(सेठ) - Those families who were residing in "viharvana" acquired the khata "seth". This location was believed to be a beautiful spot. Presently, there stands a magnificent temple built by Jaipur King Shree Madawajee. "Kamal muni" is the gotra of "Seth" Khata.
- Tarway (तरवे) is given to those families who resided in the hamlet of Talwan. Taraways belongs to "Vatasa muni" gotra. In the talwan, Shri Balaramjee is reported to have killed a demon by the name of 'Dhenuka-asur".
- Vaishakhiyar (वैश्यकियार) - Families residing in the "brihatvana" derived the khata "Vaishakhiyar". This "brihatvana" was reportedly located on the eastern flank of "lohavana" where "Nimbakacharya" is believed to have appeared. "Vaishakhiyar" belongs to "Bhardwaj muni" gotra.
History
Although the history of Mahuri Vaisya is traceable to a very near term to hardly three centuries or so, the family folkloreFolklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
s of Mahuri Vaisya people as well as certain mythological and historical evidences suggest that roots of the Mahuri Vaisya (not necessarily with the same name "mahuri") may be traced back to two millennia before—even to the Maurya
Maurya Empire
The Maurya Empire was a geographically extensive Iron Age historical power in ancient India, ruled by the Mauryan dynasty from 321 to 185 BC...
and Gupta
Gupta Empire
The Gupta Empire was an ancient Indian empire which existed approximately from 320 to 550 CE and covered much of the Indian Subcontinent. Founded by Maharaja Sri-Gupta, the dynasty was the model of a classical civilization. The peace and prosperity created under leadership of Guptas enabled the...
periods.
Although Mahuri people have been coming to places in the Suba of Bengal during the heyday of the Mughal Empire (around 500 years before) for trade and commerce, the large waves of migrations reportedly took place around 250 years before. Scores of families reached the place Bihar-E-Sharif located in the present day state of Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
, India. Over a period of several decades, the Mahuri Vaishya folks reached the hinterland
Hinterland
The hinterland is the land or district behind a coast or the shoreline of a river. Specifically, by the doctrine of the hinterland, the word is applied to the inland region lying behind a port, claimed by the state that owns the coast. The area from which products are delivered to a port for...
of Chota Nagpur Plateau
Chota Nagpur Plateau
The Chota Nagpur Plateau is a plateau in eastern India, which covers much of Jharkhand state as well as adjacent parts of Orissa, West Bengal, Bihar and Chhattisgarh. The Indo-Gangetic plain lies to the north and east of the plateau, and the basin of the Mahanadi River lies to the south...
(or Chhota Nagpur) and got located in a number of villages.
Before this, they had already settled in several fertile locations of the areas of the Magadha
Magadha
Magadha formed one of the sixteen Mahājanapadas or kingdoms in ancient India. The core of the kingdom was the area of Bihar south of the Ganga; its first capital was Rajagriha then Pataliputra...
. Ultimately, the heritage city of Gaya
Gaya, India
Gaya is the second largest city of Bihar, India, and it is also the headquarters of Gaya District.Gaya is 100 kilometers south of Patna, the capital city of Bihar. Situated on the banks of Falgu River , it is a place sanctified by both the Hindu and the Buddhist religions...
, in several senses, emerged as the "capital city" of all the Mahuri Vaisya people. From the early 20th Century, several mahuri families migrated to the places located in the present day states of the West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
and Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
. By the end of the last century, the dynamism of the Mahuri Vaishya took them to several parts of India, particularly to the metropolitan cities of Calcutta, New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
and Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. Now, Mahuri Vaisya families may be found, albeit in a very small number, in almost all the time zones across the globe. A number of them have also shed their traditional vocation of trade and commerce, and are engaged in a variety of other professions.
Nowadays Mahuris have started spreading all over the world for their business and employment. Like in India most of the Mahuris are in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and also in other parts of Southern India.
Now these days 10% of mahuries are located in jharkhand near harina colony.....they are called Gupta over there...