Panjis - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Panjis or Panji Prabandh are extensive genealogical records maintained among Maithil Brahmin

Maithil Brahmin

Maithil Brahmins form part of ancient Vedic Brahmins. Maithil s are a part of Panch-gauda , a group of highest-ranking castes among Brahmin, who still strive to follow rites and rituals according to ancient Hindu canons. Maithil Brahmin is a community of highly cohesive, and traditional Brahmins...

s, Karna Kayasthas of Mithila

Mithila

Mithila was a city in Ancient India, the capital of the Videha Kingdom. The name Mithila is also commonly used to refer to the Videha Kingdom itself, as well as to the modern-day territories that fall within the ancient boundaries of Videha...

region of north Bihar, India, similat to the Hindu genealogy registers at Haridwar

Hindu genealogy registers at Haridwar

Genealogy registers, of Hindu families, maintained by Brahmin Pandits or ‘Pandas’, who double up as professional genealogists, at Haridwar, has been a subject of study for many years now...

History

The first Panjis were written during the reign of Maharaja Harisingh Dev in 1310 ADhttp://discoverbihar.bih.nic.in/pages/maithili_culture.htm.

Mythology

It is said that during the reign of Maharaja Harisingh Dev, last of the Rajas of Mithila in the 14th century, an interesting case was brought to his court. A married female was held up for un-chastity and at first held to be guilty. She appealed for reconsideration of her case. The case was re-examined and she was found innocent. This case compelled the king to call a meeting of the Maithil Brahmin

Maithil Brahmin

s of his kingdom. When the Brahmans assembled in the king's court, the king considered each and every Brahman's ethical bent and in this way created the Panji system according to which a systematic genealogical table of every Maithil Brahmin

Maithil Brahmin

family and of the Maithil Karan Kayasthas was recorded.

Principle

The principle of Panjis is "Bij Purush" or seed person, who is the first in a particular lineage. The Bij Purush are classified according to "Gotras" (Clan) "Mul" (Lineage) which is the original residing place, called "Mulgrams", of the Vij Purush. The keeper of the Panjis are called as "Panjikars" There are allotted Panjikars for various gotras and Muls of Brahmins and Karna Kayasthas. They are responsible for the accurate record keeping and maintenance of the genealogieshttp://cc.1asphost.com/mithila/genealogies.asp.

Storage and Media

Panjis were traditionally written on palm leaves measuring 16 x 3 and threaded by a central perforation. They were also written on old indigenously made paper called 'Basaha'. However, in the last century they are being increasingly written on paper. The astute panjikars were not only expected to diligently copy the old records but also memorize them by hearthttp://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/charcoal/49/panjik_sarvekshan.htm.

Utility

The Panjis have enormous value in during fixing marriages, as they ensure that incestuous relationships do not occur, delineating the last 14 or so generations of the prospective bride and groom.

Saurath Sabha

The Maithil Brahmins assembled in a conference to deliberate upon new marriage alliances duly checked with the respective panjikars at a place near Madhubani called as Saurath. the conference itself was called Saurath Sabha

Saurath Sabha

Saurath is a village situated six Kilometers north east of Madhubani town in Madhubani District of Bihar. It is famous for being the place where thousands of Maithil Brahaman converged to fix marriage during marriage season. The people gathered at Saurath Sabha Gachchhi...

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/574951.cms.

Current status

Due to progressive loss of Panjis, Panjikars taking up modern professions and increasing cosmopolitan behaviour,the practice of fixation of marriage by consulting Panjis is dying. There have been cases reported of sale of Panjis to foreign agencieshttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1848092.cms. The recent Saurath sabhas are all but desertedhttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/574951.cms. Increasingly, people are looking forward to more modern methods of match making like internet, rather than centuries old palm leaves.

Books on Panji System

Maithili Karna Kayasthak Panjik Sarvekshan
Maithili Karna Kayasthak Panjik Sarvekshan
Maithil Karna Kayasthak Panjik Sarvekshan is a book written by Binod Bihari Verma in Maithili. It is a research study on the available ancient manuscripts in the Mithila region, called as Panjis, which are genealogical charts of Maithil Brahmin and Kayasthas castes...

, by Binod Bihari Verma
Binod Bihari Verma
Binod Bihari Verma was a Maithili littérateur by soul, medical doctor by profession and a defence officer by career. He is most noted for his pioneering work on Panjis, which are ancient genealogical charts, Maithili Karna Kayasthak Panjik Sarvekshan. He is also known for his depiction of rural...
Maithil Brāhamano ki Pañji Vyavasthā (Hindi), by Pt Ramānāth Jhā, published by Granthālaya, Darbhangā.
Genome Mapping- 450 AD to 2009 AD- Mithilak Panji Prabandh, by Gajendra Thakur
Gajendra Thakur
Gajendra Thakur is an Indian author. He writes in the Maithili language, a language spoken in Northern Bihar and South-Western Nepal...

, published by Shruti Publication,2009 Delhi ISBN No.978-81-907729-6-9

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.