Gwalvanshi
Gwalvanshi is a term for those who claim descent from the Gwala or herdsman dynasty and the Gopis, who danced with the god Krishna in the woods of Vrindavan and Gokul.[1] The term indicates an association with sacred cows.
Etymology
Original word Gaur becomes and then Gwal. Gaur, Gor or Gorya, a very ancient Yadav clan of Epic Mahabharata.[citation needed] The term Gwal was derived from Gopal or "protector of cows".[2][3] Amarkosa, an ancient Sanskrit text treats them as synonym of Abhira.[4][5]
Structure
Krishna was raised between Gwals who were his childhood friends. Mahabharata says Gaurs are part of Yaduvanshi Kshatriyas.[6] The Gwallas of Bengal, Yadavs of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar,[7][8] West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand are Gwalvanshi. [1] According to British historian Elliot, Gwalvanshi do not have gotras (Clans or sub divisions).[7]
Distribution
- Uttar Pradesh Azamgarh, Banares, Bhadohi, Jaunpur, Pratapgarh, Allahabad, Gorkakhpur and Mirzapur District.[8][9]
- Bihar has Gopalganj, Banka, Darbhanga, Siwan, Sahabad, Sasaram, Gaya, Rohtas, Palamau, Hazaribag[10] Chhapra, Madhubani, Munger.[11] According to history professor Rahul Shukla, the Gwalvanshi Ahirs had settled in Azamgarh, Varanasi, Gorkakhpur, Mirzapur etc., besides in Bihar. "They were cultivators or tenants in eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. At the turn of the century, they evolved into business and other vocations in a big way. [12]
Caste politics
The transformation of all Ahirs (Yaduvanshi Ahirs, Nandvanshi and Gwalvanshi) into Yaduvanshi Yadavs was promoted by the All India Yadav Mahasabha which was founded in 1927.[13]
See also
References
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- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Cite error: Invalid
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<ref>tag; name "Sherring1872" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Jobs go to people from Yadav-belt – The Times of India
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Crumbling Yadav Bastion | Open Magazine
- ↑ http://www.firstpost.com/politics/azamgarh-why-mulayam-cannot-take-yadav-votes-for-granted-1517631.html?utm_source=ref_article
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
