Hindu Ghosi

For Muslim Ghosi, see Ghosi tribe.

Hindu Ghosi
ReligionsHinduism
SubdivisionsRawat, 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

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

Krishna with Yasoda and Nandji, the professed ancestors of Ghosis

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

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

References

  1. ^ a b SurvaVanshi, Bhagwansingh (1962). Abhiras their history and culture.
  2. ^ 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.
  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.
  4. ^ Roy, Janmajit (2002). Theory of Avatāra and Divinity of Chaitanya. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 157. ISBN 978-8-12690-169-2.
  5. ^ Bhattacharya, Sunil Kumar (1996). Krishna-cult in Indian Art. M.D. Publications. p. 126. ISBN 978-8-17533-001-6.
  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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  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. p. 93. Retrieved 27 May 2015.

Further reading

  • Michelutti, Lucia (2008). The Vernacularisation of Democracy: Politics, Caste, and Religion in India. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-41546-732-2.