Vaishya
Agrawals are most prominent among the Vaishya communities. They trace their origin to a mythological person, a king named Agrasen. Agrawals also have two subdivisions viz Bisa Agrawal and Dasa Agrawal. Although they are found in every part of India, they are concentrated in Haryana, Rajasthan, Agra and Mathura regions. They are engaged in trade, industry and Commerce. There are seventeen subdivisions of Agrawals viz;
1. Garg
2. Goyal (Goel)
3. Gobhil
4. Bansal
5. Kansal
6. Singhal
7. Mangal
8. Tingal
9. Eran
10. Govil
11. Bhaddal
12. Teran
13. Tittal
14. Mittal
15. Jindal
16. Tayal
17. Goin
They are leaders in the field of industry and trade. They are mostly Vaishnavas, but some of them are Jains also. Both group intermarry freely.
Maheshwari: Maheshwaris belong to caste analogous to the Agrawal. They are found in Rajasthan . There are numerous subdivisions of the Maheshwaris viz ;
1. Somani
2. Soni
3. Sodhani
4. Kakani
5. Malu
6. Jaju
7. Bihani
8. Bajaj
9. Kalhani
10. Kavara
11. Daga
12. Rathi
13. Tosaliwal
14. Ajamera
15. Bhandari
16. Bhansali
17. Sarada
18. Lodha
19. Malapani
20. Lahoti
21. Mundhara
22. Jhavar
23. Tapadia
24. Porvar
25. Devapure
26. Atal
In addition to Agarwal and Maheshwari there are several Vaishya castes viz; Oswal, Khandelwal, Gahoi, Varshneya, Agarahri, Rastogi, Kesvani, Lohia, Barnawal, etc. and they have numerous sub castes.
The Vaishaya class from the very early times was divided into numerous endogamous castes. Excepting the priests, warrior classes and domestic servants, the entire population constituted the Vaishya class. They were engaged in agriculture, cattle rearing and trades. With the rise of Buddhism, Jainism and later on Vaishnavism, the Vaishyas were attracted towards these reformists movements and thus they kept some distance from the Brahmins and the Kshatriyas. In their occupational operations viz agriculture and cattle rearing, they were required to maintain close contacts with the Shudras. Besides, Vedic education, many sacraments , which a dvija was required to perform, had become a mere formality in their case and many groups among the Vaishyas completely neglected these formalities. As a result several Vaishya groups were relegated to the position of the Shudras. Like Brahmins and Kshatriyas. Vaishyas were also divided into several castes and sub-castes on the regional and genecological basis.
At present the number of Vaishya castes engaged in trade and industry exceeds two hundred. A fairly representative list of the Vaishya castes has been given above.
Kayastha: As a caste they came into being in the medieval period . Earlier it was a common designation of men who worked in Government offices (Kaaya) as clerks, accountants or held similar positions. They were recruited from all the four varnas – classes of the society. Like the ministerial employees working in Government offices in modern times they did not enjoy very good reputation, since early times and they have been object of criticism, sarcasm and condemnation. Yajnavalkya (C200 BC) has said about this class :
“The King should protect his subjects from the harassment caused by the chaata (Police), Taskara (Thieves) Durvitta (Bad Characters), Mahasahasika (Voilent criminals) and particularly the Kayasthas.”
Mitakshara (11th Century A.D. a commentary on Yajnavalkya clearly states that the Kayasth means the clerks and accountants (Kayastha Lekhakagananashcha). It makes it clear that until the eleventh century Kayasth as a separate caste did not exist. As these officials were recruited from all the varnas, their way of living, marriage customs , food habits etc. but differed with each other. Professionally they constituted one class but ultimately developed into a separate sub caste. Until recently they fully maintained their exclusiveness. Even their physical features differed conspicuously.
Their subdivisions are based on the regions of their origin viz Gaudas hailed from Thaneshwar in Haryana, Bhatnagar from Bhatinda, Mathur from Mathura, Sakesenas from Sankasya or Sankisa and Srivastav hailed from Shravasti .
Kayasthas worked in the Adhikarana , department of revenue(Rajasva), corporations, reader in judicial courts – some of their designations are Karan- Clerk, Sahaya – Assistant etc. They had fully adjusted themselves to the Muslim rulers and worked under them in different capacities viz ; Amin , Kanungo, Siqdar , Sarkar , Talukdar, Majumdar, Desai, Sardesai, Kirori etc. were revenue tittles of this period.
Vaidya and Prabhu : The Vaidyas of Bengal and Prabhus hold high rank in society next if not equal to the Brahmins. The Vaidyas were originally Brahmins physicians . In performance of their professional duties they had to come in contact with human exereta and sections of the society which the orthodox could not appreciate. So they were downgraded in social hierarchy. Manu has prohibited inviting physicians on the occasion of Shraddha which was open to high grade Brahmins only.
Prabhus are located in Maharastra and Karnataka and rank below the Brahamin. The word Prabhu is indicative of power. It means a master, lord,king which is synonymous of Mohiyals- Mahipal a branch of Saraswat brahamins.
Prabhus and Vaidyas are highly educated and talented.
1. Garg
2. Goyal (Goel)
3. Gobhil
4. Bansal
5. Kansal
6. Singhal
7. Mangal
8. Tingal
9. Eran
10. Govil
11. Bhaddal
12. Teran
13. Tittal
14. Mittal
15. Jindal
16. Tayal
17. Goin
They are leaders in the field of industry and trade. They are mostly Vaishnavas, but some of them are Jains also. Both group intermarry freely.
Maheshwari: Maheshwaris belong to caste analogous to the Agrawal. They are found in Rajasthan . There are numerous subdivisions of the Maheshwaris viz ;
1. Somani
2. Soni
3. Sodhani
4. Kakani
5. Malu
6. Jaju
7. Bihani
8. Bajaj
9. Kalhani
10. Kavara
11. Daga
12. Rathi
13. Tosaliwal
14. Ajamera
15. Bhandari
16. Bhansali
17. Sarada
18. Lodha
19. Malapani
20. Lahoti
21. Mundhara
22. Jhavar
23. Tapadia
24. Porvar
25. Devapure
26. Atal
In addition to Agarwal and Maheshwari there are several Vaishya castes viz; Oswal, Khandelwal, Gahoi, Varshneya, Agarahri, Rastogi, Kesvani, Lohia, Barnawal, etc. and they have numerous sub castes.
The Vaishaya class from the very early times was divided into numerous endogamous castes. Excepting the priests, warrior classes and domestic servants, the entire population constituted the Vaishya class. They were engaged in agriculture, cattle rearing and trades. With the rise of Buddhism, Jainism and later on Vaishnavism, the Vaishyas were attracted towards these reformists movements and thus they kept some distance from the Brahmins and the Kshatriyas. In their occupational operations viz agriculture and cattle rearing, they were required to maintain close contacts with the Shudras. Besides, Vedic education, many sacraments , which a dvija was required to perform, had become a mere formality in their case and many groups among the Vaishyas completely neglected these formalities. As a result several Vaishya groups were relegated to the position of the Shudras. Like Brahmins and Kshatriyas. Vaishyas were also divided into several castes and sub-castes on the regional and genecological basis.
At present the number of Vaishya castes engaged in trade and industry exceeds two hundred. A fairly representative list of the Vaishya castes has been given above.
Kayastha: As a caste they came into being in the medieval period . Earlier it was a common designation of men who worked in Government offices (Kaaya) as clerks, accountants or held similar positions. They were recruited from all the four varnas – classes of the society. Like the ministerial employees working in Government offices in modern times they did not enjoy very good reputation, since early times and they have been object of criticism, sarcasm and condemnation. Yajnavalkya (C200 BC) has said about this class :
“The King should protect his subjects from the harassment caused by the chaata (Police), Taskara (Thieves) Durvitta (Bad Characters), Mahasahasika (Voilent criminals) and particularly the Kayasthas.”
Mitakshara (11th Century A.D. a commentary on Yajnavalkya clearly states that the Kayasth means the clerks and accountants (Kayastha Lekhakagananashcha). It makes it clear that until the eleventh century Kayasth as a separate caste did not exist. As these officials were recruited from all the varnas, their way of living, marriage customs , food habits etc. but differed with each other. Professionally they constituted one class but ultimately developed into a separate sub caste. Until recently they fully maintained their exclusiveness. Even their physical features differed conspicuously.
Their subdivisions are based on the regions of their origin viz Gaudas hailed from Thaneshwar in Haryana, Bhatnagar from Bhatinda, Mathur from Mathura, Sakesenas from Sankasya or Sankisa and Srivastav hailed from Shravasti .
Kayasthas worked in the Adhikarana , department of revenue(Rajasva), corporations, reader in judicial courts – some of their designations are Karan- Clerk, Sahaya – Assistant etc. They had fully adjusted themselves to the Muslim rulers and worked under them in different capacities viz ; Amin , Kanungo, Siqdar , Sarkar , Talukdar, Majumdar, Desai, Sardesai, Kirori etc. were revenue tittles of this period.
Vaidya and Prabhu : The Vaidyas of Bengal and Prabhus hold high rank in society next if not equal to the Brahmins. The Vaidyas were originally Brahmins physicians . In performance of their professional duties they had to come in contact with human exereta and sections of the society which the orthodox could not appreciate. So they were downgraded in social hierarchy. Manu has prohibited inviting physicians on the occasion of Shraddha which was open to high grade Brahmins only.
Prabhus are located in Maharastra and Karnataka and rank below the Brahamin. The word Prabhu is indicative of power. It means a master, lord,king which is synonymous of Mohiyals- Mahipal a branch of Saraswat brahamins.
Prabhus and Vaidyas are highly educated and talented.