Mohyal Brahmin
Mohyal Brahmins are an Indian sub-caste of Saraswat Brahmins with origins in the Punjab region, who are sometimes referred to as 'Warrior Brahmins.[1]
Mohyal Brahmins were the ancient and one of the first Hindu rulers of Punjab and Afghanistan.[2] Their texts claim that their center of origin was from the Ghandhara region of Ancient India, although it is now a part of eastern-Afghanistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They were not priests in traditional sense, they were spiritual healers and preachers of different sects of Hinduism.
Mohyal Brahmins are a caste and a sub-group of the Punjabi Hindu community. The members of this sub-caste originate from the broader Saraswat Brahmin group and comprise seven sub-clans named Bali, Bhimwal, Chhibber, Datt, Lau, Mohan and Vaid. These each claim their lineage from one of seven different Brahmin rishis.
Mohyal clans have the privilege of using courtesy titles like Bakshi, Raizada, Jaitly, Bhai, Chaudhri, Dewan, Malik, Mehta, Khan and Sultan; which were bestowed on them by the Mughal emperors and the Sikh rulers.[3] These epithets have a Persian connotation and imply a high-class status.[4][5]
A very small minority of Mohyals also have an association with Shia Muslims because they helped Imam Hussain in the Battle of Karbala, these Mohyal Brahmnins are called Hussaini Brahmins.[6]
Certain scholars have suggested a connection between Mohyals (Vaids in particular) and the Baidya (Vaidya) community of Bengal. Sena dynasty of Bengal is identified as Vaidya,[7] and Brahmakshatriya (i.e., Warrior Brahmins). According to historian T.P. Russell Stracey, "Vaidya is a different rendering of Vaid".[8] Panchanan Raya referred to the Lau clan as being descendants of a branch of Sena kings,[9] and he also connected the Mohyals with Bengali Baidyas[10] and stated that many families of the latter clan merged with the former clan.[9] Dhanvantari gotra is found as the original gotra among the Bengali Baidyas,[11] which is also the gotra of the Mohyal Vaids.
The Mohyals Brahmin stopped practising priestly duties.[12] The same tradition is seen amongst the Bhumihar Brahmins and the Bengali Baidya clan, who despite following Brahmin varna-rituals, are often considered as Semi-Brahmins[13] for not performing priestly duties.[14]
Mohyal Brahmins, along with Tyagi Brahmins of Haryana, Delhi and Western Uttar Pradesh; Nambudiri Malayali Brahmins of Kerala; and Bhumihar Brahmins of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh are known as the Brahmarshi community of Brahmins, though they are a different section of Brahmins than the above mentioned groups.
The Mohyal Jati (caste), is split into further clans with each family name tracing their origin myth to a certain Vedic figure.[15]
| House (family) Name | Vedic origin figure |
|---|---|
| Bali | Parashar |
| Bhimwal | Kaushal |
| Chhibber | Bhrigu |
| Datt | Bharadwaja |
| Lau | Vasishtha |
| Mohan | Kashyap |
| Vaid | Dhanvantri |
Contributions to Sikhism[edit]
Spirituality and identity[edit]
The majority of Mohyal Brahmins identify as Hindu, with some also identifying as Sikh. Guru Nanak revitalised faith in order to make it accessible for the common people of late Medieval India. As a part of this transformation, many Punjabi Hindus, including the Mohyals, revered and followed Guru Nanak. This devotion towards Nanak's mat (teachings/wisdom) led them to follow Nanak's successors and then assist in the creation of the Sikh ethos. Moreover, as the latter Gurus became martial, this community was a natural home for the warrior-class of Punjabi Hindus.[1][16]
Guru Nanak, continuing in the tradition of Bhakti Saints, revitalised Sanatan ('Hindu') wisdom in order to make to accessible for the common people of late Medieval India.[17] As a part of this transformation, many Punjabi Hindus, including the Mohyals, revered and followed Guru Nanak.[1] Its worth mentioning that a distinct Sikh religious identity was not created until the 19th century, thus, referring to the period of the Gurus as 'Sikhism' is problematic.[16]
Guru period[edit]
Other notable Mohyals include the brothers Bhai Mati Das and Bhai Sati Das, who both died alongside the ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, for protecting Hindu Religion from Islamic Jihad.[18][page needed] As the family of the latter Gurus and this Chhibber family were close, Bhai Chaupa Singh Chhibber became a care-taker of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth guru.[19][full citation needed]
Post Gurus Period[edit]
Even after the death of the Gurus, the Mohyals were heavily imbedded into their legacy.[20] They held high-ranking positions such as Dewans during the time of the latter Gurus to during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Sukerchakia and the Sikh Empire.[21] Mohyals were instrumental in keeping the wisdom of the Gurus alive and historians such as Bhai Kesar Singh Chhibber wrote one of the seminal works of early Sikh history - Bansavalinama (published in 1769).[22][23] Other Mohyal families besides Chhibbers played significant role too, for example, Sardar Raja Mahan Singh "Mirpuri"''' belonged to the Bali family and was 2nd in Command of the Khalsa Army.[21] Mohyal Hindus were high-ranking officers in various Sikh Armies, this led to these 'brave warriors' joining 'Sikh Regiments' under the British Raj.[21]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c McLeod, W. H. (1989). Who is a Sikh? : the problem of Sikh identity. Oxford: Clarendon Press. ISBN 0-19-826548-4. OCLC 19125681.
- ^ "MOHYAL BRAHMINS: THE ANCIENT RULERS OF PUNJAB & AFGHANISTAN". Punjab Monitor. April 18, 2013. Archived from the original on March 1, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- ^ "Mohyal | Courtesy Titles". SikhiWiki. Archived from the original on January 27, 2011. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
- ^ Dutta, Anil; Lav, Ashok (May 1, 2010). "MOHYAL - A WARRIOR BRAHMIN". jaymohyal.blogspot.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
- ^ Stracey, T. P. Rusell (1911). The History of the Muhiyals(1938): The Militant Brahman Race of India. London, England: Facsimile Publisher, 2017. ISBN 80-06-72932-8. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Meet the Hussaini Brahmins, Hindus who observe Muharram alongside Muslims". Firstpost. November 5, 2014. Archived from the original on April 14, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
- ^ Raya, Panchanana. "A Historical Review Of Hindu India (1939)". Digital Library of India.
- ^ Stracey, T. P. Russell. "The History Of The Muhiyals (1938)". Digital Library of India.
- ^ a b Raya, Panchanana. "A Historical Review Of Hindu India (1939)". Digital Library of India.
- ^ Raya, Panchanana. "A Historical Review Of Hindu India (1939)". Digital Library of India.
- ^ Dutt, Nripendra Kumar (1965). "Origin and Growth of Caste in India". Digital Library of India.
- ^ "Country Advice: India" (PDF). Refugee Review Tribunal. January 31, 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- ^ Raj, Christopher S. (2009). Multiculturalism: Public Policy and Problem Areas in Canada and India. ISBN 9788178311845.
- ^ Fazl, Abul (November 5, 2014). "The Brahmins Who Fought For Imam Hussain At Karbala". Kashmir Observer Online. Archived from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ "Mohyal History". SikhiWiki.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Oberoi, Harjot. (1994). The Construction of religious boundaries : culture, identity, and diversity in the Sikh tradition. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-61592-8. OCLC 30157084.
- ^ Bhakti religion in North India : community identity and political action. Lorenzen, David N. Albany: State University of New York Press. 1995. ISBN 0-585-04526-7. OCLC 42854916.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ Prithi Pal Singh, 1928- (2006). The history of Sikh gurus. New Delhi: Lotus Press. ISBN 81-8382-075-1. OCLC 297207913.
- ^ The Making of the Sikh Rehatnamas (2008) - Dr S S Kapoor and Mrs Mohinder Kaur Kapoor
- ^ 'Gulshan-e-Mohyali' (Urdu, 1920s) Raizada Hari Chand Vaid
- ^ a b c The history of the Muhiyals: The militant Brahman race of India'' (English,1911) by T.P. Russell Stracey
- ^ ''Mohyal History'' (Urdu, 1940) Chuni Lal Dutt
- ^ Bhakti Religion in North India: Community Identity and Political Action (1995) - David N. Lorenzen