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| == '''References''' == | == '''References''' == | ||
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Revision as of 13:09, 1 June 2012
Ethnic group| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Languages | |
| Historical: Awadhi, Bhojpuri, Khariboli, Wambul, Garhwali, and Marathi | |
| Religion | |
 Hinduism (100%) | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Gaur Brahmin, Chauriyasi Mewada Brahmins, Saryupareen Brahmins, Sandilya and other Brahmin Communities. |
Background
Chaurasia is a word which originated from ancient Indian Vedas. It basically refers to an originally Brahmin community from India and Nepal. The word "Chaurasia" word inherits from the vedic word "chaturashiitah" which refers eighty four in Sanskrit. Since ancient India, according to Hindu mythology, it is believed there are eighty four thousands Yonis (breeds, types) of Gods existing in this universe and there are eighty four lakh Yonis (breeds, types) of species. Every species which exists on Earth and rest of the universe belongs to a particular Yoni. At a later stage and for easy pronunciation it was changed into "Chaurasia" (a Hindi equivalent also means eighty four).
Origin
Mythological Origin Of Chaurasia
As there are a number of mystical theories about the origin of Universe and life by GOD, so are with the origin of the Chaurasia community too.
A famous story behind the birth of this word states that once all dev gans (Devtas, Gods) assembled on Earth at a place called 'Naumi Sharayan' to perform some auspicious ceremony, and while they were approaching back to 'Baikunthya Dham' (Heaven) they all started feeling thirsty due to extreme heat on earth when a particular community came forward and quenched their thirst by serving them betel leaves .Impressed by their hospitality, the Devtas not only blessed them but also honoured them by gifting the title chaturashiitah i.e. 'CHAURASIA' . According to the Baudhâyanas'rauta-sûtra CHAURASIA's belong to Kashyapa, Some believe that they belong to ,So there are many beliefs about Gotras .
Another story can be traced in the Ancient History of Bhats of Roopnagar. According to the history, there were two children of Gaji Rishi, namely Tameshwar Rishi and Manakrao Rishi. Tameshwar Rishi didn't have any son, and for having sons he organized a Yajna. For the Yajna to be successful, Brahmaji asked the Nagbel (or betel leaves) to be offered in it. For bringing the Nagbel, Lord Hanuman was sent to search fot it and bring it quickly. Lord Hanuman searched for it and traced his way to the Patal lok (or Underworld), where he received the holy leaves from the daughter of Lord VasukiNag. Yajna was successfully accomplished and the Nagbel was distributed amongst all and asked them to plant those leaves. After sometime, when Brahma inquired whether the leaves were planted or not, he asked for the leaves to be brought back from all the Rishis, but none was able to provide it. The planted leaves of Holy betel were not taken care of and were uprooted by a potter from whom they were retrieved and brought back to Brahma. The leaves were then given to Tameshwar Rishi. Tameshwar Rishi together with his brother Manakrao rishi prepared a mandap of Kush and Grass and then planted the leaves. They themselves too the responsibility of taking care of the betel plant from that time till the end of time. Tameshwar rishI was blessed with four sons namely Kshatrapal, Karmasen, Dharmasen and Sarwasen. These four were gifted with many supernatural powers and established a holy city named Mahoba Nagar. From these four rishis, Twenty four sons and from these twenty four sons eighty four sons continued the family tree. Behind these eight four descendents the gotras of chaurasia as well as many of the other brahmin community got their gotra origin. One can still trace the original gotra name "Chaurasi or Chaurisi" in the Chaurasia Brahmin community .
Origin of Betel Plant
At the time of samudra manthan, the Amrit Kalash was originated, when after the Amrit was distributed to the Devtas, the vessel was placed at a corner. The empty vessel attracted the attention of the Trinity as well as of all the Devtas as an unwnown plant was growing and creeping out of it. Brahma ordered for the research on the origin and nature of this plant and associated his Manas Putra (rishis who led to the origin of chaurasia community). The plant was said to heal all the diseases and provided strength & amaratwa. Lord Vishnu and Lord Mahesh asked the offering of this plant leaf for any prayer offered to them which required successful completion, so was followed by other other devtas. Since then, Betel leaves are the most Holy and Secred plant just like Tulsi leaves. No Yajna, Hawan, Puja, Vidhi or any Shubh Karya can ever be complete without the offering of Betel (==Paan) leaves, and Chaurasia community has a privilege of nurturing, researching and protecting this plant (as asked by the Supreme himself).
The Most Secred Day
As the origin and the vedic history of the chaurasia community is related totally to the Nagbel or the betel plant and Vasukinag, so Chaurasia people give special priority to the "Nag Panchami". They worship Lord Vasuki and their respective "Kul Devta or Kul Devi" on this auspicious day.
South-East Asian Languages named After Chaurasia
The name "Chaurasia" is the source of origin of the Indo-Tibetan, Sino-Tibetan, Nepali, North-East Indian language which has even got the same name as "Chaurasia " or "Ambule, Chaurasya, Chourase, Chourasia, Ombule". They are categorized under the major "Wambule" language .
Gotras and Sub-Castes
Chaurasia community belongs to the following Brahmin Gotras
Gotras
| Kashyapa | Bharadwaj |
| Shandilya | Rishi |
| Brahmachari | Gaurhar |
| Chaurasia | Bari |
| Tamoli | Bhagat |
| Sharma | Chaudhari |
| Chaurishi | Chourishi |
Sub castes
Following are the synonyms of Chaurasia surname by regional preferences:
| Chaurasia (Belarampur, patti, pratapgarh) (U.P.) | Chaurasia (Throughout India) | Chourasia (Parts of North East India) | Chaurishi (Parts of North India) |
| Sharma (Throughout India) | Jaiswal (North India) | Tiwari (North/East India) | Thawit (Uttrakhand) |
| Bhardwaj (Throughout India) | Kashyap (North India) | Nag (North/East India) | Bhagat (North/east India) |
| Bahun (Throughout Nepal) | Bari (West Bihar/East UP) | Tamoli (West Bihar/East UP) | Rishi (Central India) |
| Brahmachari(North India) | Gaurhar (North India) | Modi (North India) | Raut (Bihar Madhubani) |
| Chaudhary (Hajipur Bihar) | Munshi (Dhanbad Jharkhand) |
Famous Personalities
- (International Bansuri Player)
- B.D. Chaurasia (Author)
- Vijay Chaurasia (Golfer)
- Rakesh Chaurasia (International Flute Player)
- Deepak Chaurasia (Aaj Tak)
- Satyajit Chaurasia (trainer for Hrithik Roshan, Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukherjee, Isha Deol, Ajay Devegan, Vivek Oberoi etc)
- Kailash Chaurasia (Minister of State UP, Samajwadi Party)
- Ganga Prasad (MLA Bihar, BJP)
- Rameshwar Prasad Chaurasia (MLA Bihar, Rohtas)
- Sanjay Chaurasia editor (Sahara One)
Major Vocations
| Hotels | Petrol Pumps | Construction | Real Estate | Flour & Oil Mills |
| Research and Teaching | Steel Plants | Power Plants | Hospitals | Transport |
| Trading | Engineering, IT | Pan Masala & Cigarettes | Media | Chain of Retail stores |
References
- Samaj, Chaurasia. "Chaurasia Samaj". Community Service. Chaurasia Samaja. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
External Links
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