Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 192.8.176.11 (talk) at 08:19, 24 August 2015 (Undid revision 676574065 by Yamaguchi先生 (talk)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Chaurasia is a Brahmin community in India and Nepal. There are innumerable Chaurasias who have done remarkable works for the welfare of society and country.

Origin

CHAURASIA word originated from ancient INDIAN Vedas which basically refers a Brahmin community in INDIA, CHAURASIA word inherits from a vedic word 'chaturashiitah' which refers eighty four in sansakrita . Since ancient INDIA, according to the Hindu mythology it is believed there are eighty four thousands Yonis(breeds, Types) of Gods existing in this universe. Every species which exist on Earth belong to a particular Yoni . At later stage and for easy pronunciation it transformed as 'Chaurasia' (A Hindi equivalent also refers eighty four) 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 'Bakunthya 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 Beatle 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 . In recent days people of this community are employed in a variety of occupations (some also refers themselves as 'Vaishya' i.e. traders,since becoming followers of Vallabhacharya ji, adopting Vaishanavism nearly 300 years ago.) and their religious traditions and culture are becoming less of a factor in daily life.

History of Chaurasia Community According to mythology, Mohini distributed Amrut (ambrosia) amongst various gods. The urn with the remaining of the Amrut was kept near Indra’s elephant « Nagraja ». Growing inside the urn was a strange creeping plant and the gods became ecstatic. Vishnu ordered Dhanvantari to examine the plant. He thus discovered its stimulating quality. From then on, Vishnu began to offer its leaves, as a gesture of love and affection. Since, it is said , that the betel trine was born. It began to be associated with the Brahma-Vishnu-Mahesh Trinity. The areca nut was attributed to Brahma, the Tambool (betel) leaf to Vishnu and lime to Mahesh. According to another legend, after the Pandavas’ victory at Hastinapur, they began to have a fervent desire for Tambool. A messenger was urgently sent to the underground abode of the Queen of the snakes. The Queen, only too happy to oblige, cut the extreme phalange of her little finger and sent it to the Pandavas. The phalange was planted with great ceremony and soon the Betel plant grew out of the phalange. The creeper is since then referred to as « Nagveli » the snake plant. The ceremony of the leaves commemorates this origin and the Barais offer prayers to the God of snakes on the occasion. Gotras Chaurasia community belongs to the following Gotras Kashyapa Bharadwaj Shandilya Rishi Brahmachari Gaurhar Chaurasia Sharma Barai Tamoli Bhatia Bhagat Chaurishi Chaudhari Modi Rasela Rajdheer Sub castes Following are the synonyms of Chaurasia surname by regional preferences: Chaurasia (Belarampur, patti, pratapgarh) (U.P.)and Nepal. Chaurasia (Throughout India) Chourasia (Parts of North East India) Chaurishi (Parts of North India) Chaurasiya ( In Terai area of Nepal) Sharma (Throughout India) Jaiswal (North India)and Nepal too. Bhardwaj (Throughout India) Kashyap (North India) Nag (North/East India) Bhagat (North/east India) & in Nepal too. Bari (Central/western India) Barai (West Bihar/East UP)& in Nepal too. Tamoli (West Bihar/East UP) Rishi (Central India) Brahmachari(North India) Gaurhar (North India) Modi (North India) Raut (Bihar Madhubani)and Nepal too Rai (Bihar Madhubani) Munshi (Dhanbad Jharkhand) Rasela (Central India) Tiwari (Bihar Begusarai area)

The Barai derive their name from the Sanskrit word vritti which means a maintainer. According to other traditions, they get their name from the word bari, which means a hedge or enclosure. Both these names alludes to the fact that they are a community of horticulturists. They are a community that grows and sells the betel leaf. The Barai are found mainly in eastern and central Uttar Pradesh, their place in the west is taken by the Tamboli, who are also traditionally involved in the cultivation of betel leaves. The Barai are very likely to be a sub-division of the Tamboli community. They are further divided into a number of clans, the main ones being the Chaurasia, Katiyar, Jaiswar, Mahobia and Nag .

Present circumstances

Most families possess small holdings, with a smaller number renting land from other communities. A significant number are also involved in selling paan, especially in Awadh. In western Uttar Pradesh, they sell their produce to the Tamboli community. They tend to live in their own settlements, which are often located near the outskirts of towns.

The Barai are strictly endogamous, and practice clan exogamy. Like other Hindu castes, they have set up a caste association, the Chaurasia Samiti. This acts both as an instrument of social control, as well the controlling the sale of betel nuts in eastern Uttar Pradesh. The Barai are Hindu, and their tribal deity is Nāg, the snake god.

References

1. ^ People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part One edited by A Hasan & J C Das page 177 to 182 Manohar Publications

• Social groups of Uttar Pradesh
• Hindu communities