Rajpurohit

Rajpurohit[lower-alpha 1] (Sanskrit:राजपुरोहित) is a Brahmin sub caste residing in South Asia natively in western Rajasthan of India.[3] They maintain traditions that are similar to both Brahmins and Rajputs.[4] They are historically engaged into administration, trading, jagirdar, royal council Member[5] and are spread across entire country. They were given villages at boundary of kingdom. According to political analysts, Rajput, Rajpurohit and Charan communities are considered to be identical in regards to their social customs and political ideologies.[6]

Social Structure

Rajpurohits are a Brahmin community, who as a rule, did not provide Brahminical services as expected with the caste duties of Brahmins. Their ancestors are Brahmins of different sub castes such as Gaur, Paliwal Gaur, Khandelwal, Pushkarna, Nagar, Pareek, Dadheech and Bias but majority of them has Gaur lineage. Though they have been described as a Brahmin group which mediates matrimonial alliances of Rajputs, they did not play any role in actual rituals of the wedding for which the services of a regular Brahmin were employed.[7] they take part in battlefield, business, promoting culture through arts, educational services etc.[8]

Political activities

The Rajpurohit community had previously been allied primarily with the Bharatiya Janata Party. In 2009, however, the community switched loyalties to the Indian National Congress, due to perceived neglect by the BJP.[6]

Notable Historical figures

Purohit Devidas

Purohit of Rao Lunkaran who fought for him in almost every battles of him and died along with Lunkaran and his sons against Nawab of Narnaul.[9]

Purohit Narain Das

Naraian das fought and died in the Siege of Chittorgarh (1535).[10]

Rajpurohit Pratap Singh Mulrajot

Pratap singhji fought and attain Martyrdom in the Battle of Sammel [11]

Gopinath and Jagannath Purohit

Both of them fought with Maharana Pratap against Mughals.[12]

Teja Purohit

Teja was Minister of peace and war for Rana Kumbha i.e Kumbha of Mewar.[13]

Garibdas Purohit

Purohit Garibdas was a great military general of Maharana Raj Singh. He commanded the forces of Mewar in the battles of Aravali hills.[14]

Rajpurohit Kesari Singh Akherjot

Chief commander of Abhai Singh of Marwar in the Battle of Ahmedabad against Mughal governor Sarbuland Khan.

Purohit Jag Nath

Jag Nath purohit was the chief commander and purohit to Bakht Singh of Marwar His father Jaideo purohit was a पुष्करणा Brahmin who helped Durgadas Rathore and protected young Ajit Singh.[15]

Legacy

Memorials



Notable members of the Rajpurohit community

References

Notes

  1. Aside from being a community, Rajpurohit is synonymous with Rajguru as an ancient term for a type of Brahmin. Hermann Kulke and Dietmar Rothermund note that "There is much evidence in ancient texts that there were two ideal types of Brahmins in those days, the royal priest or advisor (rajpurohit, rajguru, "akherajot" and "kanot") and the sage (rishi) who lived in the forest and shared his wisdom only with those who asked for it."[1] Its modern use in this sense has been described by Sumit Sarkar as a "self-conscious archaism".[2]

Citations

  1. Kulke, Hermann; Rothermund, Dietmar (2004) [1986]. A History of India (Fourth ed.). Routledge. p. 5. ISBN 9780415329194. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  2. Sarkar, Sumit (2002). Beyond Nationalist Frames: Postmodernism, Hindutva, History. Indiana University Press. p. 73. ISBN 9780253342034. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  3. Singh, Hardyal (1990). Castes Of Marwar,Being Cencus Report of 1891. p. 87.
  4. Singh, Manvendra (15 April 2013). Campaign Diary: Chronicle of an Election Fought and Lost. Penguin UK. ISBN 978-81-8475-983-9.
  5. Rima Hooja (2006). A History of Rajasthan. University of Michigan. ISBN 8129108909. Rajpurohit are a community of people residing in Bikaner State,Marwar,Nagaur etc. They were granted jagiri for large villages for their participation and bravery shown in battlefield.And were very active in councils of King
  6. "Rajpurohits pitch in for Cong". The Times of India. 14 April 2009. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  7. Singh, Hardyal (1990). The Castes of Marwar, Being Census Report of 1891. Books Treasure.
  8. Singh, Dr.Prahlad (1982). Rajpurohit Jaati ka Itihaas. Rajasthani Granthnagar.
  9. Sinh, Ranbir (2001). History of Shekhawats. Jaipur: Publication Scheme. p. 12. ISBN 978-8-1867-8274-3.
  10. {{Cite book|first=G.N|last=sharma|title=Glories of Mewar|url=https://books.google.com/books?
  11. {{Cite=https://rajputanavirasat.com%7CBlog Title=मारवाड़ नरेश राव मालदेव राठौड़ (भाग–11)
  12. {{Cite book|first=M.N|last= Mathur|title=Battle of Haldighati|url=https://books.google.com/books?
  13. {{Cite book|name=Rajasthan [district Gazetteers].: Bhilwara By Rajasthan (India)|Published=1962|Original from:the University of Michigan
  14. {{Cite ref=books.google.co.in › books|Book Title= Encyclopaedia Indica: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh.
  15. |book|title=Mediaeval History of Rajasthan: Western Rajasthan|Published=1992|Publisher=Rajvi Amar Singh


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