Bhabra
Encyclopedia
Bhabra is an ancient merchant community from Punjab whose population mainly follows Jainism
,
.
The Bhabra community has had a close historical association with Jainism. It is believed to be connected with the Bhavadar or Bhavada Gachchha to which the legendary Jain Acharya
Kalakacharya
belonged to. They may have originated from the Bhabra town (32° 13' 30": 73° 13'). Inscriptions suggest that Bhavada Gachchha had survived until 17th century.
Jainism has been present in Punjab since ancient times. This is where Alexander the Great encountered Gymnosophists
and Xuanzang
met both Digambara and Swetambara monks.
According to Shatrunjaya Mahatmya of Dhaneshwar Suri, Javad Shah of Taxila
had restored Shatrunjaya
Tirth and brought an idol of Lord Adinath from Taxila and installed it at Shatrunjaya
.
Vaar 8 Pauri 12 of 24 of Vaaran Bhai Gurdas
(1550-1620 CE) says: "kaytarhiaan hee baaneeay kitarhay bhaabharhiaan suniaaray", there are many traders and many Bhabras are goldsmiths.
In "Romantic Tales from the Punjab" Charles Swynnerton relates a folk tale about several girls. It mentions a girl being a Bhabra, and mentions them being strictly vegetarian. Their Jain perspective on God's uninvolvement in world affairs is mentioned un
In 17th century, Fray Sebastien Manrique met them in Amritsar district.Their presence has been noted in the Mughal period, and in the 19th century
The original home region of the Bhabras is now in Pakistan. While practically all the Bhabras have left Pakistan region, many cities still have sections named after Bhabras.
Some also lived in Sindh. A few hundred Bhabras in Pakistan have become Muslim. Some Bhabras in Pakistan now follow Hinduism.
In India they have been present at:
In modern Delhi, the majority of Jains in Rup Nagar area are refugees from Punjab.
The famous Bhabra edict from Maurya period found in Rajasthan is unrelated to the Bhabra community.
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
,
.
The Bhabra community has had a close historical association with Jainism. It is believed to be connected with the Bhavadar or Bhavada Gachchha to which the legendary Jain Acharya
Acharya
In Indian religions and society, an acharya is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men...
Kalakacharya
Vikramaditya
Vikramaditya was a legendary emperor of Ujjain, India, famed for his wisdom, valour and magnanimity. The title "Vikramaditya" was later assumed by many other kings in Indian history, notably the Gupta King Chandragupta II and Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya .The name King Vikramaditya is a...
belonged to. They may have originated from the Bhabra town (32° 13' 30": 73° 13'). Inscriptions suggest that Bhavada Gachchha had survived until 17th century.
Jainism has been present in Punjab since ancient times. This is where Alexander the Great encountered Gymnosophists
Gymnosophists
Gymnosophists is the name given by the Greeks to certain ancient Indian philosophers who pursued asceticism to the point of regarding food and clothing as detrimental to purity of thought ....
and Xuanzang
Xuanzang
Xuanzang was a famous Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler, and translator who described the interaction between China and India in the early Tang period...
met both Digambara and Swetambara monks.
According to Shatrunjaya Mahatmya of Dhaneshwar Suri, Javad Shah of Taxila
Taxila
Taxila is a Tehsil in the Rawalpindi District of Punjab province of Pakistan. It is an important archaeological site.Taxila is situated about northwest of Islamabad Capital Territory and Rawalpindi in Panjab; just off the Grand Trunk Road...
had restored Shatrunjaya
Shatrunjaya
The Palitana Temples of Jainism on Mount Satrunjaya, Palitana, Gujarat are considered the holiest of all pilgrimage places by the Svetambara Jain community. There are 863 temples exquisitely carved in marble located on the hills. This temple-city has been built as an abode for the divine; hence,...
Tirth and brought an idol of Lord Adinath from Taxila and installed it at Shatrunjaya
Shatrunjaya
The Palitana Temples of Jainism on Mount Satrunjaya, Palitana, Gujarat are considered the holiest of all pilgrimage places by the Svetambara Jain community. There are 863 temples exquisitely carved in marble located on the hills. This temple-city has been built as an abode for the divine; hence,...
.
Vaar 8 Pauri 12 of 24 of Vaaran Bhai Gurdas
Bhai Gurdas
Bhai Gurdas was a Punjabi Sikh writer, historian, preacher and religious figure. He was the original scribe of the Guru Granth Sahib and a companion of four of the Sikh Gurus.-Early life:...
(1550-1620 CE) says: "kaytarhiaan hee baaneeay kitarhay bhaabharhiaan suniaaray", there are many traders and many Bhabras are goldsmiths.
In "Romantic Tales from the Punjab" Charles Swynnerton relates a folk tale about several girls. It mentions a girl being a Bhabra, and mentions them being strictly vegetarian. Their Jain perspective on God's uninvolvement in world affairs is mentioned un
In 17th century, Fray Sebastien Manrique met them in Amritsar district.Their presence has been noted in the Mughal period, and in the 19th century
The original home region of the Bhabras is now in Pakistan. While practically all the Bhabras have left Pakistan region, many cities still have sections named after Bhabras.
- SialkotSialkotSialkot is a city in Pakistan situated in the north-east of the Punjab province at the foothills of snow-covered peaks of Kashmir near the Chenab river. It is the capital of Sialkot District. The city is about north-west of Lahore and only a few kilometers from Indian-controlled Jammu.The...
: All the Jains here were Bhabra and mainly lived in Sialkot and Pasrur. The Serai Bhabrian and Bhabrian Wala localities are named after them. There were several Jain temples here before partition of India.
- PasrurPasrurPasrur is a city of Sialkot District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located at 32°16'0N 74°40'0E with an altitude of 238 metres . The nearest big cities are Sialkot, Narowal and Gujranwala...
: Pasrur was developed by a Jain zamindar who was granted land by Raja Maan Singh. Baba Dharam DassBaba Dharam Dass- Baba Dharam Dass :Baba Dharam Dass is a holy man whose Tomb is located near the bank of a creek called near Chawinda phatic back side of agricultural main office pasrur, the town of Pasrur near Sialkot in Pakistan Punjab....
belonged to the zamindar family who was murdered on a trading visit.
- GujranwalaGujranwalaGujranwala is a industrial city in the north-east of the Punjab province. It is the sixth largest city in Pakistan with a population of approximately 2,661,360 as on 24 June 2011...
: Two old Jain libraries managed by Lala Karam Chand Bhabra were present here which were visited by Ramkrishna Gopal Bhandarkar
- LahoreLahoreLahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
: There were Jain temples at localities still called Thari Bhabrian and Gali Bhabrian.
- RawalpindiRawalpindiRawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
: Bhabra Bazar is named after them.
Some also lived in Sindh. A few hundred Bhabras in Pakistan have become Muslim. Some Bhabras in Pakistan now follow Hinduism.
In India they have been present at:
- AmritsarAmritsarAmritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
: Kucha Bhabrian, Katra Bhabrian - HansiHansiHansi is a city and a municipal council in Hisar district in the Indian state of Haryana. Its 2011 population is estimated to be 1,34,568. It is located at a distance of east of Hisar on National Highway 10. Geographically, it is semi-arid with around 46 cm of annual rainfall. It appears...
: Mohalla bhabran
In modern Delhi, the majority of Jains in Rup Nagar area are refugees from Punjab.
The famous Bhabra edict from Maurya period found in Rajasthan is unrelated to the Bhabra community.
Famous Bhabras
- Son of Shri Sawan Mai Bhabra, Amritsar, nationalist activities, 1901.
- Bhawani Shah Bhabra who loaned money to Diwan Amir Chand