Bharwad
Encyclopedia
The Bharwad are a Hindu
caste
found in the state of Gujarat in India
. Those of Saurashtra use Ahir as a surname, Bharwad consider themselves as Nandvanshi
Ahirs.Enthoven (1920) writes that Bharwads numbered 95,832 according to 1901 census.
words bada meaning sheep and wada meaning enclosure. This name was said to be acquired by the Bharwad on the account of their traditional occupation of being shepherds. According to their own traditions they are descendents of Anavil Bharwad, who helped a Chavda prince regain his kingdom. There are also traditions that they are members of the Ahir tribe who took up the occupation of shepherding. The Bharwad are found mainly in Kutch and Saurashtra. They are divided into two endogamous sections, the Motabhai and Nanabhai. The Motabhai Bharwads are further divided in clans like the Hadagra, Dharanjiya, Satka, Ajra, Goltar, Mundhwa, Lamka, Nashatar etc. The Nana bhai Bharwads are further divided in clans like the Meer, Boriya, Algotar, Sabhad, Jograna, Satiya, Sindhav, Dabhla, Parmar etc.While among the Bharwad of south Gujarat, their main clans are the Vaharka, Chandulka, Rokadka, Kalwamia, Jodika, Gundarya, Kuhadiya, and Dahika.
, Alech and Barda forests have scheduled tribe. All the Bharwad strictly adhere to the custom of clan exogamy.
The Bharwad are Hindu
, and like other Hindu pastoral communities pay special reverence to Lord Krishna
. Each clan also has its own deity, while their chief goddess is Masai Mata.
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
found in the state of Gujarat in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Those of Saurashtra use Ahir as a surname, Bharwad consider themselves as Nandvanshi
Nandvanshi
Nanda or Nandagopa, according to the Harivamsha and the Puranas, was the head of the gopas .It is said that Nand Baba owned 9 lakhs of cows Nandvanshi Ahirs are descendants of Nand....
Ahirs.Enthoven (1920) writes that Bharwads numbered 95,832 according to 1901 census.
Origin
The term Bharwad is said to be a modified form of the word badawad, from the GujaratiGujarati language
Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages...
words bada meaning sheep and wada meaning enclosure. This name was said to be acquired by the Bharwad on the account of their traditional occupation of being shepherds. According to their own traditions they are descendents of Anavil Bharwad, who helped a Chavda prince regain his kingdom. There are also traditions that they are members of the Ahir tribe who took up the occupation of shepherding. The Bharwad are found mainly in Kutch and Saurashtra. They are divided into two endogamous sections, the Motabhai and Nanabhai. The Motabhai Bharwads are further divided in clans like the Hadagra, Dharanjiya, Satka, Ajra, Goltar, Mundhwa, Lamka, Nashatar etc. The Nana bhai Bharwads are further divided in clans like the Meer, Boriya, Algotar, Sabhad, Jograna, Satiya, Sindhav, Dabhla, Parmar etc.While among the Bharwad of south Gujarat, their main clans are the Vaharka, Chandulka, Rokadka, Kalwamia, Jodika, Gundarya, Kuhadiya, and Dahika.
Present circumstances
The Bharwads are still pastoralists, who are permitted by the state of Gujarat to graze their sheep and cattle in certain demarcated areas. Some Bharwad also possess agricultural land, and some have taken to farming. Many are also employed as agricultural labourers. The Bharwad of the GirGIR
GIR can refer to:* Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Illinois* Geographic Information Retrieval* Gir, one of the pen names of Jean Giraud, a French comics artist...
, Alech and Barda forests have scheduled tribe. All the Bharwad strictly adhere to the custom of clan exogamy.
The Bharwad are Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
, and like other Hindu pastoral communities pay special reverence to Lord Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
. Each clan also has its own deity, while their chief goddess is Masai Mata.