Gaderia
Encyclopedia
Gaderia is exclusively used for the cattle grazing community of North India
. Gaderia, Charvaha, Gwala and Gujar are synonyms of herdsman
.
They are also known as Dhangar
, Baghel or Pal
. In fact Gaderia was no particular community but an occupation which the Brahmins, Kshatriyas and other castes have taken to. Those who fled to jungles and hills to escape conversion during the Mughal period, made cattle grazing their profession.
Initially, they were economically sound but their condition deteriorated in jungle surroundings. Thus an honourable community came to be looked upon as nomads and were reduced to the plight of Sudras.
word Gádar (Sheep), though it is debatable because the word Gádar which means sheep, is not a Hindi word it is from Bundeli
(language spoken in Bundelkhand
region).
The Baghela sect of the Gaderia derive their name from the Baghela river, which flows in Madhya Pradesh
. According to their traditions a Gaderia king named Baghela ruled them and they claim descent from him. Their emigration is said to have occurred in the Middle Ages
In Haryana
, the Gaderia claim that took the rearing of goats, when they were pushed into the jungle by rivals. They have four sub-groups, the Dhangar, Nabbhar, Kanchane and Saila. The community speak Haryanvi.
The Gaderia claim Kshatriya
status, though this (as well as relationships with the Thakur
) is disputed by the Baghela.
and Pal. They are divided into twelve sub castes, the Bamhaniya, Chandel
, Dhingar, Haranwal, Kachhwaha, Sisodia
, Nikhar, Phul
Singhiya, Rathore
, Sagar
and Saraswar.
They are Hindu and worshippers of the Shakti
cult. In addition, they also worship a number of village deities.
Their main occupation has remained the rearing of cows and buffaloes, as well as sheep and goats. Generally, landholdings are small, and many members of the community are involved in private and government service. A significant number of Gadariya are now small and medium sized farmers.
They have a caste council, which deals with issues of disputes with in the community, elopements, divorce and petty theft.
The four divisions of the Haryana do not intermarry. Each of the four sub-divisions are further divided into clans, the main ones being the Hirenwal, Bania, Saraswat, Katharia, Kastur, Jhindwaar, Panwar, Chandol, Kalandhar, Phulsange, Pakhia, Chandal, Tikia-Chandan and Pipalhere. The Gadarias practice endogamy and maintain village and clan exogamy.
North India
North India, known natively as Uttar Bhārat or Shumālī Hindustān , is a loosely defined region in the northern part of India. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage...
. Gaderia, Charvaha, Gwala and Gujar are synonyms of herdsman
Herdsman
Herdsman can refer to:* a Herder, a worker who lives a possibly semi-nomadic life, caring for various domestic animals* the Perth suburb Herdsman, Western Australia** Herdsman Lake, a groundwater lake located in Herdsman...
.
They are also known as Dhangar
Dhangar
The Dhangar caste is primarily located in the Indian state of Maharashtra...
, Baghel or Pal
Pal (clan)
Pal is a Gotra or clan of Jats found mainly in the state of Punjab in India. They are part of the Jatt Sikh community.According to James Tod's Annals and antiquities of Rajasthan Pal is a synonym for Ahir.Bhilsa,Bhojpura,Dip,Bhopal,Eran,Garaspur, are a few ancient towns established by the Pals....
. In fact Gaderia was no particular community but an occupation which the Brahmins, Kshatriyas and other castes have taken to. Those who fled to jungles and hills to escape conversion during the Mughal period, made cattle grazing their profession.
Initially, they were economically sound but their condition deteriorated in jungle surroundings. Thus an honourable community came to be looked upon as nomads and were reduced to the plight of Sudras.
History and origin
The Gaderia are a caste of shepherds, goat, cow herders and blanket makers. Some scholars believe that, the name is derived from the HindiHindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
word Gádar (Sheep), though it is debatable because the word Gádar which means sheep, is not a Hindi word it is from Bundeli
Bundeli
Bundeli is a Western Hindi language spoken in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh and in southern parts of Uttar Pradesh...
(language spoken in Bundelkhand
Bundelkhand
Bundelkhand anciently known as Chedi Kingdom is a geographic region of central India...
region).
The Baghela sect of the Gaderia derive their name from the Baghela river, which flows in Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
. According to their traditions a Gaderia king named Baghela ruled them and they claim descent from him. Their emigration is said to have occurred in the Middle Ages
In Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
, the Gaderia claim that took the rearing of goats, when they were pushed into the jungle by rivals. They have four sub-groups, the Dhangar, Nabbhar, Kanchane and Saila. The community speak Haryanvi.
The Gaderia claim Kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
status, though this (as well as relationships with the Thakur
Thakur
Thakur may refer to:*Thakur *Thakur *Thakar , an Adivasi people in Maharashtra, India*Thakar - a Rajput caste of India.*Thakor is also another name of Hindu deities.-See also:*List of Gurjar clans...
) is disputed by the Baghela.
Present circumstances
The Gaderia are divided into two main endogamous groups, namely the DhangarDhangar
The Dhangar caste is primarily located in the Indian state of Maharashtra...
and Pal. They are divided into twelve sub castes, the Bamhaniya, Chandel
Chandel
Chandela may refer to* Chandela, a Rajput clan in India* Chandel district, a district in Manipur, India* Suresh Chandel, Indian politician...
, Dhingar, Haranwal, Kachhwaha, Sisodia
Sisodia
The Sisodia are Chattari Rajputs of the Suryavanshi lineage who ruled the kingdom of Mewar in Rajasthan. Prior to Rana Hamir the clan was known as Gehlot or Guhilot. In 1303 CE Alla-ud-din Khilji attacked Chittor...
, Nikhar, Phul
Phul
Phul is an Olympian spirit in the grimoire known as the Arbatel de magia veterum. He rules over the Moon....
Singhiya, Rathore
Rathore
The Rathore is a Suryavanshi Rajput clan same caste as Lohana. Their Kuldevi is Nagnechiya Mata and "Karani Mata". Rathores are originally from Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh. Rathores are historically considered the samurais of India...
, Sagar
Sagar (caste)
The Sagar are a Hindu caste found in the state of Gujarat in India.-History and origin:The Sagar claim to be of the Kshatriya varna, whose ancestors arrived in Kathiawar from Rajasthan. They are one of a number of quasi-Rajput groups such as the Kathi found in Saurashtra, and are concentrated in...
and Saraswar.
They are Hindu and worshippers of the Shakti
Shakti
Shakti from Sanskrit shak - "to be able," meaning sacred force or empowerment, is the primordial cosmic energy and represents the dynamic forces that are thought to move through the entire universe in Hinduism. Shakti is the concept, or personification, of divine feminine creative power, sometimes...
cult. In addition, they also worship a number of village deities.
Their main occupation has remained the rearing of cows and buffaloes, as well as sheep and goats. Generally, landholdings are small, and many members of the community are involved in private and government service. A significant number of Gadariya are now small and medium sized farmers.
They have a caste council, which deals with issues of disputes with in the community, elopements, divorce and petty theft.
The four divisions of the Haryana do not intermarry. Each of the four sub-divisions are further divided into clans, the main ones being the Hirenwal, Bania, Saraswat, Katharia, Kastur, Jhindwaar, Panwar, Chandol, Kalandhar, Phulsange, Pakhia, Chandal, Tikia-Chandan and Pipalhere. The Gadarias practice endogamy and maintain village and clan exogamy.