Maharjan
Encyclopedia
Maharjan's are one of the original Newar
castes or groups of Nepal
, predominantly from Patan, Kirtipur
, Bhaktapur
and Kathmandu in Kathmandu Valley. Newars are mixture of Indo-European
people like Lichhavis
, Mallas, Koliyas, Shakyas from Aryavart that is Indo-Gangetic plain present day Uttar Pradesh
and Bihar
in India (Aryavart means Home of Aryans) and Austro-asian and mongolia
n people like Kirat, Ahir Gupta.
Maharjan people are also called Jyapu. Jya means work and Pu means complete. This term was given to them by later dynasties after they were displaced from political power. Since the Vedic Period jyapus ruled Nepal.First dynasty of Jyapus is Gopal
Dynasty followed by Mahishpal
Dynasty, collectively these dynasties are known as Ahir
Dynasty. Kirat Dynasty ruled for 1000 years after Ahirs.
Lichhavis from Vaishali later conqured Nepal after defeating last king of Kirat Dynasty.Lichhavi Period is known as golden period of Nepal.
Thakuri Kings after having defeated Lichhavis, changed Lichhavis into Jyapus.Since all the adminstrative and military jobs were denied to Lichhavis after their defeat,Lichhavis were forced to take occupation that of farmers.This political change caused them to mix with original farmers(Kirat,Ahir) of the kathmandu valley and they were incorporated into jyapu community. Jyapus are mixture of
various races like Ahir Gupta, Kirat and Lichhavi. So Jyapu culture is a merge between Aryan Civilization
and Kirat civiization. That is merge between Lichhavis, Kirats and Ahir Guptas. This historical merge created a distinct civilization which we know to day as Newar civilization.
Maharjans or Jyapus are the indigenous people of Kathmandu Valley but now can be found throughout Nepal. They mostly live in the Nepali cities of Lalitpur, Kathmandu, Kirtipur and Bhaktapur. Maharjan communities have higher stake in preserving ancient cultures existed from thousands of years tradition. Their language is Newari also known as Nepal Bhasa
, which is the mother tongue of Newars. Modern Newars use Nepal Prachalit Lipi (script) for written language.
Maharjans are considered the true descendants of the original population of Kathmandu Valley are in majority within Newari community. Other castes in Newar community are later add-ons by due migrations in later times. Maharjans practice Hindusm and Buddhism both (mixed).
Newar
The Newa , Newār or Newāl) are the indigenous people and the creators of the historical civilization of Nepal's Kathmandu Valley. The valley and surrounding territory have been known from ancient times as Nepal Mandala, its limits ever changing through history.Newas have lived in the Kathmandu...
castes or groups of Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, predominantly from Patan, Kirtipur
Kirtipur
Kirtipur is an ancient city in Nepal. It is located in Kathmandu District of Bagmati Zone 5 km south-west of the Kathmandu. It is one of the five municipalities of the Kathmandu Valley.-Etymology:...
, Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur , also Bhadgaon or Khwopa is an ancient Newar town in the east corner of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. It is located in Bhaktapur District in the Bagmati Zone...
and Kathmandu in Kathmandu Valley. Newars are mixture of Indo-European
Indo-European
Indo-European may refer to:* Indo-European languages** Aryan race, a 19th century and early 20th century term for those peoples who are the native speakers of Indo-European languages...
people like Lichhavis
Licchavi (clan)
The Licchavis were the most famous clan amongst the ruling confederate clans of the Vajji mahajanapada of ancient India. Vaishali, the capital of the Licchavis, was the capital of the Vajji mahajanapada also. It was later occupied by Ajatashatru, who annexed the Vajji territory into his...
, Mallas, Koliyas, Shakyas from Aryavart that is Indo-Gangetic plain present day Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
and Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
in India (Aryavart means Home of Aryans) and Austro-asian and mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
n people like Kirat, Ahir Gupta.
Maharjan people are also called Jyapu. Jya means work and Pu means complete. This term was given to them by later dynasties after they were displaced from political power. Since the Vedic Period jyapus ruled Nepal.First dynasty of Jyapus is Gopal
Ahirs
Ahir is an Indian caste. The term can be used synonymously with Yadav, as the latter term refers to Ahirs who have identified as Yadavs. The major divisions of Ahirs are: Yaduvanshi, Nandvanshi, and Gwalvanshi.-Etymology:...
Dynasty followed by Mahishpal
Ahirs
Ahir is an Indian caste. The term can be used synonymously with Yadav, as the latter term refers to Ahirs who have identified as Yadavs. The major divisions of Ahirs are: Yaduvanshi, Nandvanshi, and Gwalvanshi.-Etymology:...
Dynasty, collectively these dynasties are known as Ahir
Ahirs
Ahir is an Indian caste. The term can be used synonymously with Yadav, as the latter term refers to Ahirs who have identified as Yadavs. The major divisions of Ahirs are: Yaduvanshi, Nandvanshi, and Gwalvanshi.-Etymology:...
Dynasty. Kirat Dynasty ruled for 1000 years after Ahirs.
Lichhavis from Vaishali later conqured Nepal after defeating last king of Kirat Dynasty.Lichhavi Period is known as golden period of Nepal.
Thakuri Kings after having defeated Lichhavis, changed Lichhavis into Jyapus.Since all the adminstrative and military jobs were denied to Lichhavis after their defeat,Lichhavis were forced to take occupation that of farmers.This political change caused them to mix with original farmers(Kirat,Ahir) of the kathmandu valley and they were incorporated into jyapu community. Jyapus are mixture of
various races like Ahir Gupta, Kirat and Lichhavi. So Jyapu culture is a merge between Aryan Civilization
Indo-Aryans
Indo-Aryan is an ethno-linguistic term referring to the wide collection of peoples united as native speakers of the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-Iranian family of Indo-European languages...
and Kirat civiization. That is merge between Lichhavis, Kirats and Ahir Guptas. This historical merge created a distinct civilization which we know to day as Newar civilization.
Maharjans or Jyapus are the indigenous people of Kathmandu Valley but now can be found throughout Nepal. They mostly live in the Nepali cities of Lalitpur, Kathmandu, Kirtipur and Bhaktapur. Maharjan communities have higher stake in preserving ancient cultures existed from thousands of years tradition. Their language is Newari also known as Nepal Bhasa
Nepal Bhasa
Nepal Bhasa is one of the major languages of Nepal, and is also spoken in India, particularly in Sikkim where it is one of the 11 official languages. Nepal Bhasa is the mother tongue of about 3% of the people in Nepal . It is spoken mainly by the Newars, who chiefly inhabit the towns of the...
, which is the mother tongue of Newars. Modern Newars use Nepal Prachalit Lipi (script) for written language.
Maharjans are considered the true descendants of the original population of Kathmandu Valley are in majority within Newari community. Other castes in Newar community are later add-ons by due migrations in later times. Maharjans practice Hindusm and Buddhism both (mixed).