Sahariya (caste)
Encyclopedia
The Saharia are a scheduled caste found in the Bundelkhand
region of North India
. They are also known as Rawat, Banrawat, Banrakha and Soarain.
word sahra, meaning jungle, thus Sahariya means jungle dwellers. They trace their origin from Shabri of the Ramayan. Others claim descent from Baiju Bheel, a worshiper of the Hindu
god Shiva
. The community is divided into several exogamous gotra
s, the main ones being Sanauna, Rajauria, Lodhi, Chandele, Rohtele, Solanki, Khareyia, Bagolia, Jecheria, Kataria, Kusmorna, Chakardiya, Kurwana and Theogana.
region, which covers parts of Uttar Pradesh
and Madhya Pradesh
states. This region is covered with thick and thin forest, with low rainfall, and is home to number of other tribal communities such as the Chero
and Kol
. Forests are a major economic resource for the Sahariya community. Their traditional occupations are cutting wood, collecting honey, making baskets, mining and quarrying, and breaking stones. Basketry is also an important craft the community.
The community has a caste council, headed by a patel
, and the council imposes fines and social boycotts on the offenders found guilty of committing rape, elopement and adultery.
The Sahariya are Hindu
and worship a number of local deities such as Bhavani, Gond Devta, Bundela Devta, Soorin and Bijasur.
Bundelkhand
Bundelkhand anciently known as Chedi Kingdom is a geographic region of central India...
region of North India
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...
. They are also known as Rawat, Banrawat, Banrakha and Soarain.
History and origin
The term saharia 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 sahra, meaning jungle, thus Sahariya means jungle dwellers. They trace their origin from Shabri of the Ramayan. Others claim descent from Baiju Bheel, a worshiper of the 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...
god Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
. The community is divided into several exogamous gotra
Gotra
In the Hindu society, the term Gotra broadly refers to people who are descendants in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor. Panini defines gotra for grammatical purposes as apatyam pautraprabhrti gotram , which means "the word gotra denotes the progeny beginning with the son's son"...
s, the main ones being Sanauna, Rajauria, Lodhi, Chandele, Rohtele, Solanki, Khareyia, Bagolia, Jecheria, Kataria, Kusmorna, Chakardiya, Kurwana and Theogana.
Present circumstances
The Sahariya are found in the BundelkhandBundelkhand
Bundelkhand anciently known as Chedi Kingdom is a geographic region of central India...
region, which covers parts of 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 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....
states. This region is covered with thick and thin forest, with low rainfall, and is home to number of other tribal communities such as the Chero
Chero
The Chero are scheduled caste, found in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, in North India.-History and origin:The community claim to have originally been Chandravanshi Rajputs. Other members of the tribe claim to be Nagvanshi. The Chero are essentially one of many tribal communities, such as...
and Kol
Kol
Kol may refer to:* Kol people, tribes of eastern India* Kol language * Kol, an earlier name of the city Aligarh* Kol, Nepal, geographic & administrative subdivision* Kol , a dinosaur from Mongolia...
. Forests are a major economic resource for the Sahariya community. Their traditional occupations are cutting wood, collecting honey, making baskets, mining and quarrying, and breaking stones. Basketry is also an important craft the community.
The community has a caste council, headed by a patel
Patel
Patel is a surname of Indian origin, originally meaning "headman" or"village chief". Patels are socially, economically and politically the most dominant caste in Gujarat Patels are basically Kurmis or Kunbis and are found in various geographical locations. The Kunbi are an Indian subcaste...
, and the council imposes fines and social boycotts on the offenders found guilty of committing rape, elopement and adultery.
The Sahariya 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 worship a number of local deities such as Bhavani, Gond Devta, Bundela Devta, Soorin and Bijasur.