4. Current State of Community
It is commonly believed that previous two centuries were more or less Dark Age for Rajpurohit community. By mid 19th century almost all the Kshatriya kingdoms of Rajasthan came under British protectorate. The British interference increased in the matter of states and this had its own repercussions on Rajputs and Rajpurohits. Slowly and slowly, Kingship distanced from Kshatriya Dharma and the role of Rajpurohits also diminished in statecraft. The taxfree Jagirs ensured that education lost its importance. Over centuries Rajpurohits saw transformation from a highly educated Vedic community to a primarily agrarian society.
Medival social evils of Purdah(Veil) system, Dowry etc were also inculcated in the Rajpurohit Society. Once fountainheads of education and moral torch bearers of Sanātana Dharma in India were now reduced to a largely illiterate agrarian society. With the advent of Indian independence in 1947, the community saw itself much diminished in economic and political clout.
In past six decades, many of the community members migrated to various Indian cities in search of business opportunities. With sheer hardwork several of them are now successful businessmen. Learning from changing situation and persistence of people like Sant Atmanand Ji Maharaj who opened several youth hostels, the community saw a boost in education. This resulted in many community members joining state and central services along with other professions. Although education levels are on the rise but there is still a scope of improvement in women education. Having developed conservatism over years, women education levels have been very low.
Politically, a strong benevolence in Hindu Dharma made right wing political parties an obvious choice for the community. Resulting in majority of community votes going to parties like BJP. But modern poltics being an unknown turf coupled with political immaturity, Rajpurohits have mostly been a vote bank to political parties. Even in the regions with strong presence of Rajpurohits, hardly any political party historically choose a representative from them. This situation owed much to lack of unity between community members and their personal egos. Until recently, when other communities were keeping their own welfare and political representation above and over political ideologies, Rajpurohits still seemed to be living in a neverland of idealism. Community awakened and came together after Sant Khetaram ji Maharaj/Kheteshwar ji Maharaj sacrificed himself in mid 1980s, for the greater good of humanity as a whole and Rajpurohits in particular. Gradually, there had been a political awakening in the community with number of political representatives from community in both major parties, BJP and Indian National Congress increasing in 21st century. [1]
Child Marriages are decreasing but Dowry system, lavish marriages and Nyat(function after someone's demise) etc are eating up lot of community resources and finances. Opium addicton has also came up as a challenge to the community which needs immediate attention.
5. Gotras
5. 1. Sevad
Sevad is one of the major subcaste/gotra of Rajpurohits which envelops about 40 percent of Rajpurohit community. They are Rajpurohits of Rathores and were given Jagirs all over the Rathori States (Marwar, Bikaner, Kishangarh, Idar {Himmatnagar}, Ratlam, kushlghar, Jhabua, Sailan, Sitamau, Alirajpur. Their Gotra is Bhardwaj and Kuldevi is Nagnechay and var devi is Bishasthmata.
It is said that their ancestor Rajpurohit Devpal Dev came to the region of Marwar with Rao Sheoji Rathore from Kannauj. A family known to us as the "Gahadvala" dynasty ruled Kannauj; their best-known dynast was Raja Jaichand, their last king. The Gahadvalas were displaced from Kannauj by the invasion, in 1194 CE, of Muhammad of Ghor.It is said that Rao Sheoji, a surviving grandson of Jaichand, on pilgrimage to Dwarika along with Rajpurohit Devpal Dev around 1272 samvatsari, met a few Paliwal Brahmins at Pushkar. Pali was a flourishing and prosperous trade center en route Persia, central Asia and Middle-East and beyond. It was governed by local brahmins. The Brahmins requested Rao Sheoji to come to Pali and help them get rid of local tribal people and marauding bands, who were harassing and looting them time to time. Rao Sheoji and his fellow men defeated tribal chiefs first and eventually succeeded in conquering Pali from the brahmins as well. This was the first conquest of Rathores in present day Marwar and paved the way for building up of Rathori Raj. Then they expanded to khed near today's Balotra and slowly with time conquered Malani region from local Rajput clans.
Rajpurohit Devpal Dev was given many villages as jagir. The service lent by Rajpurohits to the state was rewarded with more jagiri lands by Rathore kingdom during the course of time.
Main Jagiri villages or Thikana of Sevad rajpurohits are : Kanodia Purohitan, Dhandhora,Bawri Kalan, Bawri Khurd (Phalodi), ,Bikarlai, Desalsar , kolasar (churu) Kalyanpura(Churu) Thob(Osian), Barli, Tinwari, Khichan, Kharabera Purohitan, Mehri Purohitan(Sardarshahar), Heyadesar (Nokha), Kisnasar (Nokha), Rasisar (Bikaner), Mohrai, Tunkaliya, Jatiawas, Ghevda, Ghantiyala, Chavandia, Bhavanda, Dhundhiyadi (Nagaur), Talkia, Rupawas, Chadwas, Dodu (Nagaur), Toliyasar,Dheerdesar Purohitan(Bikaner),Adsar,Kotri Purohitan, Borawar, Kuchaman, Panchdoliya, Pachava, Maroot, Purohiton Ka Bass,surayata e
5. 2. Sodha
Pithalji Sodha(Rajpurohit) came with Rao Sheoji and Rajpurohit Devpal Dev from Kannauj, he brought the idol of Maa Nagnechaya, kuldevi of Sodha's and Rathore's. Since then Sodha Rajpurohits are main trustees of Maa Nagnechaya Temple(Nagana). Sodha's(Rajpurohit) Kuldevi Shree Nagnechaya Maa and Shree Someshwar Mahadev temples Pran-Pratishtha was performed at Mayalawas Purohitan (Ta.-Siwana,Dist.-Barmer) on 7 May 2009.
They were given villages as jagir and these are Mandli Guman Singhji, Tarsinghdi, Mayalawas ,Ludrada ,Gudda-Nal, Megawas, Deriya, Simrakhia, Rewada, and Bassi.
The gotra of Sodha rajpurohits is Bharadwaj
5. 3. Raigur
RAIGUR originally they were the adopted son of rajput kingdom of chauhan dyanasty when chauhans rajpurohit was not having a child. king gave one of his son to them from there onwards these gotra came into force .They are well known for their bravery 'they originated from [Jalore].'Ashapura Mata is their kuldevi. They are seen mainly jalore-
Sankarna,noon.Sirohi-varada,noon,chadual.khirodi purohitan, Sokra, Kharokara Purohitaan , Vingarla and Faalna Tunkra to name a chawarchha (jalore),gadana (pali).
5. 4. Rajguru
Maharishi Vashishtha is the ancestor of Rajgurus. Their Kuldevi is Kubud Devi(Adar Devi) and their prominent villages are Balera, Silore, Bisurajguran, Doli, Radwa, Vani,Basni Purohitan [Osian]Odwada and Langera. Balera village is sansan of rajguru& our kuldevi Koobarmataji old Tempel in balera villag. The Silore village is often spoken as "Sasan bada Silore gaanv".village chitrodi jaloreBold text
5. 5. Gundesha
Villages of Gundesha or Gundecha are Barwa Mada,lopi Norwa, Nimbada Mandal and Varka,Garasani,Asop,MADA is oldest and very big village among them,
5. 6. Manana
Manana is one of the major Rajpurohit community. Main Jagiri villages or Thikana of Manana Rajpurohits are JASOL, BAMANU(PHALODI) ,Narnadi, Manana basni,Patau,Sarwari Purohitan and Kaludi & Hingola Khurd (Pali),
5. 7. Jagarwal
Jagarwal is a subcaste/gotra of Rajpurohit caste. The gotra of Jagarwal rajpurohits is Vasistha. Brahmarshi Vasistha was Rajpurohit / Rajguru of Suryavanshi Kshatriyas / Sun Dynasty. Jagarwal Rajpurohits migrated from Sesali Village of Jalore district in Rajasthan. Jagarwal Rajpurohits were Rajpurohits of Parmara Rajputs who were rulers of Jalore. Bal Rishi / Jabali Rishi was ancestor of Jagarwal Rajpurohits. Jalore / Jabalipur was named after Bal Rishi / Jabali Rishi. Bal Rishi had 12 Sasan villages (Rent free villages) including Balwara. Later on Jagarwal Rajpurohits became Rajpurohits of Sindhal Rathore rajputs. Kuldevi of Jagarwal Rajpurohits is Jageshwari Devi / Jwalamukhi Devi.
Before independence Jagarwal Rajpurohits had many Sasan Jagir villages in Marwar & Godwad region i.e. Punadiya, Gola, Jasnagar, Kakindra, Lambiyan, Rewatada, Veerana, Rewat, Modran, Dakatara, Bagra (Marwar), Basda Dhanji, Dhola Sasan, Akadada, Dhariya, Lapod, Auwa Sasan & Champa Khedi,Dhangadwas etc.
5. 8. Mutha
In current time Mutha's are an affluent Gotra among Rajpurohits in Rajasthan and their lineage is drawn from Shri Somoji. There are five villages of Muthas: namely Rungari, Pilowani, Vanadar, Ghenari and Shivtalav.Rungari is the oldest village among all five villages and persons of all four villages respects Rungari as big brother,and Shivtalav is at a distance whereas rest four villages share boundaries. These four villages are collectively called Shon/Sansan, which means affluent and ruling class.Rohini Maata is kuldevi of mutha,the temple of Rohini Maata is located in Vandar,From year2009 new construction for RohiniMaata temple started and it may be possible to complete in year 2010(current year).The Maataji temple development started with support of all Rajpurohit from Vandar. Muthas lay great emphasis on education and as a result, there are quite a many doctors and engineers (with a few students from Indian Institute of Technology(IIT)). Many of them are into Rajasthan Administrative Service(RAS) and in various government departments. Few have settled in metros and outside India, still all keep in touch and visit their villages quite often. There is a close bounding in Muthas- in fact, They come to their villages from all over to celebrate Holi festival which lasts for a week at these places. Muthas are known in business as well. Woman literacy is very high in this "Gotra" and there are graduates and postgraduates from villages. Locality of these villages is almost same e.g. all villages are situated on the bank of river Sumeri/Bandi at the heart of Aravali Mountain. All villages have similar entrance via 'Perole' means Huge Gate single entrance,and have the temple of Charbhujanath, all villages have large Banyan trees in "akhriya" which give cool shadow to villagers, similar well called "ponaga" and water tank for supply of pure drinking water