Audichya Brahmin

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The Audichaya Brahmin are a Brahmin caste found in the state of Gujarat in India.^[1]

Origin

The word "audich" in Sanskrit means northerner, and the Audichaya are said to have come from North India, particularly Kashmir, moving to Gujarat on the invitation of Mulraj Solanki, the ruler of Anhilpur Pattan between 955 and 966 AD. These Brahmin families were originally from different regions of North India. They are now a Gujarati speaking community. Another group of Audichya Brahmins are settled in the southern parts of Rajasthan in and around the Aravali mountain range and speak the Marwadi language.^[1]

Bhargav Dave gotra families migrated from Saurastra, where they belonged to Rigved, Samved's famous Pandit. Gyanvrudhh rushi Sri Bodhayan Dvivedi (Dave) was leader of the Audichya sahstra Brahmins. His ancestors came from the Bhrugu rushi family, Gotra Bhargav. King Mulraj honoured him and his son. In the year 1304, the last ruler of Solanki, Vaghela Karandev (Karanghelo), was defeated by allaudin Khilaji in war, Gujarat was then under a Muslim emperor. Brahmins belonging to the Siddhpur sampradaya then migrated for their livelihoods south towards Viramgam, Ahmedabad and west towards Saurastra.

Audichya Brahmins were considered as the highest Brahmins in terms of knowledge and position in the King's era. In particular, the Audichya Brahmin community that was connected with Parsurama ( Bhargava-Gotra) was held in high esteem and respect by the King.

Clans

The community consists of a number of clans or gotras. The main gotras are the Vatsa, Bhargava, Dalabhya, Dron, Maunas, Gangayan, Sankratrutya, Sankruit, Panlastva, Mandakya, Shaunak, Bharadwaj, Kaudinya, Paulasya, Artio, Krushnatri, Swetatri, Chandratri, Gautam, Kutsas, Anfiras, Vashishta, Upmanu, Udvah-Audvah, Parashar, Laugashi, Kashyap, Shandilya, Gabhil, Pipplad, Udalak, Audalal, Garga, Kaushik, and Hirnyagarbh.^[1]

Among Audichya Brahmins, the two sections were Audichya Sahasra and Audichya Tolak. Sahasra were in a group of 1000 and Tolak were in a smaller group. They had differences in principle. They were invited by Siddharaj Jaysinh, for rituals during Sahasra Ling Talav ( a lake created by the rular Siddharaj which has 1000 Shaiv lings surround it). The Sahasra group were donated land but the smaller Tolak group did not receive any.

Marital rituals

Audichaya Brahmans practice endogamy at the community level and exogamy at the gotra level. The community is characterized by an internal social hierarchy with those belonging to Siddhpur occupying the highest position, followed by those of the Sihor-Kathiawar region and the Zalawad region. However, Sihor Sampraday Audichya Brahmins have been the same group that of Siddhapur Brahmins, and their position is considered higher in Saurashtra and Gujarat. Formerly, these sections had commenced relations but did not exchange brides. Now these restrictions are not observed. But they follow Sapinda and Pravar exogamy.^{[citation needed]} North India, known natively as Uttar Bhārat (Devanagari: उत्तर भारत, Nastaleeq: اُتر بھارت) or Shumālī Hindustān (Devanagari: शुमाली हिन्दुस्तान, Nastaleeq: شُمالی ھندوستان), is a loosely defined region consisting of the northern part of India. But in a broader sense, North India includes northern and most of eastern India, the Indus Valley of Pakistan, parts of southern Nepal and all of Bangladesh. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage. The dominant geographical features of North India are the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Himalayas, which demarcate the region from Tibet and Central Asia. North India has been the historical center of the Maurya, Gupta, Mughal, Maratha, Sikh and British Indian Empires. It has a diverse culture, and includes the Hindu pilgrimage centers of Char Dham, Haridwar, Mathura, Allahabad and Varanasi, the Buddhist Mahabodhi Temple, the Sikh Golden Temple and the Muslim pilgrimage destination of Ajmer, as well as world heritage sites such as the Valley of flowers, Khajuraho, Bhimbetka Caves, Qutb Minar and the Taj Mahal.

References