Golalare

Golalare (Sanskrit गोलाराडे, Hindi गोलालारे ) is a Jain community of Bhadawar and Bundelkhand region in India. Their original center is the Bhind-Etawah region on the banks of the Chambal river. Some of them have migrated to Bundelkhand region.

A section of the Golalare community is settled in Bundelkhand. Poet Devidas (Vikram 1780-1830 i.e. AD 1723-1773) of Digauda town in the Orchha kingdom, writes that his ancestors lived in the Sikasikahara village in the Bhadawar region. He mentions that his family belonged to Kharaua clan of the Golalare community.

A major section of the Golalare in the Bhadavar region are now known as Kharaua. Several clans of the Kharaua community have the title Pande (i.e. Pandit). These families produced scholars and priests. The bhattarakas of Balatkara Gana who had a seat at Ater, and Rura, were born in this community. Bhattaraka Gyanbhushan of Sagwada seat in Gujarat also belonged to this community.

History
One of the earliest inscriptions from samvat 1237 mentioning the community have been found in the Aharji Jain Teerth Jain tirth, which was a major pilgrimage center during the rule of Chandela king Paramardi.

According to some of the inscriptions, the Golalare are descendants of the ancient Ikshvakus. This inscriscption mentions the dedication of a rock-carved shrine on the south-east side of the Gwalior fort near the rock-carved water reservoir.

The title Sanghapati (or Singhai) is awarded to a distinguished community member who conducts Gajarath Pratishtha.