User talk:Shekharsahdev

Sahdev
Sahdev (Sunar) is a Hindu caste in India and Nepal referring to the community of people who work as goldsmiths.[1] Though the community is primarily Hindu, some members in the states of Haryana and Punjab are Sikh. Though they are the traditional goldsmiths of North India, now many are also landowners, involved in cultivation, as well as selling grocery. But their main occupation remains the manufacture and selling of jewellery. Members of the community are also involved in pawnbroking and moneylending.[2] This caste is found in varying categories within the caste system of India such as Mair Rajput, Taunk Rajput, lower reserved backwards castes, other upper Khatri descents and other castes. Robert Vane Russell noted that Sunar: The occupational caste of goldsmiths and silversmiths. The name is derived from the Sanskrit Suvarna kār, a worker in gold. In 1911 the Sunārs numbered 96,000 persons in the Central Provinces and 30,000 in Berār. They live all over the Province and are most numerous in the large towns. The Sunārs also have a story that they are the descendants of one of two Rājpūt brothers, who were saved as boys by a Sāraswat Brāhman from the wrath of Parasurāma when he was destroying the Kshatriyas. The descendants of the other brother were the Khatris. This is the same story as is told by the Khatris of their own origin, but they do not acknowledge the connection with Sunārs, nor can the Sunārs allege that Sāraswat Brāhmans eat with them as they do with Khatris. Owing to their association with the sacred metal gold, and the fact that they generally live in towns or large villages, and many of their members are well-to-do, the Sunārs occupy a fairly high position, ranking equal with, or above the cultivating castes.[3] The two primary tribes of goldsmiths in present-day Punjab are the Mairs and the Taunks. The two tribes have several gothras in common so it is possible that movement between the two tribes or simultaneous entry by gothras into both tribes has historically taken place. Currently, Mairs claim to have a higher status than the Taunks. This was true historically also— Mairs did not accept water from Taunks.[4][Full citation needed] The Taunks had claimed Kshatriya descent in 1911 but later did not pursue that claim. The Taunks worship the snake as an emblem of Takshac, the founder of the Nagvanshi, or Taunk family.[5][Full citation needed] In Haryana, the Sunar are often known as Verma, their common surname. They are further divided into two segments, the Hindu Sunar and the Sikh Sunar. These two groupings are further divided into the Baari Sunar and the Shudre Sunar. All these groups are strictly endogamous, and practice clan exogamy. These divisions are further divided into clans, known as gotras. There are said to be fifty gotras with in the Sunar community. Some of them are the Gund, Bhole, Kuhal, Vaid, Mai, Ratti, Bhulan, Odhera, Naali, Deo, Masoun, Vatash, Kushal, Kashyap, Dhir and Turar. The Sunar are still involved in their traditional occupation, that is being goldsmiths. There is however a steady process in taking up other occupations, and the community in Haryana as whole is fairly successful, having produced several professionals.[6] Contents [hide] 1 Etymology 2 Factions 2.1 Sub-groups 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading [edit]Etymology

The term Sunar may derive from the Sanskrit suvarna kār, "worker in gold".[7] [edit]Factions

The Sunars are divided into a large number of territorial and non-territorial groupings called alla. Some of the major alla are the Santanpuriya, Dekhalantiya, Mundaha, Bhigahiya, Samuhiya, Chilliya, Katiliya Kalidarwa, Naubastwal, Berehele, Gedehiya, Shahpuriya, Mathureke Paliya and Nimkheriya. Each lineage is associated with a particular area. To which its ancestors belonged to. The Sunar use Soni, Seth, Swarnkar, Shah,Bhutani, Sonik, Bagga, Babbar, Verma etc. as their surnames In Gujarat and Rajasthan, the community is also known as Soni.[8] [edit]Sub-groups Rastogi Swarankar: It has mainly the gotras as are Brahmins: Kashyap, Kaushal, Bhardwaj, Sandilya, Vatsa. They are mainly situated in Uttar Pradesh.[citation needed] Mair Rajput: From the warrior race of Rajputs who had originally migrated from Rajasthan.[citation needed] Kshatriya Sunar: People of this caste believe that they are Kshatriya descendants of Suryavanshi (Solar Dynasty) king Ambarish.[citation needed] Ayodhyawasi or Purabiya Sunar: These people believe they are a subcaste of Vaishya (businessmen).[citation needed] Kanujia Sunar: Sunars of Bihar, Jharkhand and also settled in Indian states such as Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Orissa who trace their origin to the ancient town of Kannauj. They are divided into eighty four moolas which helps in identifying parental lines and to avoid marriages in the same moola.[citation needed] Mahawar or Mahaur Sunar[citation needed] Khudabadi Sindhi Swarankar: Historically associated with the Sindh region of modern Pakistan prior to the Partition of India, and the city of Khudabad as well as city of Hyderabad.[9] [ed