Agrahari facts for kids
The Agrahari (also spelled Agraharee or Agarhari) is a community of people found in India and Nepal. They are part of the Vaishya group, which is one of the main groups in traditional Indian society. Many Agraharis believe they are descendants of a legendary ancient king named Agrasena.
You can mostly find Agrahari people in the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh. They also live in the Terai region of Nepal.
A Look at Their History
Historians have studied the Agrahari community for a long time. In 1916, a British researcher named Robert Vane Russell wrote about them. He noted that Agraharis were a sub-group of the Bania community. They were mainly found in areas like Jubbulpore and Raigarh. Their name might be linked to old cities like Agra and Agroha.
Another historian, William Crooke, also mentioned the Agraharis. He said they felt connected to both the Vaishya and Brāhman groups. They even wear a special sacred thread, which is a sign of their heritage. Like the Agarwāla Banias, their name is often connected to Agra and Agroha. It is thought that Agraharis are closely related to the Agarwālas.
In the past, in parts of British India like Chhattisgarh, some Agrahari families were important landowners. They were known as Malgujars or Zamindars. The ruler of Raigarh even gave some Agraharis the special title "Shaw," which is still used by their families today.
Agrahari Sikhs
Most Agrahari people follow Hinduism. However, some Agraharis are Sikhs. These Agrahari Sikhs are mostly found in Eastern India, in states like Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
A writer named Himadri Banerjee wrote a book about "The Other Sikhs." In his book, he suggests that Agraharis became Sikhs during the Mughal Empire period. This happened when Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, who was the ninth Guru of the Sikhs, was traveling.
During that time, Mughal rulers were trying to make Hindus convert to Islam. But the Agraharis did not want to change their religion. Instead, they chose to join the Khalsa Panth, a special group led by Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. They did this to protect their lives and their faith.
Another story says that Agrahari Sikhs are people from the Ahom community who became Sikhs. This happened when Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji visited Assam. These Sikhs are also sometimes called "Bihari Sikhs" because they have lived in Bihar for many centuries.
Agrahari Sikhs have their own special places of worship called Gurudwaras. Many of these are in Bihar and West Bengal. You can find many Agrahari Sikhs in cities like Sasaram, Gaya, and Kolkata. In Jharkhand, they live in places like Dumari Kalan and Kedli Chatti. Some Agrahari Sikhs have also moved to Uttar Pradesh. It is important to know that Agrahari Sikhs are not from the Punjab region, which is where most Sikhs come from.
Family Names and Traditions
Agrahari people often use their community name, Agrahari, as their last name. But many also use other surnames like Gupta, Bania, Thagunna, Patwari, Vanik, or Shaw. They also share a common gotra, which is like a family lineage or clan. Their common gotra is Kashyap.
