Ahir clans

The Ahir clans are the various subsets of the Ahir community of India. They include those in the following list.

Ahir clans of North India

Yaduvanshi

The Yaduvanshi Ahir, also spelled Jadubansis, Jadubans, Yadavanshi, Yadavamshi) claim descent from the ancient Yadava tribe of Krishna.

Nandvanshi.

A legendary story of the origin of the Nandvanshi Ahirs narrates that on his way to kill the rakshasas, Krishna crossed the river Yamuna accompanied by the Gawlis; those that crossed the river with him became the Ahir Nandabanshi. Nandvanshi and Yaduvanshi titles are fundamentally synonymous^[1][2][3]

Gwalvanshi

The Gwalvanshi Ahirs are historically associated with cowherding. According to history professor Rahul Shukla, the Gwalvanshi Ahirs had settled in Azamgarh, Varanasi, Gorkakhpur, Mirzapur etc., besides in Bihar. "They were cultivators or farmers in eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. At the turn of the century, they evolved into business and other vocations in a big way.^[4]

Ghosi

The Ghosi are a community found mainly in North India.^[5] They were the Zamidaars and small kings of various parts of country.^[6] The Ghosi claim descent from both the Gurjar and Ahir communities. Ghosi trace their origin to King Nand, the professed ancestor of Yaduvanshi Ahirs.^[7]

Kamaria

Kamaria, a sub caste of Ahirs profess to be descendants from Yadav vansh (Lineage).^[8] They are also known as Kamaria Zamindars.^[9]

Phatak

The Phatak are a clan of Ahir herdsmen, one of the agricultural castes bearing considerable resemblance to Rajputs, claim to be descended from a Sisodia king of Chittore and the daughter of an Ahir king Digpal of Mahaban, to whom he was married.

Ahar

The Ahar are a Hindu caste of agriculturists.^[10] The Ahar tribe are spread through Rohilkhand and other districts of N.W. provinces, following pastoral pursuits. They claim to descended from Yadu.^[11]

Kishnaut

Kishnaut Ahir clan is dominantly found in the Saran district of Bihar province.^[12] They are traditionally cowherders and cultivators and are Hindu by religion. Manjaraut, Goria and Kanaujia are the other Ahir clans in Saran.^[13] Kishnaut claim that Krishna was born among their caste.^[13] They worship Bir Kuar, a caste deity, for the protection of their cattle and lands. Bir Kuar was a Kishnaut Ahir,^[14] who died protecting cattle from the attack of tigers.^[15] They are known as Ahir Zamindars.^[12]

Ahir clans in Gujarat and Maharashtra

Devagiri fort-The capital of Yadavas

Boricha Ahir

The Boricha's are a sub-division of the Ahir caste found in the state of Gujarat.

Pancholi

The Pancholi's are a sub-division of the Ahir caste found in the state of Gujarat.

The community is believed to have derived its name from the Panchal region in Saurashtra, their original homeland. According to their traditions, they migrated from Mathura along with Krishna to the Parathar region of Saurashtra.

Maschoiya

The Maschoiya are a sub-group of the Ahir caste found in the state of Gujarat in India. They settled along the banks of the Machhu-katia river, and the word Maschoiya literally means those from Macchu-katia.

Bhurtiya

The Bhurtiya are a sub-division of the Ahir community, and like other Ahirs, they claim descent from the god Krishna. They are said to have immigrated to Gujarat, where they were known as Gurjar Rajputs. About three centuries ago, these Gurjar Rajputs settled in Awadh. The etymology of the word Bhurtiya is that it is a corruption of the Hindi word phurti (quickness). According to their tribal legends, an ancestor of the community was in such a rush, that she left her jewellery, and was given the nickname phurti, and this name was given to her descendants, and over time corrupted to Bhurtiya. They are found mainly in the districts of Varanasi, Allahabad, Meerut and Mathura.

Paratharia

The community is believed to have derived its name from the Parathar region, their original homeland. According to their traditions, they migrated from Mathura along with Krishna to the Parathar region of Saurashtra. The Paratharia then migrated to Kutch around 1500–1600 AD. They are now distributed in eighty four villages in Kutch District, out of which thirty four are in Bhuj taluka, twenty four Anjar talukas and twelve villages in Nakathrana. A few are also found in Saurashtra. The Paratharia are a Gujarati speaking community. The Paratharia community consist of a number of clans, the main ones being the Batta, Gagal, Dheela, Dhangar, Chhangha, Varchand, Mata and Chad. Each of the clans are of equal status and intermarry. Like neighbouring Hindu communities, the community practice clan exogamy. The Paratharia are a community of small and medium-sized farmers. Milk selling is an important subsidiary of the community, while small number are now petty businessmen.

Sorathia

The Sarothia are a sub-group of the Yaduvanshi Ahir found in the state of Gujarat in India. The community is believed to have derived its name from the Sorath region, their original homeland. According to their traditions, they migrated from Mathura along with Krishna.

They are mainly found in Rajkot, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Kutch and other all districts of Saurashtra prant. The Sorathia speak Gujarati. The Sorathia community consist of near about 60 clans: Utadia,Der,Bhuva, Bodar, Dangar, Chandravadiya, Varu, Ram, Solanki, Chavda, Chudasama, Solanki, Barad, Gojiya, Kandoriya, Karangiya, Ravaliya, Vadhiya, Vala, Garaniya, Bhammar,Suva and Pampaniya, Dangiya, Naiyaran. Each of the clans are of equal status and intermarry. Like neighbouring Hindu communities, the community practice clan exogamy.

The Sorathia are a community farmers and Landlords. Many of them are in transport business. Some of them earn a living as contractors. The Boxite Minining business in Jamnagar district is completely in hands of Sorathiyas. All Boxite Mine owners are Sorathiyas. Their looks quite vary compared to other castes like Caucasian, especially their straight nose, tall, thin lips, is believed to have Scythian origin.

See also

• Abhira tribe
• Yadav
• Konar (caste)

References