Granth : Early History Prepared By :- Shri Bipinchandra Mulshanker Shukla
Sources :
(i) Smruti Granth : by Shankerlal Jagjivan Jani Publisher Ahmedabad Audichya Sahasra Brahman education society.
(ii) Audichya Prakash Raupya Granth : 112-119 article written by Shivprasad Manilal Trivedi and Kantilal Damodardas Rawal.
Around Vikram Samvat 1353 the army of Allaudin Khilji committed aggression on Gujarat and destroyed Rudramahalaya and the city of patan. The audichya Brahmins of that region migrated to place like kadi chanasma, karnavati li.e. the Dandhavga region. They settled in the kingdom of ashawal thakur.
After the decline and destruction of patan and khambat, the present city of Ahmedabad was founded in vikram samvat 1467 or 1411 A.D. It slowly developed as a trade center.
Being attracted by its glory some audichya Brahmins families left the kingdom of ashawal and settled in Ahmedabad in vikram samvat 1526 or 1470 A. D. Due to their some customs they became to be known as ashapara Brahmins.
Audichya Brahmins belonging to the siddhapur branch also settled in Ahmedabad with the hope of getting means of —. They came from different places like Siddhapur, Unjha, Dethali, Brahmanwada, Varwada, Kanoda, Ambasana, Kukaruada, Bokarwada, Pushpadara, Mandal, Chandubhan, Viramgam, Dholka, Kheda, Mahemadabad. Etc.
Beside, audichya Brahmins belonging to shihor branch also came to and settled in Ahmedabad. They came from places like shihor, Bagasthal, Vala Himdi, Halvad, Dhol, etc
Initialy, all these audichya Brahmins lived in 36-Aubusbs of Ahmedabad, but by the end of the 18th century the audichya Brahmins of the siddhapur branch settled in 27-Aubusbs of the city.
During siddharaj’s time the descendants of the Brahmins of the sihore branch had migrated and settled in ashapur . Present asarwas.
At that time an attempt was made to establish one caste of audichya Brahmins in coopration with the new settlers and the old settlers.
The old settlers believes that they were higher in status than the other audichya Brahmins. So they described themselves, not as audichya Brahmins but as ashapuri Brahmins. Today they are completely obliterated.
In 1803-04 there were about 1700 households of audichya Brahmins in the city. At that time an idea was mooted to establish an organization of all audichya Brahmins living in and around the city Shri Surjibhai and Shri Mavjibhai jani brothers organized an unofficial conference and a committee of jani, dave, shukla, mehta, surname caste member.
First Shri Surjibhai and Shri Mavjibhai gave caste feasts to all the 1700 households. They also gave gifts i.e. lhana of utensils. This was the beginning of the audichya sahasra Brahman in Ahmedabad.
There after , all the remaining 25 members also emulated their love for the caste and every one f them gave caste feast and gifts.
These 27 members were recognized as the leader of the caste and they became to be known as tadavis.
The leadership role of tadvis was exemplified when there was a caste feast. All the caste members of a particular locality or suburb assembled at one place and they are preceded trend his guidance in the light of torch to other place or suburb where the caste feast was arranged.
During the region of gaekwads in the city other 500 audichya families from outside had settled in the city. They settled their tadvi and entered in the caste. In 1810-12 the case households reached to 2200.
The tadvis started the practice of admitting new audichya Brahmins into the caste on payment of Rs. 25 as hansal ( i.e. entry fee ) and a caste feast. They were to vouchsafe the character, virtues and merits of the new entrant member.
This expanded caste of 2200 households acquired good status in other Brahmin caste of the city.
The caste honoured the Jani brothers and gave them the tittle of Gnati sheth, They in their thanks giving reply adviced the members not to come in conflict with the caste.
Recent Comments