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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox caste
{{Infobox caste
|caste_name=Chitraguptavansh-Kayastha/</br> Kayastha-Brahmin <ref>{{cite web|url=http://1Kayastha.com|title=What is the Varna of Kayasthas?|quote=
|caste_name=Chitraguptavanshi Kayastha
What is the Varna of the Kayasthas? Are they Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaish or Shudra? The same question was asked by the Brahmin Peshwa darbar to the Pandits of Benaras, almost 200 years ago, and as per the reply of council of Pandits of Benaras, the Chitraguptavanshi Kayasthas are Brahmins (Kayastha Brahmin / Brahma-Kayastha) and the CKP(Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhus) are Kshatriyas...(intervening text)...As explained in the reply of the Pandits of Beneras there are two more kinds of Kayasthas. The legal 'varna' status of all the Kayastha as decided by courts is Kshatriya. So in case you are a Kayastha but not a Chitraguptavanshi Kayastha, your varna status in that case is Kshatriya.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282367530_BRAHMINS|title=Brahmins,Major Brahmin Castes & Various Brahmin Communities|quote=Major Brahmin castes in the Indian continent include "Chitpavana Brahmin....Kayastha Brahmin....Vaishnava Brahmin" Various Brahmin communities:(14)Kashmiri Saraswat Brahmins (15)Kayastha Brahmins (16)Khandelwal Brahmins }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vepachedu.org/manasanskriti/Brahmins.html|title=Brahmins}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/BrahmaKayasthaLalitaPrasadDattaBengali1909/mode/2up|title=Brahma Kayastha:Description of Brahma Kayasthas of Bengal|quote=Brahma Kayastha:Description of Brahma Kayasthas of Bengal}}</ref>
|subdivisions=12 primary sub-clans
|subdivisions=12 primary sub-clans
|populated_states=[[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Uttarakhand]], [[Delhi]], [[Punjab]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Bihar]], [[Jharkhand]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Chhattisgarh]], [[Rajasthan]] and [[Nepal]]
|populated_states=[[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Uttarakhand]], [[Delhi]], [[Punjab]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Bihar]], [[Jharkhand]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Chhattisgarh]], [[Rajasthan]] and [[Nepal]]

Revision as of 19:05, 9 April 2020

Chitraguptavansh-Kayastha/
Kayastha-Brahmin [1][2][3][4]
ReligionsHinduism and Ancient Hinduism
LanguagesHindi, Magahi, Awadhi
Populated statesUttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Nepal
Subdivisions12 primary sub-clans

Chitraguptavanshi Kayastha (IAST: citraguptavaṃśī kāyastha) (also referred to as Kayastha Brahmin or Brahma Kayastha)[5][6][7]denotes a subgroup of the Kayastha caste of Hindus that are mainly concentrated in the Hindi Belt of North India. As per the letter of council of Pandits of Benaras to the Brahmin Peshwa Darbar regarding varna status of various Kayastha subgroups, the Chitraguptavanshi Kayastha are clearly said to be Brahmin (Kayastha Brahmin / Brahma-Kayastha) while the CKP are called Kshatriya.[8]

In some of the Sanskrit works of Kshemendra, in the Vikramankadevacharita of Bilhana and in Kalhana's historical chronicle known as the Rajatarangini ("River of Kings"), written in the early-medieval Kashmir, the term kayastha may have been used to denote the members of bureaucracy ranging from Gṛhakṛtyamahattama (the chief secretary in the charge of home affairs) to the Asvaghasa-kayastha (officer in charge of the fodder for horses), whose principal duty, besides carrying on the general administration of the state, consisted in the collection of revenue and taxes.[9][10] Other sources indicate that Kayasthas had already consolidated as well established sub-groups prior to the period with titles such as Thakkura and Pandits. [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31]

Etymology

The suffix vanshi is derived from the Sanskrit word vansh (वंश) which translates to belonging to a particular family dynasty, as "Chitragupta" pertains to the Hindu god.[32] The word Kāyastha is formed from the Sanskrit kāya (body), and the suffix -stha (standing, being in).[33]

Mythological origin

Padma Puranas

According to the earliest known writings from the ancient Hindu texts, the Padma Purana, Srishthi Khand, Chitraguptavanshi Kayasthas descended from the Hindu god, Chitragupta, who was conceived from the body of the Hindu god, Brahma, who gave Chitragupta and his descendants the duties to separate good from evil. Chitragupta was placed near Dharamaraj to register the good and evil actions of all sentient beings,that he was possessed of supernatural wisdom and became the partaker of sacrifices offered to the gods and fire.[34] According to this explanation, Brahma manifested Chitragupta, a god assigned to assist Yama, the god of death, in recording the deeds of humans to be judged in the afterlife. Thus the Chitraguptvanshi Kayastha are accorded a dual caste of Brahmin and Kshatriya. As per Puranic literature, Chitragupta gave birth to 12 sons, each of whom represent the 12 patrilineal Chitraguptavanshi subcastes commonly recognized today.[34]

Modern origin and social status

Chitraguptavanshi Kayasthas form a sub-group of the Kayastha caste of India. Following the court ruling of Patna in 1926, all Kayasthas were officially recognized as twice-born Kshatriyas.[35]

Their dwija(twice-born) status has been shown by several vyavastha/council of Pandits including vyavastha of: (a) 95 pandits of Benaras dated July 21,1873 (b) pandits of Government College, Benaras in 1847 (c) 14 pandits of Oudh (d) 22 pandits of Mathura (e) 43 pandits of Jammu (f) 332 pandits of Kashmir. [36] Having distinct status from the Bengal Kayastha and the CKP, Chitraguptavanshi Kayasthas are commonly recognized as a forward caste and Brahmin.[37]

Patron deity and rituals

Chitraguptavanshi Kayasthas consider Chitragupta as their patron deity, one of the only few ancestral tutelary deities in Hinduism.[38]

Chitragupta Puja is an annual festival celebrated by Chitraguptavanshi Kayasthas in which ceremonial rituals involving the use of books and pens are performed for Chitragupta in order to gain blessings and good fortune for the year.[38]

Common Sub-castes

Chitraguptavanshi Kayasthas are commonly divided into 12 traditional sub-castes derived from the aforementioned 12 sons of Chitragupta.[34][39] Some of these use their sub-caste's name as their surname.

These 12 sub-castes include:

Notable people

References

  1. ^ "What is the Varna of Kayasthas?". What is the Varna of the Kayasthas? Are they Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaish or Shudra? The same question was asked by the Brahmin Peshwa darbar to the Pandits of Benaras, almost 200 years ago, and as per the reply of council of Pandits of Benaras, the Chitraguptavanshi Kayasthas are Brahmins (Kayastha Brahmin / Brahma-Kayastha) and the CKP(Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhus) are Kshatriyas...(intervening text)...As explained in the reply of the Pandits of Beneras there are two more kinds of Kayasthas. The legal 'varna' status of all the Kayastha as decided by courts is Kshatriya. So in case you are a Kayastha but not a Chitraguptavanshi Kayastha, your varna status in that case is Kshatriya.
  2. ^ "Brahmins,Major Brahmin Castes & Various Brahmin Communities". Major Brahmin castes in the Indian continent include "Chitpavana Brahmin....Kayastha Brahmin....Vaishnava Brahmin" Various Brahmin communities:(14)Kashmiri Saraswat Brahmins (15)Kayastha Brahmins (16)Khandelwal Brahmins
  3. ^ "Brahmins".
  4. ^ "Brahma Kayastha:Description of Brahma Kayasthas of Bengal". Brahma Kayastha:Description of Brahma Kayasthas of Bengal
  5. ^ "Brahmins,Major Brahmin Castes & Various Brahmin Communities". Major Brahmin castes in the Indian continent include "Chitpavana Brahmin....Kayastha Brahmin....Vaishnava Brahmin" Various Brahmin communities:(14)Kashmiri Saraswat Brahmins (15)Kayastha Brahmins (16)Khandelwal Brahmins
  6. ^ "Brahmins".
  7. ^ "Brahma Kayastha:Description of Brahma Kayasthas of Bengal". Brahma Kayastha:Description of Brahma Kayasthas of Bengal
  8. ^ Gupte, TV (1904). "Appendix I.(page 7) Translation of the letter addressed by the Benaras Pandits to the Peshwa Darbar". Ethnographical notes on Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu. p. 8. Kayasthas are said to be of three sorts (kinds)— (1) the Chitragupta Kayasthas (2) Dhalbhaga Gatri Kshatriya Kayasthas and (3) Kayasthas of the mixed blood. The origin of Chitraguptavanshi Kayasthas is given in the Puranas. He was born from the body of Brahma while he was contemplating how he should know the good and evil acts of living beings. He was a brilliant person with pen and ink in his hands. He was known as Chitragupta and was placed near the God of death. He was appointed to record the good and evil acts of men. He was a Brahmin possessed of supra sensible knowledge. He was a god sharing the offerings at sacrifices. All the Brahmins offer him oblations of rice before taking their meals. He is called Kayastha because of his origin from the body of Brahma. Many descendants of his bearing different Gotras still exist on this earth. From this it will be seen that Kayastha Brahmins of Karhada and Khandesha are the Brahma-Kayasthas. Now about the origin of Chandraseniya Kshatriya Kayastha.....
  9. ^ Ray, Sunil Chandra (1950). "A Note on the Kāyasthas of Early-Mediaeval Kāśmīra". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 13: 124–126. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44140901.
  10. ^ Kalhana (1989). Stein, Sir Marc Aurel (ed.). Kalhana's Rajatarangini: A Chronicle of the Kings of Kashmir. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. pp. 8, 39, 45. ISBN 978-81-20-80370-1. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  11. ^ SHAH, K.K. (1993). "SELF LEGITIMATION AND SOCIAL PRIMACY: A Case Study of Some Kayastha Inscriptions From Central India". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 54: 859. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44143088. By the 11th-12th centuries AD it appears various subcastes of the Kayasthas had consolidated because from contemporary inscriptions we learn of epithets such as Mathura, Saksena, Naigama Katariya qualifying their Kayastha identity in various parts of northern India.
  12. ^ Kumar, Saurabh (2015). "Rural Society and Rural Economy in the Ganga Valley during the Gahadavalas". Social Scientist. 43 (5/6): 29–45. ISSN 0970-0293. JSTOR 24642345. One thing is clear that by this time, Kayasthas had come to acquire prominent places in the court and officialdom and some were financially well-off to commission the construction of temples, while others were well-versed in the requisite fields of Vedic lore to earn the title of pandita for themselves. In our study, the epigraphic sources do not indicate the oppressive nature of Kayastha officials.
  13. ^ Mazumdar, Bhakat Prasad (1960). "Castes and Professions". Socio-economic history of northern India, 1030-1194 A. D. Firma K. L. Mukhopadhyay. p. 103. The Naigama Kayasthas, so far as the inscriptional information is concerned, are referred to as scribes. They wrote the Nadol plates of Chahamana Kirttipala and Alhanadeva in VS 1218/c 1160-61 A.D. and Bijholi inscription dated VS 1226/1170 A.D.
  14. ^ SHARMA, KRISHNA GOPAL (1991). "Light on Social Set-Up and Social Life from the Early Jaina Inscriptions from Rajasthan (Upto 1200 A.d.): Summary". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 52: 199–200. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44142598. Our inscriptions mention Kayasthas as a separate caste, though they are seen associated with their hereditary profession. Two families of the Kayasthas emerge prominently, the family of the Naigamas and the Valabha family. One Kayastha is shown as holding the coveted position of a Sandhivigrahi.
  15. ^ Bajpai, K. D. (2006). History of Gopāchala. Bharatiya Jnanpith. p. 61. ISBN 978-81-263-1155-2. In several inscriptions and prasastis...Mathur-anvaya, Balatkara-gana and Sarasvati Gachchha.
  16. ^ Mazumdar, Bhakat Prasad (1960). "Castes and Professions". Socio-economic History of Northern India: (1030 - 1194 A.D.). Mukhopadhyay. pp. 103–104. Another sub-caste of the Kayasthas was the Mathur-anvaya Kayasthas, who probably...As a feudal vassal, with the title of Thakkura, the name of one Udayasiha is mentioned in the... Rajputana. Manoratha rose to the coveted post of secretary to Bhuvanapala-Mahupala, the Kachchhapa ghata ruler of Gwalior.
  17. ^ Gupta, Chitrarekha (1996). The Kāyasthas: a study in the formation and early history of a caste. K.P. Bagchi & Co. pp. 107–109. ..Four temples were built by this wealthy family in the fort of Ranothambhar...
  18. ^ Meena, Ravina (2014). "Temple, Trade and Religious Communities: Saivism in Early Medieval Rajasthan". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 75: 248. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44158386. The Dabok inscriptions dated A.D 664 attests to the patronage to the cults of Maheshvara (Shiva) and Ghattavasini (goddess residing in the pot) by a local Kayastha family through land and cash grants in Dhavagarta locality near Chittaudgarh.
  19. ^ Gupta, Chitrarekha (1996). The Kāyasthas: a study in the formation and early history of a caste. K.P. Bagchi & Co. p. 67. ...Bengali Kayasthas are different from North Indian Gaudas. J.N Bhattacharya appears to be more scientific in his observations that the Gauda Kayasthas are found in almost all districts lying between Delhi and Patna. J.N Bhattacharya has taken the Bhatnagar Kayasthas as a section of the Gaudas.
  20. ^ Mazumdar, Bhakat Prasad (1960). "Castes and Professions". Socio-economic History of Northern India: (1030 - 1194 A.D.). Mukhopadhyay. p. 99. ...The Gauda Kayastha aso rendered their service to Chahamanas of Shakambari and Naddula by writing the Kinsariya (999 A.D), Delhi-Siwalik (1163) and Nadol inscriptions for Kings Durlabharaja, Visaladeva and Rayalpala resp....and his master, the Chaulukya King Kumarapala in VS 1213 and 1212/1156 A.D.
  21. ^ Mazumdar, Bhakat Prasad (1960). "Castes and Profession". Socio-economic History of Northern India: (1030 - 1194 A.D.). Mukhopadhyay. p. 100. The Gauda Kayastha also traveled to the courts of Chandellas and Kalachuri Kings...An inscription of Govindachandra Gahadavala dated 1129-30 A.D. refers to...
  22. ^ Gupta, Chitrarekha (1996). The Kāyasthas: a study in the formation and early history of a caste. K.P. Bagchi & Co. p. 117. This love and respect for knowledge were nothing special with the line of Jajuka. Rather, these were general features of the characters of the Sri-Vastavyas
  23. ^ SHAH, K.K. (1993). "SELF LEGITIMATION AND SOCIAL PRIMACY: A Case Study of Some Kayastha Inscriptions From Central India". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 54: 860–861. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44143088. Vastavya, therefore, will have to be taken as a sub-caste a few members of which rose to very high positions in the administrative hierarchy of the Chandella kingdom. Two families from this branch of the Kayasthas have left three inscriptions for us containing an account of the mythical origin as also genealogical tree in order to establish their high Brahminic credentials...It is also noteworthy that both Jajuka and Maheshvara have remarkable military achievements to their credit which could put them on par with the Kshatriyas.
  24. ^ Dikshit, R. K. (1976). The Candellas of Jejākabhukti. Abhinav Publications. pp. 71, 173–175, 190. ISBN 978-81-7017-046-4.
  25. ^ Mitra, Sisir Kumar (1977). The Early Rulers of Khajuraho (Second Revised ed.). Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 180. ISBN 978-81-208-1997-9.
  26. ^ Mazumdar, Bhakat Prasad (1960). "Castes and Professions". Socio-economic History of Northern India: (1030 - 1194 A.D.). Mukhopadhyay. pp. 101–103. Members of Vastavya community rose to very high positions. They enjoyed the feudatory status of Thakkura under the Gahadavala Kings under Govindachandra and Jayachandra, and the Chandela King Bhojavarman...It is possible that because of their services, the king raised them to a higher status...His brothers, Jaundhara and Maladhara were valiant warriors...The history of these two families show that the Vastavyas could become valiant soldiers.
  27. ^ Mazumdar, Bhakat Prasad (1960). Socio-economic History of Northern India: (1030 - 1194 A.D.). Mukhopadhyay. p. 100. Three inscriptions written by these Vastavya Kayasthas for the Gahadavala kings Govindachandra and Jayachandra and also the Sahet Mahet inscription dated 1276 VS/1219-29 A.D....Nana's ancestors were inhabitants of Kausamyapura or Kosam in the Allahabad district originally.
  28. ^ Sinha, Bindeshwari Prasad (2003). Kayasthas in making of modern Bihar. Impression Publication. p. 13. Banaras plate of Govinchandra refers to Vastavya Kayastha.
  29. ^ Niyogi, Roma (1959). The History of the Gāhaḍavāla Dynasty. Oriental Book Agency. p. 212. It also contains a statue of Vastavya-Kayastha Thakkura Sri-Ranapala (in a soldier's outfit) who appears to have built...
  30. ^ Mazumdar, Bhakat Prasad (1960). "Castes and Professions". Socio-economic History of Northern India: (1030 - 1194 A.D.). Mukhopadhyay. p. 102. ..The members of the family of Dharamraja, the hereditary scribes of the Kalachuri kings of Ratanpur, were good poets.
  31. ^ Panikkar, Kavalam Madhava (1954). A Survey of Indian History. Asia Publishing House. p. 109.
  32. ^ ""vaMza"". Spokensanskrit.org.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  33. ^ ""Kayastha"". Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved 3 March 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  34. ^ a b c Prasad, K. (1877). "PADMAPURANA, Srishti-Khanda". The Kayastha Ethnology. Lucknow: American Methodist Mission Press. p. 3.
  35. ^ Carroll, Lucy (February 1978). "Colonial Perceptions of Indian Society and the Emergence of Caste(s) Associations". The Journal of Asian Studies. 37 (2): 233–250. doi:10.2307/2054164. JSTOR 2054164.
  36. ^ Prasad, Kali (1877). "Part IV (iii,iv,v,vi & vii). Decision of Pandits on the nationality of Kayasthas". The Kayastha ethnology. American Methodist Mission Press. pp. 19 to 26. the ancestors of Chitraguptvansi and Chandraseni Kayasthas were dwija(twice-born)...
  37. ^ Gupte, TV (1904). "Appendix I.(page 7) Translation of the letter addressed by the Benaras Pandits to the Peshwa Darbar". Ethnographical notes on Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu. p. 8. Kayasthas are said to be of three sorts (kinds)— (1) the Chitragupta Kayasthas (2) Dhalbhaga Gatri Kshatriya Kayasthas and (3) Kayasthas of the mixed blood. The origin of Chitraguptavanshi Kayasthas is given in the Puranas. He was born from the body of Brahma while he was contemplating how he should know the good and evil acts of living beings. He was a brilliant person with pen and ink in his hands. He was known as Chitragupta and was placed near the God of death. He was appointed to record the good and evil acts of men. He was a Brahmin possessed of supra sensible knowledge. He was a god sharing the offerings at sacrifices. All the Brahmins offer him oblations of rice before taking their meals. He is called Kayastha because of his origin from the body of Brahma. Many descendants of his bearing different Gotras still exist on this earth. From this it will be seen that Kayastha Brahmins of Karhada and Khandesha are the Brahma-Kayasthas. Now about the origin of Chandraseniya Kshatriya Kayastha.....
  38. ^ a b "Chitragupta Puja 2019". Indiatoday. 29 October 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  39. ^ R. B. Mandal (1981). Frontiers in Migration Analysis. Concept Publishing Company. p. 175. ISBN 978-03-91-02471-7.
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  42. ^ Burger, Angela Sutherland (1969). Opposition in a Dominant Party System: A study of the Jan Sangh, the Praja Socialist Party and the Socialist Party in Uttar Pradesh, India. University of California Press. p. 28.
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See also

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