Mohyal Brahmin

Mohyal Brahmins are an Indian sub-caste of Saraswat Brahmins from the Punjab region.^[1]

Prior to the Partition of India, Mohyal Brahmins lived primarily in the Potohar, Hazara and Doaba regions of Northern Punjab and North-West Frontier Province (Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Jhelum, Sargodha, Campbellpur, Haripur, Abbottabad, Murree, Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur) and in the Pahari regions of Jammu and Kashmir (Pulandari, Mirpur, Kotli, Alibeg, Bhimber, Poonch, Rawlakote, Jammu, Bagh and Rajouri). Frequent migrations of these Brahmins had happened from these regions to hilly areas of Kangra and Chamba from 1200 CE. After the partition, most migrated to, and settled in the neighbouring Indian states of Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi.^{[citation needed]}

Mohyal Brahmins were not priests in the traditional sense as they abandoned their priestly duties. They were warriors, spiritual healers and preachers of different sects of Hinduism.^{[citation needed]}

Mohyal Brahmins are a caste and a sub-group of the Punjabi Hindu community. The members of this sub-caste originate from the broader Saraswat Brahmin group and comprise seven clans named Bali, Bhimwal, Chhibber, Datt, Lau, Mohan and Vaid. These each claim their lineage from one of seven different Brahmin rishis.

According to Noinica Dutta,Some Mohyal Brahmins claim to have helped Imam Hussain in the Battle of Karbala, these Mohyal Brahmins are called Hussaini Brahmins.^[2]

Dhanvantari gotra is found as the original gotra among the Bengali Baidyas.^{[3][clarification needed]}

As per punjab government data,The priestly practice of mohyal Brahmins has slowly reduced after the partition.^[4]

The same tradition is seen amongst the Bhumihar Brahmins and the Bengali Baidya clan, who despite following Brahmin varna-rituals, are often considered as Semi-Brahmins^[5] for not performing priestly duties.^{[6][clarification needed]}

Contributions to Sikhism

Spirituality and identity

The majority of Mohyal Brahmins identify as Hindu, with some also identifying as Sikh. Guru Nanak revitalised faith in order to make it accessible for the common people of late Medieval India. As a part of this transformation, many Punjabi Hindus, including the Mohyals, revered and followed Guru Nanak. This devotion towards Nanak's mat (teachings/wisdom) led them to follow Nanak's successors and then assist in the creation of the Sikh ethos. Moreover, as the latter Gurus became martial, this community was a natural home for the warrior-class of Punjabi Hindus.^[1][7]

Guru Nanak, continuing in the tradition of Bhakti Saints, revitalised Sanatan ('Hindu') wisdom in order to make to accessible for the common people of late Medieval India.^[8] As a part of this transformation, many Punjabi Hindus, including the Mohyals, revered and followed Guru Nanak.^[1] Its worth mentioning that a distinct Sikh religious identity was not created until the 19th century, thus, referring to the period of the Gurus as 'Sikhism' is not problematic.^[7]

Guru period

Other notable Mohyals include the brothers Bhai Mati Das and Bhai Sati Das, who both died alongside the ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, for protecting Hindu Religion from Islamic Jihad.^{[9][page needed]} As the family of the latter Gurus and this Chhibber family were close, Bhai Chaupa Singh Chhibber became a care-taker of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth guru.^{[10][full citation needed]}

See also

• Punjabi Hindus
• Saraswat Brahmins
• Hussaini Brahmins

References

1. McLeod, W. H. (1989). Who is a Sikh? : the problem of Sikh identity. Oxford: Clarendon Press. ISBN 0-19-826548-4. OCLC 19125681.
2. Multiple sources:
   • "Meet the Hussaini Brahmins, Hindus who observe Muharram alongside Muslims". Firstpost. 5 November 2014. Archived from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
   • Datta, Nonica (30 September 2019). "The Forgotten History of Hussaini Brahmins and Muharram in Amritsar". The Wire. from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
   • Akram, Maria (5 November 2014). "For Hussaini brahmans, it's Muharram as usual". The Times of India. from the original on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
   • Alvi, Khalid (21 September 2018). "In Good Faith: The Hindus with Hussain". The Indian Express. from the original on 28 September 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
   • Sheikh, Majid (31 December 2017). "Spiritual connect of two villages on both sides of the divide". Dawn. from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
   • Rasool Dehlvi, Ghulam (4 October 2018). "Mystic Mantra: Hussaini brahmins upheld the truth". Deccan Chronicle. from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
   • "Where Hindus join Shias to mourn Imam Hussain". Hindustan Times. 25 November 2012. from the original on 15 August 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
   • Tharoor, Ishaan (5 November 2014). "Why these Hindus celebrate the Muslim festival of Moharram". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 30 March 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
   • Sikand, Yoginder (16 May 2004). "Hindu followers of Muslim imam". The Milli Gazette. from the original on 24 August 2004. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
3. Dutt, Nripendra Kumar (1965). "Origin and Growth of Jati in India". Digital Library of India.
4. "Country Advice: India" (PDF). Refugee Review Tribunal. 31 January 2012. (PDF) from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
5. Raj, Christopher S. (2009). Multiculturalism: Public Policy and Problem Areas in Canada and India. ISBN 9788178311845.
6. Fazl, Abul (5 November 2014). "The Brahmins Who Fought For Imam Hussain At Karbala". Kashmir Observer Online. from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
7. Oberoi, Harjot. (1994). The Construction of religious boundaries : culture, identity, and diversity in the Sikh tradition. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-61592-8. OCLC 30157084.
8. Bhakti religion in North India : community identity and political action. Lorenzen, David N. Albany: State University of New York Press. 1995. ISBN 0-585-04526-7. OCLC 42854916.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
9. Prithi Pal Singh, 1928- (2006). The history of Sikh gurus. New Delhi: Lotus Press. ISBN 81-8382-075-1. OCLC 297207913.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
10. The Making of the Sikh Rehatnamas (2008) - Dr S S Kapoor and Mrs Mohinder Kaur Kapoor

External links

• [1]
• Official Website of General Mohyal Sabha
• Hindu followers of Muslim imam, The Milli Gazette, Vol.5 No.10, (16–31 May 04)
• Official Website of Educational Institution Directly run by G.M.S.