Bhanushali (
Gujarati : )
is a
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
or a
Jain. The majority reside in
Kutch district of the Indian state of
Gujarat. Some are also found in the
Saurashtra region and other parts of
Gujarat.
History
The Bhanushali are chiefly farmers and traders.
Although they claim to be of
Kshatriya descent.
[ Jyotindra Jain theorized that the Bhanushalis migrated to Gujarat from ]Sindh
Sindh (; ; ur, , ; historically romanized as Sind) is one of the four provinces of Pakistan. Located in the southeastern region of the country, Sindh is the third-largest province of Pakistan by land area and the second-largest province ...
, based on their worship of Hinglaj Mata. He also believed that the Lohanas and Bhanushalis shared a common home in Sindh before their migration to Gujarat.[
Colonial sources noted that the Bhanushalis were subordinate to Banias and Bhatias.]
Communities
Bhanushalis are at present divided in to two subgroups, according to where they live. The Kutchhi Bhanushali Community (have ancestry in Kutch region) and Halai Bhanushali Community (have ancestry in Halar (Jamnagar
Jamnagar () is a city located on the western coast of India in the state of Gujarat of Saurashtra (region), Saurashtra region. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jamnagar district and the fifth largest city in Gujarat. The city lies ...
) region).
Occupation
Bhanushalis are mainly involved in agriculture and farming.[
]
Religion
Bhanushalis worship different kuldevi
A kuladevatā (), also known as a kuladaivaṃ, is an ancestral tutelary deity in Hinduism and Jainism.
Such a deity is often the object of one's devotion (''bhakti''), and is coaxed to watch over one's clan (''kula''), gotra, family, and child ...
s as per their clan names / surnames. They follow Hindu customs and beliefs. They also worship Veer Dada Jashraj Rana Jashraj was elevated to the name Veer Dada Jashraj and he was worshiped as kuladevata by the Lohana caste. In memory of Jashraj, ''Vasant Panchami'' (the fifth day of the spring season as per the Hindu calendar) is celebrated as a ''balidaani ...
and claim, like Lohanas, that he belonged to their community. Bhanushalis chiefly worship Hinglaj, whose main temple, Hinglaj Mata mandir is in Baluchistan
Balochistan ( ; bal, بلۏچستان; also romanised as Baluchistan and Baluchestan) is a historical region in Western and South Asia, located in the Iranian plateau's far southeast and bordering the Indian Plate and the Arabian Sea coastline. ...
, their ancestral home.
Lohanas
Bhanushalis shared their early home in Sind with Lohanas and seem to share history.kuladevata
A kuladevatā (), also known as a kuladaivaṃ, is an ancestral tutelary deity in Hinduism and Jainism.
Such a deity is often the object of one's devotion (''bhakti''), and is coaxed to watch over one's clan (''kula''), gotra, family, and chil ...
and Harkor, as Kuldevi
A kuladevatā (), also known as a kuladaivaṃ, is an ancestral tutelary deity in Hinduism and Jainism.
Such a deity is often the object of one's devotion (''bhakti''), and is coaxed to watch over one's clan (''kula''), gotra, family, and child ...
. Many Bhanushalis surnames are also found among Lohana community.
Notable people
* Shyamji Krishna Verma
Shyamji Krishna Varma (4 October 1857 – 30 March 1930) was an Indian revolutionary fighter, an Indian patriot, lawyer and journalist who founded the Indian Home Rule Society, India House and ''The Indian Sociologist'' in London. A graduate o ...
, Indian revolutionary fighter of Bhanushali community from Mandvi Kutch
* Odhavram, Torch bearer for educating Bhanushali Clan
* Dhvani Bhanushali, Indian Singer
* Jay Bhanushali, Indian television actor
* Kishore Bhanushali, Indian actor and stand-up comedian
* Siddharth Bhanushali, Indian Youtuber
References
{{Reflist
Indian castes
Hindu communities
Social groups of Gujarat
Vaishya community