Kasaundhan Bania
कसौंधन बनिया | |
|---|---|
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh | |
| Languages | |
| Hindi | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Bania |
Kasaundhan Bania are a sub-caste of the Bania community found in India and historical ethnographic literature mentions the Kasaundhans as a sub-caste of the Banias in the Central Provinces and United Provinces. Their main areas are described as Bilaspur, Raipur, and Jabalpur in the Central Provinces.[1]
Historical sources associate the Kasaundhan community with trade and the metalware trade. In the United Provinces, they are described as divided into eastern (Purbia) and western (Pachhaiyan) groups. The same source describes Dharamdas as a Kasaundhan Bania and one of Kabir's prominent disciples.[1]
History
The Kasondhan Bania are described in historical sources as a sub-caste of the Bania. According to R.V.Russell, the Kasondhans numbered approximately 5,500 in the Central Provinces at the beginning of the 20th century and were primarily found in the Bilaspur, Raipur, and Jabalpur districts.
Russell cited William Crooke's theory that the name Kasondhan derives from bell-metal and wealth. According to him, the Kasondhans may have originally been an occupational group of shopkeepers dealing in metal utensils. However, Russell also suggested that they may have originated from metalworking castes or been a local branch of the Kasarwanis, but conclusive evidence was lacking.[2]
In the United Provinces, the Kasondhans are said to be divided into eastern (Purwiya) and western (Pachhaiyan) subgroups. In the same historical account, Dharamdas is described as Kasodhan Baniya, who was one of the main disciples of Kabir and was associated with the spread of Kabirpanth.[2]
Social and Religious Affiliations
The Kasaundhan community is placed within the (Bania/Vaishya) community in historical sources. The National Commission for Backward Classes records mention the Kasaundhan among the trading communities in the context of Uttar Pradesh. The Commission's document discusses the social classification and regional presence of the Kasaundhan based on the 1911 census and earlier lists.[3]
Subgroups
In the United Provinces, two major subgroups of the Kasondhan community are mentioned: the Purwiya (eastern) and the Pachhaiyan (western). Some regional accounts also mention divisions within these based on social customs.[4]
Religious Traditions
Most members of the Kasondhan community practice Hinduism. The community's religious life includes the worship of various Hindu deities and the role of Brahmin priests in traditional family and life-cycle rituals.[5]
References
- 1 2 Russell, R. V. (1916). The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India. Vol. II. London: Macmillan and Co. pp. 150–151.
- 1 2 "Kasaundhan – Bania" (PDF). National Commission for Backward Classes. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ↑ Russell, R. V. (1916). The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India. Vol. 2. London: Macmillan and Co. p. 150.
- ↑ Blunt, Edward Arthur Henry (1931). The Caste System of Northern India: With Special Reference to the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. London: Longmans, Green and Co.
- ↑ "Bania, Kasaundhan". Joshua Project. Retrieved 12 August 2026.