Introduction

Nagar Community are recognised as one of the oldest groups of Brahmins occupying a special place in the social, educational, cultural and religious life of Gujarat. There are more than 15,000 Nagar families in India. Gujarat is the home of the Nagars but many Nagar families are settled in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Punjab as well.

History of Nagar Community

They have a history going back to Puranic times. Some historians say that the Nagars are of the purely Aryan origin belonging originally to Southern Europe or Central Asia. According to one theory they journeyed from the Hindu Kush to Tibet and then through Kashmir into India and settled down around Kurukshetra. They have also been regarded to be of Graeco-Scythian or Dravido-Scythian origin.

According to one opinion they are of Scythian-Turkish descent, perhaps the descendants of a class of priests in the invading armies. It is said that they were purified at a historic fire sacrifice in Mount Abu and were received as a new set of Brahmins. Recent research points to their Aryan origin from Hatak or the modern Ladakh.

Legends of Nagar Community

The earliest reference to the Nagar is in the Skanda Purana. Lord Shiva, who created them in celebration of his marriage to Goddess Uma, is said to have granted them the land of Hatheshwar. The Saunka Smriti also mentions them.

Legends narrate that while on a hunt, King Chamatkar of Anarta killed a deer suckling her young. The deer cursed him and as a result he developed Leucoderma. The Brahmins who lived in those parts cured him with herbs and he rewarded them with gifts of money and land that they refused, being men of high principles. But the queen persuaded 68 of the 72 wives to accept the gift. The four families who refused the reward went away to the Himalayas but the other 68 Brahmins stayed on and are believed to be the founders of the 68 gotras of the Nagars.

According to another version, the king showed his gratitude by renovating an old city for them and consecrating a temple to Hatkeshwar, the new city there being named Chamatkarpur. With the passage of time it came to be known by various names such as Madanpur, Skandapur, Anartapur, Anandpur, Nagar, Vrudha Nagar and lastly Vadnagar. The Brahmins who lived here came to be known as Nagars.

Society and Religion of Nagar Community

Nagar women have enjoyed a privileged status since ancient times. In the home, they participate equally with men in religious and family affairs and monogamy is practised strictly. The birth of a girl is greeted with the same joy as that of a boy. A widow can be sure of a secure and respectable place in the family.

Nagar women have enjoyed a privileged status since ancient times. In the home, they participate equally with men in religious and family affairs and monogamy is practised strictly. The birth of a girl is greeted with the same joy as that of a boy. A widow can be sure of a secure and respectable place in the family.

To preserve their identity, the Nagars formulated a certain code of conduct in 347 AD, which is recorded in the Nagar Khand of the Skanda Purana. It admonishes Nagars to preserve their religion, such as, the worship of Siva and Sakti and to practice good conduct and justice. It forbids inter-caste marriages and eating with those outside one`s caste and prescribes forty-eight rituals or samskaras.

Vadnagar was sacked twice or three times by invaders and the Nagars sought shelter in other places in Saurashtra and Rajasthan but always observed their religious code strictly. Some of them became Buddhists and Jains and a number of Jain religious texts are the works of Nagars. The Chinese monk, Hiuen Tsang, has referred to them in his account of his Indian pilgrimage. They also departed from their brahminical calling and took a leading part in politics and even in wars. Nagar warriors and generals became well-known for their statesmanship and diplomacy.

Nagars have great adaptability. During the Mughal era they dominated nearly every field of activity - diplomacy, statesmanship and war. They helped the rulers to administer the state and won their confidence. In recognition of their services, they received jagirs (estates). They learnt Persian and Arabic and also excelled as writers.

After the struggle with the Mughal Emperor, Akbar, the Nagars gradually left Vadnagar. They settled down in various towns of Gujarat and in other places in North India. From Uttar Pradesh about two hundred families went to the Punjab and Kashmir.

The Nagars played a leading part during the rise and fall of the Maratha Empire and maintained their reputation for statesmanship, learning and courage in battle. After the 1857 upsurge by the Sepoys, when peace was established, they bade farewell to arms and devoted themselves to scholarly pursuits.

Profession of Nagar Community

Though Brahmins follow orthodox practices, the Nagar Brahmins have a martial tradition. They also became diwans of princely states and have been outstanding administrators, diplomats, poets and musicians.