Home > Society > Religion in India > Maratha Community
Maratha Community
Maratha Community, tracking its ancestry back to Shivaji, is known for its intellect and bravery. History of Maratha Empire forms a big portion of the history of medieval India.

Share this Article:

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj - Maratha CommunityMaratha community is the military caste mainly residing in western and partly southern region of the country. Maratha community is a Hindu community largely comprising castes like warriors and landowners. They are primarily distributed over the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and also in some parts of Madhya Pradesh. Maharashtra occupies one-tenth of the land area of India. It marks the southernmost boundary of the spread of Sanskrit based languages. It is a culturally significant region because it is the link between north and south, between the Indo-European culture and the Dravidian culture that was indigenous but was pushed down to South India. In its language and culture it accommodates both.

The term Maratha signifies an inhabitant of a region where mostly Marathi language is used and secondly to a member of the caste to which the name Maratha has been given. Maratha caste claims their origin from Rajputs. Further, several clans of Maratha community include the names of Rajput tribes like Panwar, Suryavansi, Chauhan and Solanki. Maratha caste history prior Chatrapati Shivaji is not very bright. The Marathas comprise 96 Kuli Marathas as well as Kunbis and represent the largest single community of Maharashtra. A Kuli is a group, all the members of which generally bear the same name. Their skin complexion may vary from light brown to very dark. They are of medium height and generally have high cheekbones and dark eyes. They seem to belong to regions of Daulatabad, Aurangabad, Beed and Parbhani. In earlier times they have been landowners and soldiers in Maharashtra for many centuries. Besides these 96 clans there are some other sub-castes too.

The Maratha community follow certain indigenous customs and social traditions. Like for instance, a man is not permitted to marry within his own clan or of his mother`s clan. Their marriage ceremony is quite similar with that of the Kunbis. Some clans allow widow remarriage. Divorce is not apparently allowed. They also follow certain funeral rites. They worship Lord Shiva and his consort, Parvati. The worship of the `Devak` is found only among them. The Kuladevata or family deity is worshipped on all special occasions, such as, weddings or naming ceremonies. It is also visited during the teerthas. The Kunbis were originally land workers. They make no differentiation regarding cooked food as food from all castes re accepted by them. The principal deity of Maratha community is Khandoba, which is a fighter incarnation of Mahadev. During the Dussehra festival, the people of this community worship their swords and horses.

Shivaji Bhonsle, the most eminent Maratha, was born in 1630 and it was he who first made the bid for establishing a Maratha kingdom. Maratha community is considered as one of the most powerful communities in Maharashtra, not only because it is the largest but because it has entered modern post-independence politics with an assurance that can come only of many generations` experience in the art of ruling and manoeuvring. Marathas have flourished considerably over the past few centuries.


Share this Article:

Related Articles

More Articles in Religion in India


Religion in Indus Valley Civilization
Religion in Indus Valley Civilisation included Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Details about the religion in Indus Valley Civilization have been gathered from archaeological artefacts.
Shaivism Religion
Shaivism is the second largest “religious community” in modern India with its roots deeply seated in the Hindu Vedic belief.
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism is among the more popular denominations of Hinduism, with its own distinctive ideas about spirituality and morality. Vaishnavism concentrates on worshipping god Vishnu and of his incarnations.
Hinduism Religion
Hinduism is more of a philosophy which is a way of living according to the understanding of the principles of Vedas and Upanishads.
Islam
Islam is a religion that beliefs in Allah as the one and only God and creator of the Universe. Islamic law or Sharia is characterised by the five pillars of Islam which comprise the essential duties of every Muslim.
Christianity
Christianity is a religion based on the teachings and life of Jesus Christ and it is the largest religion in the world.
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and a philosophy that encompasses a wide variety of beliefs, practices and traditions that are chiefly based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha and its later disciples.
Jainism
Jainism chronologically preceded the religion of Buddhism. It is considered as one of the oldest religions of India. Jainism in India shared with Hinduism and Buddhism. It is an integral part of South Asian religious belief and practice, but it is not a Hindu sect and not a Buddhist heresy, as earlier scholars believed.
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism, closely related to Judaism, Christianity and Islam was founded by Zoroaster.
Sikhism
Sikhism is a religion started by Guru Nanak in land of Punjab in 15th century A.D.
Iyer Brahmin
Iyer Brahmins are originally from Tamil Nadu of South India. The Iyers have always taken an interest in preserving the arts and sciences.
Barai Caste
Barai Caste is the professional cultivator caste of betel leaf. Tamboli and Pansari are the terms used indifferently for Barai Caste. The diversity of names of the sub-divisions of Barai Caste discloses the mixed elements that formed the caste.
Dangi Caste
Dangi Caste is largely distributed in the high land regions, and the word Dangi is said to have originated from the geographical features of their territory. Main occupation of the members of Dangi Caste is cultivation.
Nadar Caste
One of the most renowned castes of Tamil Nadu is the Nadar caste. The Nadar community is a mixture of sub-castes and classes of different origins, which came under one banner of Nadar caste gradually.
Kumbhakar Caste
Kumbhakar is the potter caste who manufactures all kinds of earthen vessels.
Gujjars in Maharashtra
Gujjars in Maharashtra have several sub-castes. Here, in this state the Gurjars are listed as a separate caste. They are included in the Maharashtra OBC list.
Awasthi Brahmin
Awasthi is a surname or a family name of a particular sub-caste of Brahmins in the Indian continent.
Bhoyar Caste
Bhoyar Caste is largely found in the Central Provinces of the country. Traditional occupation of Bhoyars is agriculture. They are good cultivators and mostly grow sugarcane.
Gujjars in Mughal Era
Gujjars in the Mughal era enjoyed great power. Further their power increased with the decline of Aurangzeb, Mughal emperor.
Origin of Vaishnavism
Origin of Vaishnavism shares its attributes to many sources and religious evolution, dating back to pre-Vedic epoch.