Mohyal Community is a Punjabi speaking community living mostly in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Mohyal community people were primarily Brahmins who left their priestly duties to serve as warriors. They were divided into 7 sub-castes. The community is noted for a long tradition of producing distinguished soldiers.
Etymology of Mohyal Community
Different connotations of the name "Mohyal" have been suggested. The most commonly accepted is that it is derived from the word "Muhins", meaning the 7 classes into which the community is divided. The divisions are:
•Dutt
•Chibbar
•Vaid
•Mohan
•Bali
•Lau
•Bhimwal
Another argument is that Mohyal is a corrupt form of "Mahiwal", meaning owner of land. Another name applied to the Mohyals in the North-West Frontier Province was "Pathan Brahmins" because they had fought many battles shoulder to shoulder with the Pathans.
Origin of Mohyal Community
Mohyals claim to be the descendants of 6 "raj" rishis, namely;
•"Bharadwaj" (Datt and Vaid)
•"Bhargava" (Chhibbar)
•"Parashara" (Bali)
•"Kashyapa" (Mohan)
•"Vasishtha" (Lau)
•"Koshal" (Bhimwal)
History of Mohyal Community
They have a prominent place in the history of India and have also figured in the affairs of Arabia, Central Asia, Afghanistan, Persia and China. Titles like Bakshi, Chowdhury, Raizada and Mehta were conferred on them by various rulers of Punjab for the distinguished services they rendered on the battlefield.
Society and Religion of Mohyal Community
Most Mohyals are Hindus, but many are Sikhs as well. Many of the notable Mohyal Brahmin caste remained the disciples of Sikh Gurus and they still worship Sikhism along with Hinduism. As far as a Mohyal family is concerned the birth of a boy in a Mohyal family is an occasion for rejoicing. Mohyals generally confine their matrimonial alliances to their own 7 groups. Earlier they used to take girls in marriage from other Brahmin communities but they never gave their daughters to them in marriage.
Profession of Mohyal Community
Mohyal Community is originally a branch of the Saraswat Brahmins but they have renounced their priestly calling to become clerks, soldiers and farmers. They have produced eminent soldiers, doctors, educationists and artists.
