Mohyal
Encyclopedia : M : MO : MOH : Mohyal
| Castes of India | |
| Mohyals | |
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| |
| Classification | Caste/Brahmin |
| Subdivisions | Bali, Bhimwal, Chhibber, Datt, Lau, Mohan and Vaid |
| Significant populations in | Punjab and other parts of Northern India |
| Languages | Punjabi |
| Religions | Hinduism |
Mohyal (sometimes Muhiyal or Mahjal) is the name of a subcaste of Brahmins, the top varna of the Hindu varna system.
The Mohyals are a branch of the Bawanjai Saraswat Brahmins community, arising from the Gandhara region, once a great center of Indian learning. Panini, Vasubandhu, Asanga, Charaka etc. hailed from this region. When this region was conquered and Hinduism declined, many Brahmins could not longer support scholarship and became administrators and warriors.
The Mohyals belong to the distinct category of Brahmins that gave up the traditional duties of Brahmins in favor of military and administrative ones. They have been likened in custom and temperament with other similar brahma-kshatriya groups like Bhumihar, Niyogi, Taga, Chitpavan etc.
This martial Brahmin race is divided into seven clans. Their gotras are given below.
- Bali: Parashar
- Bhimwal: Kaushal
- Chhibber:Bhrigu
- Datt: Bharadwaja
- Lau: Vasishtha
- Mohan: Kashyap
- Vaid: Dhanvantri
History
Currently, a documented history of their origin is limited to oral history and a few historical records, notably The history of the Muhiyals: The militant Brahman race of India (1911) by T.P. Russell Stracey (sometimes spelled Rusell), written and published during the time of the British Raj.
Stracey mentions that the Mohyals are primarily a military class, divided into seven clans that have been prominently associated with the government and sometimes rulership of the country. They have also figured at some early period of history in the affairs of Arabia, Central Asia, Afghanistan and Persia. At the time of his writing he states that they were spread from Afghanistan and Punjab to Bihar. In Uttar Pradesh and Bihar they were known as Bhumihars.
Ancient Accounts
Some of the Mohyal clans claim descendence from certain figures from the Mahabharata, the longest literary epic poem in the world. Although the historical veracity of these claims cannot be substantiated, certain truths can.
Parashurama, Drona, Ashwatthama and Kripa, characters from the epic, stood apart from the typical Brahmins in that along with their intellectual and spiritual teachings, they were masters of the military arts. They occupied the functions of martial gurus to the princes and kings, as well as that of generals and commanders during the war.
Whether these figures existed or not cannot be proved, yet what this does show, are indications of the existence of Brahmins that focused on the military arts.
The subject of martial Brahmins has occupied little research and currently needs more attention.
Interestingly, the temperaments and personality traits of the martial Brahmins described in the Mahabharata are very similar to those of the Mohyal communities (see Racial Features and Customs below).
Clans
Racial Features
The Mohyal were typically recognized by an amalgam of features. Events in the 20th century, such as the Partition, migrations to Africa, Europe, North America and the laxity of the caste-system has contributed to a change in the Mohyal community, yet still much effort is put in the preservation of the racial stock.
The common traits are tall height, fair complexion (modern complexions range from olive to dark brown), wide build, hairy torso for men, eye colour typically brown, but blue, green, grey and hazel are also prevalent and dark hair. Blondr hair is rarely seen, but not unheard of.
They share common features with people of the Gandhara region Kashmiri Pandits, Khatris and other North Indian groups.
No genetic tests have yet been performed on members of the Mohyal community at large, but testing may one day point to a more precise point of origin.
Customs and Values
Famous Mohyal Brahmins
work in progress
External Links
| The seven Mohyal clans | [Edit] |
| Bali | Bhimwal | Chhibber | Datt | Lau | Mohan | Vaid |
| Castes and Tribes of the Punjab[Edit] | |||
| Kshatriyas> Ancient Kshatria tribes | Abhira | Ahir | Gujjar | Gurjara | Kamboj | Kamboja | Khasa | Khasa | Yadav | Yadava | ||
| Brahmin>Brahmin groups | Saraswat Brahmins | Punjabi Brahmins | Mohyal | Bali | Bhimwal | Chhibber | Datt | Lau | Mohan | Vaid | ||
| Dalit (outcaste)>Dalit groups | Punjabi Dalits | Balmiki | Chamar | Chura | Chhimba | Kabirpanthi | Mazhabi | Nai | Ramdasia | Rangrehta | Ravidasi | ||
| Jat>Jat clans | Jat | Atwal | Aulakh | Bagri | Bains | Bajwa | Bajya | Beniwal | Bhalli | Bhangu | Bharhaich | Bhinder | Bhullar | Brar | Chahal | Chahar | Chatha | Cheema | Chhillar | Deol | Deshwal | Dhariwal | Dhaliwal | Dhillon | Dhindsa | Dosanjh | Dulat | Faujdar | Gandhar | Garewal | Gill | Ghuman | Grewal | Hala | Hayer | Jakhar | Jawanda | Johiya | Kahlon | Kang | Khirwar | Khokhar | Langah | Lehal | Maan | Mahil | Maitla | Malhi | Manes | Mehria | Nijjar | Pannu | Purewal | Randhawa | Ranghar | Riar | Sahota | Sandhu | Sekhon | Shergill | Sidhu | Sukhera | Takhar | Takshak | Tarar | Toor | Virk | Wahla | Waraich / Thathiala | ||
| Khatri>Khatris and other groups | Khatri | Arora | Bhatia | Sood | Kukhran | Ahuja | Alreja | Bedi | Dumra | Mehra | Kapoor | Khullar | ||
| Rajput>Rajput clans | Rajput | Bhatti | Chadhar | Chauhan | Chib | Dogra | Gheba | Janjua | Jarral | Jaswal | Jodhra | Khakha | Kharal | Mahnike | Manj | Minhas | Mir | Meo | Naul | Noon | Panwar | Parmar | Ranial | Rathore | Salaria | Sial | Tiwana | Wattu | Wejhwa | Wijhalke | ||
| Sheikh>Shaikhs and other groups | Abbasi | Alavi | Farooqi | Gardezi | Gilani | Hashemi | Osmani | Quraishi | Sayyid | Shaikh | Shaikh Siddiqui | Siddiqui | ||
| Tarkhan>Tarkhans and other groups | Lohar | Ramgarhia | Tarkhan | ||
| Others | Ahluwalia | Arain | Awan | Bakarwal | Bania | Bishnoi | Dhangar | Gakhar | Kalal | Labana | Meghwar | Mekan | Saini | Sansi | ||
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