| MOHYAL BRAHMIN History
:
They fought the Arab invasions of Sindh, Mehmood Ghaznavi and Muhammad Ghori. When the Mughal empire turned tyrannical under Aurangzeb, they flocked to the banner of the Sikh Gurus to overthrow this evil tyranny. Baba Paraga, Bhai Mati Das and Banda Bairagi were great soldier saints of the Sikh military tradition. They were all Mohyals who played a major role in the Indian military revival that took place with the Sikhs and the Marathas. This book is an invaluable record of all the military invasions of India from the third century B.C. onwards. The soldiers and scholars of History will find it an invaluable document about Indian Military History per se – right from the Vedic times to the present era. These fighting Brahmins have maintained their military traditions. Post-independence, 2/Lt Puneet Datt won the Ashok Chakra – the highest gallantry award in the land. Four Mohyal officers won the Mahavir Chakra and other four, the Vir Chakra. Six Mohyals have risen to the rank of Army Commander and equivalent in the Indian Army and Air Force, and three became the governor of states. 10 became Lt Generals and 15 Maj Generals – all from a miniscule community – just 6 lakh strong. They are like the Samurai of Japan – great patriots, scholar-warriors and erstwhile feudal lords who have made enormous sacrifices for their country. They have been the guardians of it’s gates. " G.D.Bakshi - Biblography
Mohyals - The Warrior Brahmin Class :
They are a distinct category of Brahmins who combine military knowledge with wise learning and never pretended to do any priestly duties. This military Brahmin race is divided into seven clans known as Datt, Bali, Chhibber, Vaid, Mohan, Lau and Bhimwal.
Any authentic history of their origin is not available. However, mention about them is made in historical records from the earliest times. During the time of the British East India Company , in the early part of the last century, TP Russell Tracey made a serious effort and wrote the history of this class , which was gratefully acknowledged by the General Mohyal Sabha at Lahore on 30 June1911.
He mentions that the Mohyals are primarily a military class, divided into seven clans claiming their origin from the Raj Rishis, who figured long before the Mahabharat, they have been prominently associated with the government of the country whether military or civil, in the days of universal Hindu rules. 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, Punjab to Bihar. In UP and Bihar they were known as Bhumihars. The Bhumihars also claim their descent from Parshuram from whom the Chibbers also claim descent.
Mohyals claim their origin from the Raj Rishis who figured long before the Mahabharat. Being of pre-vedic origin the ancient Mohyals paid homage to their spiritual leaders like Parshuram. Their basic religion was the belief in the laws of morality as enunciated by the sages Vyas and Vashishth.
The Mohyals claim that they are the progenies of the great Raj Rishis who were distinctly different from the class of Brahm Rishis because besides being high priests of spiritualism, they also wielded temporal powers. In fact, Parshu Ram was the first Brahmin in history to wear arms and to conquer territories.
There are other theories about the origin of Mohyals. They have figured in Arabia as citizens and rulers of the land. They lived in Arabia like free citizens. The word 'Misr' in the Arabic script is inscribed on the antiques found in the possession of certain Mohyal families.
Values
:
Mohyals abhor 3 things : 'the taking of charity', 'the handling of scales (trading)' and 'living a life of laziness'. Though numerically unimportant, they are a stirring and enterprising race, and frequently rise to prominence in the service of the government which they enter in large numbers. They are remarkable among the Hindu population in being hereditary agriculturists seldom practicing trade and specially despising the life of indolence led by the ordinary Brahmin who lives by charity and with whom the Mohyals, though admitting a common origin, strongly object to be classed with.
The
word 'Mohyal' :
There is another interpretation of its being derived from the word 'Muhin'. 'Muhin' symbolizes the 7 castes into which the community is divided. In ancient dialect 'Mohi' or 'Mahi' denoted land while 'al' meant respectable man. Mohyals were the masters of the land and their deity was 'Hal Ram' alias 'Bal Ram' alias 'Bal Dev'. He is the Aryan God of agriculture; in one hand he holds the plough and in the other the pestle.
Habitat
:
The river Ravi was regarded as the limit of Mohyal country as there were very few Mohyals living on the east-side of the river.
In the ancient abodes, the 7 castes of the communities lived a closely knit life. Many families shared a common terrace or a balcony and their members lived on first-named terms with each other. In the early decades of this century, when the reclaimed 'Bar' area was being colonized many Mohyal families settled down in districts of Shekhupura, Lyallpur and Montogomerry and became owners of large agricultural farms and orchards. Lahore which was the seat of govt. and center for education drew hordes of Mohyals and they distinguished themselves in diverse professions. The city even boasted of a 'Kucha Balian'. Many adventurous Mohyals became citizens of Kabul, Burma and Nairobi. After 1947, Mohyals spread in all directions making the whole of India their home. Outside the country, there are a sizable number of Mohyals in UK, USA and Canada.
During the partition, the entire Mohyal community migrated to India but 2 valiant families decided to stay on in their ancestral Karyala. One was headed by Bhai Dalip Singh who was later shot dead by hired Muslim goons. The other Bhai Jagat Singh continued to stay there. He married a Brahmin girl of 'Pind Dadan Khan' whose parents also refused to leave Pakistan. Their children are still living there.
Lifestyle
:
The birth of son was heralded with the firing of crackers. When the boy was three years or five years old, his Mundan (Jhand) was performed. The festivity and feasting on this occasion were on a scale next only to that of a wedding. A male lamb , with jet black head and spotlessly white body, its head washed in water and smeared with Vermillion and Curd was taken to a Jhand (prosopic spicigera) tree. The lobe of its ear was pierced and with its blood a `tikka' marked on the child's forehead. This was a symbolic baptism with blood and ordained the child to endure the wounds that might be inflicted in the battles to come. An earthen `diya' was lit and a wicker basket, turned upside down, was placed on it. It was surrounded by `thuthis'(earthen cups) The child in his bridal finery sat on the basket, and after the ceremony Was over, he would trample on the `thuthis', smashing them-signifying the crushing of the enemies. The sacrificial lamb was then slaughtered in one blow. It was eventually feasted upon, none but Mohyals being permitted to share it. It was considered as `prasad' And even the women, howsoever rigid vegetarians, had to take a morsel. Later on, some families substituted the lamb with it's effigy made out of `halwa.'
In the case of Sikh Mohyals, instead of Mundan, Kesh Gunthan or coiffuring of hair was resorted to. The Jhand ceremony derived its name from Jhand tree which was the focus of the function. When the Pandavas were defeated by the Kauravas and exiled, they hid their weapons in the hollow of the Jhand tree. Ever after, the tree has been an object of worship by warrior tribes. These rites clearly show that from the earliest days a Mohyal youth was impressed with one object in life and that was that he was born to fight. The Mundans are still performed with great pomp but are shorn of the traditional rites.
Another auspicious ceremony in the life of a boy, before he grew 12 years old, was Yagyopavit. The function was performed in front of the sacramental fire,accompanied by the chanting of Vedic hymns. The sacred thread, made from spun wool, girdled the neck and the loins of the child suggestive of the cross-belt of a soldier and marked his anointment as a Brahmin. The thread was renewed Half- yearly, at the time of the Navratra Ashtmi.
On all ceremonial occasions, Mohyals prepared Mitteran-da-Halwa, which was distributed amongst the members of the clan. At the time of a girl's marriage, the brother gave puffed rice to his sister which she threw back over her head to symbolize that the bride will flourish in her new environs as the rice does on transplantation.
Every Mohyal family had its own Purohit ,a Bhat and a barber (Nai). The Purohit Solemnized all religious ceremonies, the Bhat used to recite ballads recalling the valiant deeds of the family's ancestors while the Nai was the traditional envoy for carrying messages.
The old Mohyals were very proud of the purity of their racial blood and never courted marriages outside their own fraternal fold. A divorce was never heard of. As they lived close to the battle scarred frontiers, in areas dominated by the Muslims, there was a definite stamp of the customs and ways of life of the Latter on Mohyals; e.g. they were by and large meat-eaters, the shalwar was a common dress of both men and women, Urdu was the medium of education. But whatever the political and environmental compulsions, the Mohyals faithfully preserved their racial identity, their social conventions and their inherent graces. They are a self- respecting class and resent injustice and insult.
Mohyals
as Warriors :
When Alexander the Great invaded India in 326 BC he was challenged near Taxila by a mere chieftain. He was King Porus, a Vaid Mohyal. After his encounter with Porus, Alexander met with more resistance near Multan where the forces were predominantly Mohyal. Multan in those days was the capital of Bali rulers. They engaged Alexander's army in skirmishes in which many senior Generals died. The long and bitter fighting forced Alexander to call of his dream of conquering India and order a retreat.
The Mohyals also used their fighting prowess to uphold nobler values of life. They shed their blood at Karbala in 681 AD to show their solidarity with the Prophet's kin. In 1527, they were slaughtered to the last man, just to safeguard the virginity of a Khatri girl.
During the Mughal and Sikh rule, they were bestowed with titles like Bakshi, Dewan, Mehta etc. in reward for their bravery. Maharaja Ranjit Singh appointed many Mohyals to his famous Vadda Risala-the Life Guards of the Lion of Punjab. During the British period, fifty percent of the Mohyal commissioned officers, were decorated with awards for their distinguished services.
After independence Mohyals have won laurels during the wars with China and Pakistan. When the Military Academy results are published Mohyals figure in large number amongst the successful candidates. When gallantry awards are announced, they form a sizeable number.
Courtesy
Titles :
• 'Bakshi' means benevolent,
• 'Chaudhri' means head of the family or village,
• 'Dewan' means a landlord,
• 'Mehta' means the in charge of finance/property and,
• 'Raizada' means a wise man or adviser.
The title of 'Bhai' was specially conferred on the Chibbers of Karyala by the Sikh Gurus for their great sacrifices and devotion to dharma. The Dewans (prime ministers) of all the ten Gurus were Chibbers of Karyala. The title of Chaudhri was a mark of distinction of the Datts of Kanjrur, Veeram and Zaffarwal. The title of Dewan was used by the Datts hailing from Giuliana and certain other places, Raizada was used mostly by Balis and occasionally by Vaids. The prefixes of Mehta and Bakshi are commonly used by the various castes of Mohyals. As some of the titles currently used by the Mohyals are also used by certain non-Mohyal communities, it is desirable to mention both the courtesy title as well as the caste with the name, to clearly denote the Mohyal identity.
Castes
:
This was possible because the community almost in its entirety lived in the Punjab, in formidable strength in numerous mandis. However after partition, the demographic map underwent a change with only about 10% Mohyals left in the Punjab, nearly 20% settled in Delhi, around 30% living in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and UP and the rest scattered in small numbers all over the country and in foreign lands. As a result of these changes, an already critical matrimonial problem confronting the Mohyal society was further aggravated. This led to marriages being courted not only with non Mohyal Brahmins but even with non-brahmins.
Some of the counterparts of the Mohyals in different states are: Tyagis, Purohit, Vyas, Chitpavans, Mishra, Sinha, Bhaduri, Chakravarty, Ganguly, Goswami, Maitra, Sanyal, Dass, Iyers.
References :
1. The History of Mohyals - A Legendary People - by Shri P.N.Bali
2. The History of The Muhiyals - The Militant Brahmin Race of India - by T.P.Rusell Stracey
Major
C.L. Datt :
According to Major C.L.Datta "The British Raj had named certain Indian races martial. In undivided Punjab besides the Muslims and Jats this designation was given among Hindus only to the Mohyal Brahmins, of whom I was one. They were a militant clan, descended according to legend from Dronacharya, the initiator of the Pandava in to the art of war. Mohyals were primarily farmers and fighters. They were a rugged, sturdy folk, straightforward in their dealings and ever ready to lay down their lives in defence of their honour."
Mohyals comprise seven sub castes- Datt ( poularly known as Datta), Chhibber, Bali, Mohan, Vaid, Bhimwal and Lau. It is said that Porus , who faught the Greek invader Alexander the Great was a Vaid. Titles like Bakshi , Chowdhury, Raizada and Mehta were conferred on them by various rulers of Punjab for the distiguished services they rendered on the battlefield.
Mohyal always sacrificed their lives for any cause. Mohyal opposed Moghuls. Chhibber, Bhai Mati Das , suffered for refusing to become a Muslim at the behest of Emperor Aurangjeb. Mati Das was sawn in two at Chandani Chowk, where the Fountain now stands.
According to official records, probably, the first Military Cross won by a member of the Indian Army in World War I went to a medical officer Bali. In the recent operations against China and Pakistan fighting men of the Mohyal clan received three Mahaveer Chakras and more than 11 Vir Chakras besides several other citations.
The Mohyals , emotionally closely knit, spread themselves in the 19th centuary in the Northwest Frontier Province, in Gurdaspur district of Punjab and places like Gulyana, Veerum, Daoba and Kanjrur in the Jhelum Valley. Some of the families were living near Jaffarwal and Ballarwal.
2.0 I received today Mohyal Mitter of October 2008. Vijaya Ghose , Editor of Limca book of records wrote that first issue , in urdu , had come out in september 1891 from Lahore ( Now in Pakistan)
3.0 P.L.Mehta has written " COLD BLOODED MASSACRE AT KAMUKI ( 24th Spt. 1947 )
" Dead bodies which were in the train were sent to India with the remarks " Tofa a Hindustan to Pt. Nehru and Mahatama Gandhi Ko " ----- When RSS volunteers came to our rescue they gave us food and clothes. As this is not the right place to write in detail , I shall publish at other place and attach link to this.
Hussaini
Brahmin - Mohyal :
Datts are also known as Sultan. It shows that Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh are all human beings. Marriages between each religion was very common. All were living together in peace. Differences are created due to greed of individuals.
So I preach again that let us love human beings. Let us forget religion, caste, national boundaries, colour or sex. Let us live together. Let us live and let others live.
I agree we can not achieve all this due to ego, greed, jealousy, hatred, and pride. How can these emotions be utilized for the unity of humanity? Scientists should find methods to remove such DNA or RNA to maintain peace in the society.
Facts
from History - Received by mail from a friend :
The presence in Arabia of many Hindus. mostly Brahmins. before the rise of Islam, has been recorded by the historian Sisir Kumar Mitra, in his book ‘The Vision of India’. page 183. These people observed Hindu religious customs, including the worship of Shiv and Makresh from which the name of Mecca is said to have been derived. The famous astrologer Yavanacharya was born of one such Brahmin family. It was from these Brahmins that the Arabs learnt the science of Mathematics, Astrology, Algebra and decimal notation which were first developed in India.
At the time of the war of Karbala (Oct. 680 AD). Rahab Sidh Datt, a potentate of Datt sect, was a highly esteemed figure of Arabia due to his close relations with the family of Prophet Mohammed. In the holy war when no Muslim King came to help Hussain. Rahab fought On his side mld sacrificed his seven sons (named Sahas Rai. Haras Rai, Sher Khan, Rai Pun, Ram Singh, Dharoo and Poroo) in the bloody war.
A Brief Account of the Episode: After the death of Mohammed, he was succeeded by Abu Bakr, Omar and Osman, as the Caliphs: all three were related to him by marriage alliances. Osman was not popular and was assassinated. After his death, Hazrat Ali the son-in-law of Mohammed (he was also his first cousin) who was married to the Prophet’s third daughter and the only surviving issue, Bibi Fatima Zahira, became the 4th Caliph. There was stiff opposition to Ali’s rule from Amir Moavia, a known protege of Osman. He fought with him a bitter war for 5 years and finally got him murdered in a mosque of Koofa, his mausoleum with a golden dome, stands in the nearby town of Najaf (Iraq). After the extermination of Ali, Moavia grabbed the Caliphate and converted the Islamic state into a kingdom, After his death, his notorious son Yazid became the next ruler. However, the rightful claimants of the Caliphate were the descendants of Hazrat Ali, namely, Hassan and Hussain. While Hassan abdicated his claim to the crown and later died of suspected poisoning, his younger brother Imam Hussain who was till then leading a secluded life in Medina, came out and challenged the usurper, Yazid. It was the war of attrition between the two which led to the bloodshed of Karbala (102 km south of Baghdad), on Oct. 10, 680 AD.
The participation of the Mohyals Brahmins and more precisely that of a Dutt family living in Arabia at that time, in the holy war, is a fact of the history. They were a part of the entourage of 200 men and women, including 72 members of Hussain’s family (40 on foot and 32 on horseback), when he left Medina and made an arduous trek to Karbala, where he had a large friendly following. After 18 days, i.e. on the 2nd. day of Muharram, the Hussain’s caravan reached Karbala, on the bank of river Euphrates and surrounded by a hostile desert. On the 7th day of Muharram, all hell broke out when 30,000 strong army sent by Yazid from Mecca and other places, attacked them. 6,000 soldiers guarded the river bank to ensure that not a drop of water reached the Hussain’s thirsty innocents. By sunset of 10th (Ashoor), a Friday, all were dead including his step brother Abbas (32), his son Ali Akbar (22), daughter Skeena (4) and 6 months old infant Ali Asghar who was killed by an arrow while perched in his lap. Imam Hussain himself was slain with thirty three strokes of lances and swords by Shimr, the hatchet man of ignominious Yazid. The ruffians of Yazid, as they ran carrying the smitten head of Hussain to the castle of Kufa, were chased by Rahab. He retrieved the holy man’s head, washed it reverentially and then carried it to Damascus.
According to legend, he was overtaken by Yazid’s men during his overnight shelter on the way. They demanded Hussain’s head from him: Rahab executed the head of one of his sons and offered to them. They shouted that it was not the Hussain’s head, then he beheaded his second son and they again yelled that it was not his. In this way Rahab executed the heads of his seven sons but did not part with the head of Imam Hussain. Later, after one year, it was buried in Karbala along with rest of his body.
The intrepid Datts rallied round Amir Mukhtar, the chief of the partisans of Imam Hussain, fought with extraordinary heroism and captured and razed the fort of Kufa, seat of Yazid’s governor, Obaidullah, the Butcher. After scoring a resounding victory on the battlefield, they beat the drums and yelled out that they had avenged the innocent blood of Hussain shed at Karbala.
It is also significant to note that even before the Karbala incident, Hazrat Ali had entrusted the public exchequer to the regiment of the valiant Datts, at the time of the Battle of Camels fought near Basra.
The above provides an impeccable evidence about the pragmatic role played by the Datt Mohyals in the catastrophe of Karbala. There are more than a dozen ballads composed centuries ago which vividly and with great passion describe the scenario of the historic event.
Interestingly, in the Preface of his famous historical novel, titled Karbala, published in 1924 from Lucknow, Munshi Prem Chand has stated that the Hindus who fought and sacrificed their lives in the holy war of Karbala, are believed to be the descendants of Ashwathama.This clearly establishes their link with the Datts who consider Ashwathama as an ancestor of their clan.
Later on, when Sunnis let loose an orgy of vendetta on Shias and Datts, Datts returned to their motherland around 700 AD and settled at Dina Nagar, District Sialkot (vide Bandobast Report of Gujarat by Mirza Azam Beg page 422 and folk songs) and some drifted to as far as the holy Pushkar in Rajasthan. Starting from Harya Bandar (modern Basra on the bank of river Tigris) with swords in hand and beating drums, they forced their way through Syria and Asia Minor and marching onwards captured Ghazni, Balkh and Bukhara. After annexing Kandhar, they converged on Sind and crossing the Sind at Attock they entered the Punjab.
An ancestor of Rahab named Sidh Viyog Datt assumed the title of Sultan and made Arabia (old name Iraq) his home. He was a tough and tenacious fighter. He was also known as Mir Sidhani. He was a worshipper of Brahma. He was the son of the stalwart Sidh Jhoja (Vaj) who was a savant and saint and lived in Arabia (Iraq) around 600 AD.
The supporters of Hassan and Hussain honoured the Datts with the title of ‘Hussaini Brahmin’ and treated them with great reverence in grateful recognition of the supreme sacrifices made by them in the war of Karbala. According to Jang Nama, written by Ahmed Punjabi, pages 175-176, it was ordained on the Shias to recite the name of Rahab in their daily prayer. At the time to the Karbala, fourteen hundred Hussaini Brahmins lived in Baghdad alone.
Source :
https://www.mohyalworld.com/ |