Mohyal history

Sources

Currently, a documented history of Mohyals is mostly derived from oral history and a few historical records.
The known written works include the following:
  • Swami Sahajanand Saraswati Rachnawali (Selected works of Swami Sahajanand Saraswati), Prakashan Sansthan, Delhi, 2003.
  • Bali Nama (Persian) by Rattan Chand Bali
  • Mirat-ul-Mohyali (Urdu, 1870s.)
  • Islah-e-Mohyali (Urdu, 1908) Raizada Rattan Chand Vaid
  • Mohyal History (Urdu, 1940) Chuni Lal Dutt
  • Gulshan-e-Mohyali (Urdu, 1920s) Raizada Hari Chand Vaid
  • Jang Nama - An account of the Mohans by Har Bhagwan Lau
  • Tawarikh-e-Vaidaan - (Punjabi) A history of the Vaids
  • The history of the Muhiyals: The militant Brahman race of India (English,1911) by T.P. Russell Stracey
  • Mohyal History (English, 1985) by P.N. Bali
There have also been in existence many ballads extolling the feats of Mohyals, for many centuries. The sustained existence through the centuries is attributed to the fact that in the past Mohyals used to patronize bards that were devoted to memorizing these ballads and passing them on from generation to generation.
Both the ballads and some of the written sources contain obvious exaggerations of the feats of Mohyals' ancestors, yet at places are also believed to offer interesting nuggets of history.
A good source of recent history is provided by the journal Mohyal Mitter, one of the oldest published journals of the sub-continent, published since 1891. In addition, a Mohyal Gazzette was also published from 1899 regularly until 1912, from Kala Gujran.
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.

By- Ch. Anil Dutta, Amritsar

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Datt/Datta/Dutta

Datt Datt or Dutt is a Brahmin clan from the Punjab . They are one of the seven clans of the Mohyals who are Saraswat Brahmins of the Punjab. The six other clans are Bali, Bhimwal, Chhibber , Lau, Mohan and Vaid . Most Datts are Hindus , but like most Mohyals, many follow Sikhism and other religions as well; their gotra is Bharadwaj . Some Datt Brahmins migrated eastward and mingled with Bhumihar Brahmins and became one with them Gotra Datts claim descent from Rishi Bharadwaja and derive their gotra from his name. Some consider Gaj Bhavan , the grandson of Bharadwaj to be the real founder of their clan. All Datts are Saraswat Brahmins of Punjab. Etymology The word Datt is derived from the Hindi word daata meaning a charitable person. Some interpreted it as a corruption of the word Aditya which means 'sun' in Sanskrit ; the surname is unrelated to Datta , one of the five clans of Bengali Kayasthas . Traditionally Mohyals of the Datt Clan have the last name...
Read more
Image
Mohyal Brahmins Mohyal Brahmins (Punjabi-Gurmukhi: ਮੋਹ੍ਯਾਲ, Punjabi-Shahmukhi: ﻝﺎﻴﮨﻮﻣ , Hindi: मोहयाल) (alternate spellings include Muhiyal, Muhial, Mhial, Mohiyal or Mahjal) is the name of an endogamous ethnic group that originates from the Gandhara region and consists of seven Brahmin lineages of that area that left the usual priestly occupation of Brahmins long ago to serve as soldiers and in government services. The community is noted for a long tradition of producing distinguished soldiers- including, among others, India's most decorated General so far. Despite their classification as Brahmins in the Hindu Varna system, they in fact strictly refrain from working as priests- often to the point of excommunicating those who break that tradition.They also do not adhere to many customs and taboos observed by other Brahmin groups, and their regional history and specific customs mark them as a distinct ethnic group as well. Mohyal Clans This ...
Read more

The Ancient History of Mohyals/ as taught per our Elders

The Ancient History of Mohyals/ as taught per our Elders The Ancient History of  Mohyals The seven Mohyal clans of Saraswat Brahmins, written in languages of Hindi: Punjabi–Gurmukhi and  Urdu are based upon the seven stars of Ursa Major constellation known as Sapt Rishi Mandal representing the seven great Rishis (Bramh Rishis)as mentioned in the ancient Hindu literature, and e...ach clan thus represents one of the seven stars of the Sapt Rishi Mandal 1.     Related to the first star Alkaid (Bhrigu Rishi) of Ursa major Constellation are Chhibber/Chibbers 2.     Related to the second star Mizar(Vashisht Rishi) of Ursa Major constellation are Lau 3.     Related to the third star Alioth (Kashyap Rishi) of Ursa major are Mohan 4.     Related to the fourth star Megrez (Bharadwaja Rishi) of Ursa Major Constell...
Read more