GOTHRAVALI

                              From left: Parshuram, Goddess Hinglaj, Bhavsingh and Sarsingh

Gothravali 

Bhavsars  are  descendants  of  Arya  Kshatriya  community and the community members belong to  both  Chandra,  Surya,  Manu & Naga  Vamshas.  Accordingly,  they follow any of the 

Chaturvedas & belong to different Gothras. 

Gothra : 

In ancient times, COW  rearing  was  the  main  employment  which  would  provide  Food (milk), Fuel (caked cow dung) & Fertilizer.  The word GOTHRA means  "lineage"  and this word is of  Sanskrit language.GOTHRA is derived from noun GO + root verb TRA of Sanskrit which means -> Cow + Protect. It was systematized by about the 4th century BC to accommodate changing social rules and laws of those times.A GOTHRA is a cattle rearing group, identified with the head of the group, obviously a sage/RISHI. Due to scarcity of pasture or climatic abnormalities, the GOTHRAs went nomadic, spreading out to different river valleys and other fertile lands where they set up their own GOTHRAs, of course named after their leader, a sage/RISHI. Since they were Vedic groups, they excelled in different fields of knowledge and maintained their 'specialization', which came to symbolize the respective GOTHRA.

Kuladevi :

In Hinduism KULADEVI stands for "family deity, a goddess". The word Kula means family or 

clan and Devi means deity. Hindu families make a pilgrimage to Kuladevi temple to obtain 

blessing of the deity after an auspicious occasion such as a wedding. Hinglajmata is the 

Kuladevi for all Bhavsar Kshatriya community. However, for various GOTHRAS the Kuladevis 

are mainly manifestations of goddess Shakthi, worshipped by different names by different 

clans.

Surname (AdNav) :

A surname or AdNav  also known as a last name or family name, is a fixed name shared in 

common with the members of a family and is passed down from generation to generation. 

The use of a surname is relatively new in history and was adopted in order to legally 

distinguish two individuals with the same first name. Surname may answer some of the 

questions about our ancestors about the traits of a family from many hundreds of years ago. 

During the evolution of Surnames, many people were illiterates, names were written by clerks, 

officials, and priests as they heard the name pronounced. This lead to different spellings for 

the same Surname, hence it is important to check out spelling variations.

Shakha :

SHAKHA (Sanskrit sakha, "branch" or "limb"), is a Hindu theological school that specializes 

in learning certain Vedic texts, or else the traditional texts followed by such a school. In 

traditional Hindu society affiliation with a specific school is an important aspect of class 

identity. An individual follower of a particular school is called a sakhin. - the term is also used 

in Hindu philosophy to refer to an adherent of a particular orthodox system. A related term 

carana, ("conduct of life" or "behavior") is also used to refer to such a Vedic school although 

the words carana and sakha are sometimes used synonymously, yet carana properly applies 

to the sect or collection of persons united in one school, and sakha to the traditional text 

followed. 

Veda :

VEDAS (Sanskrit  veda, "knowledge") are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. 

Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and 

the oldest scriptures of Hinduism. According to Hindu tradition, the Vedas are are supposed 

to have been directly revealed . The class of "Vedic texts" is aggregated around the four 

canonical Samhitas. The term samhita literally means "composition, compilation". The 

individual verses contained in these compilations are known as mantras. Some selected 

Vedic mantras are still recited at prayers, religious functions and other auspicious occasions 

in contemporary Hinduism.

   •   The Rigveda, containing hymns to be recited by the vedic priest in charge of reciting invocations and litanies;

    
   •   The Yajurveda, containing formulas to be recited by the vedic priest in charge of the physical details of the  sacrifice;

   
   •   The Samaveda, containing formulas to be sung by the vedic priest in charge of chanting hymns set to melodies drawn from the samaveda;

    
   •   The Atharvaveda, a collection of spells and incantations, charms and speculative hymns.

BHAVSARS Know your Origin

Origin

The Bhavsar is an ethnic community originating from the Saurashtra of erstwhile Pakistan. Tradition has it that was formed by Bhav Singh and Sar Singh, two young princes from North Western India. Hinglaj Mata or Hingulamba is regarded as the Kuldevi or the Clan Goddess of the community. The princes sought protection from Lord Parashuram, who had vowed to destroy all Kshatriyas. The shrine where Bhav Singh and Sar Singh had prayed to the goddess is located near Karachi in present day Pakistan.

Culture and Demographics :

Bhavsars are found mostly in Karnataka, Maharashtra, southern Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Madhya Pradesh, all adapting to their local culture and traditions to varying degrees. The total population is about a crore in India  and due to the lack of basic facilities like education and health, many Bhavsars migrate to various states in India and other states seeking livelihood. The community continues to be a very scattered and unable to connect and reach each other as they lack a common platform to meet and discuss their routine challenges.

Bhavsars are known for their simple, tolerant and integrating lifestyle. This community has been engaged in trade and merchandise activities for generations and with time they have accomplished in education, profession and social service. Migrants to other states invariably continue to speak their native tongue while being multilingual
with the local language. The community is well accepted in all parts of the country for their excellent adaptation to local culture and their peace loving nature.

The hard work of community is yielding fruits in the present generation wherein some of the Bhavsars are pursuing successful business & professions, both in India & abroad.

CULTURE & HERITAGE

                                                       

Hinglaj Mata Mandir in Pakistan

Origin : Mythology significance

Legend has it that when goddess Sati, the consort of god Shiva burnt herself in response to her father's anger at her for not inviting Shiva to a ceremony. In order to calm his anger, god Vishnu took the body of Sati and began to cut it into 51 pieces where they all fell at different parts of the Earth. Hindus believe that the head of Sati fell in the area of Hinglaj Mata in Baluchistan, present-day Pakistan. According to the ancient mythology, it’s believed to be the place where the head Brahma Randra that was fallen apart from the immolated corpse of goddess Sati applied with Hingul (sindhoor or vermillion applied just above the forehead on the visible portion of the scalp, after parting the hair in the middle – to denote that she was married and that her husband is alive) fell on the ground. Thus, this area is a very significant region in the Hindu region and a revered pilgrimage site.

Geographical Location:

Hinglaj is an holy shrine, located about 120km North West of Karachi, on the Banks of River Hingol at Makran. This sacred place of pilgrimage is particularly situated in a mountain cave “Hinglaj” on river bank of “Hinghol” at the foothills of “Kheerthar” mountains called “Kanraj” in Lyari district of Baluchistan, the province of Pakistan. It is considered one of the famous and biggest “Teeraths” of Indo Pak subcontinent


.Hinglajmata Jayanthi:

This is celeberated on Palghuna Trayodashi (After Holi Poornima).



OUR PEOPLE

The main profession of this Community was related to Clothing and Textiles. This profession led the community members to travel at a long distance crossing barriers and flourishing as successful business personnel.

As days passed by, the community started adapting itself to the situations and need of time. Apart from Clothing Industry it started developing skills in other industrial activities that were emerging out due to the need of time, were in they proved to be successful. Today Bhavsar Kshatriya Samaj comprises of business personnel and professionals from varied work culture.

Right from Clothing Industry to Medical and Electrical to Information Technology, the Community has sown its seeds which have grown up to be a tree bearing rich fruits of Progress and Harmony.Bhavsar Kshatriya Community also has other forms as Rangrez, Darji, Shimpi and Rangari. Most of the Members of the Community worship Goddess Hingulambika Devi, "Hinglaj Matha", the form of Goddess Bhavani and Rukmini Panduranga, the form of Lord Vishnu.

But this progress wasn’t rapid and easy. The Community had to struggle for the hard to achieve throne of Success and Prosperity. The members had to travel a lot, adapting themselves to the surrounding culture, yet retaining their own. They had provided the Clothing & Textile Industry a new prosperous dimension. The term Kshatriya in Indian context stands for Warriors. These Kshatriyas fought a war for their existence against the unfavorable situations, distance among cultures, poverty, and most important the Time. They were successful in accepting the new changes brought up by the Moments of Time.

This portal plays a key role in uniting those Warriors who now fight a war of evolutionary standards of life leading to the progress of mankind through weapons of Education, Artistic Talents, Technical Skills, Innovative Personality, and at the most Passion towards the Winning Post.