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Ahmedabad
Audichya Sahasra Brahman Lahana Vyavahar
Granth
: Early History Prepared By :- Shri Bipinchandra
Mulshanker Shukla
Sources
: (i) Smruti Granth : by Shankerlal Jagjivan
Jani Publisher Ahmedabad Audichya Sahasra Brahman education
society.
(ii)
Audichya Prakash Raupya Granth : 112-119 article
written by Shivprasad Manilal Trivedi and Kantilal Damodardas
Rawal.
- Around
Vikram Samvat 1353 the army of Allaudin Khilji committed
aggression on Gujarat and destroyed Rudramahalaya and
the city of patan. The audichya Brahmins of that region
migrated to place like kadi chanasma, karnavati li.e.
the Dandhavga region. They settled in the kingdom of
ashawal thakur.
- After
the decline and destruction of patan and khambat, the
present city of Ahmedabad was founded in vikram samvat
1467 or 1411 A.D. It slowly developed as a trade center.
- Being
attracted by its glory some audichya Brahmins families
left the kingdom of ashawal and settled in Ahmedabad
in vikram samvat 1526 or 1470 A. D. Due to their some
customs they became to be known as ashapara Brahmins.
- Audichya
Brahmins belonging to the siddhapur branch also settled
in Ahmedabad with the hope of getting means of ---.
They came from different places like Siddhapur, Unjha,
Dethali, Brahmanwada, Varwada, Kanoda, Ambasana, Kukaruada,
Bokarwada, Pushpadara, Mandal, Chandubhan, Viramgam,
Dholka, Kheda, Mahemadabad. Etc.
- Beside,
audichya Brahmins belonging to shihor branch also came
to and settled in Ahmedabad. They came from places like
shihor, Bagasthal, Vala Himdi, Halvad, Dhol, etc
- Initialy,
all these audichya Brahmins lived in 36-Aubusbs of Ahmedabad,
but by the end of the 18th century the audichya Brahmins
of the siddhapur branch settled in 27-Aubusbs of the
city.
- During
siddharaj's time the descendants of the Brahmins of
the sihore branch had migrated and settled in ashapur
. Present asarwas.
- At
that time an attempt was made to establish one caste
of audichya Brahmins in coopration with the new settlers
and the old settlers.
- The
old settlers believes that they were higher in status
than the other audichya Brahmins. So they described
themselves, not as audichya Brahmins but as ashapuri
Brahmins. Today they are completely obliterated.
- In
1803-04 there were about 1700 households of audichya
Brahmins in the city. At that time an idea was mooted
to establish an organization of all audichya Brahmins
living in and around the city Shri Surjibhai and Shri
Mavjibhai jani brothers organized an unofficial conference
and a committee of jani, dave, shukla, mehta, surname
caste member.
- First
Shri Surjibhai and Shri Mavjibhai gave caste feasts
to all the 1700 households. They also gave gifts i.e.
lhana of utensils. This was the beginning of the audichya
sahasra Brahman in Ahmedabad.
- There
after , all the remaining 25 members also emulated their
love for the caste and every one f them gave caste feast
and gifts.
- These
27 members were recognized as the leader of the caste
and they became to be known as tadavis.
- The
leadership role of tadvis was exemplified when there
was a caste feast. All the caste members of a particular
locality or suburb assembled at one place and they are
preceded trend his guidance in the light of torch to
other place or suburb where the caste feast was arranged.
- During
the region of gaekwads in the city other 500 audichya
families from outside had settled in the city. They
settled their tadvi and entered in the caste. In 1810-12
the case households reached to 2200.
- The
tadvis started the practice of admitting new audichya
Brahmins into the caste on payment of Rs. 25 as hansal
( i.e. entry fee ) and a caste feast. They were to vouchsafe
the character, virtues and merits of the new entrant
member.
- This
expanded caste of 2200 households acquired good status
in other Brahmin caste of the city.
- The
caste honoured the Jani brothers and gave them the tittle
of Gnati sheth, They in their thanks giving reply adviced
the members not to come in conflict with the caste.
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