The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India, Volume 1

Mārwāri.—A resident of Mārwār or the desert tract of Rājputāna; Mārwār is also used as a name for Jodhpur State. See subordinate article Rājpūt-Rāthor. The name Mārwāri is commonly applied to Banias coming from Mārwār. See article Bania. A subcaste of Bahna, Gurao, Kumhār, Nai, Sunār and Teli.

Masania.—(From masin, straw or grass mats, or masina, thatched roof.) A section of Lohār. A synonym for San Bhatras in Bastar.

Mashki.—(A water-bearer.) Synonym of Bhishti.

Masrām.—A common sept of Gonds.

Masti.—(Dancer.) Subcaste of Mādgi.

Mastram.—(Mastra, brass bangles.) A sept of Gonds in Betūl. The women of this sept wear brass bangles.

Masūria.—A subcaste of Kurmi. From masūr, lentil. A section of Rājpūt.

Mathadhari.—(Living in a monastery.) A celibate clan of Mānbhao mendicants.

Mathpati.—(Lord of the hermitage.) A subcaste of Jangam.

Mathur, Mathuria.—(From Mathura or Muttra.) A subcaste of Kāyasth. A subdivision of Brāhman. A subcaste of Banjāra, Darzi and Nai.

Matkūda, Matkora.—(Earth-digger.) A subcaste and synonym of Beldār. A name for Gonds and Pardhāns who take to earthwork.

Mattha.—Corruption of Marātha. A subcaste of Koshti, Mahār and Teli, and a title of Teli.

Matti.—A subdivision of low-class Brāhmans returned from Khairagarh. Also a class of Kashmīri Brāhmans.

Matwāla.—(A drinker of country liquor.) Subcaste of Kadera.

Mawāsi, Mirdhān.—Subcaste of Dahāit. Title of the headman of the Dahāit caste committee.

Mayaluar.—(Chief man of the caste.) A subcaste of Turi.

Mayur.—(Peacock.) A totemistic section of the Ahīr, Hatwa, Gond, Sonjhara and Sundi castes.

Mayurmāra.—(Killer of peacock.) A section of Bahelia.

Meda Gantia.—(Counter of posts.) Title of Bhatra. Official who fixes date and hour for wedding.

Medara, Medari.—The Telugu caste of bamboo-workers and mat-makers, corresponding to the Basors. They have the same story as the Basors of the first bamboo having been grown from the snake worn by Siva round his neck, which was planted head downwards in the ground. The customs of the Medaras, Mr. Francis says,468 differ from place to place. In one they will employ Brāhman purohits (priests), and prohibit widow-marriage, while in the next they will do neither, and will even eat rats and vermin. The better classes among them are taking to calling themselves Balijas or Baljis, and affixing the title of Chetti to their names.

Medari.—Synonym of Medara.

Mehar.—Synonym of Bhulia.

Meher.—A section of Mālwi Ahīr, a synonym for Bhulia. A title of Chamār.

Mehra.—Synonym for Mahār. A subcaste of Katia and Kori.

Mehta.—A group of Brāhmans. A section of Oswāl Bania.

Mehtar.—(A prince or leader.) Common name for the sweeper caste. Title of the president of the Dhobi caste committee.

Meman.—Synonym of Cutchi.

Meshbansi.—(Descendant of a sheep.) A clan of Rājpūts.

Mewāda, Mewāri.—(From Mewār.) A division of Gujarāti or Khedāwāl Brāhmans. A subcaste of Chhīpa, Dārzi, Māli and Sunār.

Mewāti.—Synonym of Meo. See article. A class of Fakīrs or Muhammadan beggars.

Mhāli.—Synonym of Nai.

Mhasia, Mhashi.—(Mhas, buffalo.) A sept of Halba. A section of Kohli.

Mihir.—Synonym of Bhulia.

Mīna.—A caste. A section of Rāghuvansis.

Mīrdaha.—A subcaste of Dahāit, Khangār, and Nat. A section of Rāghuvansi. Name used for the mate of a gang of coolies.

Mīr-Dahāit.—Title of the Mīrdha caste.

Mīrdha.—A small caste found only in the Narsinghpur District. They are a branch of the Khangār or Dahāit caste of Saugor and Damoh. The names of their exogamous sections tally with those of the Khangārs, and they have the same story of their ancestors having been massacred at a fort in Orchha State and of one pregnant woman escaping and hiding under a kusum tree (Schleichera trijuga), which consequently they revere. Like Khangārs they regard Muhammadan eunuchs and Fakīrs (beggars) with special friendship, on the ground that it was a Fakīr who sheltered their ancestress when the rest of the caste were massacred by Rājpūts, and Fakīrs do not beg at their weddings. One explanation of the name is that this section of the caste were born from a Muhammadan father and a Dahāit woman, and hence were called Mir-Dahāits or Mīrdāha, Mir being a Muhammadan title. Mirdha is, however, as noted by Mr. Hira Lāl, the name of the head of the caste committee among the Dahāits; and in Hoshangābād he is a servant of the village proprietor and acts as assistant to the Kotwār or village watchman; he realises the rents from the tenants, and sometimes works as a night guard. In Gujarāt the name is said to be a corruption of mir-deh or ‘mason of the village.’469 Here it is said that the Mīrdhas are held to be of part foreign, part Rājpūt origin, and were originally official spies of the Gujarāt sultans. They are now employed as messengers and constables, and therefore seem to be analogous to the same class of persons in the Central Provinces.

Mīrshikār.—Synonym of Pārdhi.

Misra or Misar.—A surname of Kanaujia, Jijhotia, Sarwaria and Uriya Brāhmans.

Mistri.—(Corruption of the English Mister.) A master carpenter or mate of a gang. Title of Barhai, Beldār and Lohār.

Mithia.—(A preparer of sweets.) Synonym of Halwai.

Mochi.—(A shoemaker.) A caste. Subcaste of Chamār.

Modh.—A subdivision of Khedāwāl or Gujarāti Brāhmans who take their name from Modhera, an ancient place in Gujarāt. A subcaste of Gujarāti Bania.

Modh-Ghaneli.—Subcaste of Teli in Gujarāt.

Moghia.—Synonym of Pardhi.

Mohania.—(Captivator.) A section of Rajjhar and Kirār.

Mohtaria.—Title of the headman of the Andh caste committee.

Mohtera.—One who fixes the auspicious moment, hence the headman of the caste. A titular section of Basor.

Monas.—A subdivision of Brāhmans.

Mongre, Mongri, Mongrekair.—(A club or mallet.) A section of Ahīr or Rāwat in Chhattīsgarh, and of Chamār, Ganda, and Panka.

Mori.—A branch of the Panwār Rājpūts.

Mor Kāchhi.—One who prepares the maur or marriage-crown for weddings. Subcaste of Kāchhi.

Morkul.—A section of Komti. They do not use asafoetida (hing) nor the fruit of the umar fig-tree.

Motate.—(From mot, water-bag.) A subcaste of Kāpewār.

Moujikul.—A section of Komti. They do not use pepper.

Mowār.—Subcaste of Rajwār.

Mowāsi.—A resident of the forests of Kalibhīt and Melghāt known as the Mowās. Subcaste of Korku.

Muamin.—Synonym of Cutchi.

Muāsi.—Title of Korku; subcaste of Korwa.

Muchi.—Synonym of Mochi.

Mudara.—Subcaste of Parja.

Mudgalia.—(From mudgal, Indian club—an athlete.) A surname of Adi Gaur Brāhmans in Saugor.

Mudha.—Synonym for Munda.

Mudotia.—(From mudha, a cheat.) A surname of Sanādhia Brāhmans in Saugor.

Mughal.—A tribal division of Muhammadans. See article Muhammadan Religion.

Muhammadan.—Subcaste of Koli.

Muhjaria.—(Burnt mouth.) A section of Lodhi.

Mukeri.—Or Kasai, a small Muhammadan caste of traders in cattle and butchers. In 1891 more than 900 were returned from the Saugor District. Their former occupation was to trade in cattle like the Banjāras, but they have now adopted the more profitable trade of slaughtering them for the export of meat; and as this occupation is not considered very reputable, they have perhaps thought it desirable to abandon their caste name. The derivation of the term Mukeri is uncertain. According to one account they are a class of Banjāras, and derive their name from Mecca, on the ground that one of their Nāiks or headmen was camping in the neighbourhood of this town, at the time when Abrāham was building it, and assisted him in the work. When they emigrated from Mecca their illustrious name of Makkāi was corrupted into Mukeri.470 A variant of this story is that their ancestor was one Makka Banjāra, who also assisted in the building of Mecca, and that they came to India with the early Muhammadan invaders.471 The Mukeris form a caste and marry among themselves. In their marriage ceremony they have adopted some Hindu observances, such as the anointing of the bride and bridegroom with turmeric and the erection of a marriage-shed. They take food from the higher Hindu castes, but will not eat with a Kāyasth, though there is no objection to this on the score of their religion. They will admit an outsider, if he becomes a Muhammadan, but will not give their daughters to him in marriage, at any rate until he has been for some years a member of the caste. In other matters they follow Muhammadan law.

Mullāji.—Title of the priests of the Bohra caste.

Multani.—Subcaste and synonym of Banjāra.

Munda.—(A village headman, from munda, the head.) Title and synonym of Kol. A subcaste of Kharia and Oraon.

Mundela.—(Bald-headed.) A surname of Jijhotia Brāhmans in Saugor.

Mundle.—(Shaven ones.) Subcaste of Gūjar.

Munikul.—A section of Komti. They do not use munga beans.

Munjia.—Name of an Akhāra or school of Bairāgi religious mendicants. See Bairāgi.

Munurwār.—Synonym of Kāpewār.

Murai, Murao.—(From muli, or radish.) Subcaste of Kāchhi.

Murchulia.—(One who puts rings on the fingers of the caste.) A section of Gānda and Panka in Raipur.

Muria.—A well-known subtribe of Gonds in Bastar and Chānda.

Murli.—Synonym of Wāghya.

Musābir.—Synonym of Mochi.

Musahar.—(A rat-eater.) Subcaste and title of Bhuiya.

Mūsare.—(Mūsar, a pestle.) A section of Māli.

Mussali.—Title of Mehtar.

Mutrācha.—Synonym of Mutrāsi.

Mutrāsa.—Synonym of Mutrāsi.

Mutrāsi, Mutrāsa, Muthrāsi, Mutrācha.—(From the Dravidian roots mudi, old, and rāchā, a king, or from Mutu Rāja, a sovereign of some part of the Telugu country.)472 A caste which is numerous in Hyderābād and Madras, and of which a few persons are found in the Chānda District of the Central Provinces. The Mutrāsis are the village watchmen proper of Telingāna or the Telugu country.473 They were employed by the Vijayanagar kings to defend the frontier of their country, and were honoured with the title of Pāligar. Their usual honorific titles at present are Dora (Sāhib or Lord) and Naidu. As servants they are considered very faithful and courageous. Some of them have taken to masonry in Chānda, and are considered good stone-carvers. They are a comparatively low caste, and eat fowls and drink liquor, but they do not eat beef or pork. It is compulsory among them to marry a girl before she arrives at adolescence, and if this is not done her parents are put out of caste, and only readmitted on payment of a penalty.

Nabadia.—(Boatman or sailor.) A synonym for Kewat.

Naddāf.—A synonym for Bahna or Pinjāra.

Nadha.—(Those who live on the banks of streams.) Subcaste of Dhīmar.

Nadia.—A clan of Dāngi.

Nāg, Nagesh.—(Cobra.) A sept of the Ahīr or Rāwat, Binjhāl, Bhātia, Chasa, Hatwa, Halba, Khadāl, Kawar, Khangār, Karan, Katia, Kolta, Lohār, Mahār, Māli, Mowār, Parja, Redka, Sulia, Sundi and Taonla castes. Most of these castes belong to Chhattīsgarh and the Uriya country.

Nāga.—A clan of Gosains or mendicants. See Gosain.

Nāgar.—A subcaste of Brāhmans belonging to Gujarāt; a subcaste of Bania; a section of Teli.

Nagārchi.—(A drum-beater.) A class of Gonds. A subcaste of Gānda and Ghasia.

Nagārchi.—The Nagārchis appear to be a class of Gonds, whose special business was to beat the nakkāra or kettledrums at the gates of forts and palaces. In some Districts they now form a special community, marrying among themselves, and numbered about 6000 persons in 1911. The nagāra or nakkāra is known in Persia as well as in India. Here the drum is made of earthenware, of a tapering shape covered at both ends with camel-hide for the zīr or treble, and with cowhide for the bam or bass. It is beaten at the broader end. In Persia the drums were played from the Nakkāra-khāna or gateway, which still exists as an appanage of royalty in the chief cities of Iran. They were beaten to greet the rising and to usher out the setting sun. During the months of mourning, Safar and Muharram, they were silent.474 In India the nagāra were a pair of large kettledrums bound with iron hoops and twice as large as those used in Europe. They were a mark of royalty and were carried on one of the state elephants, the royal animal, in the prince’s sowāri or cavalcade, immediately preceding him on the line of march. The right of displaying a banner and beating kettledrums was one of the highest marks of distinction which could be conferred on a Rājpūt noble. When the titular Marātha Rāja had retired to Satāra and any of the Marātha princes entered his territory, all marks of royalty were laid aside by the latter and his nagāra or great drum of empire ceased to be beaten.475

The stick with which the kettledrum was struck was called danka, and the king’s jurisdiction was metaphorically held to extend so far as his kettledrums were beaten. Angrezi rāj ka danka bajta hai or ‘Where the English drum is beaten,’ means ‘So far as the English empire extends.’ In Egypt the kettledrums were carried on camels.476

Nāgaria.—(A drum-player.) A section of Jasondhi Bhāt and Teli.

Nāgbans.—(Descended from the cobra.) A totemistic sept of Gadba, Ghasia, and Gond.

Nāgla.—(Naked.) Subcaste of Khond.

Nāgpure.—(From Nāgpur.) A section of Lodhi and Kohli.

Nāgvansi.—A clan of Rājpūts. See article Rājpūt-Nāgvānsi. A subcaste and section of Sunār. A section of Daharia or Daraiha and Gond.

Nāhar.—(Tiger.) A subtribe of Baiga. A section of Rājpūts in Saugor.

Nahonia.—A clan of Dāngi in Damoh and Saugor. They were formerly Kachhwāha Rājpūts from Narwar, but being cut off from their own domicile they married with Dāngis. Rājpūts accept daughters from them but do not give their daughters to Nahonias.

Naidu.—Title of the Balija, Mutrāsi and Velama castes. Often used by Balijas as their caste name.

Nāik.—(Leader.) A subdivision of Gond, also known as Darwe. A title of Banjāra headmen. A title of Teli and Kolta. A section of Ahīr, Chamār, Chasa, Gadaria, Halba, Kewat, Khond, Māli, Sudh.

Nakīb.—Mace-bearer or flag-bearer in a procession. Subcaste of Jasondhi Bhāt and Khangār.

Nakshbandia.—A class of Fakīrs or Muhammadan beggars.

Naksia.—Synonym of Nagasia.

Nāmdeo.—A religious sect confined to members of the Chhīpa and Darzi castes, which has become a subcaste.

Nānakshāhi.—Synonym of Nānakpanthi.

Nandia.—(One who leads about with him a performing bullock). From Nandi, the bull on which Mahādeo rides. Subcaste of Jogi.

Nāndvansi.—Subcaste of Ahīr.

Nanghana.—A name given to the Kol tribe in Hoshangābād.

Napita.—Sanskrit name for Nai or barber.

Naqqāl.—Title of Bhānd.

Naraina.—Subcaste of Patwa.

Naramdeo.—A subcaste of Brāhmans belonging to the Gaur branch. They take their name from the river Nerbudda.

Narbadi, Narmada.—(From the river Nerbudda.) A subdivision of Mahārāshtra Brāhmans. A section of Yajur-Vedi Brāhmans. A synonym for Naramdeo Brāhmans. A section of Agharia, Binjhāl and Chamār.

Narnolia.—(From a place called Narnol in the Punjab.) Subcaste of Mehtar.

Narwaria.—A clan of Dāngi. A subcaste of Ahīr.

Nāta.—(A young bullock.) A section of Ahīr and Oswāl Bania.

Nathunia.—(Nose-ring.) A subcaste of Pāsi.

Navadesia.—(A man of nine districts.) Subcaste of Banjāra.

Nawaria.—A subcaste of Barhai, Lohar, Kachera or Sīsgar, Nai and Tamera.

Nāzir.—(A cashier or usher.) Subcaste of Jasondhi Bhāt.

Negi.—A vice-president of the caste committee in the Kharia caste.

Nema or Nīma.—A subcaste of Bania. See article Bania, Nema.

Netām.—(The dog in Gondi.) One of the common septs of Gond. Also a sept of Basor, Bhatra, Bhuiya, Dewar, Kawar and Parja.

Nawāri.—(From newār, thick tape used for webbing of beds.) Subcaste of Bahna.

Niaria.—An occupational term applied to persons who take the refuse and sweepings from a Sunār’s shop and wash out the particles of gold and silver. See article Sunār.

Nigam, Nigum.—A subcaste of Kāyasth.

Nihāl.—Synonym of Nahal.

Nihang.—A class of Bairagis or religious mendicants, who remain celibate.

Nikhar.—A subcaste of Ahīr, Bharewa (Kasār), Gadaria. A clan of Rājpūt. A section of Koshti.

Nikumbh.—A clan of Rājpūts included in the thirty-six royal races. A section of Joshi.

Nīlgar.—Synonym of Chhīpa.

Nīlkar.—(From nīl, indigo.) A subcaste of Darzi or Simpi (tailors) in Nāagpur, so named because they took up the work of dyeing in addition to their own and formed a new subcaste.

Nīmānandi.—A Vishnuite sect and order of religious mendicants. See Bairāgi.

Nimāri, Nimādi, Nimāria.—(A resident of Nimār.) A subcaste of Balāhi, Bania, Dhobi, Mahār and Nai.

Nimāwal.—A class of Bairāgi.

Nirāli.—Synonym of Chhīpa.

Niranjani.—Name of an Akhāra or school of Bairāgis. See Bairāgi.

Nirbani.—(Nir, without; bani, speech.) A class of Bairāgis who refrain from speech as far as possible.

Nirmohi.—A class of Bairāgis.

Nona or Lona.—Name derived from Nona or Lona Chamārin, a well-known witch. Subcaste of Chamār.

Nulkāchandriah.—Caste priests. Subcaste of Mādgi.

Nun.—(Salt.) A sept of Oraon.

Nunia, Nonia, Lunia.—(Saltmaker.) A synonym of Beldār. A section of Binjhwār and Koli.

Od.—Synonym of Beldār.

Odde, Ud.—(From Odra the old name of Orissa.) Term for a digger or navvy. A group of Beldārs.

Odhia.—Synonym for Audhia Bania.

Odia or Uriya.—Subcaste of Beldār in Chhattīsgarh.

Oiku.—Subtribe of Majhwār.

Ojha.—(From Ojh, entrails.) A caste of Gond augurs, see article. A title of Maithil Brāhmans. A subcaste of Lohār, Nat and Savar.

Okkilyan.—Synonym of Wakkāliga.

Omre, Umre.—A subcaste of Bania. See Bania Umre.—A subcaste of Teli.

Onkar Nāth.—A subdivision of Jogis.

Onkule.—Subcaste of Koshti.

Orha.—Subcaste of Chasa.

Oswāl.—A subcaste of Bania. See subordinate article to Bania.

Ota.—(One who recites the Vedas aloud in sacrifices.) An honorific title of Uriya Brāhmans.

Otāri, Watkari.—A low caste of workers in brass in the Marātha country. The name is derived from the Marāthi verb otne, to pour or smelt. They number about 2600 persons in the Bhandāra and Chānda Districts, and in Berār. The caste have two subcastes, Gondādya and Marātha, or the Gond and Marātha Otāris. The latter are no doubt members of other castes who have taken to brass-working. Members of the two subcastes do not eat with each other. Their family names are of different kinds, and some of them are totemistic. They employ Brāhmans for their ceremonies, and otherwise their customs are like those of the lower artisan castes. But it is reported that they have a survival of marriage by capture, and if a man refuses to give his daughter in marriage after being asked twice or thrice, they abduct the girl and afterwards pay some compensation to the father. They make and sell ornaments of brass and bell-metal, such as are worn by the lower castes, and travel from village to village, hawking their toe-rings and anklets. There is also an Otāri subcaste of Kasārs.

Pabaiya.—(From Pabai in Bundelkhand.) A clan of Rājpūts in Hoshangābād.

Pābia.—A small caste in the zamīndāris of the Bilāspur District, and some of the Feudatory States, who numbered about 9000 persons in 1911. They appear to be Pāns or Gāndas, who also bear the name of Pāb, and this has been corrupted into Pābia, perhaps with a view to hiding their origin. They are wretchedly poor and ignorant. They say that they have never been to a Government dispensary, and would be afraid that medicine obtained from it would kill them. Their only remedies for diseases are branding the part affected or calling in a magician. They never send their children to school, as they hold that educated children are of no value to their parents, and that the object of Government in opening schools is only to obtain literate persons to carry on its business. One curious custom may be noticed. When any one dies in a family, all the members, as soon as the breath leaves his body, go into another room of the house; and across the door they lay a net opened into the room where the corpse lies. They think that the spirit of the dead man will follow them, and will be caught in the net. Then the net is carried away and burnt or buried with the corpse, and thus they think that the spirit is removed and prevented from remaining about the house and troubling the survivors.

Pabeha.—Synonym for Dhīmar.

Pābudia or Mādhai.—A subcaste of Bhuiya.

Pachādhe.—(Western.)—A subdivision of Sāraswat Brāhman.

Pachbhaiya.—(Five Brothers.) A section of Ahīr and Audhelia.

Pada.—(A pig-eater.) A section of Muria Gonds and Pardhāns.

Padhān.—(An Uriya name for a chief or headman of a village.) A section of Bhuiya, Chasa, Dumāl, Hatwa, Kolta, Tiyar and other Uriya castes. A title of Chasa and Kolta.

Padmasāle.—Subcaste of Koshti.

Padyāl.—A subtribe of Gond in Chānda. A section of Marori.

Pahalwān.—A small community numbering about 600 persons in the Bilāspur District and surrounding tracts of Chhattīsgarh. The word Pahalwān means a wrestler, but Sir B. Robertson states477 that they are a small caste of singing beggars and have no connection with wrestling. They appear, however, to belong to the Gopāl caste, who have a branch of Pahalwāns in their community. And the men returned from Bilāspur may have abandoned wrestling in favour of singing and begging from trees, which is also a calling of the Gopāls. They themselves say that their ancestors were Gopāls and lived somewhere towards Berār, and that they came to Bilāspur with the Marātha leader Chimnāji Bhonsla.

Pāhar.—Subcaste of Mahli.

Pahāria or Benwaria.—Subcaste of Korwa.

Pāik.—(A foot-soldier.) See Rājput-Pāik.

Paikaha.—(One who follows the calling of curing hides.) Synonym for Chamār.

Paikara.—(From Pāik, a foot-soldier.) Subcaste of Kawar.

Pailagia.—(Pailagi or ‘I fall at your feet,’ is a common term of greeting from an inferior to a superior.) Subcaste of Dahāit.

Paiyām.—(From paiya, a calf.) A sept of Gonds in Betūl.

Pajania.—(Paijana, tinkling anklets.) A section of Kurmi.

Pakhāli.—(From pakhāli, a leathern water-bag.) Synonym of Bhishti.