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

Pakhawaji.—(One who plays on the pakhawaj or timbrel.) Title of Mirāsi.

Pakhia.—(They are so called because they eat the flesh of the por or buffalo.) Subcaste of Khond.

Palas.—(From the palās tree, Butea frondosa.) A totemistic sept of Gonds.

Pālewār.—A gotra of Binjhwār; a subcaste of Dhīmar found in the Telugu country. They are also called Bhoi in Chānda. A name for Telugu Dhīmars or watermen. A section of Binjhwār.

Palgaria.—(Sleeping on a palang or cot.) A sept of Bhunjia.

Palliwāl.—A subcaste of Brāhmans belonging to the Kanaujia division. They take their name from Pāli, a trading town of Mārwār. A subcaste of Bania, whose name is derived from the same place.

Palsa-gacha.—(Palās tree, Butea frondosa.) A totemistic sept of Pāns.

Palshe.—A subcaste of Marātha Brāhmans. They derive their name from Palsaoli village in Kalyān (Bombay Presidency).

Pampatra.—(Those who use their hands as pots.) A section of Khandwāl.

Pān.—(Name of a forest tribe.) Synonym for Gānda.

Panch, Panchāyat.—(A caste committee, so called because it is supposed to consist of five (pānch) persons.) A section of Marār.

Panchāl.—An indeterminate group of artisans engaged in any of the following five trades: Workers in iron, known as Manu; workers in copper or brass called Twashtik; workers in stone or Shilpik; workers in wood or Maya; and workers in gold and silver designated as Daivagnya.478 The caste appear to be of Telugu origin, and in Madras they are also known as Kammala. In the Central Provinces they were amalgamated with the Sunars in 1901, but in 1891 a total of 7000 were returned, belonging to the southern Districts; while 2700 members of the caste are shown in Berār. The name is variously derived, but the principal root is no doubt pānch or five. Captain Glasfurd writes it Panchyānun.479 In the Central Provinces the Panchāls appear generally to work in gold or brass, while in Berār they are blacksmiths. The gold-workers are an intelligent and fairly prosperous class, and devote themselves to engraving, inlaying, and making gold beads. They are usually hired by Sunārs and paid by the piece.480 They are intent on improving their social position and now claim to be Vishwa Brāhmans, presumably in virtue of their descent from Viswa Karma, the celestial architect. At the census they submitted a petition begging to be classified as Brāhmans, and to support their claim they employ members of their own caste to serve them as priests. But the majority of them permit the remarriage of widows, and do not wear the sacred thread. In other respects their customs resemble those of the Sunārs. The Berār Panchāls, on the other hand, appear to be a much lower group. Mr. Kitts describes481 them as a “wandering caste of smiths living in grass-mat huts and using as fuel the roots of thorn bushes, which they batter out of the ground with the back of a short-handled axe peculiar to themselves. The Berāri Panchals,” he continues, “who differ from the Dakhani division in the custom of shaving their heads and beards on the death of a parent, have been in the Provinces for some generations. They live in small pāls or tents, and move from place to place with buffaloes, donkeys, and occasionally ponies to carry their kit. The women of the Berāri division may be distinguished from those of the Dakhani Panchāls by their wearing their lugras or body-cloths tucked in at the back, in the fashion known as kasote.” It is no doubt from the desire to dissociate themselves from the wandering blacksmiths of Berār that the Panchāls of the Central Provinces desire to drop their caste name.

Pancham.—A subcaste of Bania. A subcaste of Barai, the same as Berāria.

Pānchbhai.—(Five brothers.) A surname of Bhanāra Dhīmars, a section of Ghasia.

Pānchdeve.—A subdivision of Gonds, worshipping five gods and paying special reverence to the sāras crane.

Pānch Dravid.—One of the two primary divisions of Brāhmans, inhabiting the country south of the Vindhya hills and Nerbudda river, and including the following five orders: viz., Karnata (Carnatic), Dravid (Madras), Tailanga (Telugu country), Mahārāshtra (Bombay) and Gurjara (Gujarāt).

Panch Gaur.—One of the two primary divisions of Brāhmans inhabiting the country north of the Vindhya hills and Nerbudda river; it includes the following five orders: Sāraswat (Punjab), Kanaujia (Hindustān), Gaur (Bengal), Utkal (Orissa) and Maithil (Bihār or Tirhūt).

Panchghar.—One of the three subdivisions of Kanaujia Brāhmans in Hoshangābād.

Panda.—(A priest of Devi, a wise man.) A subcaste or title of Māli. A subcaste and surname of Uriya Brāhmans. A subcaste of Jasondhi Bhāts.

Pandarām.—A class of Brāhman priests.

Pānde.—(A wise man.) A surname of Kanaujia and Gaur Brāhmans. A section of Agharia, Barhai, Kewat and Marār. A title of Joshi and Kumhār.

Pāndhare.—(White.) Subcaste of Sunār.

Pandit.—(A learned man.) A title of Brāhmans.

Pandki.—(Dove.) A totemistic sept of Bhatra, Kawar and Parja.

Pandra.—A small caste of cultivators in the Uriya country. It is said that one of the Rājas of Patna had an illegitimate son to whom he gave the village of Pandri. His descendants were the Pandras.

Pandwar or Padwar.—A section of Panka in Raipur. They are said to be so named because they washed the feet of others.

Pāngal.—Subcaste of Gopāl. They make mats, but in addition to this they are mendicants begging from trees.

Panhāra.—An occupational term meaning a seller of pān or betel-leaf.

Pānibhar.—(A waterman.) Subcaste of Dāngri.

Pānigrahi.—(Husband.) An honorific title of Uriya Brāhmans.

Panjha.—(Paw of an animal.) A sept of Gond.

Panka.—A weaver caste derived from the Gāndas, being Gāndas who follow the Kabīrpanthi sect. See article. In Chhattīsgarh Pankas sometimes call themselves Dās, as servants of Kabīr. Panka is also a subcaste of Gānda.

Pansāri.—(A druggist.) Synonym for Barai.

Panwār.—A clan of Rājpūt. See article Panwār Rājpūt. A subcaste of Banjāra and Bhoyar. A section of Ahīr, Bhilāla, Koshti, Marātha and Marori.

Parasār, Parashār.—(Name of a Brāhmanical saint.) An eponymous section of Brāhmans. A surname of Sanādhya and Gaur Brāhmans. A section of Basdeva, Rangāri, Sunār and Vidur.

Parauha.—(From para, a male buffalo calf.) A subcaste of Basdewa who deal in buffaloes.

Parbat.—Name of one of the ten orders of Gosain.

Parbhu.—Synonym of Prabhu.

Pardeshi.—(A foreigner.) The name is sometimes applied to immigrants from Mālwa, and also to those coming from northern India. A subcaste of the Bahna, Barai, Barhai, Chamār, Dhīmar, Dhobi, Garpagāri, Kīmbi, Kasār, Kumhār, Lohār, Nai, Rangāri, Sunār and Teli castes.

Pardhān.—(A chief.) A caste who are priests of the Gonds. See article. A section of Chhattīsgarhi Ahīr or Rāwat, Halba and Pābia. Title of caste headman of the Kharia tribe.

Pārdhi.—(A hunter.) A caste. See article. A subcaste of Khatīk. A section of Kunbi and Panwār Rājpūt.

Parewa.—(A pigeon.) A section of Chhattīsgarhi Ahīr or Rāwat, and Panka.

Parganiha.—A synonym of Pardhān (Gond priests) in Kawardha.

Parihār.—An important clan of Rājpūts. See Rājpūt Parihār. A section of Daharia and Daraiha, of Panwār Rājpūt and Pārdhi.

Parit.—Synonym for Dhobi in the Marātha districts.

Parka.482—A small caste of labourers belonging to the Jubbulpore District and adjoining tracts, whose strength was something over 2000 persons in 1901. Sir B. Robertson wrote483 in 1891 that the Parkas of the three northern Districts had been kept separate from the Panka caste in the census tables, but that they were in all probability the same. Mr. Hīra Lāl points out that several of the names of septs as Padwār, Sanwāni, Gullia and Dharwa are the same in the two castes, and that in the Districts where Parkas are found there are no Pankas. The Panka caste was probably formed in Chhattīsgarh by the separation of those Gāndas or Pāns who had embraced the doctrines of Kabīr from their parent caste, and the name is a variant of Pān. In Jubbulpore the name Panka has no understood meaning, and it may have been corrupted into Pandka (a dove) and thence to Parka. Like the Pankas the Parkas often act as village watchmen. Many of the Parkas are also Kabīrpanthis and, as with the Pankas, those who are not Kabīrpanthis and do not abstain from flesh and liquor are called Saktāhas. Intermarriage is not prohibited between the Parka Kabīrpanthis and Saktāhas. Some of the Parkas play on drums and act as village musicians, which is a regular occupation of the Pankas and Gāndas. It may also be noted that the Parkas will take food cooked with water from a Gond and that they worship Bura Deo, the great god of the Gonds. Perhaps the most probable surmise as to their origin is that they are a small mixed group made up of Pankas and Gonds. A proverbial saying about the caste is ‘Gond Rāja, Parka Pardhān,’ or ‘The Gond is the master and the Parka the servant,’ and this also points to their connection with the Gonds. Several of their section names indicate their mixed origin, as Kumharia from Kumhār a potter, Gullia From Gaolia or milkman, Bhullia from Bhulia an Uriya weaver, Andwān a subcaste of the Mahār caste, Tilasia a sept of the Kawars, and so on. If a Parka man forms a connection with any woman of higher caste she will be admitted into the community, and the same privilege is accorded to a man of any equal or higher caste who may desire to marry a Parka girl. A girl is only cast out when she is discovered to have been living with a man of lower caste than the Parkas. All these facts indicate their mixed origin. As already seen, the caste are labourers, village watchmen-and musicians, and their customs resemble those of low-caste Hindus, but they rank above the impure castes. They will eat food cooked with water from Lodhis, many of whom are landowners in Jubbulpore, and as such no doubt stand to the Parka in the relation of employer to servant. Every year on the second day of Bhādon (August) they worship a four-sided iron plate and a spear, which latter is perhaps the emblem of the village watchman. Fines imposed for caste offences are sometimes expended in the purchase of vessels which thereafter become common property and are lent to any one who requires them.

Parnāmi.—(A follower of Prānnāth of Panna.) Subcaste of Dāngi.

Parsai.—(Village priest.) Synonym for Joshi.

Parsoli.—(parsa, an axe.) A section of Ahīr or Rāwat in Chhattīsgarh.

Parwār.—A subcaste of Bania. See article Bania-Parwār. A subcaste of Kumhār.

Pāssi.—Synonym of Pāsi.

Pātadhari.—(One occupying the seat of instruction.) A section of celibate Mānbhaos.

Pātane.—A subcaste of Prabhu, so called on account of their living near Pātan in Gujarāt.

Patbina.—(From patti, sacking, and binna, to weave.) Synonym of Kumrāwat. Subcaste of Jogi.

Patel.—(Headman of a village.) A subcaste and title of Māli. A surname of Gaur Brāhmans in Saugor and of Pārsis. A surname or section of Agharia, Mahār and Kāchhi. A title of the Ahīr and Bhoyar castes.

Pāthak.—(Teacher.) A surname of Kanaujia and other classes of Brāhmans.

Pathān.—One of the four tribes of Muhammadans. See article Muhammadan Religion.

Pathāri.—(A hillman.) Synonym of Pardhān. Subcaste of Katia.

Patharia.—A subcaste of Katia, Kurmi and Mahār. A section of Halba. A subcaste of Agaria, who place a stone on the mouth of the bellows to fix them in the ground for smelting iron.

Pathmukh.—A subsept of the Dhurwa Gonds in Betūl. They offer a young goat to their gods and do not kill bears.

Pathrot, Pathrāwat.—(One who makes and sharpens millstones and grindstones.) Synonym of Beldār.

Pati.—(Lord.) An honorific title of Uriya Brāhmans.

Patkar.—(From pat, widow-marriage.) A subcaste of Sunār in Wardha. A section of Rangāri.

Patlia.—(From patel.) Title of Panwār Rājpūt.

Patnāik.—A surname of Karan or Mahanti, the Uriya writer caste.

Patra.—(An Uriya word meaning councillor.) A subcaste of Kolta and Chasa, and title of several Uriya castes. Also a synonym for the Patwa caste.

Patti.—(A thread-seller.) Subcaste of Kaikāri.

Patwa.—A caste. See article. In Seoni tahsīl of Hoshangābād District Patwa and Lakhera appear to be synonymous terms. A section of Oswāl Bania.

Patwāri.—(Name of the village accountant and surveyor, who is now a salaried Government official.) The Kāyasth caste were formerly patwāris by profession. See article.

Patwi.—(A dyer who colours the silk thread which weavers use to border their cotton cloth.) Synonym of Patwa. Subcaste of Koshti. From pata, a woven cloth.

Pāwanbans.—(The children of the wind.) Synonym for Bhuiya.

Pendhāri.—Synonym of Pindāri.

Peng.—Subcaste of Parja.

Penthi.—(Sheep.) A totemistic sept of Bhulia.

Periki, Perki, Perka.—The Perikis are really a subcaste of the great Balija or Balji caste, but they have a lower position and are considered as a distinct group. About 4000 Perikis were returned in the Central Provinces in 1911 from the Nāgpur, Wardha and Chānda Districts. They derive their names from the perike or panniers in which they carried salt and grain on bullocks and donkeys. They were thus formerly a nomadic group, and like the Banjāras and Bhāmtas they also made gunny-bags and sacking. Most of them have now taken to cultivation, and in Madrās some Perikis have become large landholders and claim Rājpūt rank. In the Central Provinces the Balijas and Naidus deny that the Perikis have any connection with the Balija caste.

Peta.—(A trading Balija.) Subcaste of Balija.

Phal Barhai.—(A carpenter who only works on one side of the wood.) Synonym for Chitāri in the Uriya country.

Phānse.—(A Pārdhi who hunts with traps and snares.) Subcaste of Pārdhi.

Phānsigar.—(A strangler.) Synonym of Thug.

Pharsi.—(Axe.) A section of Uriya, Ahīr or Gahara.

Phopatia.—Title of the officer of the Andh caste who summons the caste committee.

Phūlia, Phūlmāli.—(A flower-gardener.) Subcaste of Kāchhi and Māli.

Phuljharia.—(From Phuljhar zamīndāri in Raipur.) A territorial subcaste of Ahīr or Rāwat, Ghasia and Panka.

Phul Kunwar.—A section of Kawar. They use the akre or swallow-wort flower for their marriage-crown.

Phulsunga.—A totemistic section of Gadaria. They abstain from smelling or touching a flower called gadha.

Phurasti.—(A wanderer.) Subcaste of Kaikāri.

Pindāra.—Synonym of Pindāri.

Pindāri.—A caste. Subcaste of Mang.

Pinjāra.—(One who cards cotton.) Synonym of Bahna.

Pipar.—(A tree.) A section of Khatīk and Kalār.

Pipariya.—(From the pīpal tree, or from Piparia, a common place-name derived from the tree.) A clan of Rājpūts in Saugor. A section of Sunārs in Saugor.

Piria.—Subcaste of Kāchhi. From piria, the basket in which they carry earth.

Pīt.—Subcaste of Bhatra.

Pītariya.—(From pītal, brass.) A subdivision of Pardeshi Sunārs in Nāgpur. They practise hypergamy, taking wives from the Sadihe subcaste, and giving daughters to the Srinagariye, Bangar, Mahuwe and Jadiye subcastes.

Pohni.—Subcaste of Jhādi Telenga.

Poiya,—Subcaste of Majhwār.

Polya.—(One who did not take off his turban at the feast.) Title of Hatkar.

Pondro.—(A tree.) One of the six subsepts of the Marai clan of Pathāri Gonds in Khairagarh.

Ponwār.—Synonym of Panwār Rājpūt.

Portai.—(Basket.) A subsept of the Uika clan of Gonds in Betūl. They do not kill the tiger or crocodile. A sept of Dhur Gonds.

Potdār.—(A money-tester.) Synonym and title of Sunār. A surname of Karhāra Brāhmans in Saugor.

Potdukh.—(Stomach-ache.) A section of Teli in Chānda.

Potharia.—(One to whom a certain dirty habit is imputed.) Subcaste of Korku.

Potwa.—(A worker in tasar silk.) Synonym for Darzi; a subcaste of Darzi.

Poyām.—(Worshipper of eight gods.) A sept of Pardhān and of Māria Gonds.

Prajapati.—Title of Kumhār.

Prāmara.—Synonym for Panwār Rājpūt.

Prānnāthi.—A follower of Prānnāth of Panna. Synonym for Dhāmi.

Pravar.—A term for the ancestors sharing in a sacrificial invocation, particularly that of the Horn or fire-sacrifice.

Prayāgwāl.—(From Prayāg-Allahābād.) A subcaste of Brāhmans who preside at the ceremonial bathing in the Ganges at Allahābād.

Puār.—Synonym of Panwār Rājpūt.

Pujāri.—(A worshipper.) Name for the priest in charge of a temple. A title of Bhatra.

Purād.—A small mixed caste in Nāgpur. They say that their ancestor was a Brāhman, who was crossing a river and lost his sacred thread, on being carried down in a flood (pūr). Therefore he was put out of caste because the sacred thread must be changed before swallowing the spittle, and he had no other thread ready. At the census the Purāds were amalgamated with Vidūrs. They are shopkeepers by profession.

Purāit.—(One who is of pure blood.) A subdivision of Jharia Rāwat (Ahīr) in Chhattīsgarh. A subcaste of Dhākar, Halba and Marār.

Purānia.—(Old.) A subcaste of Kachera or Sīsgar in Saugor. The Purānias are the Muhammadan bangle-makers who originally practised this calling. A subcaste of Barai, Basor, Nai and Sunār. A section of Chamār and Darzi.

Purbia.—This term, which means eastern or coming from the east, is used in Hoshangābād and other Districts to designate Rājpūts from Oudh and the adjoining tracts, especially retired sepoys from the Bengal army. They appear to belong to different clans, but many of them are Bais Rājpūts. Some of the Purbias say that their king, somewhere in northern India, heard that cows were being killed in the Central Provinces, so he sent them to stop the practice and they came and stopped it and settled there. In Gujarāt this name appears to be applied to Brāhmans. A subcaste of Barhai and Gadaria. A section of Nat and Sunār.

Purkām.—(Purka-pumpkin.) A sept of the Uika clan of Gonds in Betūl.

Purohit.—(Family priest.) A common title of Brāhmans.

Purouti or Pudoti.—(Bowels.) A sept of Gonds in Khairagarh.

Pusām.—(Worshipper of five gods.) A sept of Rāj-Gond and Dhur Gond, and of Baiga and Pardhān.

Putka.—A subcaste of Sudh, being the illegitimate issue of the Dehri Sudhs.

Qawwal.—(One who speaks fluently.) Title of Mirāsi.

Rachhbandia.—(Comb-makers.) A subcaste of Kuchhbandia (Kanjar).

Rāghunāthia.—A small group of Brāhmans, so called because their ancestors are said to have received a grant of five villages from Rāghunāth Deo of Hindoli.

Rāghuvansi.—A caste formed from a Rājpūt clan. See article. A subcaste of Ahīr; a section of Māli and Gond.

Rāghvi.—Synonym of Rāghuvansi.

Rahmat.—(Compassion.) A section of Panwār Rājpūt. A Muhammadan proper name.

Rai or Rāj.—Subcaste of Darzi, Kalār, Khangār.

Rai-bhaina.—Subcaste of Baiga in Bālāghāt.

Raipuria.—(From Raipur.) A subcaste of Dhīmars who do not wear gold ornaments. A subcaste of Dewār in Bilāspur.

Rāj or Rai.—From Rāja, a king. This term designates the landholding division of certain tribes, as the Rāj-Gonds, the Rāj-Korkus, the Rāj-Khonds and the Rājbhars. The Rāj-Bhats, Rāj-Dhuris and Rai-Darzis are similarly subcastes of good position in their respective castes. Rāj is also used as a synonym for Beldār, meaning a mason.

Rāja.—(A king.) Title of a ruling chief, and occasionally conferred on prominent Indian gentlemen.

Rajak.—(A washerman.) Synonym for Dhobi.

Rājbhar.—(A landowning Bhar.) Synonym for Rājjhar.

Rāj-Bhāt.—Subcaste of Bhāt.

Rāj-Dhuri.—A subcaste of Dhuri, said to be descendants of personal servants in Rājpūt families.

Rāj-Gond.—The landholding subdivision of the Gond tribe; a section of Chamār and Kāchhi.

Rāj-Khond.—Subcaste of Khond.

Rāj-Kunwar, Rāj-Pardhān.—A subcaste of Pardhān in Bālāghāt.

Rājoria.—(Kingly.) A section of Barhai, Dāngi, Khatīk and Sanādhya Brāhman.

Rāj-Pardhān.—A subcaste of Pardhān. They are said to be also known as Kunwar Pardhān or Gond Bhāt and to be beggars and bards of the Gonds.

Rāj-Pāsi.—Subcaste of Pāsi.

Rājpūt.—(Son of a king.) A caste, representing the ancient Kshatriya caste. See article. A subcaste of Banjāra, Kadera, Kumhār and Patwa.

Rajwaria.—From the Rajwār caste. Subcaste of Dahāit. Subdivision of Kol in Mirzāpur.

Rakaseya.—(From Rakas, a devil.) A section of Katia.

Rakhotia.—An illegitimate section of Kumhār.

Rakhwāldār.—(Village watchman.) Title of Rāmosi.

Raksa.—(Demoniac.) A section of Kumhār and Kawar.

Rāmānandi.—A class of Bairāgis or religious mendicants. See article Bairāgi.

Rāmānuja.—A class of Bairāgis or religious mendicants. See article Bairāgi.

Rāmgarhia.—(A resident of Rāmgarh in Mandla.) Subcaste of Ghasia.

Ramoshi.—Synonym of Rāmosi.

Rāna.—A title of Sesodia Rājpūts. A section of Halba and Panwār.

Randgolak.—A subdivision of degraded Mahārāshtra Brāhmans, the offspring of illicit unions or remarried widows.

Rangāri.—(One who works in indigo (nīl).) Synonym for Chhīpa.

Rao.—Synonym for Bhāt. A section of Chamār and Lohār. A title of the Bhilāla caste.

Ratanpuria.—(A resident of Ratanpur in Bilāspur.) Subcaste of Nunia and Dewār.

Ratha.—(A car for carrying a god.) Honorific title of Uriya Brāhmans.

Rāthia.—Subcaste of Kawar.

Rāthor, Rāthaur.—A famous Rājpūt clan. See article Rājpūt-Rāthor. A subcaste of Banjāra, Bāri and of Teli in Mandla, Betūl, Nimār and other Districts. A section of Ahīr, Bhilāla, Mochi, Nāhal and Pārdhi.

Ratna Bānik.—(Dealer in jewels.) A synonym of Sunār in Sambalpur.

Rautadi.—Subcaste of Bhuiya.

Rautele.—A subcaste of Kol. A section of Barai, Bhāt, Gadaria and of Sunār in Saugor.

Rautia.—A subcaste of Kol in several Districts. A subcaste of Dahāit. A subcaste of Kawar. A section of Chamār and Rāwat (Ahīr).

Rawal.—Title borne by some Rājpūt chieftains in Western India. Probably a diminutive of Rao, the Marāthi form of Rāj or Rāja. A section of Chasa, Māli and Garpagāri.

Rāwanbansi.—Descendants of Rāwan, the demon king of Ceylon. A name applied to the Gonds generally, and now used as a subtribal designation to distinguish them from Rāj-Gonds.

Rāwanvansi.—Name of a clan of Gosain mendicants.

Rawat.—A title borne by some minor Rājpūt chiefs. Probably a diminutive of Rājpūtra, the original form of the term Rājpūt. An honorific title of Gonds and Savars in Saugor and Damoh. The name by which the Ahīr caste is generally known in Chhattīsgarh. A subcaste and title of Khairwār. A title sometimes used by Sunārs and Brāhmans in Bundelkhand and by Lodhis. A subcaste of Mehtar and Māli. A section of Arakh, Banjāra, Binjhwār, Dhanwār, Kawar, Khairwār, Kunbi, Nat, Patwa, Panwār Rājpūt, and Sudh.