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The Castes of
Mithila:- In ancient time mithila society was divided in
four catogary. Among of them first of three was considered in "DWIZ" because "UPNAYAN
SANSKAR" was done in those society. Mithila's People is believing very devoted
in his religion. They did't want to work with other religion like that Muslim,
Kristen, e.t.c. But at present these type of rules and regulation for upper
cast is going to decrease.
Maithil Brahmans
:- Brahmans are the highest ranking caste and also, in political terms, the
dominant caste. Because the Maharaja of Darbhanga was a Maithil Brahman, other
Brahmans came to control much of the land; thousands of villages were in
Brahman control, and they are still the largest landowners in Mithila.
Mithila's Brahmans didn't like to eat or drink from the people who belongs to
lower cast. They are like to eat Fish, Beetle, Mango e.t.c. and they
have own pond foe fishery. The food like onion e.t.c. is clearly prohibited
for Brahmans. They didn't want to eat Egg Chicken but they eat Meat.
The marriage saromany is
arranged in their own society if they do marriage in other cast then their
will be a crime and the people who is done this type of crime clearly
mentioned as a criminal. The widow marriage is not done in Mithila Brahmin
culture.
Bhumihars:-
Bhumihars are small
landlords who claim to be Brahmans but are considered lower because they have
taken up agricultural pursuits and given up priest craft. Maithil Brahmans
serve as their priests for domestic rites.
Kayasthas
Kayasthas are
record-keepers for landowners and village surveyors and accountants.
Rajputs :- The 100,000 Rajputs in Mithila are not native to the area, but came during the Mughal era
and became zamindars. This is why Brahmans count them as lower than Kayasthas,
even though Kayasthas are technically a superior type of Shudra.The next few
castes are the middle agricltural castes, "clean castes" in ritual terms,
upwardly mobile in political and economic terms, now pushing against Brahman
dominance and getting power in local and state government.
Yadavas Yadavs are by far the
largest caste in the region at one-eighth of the total population. They are
herdsmen and cultivators and consider themselves kinsmen to the god Krishna,
who was also a cowherd. The Chief Minister of Bihar, Laloo Prasad, is a Yadava.
Dhanuk Dhanuk is another large
agricultural caste, though originally they were archers; they are considered a
"clean" caste from whom Brahmans can take water, and therefore they often are
employed as servants by Brahmans.
Koiri :- Koiri are considered
industrious cultivators and among the best tenants in the area, but Brahmans
will not take water from them, and therefore their status is lower than the
Dhanuk.
Mallah Mallah are boatmen and
fishermen, and thus are considered lower than the chief agricultural castes,
although there is a slight anomaly here, for Brahmans will take water from
them, but not from Koiri.
Dusadhs Dusadhs
are among the
most stigmatized of the large castes, but are also economically very important
as agricultural laborers and are gaining real political power in North Bihar
because they form a large voting bloc with increasingly powerful leaders. The
British knew them as a "caste of thieves" and in some of the larger villages
posted special police stations to keep a curfew over them at night.
Chamars Chamars carry away the
carcasses of dead animals and make sandals, drums, soccer balls, and bicycle
seats out of the leather. Musahars are negatively stereotyped by upper castes
as "eaters of rats, snakes, and lizards," who are "expert at getting hidden
crops from rat holes." Mali make garlands for temple worship, and have a
special relationship to the smallpox goddess, Sitala.
Dom Dom are basket-makers
and assistants at cremation grounds. There are also many other important but
smaller castes, such as:
Nai, Nai barbers whose wives
function as midwives;
Dhobi, washermen;
Kumhar, potters.
All these castes perform essential services, practical and ritual, for the
superior castes, especially the
Composed By Nagendra Jha
Khelubhai@mithilalive.com
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