The Anjana Chaudhari — also known as Anjana Chaudhary, Anjana Patel, Anjana Patidar, or Anjana Desai — is a Hindu caste found in the Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh states of India. They have the surnames Patel, especially in Gujarat and Rajasthan; and Jagirdar, Zamindar or Chudhary in Rajasthan.
Origins
According to the Bhat and Charan history books, the origin of the Anjana Chaudhari are related to the eight sons of Sahastraarjun. When Parashurama set out to kill the kshatriyas, he came to Sahastraarjun, who was a powerful kshatriya king, and killed him and 92 of his sons in battle. The remaining eight sons were protected by the goddess Arbuda, on Mount Abu. Parashurama did not not hurt them on the condition that they give up their shastra (weapons). Arbuda assured Parashurama that the kshatriyas would never again wield a weapon but instead serve Mother Earth. Thereafter they took up agriculture and are found in various parts of India to this day. Arbuda is the kuldevi of Anjana Chaudhari.
It is believed that the origin of the caste’s name comes from the goddess Anjani Mata, the mother of Hanuman, as the Anjana caste members were followers of the goddess.
According to Anjana traditions the community originated in Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh, from there they spread to southern Rajasthan, and then to Gujarat.
In Rajasthan, the Anjana are divided into two broad territorial divisions: the Malvi and Gujarati. The Malvi Anjana are further divided into a number of exogamous clans such as the Fak, Shih, Kharon, Hun, Gardiya, Eit, Judar, Kuva, Kondli, Vagada, Kag, Bhuria, Mewar, Logar, Odh, Munji, Kawa, Tarak and United. The Anjana still speak the Malvi dialect of Hindi.