Bhanushali

History

The Bhanushali farmers claim descent from Chaulukyas, and often have Rajput surnames. Jyotindra Jain theorized that the Bhanushalis migrated to Gujarat from Sindh, based on their worship of Hinglaj Mata. He also believed that the Lohanas and Bhansalis shared a common home in Sindh before their migration to Gujarat.

Bhanushalis are divided into two sub groups according to their region of living, that is :- kutchhi Bhanushali Community ( those living or having ancestry in Kutch region ) and Halai Bhanushali Community those living or having ancestry in Halar (Jamnagar) region.

Bhanushalis worship different kuldevis as per their clan names / surnames. and follow Hindu customs and beliefs and worship God like Maa Hinglaj, Asapura Mataji, Shiva, Durga and Vishnu. Further, they also worship Veer Dada Jashraj and claim, like Lohanas, that he belonged to their community. They are largely Vaishnava community. and are considered as a trading or Vaishya community in Gujarat. Bhanushalis chiefly worship Hinglaj, whose main temple is in Baluchistan, Sind, their ancestral home.

Among their community Sant Odhavramji of Vandhay was prominent figure of Kutchi people and did much work for up-liftment and education of Bhanushali community in decades of 1930-1950s.

Relationship with Lohanas

Bhanushalis also shared their early home in Sind with Lohanas and seem to share common history. They like Lohanas worship Dada Jashraj as their kuladevata. Many of the surnames of Bhanushalis, coincidentally, are also found among Lohana community and as they and Lohanas share common history or lineage. Like Lohanas, Bhanushalis are largely involved in trading and have gained name as businessman and identified as Vaishya community although have its origins as Kshatriya clan.

Surname

Bhanushalis often use their community name also as their surname and as such you can find many people using Bhanushali and Bhanshali surname. However, other surnames among this community are Shethia, Amal, Kataria, Hemani, Damani, etc. etc. It is said that Bhanushali's had 96 surnames. Few others are Joisar, Katarmal, Nanda, Gori, Bhadra,lakher, Hurabada, Joisher, Mithiya, Gajra, Mange, Kanakhara, Fuliya, Visariya, Nakhua, Harvara, Chandra, Dhhabha, Chunada, Mengar, Khichda, Vador, Maajania, Mav, Motani, Ratda, Dama, Kataria, Kapadiya, Raner, meethiya, Khaniya, Mange, Kataria (Also known as Katarmal) and Bhadra are said to be most largely used surnames.

Again, it seems that many Bhanushalis, changed to Jainism during course of history and therefore Bhanushali surname can be found among Jain people of Gujarat.

Notable Persons