Durgvanshi

Durgvanshi (Durgvanshi, Durgvansi, Durgavanshi, Drugabansi & Durgbanshi) is a Hindu Rajput kshatriya clan^{[1][citation needed]} whose origins date to the medieval periods in history. The exact origins with the roots being debated as being from modern day Gujarat or Madhya Pradesh. Currently, this sparse clan resides in eastern Uttar Pradesh, distributed in Jaunpur^[2] and neighboring areas. Here is some information gleaned from historical documentation:

Traditional origins and history

This clan is a sub division of the Dikhit. It claims descent from the surayavansh kings of Ayodhya. At a remote period a cadet of the family name Raja Durgbhav, is said to have immigrated to Gujarat, where his descendents tool the title of Durgbansi(durgvanshi) i.e. children of Durgbhav. Several generations later, one of the chieftains named Kalyan Sah, received the title of Dikhit (q.v.), which then forth become the tribal name. About 550 years ago, a number of Dikhit cadets entered the service of Muhammad Tughlak and settled in Oudh (Awadh). About a century later their descendants were invited by the Muhammadan authorities to expel the Bhars from Jaunpur. Their efforts were completely successful, and shortly afterwards this section of the clan reverted to its old name of Durgbansi, in honor of one of Durg Sahai, one of its principal leaders. It is stated that the title of Raja was conferred on Harku Rai, their elected chief by Emperor Akbar, in recognition of the valour(brave) displayed by the clan at a great tournament held at Allahabad. In the 18th century the Durgbansi were deprived of their possessions by Balwant Singh, the Raja of Benaras, but regained them through the annexation of the district by the British. Litigation and extravagance led to the loss of most of their ancestral domains, and by the time of the mutiny the Durgbansi raja was in very reduced circumstances. From his antecedents (preceding), poverty, and relationship to the famous rebel Koer Singh, he might well have been tempted to rebellion: but on the contrary he behaved with conspicuous (prominent) loyalty, and was rewarded with considerable estates and a title Geographical Distribution.

Religion

The clan is addicted to ‘Shakta’ worship and pays special reverence to Durga (Chandi). Like the Dikhit the Durgbansis belong to the Kassyap and koshik gotra. Gothra – Kashyap, koushik

Ved - Samved. Devi - Durga (Chandi) Devata- Bhagwan Shiv ji

Distribution

Durgbansi Rajputs hold villages (tikhana) in Garwara, Ghisua and rari, in the district of Jaunpur and Mahul in Azamgarh. The raja of Garwara is a Durgbansi. They are descended from the Dikhit, and came to the neighborhood of Jaunpur from Simauni in Bundelkhand, about 14 generations ago. The Durgbansi, although of the same family originally as the Dikhit, Yet in several parts of the country have a separate name, and are regarded as a distinct tribe. They occupy lands in Garwara, Ghisua and Rari in the Jaunpur district and also in Mahul of Azamgarh. They are numerous in the District of Jaunpur, where it possesses several thousand families. Colonies also are in the neighboring district of Azamgarh. In Mirzapur are a few hundred Individuals; and in Benares likewise is a small community.

Marriage Custom

They intermarry with some of the highest tribes of Rajputs^{[3][citation needed]}. Their relative position in the rank of Rajputs^{[4][citation needed]} is shown by their giving daughters and from whom they take wives:

GIVE DAUGHTER TO	TAKE WIVES FROM
Nikumbh	Nikumbh
Raghuvanshi	Chandel
Somvanshi	Bisen
Bisen	Chaupat Khambh
Baghel (vaghela)	Bais
Surayavanshi	Gautam
Gaharwar	raghuvanshi

References

1. ^ http://realrajputana.blogspot.com/2009/06/rajput-vansh.html
2. ^ http://jaunpur.nic.in/jaunpur_english/hist_places_e.html#section1
3. ^ http://realrajputana.blogspot.com/2009/06/rajput-vansh.html
4. ^ http://realrajputana.blogspot.com/2009/06/rajput-vansh.html

Other References

• Handbook on Rajputs By A. H. Bingley

Originally published as: Rajputs. Simla : Govt. Central Print. Office, 1899 Published by Asian Educational Services, 1986 ISBN 8120602048, 9788120602045 http://books.google.co.in/books?id=Cc2HyXP5dygC&pg=PA67&dq=dirgbansi&hl=en&ei=-XcJTpb_IIvprQefp-2zDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDYQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=

• The Tribes and Castes of the North-Western Provinces and Oudh

By William Crooke Published by Asian Educational Services, 1999 ISBN 8120612108, 9788120612105 1809 pages

• The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India By R V Russell, R.B.H. Lai

Published by Asian Educational Services, 1995 ISBN 812060833X, 9788120608337 2231 pages

• Caste, tribes & culture of Rajputs

A. H. Bingley, Krishna Prakash Bahadur http://books.google.co.in/books?id=UzxuAAAAMAAJ&dq=dirgbansi&source=gbs_similarbooks

• Hindu Tribes and Castes: As Represented in Benares

By Matthew Atmore Sherring Published by Thacker, Spink, 1872 Original from Oxford University Digitized 24 May 2007 405 pages

• The cyclopedia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia:

by Edward Balfour - 1885 Define DurgBansi"s as -

• Memoirs on the History, Folk-Lore and Distribution of the Races of the North Western Provinces of India

By Henry Miers Elliot, John Beames Contributor John Beames Published by Asian Educational Services, 2004 ISBN 8120619056, 9788120619050 Memoirs on the history, folk-lore, and distribution of the races of the ... By Sir Henry Miers Elliot http://books.google.co.in/books?id=mX4TAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA87&dq=durgbansi&hl=en&ei=iKUATrynEsbmrAeXj7WPDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=durgbansi&f=false

• http://sakhoi.tripod.com