Ojha

The term Ojha is a surname for Saraswat Brahmin and Saryu Pareen\Kanyakubj Brahmin castes of India and Nepal. The term is used amongst speakers of Hindi, Oriya and Bengali, as well as amongst the Santhals. This term has been derived from Sanskrit over time. Literal translations vary, but one such example is "he who controls the spirits on Earth". According to some, they were the top class Brahmin preachers who earned their livelihood through teaching. Thus UPADHYAY term was used by them which from Sanskrit corrupted to 'Uwajjhay' (as "namo aujhayanam" suggest from Jain scriptures) in Prakrit, and from 'Uwajjhay' to Ojha in Hindi. In Bihar, some consider Jha and Ojha of same clan. Jha are Maithils and call their son-laws Ojha Ji, this has given credence to this belief.

Ojhas are basically 'Shakt' Brahmins and Adya Shakti, Tripura Sundari are their Kuldevis. Dhyan of Goddess Tripura Sundari starts like this in Sanskrit - " Balarka mandalakaram Chaturbahum Trilochanam ..." meaning the Goddess has four arms with weapons in them and with the customary third eye etc. Some Ojhas in Bihar have become Bhumihars and use Singh/Sinha as title. In Uttarakhand top Brahmin clan Uniyals are descendants of Ojhas only.

The Saryu Pareen Ojha Brahmins are mainly vegetarians, non drinkers and non smokers.

As Brahmins, Ojhas are spirit leaders and teachers and members of the highest ritual rank in the varna system of Hinduism.

Ojhas are concentrated Uttar Pradesh and Bihar but can be found in many regions of India.^{[citation needed]}

Exorcism

In Indian culture, Ojha is also the name given to the profession of an exorcist or a spirit healer.^[1][2]

References

1. ^ Frederick M. Smith (2006). The self possessed: deity and spirit possession in South Asian literature and civilization. Columbia University Press. p. 143. ISBN 9780231137485. 
2. ^ Morton Klass (2003). Mind over mind: the anthropology and psychology of spirit possession. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 49. ISBN 9780742526778.