For a place of same name in Iran, see Charan (Iran).
Chāraṇ (plural Charans; Hindi:चारण; Gujarati:ચારણ) is the term for a caste living in the Gujarat and Rajasthan states of India. Members of this caste are highly revered for their unflinching readiness for martyrdom, bravery in war, high literary sense and deep loyalty to patrons[1].Ain-e-akbari states that Charans were good poets and better soldiers .The caste is also identified with the surnames Kaviraj, Barhath and Gadhavi. Members of this caste are considered to be divine by a large section of society[2]. Women of the caste are adored as mother goddesses by other major communities of this region including Rajput Kings[2][3] The goddesses Karani, Bahuchra, Hinglaj (whose main temple is now in Baluchistan), Khodiyar and Sonal are well-known examples of it. This is one of the reasons that Charan men are often addressed as Deviputra, which literally means "son of goddess". In the medieval era, it was considered a matter of prestige and pride for a king to have a Charan in his court[4]. They were much respected, being trusted friends through thick and thin. Whoever caused the death of a Charan was turned out of his caste and treated as infamous and degraded beyond redemption. Charans (men or women), when engaged to attend a traveller, protected him by threatening to kill themselves if any harm befell their client. Always with the Rajputs, they were found in Mewar, Gujarat, and Marwar. Kings and landlords gave them grants of villages, and various kings also gave them Lakh Pasavs, a large gift equivalent to 100,000 rupees. It usually consisted of elephants, money, and ornaments. The kings would also invite them to occupy a place of esteem in the Royal Courts. Indeed, a Rajputs regard for a Charan was uppermost. In a procession, a Charan would sit on an elephant and the king would walk in attendance. In return, a Charan would always honour a Rajput, by giving him shelter when the Rajput was in distress. A Charan's status was such that, if anyone who committed murder and took shelter at the house of a Charan, the pursuer would not touch the culprit.While they are considered to be great warriors and extremely loyal citizens, they were equally revered by kings for their taste in literature and love for poetry. Because of their ability to compose poems instantaneously, another popular way of addressing members of the Charan caste is "Kaviraj", which literally means "king among poets".
Chāraṇ (plural Charans; Hindi:चारण; Gujarati:ચારણ) is the term for a caste living in the Gujarat and Rajasthan states of India. Members of this caste are highly revered for their unflinching readiness for martyrdom, bravery in war, high literary sense and deep loyalty to patrons[1].Ain-e-akbari states that Charans were good poets and better soldiers .The caste is also identified with the surnames Kaviraj, Barhath and Gadhavi. Members of this caste are considered to be divine by a large section of society[2]. Women of the caste are adored as mother goddesses by other major communities of this region including Rajput Kings[2][3] The goddesses Karani, Bahuchra, Hinglaj (whose main temple is now in Baluchistan), Khodiyar and Sonal are well-known examples of it. This is one of the reasons that Charan men are often addressed as Deviputra, which literally means "son of goddess". In the medieval era, it was considered a matter of prestige and pride for a king to have a Charan in his court[4]. They were much respected, being trusted friends through thick and thin. Whoever caused the death of a Charan was turned out of his caste and treated as infamous and degraded beyond redemption. Charans (men or women), when engaged to attend a traveller, protected him by threatening to kill themselves if any harm befell their client. Always with the Rajputs, they were found in Mewar, Gujarat, and Marwar. Kings and landlords gave them grants of villages, and various kings also gave them Lakh Pasavs, a large gift equivalent to 100,000 rupees. It usually consisted of elephants, money, and ornaments. The kings would also invite them to occupy a place of esteem in the Royal Courts. Indeed, a Rajputs regard for a Charan was uppermost. In a procession, a Charan would sit on an elephant and the king would walk in attendance. In return, a Charan would always honour a Rajput, by giving him shelter when the Rajput was in distress. A Charan's status was such that, if anyone who committed murder and took shelter at the house of a Charan, the pursuer would not touch the culprit.While they are considered to be great warriors and extremely loyal citizens, they were equally revered by kings for their taste in literature and love for poetry. Because of their ability to compose poems instantaneously, another popular way of addressing members of the Charan caste is "Kaviraj", which literally means "king among poets".
{ Social structure}
The Charans' caste system is based on written genealogy. A Charan will accept all the other Charans as equals even if they do not know each other and have radically different economic or geographic status.[6] They are divided into four sections. Each section has several sub-sections and subsections have several stocks. Males and females of the same stock are considered brothers and sisters, and thus marriage within a stock is strictly forbidden. Similarly, marriages outside the Charan commnuty are not allowed. Instead of four sections, many authors consider 23 divisions a more fundamental way division comprising four [Pahada]s which literally means mount peaks, sixteen sakhas and three chals. The four sections mentioned before are just based on geographical identity and may overlap with many of the divisions under 23 divisions. As per 23 divisions the four Pahadas are (1) Nara (2) Chorada (3) Chuva and (4) Tumbel, three chals are (1) Ausura (also spelled Avsura), (2) Maru and (3) baati. Charan of one Pahad are considered brothers and sisters and cannot intermarry. As per these divisions Nara charan usually mary with Ausura, Chorada with Maru and Chuva with Baati. Tumbel don't have exclusive chaal to marry from and hence they are referred as half-Pahada. Tumel usually marry from any of the other three Pahadas and Chaals. Rest of the community is divided into sixteen sakhas (known as Sakhiyas), which literally means sections. They usually marry with other sections as well as three Chaals and three and half Pahadas. Large part of the 16 sakhiyas is living in Rajasthan. As per Bombay Gazetteer[3] four sections and their sub-sections are mentioned below.
Tumbel[Tumer]:The Tumer (also spelled Tumbel) are believed to originate from Sindh. The clans of Tumers are:
Mudhuda
Seda
Sindhiya
Gelwa
Rudach
Bhan
Kachhelas
Also called Parajias, from the Kachchh district of Gujarat, the Kachhelas have three clans:
Chanwas (72)
Choradas (52)
Naras (66)
Kesariya [This surname belongs to 16 sakhiyas]
Aalgya [This is a surname of Chunva pahada]
Paaliya [This is a surname of Nara pahada]
Soya [This is a surname of 16 sakhiya]
Keedia [This is a surname of Nara pahada]
Maru
The Marus are from Marwar in Rajasthan. They have 20 clans and more than 300 stocks:
Ashiya
Adha (Arha)
Barhat
Badhva (19)
Baratrohdia (12)
Bati (13)[ This is Chaal of Chunva pahada]
Budhda
Bitu
Deval
Detha
Dhadhania (11)
Dadhvadia (19)
Gelva (6)
Varnsurya
Jula (Zula) (31)
Jadiya(dahej)
Jhiba
Khadia (36) [This is the surname of Chorada pahada]
Kharol (2)
Kavya
Kharal
lalas
Mishan(The Renowned poet of this surname was shri Surmallji Mishan, born in Rajashthan who wrote a huge epic named "VANSH BHASKAR"incarnation of the Sun and his heirs)
Mahiya
Mada (2)
Mahiyaria (11)
Mahedu [This is the surname of 16 sakhiya and also brother to Kesariya]
Nadhu (29)
Pandarsinga
Ratnu (1)
Rohadiya
Samor
Sandhayach (16) [This is the surname brother to Bhanchaliya and inclusive in 16 sakhiya]
Sandu (8)
Sau
Siyal (0)
Silga
Soda (33)
Tapariya
Vija (1)
Vithu
Mohod
Hada(10)
Bogsa ( Narawat)
Gujjar
Gujjar are apparently a remnant of the great tribe that gave Gujarat its name
The Charans' caste system is based on written genealogy. A Charan will accept all the other Charans as equals even if they do not know each other and have radically different economic or geographic status.[6] They are divided into four sections. Each section has several sub-sections and subsections have several stocks. Males and females of the same stock are considered brothers and sisters, and thus marriage within a stock is strictly forbidden. Similarly, marriages outside the Charan commnuty are not allowed. Instead of four sections, many authors consider 23 divisions a more fundamental way division comprising four [Pahada]s which literally means mount peaks, sixteen sakhas and three chals. The four sections mentioned before are just based on geographical identity and may overlap with many of the divisions under 23 divisions. As per 23 divisions the four Pahadas are (1) Nara (2) Chorada (3) Chuva and (4) Tumbel, three chals are (1) Ausura (also spelled Avsura), (2) Maru and (3) baati. Charan of one Pahad are considered brothers and sisters and cannot intermarry. As per these divisions Nara charan usually mary with Ausura, Chorada with Maru and Chuva with Baati. Tumbel don't have exclusive chaal to marry from and hence they are referred as half-Pahada. Tumel usually marry from any of the other three Pahadas and Chaals. Rest of the community is divided into sixteen sakhas (known as Sakhiyas), which literally means sections. They usually marry with other sections as well as three Chaals and three and half Pahadas. Large part of the 16 sakhiyas is living in Rajasthan. As per Bombay Gazetteer[3] four sections and their sub-sections are mentioned below.
Tumbel[Tumer]:The Tumer (also spelled Tumbel) are believed to originate from Sindh. The clans of Tumers are:
Mudhuda
Seda
Sindhiya
Gelwa
Rudach
Bhan
Kachhelas
Also called Parajias, from the Kachchh district of Gujarat, the Kachhelas have three clans:
Chanwas (72)
Choradas (52)
Naras (66)
Kesariya [This surname belongs to 16 sakhiyas]
Aalgya [This is a surname of Chunva pahada]
Paaliya [This is a surname of Nara pahada]
Soya [This is a surname of 16 sakhiya]
Keedia [This is a surname of Nara pahada]
Maru
The Marus are from Marwar in Rajasthan. They have 20 clans and more than 300 stocks:
Ashiya
Adha (Arha)
Barhat
Badhva (19)
Baratrohdia (12)
Bati (13)[ This is Chaal of Chunva pahada]
Budhda
Bitu
Deval
Detha
Dhadhania (11)
Dadhvadia (19)
Gelva (6)
Varnsurya
Jula (Zula) (31)
Jadiya(dahej)
Jhiba
Khadia (36) [This is the surname of Chorada pahada]
Kharol (2)
Kavya
Kharal
lalas
Mishan(The Renowned poet of this surname was shri Surmallji Mishan, born in Rajashthan who wrote a huge epic named "VANSH BHASKAR"incarnation of the Sun and his heirs)
Mahiya
Mada (2)
Mahiyaria (11)
Mahedu [This is the surname of 16 sakhiya and also brother to Kesariya]
Nadhu (29)
Pandarsinga
Ratnu (1)
Rohadiya
Samor
Sandhayach (16) [This is the surname brother to Bhanchaliya and inclusive in 16 sakhiya]
Sandu (8)
Sau
Siyal (0)
Silga
Soda (33)
Tapariya
Vija (1)
Vithu
Mohod
Hada(10)
Bogsa ( Narawat)
Gujjar
Gujjar are apparently a remnant of the great tribe that gave Gujarat its name
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