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The status of Vaishya community undergone changes as other varnas of ancient India. Due to the change of their professions. In the Manussmrati the status of vaishya is described as determined by his wealth. [1]The rich man recognized in the community who advances money at rats and the people he deals with, A Vaishya is inferior to a Kshatriya and Brahman but above that of a Sudra.[2] The twelfth century evidences prove that Vaishya’s, permitted to study Vedas, but with this they were disallowed to trade in salt. Wine,curds, clarified butter, milk, lac, hides, flesh, indigo, poison, arms and idol. [3] in the Jaina sources a prosperous Vaishya community is described, as they were adventurous traders. The doors of the Vaishya Varna were open to every new comer who took up the profession of trade, even though the incomers generally fell in to a sub caste of their own. [4] The Agarwalas, the Maheshwaris, the Jayaswals, the Khandelwals and the Oswals were the five main divisions of the Vaishyas in Rajasthan.[5]

Ahinsa and Bhakti. The Vaishya community broke up in to a number of seprate sub-castes. Those sub-castes were formed according as the various professions its members followed and the localities they inhabited. Or as circumstances permitted.[7]

The origin and growth of the Vaishya community during medieval period onwards holds various viewpoints.

The Maheshwaries, the well-known Vaishya community claims its origin from Rajasthan. According to a legend their ancestors were Chouhan Rajput. They were feudatories to Raja khadgal Sen of khandela (sikar) may be of forth century. The 72 feudatories were called. Umaraos, who were originally Buddhists. They embarrassed shavism at the instance of mythological god Shiva himself. They left the Kshatriya community and became Vaishyas and hence vegetarian.[8] they assumed the name Maheswari “of great Aishwariya” (material prosperity ).[9] there were originally 72 ”Khamps” (sub-castes) as they were the descendants of 72 umaraos. Another legend about the origin of Maheswaries is that this community came in to existence when the great Shankaracharya of 8th century emerged as an influensive saint and preacher of adwaita Vedant. The countrywide Shaivite revolution had its vibrations in Rajasthan too. Consequently a senction of jains along with others became follower of Lord Shiva and styled themselves as Maheswaries or the worshippers of Mahesh, the other name of Shiva.[10] this appears more reliable as jains and the Maheswaries are traditionally vegetarians and teatotalers and believe in non-violence.[11] the branch Didu Maheshwaries originated from Deedwana which was the original home of the jains.[12] the other Maheshwari sects known as khandelwals, Meratwals, pakaras etc. were considered inferior.[13]

The Khandelwals, also known as saravagis claim their origin from khandela (sikar). The town was center of jainisim, where about 900 temples were there in first centuary B.C. Due to epidemic (plague) brokeout in the town taking heavy toll every day. The ruler Khandelgiri summoned the local priests and asked them as how this calamity would be warded off. The priests explained that it was a nemesis sent by gods to punish the people and that a ‘narmedh yagna would have to propitiate the gods. The ruler expressed his inability to hold any yagna involving human sacrifice. The priests and their supporters decided to hold the yagna on their own. Some 5000 jains visited Khandela and stayed in a park outside the town. While the monks were engaged in meditation one evening the priests whisked away one hundred and one of them and scarified them in yagna. The plague continued to take its toll unabated.

When jain Acharya heard about it. He rushed to the town and advised. The resident of Khandela to vacate the town and stay outside it during the epidemic. His Jain followers acted accordingly but the ruler and non-Jains preferred to stay inside the town. The ruler himself became seriously ill and he was taken to the Acharya who followed his advice and stayed outside the town and survived the illness.

The grateful ruler honured the Acharya and his fellow monks in a Darbar and embarrassed Jainism. About 3 lakhs of people accepted Jainism. These jains and their descendants migrated from Khandela to other parts of the county were known as Khandelwals after their hometown khandela.[14] The non-jain Khandelwal Vaishyas also come from Khandela.

In 457 B.C. Acharya Ratnaprabha suri accompanied by 500 monks came to osian (Jodhpur) the rules and the people of the town who were all shavites ignored the Jain Acharya and his fellow monks. The Jains monks faced difficulties even to get food. The Acharya along with 35 disciples decided to observe ‘Chaturmas’ at Osian.[15] it is said that the son in law of the ruler Trilokya Singh had a severe snakebite; all treatment failed and he was very serious. On some one’s suggestion he was taken over to the Jain Acharya Ratnaprabh who merely touched the patient and he was survived. Upaldev and his family embraced Jainism. His subjects also followed the same. These new converted Jains, native of Osian were called Oswals.

The Agarwals believed to be the descendants of Agrasena of Agroha, a janapada that included the present Hissar District. Agarwals are vegetarians though the majority of Agarwals are non-jains Agarwals are mentioned in the Parsva-puran of sridhara (V.S. 1189) as a prosperous community of the Delhi and Haryana region.[16] H.B, sharda also mentions that Agarwals are also said to be Kshatriya and are descendant from the sons of king Agrasena and are so called as they lived in Agroha a city founded by Agrasena.

The Jayaswals are also regarded as Kshatriyas of the Yadav clan. Early reference to whom occurs in the Dub-kund inscription of V-1145.[17]

The Porwals were the pragwat Brahmans of Padmavati (Sirohi). The ruler Padamsen was persuaded by jain Acharya Swayam Prabha to give up the holding of “Yagna” where the lives of thousands of animals were saved. The ruler and 45000 of his Pragwat Brahmins embraced Jainism. These Pragwat were later called porwals.[18] Padmavati was the capital of ancient Prgwat.[19] it also said that Porwals came from the ‘Pur’ ( Mewar).[20]

The people of Vaishya communities in ancient times were men of vigorous constitution of great courage and valour, clear and bright intelligence, of a daring nature, ready to face danger, cross seas, fight their way in distant and savage countries and obtain and secure from all part of the world, the things necessary for the welfare and advancement of humanity. [21] Useful to man in peace and war, in health and sickness. The Vaishya community performed the function so vital to the life and growth of the Hindu, Nation.[22] they were self-reliant resourceful and brave. They were the great administrators and held the highest offices in the state along with the Rajput’s as Commanders, Ministers, Ambassadors and Governors. Even in medieval times.[23] from early time up to the advent of the British in India, they held high position in the financial administration of the country. All the strings of the commerce and trade in India, export and import, were in their hands in old days. They were to be found all over the world in Europe, Africa and all parts of Asia in China, Japan, the transgangetic, Peninsula, Arabia, Persia, Babylonia, Greece, Egypt and Rome.[24]

India was once the seat of commerce.[25] Hindus in old days were “a commercial people.”[26] Hindus navigated the ocean more than 2000 years before Chirst, says Professor Max Dunker, Sir W. Jones, Elphinstone, Sewell and others. Indian went to Babylon with merchandise 3000 years, B.C. when Ur Bagas ruled there.[27]

It was the commercial activities of the Vaishya that brought untold wealth to India, and made her for ages famous as the richest country in the world and the cynosure of all eyes.[28] The elder pliny omplained that there was no year in which India did not drain the roman Empire. He estimated the annual drainage of gold alone at Rs 40,00,000/- (forty laksh).[29]

.Har Bilas Sarda mentioned that the trade with Egypt and Arabia was in the in hands of the Vaishyas of India. He quoted Mr. Clouet that” The commerce of Arabia Felix is entirely in the hands of the Baniyans of Gujrat who from father to son have established themselves in the country.[30] Periplus (Greek Writer) says that the baunians of India established themselves at Socotra and the caps of Guardafui”[31]

Prof. Heeren says that “It is a well known fact that the banians were in the habit of traversing the ocean and settling in foreign countries.” The commercial Hindus made expeditions into the golden desert Ideste; Desert of cobi in armed companies that the “Thakhte Sulemani in Turkistan mentioned by Ptolemy and ctesias was the starting point for these merchants, and that they went to Khotan and Asku and thence to Peking.[32]

Thus the Indian Vaishya used constantly to go to Turkistan, China Babylonia, Arabia, Egypt, Greek and Rome and remain out of India for years. They helped in making India not only great, richest and the most prosperous country in the world, but also the masters of the sea and the foremost maritime power in the ancient world.[33] The vaishyas were not only the men of great enterprise and adventure and pioneers of commerce but were various statemen and administrators also there are innumerable instances about the same few are being quoted here. The bravery of Lakshmi Chand and Bagh Chand sons of Karan Chand Bacchawat minister of the Maharaja of Bikaner in the times of Akbar is well Known. When Maharaja Sur Singh by treachery surrounded their residence with an army of 4000 men, the two brothers after grinding to dust there Valuable jewels, killed their woman folk and issued forth sword in hand and fell upon the Rajput’s, and after performing deeds of valours, went to heaven.[34]

Sah Dayal Das, the minister of the great Maharana Raj Singh I of Mewar was a great general. In the war of Auiragzab agaist Mewar (1679-1681 A.D.), when Mughal armies were called from Bengal, Deccan and Kabul and led against Mewar. His valorous Ministers and Generals whom the task of defending Mewar in the Southeast has been assigned, Assumed the aggressive and performed deeds of valour, which shine in the pages of history.[35] Col. Tod says that Dayal Shah, the civil Minister, a man of high courage and activity headed another flying column, which ravaged Malwa to the Narbada and the Betwa, Sarangpur, Dewas, Saronj, Mandu, Ujjain and Chanderi were plundered and numerous garrison put to the sword; and to use the words of the Chronicle husbands abandoned their wives’ and children and whatever could not be carried off was given to the flames for once they avenged themselves in imitation of the tyrant (Aurangzeb) even on the religion of their enemies ; the Quajees were bound and shaved and the Qurans thrown into the wells. The Minister was unrelenting and made Malwa a desert and from the fruits of his incursions, repaired the resources f his master flushed with success he formed a junction with the heir of Mewar (Jai Singh) ans gave battle to Prince Azim near Chittor and obtained a glorious victory, the Mughal Prince being defeated and pursued with great slaughters to Ranthambhore.[36]

Ratan Chand Bhandari the naib of Maharaja Abhay Singh of Jodhpur (1724- 1750 A.D.) fought severel battles against Marathas: Bhandari Bachhraj led the Merwar forces against Pilaji Gaekwar during the same period; Mehta Sahib Chand, the commander of jodhpur forces led his army against Ghanerao and conquered it in Maharaja Man Singh’s time; Mehta Gyan Chand fought against and reduced to

submission the Shekawat Rajput who had plundered Didwana in 1804 A.D. Mehta Bahadur Mal leda punitive expedition against the mers of Merwara and subjugated them. Singhi Jaswant Raj Commander of Marwar army fought against Maharaja of Bikaner and conquered Phalodi, Nawal Mal Mahnot and Mehta Suraj Mal invaded Sirohi and defeated Maharao Udaibhan and captured its capital, Ghansham ji Sarda, the Kamdar of Alniavas at the time of Maharaja Takhat Singh led the Thakur’s forces for twelve years and was several times wounded.[37]

Singhi Brothers Indra Raj and Dhanraj of Jodhpur should also be appreciated Inder Raj the chief Minister was also the commander in chief of the Marwar army. He fought the battle for Marwar with diplomacy, courage and Milatry skill, he defeated the designs against the country of the confederacy formed by Sindhia, Maharaja of Jaipur and the premier noble of Marwar Thakur sawai singh of Pokaran, Maharaja Man singh, The king of Marwar eulogised his work in the couplet, (Jodhpur was surrounded innumerable army of the enemy came; the sky was tottering; thou Indra Raj supported it with the powerful arms.)

Indra Raj also led an army of 20,000 men against Bikaner during the campaign against Bikaner, the enemy defile the water of the wells in the march by throwing bones and dead bodies of Cows in them. Indra Raj would take out the bones and dead bodies throw in some Ganges Water in the wells would himself first drink the water and then made his army use it.

Dhanraj was Governor of Ajmer, when Sindhias famous general Deboigne attacked that city in 1790 A.D. Dhanraj defied Deboigne and declared that he would never give Ajmer alive. Deboigne could not get taragarh of Ajmer and had to move on to Merta. Later when peace was concluded and Ajmer was ceded to Sindhia. Dhanraj true to his vow refused to hand over the fort and prepared to fight. His master the Maharaja of Jodhpur wrote a letter to him with his own hand asking him not to fight but to hand over the fort to Sindhia. Dharaj not wishing to oppose his master and not willing to give up Ajmer alive took poison, declaring” over my dead body alone, could a Deccani enter Ajmer.[38]

When Mughal emperor Muhamad Shah granted Mandal and Mandalgarh to Nawab Ranbaz Khan Mewati. He advanced to take possession at the head of the imperial army. Maharaja Sangram Singh (1710-1733 A.D.) ordered his Sardars to oppose it and prepared for fight. The sardar of Shahpura, (K. Umed Singh ) Badnor (Th. Jaisingh) Kanod ( Maha Singh ) came with their squads. The Rao of Begun sent his contigent under his kamdar Kothari Bhim Singh. In the council of war. The Rajput Sardars seeing Bhim Singh smiled and Th. Ganga das said, “ Kothari ji there is no occasion to weigh ata here.” Bhim Singh who was a Vaishya retorted,” I will weigh ata with both hands tomorrow, then you will see. “ when two armies met at the bank of Khari River in the field Kothari Bhim Singh with swords in both hands said the Rajput Sardars. “ Come and see how I weigh ata. “ saying this he spurred his horse and charged the imperial army with a vigour and dash that astonished the friend and foe alike. Rajput’s feeling ashamed that the attack had been opened by a Vaishya became furious and attacked the enemy determined not to be outdone by any one. The 5000 archers of Ranbaz Khan had no time to take out their arrows. Hand to hand fight with sword daggers and lances took place. Ranbaz Khan and his brother Nahar Khan were killed, and Dindar Kha and his sons fled wounded to Ajmer. The Mewatis and the Delhi army sustained a disastrous defeat.[39]

The instances of Vaishya heroism prove that this community undoubtedly equally brilliant in military valour as they have contributed in the trade and commerce by their adventurous and entrepreneurship and made the country prosperous similarly Vaishyas had contributed too much towards the development of art and architecture which is considered as the cultural heritage of the country. They also helped the ruler and the people of the country financially at the time of calamities and war. So the Vaishya heroism must be undertaken for further research

1. Sharma Dr. Dashartha, Raj. Through the Ages, Vol-I quoted at P-437. 2. I bid 3. Lakshamidhara; Kriyakalpataru, Garhasthyakanda P-258 quoted by Dr. Dasharatha Sharma. 4. Sharma, Dr. Dasharatha. Op. Cit-438. 5. I bid. 6. Sarda, H.B.; social reform; Ajmer; 1935; P.P. 119 7. I bid 8. Pangariya, B.L. & Pahariya. N.C.; Pol. Socio, Eco. And cul. Hist of Raj. 1993,Jaipur, P.P. 28 9. Op. cit H.B. sarda, .P. P.- 119 10. I bid 11. I bid 12. I bid 13. I bid. 8-27. 14. This town was founded by Upaldeo, Grandson of Raja Bhimsen of Bhinmal. 15. Op. Cit. Pangariya and pahariya, P-26 16. Op. Cit Dr. Sharma, P-438 17. I bid 18. Op. Cit Pangariya and Pahariya, P-26 19. Muni Gyan Sunder, Jain Jati Mahodaya I, P-29-37 Quoted by Pangariya and Pahariya, P-26. 20. Op. Cit H.B. sarda, P-119 21.Op. Cit H.B. sarda, P-120 22.Op. Cit H.B. sarda, P-120 23.Op. Cit H.B. sarda, P-120 24.Op. Cit H.B. sarda, P-121 21. Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol- IX, P-446 22. Heeren Prof. Historical researches Vol-VI, P-266 Qouted by H.B. sarda, Op. cit. 23. Elphinstone, History of India, P-116 24. Hilbert Lectures for 1887 A.D. quoted by sarda, Op. cit. P-121 29.Op. cit. sarda P-121 25. Op. cit. sarda P-121 26. All gem; George. Ephem for November 1810, P-235 Op. cit. sarda P-121 32.Sarda, H.B. Hindu superiority P-374 (Third Edition) P-132 27.Heeren, Prof. Historical Research Vol-II 34.Op. cit. sarda H.B. P-122 28. Op. cit. sarda H.B. P-125 29. I bid 30. I bid P-126 31. I bid P-127 32. I bid P-128 33. I bid P-129