The Naagar Community is divided into six classes. These six ‘Gnyatis’, as they are called, are:
- Vadnagra
- Visnagra
- Sathodara
- Chitroda
- Prashnora
- Krishnora
Of the above, the Krishnora Gnyati is almost non-existent today. Vadnagra is the main Gnyati. Later on many Naagars migrated to different places and came to be known by the places where they lived. Given below is brief information about our six Gnyatis:
1) Vadnagra: Vadnagra Naagars are further classified as (a) Naagar Grihastha and (b)
Naagar Bhikshuk. The Naagar Grihasthas were experts in administrative work and politics. The Naagar Bhikshuks (Brahmins) were Pundits by profession and looked after the religious activities being undertaken.
Today, this difference is not seen. The main characteristics of Vadnagra Naagars include monogamy, refusal to accept alms and a simple lifestyle. It is said that the literacy rate of Naagars is 100 per cent. The Vadnagra Naagars are known for their higher education, which is beneficial in all ways. The Vadnagra Naagars have adopted the simpler ways of life and live a quiet and simple life.
2) Visnagra: A large number of Visnagra Naagars live in Mehsana, North Gujarat and in Ahmedabad. In 1043 A.D. Vishaldev, the Maharaja of Ajmer conquered Gujarat. As a gift, the Maharaja gifted the town of Vishalnagar to the group of Vadnagra Naagars who had helped him in his conquest. Vishalnagar is today known as Visnagar. In the same way the towns of Chitrakut, Prashantpur, Krishnapur and Shatpad were gifted whose Naagars eventually came to be known as Chitroda, Prashnora, Krishnora and Sathodara respectively. This proves that all the Naagars are actually from Vadnagar.
The Visnagra Naagar Community is the worshipper of lord Shiva. The main occupation of these people is agriculture and cooking. Today, the Visnagra Naagars are seen everywhere doing all kinds of jobs and services, but it would not be surprising to find a Naagar farmer tilling his land in the old town of Visnagar, even today.
3) Prashnora:
The Prashnora Naagars hail from a place called Prassanapur (Prashantpur) near Bhavnagar in Saurashtra. It is said that the people of the town of Ahirchhatra, in their time of difficulty, came to Prashantpur and accepted Hatkeshwar as their God. There is also a rumour that the Naagar people traveled all the way through Assam and constantly traveled westwards until they reached Bhavnagar. They claimed to be the Ahi-Chhatra people. (Ahi: Snake, Chhatra: An Umbrella) They worshipped the Shiva-Linga which was surrounded by the Serpent’s hood serving as an umbrella. They believed that the serpent was a symbol of power. The main occupation of the Prashnora Naagars includes the recital of Vedic and Bhagwat Chants. The well known scholar of Ayurveda (science of healing through use of herbs) Zandu Bhattji was also a Prashnora Naagar.
4) Sathodara: The Sathodara Naagars hail from a town called Sathod (Shatpad) near
Dabhoi. They also live in the regions of Karnali, Nada, Juda, and Thuvaavi. It seems that over a period of years, they have also migrated to different places like Ahmedabad, Nadiad, Dabhoi and Chanod. The sub-categories of the Grihashta and the Bhikshuk have been eliminated in the Sathodara Naagars - all of them together are called the Sathodara Naagars.
5) Chitroda: Most of the Chitroda Naagars live in Brahanpur, Nimaad, Chitod and in
other places outside Gujarat.
A group of Vadnagara Naagars settled down in Chitod a long time ago. These Naagars came to be known as the Chitroda Naagars. Rajasthan is an economically backward state. Over and above this, the different lifestyle of the Naagar Community did not allow them to get along very well with the people of Chitod. So they ultimately became wanderers and earned their living by performing in courts of Kings and Princes. The Chitroda Naagars have settled down mainly in Baroda, Bhavnagar and other nearby places.
6) Krishnora:
The Krishnora Naagars are very few in number. Not much authentic information is available about them.
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