Mohyal_Brahmin
Mohyal Brahmin
Sub-caste of Saraswat Brahmins
Mohyal Brahmins are an Indian sub-caste of Saraswat Brahmins from the Punjab region.[1]
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Prior to the Partition of India, Mohyal Brahmins lived primarily in the Potohar, Hazara and Doaba regions of Northern Punjab and North-West Frontier Province (Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Jhelum, Sargodha, Campbellpur, Haripur, Abbottabad, Murree, Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur) and in the Pahari regions of Jammu and Kashmir (Pulandari, Mirpur, Kotli, Alibeg, Bhimber, Poonch, Rawlakote, Jammu, Bagh and Rajouri). Frequent migrations of these Brahmins had happened from these regions to hilly areas of Kangra and Chamba from 1200 CE. After the partition, most migrated to, and settled in the neighbouring Indian states of Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi.[citation needed]
Mohyal Brahmins were not priests in the traditional sense as they abandoned their priestly duties. They were warriors, spiritual healers and preachers of different sects of Hinduism.[citation needed]
Mohyal Brahmins are a caste and a sub-group of the Punjabi Hindu community. The members of this sub-caste originate from the broader Saraswat Brahmin group and comprise seven clans named Bali, Bhimwal, Chhibber, Datt, Lau, Mohan and Vaid. These each claim their lineage from one of seven different Brahmin rishis.
According to Noinica Dutta,Some Mohyal Brahmins claim to have helped Imam Hussain in the Battle of Karbala, these Mohyal Brahmins are called Hussaini Brahmins.[2]
Dhanvantari gotra is found as the original gotra among the Bengali Baidyas.[3][clarification needed]
As per punjab government data,The priestly practice of mohyal Brahmins has slowly reduced after the partition.[4]
The same tradition is seen amongst the Bhumihar Brahmins and the Bengali Baidya clan, who despite following Brahmin varna-rituals, are often considered as Semi-Brahmins[5] for not performing priestly duties.[6][clarification needed]