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In the Garud Purana, Chitragupta is hailed as the first man to give the script.
"Chitragupta namastubhyam vedaksaradatre"
(Obeisance to Chitragupta, the giver of letters)
The Rig Veda mentions an invocation to be made to Chitragupta before offering sacrifice. There is also a special invocation
to Chitragupta as Dharmraj (Lord of Justice) to be made at the performance of shradh or other rituals.
"Om tat purushaya vidmahe Chitragupta dhimahi tena lekha prachodayata."
The priests also pay reverence to Shri Chitragupta :
"Yamam Dharmarajya Chitraguptaya vain namah."'
History
Puranas that mention Kayastha as a higher upper caste are very old and deal with castes of a particular region. Brhadharma
Purana and Brahmavaivart Purana dealing with castes of Bengal do not mention Kayastha at all though they are comparatively
recent creations. Kayastha ministers find mention in Hindu mythology. Prior to the Raghuvanshis, Ayodhya was ruled by Mathur
Rulers, progeny of Chitragupta.
The Kayastha who are represented by the "Kayats" or the hereditary caste of the scribes of the present day,
formed originally a sub-military class.[3] The Anthropological Survey of India conducted a survey during the British Raj which
concluded that the Kayastha community were also influential during the Mauryan period as administrators. Also, many proof
have been found that the Hindu Kings used to grant lands to the Kayasthas, a practise enjoyed only by a particular caste.
Also, it is but logical to consider the status of the Kayasthas when Sanskrit was the state language under the Hindu Kings.
Kayasthas have a unique distinction of having a script - Kaithi - associated with their name. Kaithi (also known earlier
as Kayati, Kayathi or Kayasthi), similar to Dev Nagri, was used mainly by Kayasthas in northern India. It has its own Unicode
now.
The Kayastha were one of the most influential Caste in Kashmiri politics around 7th century (ref : Kalhan's Rajtarangini).
One of the greatest kings India has ever seen was Lalitaditya Muktapida of Kashmir, a Kayastha by blood. The economic status
of the Kayastha community bettered than that of other castes when the Muslims conquered India.[citation needed] Other Indian
castes would typically not find employment under the Muslim rulers, as they could not learn the Muslim languages of Persian,
Arabic and later Urdu. On the other hand, the Kayastha community as a whole traditionally put a lot of emphasis on education
and prospered during the Islamic period of India. Many Kayasthas were forced to convert to Islam in this period and adopted
the title Shaikh.[4]
Kayasthas through the ages
Kayastha's developed expertise in Persian (the state language in Islamic India), learnt Turkish, Arabic and later Urdu,
economics, administration and taxation. Kayastha's successfully adapted themselves as scribes and functionaries under Islamic
rule and later on under the British. Their secular viewpoint to life, adaptability and lifestyle was an asset which allowed
them to succeed. The Kayastha community, in the colonial era, learnt English, whilst the more affluent ones sent their children
to England. Many Kayastha's became civil servants, tax officers, junior administrators, teachers, legal helpers and barristers.
They rose to the highest positions accessible to natives in British India.
[edit] Kayasthas in modern India
Post independence Kayasthas rose to the highest positions including the first President of India , Dr. Rajendra Prasad,third
Prime Minister of India , Lal Bahadur Shastri, Swami Vivekananda, Subhash Chandra Bose, Amitabh Bachchan, judges, top civil
servants, and high ranking officers in the Indian armed forces. Kayasthas also emigrated to the West in the 1970s and 80s,
most of them as knowledge workers in medicine, academia, engineering, computing[citation needed] etc.
The Family Tree
The 12 clans of Brahma Kayastha:
* Srivastava
* Gour
* Bhatnagar
* Saxena
* Ambast
* Nigam
* Karna
* Kulshrestha
* Mathur
* Surdhwaja
* Johri
* Asthana
Sons of Mata Shobhavati
* Shree Charu (Mathur): He was a disciple of sage Mathure, Rashi name was Dhurandhar, was married to Devi Pankajakshi
and worshipped Devi Durga. Mathureshwari. Maharaj Chitraguptji sent Shree Charu to establish a Kingdom in the Mathura region
(between Mahanadi and Krishna River in Orissa). His descendants were known as the Mathurs. After defeating the demons, a term
regularly used for the anti-Vedic tribes, they established the Kingdom of Mathara. This done, they also propagated to other
part of Aryavartha. In the meanwhile they were further divided into 3 sub-divisions 1.The Mathurs of Mathara, 2.The Pancholi
or Panchali of Pnachal Kingdom where in garwhal hills there is town of Mathura 3.The Kacchi of Gujrat. The Mathurs seem to
enjoy a long history of Ruling many Kingdoms, to mention the most important, Ayodhya was ruled by them before the Raghuvanshis
took the reign. They are divided into 84 Als. According to Madan Kosh by Madanlal Tiwari of Etawah (P.220)they established
Pandya Kingdom covering Madurai Trinivelli etc.Their emissary went to Augustus Caesar of Roman Empire.
* Shree Sucharu (Gaur): He was a disciple of sage Vashista, Rashi name was Dharamdutta and worshipped Devi Shakambari.
Maharaj Chitraguptji sent Shree Sucharu to establish a Kingdom in the Gaud region. Shree Sucharu married Devi Mandhiya, the
daughter of Nagaraj Vasuki. The gaurs are divided into five divisions: 1.Khare, 2.Doosre, 3.Bengali, 4.Dehlavi, 5.Vadanyuni.
Gaur Kaystha have been further sub divided in 32 Als.Bhagdutta of Mahabharat and Rudradutta of Kalinga were famous.
* Shree Chitraksh (Bhatnagar): He was a disciple of sage Bhat, was married to Devi Bhadrakalini and worshipped Devi
Jayanti. Maharaj Chitraguptji sent Shree Chitraksh to establish a Kingdom in the region of Bhat river at Bhattdesh and Malwa.They
established Chittor and Chitrakoot He settled then there and his progeny came to be known as Bhatnagar. They are divided into
84 Als.
* Shree Matimaan (Saxena): He was married to Devi Kokalesh and worshipped Devi Shakambari. Maharaj Chitraguptji sent
Shree Matimaan to establish a Kingdom in the Shak region. His(Shree Matimaan’s) son was a great warrior and established
His kingdom in the modern day Kabul-Kandhar and Eurasia region and as they were sakha ( friends Of Sena )the progeny was called
Shaksena or Saksena, a part of modern Iran was under their rule. Today they are abundantly found in the regions of Kannuaj,Pilibhit,
Bareli, Shahjahanpur, Badayu, Farrukhabad, Etta, Mainpuri, Aligarh. They are divided into Khare and Dusare and had 106 main
Als at present. According to RC Majumdar, they were kings Shena of Shakas hence Shakashena which anglicised to Saxena.
* Shree Himvaan (Ambashth): His Rashi name was Sarandhar, was married to Devi Bhujangakshi and worshipped Devi Amba-Mata.
Settled in Girnar and kathiawar area called Amba-sthan, hence the name. Shree Himvaan had five divine sons Shree Nagasen,
Shree Gayasen, Shree Gayadatta, Shree Ratanmool and Shree Devdhar and they married Gandharvyakanyas. These five Sons settled
at different locations and accordingly their lineage spread their rule over these and were further divided into : Nagasen:
24 Als, Gayasen: 35 Als , Gayadatta: 85 Als, Ratanmool: 25 Als, Devdhar: 21 Als.Later they settled in Punjab after their defeat
by Alexander's general and then by Chandragupt Maurya.
* Shree Chitracharu (Nigam): His Rashi name was Sumant, was married to Devi Ashgandhmati and worshipped Devi Durga.
Maharaj Chitraguptji sent Shree Chitracharu to establish a Kingdom in the Mahakoshal and the Nigam region (on the bank of
river Saryu). His progeny were very proficient in the rules laid in Vedas and the Shastras, hence Nigam. Today they live in
Kanpur, Fatehpur, Hamirpur, Banda, Jalon, Mahoba. They are divided into 43 main Als.
* Shree Aruncharu (Karna): His Rashi name was Damodar, was married to Devi Kamakala and worshipped Devi Laxmi. They
were Vaishnavites. Maharaj Chitraguptji sent Shree Aruncharu to establish a Kingdom in the Karna region (modern day Karnataka).
His progeny slowly migrated to the Northern Kingdoms and now live abundantly in the present day Nepal, Orissa and Bihar. The
Bihar branch is further divided into two; namely the ‘Gayaval Karna’ who settled in Gaya and the ‘Maithil-Karna’
who settled in the Mithila region.Later they adopted Buddhism. They are divided into an astounding 360 Als; this huge figure
is attributed to the families who migrated in different phases from South.The clan has nothing to do with Karna of Mahabharata.
* Shree Jitendra (Kulshreshtha): His Rashi name is Sadananda, was married to Devi Manjubhashini and worsipped Devi
Laxmi. Maharaj Chitraguptji sent Shree Atiyendriya(also known as Jitendra) to establish a Kingdom in the Kannauj region. Shree
Atiyendriya was one of the most religious and pious ascetic of the twelve Sons. He was known as ‘Dharmatama’
and ‘Pundit’ and was a master of passions; His progeny came to be known as Kulshrestha. Today the Kulshresthas
live abundantly in Mathura, Agra, Fawrookhabad, Etta, Etahwa and Mainpuri.A few are in Nandigaon ,Bengal.
Sons of Mata Nandani
* Shree Shribhanu(Shrivastava): His Rashi name was Dharamdwaj. Maharaj Chitraguptji sent Shree Shribhanu to establish
a Kingdom in the Shrivaas(Srinagar)region in Kashmir and Kandhar. He was married to Nagaraj Vaasuki’s daughter Devi
Padmini and two divine sons named Shree Devdatta and Shree Ghanshyam were born. Shree Devdatta got the rulership over Kashmir
and Shree Ganshyam got the rulership over the banks of Sindhu river. They were called Srivastava ‘Khare’
born from second wife Kheri.Two divine sons named Shree Dhanvantari and Shree Sarvagya were born. They were called Shrivastava
‘Doosre’.The Shrivastavas are divided into 65 main Als.
* Shree Vibhanu (Suryadhwaj): His Rashi name was Shyamsunder, was married to Devi Malti. Maharaj Chitraguptji sent
Shree Vibhanu to establish the Kingdom in northern parts of the Kashmir region. Since Mother Dakshina was the daughter of
Suryadev, the progeny of Shree Vibhanu carried the emblem of the Sun God on their flags and were called Suryadhwaj.Jarasandha
of Mahabharat and Jamnaya of Taxila were well known.Later they settled at Magadh
* Shree Vishwabhanu (Valmiki): His Rashi name was Deendayal and worshipped Devi Shakumbhari. Maharaj Chitraguptji
sent Shree Vishwabhanu to establish a Kingdom in Valmiki region near Chirakoot and Narmada. Shree Vishwabhanu was married
to Nagakanya Devi Bimbvati. He’s known to have spend a great part of his life practicing intense meditation(Tapasya)
on the banks of river Narmada, when covered with the leaves of creeper Valmiki.His progeny were known as Valmiki.They became
Vallabhpanthi. His son Shree Chandrakant settled in Gujarat while the other Sons migrated with their families to the North,
near river Ganga and the Himalayas. Today they live in Gujarat and Maharashtra. They are also known as ‘Vallabhi
Kayastha’ in Gujarat.
* Shree Viryabhanu (Asthana): His Rashi name Madhavrao, was married to Devi Singhdwani. Maharaj Chitraguptji sent
Shree Viryabhanu to establish a Kingdom in Adhisthana. His progeny came to be known as Asthana as Ramnagar-Varanasi's king
bestowed them with eight jewels.Some say that they had no fixed sthan, hence the name. Today the Asthanas live abundantly
in various districts of U.P. In Bihar they live in Saran, Sivaan, Champaran, Muzaffarpur, Sitamadhi, Darbhanga, Bhagalpur
regions. Their population is also notable in U.P.’s neighboring state M.P. They are divided into 5 main Als.
ALs
These twelve sub-castes are further divided into ALs. A Vansh originates from a King, a Rishi or a Deity and as it grows
it divides itself in to several branches. The descendents start to build their own sub-Vansh depending upon the places and
situations met, at the same time acknowledging their submission to the MOOL Vansh. These sub-Vansh add specific nouns to their
names which in case of the Chirtagupta Vansha(Chitranshi) are called the Als (Kindly be clear upon the point that the 12 main
sub-castes are acknowledged divisions based on the family of the 12 Sons, they are not called Als, their further divisions
are what Als are) One has to be careful to avoid confusing them with Gotra. Gotra goes after the name of a Vedic Rishi, who
was either a Guru, RajGuru or Progenitor of that Vansh. The gotra for a MOOL Vansh is always the same. It is Kashayap for
the Kayasthas. Thus, a Vanshaz can be known from his Gotra and Al (The term Kul is often used for Al, though the former has
a much broader meaning).The Als can be thousands in number and must be added to the name in conjunction with one of the 12
main sub-castes. The ignorance of this law is precisely the reason why so many can not find their surnames mentioned amongst
the 12 main sub-castes.According to Hindu Vedic Scriptures the Kayastha trace their genealogy from Lord Chitragupta. It is
said that after Lord Brahma had created the four Varnas (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras), Yama (Dharamraj) requested
Lord Brahma to help him record the deeds, both good and evil, of men, and administer justice.
According to scriptures, Lord Brahma went into meditation for 11,000 years and when he opened his eyes he saw a man holding
a pen and ink-pot in his hands, as well as a sword girdled to his waist. Lord Brahma spoke: Thou hast been created from my
body (Kaya), therefore shall thy progeny be known as the Kayasthas. Thou hast been conceived in my mind (Chitra) and in secrecy
(gupta), thy name shall also be Chitragupta. Brahma then enjoined him to dispense justice and punish those who violated the
dharma. Thus, the Kayasthas were accorded a dual caste, Brahman/Kshatriya.
In the legends of Chitragupta as well as in the Vedas, he is referred to as the greatest King, while the rest are "Rajakas,"
or little kings.
चित्र इद राजा
राजका इदन्यके
यके सरस्वतीमनु
।
पर्जन्य इव ततनद
धि वर्ष्ट्या
सहस्रमयुता ददत
॥ RIG VEDA Book 8/ Hymn 21/ Stanza 18
In the Garud Purana, Chitragupta is hailed as the first man to give the script.
"Chitragupta namastubhyam vedaksaradatre"
(Obeisance to Chitragupta, the giver of letters)
The Rig Veda mentions an invocation to be made to Chitragupta before offering sacrifice. There is also a special invocation
to Chitragupta as Dharmraj (Lord of Justice) to be made at the performance of shradh or other rituals.
"Om tat purushaya vidmahe Chitragupta dhimahi tena lekha prachodayata."
The priests also pay reverence to Shri Chitragupta :
"Yamam Dharmarajya Chitraguptaya vain namah."'
History
Puranas that mention Kayastha as a higher upper caste are very old and deal with castes of a particular region. Brhadharma
Purana and Brahmavaivart Purana dealing with castes of Bengal do not mention Kayastha at all though they are comparatively
recent creations. Kayastha ministers find mention in Hindu mythology. Prior to the Raghuvanshis, Ayodhya was ruled by Mathur
Rulers, progeny of Chitragupta.
The Kayastha who are represented by the "Kayats" or the hereditary caste of the scribes of the present day,
formed originally a sub-military class.[3] The Anthropological Survey of India conducted a survey during the British Raj which
concluded that the Kayastha community were also influential during the Mauryan period as administrators. Also, many proof
have been found that the Hindu Kings used to grant lands to the Kayasthas, a practise enjoyed only by a particular caste.
Also, it is but logical to consider the status of the Kayasthas when Sanskrit was the state language under the Hindu Kings.
Kayasthas have a unique distinction of having a script - Kaithi - associated with their name. Kaithi (also known earlier
as Kayati, Kayathi or Kayasthi), similar to Dev Nagri, was used mainly by Kayasthas in northern India. It has its own Unicode
now.
The Kayastha were one of the most influential Caste in Kashmiri politics around 7th century (ref : Kalhan's Rajtarangini).
One of the greatest kings India has ever seen was Lalitaditya Muktapida of Kashmir, a Kayastha by blood. The economic status
of the Kayastha community bettered than that of other castes when the Muslims conquered India.[citation needed] Other Indian
castes would typically not find employment under the Muslim rulers, as they could not learn the Muslim languages of Persian,
Arabic and later Urdu. On the other hand, the Kayastha community as a whole traditionally put a lot of emphasis on education
and prospered during the Islamic period of India. Many Kayasthas were forced to convert to Islam in this period and adopted
the title Shaikh.[4]
Kayasthas through the ages
Kayastha's developed expertise in Persian (the state language in Islamic India), learnt Turkish, Arabic and later Urdu,
economics, administration and taxation. Kayastha's successfully adapted themselves as scribes and functionaries under Islamic
rule and later on under the British. Their secular viewpoint to life, adaptability and lifestyle was an asset which allowed
them to succeed. The Kayastha community, in the colonial era, learnt English, whilst the more affluent ones sent their children
to England. Many Kayastha's became civil servants, tax officers, junior administrators, teachers, legal helpers and barristers.
They rose to the highest positions accessible to natives in British India.
Kayasthas in modern India
Post independence Kayasthas rose to the highest positions including the first President of India , Dr. Rajendra Prasad,third
Prime Minister of India , Lal Bahadur Shastri, Swami Vivekananda, Subhash Chandra Bose, Amitabh Bachchan, judges, top civil
servants, and high ranking officers in the Indian armed forces. Kayasthas also emigrated to the West in the 1970s and 80s,
most of them as knowledge workers in medicine, academia, engineering, computing[citation needed] etc.
The Family Tree
The 12 clans of Brahma Kayastha:
* Srivastava
* Gour
* Bhatnagar
* Saxena
* Ambast
* Nigam
* Karna
* Kulshrestha
* Mathur
* Surdhwaja
* Johri
* Asthana
Sons of Mata Shobhavati
* Shree Charu (Mathur): He was a disciple of sage Mathure, Rashi name was Dhurandhar, was married to Devi Pankajakshi
and worshipped Devi Durga. Mathureshwari. Maharaj Chitraguptji sent Shree Charu to establish a Kingdom in the Mathura region
(between Mahanadi and Krishna River in Orissa). His descendants were known as the Mathurs. After defeating the demons, a term
regularly used for the anti-Vedic tribes, they established the Kingdom of Mathara. This done, they also propagated to other
part of Aryavartha. In the meanwhile they were further divided into 3 sub-divisions 1.The Mathurs of Mathara, 2.The Pancholi
or Panchali of Pnachal Kingdom where in garwhal hills there is town of Mathura 3.The Kacchi of Gujrat. The Mathurs seem to
enjoy a long history of Ruling many Kingdoms, to mention the most important, Ayodhya was ruled by them before the Raghuvanshis
took the reign. They are divided into 84 Als. According to Madan Kosh by Madanlal Tiwari of Etawah (P.220)they established
Pandya Kingdom covering Madurai Trinivelli etc.Their emissary went to Augustus Caesar of Roman Empire.
* Shree Sucharu (Gaur): He was a disciple of sage Vashista, Rashi name was Dharamdutta and worshipped Devi Shakambari.
Maharaj Chitraguptji sent Shree Sucharu to establish a Kingdom in the Gaud region. Shree Sucharu married Devi Mandhiya, the
daughter of Nagaraj Vasuki. The gaurs are divided into five divisions: 1.Khare, 2.Doosre, 3.Bengali, 4.Dehlavi, 5.Vadanyuni.
Gaur Kaystha have been further sub divided in 32 Als.Bhagdutta of Mahabharat and Rudradutta of Kalinga were famous.
* Shree Chitraksh (Bhatnagar): He was a disciple of sage Bhat, was married to Devi Bhadrakalini and worshipped Devi
Jayanti. Maharaj Chitraguptji sent Shree Chitraksh to establish a Kingdom in the region of Bhat river at Bhattdesh and Malwa.They
established Chittor and Chitrakoot He settled then there and his progeny came to be known as Bhatnagar. They are divided into
84 Als.
* Shree Matimaan (Saxena): He was married to Devi Kokalesh and worshipped Devi Shakambari. Maharaj Chitraguptji sent
Shree Matimaan to establish a Kingdom in the Shak region. His(Shree Matimaan’s) son was a great warrior and established
His kingdom in the modern day Kabul-Kandhar and Eurasia region and as they were sakha ( friends Of Sena )the progeny was called
Shaksena or Saksena, a part of modern Iran was under their rule. Today they are abundantly found in the regions of Kannuaj,Pilibhit,
Bareli, Shahjahanpur, Badayu, Farrukhabad, Etta, Mainpuri, Aligarh. They are divided into Khare and Dusare and had 106 main
Als at present. According to RC Majumdar, they were kings Shena of Shakas hence Shakashena which anglicised to Saxena.
* Shree Himvaan (Ambashth): His Rashi name was Sarandhar, was married to Devi Bhujangakshi and worshipped Devi Amba-Mata.
Settled in Girnar and kathiawar area called Amba-sthan, hence the name. Shree Himvaan had five divine sons Shree Nagasen,
Shree Gayasen, Shree Gayadatta, Shree Ratanmool and Shree Devdhar and they married Gandharvyakanyas. These five Sons settled
at different locations and accordingly their lineage spread their rule over these and were further divided into : Nagasen:
24 Als, Gayasen: 35 Als , Gayadatta: 85 Als, Ratanmool: 25 Als, Devdhar: 21 Als.Later they settled in Punjab after their defeat
by Alexander's general and then by Chandragupt Maurya.
* Shree Chitracharu (Nigam): His Rashi name was Sumant, was married to Devi Ashgandhmati and worshipped Devi Durga.
Maharaj Chitraguptji sent Shree Chitracharu to establish a Kingdom in the Mahakoshal and the Nigam region (on the bank of
river Saryu). His progeny were very proficient in the rules laid in Vedas and the Shastras, hence Nigam. Today they live in
Kanpur, Fatehpur, Hamirpur, Banda, Jalon, Mahoba. They are divided into 43 main Als.
* Shree Aruncharu (Karna): His Rashi name was Damodar, was married to Devi Kamakala and worshipped Devi Laxmi. They
were Vaishnavites. Maharaj Chitraguptji sent Shree Aruncharu to establish a Kingdom in the Karna region (modern day Karnataka).
His progeny slowly migrated to the Northern Kingdoms and now live abundantly in the present day Nepal, Orissa and Bihar. The
Bihar branch is further divided into two; namely the ‘Gayaval Karna’ who settled in Gaya and the ‘Maithil-Karna’
who settled in the Mithila region.Later they adopted Buddhism. They are divided into an astounding 360 Als; this huge figure
is attributed to the families who migrated in different phases from South.The clan has nothing to do with Karna of Mahabharata.
* Shree Jitendra (Kulshreshtha): His Rashi name is Sadananda, was married to Devi Manjubhashini and worsipped Devi
Laxmi. Maharaj Chitraguptji sent Shree Atiyendriya(also known as Jitendra) to establish a Kingdom in the Kannauj region. Shree
Atiyendriya was one of the most religious and pious ascetic of the twelve Sons. He was known as ‘Dharmatama’
and ‘Pundit’ and was a master of passions; His progeny came to be known as Kulshrestha. Today the Kulshresthas
live abundantly in Mathura, Agra, Fawrookhabad, Etta, Etahwa and Mainpuri.A few are in Nandigaon ,Bengal.
[edit] Sons of Mata Nandani
* Shree Shribhanu(Shrivastava): His Rashi name was Dharamdwaj. Maharaj Chitraguptji sent Shree Shribhanu to establish
a Kingdom in the Shrivaas(Srinagar)region in Kashmir and Kandhar. He was married to Nagaraj Vaasuki’s daughter Devi
Padmini and two divine sons named Shree Devdatta and Shree Ghanshyam were born. Shree Devdatta got the rulership over Kashmir
and Shree Ganshyam got the rulership over the banks of Sindhu river. They were called Srivastava ‘Khare’
born from second wife Kheri.Two divine sons named Shree Dhanvantari and Shree Sarvagya were born. They were called Shrivastava
‘Doosre’.The Shrivastavas are divided into 65 main Als.
* Shree Vibhanu (Suryadhwaj): His Rashi name was Shyamsunder, was married to Devi Malti. Maharaj Chitraguptji sent
Shree Vibhanu to establish the Kingdom in northern parts of the Kashmir region. Since Mother Dakshina was the daughter of
Suryadev, the progeny of Shree Vibhanu carried the emblem of the Sun God on their flags and were called Suryadhwaj.Jarasandha
of Mahabharat and Jamnaya of Taxila were well known.Later they settled at Magadh
* Shree Vishwabhanu (Valmiki): His Rashi name was Deendayal and worshipped Devi Shakumbhari. Maharaj Chitraguptji
sent Shree Vishwabhanu to establish a Kingdom in Valmiki region near Chirakoot and Narmada. Shree Vishwabhanu was married
to Nagakanya Devi Bimbvati. He’s known to have spend a great part of his life practicing intense meditation(Tapasya)
on the banks of river Narmada, when covered with the leaves of creeper Valmiki.His progeny were known as Valmiki.They became
Vallabhpanthi. His son Shree Chandrakant settled in Gujarat while the other Sons migrated with their families to the North,
near river Ganga and the Himalayas. Today they live in Gujarat and Maharashtra. They are also known as ‘Vallabhi
Kayastha’ in Gujarat.
* Shree Viryabhanu (Asthana): His Rashi name Madhavrao, was married to Devi Singhdwani. Maharaj Chitraguptji sent
Shree Viryabhanu to establish a Kingdom in Adhisthana. His progeny came to be known as Asthana as Ramnagar-Varanasi's king
bestowed them with eight jewels.Some say that they had no fixed sthan, hence the name. Today the Asthanas live abundantly
in various districts of U.P. In Bihar they live in Saran, Sivaan, Champaran, Muzaffarpur, Sitamadhi, Darbhanga, Bhagalpur
regions. Their population is also notable in U.P.’s neighboring state M.P. They are divided into 5 main Als.
[edit] ALs
These twelve sub-castes are further divided into ALs. A Vansh originates from a King, a Rishi or a Deity and as it grows
it divides itself in to several branches. The descendents start to build their own sub-Vansh depending upon the places and
situations met, at the same time acknowledging their submission to the MOOL Vansh. These sub-Vansh add specific nouns to their
names which in case of the Chirtagupta Vansha(Chitranshi) are called the Als (Kindly be clear upon the point that the 12 main
sub-castes are acknowledged divisions based on the family of the 12 Sons, they are not called Als, their further divisions
are what Als are) One has to be careful to avoid confusing them with Gotra. Gotra goes after the name of a Vedic Rishi, who
was either a Guru, RajGuru or Progenitor of that Vansh. The gotra for a MOOL Vansh is always the same. It is Kashayap for
the Kayasthas. Thus, a Vanshaz can be known from his Gotra and Al (The term Kul is often used for Al, though the former has
a much broader meaning).The Als can be thousands in number and must be added to the name in conjunction with one of the 12
main sub-castes. The ignorance of this law is precisely the reason why so many can not find their surnames mentioned amongst
the 12 main sub-castes.
Sub Groups
The second sub-group of Kayasthas is called CHANDRASENIYA KAYASTHA PRABHU of Maharastra and Punjab. Their linkage is from
Sahastrajita-Haihey- Sahastrarjuna Chandrasen and Somsen.
Aspects of Kayastha culture
This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable
sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. (July 2008)
Endogamy
Kayasthas practice family exogamy and caste endogamy preferring to marry only within their sub-castes. Marriage rules
are very strict, purity of blood is of supreme importance; boycott of those violating these has been seen through out history.
The community as a whole is very liberal except when it comes to marriage. Further in valid caste marriages, the individuals
of same Al can not intermarry, while those of same caste and different Als can. Thus an individual from Srivastava subcaste
and Pandya Al should not marry another Pandya of the same subcaste but can marry an individual belonging to another al of
the same subcaste. Though not required, it is still widely practiced as a tradition.
Worship
Kayasthas worship ShreeChitraguptaji and on Bhai-Dooj, they celebrate Kalam-Dawaat Pooja (pen, ink-pot and sword worship),
a ritual in which pens, papers and books are worshipped. This is the day when Shree Chitraguptji was created by Lord Bramha
and Yamaraj got relieved of His duties and used this leave to visit His sister Devi Yamuna; hence the whole world celebrates
Bhaiya dooj on this day and the Kayastha celebrate ShreeChitraguptajayanti, i.e. the 'Birthday' of their progenitor.
By worshipping Chitragupta who is their ancestor, kayasthas have the singular distinction of being the only "Ancestor-worshipping"
sect of Hinduism.
Food
Unlike most Baniya (Vaishya) or Brahmins, and like Kshatriyas, Kayasthas eat onions, garlic, meats like mutton and chicken,
fish and eggs, though a large number are also vegetarians. Meat eating kayasthas do avoid beef as the cow is considered sacred
for Hindus.
It is believed though not yet proved that Kayasthas of holy towns like Prayag, Mathura, Varanasi, etc. are purely vegetarians[citation
needed], while in other areas they may be mixed.
Social
Of all the other castes in India, Kayasthas are the easiest to mingle with other castes. They did this when the Muslims
came to India, and modern examples of this are Kayasthas outside india where they mingle with other castes more than they
mingle among themselves.
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