Monday, April 18, 2016

Anavils - Native of ancient Surparka kingdom

Based on my research with due diligence, I'm convinced to believe that anavils are from ancient Surparka kingdom that existed from Narmada river to Raigad district of present day Maharashtra. That kingdom was established from Lord Parshuram and given to Brahmin descendent of Sage Kashyap to govern.

Present day Nala Sopara near Virar was its capital and I'm confident that our forefathers used to live there as well. Historically speaking, anavils are baloch tribe and that's the reason why they don't get united too often as traditionally they are fiercely independent due to their background and ancestry. It is logical that baloch tribe travelled from present day Baluchistan to Bhojpur in Bihar and from there it scattered into different directions in India.

Those who came to South Gujarat are called Anavils. I see even now that Anavils are very different in their thinking and even culturally from other Gujarati castes. In fact, I was told many times that I am not like typical Gujarati and being an Anavil, I never understood where it's coming from as I never tried anything by myself to look different from other Gujaratis but not I understand where it came from! It is very natural as Anavil's genes are not the same as other typical Gujarati castes.

Jai Anavil!
 

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Anavils - dying community?

What might be population of Anavils? I haven't done extensive research on it but the information that I can gather, it tells me it may be roughly 300,000 in total. And the worrying thing is the numbers are decreasing day by day.

Why is that the case for a forward community who claims their descendent to Chanakya? Well, it's a good question for introspection for everyone and everyone can have different opinions. But I think the greatest thing is Anavils on average is boastful and lazy community. Don't get me wrong - Anavils are great community and it has produced greatest people that have served India to a great extent however as you can imagine we can't live our life by citing past all the time.

We have to live today and keep producing great results every time. Today, many Anavils are selling their property for quick profit. Many families have end up in courts for property dispute. Joint families are becoming realities of past. Education overall may be ok bur there are vast differences - some have very ordinary education and some are crazy for all paper certificates (degrees but no real education).

The result?? I'm not Notrademus but I can't see Anavil community in great shape after 50 years. I wish I live that much and proved wrong. If that happens, I'll be very happy... Otherwise we might become Parsis and face extinction in time to come.

Dear Anavils, please share your thoughts.
 

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Who are anavils?

Anavil is a caste in South Gujarat. I consider them dynamic, educated, able administrators and forward caste. The problem with them is they consider them converts from Bhils. Guys, let me tell you that it's not true and here are the reasons why??

Every anavil has a gotra. Gotra is a system in Brahmins that gets passed from generations to generations. In other words, it's a lineage from rishis. It is not possible to invent gotras that every anavil has. Also, like anavils there are many Brahmin sub-castes in India like Bhumihar Brahmins in Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, Tyagi Brahmins in Western Uttar Pradesh, Goud Brahmins in U.P. and Rajasthan, Chitpawan Brahmins in Maharashtra, Havyak Brahmins in Karnataka, Niyogi Brahmins in Andhra Pradesh, Iyer Brahmins of Tamil Nadu, Namboothiri Brahmins in Kerala, Bengali Brahmins in Eastern India and Mohyals in the Punjab region that do not do rituals. It's not that they are not permitted but they joined hands with Parshurama and stopped doing rituals at some point due to other involvement and commitments. They are either land owners or do other professions.

A Brahmin has pravars too as per their professions and each brahmin follows certain shakha of ved. I know many anavils follow Yajur Ved shakha which is very common with bhumihar Brahmins from Bihar.

Another claim that is being made by anavils is bhagwan Ram gave Brahmin diksha to anavils that makes no sense to me and here is why? Because Ram was born as a Kshatriya and kshatriyas weren't allowed to do any rituals even in those days and even now. For that matter, no one other than a brahmin can perform any ritual. So, Ram cannot give any diksha to anyone even though he is considered God's incarnation - period... On the contrary, even in Ayodhya Guru Vasishtha who was considered Rajarshi used to do all rituals for raja Dashrath and Ram. Only Brahmins are allowed to rituals in Hinduism.

On top of this, all gotras that Anavils claim resembles with gotras in Western Bihar and Eastern UP. Due to all these facts, I can conclusively say that anavils are bhumihar brahimns and that claim their roots from Bhojpur, Siwan ans Saran districts of today's Bihar state and Ballia district of today's Uttar Pradesh.

In fact, there is also a theory that says that historically anavil forefathers migrated to Bihar from Baluchistan. I tend to believe in this theory as anavils also worship kuldevi in addition to their ishtadev. Anavil's ishtadev is shukleshwar mahadev and kuldevis are different as per their villages. Some villagers in Valsad district have Hinglaj Maa as as their kuldevi and Hinglaj Maa's shaktipeeth is one of 52 shaktipeethas situated near Makran (a port town) in Baluchistan in today's Pakistan.

Anavils need to take pride of their own heritage!!! Brahminism just doesn't happen by chance or conversion, it is a heritage that is passed from generations to generations...

Guys, something to think about!!!