Jharra Chhetri
Jharrā | |
---|---|
Classification | Jumla Kingdom |
Jharra Chhetri(.
Jharra Chhetri are
Chhetri with heterogenous surnames are also called as Bahuthariya, such as Thapa (Bagale/Lamichhane/Godar/Suyal/Puwar), Karki (Mudula/Lama/Sutar), Basnet (Khaptari/Shripali/Khulal), Khadka (Kalikote/Puwar/Khulal/Maharajhi) whereas those with homogenous are known as "Ekthariyas" like
Jharra Chhetris are strict Tagadhari Hindus to the extent that Jharras who consumed alcohol and pork were even degraded to Matwali Chhetri(liquor drinkers) and robbed from Jharra status.
Etymology and Background
The meaning of the terminology "Jharra" is 'pure'[1] and 'unpolluted'[2] while the terminology "Chhetri" is a direct derivative[3] or a Nepalese vernacular of the Sanskrit word Kshatriya.[4]
Chhetri Background
Chhetris along with Brahmins are considered among the twice born castes called
Culture and Traditions
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/A_yagyopaveet_sanskar_upanayana_samskara.jpg/220px-A_yagyopaveet_sanskar_upanayana_samskara.jpg)
Definition and distinction with Thima
Hypergamous marriages are traditionally considered acceptable among Chhetri . The children born from the union of a Chhetri man and his married Chhetri wife are considered "Jharrā" (meaning: 'pure') while those children born from the union of a Hill Brahmin man and a Chhetri woman are considered "Thimā" (meaning: 'hybrid'). They are not accepted in the funerals of Pure Kshatriyas Lineage.[1][6] Jharrā children are traditionally assigned a higher ritual status above the Thimā children.[1]
A Jharra Chhetri would accept ritually relevant food items from only among respective Jharra Chhetri in terms of traditional touchability. They were demoted to Matwali Chhetri if they consumed foods like Pork, Alcohol in different places. [1] During the rituals of annual sacrifice to the clan deities, only Jharra Chhetri would be allowed to enter into the inner sphere of the shrine.[1][6]
A Jharrā boy would be given a six threaded
Socio-religious standing
Jharra Chhetris claim the highest social ranking among all subgroups of Chhetris.
Most Jharra Chhetris were Aristrocrates,administrators,warriors,landholders and farmers of medieval himalayan states. From Unification of Nepal to
Touchability
On the basis of concept of Jharra caste purity, some Chhetri men traditionally do not consume food cooked by their lower caste wives.[4]
Notable People
- Bhimsen Thapa
- Abhiman Singh Basnet
- Dilli Jung Thapa
- Amar Singh Thapa
- Bhakti Thapa
- Bal Narsingh Kunwar
- Swarup Singh Karki
- Balbhadra Kunwar
- Queen Tripurasundari of Nepal
- Abhiman Singh Basnet
- Mathabarsingh Thapa
- Pyar Jung Thapa
- Purna Chandra Thapa
- Surya Bahadur Thapa
- Rookmangud Katawal
- Yogi Naraharinath
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Bennett 1978, p. 135.
- ^ Subba 1989, p. xvi.
- ^ Burghart 1984, p. 119.
- ^ a b c Gurung 1996, p. 31.
- ^ a b Adhikary 1997, p. 19.
- ^ a b Bista 1972, p. 123.
- ^ a b Pahari 1995, p. 186.
- ^ Subba 1989, p. 63.
- ^ Iijima 1977, p. 101.
- ^ Sharma Upreti 1979, p. 37.
Books
- Adhikary, Surya Mani (1997). The Khasa Kingdom: A trans-Himalayan empire of the middle age. Nirala Publications. p. 210. ISBN 8185693501.
- Bennett, Lynn (1978). "Maiti-Ghar: The Dual Role of High Caste Women". In James F. Fisher (ed.). Himalayan Anthropology: The Indo-Tibetan Interface. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 978-90-279-7700-7.
- Bista, Dor Bahadur (1 January 1972). People of Nepal. Kathmandu: Ratna Pustak Bhandar.
- Burghart, Richard (1984). "The Formation of the Concept of Nation-State in Nepal". The Journal of Asian Studies. 44 (1): 101–125. JSTOR 2056748.
- Gurung, Harka B. (1996). Faces of Nepal. Himal Books. ISBN 9789993343509.
- Pahari, Anup (1995), The Origins, Growth and Dissolution of Feudalism in Nepal: A Contribution to the Debate on Feudalism in Non-European Societies, vol. 4, University of Wisconsin--Madison
- Sharma Upreti, Nayantara (1979). A Study of the Family Support System: Child Bearing and Child Rearing Rituals in Kathmandu, Nepal. University of Wisconsin--Madison. ISBN 9788173041143.
- Subba, Tanka Bahadur (1989). Dynamics of a hill society: Nepalis in Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalayas. Mittal Publications. ISBN 9788173041143.
- Iijima, Shigeru (1977). Changing Aspects of Modern Nepal: Relating to the Ecology, Agriculture, and Her People. Institute for the Study of Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa.