Balai: Difference between revisions

Balai is the bad pronounastion of hindi word "बुनाई", the word "Balai" itself is mean to weaving <ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Mayer |first=Adrian |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bMPLEAAAQBAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA152&dq=balai+caste&hlpg=enPA152 |title=Caste and Kinship in Central India: A Village and its Region |date=2023-07-28 |publisher=Univ of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-31349-1 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Nesfield |first=John Collinson |url=https://books.google.co.incom/books?id=nuU-AAAAYAAJ&newbks=0&dq=bunkar%20balai%20caste+balai+caste&pg=PA25#v=onepage&q=bunkar%20balai%20caste&f=false |title=Brief View of the Caste System of the North-Western Provinces and Oudh: Together with an Examination of the Names and Figures Shown in the Census Report, 1882, Being an Attempt to Classify on a Functional Basis All the Main Castes of the United Provinces, and to Explain Their Gradations of Rank and the Process of Their Formation. 28th February, 1885 |date=1885 |publisher=North-Western Provinces and Oudh Government Press |language=en}}</ref> Weaving is the traditional occupation of Balais'''.'''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tilonia® |title=Weaving |url=https://www.tilonia.com/blogs/artisans/weaving |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=Tilonia® |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HcMYAAAAYAAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&dq=%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%88+%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%88&q=%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%88+%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%88&hl=en |title=Cittauṛagaṛha |date=1994 |publisher=Javāhara Kalā Kendra |language=hi}}</ref>

According to [[Hindu texts]] all the [[Weaving|weaver]] in [[Hindu religion]] are the descendants of [[Mrikanda|Rishi Mrikanda]] who was born in the clan of '''[[Bhrigu|Bhrigu Rishi]]'''.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2023-09-01 |title=Mrekand: The Divine Artisan - Unveiling The Hindu God Of Weaving {{!}} The Indosphere |url=https://theindosphere.com/religion/mrekand-the-hindu-god-of-weaving/ |access-date=2023-11-26 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hinduism |first=Glorious |date=2019-07-02 |title=The Powerful Bhrigu Rishi |url=https://glorioushinduism.com/2019/07/01/bhrigu/ |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Glorious Hinduism |language=en-US}}</ref>Mrikanda is known as the father of modern weaving, He is also venerated as the father of [[Markandeya]], the rishi (sage) who is featured extensively in the [[Markandeya Purana]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Markandeya – Vyasa Mahabharata |url=https://www.vyasaonline.com/encyclopedia/markandeya/ |access-date=2023-11-26 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Rajagopalachari |first=C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GlXMDwAAQBAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA559&dq=Markandeya+balai&hlpg=enPA559 |title=Mahabharata Ramayana |date=2020 |publisher=IRCISOD |isbn=978-623-7378-20-4 |language=id}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |lastlast1=Commissioner |firstfirst1=India Census |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BhBFAQAAMAAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&q=Mrikanda+weaver&hl=en |title=Census of India, 1891 |last2=Baines |first2=Jervoise Athelstane |date=1893 |publisher=Printed at the Assam secretariat printing Office |language=en}}</ref> In this context Balai weaver are also said to be descendants of [[Mrikanda|Rishi Mrikanda]].

'''Bunker''' is the sub group from the caste of balai some of the bunker's are still doing the work of weaving and they belong to the [[Vaishya|'''[[vaishya (Bania)]]''']]

caste. They are attached with the work of weaving or selling.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jacksonville |first=Florida State College at |title=Caste System in Ancient India |url=https://fscj.pressbooks.pub/worldreligions/chapter/caste-system-in-ancient-india/ |journal=Caste System in Ancient India |language=en}}</ref>

[[Jainism|Jain Shravak Sangha]] had preached among the Balai community in 1964 near Ratlam in village Guradia. Acharya Nanalal Maharaj from Jain Shravak Sangha gave '''Dharampal Jain Samaj''' to the balai community in the name of ''Lord Dharmanath'', who was among the Tirthankaras of Jain society. Currently 1.25 lakh people of Malviya and Gujarati Balai community across the country have become Dharampal Jains.[https://www.bhaskar.com/latest-nagda-news-061503-1642471.html/#:~:text=%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%20%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%87%20%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A8%20%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%20%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%87%20%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%82%20%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%82%20%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B2%20%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A5%20%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%20%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%87%20%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%20%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%20%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%82%20%E0%A4%8F%E0%A4%95%20%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%20%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%20%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A5%A4%20%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%20%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%BE%20%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B2%20%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A8]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gururaghvendra.com |date=2023-05-07 |title=जैन धर्म के देवत्व की अवधारणा भाग- प्रथम Jain Dharm ke Devatv Kee Avadharana Bhag Pratham… |url=https://medium.com/@raghvendrachaurasia04/%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A8-%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE-%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%87-%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5-%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%80-%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%BE-%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97-%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AE-jain-dharm-ke-devatv-kee-avadharana-bhag-pratham-c1a6b575813f |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=Medium |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Śānti (Muni.) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u94cAAAAMAAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&dq=Dharampal+balai+Jain+Samaj&q=Dharampal+balai+Jain+Samaj&hl=en |title=Antarpatha ke yātrī Ācārya Śrī Nāneśa |date=1982 |publisher=Śrī A. Bhā. Sādhumārgī Jaina Saṅgha |language=hi}}</ref>

Historically the Raj Balais are said to be [[Royal Administration of Merovingian and Carolingian Dynasties|royal messengers]], they used to convey messages from one [[Monarchy|kingdom]] to another kingdom at the ancient times . '[[Wiktionary:राज|Raj]]' is the synonym Royal therefore the Balais who was engaged in such royal services called Raj Balais. <ref>{{Cite book |last=General |first=India Office of the Registrar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ibzElgStAFkC&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&dq=Raj+balai&q=sutarkar&hl=en |title=Census of India, 1961 |date=1962 |publisher=Manager of Publications |language=en}}</ref>

Balai are [[Hindus]] by religion. They are devotees of [[Durga|Maa Durga]], [[Chamunda|Maa Chamunda]] and Maa [[Kalaratri]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hinduism Basics |url=https://www.hinduamerican.org/hinduism-basics/ |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=Hindu American Foundation |language=en-US}}</ref> They also pay tribute to [[Ramdev Pir|Baba Ramdeo Ji]] and consider "[[Kalaratri|KALRATRI]]" as their [[kuldevi]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Beliefs of Hinduism (article) {{!}} India |url=https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/south-east-se-asia/india-art/a/beliefs-of-hinduism |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=Khan Academy |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=K. S. |url=https://books.google.co.incom/books?id=iKsqzB4P1ioC&newbks=0&lpg=PP1&vqq=balai%20hindu&pg=PP1#v=snippet&q=Balai%20worship%20Durga%20&f=false |title=People of India: Rajasthan (2 pts.) |date=1998 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |isbn=978-81-7154-766-1 |language=en}}</ref> Balais do not marry in their families or within their gotra.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Hinduism Doctrine and Beliefs |url=https://hinducouncil.com.au/new/hinduism/hinduism-doctrine-and-beliefs/ |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=Hindu Council of Australia |language=en-US}}</ref> Balai have mixed gotras in their caste due to caste conversions. Balais are divided into a number of exogamous gotras such as Chouhan, Rathore, Parihar, Parmar, Solanki,<ref>{{Cite book |last=General |first=India Office of the Registrar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DPAeAQAAMAAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&dq=balai+gotra&q=Chauhan&hl=en |title=Census of India, 1961 |date=1965 |publisher=Manager of Publications |language=en}}</ref> Marichi, Atri, August, Bhardwaj, Matang, Dhaneshwar, Mahachand, Jogchand, Jogpal, Meghpal, Garva and Jaipal.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhartiya |first=Ranjeet |date=2023-07-25 |title=बलाई समाज गोत्र,सामाजिक संरचना में गोत्रों की महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका है |url=https://jankaritoday.com/balai-samaj-gotra/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=Jankari Today |language=en-GB}}</ref> They live in multi-caste villages in their own areas and bury their dead.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Naik |first=Shambhavi |date=2020-02-08 |title=The scientific argument for marrying outside your caste |url=https://theprint.in/science/the-scientific-argument-for-marrying-outside-your-caste/360975/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref>

* Sometimes balai is also referred as [[Kabirpanthi Julaha#:~:text=The Kabirpanthi Julaha are a,They are followers of Kabirdas.&text=They are classified as an,Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.|Julaha]] and [[Meghwal]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Commons |first=Great Britain Parliament House of |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n71DAQAAMAAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA358&dq=julaha+balai+caste&hlpg=enPA358 |title=House of Commons Parliamentary Papers: Bills |date=1900 |publisher=H.M. Stationery Office |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=K. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iKsqzB4P1ioC&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&q=meghwal+balai&hl=en |title=People of India: Rajasthan (2 pts.) |date=1998 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |isbn=978-81-7154-766-1 |language=en}}</ref> Originally most of balais are associate themselves to Meghwal community and refer themselves as Meghwal and Meghvanshi.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Snodgrass |first=Jeffrey G. |url=https://books.google.co.incom/books?id=uP8r9JAs7xkC&lpg=PP1&vqq=megh%20rishi&pg=PR3#v=onepage&q=meghwal&f=false |title=Casting Kings: Bards and Indian Modernity |date=2006-08-10 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-804140-5 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Kumar Suresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g9MVAQAAMAAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&dq=meghwal+descendants&q=megh+rishi&hl=en |title=People of India: India's communities |date=1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-563354-2 |language=en}}</ref>