Agham Lohana

Agham Lohana was the governor of Brahmanabad, (in Sindh, modern Pakistan) under the nominal rule of Rai Sahasi, king of Alor. Agham Lohana was a Buddhist, and was a member of the Lohana clan.

Biography

Agham Lohana is described in the Chachnama as a chief and ruler of Brahmanabad; he is also noted to have controlled other adjacent territories known as Lakha and Sama. He is estimated to have ruled around 636 AD. Agham Lohana was a chieftain of Lohana caste and professed Buddhism

Chach after consolidating his hold on Alor began expansion of his territories and asked Agham Lohana to surrender; however, conflict broke out between the two, and Agham Lohana was killed. His son was established as governor of Brahmanabad, but Chach's forces occupied the lands formerly ruled by Agham Lohana.

Chach married Agham’s widow in a political maneuver, and likewise wed his own niece to Agham’s son Sarhand. Further, Chach laid restrictions on Lohanas and Jats, to reduce the potential for resistance and to lower their social status; among these were bans on riding saddled horses, wearing silk and velvet, wearing headgear, and carrying weapons. The Lohanas and Jats were also forced to wear black and red scarves.

Lohana

The Lohana, also referred to as Luvana and Luhana, are an Indian caste, traditionally largely occupied as merchants.

The Lohanas are divided into three separate cultural groups as a result of centuries apart in different regions. Thus there are significant differences between the culture, language, professions and societies of Sindhi Lohanas (those who migrated from Sind after partition of India), Kutchi Lohanas (those living or having ancestry in Kutch), and those of Gujarati Lohanas (those living or having ancestry in Saurashtra).

History

Although considered to be Vaishya in the Hindu ritual ranking system known as varna, the Lohanas favour a mythical origin as members of the Kshatriya varna. Their claim is to be of Suryavanshi descent from a lineage tracing back to Lava, son of Rama. At least some of them believe that they belong to the Rathor clan, which they consider to be kshatriya. They claim that their name is derived from Lavnam, one of the 18 grades of Kshatriya, ultimately derived from Lava himself.