Savji

The Savji (or Saoji, Souji or Sauji) are an Indian caste. They claim descent from the mythological Puranic king Sahasrārjuna.

Etymology

When Savjis from the north central India migrated to the southern states, many of them were involved in silk cleaning and weaving business. Today, there are many Savji families in Karnataka, Andhra and Tamil Nadu who are in silk cleaning and weaving business.

Origin ties

Customs, traditions and the language spoken by Savjis suggests that the community has its origin in North Central part of India or Malwa region (between west Madhya Pradesh and East Gujarat) where such customs are followed and languages similar to the Savji language are spoken. Savjis were part of a larger community that lived in north-central part of India during 6th century till 13th century before the advent of Islam in northern part of India. Shakti pooja (in the form of Hinglaj mata, Bhawani mata or Jagdamba mata etc.) is common to the Savji and Kalchuri the communities. Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu claim to be descendants of King Sahastrarjuna and the Haihaya dynasty. All of these communities were once the same and part of the dynasty that ruled the region of Malwa. Once powerful, the Kalchuri dynasty fell gradually to the rising Islamic rule in northern India. Constant threat of Islamic invasions and a fear of losing their cultural identity to the forced religious conversions by the Islamic rulers compelled the community to gradually disintegrate, and disperse from their homeland to different parts of India.