Awasthi

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Awasthi (अवस्थी) is a surname / title used by a group of Kanyakubj Brahman (कान्यकुब्ज ब्राह्मण) of Kanaujiya (कनौजिया) division of Gaur (गौर) Brahmans in India. It is distinctive to Awasthis (unlike Shukla, Pandey, Mishra etc.) that they belong only to Kanyakubj Brahman sub-cast. Any claim, otherwise would be a heresy and without any support. In this era of globalization, Awasthis are found all across the globe, however, their origin is the old city of Kannauj (in Uttar Pradesh, India).

History of Awasthis

Like all Kanaujiya Brahmans, Kannauj is the citadel of Awasthi Brahmans. The First generation migrated to nearby places and thus different clans were formed having a well defined hierarchical structure. Since their origin, they have migrated within India & abroad (mainly to Nepal). From the ancient time of the Vedic period, Awasthi Brahmans have always excelled in intellectual and martial pursuits.

In India

Primary concentration

• Awasthis are chiefly concentrated in Sumerpur Village of Unnao; Kanpur City & Kanpur Dehat; Sitapur; Etawah; Hardoi; districts of Uttar Pradesh.

Secondary concentration

• Himachal Pradesh: Kangra district
• Uttarakhand: Village Naret & village Pantgaon of Askote; Jauljibi; Dutibagad; Chamtoli; in the Pithoragarh district of Kumaon Division

Folklore

1. It is believed that in ancient times two Awasthi Brahmans came from Kanya Kubz (Kannauj) to Naret for some adventure. One of them was overwhelmed by beauty of that place and decided to live there.

In Nepal

Primary concentration

• western areas of Nepal - mainly in Baitadi, Dharchula

Secondary concentration

• Awasthis from Pithoragadh migrated to Western Nepal during the neapali invasion in Kumano & are residing at Khatali village of Baitadi District
• Some Awasthis migrated to Gajela village of Dadeldhura District in Nepal.

New Hierarchical Level & Lineage

In the reign of Nawabs, a new hierarchical order evolved among the Kanyakubj Brahmans - the Maanyata (मान्यता) or Biswa (बिस्वा). The Highest being Bees Biswa (बीस बिस्वा) (20/20) and the lowest being Do Biswa (दो बिस्वा) (2/20); in steps of two. Thus, in all there are 10 hierarchical levels.

Awasthi are either of the three levels viz. Bees Biswa (बीस बिस्वा), Baarah Biswa (बारह बिस्वा) or Do Biswa (दो बिस्वा). Parallel to Biswa, there is another classification of Vansh (वंश) or Clan (which in verbal communication is put as a question - "कहाँ के अवस्थी?" (English translation: "Awasthi of...?")) such as: Madhav (माधो) ke Awasthi, Prabhakar (प्रभाकर) ke Awasthi, Divakar (दिवाकर) ke Awasthi etc. Both these classifications go hand in hand. Further to this there is Aank (आंक); which confirms the lineage claim of an individual. These three identify the pedigree of an Awasthi Brahman. In circumstances where either of these is missing, the claim of an individual of being an Awasthi (in fact a Kanyakubj Brahman) becomes dubious.

Marriage

As per New Hierarchical Level

In Hindus, one of the ritual during marriage is of Kanyadan (कन्यादान) . This means that the girl is to be given away as an endowment. Now this endowment would obviously be offered to a highly eligible groom of high (or equal) status. Hence, the marriages in Kanyakubaj Brahmans happen in the same Biswa. This is why, a girl may be married to a boy of higher biswa but not to a boy of a lower biswa than that of the girl's.

Incidentally, Shukla (शुक्ला), Mishra (मिश्रा), Dixit (दीक्षित), Tripathi (त्रिपाठी), Pandey (पाण्डेय) and Bajpayee (बाजपयी) Brahmans are the only ones which fall under Bees Biswa Category and hence, marriages are permitted (not forced, but followed religiously) among these sub castes only.

Also to be noted is the fact that some Bajpayees and Awasthis are samgotri (समगोत्री) i.e. they have same gotra (गोत्र) and hence marriages (consanguineous marriages) are not allowed.

Again, as Awasthis may have either of the two gotras - Gautam (गौतम) or Upmanya (उपमन्य); hence, marriage among Awasthis is also prevalent.

Language

The mother tongue of Awasthi Brahmans is Awadhi, an Indo-Aryan language, akin to Hindi. Awadhi is the language, in which, the famed epic Sri Ramcharit Manas (श्रीरामचरित मानस) was written by Shree Tulsi Das ji.

Misinformation, Heresy & Claims

Below is a collection of common misinformations in textual works, heresy & claims being made by various people or groups; along with the logical reasoning to refute their claim & hence, prove it wrong in every sense.

1. Awasthi (अवस्थी) is a surname as well as Gotra also a major Brahmin caste of Brahmin Castes of Nepal and India.
   • The above is Incorrect as:
     • Awasthis are Kanyakubj Brahmans of India. Their origin is Kannauj, India. Hence, they are indigenous to India. However they migrated to Nepal - just as they have migrated to Mauritius, USA etc.
     • Awasthi is a surname / title & not a Gotra / Sub-cast / cast. If it is a Gotra in any culture, then that would be a disambiguation.
2. The Awasthi Brahmans located in District Pithoragagh of Uttarakhand State belong to Agastya Gotra and are Yajurvedadhyayi.
   • The above is Incorrect as:
     • There are 7 Gotra of Kanyakubj Brahmans & Agastya is NOT one of them. Moreover, only 2 Gotra (Gautam & Upmanyu) use Awasthi as title.
3. Awasthi Brahmans who have been living in the Malwa region of M.P., are mostly Sanadhya Brahmans. The presence of famous Awasthi ji ki bawadi & sati chaura located at historical place Shahabad, a small town of Baran district in Rajasthan certify this fact. It is considered as the "Pahala Khera" or the most sacred place of Sanadhya Awasthi Brahmans.
   • The above is Incorrect as:
     • Awasthis are indigenous to Kanyakubj Brahmans of India.
4. According to old history & "JAGAS" records most of the Awasthi families spreading all over in M.P. migrated here from Rajasthan.
   • The above is Incorrect as:
     • Jaga is a caste in Rajasthan, who hereditarily keeps the genealogical records of ONLY warrior communities like Meenas, Rajputs, Yaduvanshi Ahirs, and Gurjars, Jats families mainly in Rajasthan and surrounding states & NOT of Brahmans. Hence, any record of Kanyakubj Brahmans being with them is firstly dubious in nature and secondly requires close scrutiny as to its sanctity.
5. In the 18th century, Jagannath Awasthi, a Bhumihar Brahman zamindar of Kanyakubja Brahman descent had bought a number of estates or parts of them in Sultanganj and Purnia in Bihar and managed his affairs with great attention and prudence.
   • The above is Incorrect as:
     • Bhumihar Brahmans are not a part of Kanyakubja Brahmans in any way
     • Awasthi is a title distinctive only to Kanyakubj Brahmans. Hence, the Awasthi mentioned in the text must be of some other caste (may be creed, sect or religion); and to change his status took the title of Awasthi.