Aggarwals (also Agrawal or Agarwal or Agrawalla) are the largest and most infuential of the bania (merchant) communities in India. The Agarwal population is about four million.

Agroha, the original center of Agrawals

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The name Aggarwal is derived from Agroha (Sanskrit Agrotaka), the original center of the Agarwals, which is near Hisar in Haryana. From the Hisar region, Aggarwal descendants have migrated mostly to Punjab, Delhi, and Western Uttar Pradesh, but they can also be found in other parts of India. Those living in Shekhawati region in Rajasthan are generally called Marwari.

Origin

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Myth of origin

According to Mahalaksmi Vrat Katha, Emperor Agrasen was a Kshatriya and a Suryavanshi (lineage from the Sun) born during the last stages of Dwapar Yuga. The young Prince Agrasen was an icon of non-violence, messenger of peace and well known for his compassion. He never discriminated against anyone and the subjects were very pleased with the way he conducted himself. Hindu mythology says that the King of Gods, Indra wanted to marry Queen Madhavi, the wife of Agrasen and waged a long war. Eventually Narada negotiated peace between them.

Agrasen was moved by the suffering of his subjects during the war. He prayed to Goddess Mahalakshmi to grant long-term peace. The Goddess blessed him and asked him to give up the Kshatriya tradition and take up the trading tradition. She also asked that in return for her eternal presence with his descendants, he establish a new Kingdom. Around 3200 B.C., Emperor Agrasen and Queen Madhavi established and ruled Agroha, which existed near what is now the city of Hissar in Haryana, India. Agroha soon became prosperous. Agrasen established 18 clans (or Gotras) for each of his 18 sons based on the names of their Guru. He proceeded to conduct 18 Maha Yagna and divided his kingdom among his 18 sons. Trade, agriculture and industry continued to flourish. During the centuries that followed, prosperous Agroha Empire was invaded many times by foreign conquerors. The descendants of the Gotras were forced to migrate to other parts of India.

Today, these people are known as Agarwals. They still have the same 18 gotras that were given to them. As per Maharaj Agrasen's guidance, the Aggarwals are in the forefront of social service.

Chronological history

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Early history

The town of Agroha flourished through Maurya, Kushana, Yaudheya, and Tomara period. Agrawal merchant Nattal Sahu and the first Agrawal poet Vibudh Shridhar lived during the rule of Tomar Anangapal of Yoginipur.

Muslim period

Agroha survived when Hansi was conquered by Turks in the 10th century, but was overrun by Ghori.

In 1354, Feroze Shah founded Hisar near Agroha, and Hisar became a main center of the Agrawals. A Bhattaraka institution based in Hisar had branches in Gwalior and Delhi. During the rule of the Sultans, some of the Agrawals were able to obtain permission to build temples etc.

In early 15th century Agrawals flourished under the Tomars of Gwalior. Many of them became very wealthy and supported carving of idols, and composition of literature.

During the Mughal rule, a few Agrawals were able to secure influential positions in the Mughal court. In 1712, Lala Ratan Chand, originator of Rajvanshi section, was executed because of his involvement in the power struggle.

British period

Late during the Mughal rule, and during the British East India Company administration, the Agrawals migration to Bihar and Calcutta began, who became the major component of the Marwaris.

During the British rule, Agrawals became involved in Swadeshi movements and established major houses like Dalmia-Jain, Bajaj, Singhania etc.Lala Lajpat Rai was one of the prominent Agrawals to sacrifice his life for freedom struggle. Bharatendu Harishchandra was responsible for establishing Hindi as India's national language, and wrote the first history of the Agrawal community.

Agrawals today

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Presently a number of Agrawals are Jains. Marriages between Vaishanva Agrawals and Jain Agrawals is very common.

Some of the richest Indians, like Lakshmi Mittal of Mittal Steel, Subhash Chandra of Zee TV, Sunil Mittal of Bharti Telecom, Naresh Goyal (Jet Airways), Sajjan Jindal (Jindal Iron & Steel Company Ltd) are Agrawals. Agrawals are known to be strict vegetarians and strongly identify with Indian culture and Hindi language.

Gotras

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The names associated with these original Clans/Gotras (and variations thereof) are the surnames of the Agarwal community today: Mittal, Bansal, Singhal, Jindal, Kansal, Airan, Tingal, Bindal, Garg, Goyal, Goyan, Mangal, Dharan, Madhukul, Tayal, Bhandal, Kucchal and Naagil. All eighteen of these names are synonymous with the Agarwal surname.

Gotra	Original Gotra	Lord	Saint (Guru)	Veda	Branch	Sutra
Mittal	Maitreya	Mantrapati	Vishwamitra/Maitreya	Yajurveda	Madhyadini/Madhuri	Kaatyayni
Bansal	Vatsya	Virbhan	Vishist/Vatsa	Samaveda	Kouthmi/Kauttham	Gobhil
Singhal	Shandalya	Sindhupati	Shringi/Shandilya	Samaveda	Koyumi/Kauttham	Gobhil
Jindal	Gemino	Jaitrasangh	Bruhaspati/Jaimini	Yajurveda	Madhyadini/Madhuri	Kaatyayni
Kansal	Kaushik	Manipal	Kaushik	Yajurveda	Madhyadini/Madhuri	Kaatyayni
Airan/Aeron	Aurva	Indramal	Atri/Aaurva	Yajurveda	Madhyadini/Madhuri	Kaatyayni
Tingal/Tunghal	Taandav	Tambolkarna	Shandilya/Tandya	Yajurveda	Madhyadini/Madhuri	Kaatyayni
Bindal/Vindal	Vishist	Vrinddev	Yavasya/Vashista	Yajurveda	Madhuri	Kaatyayni
Garg/Gargeya	Gargasya	Pushpadev	Gargacharya or Garg	Yajurveda	Madhuri	Kaatyaynigarg
Goyal	Gomil	Gendumal	Gautam/Gobhil	Yajurveda	Madhuri	Kaatyayni
Goyan/Goin/Goyanor/Gangal	Gautan	Godhar	Purohit/Gautam	Yajurveda	Madhyadini/Madhuri	Kaatyayni
Mangal	Maandav	Amritsen	Mudragal/Mandavya	Rigveda/Yajurveda	Sakalya	Asusai
Dharan/Deran	Dhanyas	Dhavandev	Bhekaar/Ghaumya	Yajurveda	Madhuri	Kaatyayni
Madhukul/Mudgal	Mudgal	Madhavsen	Aashvalayan/Mudgal	Rigveda/Yajurveda	Saalaya/Sakalya	Aslayin
Tayal	Taitireya	Tarachand	Saakal/Taitireya	Yajurveda/Kri	Madhyadini/Aausthambh	Kaatyayni
Bhandal	Dhoumya	Vasudev	Bhardwaj	Yajurveda	Madhyadini/Madhuri	Kaatyayni
Kuchhal/Kachal/Kuchchal	Kashyap	Karanchand	Kush/Kashyap	Samaveda	Kosami/Kauttham	Komaal
Naagil/Nangal/Nagal	Naagend	Narsev	Kaudalya/Nagendra	Samaveda	Kouthmi/Kauttham	Aslayin

References

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• "Agrasen Agroha Agrawal", by Dr.Swarajya Mani Agrawal
• "Agrawal Jati Ka praachin Itihaas" by Satyaketu Vidyalankar

Agarwal | Caste | Indian culture | Indian family names | Social groups of India