Ojha

The term Ojha is a surname for Saraswat Brahmin, Kanyakubja and Saryupareen Brahmins castes of India and Nepal. The term is used amongst speakers of Bhojpuri, Hindi, Oriya and Bengali, as well as amongst the Santhals. The high population of OJHA's are found in districts of Gorakhpur Pratapgarh Ballia (Uttar Pradesh), Buxar (Bihar) and Ara (Bihar). This term has been derived from Sanskrit over time. Literal translations vary, but one such example is "he who controls the spirits on Earth". According to some, they were the top class Brahmin preachers who earned their livelihood through teaching. Thus UPADHYAY term was used by them which from Sanskrit corrupted to 'Uwajjhay' (as "namo aujhayanam" suggest from Jain scriptures) in Prakrit, and from 'Uwajjhay' to Ojha in Hindi. In Bihar, some consider Jha and Ojha of same clan. Jha are Maithils and call their son-laws Ojha Ji, this has given credence to this belief.