Rabari - Caste and Faith

Caste and Faith

Rabaris claim descent from the Rajput clans such as the Rathore, Solanki, Bhati, Paramara, Chauhan, Tanwar and Ponwar. Many historian shown their arriving at here from central Asia, but some one like Colonel James Todd wrote in his one famous book “TAREEKH-E-RAJISTHAN( HALAT-E-MARAWAR)” (1818) that, Rabari are actually BHATI rajputs who are decedent of seventh wife (Bhadra) of prophet KIRSHANA. These Rabari in the past were great warriors, wise men and clan royalty. Rabari clans are called ' NAKH '. These clans are further sub-divided in SHAKHS .

The actual Rabari are hun rajput. They invaded India in 507 AD. and ruled from 509 to 511 AD. Their king was Mihrikula, the leader of hun rajput. If we go to the early history their head was ATTILLA THE HUN. Attilla the hun was born in southern part of Russia. Some people also believed that Rabari or Huns Rajput, came to India from the Roman side because Attila the Hun was king of the region at the time.

About their origin there are interesting myths. According to one of the legends on their origin, Lord Shiva gave Sambal, one of these minions, three apsaras, to marry and flourish with a condition that he will not speak one word to them. If the violated the condition, the apsaras would be lost forever. From his association, one son and four daughters were born. Soon, the family grew large and therefore the lord asked him to go and dwell on the earth. Since then Sambal was called Rabari.

According to another version, Sambal was an ace camel breeder. Someone started stealing the beautiful and sturdy animals. Sambal soon discovered that the stealer was a goddess. However, Sambal caught her and through a clever stratagem removed her clothes, leaving her in an embarrassing situation. As per the tradition in situations like this, the two married and after wandering across Haryana, Rajasthan and Sind, settled in Kutch.

Rabaris are devout Hindus. According to their myth of existence they were created by Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva, who wiped the dust and sweat from Shiva as he was meditating and fashioned the very first camel from the dust balls she collected from his body. Once Shiva had breathed life into this camel, it kept running away, so Parvati fashioned a man, and the first Rabari was given life so he could mind the camel. Keeping animals has thus always been a pious occupation and Rabaris see themselves primarily as custodians of animals during their moral existence, rather than their owners. It is also their beliefs that the mother goddess presides over them. Her advice is taken about when to start out migration, and animals are commended to her care.