Charan

Charan

Cāraṇas (plural Charans; Hindi:चारण), is a caste living in the Rajasthan & Gujarat states of India. According to Srimad Bhagavatam (Śrīmad Bhāgavatam) (3.10.28-29) Charans were created along with other divine forms such as Yaksha, Gandharvas, Deva, Sidhdhas, Apsara, etc. and lived in the Heavenly planets. Members of this caste are known for their high literary sense, deep loyalty towards the society, cleverness and unflinching readiness for martyrdom in war.

Charan caste is also identified as jagirdar and thakur with the surnames vansur(varansurya) "Bhada", "Adha (surname)|Adha","Mahiya", "Gadan", Kaviraj, Barhath / Barhat and Gadhavi / Gadhvi{ujjwal}. Members of this caste are considered to be divine by a large section of society. Women of the caste are adored as mother goddesses by other major communities of this region including Rajput kings. The goddesses Karani, Bahuchra, and Sonal are well-known examples of Charan deities. In the medieval era, it was considered a matter of prestige and pride for a Rajput king to keep a Charan in his court. They were good poets and better soldiers. Kings gave them grants of villages, and various kings also gave them Lakh Pasavs, large gifts equivalent to 100,000 rupees that usually consisted of elephants, money, and ornaments. The kings would also invite them to occupy a place in the Royal Courts. Indeed, a Rajput's regard for a Charan was uppermost. Because of their ability to compose poems instantaneously, another popular way of addressing members of the Charan caste is "Kaviraj", which literally means "king among poets". Charans are considered to be the only thakurs other than the rajputs. Charans were always posted in the front lines of attacks in the armies.

In between social order of the Rajputs and the status of the Brahmans there is a caste of Charans which is well known for their Loyalty towards the society. Charans have the martial traits similar to Rajputs and scholarly traits similar to Brahmins.