Somani

According to legend, the Somani surname was adopted along with 71 other surcastes of Maheshwari caste about 5000 years ago, at the time of origin of the Maheshwari caste, by 72 umaraos of court of King of Khandela (a town in Rajasthan). The 72 umaraos were cursed by saints and after many years, god Shiva and Parvati blessed them, and they became businessmen. Thus the origin of Somanis along with all other Maheshwari sub-castes, is Rajasthan.One of 72 umraos was Shyamoji Solanki. His descendants are called Somani. The Solanki (Devanagari: सोलंकी) was a royal Hindu Indian dynasty that ruled parts of western and central India from the 10th to 13th centuries. A number of scholars, including V.A. Smith, assign them Gurjar origin. The name Solanki comes from Chalukya, an ancient Indian dynasty. Between 543 and 566, Pulakesi I established a kingdom at Vatapi (present-day Badami). The Solanki clan-name is found among the Jat and Rajput communities of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Solanki clan-name is also found in Maharashtra Maratha Clan with variants in the name such as 'Solanke', 'Salunkhe' etc.