Vajpayee or Bajpai is a predominent North Indian Brahmin surname, common, among other places, especially in Lucknow. Brahmins,are further sub categorised as Kanyakubjas, a group that also includes Awasthi, Dixits, Tewari, Tripathi, Agnihotri etc. The South Indian surname to that effect is Vajapeyar As per legend, Bengali Brahmins, for instance Chatterjees owe their roots to the Kanyakubja region as well, and thus, are at times classified with them. The surname Bajpai is widely deemed synonymous to Vajpayee.
Vajapayees are persons who have performed vajpeya yagya.. The Yajna has specific vedic importance where Vajpeya Yajnas have been executed for righteous/religious purposes. It is amongst the most important of Soma Yagnas. The yajna is usually performed at high level and large scale. Within this the aim has been to bring in unity in the thinking and efforts made for contemporary goals, by bringing in political leaders and religious leaders on one single platform. Vajapeya is regarded as particularly important. When its yajamana (sacrificer) comes after having had his ritual bath (avabhrtha snana) at the conclusion of the sacrifice, the king himself holds up a white umbrella for him.
Indian history study reveals that Sawai Jai Singh performed at least two yajnas mentioned in vedic literature namely vajapeya and ashwamedha. According to Ishwarvilas mahakavya Jai singh first performed the Vajpeya yajna and obtained the title of Samrat "emperor" by performing vajpeya. In modern India vajpayees have gained significant respect in education, literature, diplomacy, politics, acting.
Bajpais across the world have the same gotra, upmanyu and are believed to be the descendents of a Rishi by the same name. Since people of same gotras are considered to be brothers and sisters in the Hindu mythology, marriages cannot be performed between Bajpais.
Famous individuals with this surname include:
- Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former Prime Minister of India
- Rajendra Kumari Bajpai, Indian Politician, represented Sitapur (Lok Sabha constituency)
- Dr. Nirupam Bajpai, Padma Shri awardee and Senior Development Advisor and Director, South Asia Programmes at the Columbia University of New York.
- Manoj Bajpai, Indian actor
- Girija Shankar Bajpai, Knighted, first Minister of External Affair
- Abeer Vajpayee, TV Journalist and Producer
- Onkar Nath Bajpai, Freedom fighter and owner of "Onkar Press", which was printing and distributing freedom literature. Allahabad.
- Vishambhar Nath Bajpai, Freedom fighter and owner of "Onkar Press", which was printing and distributing freedom literature. Allahabad.