AdolphMassola0 at 04:06, 24 February 2026

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{{Short description|Herding caste of India}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox caste
| languages = [[Hindi]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Rajasthani languages|Rajasthani]], [[Bihari languages|Bihari]], [[Chhattisgarhi]], [[Gujarati language|Gujrati language]], [[Bengali language]], [[Gaddi language]], [[Northern Indo-Aryan languages]],<ref name="Sashi 1982 13–73"/>
| religions = [[Hinduism]]<ref name="Sashi 1982 13–73">{{Cite book |last=Sashi |first=Dr. Shyam singh |url=https://indianculture.gov.in/ebooks/shepherds-india-socio-cultural-study-sheep-and-cattle-rearing-communities |title=Shepherds of India: A Socio-Cultural Study of Sheep and Cattle-Rearing Communities |publisher=Sundeep publication |year=1982 |edition=1st |location=Delhi |pages=13–73 |language=English |oclc=4322453 |department=Archaeological survey of india}}</ref>
| country = {{flag|India}}
|related={{Plainlist|
*Pal
*[[Rabari|Rabari/Raika]]
*[[Gaddis]]
*[[Bharwad|Bharwad/Bharvad]]<ref name="Gujrat obc list">{{Cite web |title=National Commission for Backward Classes |url=https://www.ncbc.nic.in/user_panel/GazetteResolution.aspx?Value=mPICjsL1aLuo5Ww/EcQPqeqoATXAB7p/QEBF7wOoZVUZeNdA4Fs5xoHN3KPmF8ST |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718054446/https://www.ncbc.nic.in/user_panel/GazetteResolution.aspx?Value=mPICjsL1aLuo5Ww%2FEcQPqeqoATXAB7p%2FQEBF7wOoZVUZeNdA4Fs5xoHN3KPmF8ST |archive-date=18 July 2024 |website=www.ncbc.nic.in |access-date=2024-12-17 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Kurumba Gounder]]
*[[Kurumbas]]<ref name="Sashi 1982 13–73"/>}}
|family_names=Pal/Rajpal, Baghel, Mohaniya, Mandal, Bhagat, Mori/Moriya, Pradhan, Prasad, etc.<ref name="Sashi 1982 13–73"/> |populated_states=[[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Punjab]], [[Rajasthan]], [[Haryana]], [[Bihar]], [[Chhattisgarh]], [[Gujarat]], [[West Bengal]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Uttarakhand]], and [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu & Kashmir]]<ref name="Sashi 1982 13–73"/>
|caste_name= Gadaria
<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Russell |first=R. V. (Robert Vane) |url=https://archive.org/details/tribescastesofce03russ/page/2/mode/2up?q=Gadaria |title=The tribes and castes of the Central Provinces of India |date=1916 |publisher=London : Macmillan and Co., limited |others=University of California Libraries}}</ref>|region=[[North India]]<ref name=":1"/>
|subdivisions=Nikhar and [[Dhangar]]<ref name="Sashi 1982 13–73"/>}}

The '''Gadaria''' or '''Gadariya''' is a [[herding]] [[Caste system in India|caste]] of North India that was traditionally involved professionally in [[livestock breeding]], especially [[sheep]]. They are primarily found in [[Uttar Pradesh]] and in some parts of [[Punjab]], [[Haryana]], [[Uttarakhand]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu & Kashmir]], [[Rajasthan]], [[Madhya Pradesh]] and [[Bihar]]<ref name="Ghurye">{{cite book |last1=Ghurye |first1=G.S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nWkjsvf6_vsC&pg=PA32 |title=Caste and race in India |date=2008 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |isbn=9788171542055 |edition=5th |location=Bombay |page=32 |access-date=7 August 2016}}</ref><ref name="Sashi 1982 13–73"/><ref name=":1"/>

==Etymology==
Gadariya is a compound on of Gadar and ya. Gadar is a [[Prakrit]] word which means sheep and the suffix ya makes it pertaining to the community of [[shepherd]]s.<ref name=":0" /> Sanskrit gandhāra, a sheep, the Sanskrit name being taken from the country of [[Gandhara]] or Kandahar, from which sheep were first brought.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Russell |first=Robert Vane |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7BNiEAAAQBAJ&q=Gandhara&pg=PT735 |title=The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India: Ethnological Study of the Caste System |date=2022-01-04 |publisher=e-artnow |language=en}}</ref> Some scholars hold that the words Gadar and Arya formed Gadararya or Gadarya. Possibly it later became a derivative of Gadariya. There is also a view that they were [[Indo-Aryan peoples|Aryas]] and the custodians or defenders of Garh (fort) and hence were called Gadariyas.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Shashi |first=Shyam Singh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Otppyf6MbxgC&dq=%22gadariya%22+++%22prakrit%22&pg=PA183 |title=The World of Nomads |date=2006 |publisher=Lotus Press |isbn=978-81-8382-051-6 |language=en}}</ref>

==Origin==
This caste finds its earliest related mention as the ancient [[Gandhara|Gändharas]], as stated in the [[Mahabharata]] and [[Rigveda|Rig veda]], were well-known blanket-makers. Evidently, the [[Gandhāra (kingdom)|Gandharas]] were shepherd by profession. It might be suggested that the Gadariya caste has its origin in the [[Gandhara|Gändhäras]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shashi |first=Shyam Singh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=duIjAQAAIAAJ&q=Gadariya |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Tribes: The tribal world in transition |date=1994 |publisher=Anmol Publications |isbn=978-81-7041-836-8 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Choudhury |first=Mamata |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1HABAAAAMAAJ&q=%22shepherd%22+ |title=Tribes of Ancient India |date=1977 |publisher=Indian Museum |language=en}}</ref> They are believed to be amongst the earliest settlers in the [[Narmada River|Nerbudda valley]], for which they have given their name to several places, such as [[Narsinghpur|Gadariakheda]] and [[Gadarwara|Gädarwāra]].<ref name=":2" /> The [[Gadarmal Devi Temple|Gadarmal devi temple]] was built around 7 - 8 century A.D. (Approx 1400 years ago) in present day [[Vidisha|Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh]] by a Gadaria (shepherd).<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Ayyar |first=Sulochana |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G9eHPXL6UE0C&dq=%22gadarmal%22+++%22gadaria%22&pg=PA10 |title=Costumes and Ornaments as Depicted in the Sculptures of Gwalior Museum |date=1987 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-002-4 |language=en}}</ref>

[[Pāṇini|Panini]], the great grammarian (5th century B.C.) in his book [[Aṣṭādhyāyī|Astādhyāyi]] named [[Bharmour|Brahmour]] as Gabdika and their residents as Gabdik. The territory is also named Gaderan or Gaddiyar, the country of the Gadariyas.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sharma |first=Kamal Prashad |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qFUa0rH0yUcC&dq=%22gaddi%22+++%22country%22+++%22gabdik%22&pg=PA129 |title=Maṇimahesh Chambā Kailāsh |date=2001 |publisher=Indus Publishing |isbn=978-81-7387-118-4 |language=en}}</ref>

==History==
In the early 1910s, an educated class of Gadarias formed All India Pal Kshatriya Mahasabha. There were debates within the community whether to add Kshatriya suffix to the community name. In the 1930s, they started referring to themselves as "Pali Rajput", a synonym of Pal Kshatriya.{{sfnp|Singh|2020|p=Caste organisations in the pre-Independence period/Sanskritization phase (Roughly the 1920s-1950s)}} They started caste magazines like "Pal Kshatriya Samachar" and "Shepherd Times". Later the community went through the process of [[De-Sanskritisation]] and dropped the suffix Kshatriya. Among the reasons cited for de-sanskritization were losing autonomy of their caste identity and avoiding being submerged into the identity of high castes.{{sfnp|Singh|2020|p=Phase II (1956 onwards): De-sanskritization towards an alternative culture}}

==Sub-castes and clans==
There are two major subdivisions amongst Gadarias, namely [[Dhangar]] and Nikhar. They share the same [[gotra]]s such as Chauhan, Parihar, Sisodiya, Shirashwar, Chandel, Mohania, Kula etc are some of the gotras amongst them.{{sfnp|Shashi|2011|p=29}}

== Notables ==
'''Religion and Temples'''

[[Gadarmal Devi Temple]], is a Hindu and Jain temple built around 7 - 8 century A.D. ('''Approximately 1400 years ago''') in present day [[Vidisha|Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh]] by a person of Gadaria caste (shepherd).<ref name=":3" />

[[Baidyanath Temple]], In the legend of Baidyanath Temple, [[Vishnu|'''Lord Vishnu''']] took the form of a shepherd from the Gadariya caste, known as '''Baiju Gadariya'''. When Ravana was carrying the Shivalinga to Lanka, he needed to relieve himself.He handed the linga to Baiju Gadariya, who placed it on the ground. As a result, the linga got permanently rooted at [[Deoghar]]. This site became the famous [[Baidyanath Temple|Baidyanath Jyotirlinga]], worshipped to this day.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Madhuri |first1=Dr J. Naga |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KFM6EQAAQBAJ&dq=%22baiju+gadariya%22&pg=PA69 |title=Shiva Shakti |last2=PUBLICATIONS |first2=SGSH |date=2024-12-24 |publisher=SGSH Publications |isbn=978-93-6631-683-3 |language=en |quote=The story states that "Vishnu took the form of a Shepherd named Baiju Gadariya." While Ravana went to perform Surya Namaskaram, he gave a lingam to this cowherd. Due to the presence of Varun Dev, Ravana took a very long time. Baiju got angry, having to wait for Ravana, for a very long time. He then positioned the lingam on the ground and left the place}}</ref>

'''Kingdom’s and Dynasties'''

[[House of Holkar|Holkar Dynasty]], The Holkars were the ruling house of the [[Indore State]] of the [[Maratha Empire|Maratha Confederacy]], they belonged to the Gadaria caste.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=Commission |first=India Backward Classes |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FjMEAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Holkar%22+++%22gadaria%22&pg=RA4-PA63 |title=Report |date=1956 |publisher=Manager of Publications Civil Lines |page=63 |language=en |quote=The third instance may be mentioned of the Raja of Indore who belonged to Gadaria (Shepherd) caste. In this Raj Shri Jaswant Rao Holkar had fought against Britishers during the time of Lord Wellesly and he did not allow them to succeed in their attempt to annex Hindu Kingdoms. It was Holkar alone who successfully faced them.}}</ref>

'''Rulers, chieftains, and warriors'''

[[Malhar Rao Holkar|Mahraja Shri. Malhar Rao Holkar]]: Founder of the Holkar dynasty; a leading Maratha general under Peshwa Baji Rao I; established Holkar rule in the [[Indore State|Malwa region]].<ref name=":5" />

[[Ahilyabai Holkar|Rajmata/Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar]]: One of the greatest female rulers in Indian history; known for wise and just administration, promoting trade, building roads, tanks, and temples across India, including the [[Kashi Vishwanath Temple|Kashi Vishwanath]] and [[Somnath temple|Somnath temples.]]<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Yājñika |first1=Acyuta |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wmKIiAPgnF0C&dq=ahilyabai+holkar+%22somnath+temple%22&pg=PA195 |title=The Shaping of Modern Gujarat: Plurality, Hindutva, and Beyond |last2=Sheth |first2=Suchitra |date=2005 |publisher=Penguin Books India |isbn=978-0-14-400038-8 |page=195 |language=en |quote=The ancient Somnath temple was in ruins and the newer eighteenth-century temple built by Ahilyabai Holkar.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Mohapatara |first=Gour Prasad |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kGNYEQAAQBAJ&dq=ahilyabai+holkar+%22kashi+vishwanath%22&pg=PA13 |title=Bharat : Where Heritage Meets Modernity |date=2025-04-02 |publisher=Crown Publishing |isbn=978-93-6426-193-7 |pages=12, 13 |language=en |quote=The history of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple dates back several centuries. The original temple was believed to have been built by a local king, and it has undergone several reconstructions and renovations over the years. The current structure was built in 1780 by Queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore.}}</ref><ref name=":5" />

[[Yashwantrao Holkar|Maharja Shri. Yashwantrao Holkar]]: Had fought against Britishers during the time of [[Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley|Lord Wellesly]] and he did not allow them to succeed in their attempt to annex Hindu Kingdoms. '''It was Holkar alone who successfully faced them'''<ref name=":5" /> for this he was also called the "[[Napoleon of India]]" and '''"First freedom fighter"'''; resisted British expansion; won battles against the British and tried to unite Indian rulers against colonial rule.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sen |first=Gautam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y34fEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22napoleon%22+Yashwantrao+holkar&pg=PA1931 |title=The Automobile: An Indian Love Affair |date=2021-02-22 |publisher=Penguin Random House India Private Limited |isbn=978-93-90914-27-2 |location=Delhi, India |page=1931 |language=en |quote=The legendary sixth ruler of Indore Yashwantrao Holkar, who ruled from 1798 to 1811 and was considered by many as the Napoleon of India for his exploits at successfully winning a series of wars against his neighbouring states with the objective of building up an empire.}}</ref>

'''Social Reformer and Freedom Fighter'''

[[Ishwardatt Medharthi|Ishwardatt Medhrathi]], was a freedom fighter, Hindi writer, and social reformer from Uttar Pradesh. He belonged to the Gadariya (Gareria) caste and worked for the upliftment of backward and marginalized communities. He earned the surname "'''''Medharthi'''"'' for being the most brilliant student in his school, and used literature and activism to fight caste discrimination and British rule.<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=http://www.maren-bellwinkel.de/artikel/ambedkarbuddhism.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120801180947/http://www.maren-bellwinkel.de/artikel/ambedkarbuddhism.pdf |archive-date=2012-08-01 |access-date=2025-07-19 |website=www.maren-bellwinkel.de |quote=Acharya Ishvardatt Medharthi (1900-1971) belonged to a Gareria family of Kanpur. Garerias (Gadariya) are shepherds and belong to the backward castes. He was born in the cantonment which was one of the three segments of Kanpur town in those days. At the turn of the nineteenth century Kanpur was a prosperous industrial town with leather and textile factories, oils mills and a thriving wholesale market.}}</ref>

== Classification ==
They are classified as [[Other Backward Class]] in the [[Reservation in India|Indian System of Reservation]].<ref name="MP OBC">{{cite report |author=Central Commission for Backward Classes |date= 20 October 2020|title=Central List of OBCs Madhya Pradesh|url= http://ncbc.nic.in/User_Panel/GazetteResolution.aspx?Value=mPICjsL1aLuPAiTDwaBMRTkcitPtwFoYM%2FvPkOo88fWK%2Fs%2FLWkaxMKHeos%2Fc%2FKys|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201020030327/http://ncbc.nic.in/User_Panel/GazetteResolution.aspx?Value=mPICjsL1aLuPAiTDwaBMRTkcitPtwFoYM%2FvPkOo88fWK%2Fs%2FLWkaxMKHeos%2Fc%2FKys|archive-date= 20 October 2020}}</ref><ref name="Chhattisgarh OBC">{{cite report |author=Central Commission for Backward Classes |date= 20 October 2020|title=Central List of OBCs Chattisgarh|url= http://ncbc.nic.in/User_Panel/GazetteResolution.aspx?Value=mPICjsL1aLvU0s0yRV7aeb13aoM90cT9ioOuR4xIGRL%2FPpW8Y55aF3GqmP%2B6qk0h|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201020030536/http://ncbc.nic.in/User_Panel/GazetteResolution.aspx?Value=mPICjsL1aLvU0s0yRV7aeb13aoM90cT9ioOuR4xIGRL%2FPpW8Y55aF3GqmP%2B6qk0h|archive-date= 20 October 2020}}</ref><ref name="UP OBC">{{cite report |author=Central Commission for Backward Classes |date= 20 October 2020|title=Central List of OBCs Uttar Pradesh|url= http://www.ncbc.nic.in/User_Panel/GazetteResolution.aspx?Value=mPICjsL1aLvxbegUDuc3MN4eB5E3Ecc1drRPAf1qXQ%2Bl0IqIfhjN1xHrf4i2h5g0|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201020162131/http://www.ncbc.nic.in/User_Panel/GazetteResolution.aspx?Value=mPICjsL1aLvxbegUDuc3MN4eB5E3Ecc1drRPAf1qXQ%2Bl0IqIfhjN1xHrf4i2h5g0|archive-date= 20 October 2020}}</ref><ref name="UK OBC">{{cite report |author=Central Commission for Backward Classes |date= 20 October 2020|title=Central List of OBCs Uttarakhand|url= http://www.ncbc.nic.in/User_Panel/GazetteResolution.aspx?Value=mPICjsL1aLsuCb9GxzA3FUXPNZAkS8Kj%2BVqdHT8iuedaGzNgriEQksoNWttsla2n|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201020162328/http://www.ncbc.nic.in/User_Panel/GazetteResolution.aspx?Value=mPICjsL1aLsuCb9GxzA3FUXPNZAkS8Kj%2BVqdHT8iuedaGzNgriEQksoNWttsla2n|archive-date= 20 October 2020}}</ref><ref name="Delhi OBC">{{cite report |author=Central Commission for Backward Classes |date= 20 October 2020|title=Central List of OBCs Delhi|url= http://ncbc.nic.in/User_Panel/GazetteResolution.aspx?Value=mPICjsL1aLvYWWarIfsJpAU09izbLPYElcezG29yU0iGiE06dFe%2F6LJkoytsMWec|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201020030522/http://ncbc.nic.in/User_Panel/GazetteResolution.aspx?Value=mPICjsL1aLvYWWarIfsJpAU09izbLPYElcezG29yU0iGiE06dFe%2F6LJkoytsMWec|archive-date= 20 October 2020}}</ref>

==Demographics and Distribution==

'''Uttar Pradesh'''

The Gadariya caste is spread all over the Uttar Pradesh. The community forms 4.4 percent of entire Uttar Pradesh state population.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-05-01 |title=Why parties are wooing UP's most backward sub-castes |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/lok-sabha-elections/uttar-pradesh/news/why-parties-are-wooing-ups-most-backward-sub-castes/articleshow/69122754.cms |access-date=2025-07-17 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

'''Gujarat'''

The Gadaria caste formed 2% of the total population of Gujarat.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hebbar |first=Nistula |date=2017-12-04 |title=OBCs to play kingmaker in battle for Gujarat |url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/gujarat-2017/obcs-could-be-kingmakers-in-gujarat/article21261025.ece |access-date=2025-07-17 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X |quote=Extrapolating on the 1931 Census, the OBCs, excluding Muslim OBCs, comprise 35.6% of the total population, with the Koli-Thakore block the largest, followed by artisan castes at 6.1%; Bharwad (Gadaria) at 2%; and other middle castes at 3.3%.}}</ref> They are recorded to be the richest caste in [[Palanpur|Palanpur, Gujarat]]<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Stern |first=Nicholas |date=April 2011 |title=India and an Indian village: 50 years of economic development in Palanpur |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/57a08abd40f0b64974000742/61176-Palanpur.pdf |journal=London School of Economics |volume=1 |pages=Page 78: The Gadariya caste had the highest per capita total income at ₹19,012, making them the richest caste group. The distant second richest were the Teli, with a per capita income of ₹15,111 |via=This work is based on a programme of work in Palanpur from 1974, based primarily at the LSE, and uses two previous studies from the Agricultural Economics Research Centre of the University in Delhi from 1957/8 and 1962/3. There are now six surveys of the village, one for every decade since Independence. The most recent covers 2008/9 and 2009/10 and is the most detailed and comprehensive: its collection was led by Himanshu of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). The analysis of the new data is under way and will be carried out largely in Delhi and the LSE. We are very grateful to Jean Drèze, Ruth Kattumuri, Peter Lanjouw, and Naresh Sharma and all the Delhi team for guidance, advice and support. This paper is based in part on a “Distinguished Lecture” by Nicholas Stern at the University of Hyderabad on 25 October 2010}}</ref>

==Religion==
They generally practice [[Hinduism]], worshipping various popular deities including [[Rama]], [[Krishna]], [[Shiva]], [[Vishnu]], [[Hanuman]], [[Kali]], [[Chandi]] and [[Lakshmi]], as well as various [[Kuladevata]], or family deities. Some of them wear the [[sacred thread]]. A majority of them are [[vegetarian]]s.{{sfnp|Shashi|2011|p=32}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* {{cite book|last=Singh|first=Jagpal|author-link2=former Delhi University professor|year=2020|title=Caste, State and Society Degrees of Democracy in North India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vfn1DwAAQBAJ|publisher=Routledge India (Taylor & Francis Group)|isbn=9780429343063}}
* {{cite book|author-link=Shyam Singh Shashi
|first=Shyam Singh |last=Shashi |title=The Shepherds of India |url=http://ignca.gov.in/Asi_data/68789.pdf |year=2011 |publisher=Sundeep Prakashan, 1978 |asin=B003UD017Q}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:People, Gadaria}}
[[Category:Indian castes]]
[[Category:Social groups of Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Social groups of Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Social groups of Haryana]]
[[Category:Pastoralists]]
[[Category:Herding castes]]
[[Category:Other Backward Classes of Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Other Backward Classes of Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Other Backward Classes of Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Other Backward Classes of Bihar]]
[[Category:Other Backward Classes of Haryana]]

Gadaria people - Revision history

AdolphMassola0 at 04:06, 24 February 2026