Gandha Banik. Gandhabanik
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Gandhabanik
This section has been extracted from THE TRIBES and CASTES of BENGAL. Ethnographic Glossary. Printed at the Bengal Secretariat Press. 1891. . |
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Traditions of origin
Gandhabanid, Putli, the spice-selling, druggist, and grocer caste of Bengal Proper. They claim to be a branch of the Aryan Vaisyas, and trace their descent from Chandra Bhava, commonly called Chand Saudagar, "an accomplished man, the son of Kotis-Vara, the lord of crores," and Saha Raja of Ujjain, mentioned in the Padma Purana. Although this ancient lineage is assumed, the caste no longer wear the Brahmanical thread; their marriage ritual does not include Kasandikd; and, instead of mourning like the Agarwala Baniyas for thirteen days, they mourn, like pure Sudras, for thirty. A modern compiler of caste genealogies gives them a Baidya father and a Rajput mother, a pratilomaj pedigree wholly fatal to their claim to be Vaisyas. Another story of their origin is cuuent. Kubja, the hunch-backed slave girl of Raja Ka-g.sa, was carrying home spices and sandal wood when Krishna first met her. The son born of their subsequent liaison was naturally the first spice-seller and the father of all Gandhabaniks. A third tradition tells how Siva, being in need of spices for his marriage with Durga, created the first of the Desa Gandhabanik from his forehead, the Sankha from his arm-pit, the Aut from his navel, and the Chhatris from his foot, and sent them out to the four quarters of the globe to fetch what he required. The Chhatris, who went to the east, got back first. All four were then appointed to sell spices to men.
Intenal structure
The Gandhabaniks are divided into four sub-castes-Aut-Asram, Chhatris-Asram, Desa-Asram, SankhaAsram. In Dacca, according to Dr. Wise, the three last intermarry and eat together, but this appears not to be the case in Central Bengal. The sections shown in Appendix I are Brahmanical, with the single exception of the one called Ras¬rishi, which I am unable to trace or account for. The prohibited degrees are the same as among the Kayasths.
Marriages
Gandhabaniks marry their daughters as infants, and receive a bride-price (pan) varying according to the social status of the two families concerned. Thus the Gandhabaniks of Bikrampur in Dacca receive a higher price for their daughters and pay a lower price for their wives than members of families whose reputation stands less high for purity of lineage and propriety of ceremonial observances. The marriage ceremony is of the orthodox type. In Dacca city, says Dr. Wise, the Gandhabanik caste has six powerful dals, or unions; the Dalpatis, or headmen, being persons of great respectability. In one of the dais a curious marriage oustom, said to have been observed by their forefathers when they first entered Bengal, is still preserved. The bridegroom climbs a champa-tree (Michelia cllampaca) and sits there while the bride is carried round on a stool seven times. Should no tree be available, a champa log, placed beneath a canopy or a platform made of champa wood planks, is substituted and ornamented with gilt flowers resem¬bling the real champa blossoms. The other dais, who follow the usual Sudm ritual, assooiate with this one in private, but not in public. In all cases the bridal dress is made of yellow silk (cheli) with .a red striped border, and the bride wears hers fo r ten days after marnage.
Polygamy is permitted to the extent that a man may take a second wife if he has no children by the first. Widows are not allowed to marry again, nor is divorce recognised. A woman convicted of unchastity is simply turned out of the caste and ceases to be a member of respectable Hindu society. Her husband burns her in effigy, and performs for her a mimic Srriddh as if she were actually dead.
Religion
In matters of Religion the Gandhabaniks conform entirely to the orthodox forms of Hinduism prevalent in Bengal Proper. The large majority of them are Vaishnavas, a few Saktas, and still fewer Saivas. Their patron goddess is Gandheswari, 'our lady of perfume,' a form of Durga, in whose honour they hold a special service on the full moon of Baisakh (April-May), arranging in a pyramidal form their weights, scales, drugs, and account-books, and placing in front a goblet daubed over with red lead. Flowers, fruit, rice, sweetmeats, and perfumery, are offered, and the caste Brahman repeats several invocations soliciting the favour of the goddess during the ensuing year. These Brahmans, it may be mentioned, are treated on terms of equality by other members of the sacred order, except those who decline to offioiate as priests for even the most respectable Sudras.
Social status
According to Dr. Wise, the Gandhabanik is a spice-seller, or "epicier," as well as a druggist. He will not sell rice, vegetables, salt, oil, or spirits, but he keeps almost every other grocery in stock. Be is often called by the Hindi term Pansarl, which signifies a dealer in groceries, spices, and herbs. The comparatively high position of Gandhabaniks among Scidra castes is owing to the circumstance that the sandal-wood and spices, essential for Hindu religious rites, can only be procured at their shops. It may be surmised, however, that their admission into the ranks of the Nava-Sakha is of comparatively recent date, as their name does not appear in the passage of Parasara usually quoted as the standard authority for the composition of that group.
Occupation
The Gandhabanik, says Dr. Wise, obtains his drugs and spices direct £rom Calcutta, or from the place where they are produced, and buys quinine, iodide of potassium, and sarsaparilla from English druggists. He also sells tin, lead, pewter, copper, and iTon, and retails, if licensed, saltpetre, sulphur, and gunpowder, as well as chemicals used by pyrotechnists, and dispenses medicines ordered by Kabirajs. Although Gandha¬baniks possess no pharmacopceia, and are ignorant of chemistry, they display wonderful sharpness in distinguishing salts and minerals. Every Gandhabanik has the reputation of being a doctor, and, like the druggists of Europe, he is often consulted and pre-scribes for trifling ailments. Drugs at the present day are sold by apothecary's weight, other articles by the bazar weight of eight.y sicca rupees to a se,•.
Kabidjs, however, still use the old IIindu weights--pala, ,'rati, masha, and jau Boys able to read and write Bengali are apprenticed to a Gandhabanik, who make them familiar with the appearance, names, and prices of drugs, of which, it is said, a genuine Pansari's shop may contain three hundred and sixty kinds. Most of these go to form the diiIerent kinds of pat, or alterative medicine, greatly relied on in Hindu thel'llpeutics. The Gandha¬banik is expected to know the proper ingredients in each pat, as well as the proper quantity of each. In the preparation of pills goat's milk, or lime-juice and water, are used, but by some druggists the juice of the Ghl-Kuwar (Aloe pe11oliata) is preferred.
The Gandhabanik retails charas, bhang, opium, and ganja, but some have scruples about selling the last, and employ a Mahom. edan servant to do so. Many shops for the sale of ganja, however, are leased by members of this caste, who pay a Sum•i, or a Mahomedan, to manage them.
The following statement shows the number and distribution of Gandhabaniks in Bengal in 1872 and 1881;¬
(From People of India/ National Series Volume VIII. Readers who wish to share additional information/ photographs may please send them as messages to the Facebook community, Indpaedia.com. All information used will be gratefully acknowledged in your name.)
Gandha Banik
Synonyms: Bania, Bene, Gandha Bania, Putuli [West Bengal] Groups/subgroups: Aut Asram, Chhatris Asram, Desa Asram, Sankha Asram [West Bengal]
- Subcastes: Asram, Aut Asram, Chhatris Asram, Desa Asram, Sankha Asram [H.H. Risley]
Titles: Baisya Ratna, Bandhu, Kabi Sekhar, Roybahadur, Sadhu, Samaj [West Bengal] De, Dhar, Kar, Khan, Laha, Nag, Sadhu, Saha [H.H. Risley] Surnames: Banik, Datta, Daw, Dey, Laha, Nag, Sadhu, Saha [West Bengal] Gotra: Alambayana, Bharadwaja, Goutam, Kashyapa, Modgalya, Sandilya [West Bengal] Sections: Alambayana, Bharadwaja, Kasyap, Krishnatreya, Modgalya, Nrisingha, Ras Rishi, Sabarna, Sandilya [H.H. Risley]
Notes
This caste claims to be the same as the Banya of Hindustan, and traces its descent from Chandra Bhava, commonly called Chand Saudagar, "an accomplished man, the son of Kotis-Vara, the lord of crores," and Saha Saudagar, mentioned in the Padma Purana. Although this ancient lineage is assumed, the caste no longer wears the Brahamical thread; and instead of mourning like the Agarwala Banyas for thirteen, mourns like pure Sudras for thirty days.
Another story of their origin is current. Kubja, the hunchbacked slave girl of Rajah Kansa, was carrying home spices and sandal wood when Krishna first met her. The son born of their subsequent liaison was naturally the first spice seller, and the father of all Gandha-baniks.
In Bengal this caste numbers 127,178 individuals, being most numerous in Burdwan, 32,105, Murshidabad 11,016, Birbhum 10,165, Nadiya 8,010, and Dacca 6,634. In the city of Dacca alone from one hundred and fifty to two hundred houses, representing a population of about a thousand, are occupied by them.
The Gandha-baniks of Eastern Bengal have four Sreni, or subdivisions, namely, Aut, Desa, Sankha, and Chhattis, or thirty-six ; the three last intermarrying and eating together. The Aut has a family called Dhaula, the Desa one named Dhallar, after villages where they resided, while other Sreni are to be found in the neighbourhood of Calcutta and Murshidabad.
The titles of the Aut Sreni are Dutta, Dhur, Kar, Nag, Dhar, and De; of the Desa, Saha, Sadhu, Laha, and Kahn. The caste has six powerful dals, or unions, in Dacca city, the Dalpatis, or head-men being persons of great respectability. In one of the "dals" a curious marriage custom, said to have been observed by their forefathers when they first entered Bengal, is still preserved.
The bridegroom climbs a "Champa" tree, and sits there while the bride is carried round on a stool seven times. Should no tree be available, a Champa log, placed beneath a canopy, or a platform made of Champa wood planks, is substituted and ornamented with gilt flowers resembling the real Champa blossoms.
The other "dals," who follow the usual Sudra marriage service, privately associate with this one, but never publicly.
Bridal dresses are made of yellow silk (Cheoli) with a red striped border, the bride wearing hers for ten days after marriage.
The large majority of Gandha-baniks are Vaishnavas, a few Saivas.
All Bengali shopkeepers worship Gandhesvari, a form of Durga, every morning and evening; but on the full moon of Baisakh (April-May) the Gandha-baniks hold a special service in her honour, arranging in a pyramidal form the weights, scales, drugs, and account books, and placing in front a goblet daubed over with red lead. The caste Brahman then comes and repeats several invocations, soliciting the favour of the goddess during the ensuing year.
The Gandha-banik is a spice seller, or "Epicier," as well as a druggist. He will not sell rice, vegetables, salt, oil, or spirits, but he will almost every other grocery. He is often called by the Hindi term "Pansari," which signifies a dealer in groceries, spices, and herbs. Their comparatively high position among Sudra castes is owing to the circumstance that sandal wood and spices, essential for Hindu religious rites, can only be procured at their shops.
The Gandha-banik obtains his drugs and spices direct from Calcutta, or from the place where they are produced, and buys quinine, iodide of potassium, and sarsaparilla from English druggists. He also sells tin, lead, pewter, copper, and iron, and retails, if licensed, saltpetre, sulphur, and gunpowder, as well as chemicals used by pyrotechnists, and dispenses medicines ordered by Kabirajs.
Although Gandha-baniks possess no pharmacopoeia, and are ignorant of chemistry, they display wonderful sharpness in distinguishing salts and minerals. Every Gndha-banik has the reputation of being a doctor, and like the druggists of Europe, he is often consulted, and prescribes for trifling ailments. Drugs, at the present day, ars sold by apothecary's weight, other articles by the bazar weight of eighty sicca to a ser. Kabirajs, however, still use the old Hindu weights, "Pala," "Rati," "Masha," and "Jau." Boys able to read and write Bengali are apprenticed to a Gandha banik, who makes him familiar with the appearance, namees, and prices of drugs, which, it is said, amount in a genuine Pansari's shop to three hundred and sixty kinds.
Most of these go to form the different kinds of Pat, or alterative medicine, greatly relied on in Hindu therapeutics. The Gandha-banik is expected to know the proper ingredients in each Pat, as well as the proper quantity of each. In the preparation of pills, goat's milk, or lime-juice and water, are used, but by some druggists the juice of the Ghi-Kuwar (Aloe perfoliata1) is preferred.
The Gandha-banik retails "Charas," Bhang, opium, and Ganjha, but some have scruples about selling the last, and employ a Muhammadan servant to do so. Most of the shops for the sale of Ganjha, however, are leased by members of this caste, who pay a Sunri, or Muhammadan, to manage them.
1 Champaka (Michelia champaca).
