Why Does Kala Caste not Opt Panditai (or Priest ship)

Garhwali Folk Tales, Fables, Traditional Stories, Community Narratives -72

  Compiled and Edited by: Bhishma Kukreti (Management Training Expert)

(Narrated by a Kala Shopkeeper of Dadamandi (Village Bhaidgaon) , Sheela Patti , Pauri Garhwal in 1963)

(History records suggest that Kala Brahmin class was older Brahmin class of Garhwal and they were ministers with Katyuri Kingdom. A Kala shopkeeper of Bhaidgaon told us this story when I stayed in night in his shop in Dadamandi while coming from Dogadda to Jaspur)

             Long back, Kala Brahmins were supposed to be high caste pundit for performing religious rituals. Kala Caste was supposed to be higher Brahmin class than Uniyal, Bahuguna, Dimri, Nautiyal (Chauth Brahmin group).

              The story goes when Kala class had high position as court Pundit in Garhwal King (Shrinagar). Kala Pundit used to perform religious rituals of the King. Kala Pundits had strong influence over king and he used to take advices from Kala Pundits. Kala Pundits were very knowledgeable than their counterpart Pundits.

               One day, King got a sudden success and he called all Brahmins or Pundits to take gifts. All Pundits stood in line to take gifts from the King. A knowledgeable, senior aged Kala Pundit was also in the line of Pundits for accepting gold coins from the King. One by one, King put coins on the hand of Pundits. Knowledgeable Kala Pundit felt it insult of Knowledge that while gift offering process was on the King whom Pundits provide advice was having upper hands and Pundits had to beg their hands before the King (Dhikkar ch juu Punditon tain Hath Taul Karn Podnu ch) .

               Knowledgeable Pundit Kala came out of line and took a vow before all including the King that from that moment Kala caste would not perform Punditai (job of Priest ship) and advised all Kala to leave Punditai where a Pundit had to beg hand for Dakshina (gift).

              From that day, Kala do not opt Punditai in Garhwal.

Copyright @ Bhishma Kukreti 13/3/2014 for review and interpretation

Garhwali Folk Tales, Fables, Traditional stories, Community Narratives for Effective Managers, Effective executives, Effective Boss, Effective Supervisors or Stories for Effective management, management Lesson from Garhwali Folk Literature from Garhwal, to be continued …in next chapter

                                 References

1-Bhishma Kukreti, 1984, Garhwal Ki Lok Kathayen, Binsar Prakashan, Lodhi Colony, Delhi 110003, 

2- Bhishma Kukreti 2003, Salan Biten Garhwali Lok Kathayen, Rant Raibar, Dehradun

3- Bhishma Kukreti, Garhwali Lok Kathaon ma Prabandh Vigyan ka Tantu , Chitthi Patri’s Lok Kathayen Visheshank  , Dehradun

Garhwali folk Stories from Garhwal sequence; Garhwali folk Stories from Haridwar succession , Garhwal; Garhwali folk Stories from Dehradun Garhwal chain; Garhwali folk Stories from Uttarkashi Garhwal; Garhwali folk Stories from Tehri Garhwal series; Garhwali folk Stories from Chamoli Garhwal; Garhwali folk Stories from Rudraprayag Garhwal; Garhwali folk Stories from Pauri Garhwal Series to be continued ..  

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Community Story of Kala Caste from Garhwal; Community Story of Kala Caste from Sumadi, Pauri Garhwal; Community Story of Kala Caste from Bhaidgaon, Pauri Garhwal; Community Story of Kala Caste from Gum, Ajmer Patti, Pauri Garhwal; Community Story of Kala Caste from Kuntani, Dabralsyun Patti, Pauri Garhwal; Community Story of Kala Caste from Langur Patti, Pauri Garhwal; Community Story of Kala Caste from Sheela Patti, Pauri Garhwal;