Page:The Imperial Gazetteer of India - Volume 10 (2nd edition).pdf/447

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ORISSA. 435 Upadhyaya, Misra, Rath, Ota, Tiári, Dás, Pati, and Satpasti. Of these, some live on lands granted to them by former Rijás, some by teaching private students, some on presents from rich men, and many as domestic priests, spiritual guides, and temple priests. They are numerous, some of them are rich, but many are poor, and they rank in social estimation a little lower than the Kulins. The lowest class of Brahmans, the Laukik, are supposed to represent the original Aryan Settlements in Orissa, and are sub-divided into six families--the Panda, Senápati, Parhi, Bastiá, Páni, and Sáhu. These live as husbandmen, cultivating with their own hands, as traders, vegetable dealers, rice merchants, as grain and money lenders, and as pilgrim guides. They are numerous, some of them rich, but most of them in moderate circumstances, like the better class of husbandmen. They are less esteemed than either of the other two classes of Bráhnians, but are generally respected as well-born, well-to-do men. The total number of Bráhmans in British Orissa in 1881 was returned at 391,012. Next to the Bráhnians comes the Kshattriya or warrior caste. Strictly speaking, there is not a single Kshattriya in Orissa, although the pedigree is claimed by many. The Kshattriyas are divided into three great classes, with seven sub-divisions. The first is the so-called Kshattriya proper, and includes the three following families-- Deva, Lál, and Raya. They consist of Rájás, landed proprietors, or holders of dependent tenures, and some of them lend money and grain on interest. They are few in nuniber, generally rich, and highly esteemed. Their numbers are not returned separately in the Census of 1881, and are probably included among the Rajputs, who form the second class of Kshattriyas, and are sub-divided into the two families of Singh and Chand. These men are held in good estimation, and are generally petty landholders, or are employed as military and police officers, doorkeepers, or messengers. The number of Rajputs was returned by the Census of 1881 at 17,971. The Khandaits form the third class who claim the rank of Kshattriya, although they are only recognised as Súdras, and indeed are classified as such in the Census Report. They derive their name from the Uriyá khandúa sword, and formed the feudal military caste of the ancient Orissa Rajás, holding their lands on strictly military tenures. At the present day they form the most numerous caste in Orissa, being returned at 544,422 in 1881. Some of them are landowners, and holders of dependent tenures, but the great bulk are now absorbed among the agricultural population, and rank as respectable cultivators. The Karans forn an intermediate caste between the high-caste Brahmans and Rajputs and the undoubted Sudras. They claim to represent the Vaisya or trading caste of ancient India. Many of them are landholders, or lend money and rice on interest; but a large pro