Buddhist and other texts refer about populations of Kosala and
Malla Mahajanpoada who never turned towards Buddha or Jaina’s teachings. These
populations remained follower of their old Brahmanic and Shaivaite cults when
both atheist religions were spreading their wings in these regions. In the
early discussions about Sainthwar community, Bisen and Gaharwar Rajputs
consistently figured in the discussion. Although they are referred as Rajputs,
they are also known as one of the ancient Kshatriyas of eastern Uttar Pradesh.
They are related with Rajputs only through the matrimonial alliances that started
somewhere during the medieval period when the latter were considered equivalent
to the Vedic era Kshatriyas. Within all Rajput / Kshatriya clans occupying the
region of Gorakhpur, Bisen Kshatriyas are most respected. With a total
population of approximately 306,000 in year 2011, they are thickly settled in
Balrampur, Gonda and Faizabad which also accounts for 1/3rd of their
total population. The other major settlements are found in Allahabad,
Pratapgarh, Jaunpur, Azamgarh and Gorakhpur districts of Uttar Pradesh, refer
Fig 9.1. The princely estates of the Bisens include Salempur - Majhauli in
Deoria, Bhinga in Bahraich, Mankapur in Gonda, Marotia in Basti, Kalakankar and
Bhadari in Pratapgarh of Uttar Pradesh and Dumaria in Motihari and Mahrauda in
Chapara of Bihar.
Figure 9.1: Population distrbution of Bisen Rajputs. Dark background indicates thick settlement. [1]
The early British historians traced the Bisens as Rajputs of northwestern
India who migrated and settled in Gorakhpur region when Prithviraj Chauhan and
Jaychand were defeated by Mahmud Ghori in 12th century AD. However Bisens
denying it trace their lineage from the Majhauli estate of Deoria. The Bisens
of Majhauli held ‘Malla’ title as early as the 19th century after
which they took ‘Singh’ title. It indicates their possible relation with the ancient
rulers of Malla Mahajanpada. It is interesting to note that both Sainthwars and
Bisens, who have ‘Malla’ titled populations, have no traditions about their lineage
coming from the ancient Malla tribes.
9.1 Some notes about Bisens
1. Benett (Final Settlement of
Gonda District, 1878) [2] reports that within Bisen
Rajputs, the ties of kinship were weak because the Bisen chief of Majhauli in
Gorakhpur would not eat with the chiefs of Gonda or Pratapgarh.
2. The traditions of Majhauli estate by L. K. Mall as covered in
section 7.2.1, statement no. 4 and 8.8.1.
3. In 1899, A.H. Bingley [3] writes that ‘The name of this clan is
derived from the Sanskrit Viswa means ‘entire’ and sena means ‘army’.
They claim their descendants from Mayur Bhatta and through him from famous rishi
called Jamadagani. He had three sons from three wives ‘one by a
Rajputani, one from Bhuinharin and one from Brahmani’. Certain classes of
Bisens claim their descendants from Tikari near Delhi. This clan is much
divided, which leads us to infer that the title of Bisen was assumed by a
congeries of various tribes. The head of the clan is ‘Raja of Majhauli in
Gorakhpur’. The Bisen clan is not represented in Rajputana and found chiefly in
Allahabad, Benaras, Mirzapur, Jaunpur, Gazipur, Ballia, Gorakhpur, Basti,
Azamgarh, Faizabad, Gonda and Bahraich districts of Uttar Pradesh. They are
divided in five Gotras – Parasar, Sandil, Batsa, Bhardwaja, and Atri’.
4. Pandit Jwala Prasad Mishra
(Jati Bhaskar, p. 205, 1917) traces the lineage of Bisens
from King Ratan Sen of Maharashtra. According to his work, Ratan Sen along with
his five wives and sons hid in the ashram
of sage Dadhichi from the fear of Parashurama. On one occasion, he was killed
by Parashurama and his five wives took sati with his dead body. The five sons
were given shelter by sage Dadhichi. When Parashurama came to know this, he
went to kill them. Sage understanding the situation told Parashurama that the boys
are Brahmins and have no relation with Ratan Sen. He addressed the eldest son
as Jay Sharma instead of Jay Sen and to prove his Brahmin lineage, ate in the same
pot with him. The satisfied Parashurama then took Jay Sen to his ashram and
gave the martial trainings. One day, he instructed Jay Sen not to disturb him
during sleep as he was very tired. While he was sleeping, a big ant bit the leg
of Jay Sen and the blood fell on the ear of Parashurama. The angry Parashurama
cursed him saying ‘this hot blood cannot be of Brahmin and therefore he must
forget all training. He shall also roam in the world as Brahma-Kshatriya’.
When the developments were known to Dadhichi, he consoled Jay Sen and told him
to rule the area of present Maharashtra. Jay Sen married to Suryavanshi
princess Suryaprabha and had issue Bisva Sen. In the lineage of Bisva Sen, Dhruvasen
II was born who was married to the granddaughter of Harshvardhana. The marriage
was facilitated by Mayur Bhat who was a poet in the court of Dhruvasen. Harshvardhana
died without any heir and as a result Dhruvasen received part of his empire.
The region of Kund-dhan, the present
Kakradih in Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh, was thus ruled for many years
by the descendants of Dhruvasen who were titled as Bisen. A very similar
tradition regarding the origin of Bisens is also echoed by the Bisen family of
Bhinga estate. The tradition of Bisens further say that as Mayur Bhat facilitated
the marriage of Dhruvasen with the granddaughter of Harshvardhan, he commanded
great respect in Bisens. Therefore Bisens were also known as ‘Mayurvanshi’ [4].
5. Lineage from the Suryavanshi King Mayur Bhat of Kanchi,
Karnataka as per the research of Shivnath Bhaskar. Refer section 7.2.1, statement no. 21.
6. Lineage from Mayur Varman of Karnataka as per the research of Jagdish
Narayan Singh. Refer section 7.2.1, statement no. 20.
7. M.N.Mall [5] traces the origin of Bisen clan from the marital alliance
of Brahmanic Malla Prince with Brahmanic Mauryan Princess who ruled over the ancient
region of Gorakhpur around 4th century BC. According to his work, the
Bisens received ‘Mayurvanshi’ title from the mother’s side.
Going through the various versions concerning the origin of Bisens,
certain points are very clear. The Bisens are Suryavanshi Kshatriyas having
five gotras and nearly the same number of vansh (clan). The chief family belongs to Salempur -
Majhauli estate of Deoria district. Geographically, Salempur and Majhauli are
two adjacent villages situated on the either bank of the River Little Gandak.
The chief family held ‘Malla’ title till late 19th century and
referred as ‘Brahma-Kshatriya’ and
‘Mayurvanshi’. They are said to
be linked to the Malla branch of Sainthwars but placed in a higher position on the
caste scale. Till the end of the 19th century, the Bisen chief of
Majhauli was not eating with the Bisen chiefs of Gonda and Pratapgarh. The geographical
indicators put Bisens being thickly settled on the land of ancient Kosala and
Malla Mahajanpada against the trend observed for other Rajput clans, refer
Table 8.8.3. Presence of the low but thick population of Maurya community is also
observed in the vicinity of their chief family at Majhauli in Deoria district.
9.2 Origin of the Bisen Community - Click here to read
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References:
[1] https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/20382/IN
[2] Fox,
R. G. (1971). Kin, Clan, Raja and Rule: State- Hinterland Relations in Preindustrial
India, pp. 38-39. London: University of California Press.
[3] Bingley,
A. H. (1899). Handbook On Rajputs, pp. 54-55 (2nd reprint). Delhi:
Asian Educational Services.
[4] Mall, M. N. (2005). Bisen Vansh Darpan, pp. 4-6.
Gorakhpur.
[5] Mall, M. N. (2005). Bisen Vansh Darpan.
Gorakhpur.
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Index Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10
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