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Brohi Charan
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Brohi Charan
Brohi Charan (also called Brahui Charan; IAST: Brohi Cāraṇa; IPA: broːɦiː cɑːrəɳə; Sindhi: بروهي چارڻَ) are a Brahui, Sindhi speaking ethno-linguistic group residing in the Sindh and Balochistan provinces of Pakistan. Brohi Charans are the traditional priests of the Hinglaj shrines in Balochistan and Thatta.
Historically, Charans lived around the Sindh-Balochistan region prior to the medieval age. From the 7-8th century onwards, the Charan population began eastern migration in waves towards the neighboring Rajasthan & Kutch regions.
Some of the Charan clans who lived in this region included Mishran, Tumbel, and Brohi. In time, the remaining Charan population of these clans converted to Islam. Over time, the remnant Charan community converted to Islam and this region of Hinglaj formed part of the Balochistan province of Pakistan after independence.
The Brohi Charan community was historically associated with the worship and caretaking of the Hinglaj shrine. Charans are historically known as the primary worshippers of the goddess Hinglaj. Hinglaj is considered as a 'Mahashakti' born among the Charan community in present-day Nagar Thatta in Sindh.
Some scholars like Samaur give the origin of Hinglaj as belonging to the Gaurviya lineage of Charans of Sindh. Samaur believes that the origin of Goddess Hinglaj lies in the "gaur'viyā cāraṇ" branch from Thatta, a city in Southern Sindh. This connection to Thatta led to the belief among the sanyasis (ascetics) of the Charan community and the Udasi sect that the temple of Hinglaj in Thatta, Sindh is as important as the main shrine of Hinglaj in Las Bela, Balochistan.
Other scholars find the origin of Hinglaj in the Tumbel clan of the Charan community. Some base their account on the writings of P. P. Payaka, published in Cāraṇ-Baṃdhī magazine in 1955. Based on the article by P. P. Payaka, Westphal and Westphal-Hellbusch give the following account:
"Hala in Sindh was called Kohala in the former times, and the Goddess Hinglaj was once the queen of the Kohala or Kohana area. In this account, Hinglaj is portrayed as a Charani and the leader of the Tumbel Charan, whom she guided from Sindh to the Makran. P. P. Payaka also mentions that she remained a virgin all her life and was well versed in the religious texts." (Westphal and Westphal-Hellbusch 1974, 315).
In Balochistan, a certain local Muslim tribe primarily worships Hinglaj known as Brohi. The right to worship is exclusively assigned to kanyas(prebuscent girls) of Juman khamp(branch) of Bachol branch of Brohi tribe. These Brohi tribesmen are considered to be Muslim converts from Charans. They claim they are the 'Charan Musalmans'.
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Brohi Charan
Brohi Charan (also called Brahui Charan; IAST: Brohi Cāraṇa; IPA: broːɦiː cɑːrəɳə; Sindhi: بروهي چارڻَ) are a Brahui, Sindhi speaking ethno-linguistic group residing in the Sindh and Balochistan provinces of Pakistan. Brohi Charans are the traditional priests of the Hinglaj shrines in Balochistan and Thatta.
Historically, Charans lived around the Sindh-Balochistan region prior to the medieval age. From the 7-8th century onwards, the Charan population began eastern migration in waves towards the neighboring Rajasthan & Kutch regions.
Some of the Charan clans who lived in this region included Mishran, Tumbel, and Brohi. In time, the remaining Charan population of these clans converted to Islam. Over time, the remnant Charan community converted to Islam and this region of Hinglaj formed part of the Balochistan province of Pakistan after independence.
The Brohi Charan community was historically associated with the worship and caretaking of the Hinglaj shrine. Charans are historically known as the primary worshippers of the goddess Hinglaj. Hinglaj is considered as a 'Mahashakti' born among the Charan community in present-day Nagar Thatta in Sindh.
Some scholars like Samaur give the origin of Hinglaj as belonging to the Gaurviya lineage of Charans of Sindh. Samaur believes that the origin of Goddess Hinglaj lies in the "gaur'viyā cāraṇ" branch from Thatta, a city in Southern Sindh. This connection to Thatta led to the belief among the sanyasis (ascetics) of the Charan community and the Udasi sect that the temple of Hinglaj in Thatta, Sindh is as important as the main shrine of Hinglaj in Las Bela, Balochistan.
Other scholars find the origin of Hinglaj in the Tumbel clan of the Charan community. Some base their account on the writings of P. P. Payaka, published in Cāraṇ-Baṃdhī magazine in 1955. Based on the article by P. P. Payaka, Westphal and Westphal-Hellbusch give the following account:
"Hala in Sindh was called Kohala in the former times, and the Goddess Hinglaj was once the queen of the Kohala or Kohana area. In this account, Hinglaj is portrayed as a Charani and the leader of the Tumbel Charan, whom she guided from Sindh to the Makran. P. P. Payaka also mentions that she remained a virgin all her life and was well versed in the religious texts." (Westphal and Westphal-Hellbusch 1974, 315).
In Balochistan, a certain local Muslim tribe primarily worships Hinglaj known as Brohi. The right to worship is exclusively assigned to kanyas(prebuscent girls) of Juman khamp(branch) of Bachol branch of Brohi tribe. These Brohi tribesmen are considered to be Muslim converts from Charans. They claim they are the 'Charan Musalmans'.