Kuldevs – Maher Kuldevi Tradition

Satiyai

Sati ayi

The kuldevi has a crucial role in the religious lives of Maher men and women: she is the foremost divine guardian of their fortune and honour. Many of the myths that recount the miraculous deeds she performs as guardian not only make wonderful reading they abound in romance, intrigue, danger, and conquest they also give access to the worldview of Maher women.

A goddess begins her career as a kuldevi when she becomes incarnate at a critical point in time in order to rescue an endangered group of Maher whom she judges worthy of her protection. In most cases she reveals herself to their leader and inspires him to surmount whatever problems he and his followers face. Afterward she helps him establish a kingdom, at which point he and his relatives become the founders of a kinship branch (kul or shakh ) with a discrete political identity. Later the kuldevi intermittently manifests her presence by helping the group overcome other military and political crises. These manifestations are celebrated in myths chronicling the origins and early achievements of the Maher groups that kuldevis protect.

Because when a woman marries she loses membership in her father’s kul and becomes a member of her husband’s  kul , she is expected to worship the kuldevi who protects its members. Thus, the very first thing a bride must do when she enters her husband’s household is to give respect (dhok ) to her new kuldevi . This is a caste norm; every Maher must loyally propitiate the kuldevi who has accompanied the family’s kul into battle.

Maher Surnames and their Kuldevs, Gotra, Vansh, Isthtadev, Gor and Barot

Surname Bhaiyat
Gotra  Vansh Ishtadev Kuldevi Gor Barot
Keshwala Antrolia, Bheynia, Ratadia,Butta, Erda, Bagordara Kashyap Suryavanshi Ramchandra Khodiyar Mataji
Shri Vindhyavasini Aai
Girnara Brahmin Sonrat
Sisodia Modhwadia, Kuchhadia, Khistriya, Godhania, Ranavaya, Hadadiya, Pashtariya Kashyap Suryavanshi Ramchandra Shri Vindhyavasini Aai Shri Chamundai Shri Gatran Aai Shri Sikotar Aai Thanki Brahmin Rehnuka
Rajsakha/ Jethwa
Karavadra, Khunti, Tilak, Gorania, Chundavadra, Jethwa, Surya, Jog, Modedra, Selot, Selar, Pariya- (Bhosiya) Bokhiria Aashtang Suryavanshi   Shri Vindhyavasini Aai
Shri Chamundai
 Joshi Brahmin Brahbhat
Odedra Moraji, Fatiya, Butad, Mokhra, Matra, Miya, Raha, Jagshana, Arjanka, Hathla, Visana, Okhai, Mepana, Dhundhana, Hemara, Devana, Balar, Jasana, Lala, Mokhariya, Asde, Vajpa, Ji, Tukadiya   Chandravanshi Gorakhnath
Vachhada Dada, Patha Pir
Shri Sikoter Mataji
Chamunda/ Balvi
Joshi Brahmin Sonrat
Jadeja / Kishore
Kadchha, Ratiya, Tarkhala, Kadegiya, Pipraniya, Mekhadiya, Kulranmiya Atri
Samved
Chandravanshi Ashapuri Ambaji, Kandhali Aai, Ashapura Ma

 

Girnara Brahmin Lagdhir
Solanki (Vaghela)
Timba, Samja, Vadaliya, Jakhniya, Bhanvadiya, Chabhhad, Divraniya, Bhogesra, Juneja, Gariyana, Sida, Chhaya Atri Chandravanshi   Shri Shikoter Mataji Joshi Brahmin Brahbhat
Parmar Mahiyaria, Chatraviya, Liboriya, Kahaliya, Kotadiya, Jilaniya, Mosa, Mandera, Pata, Gorsera, Badeja, Chandela Gautam Rushi Agnivanshi   Simiyar – Mandvari
Shri Maha Kali, Shri Mandavadi Aai
Girnara Brahmin Sonrat
Vadher/ Rathod
Sharma, Sutreja, Sindhal, Padodariya, Chandesha, Dasa,Pandavadariya, Chanrodariya,Mahikya Kashyap

 

Suryavanshi   Shri Khodiyar Aai

Shri Gatran Aai

Girnara Brahmin Sonrat
Vada Muliyashiya, Khimdaniya, Bapodra-(Mashani) Amar, Agath, Mihikiya, Timmasiya, Bhetakiya Kashyap Suryavanshi  

Visant Mataji
Shri Vindhyavasini Aai
Chamunda Ma
Vihot Ma

Joshi Brahmin Brahbhat
Chavda Navadiya, Kothvada, Kothadiya, Padorodiya Kashyap Suryavanshi   Shri Harshad Aai Joshi Brahmin Brahbhat
Chauhan Gareja   Agnivashi   Shapurna mataj
Shri Chamuda Mataji
Joshi Brahmin Brahbhat
Vadar Nandaniya, Nakura, Badhsa, Hilla, Jasiya, Bamaniya   Chandravanshi   Shri Chamuda Mataji Joshi Brahmin Brahbhat
Parihar Thapaliya   Agnivashi   Shri Chamuda Mataji Joshi Brahmin Sonrat
Vagh (Chudasama)
Bhalejia, Gorejiya Atri Chandravanshi   Shri Amba Mataji
Shri Khodiyar Mataji
Joshi Brahmin Sonrat