Gavli (also spelled as Gawli or Gavali) (Marathi language: गवळी) is a Hindus caste in the Indian states of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
Etymology
The name
Gavli may have been derived from a Sanskrit word meaning
Cattle.
History
Origin
Some authorities have suggested that
(today
) migrated to
Maharashtra from
Punjab and
Sindh in early historic times. Other researchers have hypothesized that these people have inhabited
Maharashtra for the last 5,000 to 10,000 years.
Gavli are distributed all over Maharashtra. Although a has classified Gawlis as sub-caste of many different castes Ahir (sub-caste of famous Yadav caste of North India) whereas Hanbar Gawli, Singaji Gawli and lingayat are different from Yaduvanshi Aheer. Along with Maratha and Kunbis, Yaduvanshi Aheer are considered one of the allied castes of Maratha and have been included in the Maratha Regiment in the past.
Relationship with Deccan Yadavas
The Seuna Yadava dynasty, which ruled present-day Maharashtra and north Karnataka, arose out of the valorous deeds of
Dridhaprahara, founder of the dynasty, who protected cattle. According to the traditional sources,
Devagiri, the capital of Seuna Yadavas, was founded by a king who was a Golla/Gavli.
The idea that the Seunas were a Gavli dynasty survives to this day in folk traditions of the
Nashik-
Khandesh area, where they are traditionally called "Gavli Kings". During the reign of Seuna Yadavas and their rival
Hoysala, the temple of
Vitthal at
Pandharpur, under their purview, grew from a small pastoral deity site to a major temple complex.
Bibliography
