History
The name Agri comes from Agar, a Salt-pan. The original name seems to be Agle.
The tradition common among them is that they originally dwelt at Mungi Paithan and were transported to the Konkan by Bimbaraja, and it is alleged that there are in existence sanads given by him to certain persons of the caste. They are not, however, forthcoming.
The following legend is given for what it is worth. Two son's Agla and Mangla, were born to the sage Agasti; the former the ancestor of the Agris, the latter of the Mangelas (Fishermen). The first was told to support himself by the manufacture of salt from the sea, the latter by fishing. The god Parashuram, intending to throw back the sea, was prevented by the intervention of the Agri and Mangela women. At their request he consented to throw it back only 27 miles and the strip thus formed become the Konkan.
There is another legend to the effect that they are the musicians of Ravan, the demon-king of South India, who in reward for good services settled them in the Konkan.
Agris claim to be Kahatriyas of Khatris. The late or Aryan element which they claim and which appear in some of their surnames, according to their story, was introduced into the Konkan from Paithan in the Deccan, when the Deccan was conquered by the Musalmans at the close of the thirteen century.
But the fact is Agris belonged to shudras category of the varna order, which is the lowest Varna as developed by Brahmins,. so they were destined to be poor. It does not mean Agris were untouchables, it means the non-untouchables who were considered lowly by the remaining castes but were still touchables. People come under Shudra category are farmers, fishermen , people working on others land for their lively hood etc. it means people other than Brahamins, Kshatriyas i.e. rulers having their own Sena. and Vaishya (Businessmen).
The tradition common among them is that they originally dwelt at Mungi Paithan and were transported to the Konkan by Bimbaraja, and it is alleged that there are in existence sanads given by him to certain persons of the caste. They are not, however, forthcoming.
The following legend is given for what it is worth. Two son's Agla and Mangla, were born to the sage Agasti; the former the ancestor of the Agris, the latter of the Mangelas (Fishermen). The first was told to support himself by the manufacture of salt from the sea, the latter by fishing. The god Parashuram, intending to throw back the sea, was prevented by the intervention of the Agri and Mangela women. At their request he consented to throw it back only 27 miles and the strip thus formed become the Konkan.
There is another legend to the effect that they are the musicians of Ravan, the demon-king of South India, who in reward for good services settled them in the Konkan.
Agris claim to be Kahatriyas of Khatris. The late or Aryan element which they claim and which appear in some of their surnames, according to their story, was introduced into the Konkan from Paithan in the Deccan, when the Deccan was conquered by the Musalmans at the close of the thirteen century.
But the fact is Agris belonged to shudras category of the varna order, which is the lowest Varna as developed by Brahmins,. so they were destined to be poor. It does not mean Agris were untouchables, it means the non-untouchables who were considered lowly by the remaining castes but were still touchables. People come under Shudra category are farmers, fishermen , people working on others land for their lively hood etc. it means people other than Brahamins, Kshatriyas i.e. rulers having their own Sena. and Vaishya (Businessmen).
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