Guest guest Posted May 12, 2003 Report Share Posted May 12, 2003 "Juhar" is widely used as salutation in Jharkhand, Western and Southwestern Orissa,and Ch(h)attisgarh among the non-literate people who happen to be largely [often vaguely] affiliated with Munda-speaking tribes. [The literate folk and even the elite of these regions have recently adopted the saluatation as an identity-marker. In the Hindi speaking neighbouring areas the form "johar" is commonly used.] Munda is a strong root [etymological] candidate. Cf. Santali 'jahar' -hanging low down, reaching to the feet etc. Best Jogesh Panda --- ymalaiya <ymalaiya wrote: > What is the origin of the salutation "Juhar", which > was apparently > common in North india at one time (at least among > some communities)? > > I have seen a cpuple of different explanations of > the term, none of > them completely satisfactory. > > Yashwant > > > > The New Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo. http://search. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 12, 2003 Report Share Posted May 12, 2003 It appears that the salutation Juhar was used much more widely in the past. In Bundelkhand a Jain layman was awarded the title "Singhai" (i.e. Sanghapati) at the conclusion of a gaja-ratha-pratishta (idol consecratation involving a chariot drawn by elephants). At the conclusion, he was ceremonially saluted by people saying: "Singhaiji, Juhar!". While gaja-ratha-pratishthas are still held, I think Singhai titles are no longer awarded. Pt. Jhamman Lal Tarkatirtha in his "Shri Lamechu Di. Jain Samaj ka Itihas" (1952 AD), writes: ".. In all other Jain Jatis they do not have the tradition of doing "juharu" at proper times during auspicious occasions like marriages etc, like Lamechus have. Yes, neighbors of Lamechus like Kharaua and Golalare Jatis have a similar custom. Some say "juharu" is apabhramsha for "yuddhakaru", others say that it it indicates a vinaya-vachi term which indicates lack of raga, dvesha etc.. It is described so in Bhadrabahu Samhita: shraadhhaah parasparam kuryur-juhaaruriti sanshrayam which meas that all practiceners of Jainism should respect eachother by saying "juharu". He further writes: "In other Jatis, gradually the custom has died out, but among Lamechus it has continued; however now people have started saying "Jay Jinendra" by copying Vaishnavas. This term does not indicate proper vinaya. The Lamecchus have also started giving up the old tradition, which is not good.." The first edition of this book was published around 1919 AD. I have seen a shloka somewhere giving a Jain interpretation of Juharu. I have also leaned that this salutation was also used by Kachchhi Jains in the past. It has also been used by the Rajputs. The Mewar Encyclopaedia writes: "Juhar: (Hindi) a salutation, only sent by a superior (e.g., a Rana) to an inferior such as a minister or vassal." I think I have seen a verse by Goswami Tulsidas using the term. Yashwant Note: Lamenchus are a small community, in the Itawa/Bhind region of UP/MP. Inscriptions mentioning them (Lamba-kanchuaka in Sanskrit) from 12th cent. have been found in the region. Jogesh Panda wrote: > "Juhar" is widely used as salutation in Jharkhand, > Western and Southwestern Orissa,and Ch(h)attisgarh > among the non-literate people who happen to be largely > [often vaguely] affiliated with Munda-speaking tribes. > [The literate folk and even the elite of these regions > have recently adopted the saluatation as an > identity-marker. In the Hindi speaking neighbouring > areas the form "johar" is commonly used.] > > Munda is a strong root [etymological] candidate. > Cf. Santali 'jahar' -hanging low down, reaching to the > feet etc. > > Best > > Jogesh Panda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 13, 2003 Report Share Posted May 13, 2003 --- ymalaiya <ymalaiya wrote: > Some say "juharu" > is apabhramsha for "yuddhakaru", The Ap. for "yuddhakaaru" is "jujhaaru", eminently attested by philologists. > I think I have seen a verse by Goswami Tulsidas > using the term. I have not seen the word in pre-19th century literary Hindi. Could any one with access to "tulasi-shabdakosha" of Bacculal Avasthi or C. Vaudeville's Tulasi Concordance please verify. "Johaar(a)" and "johaari" occur in Meddle Bengali kaavyas. "Juhaara" occurs in Middle Oriya kaavyas. Hiralal Shukla's Tribal Dictionary lists "johaar". The Jain material seems interesting. But does it rule out the Munda/tribal connection? The Rajputs' use of the word grounds it more in the indigenous substrata. Would the Rajput anthropolgists like to respond? Best. Jogesh Panda The New Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo. http://search. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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