Panjis

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Panjis or Panji Prabandh are extensive genealogical records maintained among Maithil Brahmins, Karna
Kayasthas of Mithila region of north Bihar, India, similat to the Hindu genealogy registers at Haridwar.
Contents
1 History
2 Mythology
3 Principle
4 Storage and Media
5 Utility
6 Saurath Sabha
7 Current status
8 Books on Panji System
9 References
10 External links
History
The first Panjis were written during the reign of Maharaja Harisingh Dev in 1310 AD[1]
(http://discoverbihar.bih.nic.in/pages/maithili_culture.htm).
Mythology
It is said that during the reign of Maharaja Harisingh Dev, last of the Rajas of Mithila in the 14th century, an
interesting case was brought to his court. A married female was held up for un-chastity and at first held to be
guilty. She appealed for reconsideration of her case. The case was re-examined and she was found innocent.
This case compelled the king to call a meeting of the Maithil Brahmins of his kingdom. When the Brahmans
assembled in the king's court, the king considered each and every Brahman's ethical bent and in this way
created the Panji system according to which a systematic genealogical table of every Maithil Brahmin family
and of the Maithil Karan Kayasthas was recorded.
[1]
Principle
The principle of Panjis is "Bij Purush" or seed person, who is the first in a particular lineage. The Bij Purush
are classified according to "Gotras" (Clan) "Mul" (Lineage) which is the original residing place, called
"Mulgrams", of the Vij Purush. The keeper of the Panjis are called as "Panjikars" There are allotted
Panjikars for various gotras and Muls of Brahmins and Karna Kayasthas. They are responsible for the
accurate record keeping and maintenance of the genealogies[2] (http://cc.1asphost.com/mithila
/genealogies.asp). Panjikars are not only a recorder keeper but they are also classified in to three to four
categories by their social institution. Class "A" Panjikar have to pass the DHAUT PARIKSHA organized by
MITHILA MAHARAJA, Both the Maithil Karna Kayastha and Maithil Brahmins panjikar in title for this
and awarded an honour by the state at that time.[Dr. Binod Kr. Karna/Panji System in Maithil Karna
Kayasth/NCS/Kathmandu, Nepal]
Panjis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panjis
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Storage and Media
Panjis were traditionally written on palm leaves measuring 16 x 3 and threaded by a central perforation.
They were also written on old indigenously made paper called 'Basaha'. However, in the last century they are
being increasingly written on paper. The astute panjikars were not only expected to diligently copy the old
records but also memorize them by heart[3] (http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/charcoal
/49/panjik_sarvekshan.htm).
Utility
The Panjis have enormous value in during fixing marriages, as they ensure that incestuous relationships do
not occur, delineating the last 14 or so generations of the prospective bride and groom.
Saurath Sabha
The Maithil Brahmins assembled in a conference to deliberate upon new marriage alliances duly checked
with the respective panjikars at a place near Madhubani called as Saurath. the conference itself was called
Saurath Sabha [4] (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-11-25/india/27830846_1_saurath-sabha-
gachhi-marriage-mithila).
Current status
Due to progressive loss of Panjis, Panjikars taking up modern professions and increasing cosmopolitan
behaviour, the practice of fixation of marriage by consulting Panjis is dying. There have been cases reported
of sale of Panjis to foreign agencies[5] (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-04-03/patna
/27869819_1_marriages-middleman-leaf). The recent Saurath sabhas are all but deserted[6]
(http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/574951.cms). Increasingly, people are looking forward to
more modern methods of match making like internet, rather than centuries old palm leaves.
Books on Panji System
Maithili Karna Kayasthak Panjik Sarvekshan, by Binod Bihari Verma
Maithil Brhamano ki Paji Vyavasth (Hindi), by Pt Ramnth Jh, published by Granthlaya,
Darbhang.
Genome Mapping- 450 AD to 2009 AD- Mithilak Panji Prabandh, by Gajendra Thakur, published by
Shruti Publication,2009 Delhi ISBN No.978-81-907729-6-9
Panji System in Maithil Karna Kayastha: A Sociological Evaluation, [By: Dr. Binod Kumar Karna.]
References
^ Maithili Culture (http://discoverbihar.bih.nic.in/pages/maithili_culture.htm) 1.
External links
Bihar government site about Mithila including Panjikars (http://discoverbihar.bih.nic.in/pages
/maithili_culture.htm)
A history of Panji system in North India (http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/ahr/110.5
/chatterjee.html)
Times Of India article on Brahmins Panjis (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow
Panjis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panjis
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/1848092.cms)
JSTOR article on the usage of Panjis on Mithila and Bengal (http://links.jstor.org
/sici?sici=0026-749X(1988)22%3A4%3C757%3ARARINB%3E2.0.CO%3B2-%23)
A detailed look at the panji system (http://cc.1asphost.com/mithila/genealogies.asp)
Times of India article on Saurath Sabha in Madhubani (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow
/574951.cms)
Kinship ritual and visual imagery in Mithila (http://www.anthrosource.net/doi/abs/10.1525
/var.2006.22.2.5)
Review of the book 'Panjik Sarvekshan' (http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/charcoal
/49/panjik_sarvekshan.htm)
Genome Mapping- 450 AD to 2009 AD- Mithilak Panji Prabandh (http://www.box.net/shared
/yx4b9r4kab)
Maithili Books (https://sites.google.com/a/videha.com/videha-pothi/)
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Panjis&oldid=591275804"
Categories: Culture of Bihar Culture of Mithila Family registers Social history of India
Indian genealogy
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