What is Matharu?
1.
Matharus are considered to be one of the original SIKH (Jat & Tarkhan) Tribes.Matharus are known to be of the same stock as the Jat and Kamboj castes as they are a purely Indo-Scythian tribe.
Matharu were fierce Warriors, fought number of wars for PrithviRaj Chauhan & Jassa Singh Ramgharia.Some scholars believe that have originated originally from Mathura.They were originally part of the Jats from that region who emigrated to Punjab and took up carpentry.
Scholars such as H.A. Rose believe that they are descended from the Sakas, the Kushans and the Huns. According to the Manu Smriti, they (the Sakas) are originally of Kshatriya descent. In Sanskrit, they are known as Ayogavas, which is more akin to Vaishyas, but are considered degraded Kshatriyas (like Jats, Gujjars etc).
A very proud and fiercely independent people, they are amongst the wealthiest and most educated clans of India.Historically, Matharu's occupations have included carpentry, landowning, farming, engineering, politics, science, medicine, and military. They originate from the regions of Amritsar, Jalandhar,Hoshiarpur, Lahore and Ludhiana in Punjab. MATHARU name features on one of the marble slabs on Harmandir Sahib's premises (AMRITSAR, India). Matharus built battleships in olden times for attack and defense, and that a canon in the Ranthambore (RAJASTHAN, India) Fort also bears the name MATHARU.Matharus also built weapons for and fought in the armies of Prithviraj Chauhan, a wise, brave and famous Warrior King of Ajmer, Rajasthan, who has the credit of unifying the embattled, beleaguered small and large kingdoms and fiefdoms of Rajasthan into one powerful force to reckon with.Skilled artisans in the craft of woodwork,ivory and ebony inlay work and ironcraft,Matharus have made a name for themselves in the world in related fields and industries.A spirited clan, they love to work hard and live well. Known for being a highly ambitious and progressive tribe, Matharus are now diversified into many other professions like medicine, research, law & entrepreneurship.
The writer of the Punjab Gazeteer, while speaking of Matharu Ramgarhias in his description of the Amritsar District, says,"Matharu Ramgarhias though they form a separate caste in Punjab, they possess all the good qualities and martial spirit of the Sikh Jats". Thus in the military atmosphere the Ramgarhias have the honour to share up to this day, with their Jat brothers, the topmost position among the Brotherhood of Lions.
The writer of the Punjab Gazeteer, while speaking of Matharu Ramgarhias in his description of the Amritsar District, says,"Matharu Ramgarhias though they form a separate caste in Punjab, they possess all the good qualities and martial spirit of the Sikh Jats". Thus in the military atmosphere the Ramgarhias have the honour to share up to this day, with their Jat brothers, the topmost position among the Brotherhood of Lions.
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