Paliwals and the Invention of Khadin

A khadin, also called a dhora, is an ingenious construction designed to harvest surface runoff water for agriculture. Its main feature is a very long (100-300 m) earthen embankment built across the lower hill slopes lying below gravelly uplands. Sluices and spillways allow excess water to drain off. The khadin system is based on the principle of harvesting rainwater on farmland and subsequent use of this water-saturated land for crop production.
First designed by the Paliwal Brahmins of Jaisalmer, western Rajasthan in the 15th century, this system has great similarity with the irrigation methods of the people of Ur (present Iraq) around 4500 BC and later of the Nabateans in the Middle East. A similar system is also reported to have been practised 4,000 years ago in the Negev desert, and in southwestern Colorado 500 years ago.

Paliwal villages: Kuldhara & Khaba

The Paliwal villages around Jaisalmer are remarkably urban. Indeed it may be more correct to call them towns, since, though they now appear to have contained no more than a few score houses, they may once have been surrounded by more ephemeral ‘suburbs’, which have since disappeared. What remains is one hundred or more villages; coherent, ordered settlements of stone buildings. The street arrangement gives a very agreeable sense of enclosure, contrasting with occasional open spaces centered on a ‘piyas’. This is an ornamental feature consisting of a pyramidal structure of delicately carved stone erected over a square stone cell, where it is customary for a Brahman to give drinking water to visitors. Another feature of these open spaces is the low stone table which probably served as a sitting and meeting place in the cool evenings. The temples, occurring in the street without any strongly marked centrality, were modest buildings, though somewhat more monumental than the neighbouring houses.

Unfortunately, this highly enterprising community of the Paliwal Brahmans had to flee the desert at rather short notice, sometime prior to the year 1820. Salim Singh, the Prime Minister to Maharawal Mulraj, wielded enormous power and chose not to tolerate the prosperity of the Paliwals. He, therefore, created very difficult conditions for them to continue to live in the region. Several of these villages lie in a state of ruin even today. In many ways the houses in a Paliwal village could be compared to more evolved urban houses, to an extent, to the houses of modern day towns; except that they were mostly single storeyed. The street pattern was like a grid with straight, wide streets to which the houses were directly connected. This permitted a garage for the carts; a covered space in a part of the frontage of the house. The remains of these Paliwal settlements, ruined as they are, still demonstrate the very high level of urbanism that existed in the desert centuries ago. Highly evolved forms of house, temples, stepwells, and other structures clearly indicate the long period of development of these forms. The genesis of these could be traced back to, perhaps, the Harrappan settlements

About Paliwals

.....Pali is named after the Paliwal Brahmins who once inhabited the area in Rajastahan, a western province in India. Ancient Pali housed a highly evolved civilization. The land, which was leased by the then chief of Mandore (the former capital of Jodhpur district), was cultivated diligently by the Paliwals who abandoned their former priestly profession. Being a hardworking and intelligent tribe, they soon became wealthy and were noticed by the chieftain of Marwar at the time, Raja Sheoji.Wanting to replenish his treasury for the battles which lay ahead Sheoji imposed a war levy on the inhabitants of Pali in 1243 AD. The Paliwals demanded exemption under the plea that they were Brahmins. The furious king threw some of their leaders into prison in retaliation, and passed an edict mandating punishment on every Pali resident who did not cough up the war tax. Sheoji’s persecution forced the Paliwals to flee, which they did lock stock and barrel to Jaisalmer, until Pali resembled a ghost town. Pali’s chief attraction are three exquisite temples, namely the Hatundi Rata Mahabir Temple, the Ranakpur Jain Temple and the Surya Narayan Temple.....

About Paliwals

.....Pali is named after the Paliwal Brahmins who once inhabited the area in Rajastahan, a western province in India. Ancient Pali housed a highly evolved civilization. The land, which was leased by the then chief of Mandore (the former capital of Jodhpur district), was cultivated diligently by the Paliwals who abandoned their former priestly profession. Being a hardworking and intelligent tribe, they soon became wealthy and were noticed by the chieftain of Marwar at the time, Raja Sheoji.Wanting to replenish his treasury for the battles which lay ahead Sheoji imposed a war levy on the inhabitants of Pali in 1243 AD. The Paliwals demanded exemption under the plea that they were Brahmins. The furious king threw some of their leaders into prison in retaliation, and passed an edict mandating punishment on every Pali resident who did not cough up the war tax. Sheoji’s persecution forced the Paliwals to flee, which they did lock stock and barrel to Jaisalmer, until Pali resembled a ghost town. Pali’s chief attraction are three exquisite temples, namely the Hatundi Rata Mahabir Temple, the Ranakpur Jain Temple and the Surya Narayan Temple.....

Book Paliwal Prabhodhan

Welcome at Paliwal Samaj

This is a unique platfrom for all the members of paliwal brahmin community to get in touch with each other and getting information about the community.

Introduction

Ancient Aryans were not divided on the basis of caste & creed. However, gradually differences started & four major categories emerged which were named as ba`aQNa, xai~aya, vaOSya and SaUd . While initially this division was based on the type of work people did, later birth became the basis i.e. son of brahman was deemed to be brahman and that of a vaishya, a vaishya. This division further divided the Brahmans which was initially on the basis of Rishi/Muni and later on the places of residence.

Being the native of Brahmakshetra, prayers and study of Ved and simple living earned them the name ''Brahman''. What is Brahmakshetra ? Kalidas''s famous work ''Meghdoot'' reveals that Gaurwar in Rajasthan is the old Brahmakshetra and its main city is the Pali of present Marwar. Those Gaur Brahmans who were related to Gaurwar were called Paliwal Brahmans. This way Paliwals are basically Gaur Brahmans.

Paliwals are Brahmans & hence are amongst Gaur Brahman, who originated from Pali, the old and famous city of Jodhpur. Earlier they were called Paliwal Gaur & after moving out to different places for the sake of defending the religion, they came to be known as Paliwal Brahmans. Marwar''s famous historian, Munshi Prashad describes Pali is very old city. There are many gardens, wells, ponds outside the city. This is the homeland of Paliwal Brahmans.