ABOUT MAHER CAST

The Mer (Maher, Mihir, Mair or Mehr) are an Indian social group largely found in the Kathiawar region in Saurashtra. The population of Mers distributed in a number of 155 villages and some 23 nes was reported to be 50,000 according to the Census of 1951. The traditional occupations of the Mer are war and agricultural farming. Some of the Mer villages and land was given to them by the Jethwa Ranas of Porbandar as a token for being part of their royal army against invading tribes in the Kathiwar region.

The Maher of Rajasthan have two territorial divisions (Kundali and Hadoti) and call themselves "Nand Mehar", since they believe to have descended from King Nand of Vrindavan. They also call themselves Nandvanshis. Mahers live in eastern Rajasthan, with large concentration in the Hadoti area (especially Kota, Bundi and Jhalawar).

According to the Barots they read in their own books that the forefathers of the Jethwa and the Mers were the same and they came and settled in Saurashtra at the same time which is around 900 A.D.

The Rajput Mer Lineages

• Keshwala (Suryavanshi)

  • Subdivisions: Antrolia & Erda

• Sisodia (Suryavanshi)

  • Subdivisions: Modhvadia, Godhania, Khastriya, Ranavaya, Kuchhadia & Haddiya

• Odedra (also known as Sumra/Soomro/Soomra/Sumrah/Sumera) (Agnivanshi)

  • Subdivisions: Visana, Lala, Tukadiya, Butda, Puna, Jee etc total 24 pankhis(subdivisions) are there.

• Rajshakha (Suryavanshi)

  • Subdivisions: Khunti, Karavadra, Gorania, Sundavadra, Bokhiriya, Selor, Selan & Jethwa

• Parmar (Agnivanshi)

  • Subdivisions: Mahiyaria, Balega, Mandera, Pata & Gorsera

• Jadeja (Yaduvanshi)

  • Subdivisions: Kadcha, Tarkhala, Ratia & Kadegia

• Vala (Suryavanshi)

• Vada

  • Subdivisions: Muliyashiya, Khimdaniya, Bapodra-(Mashani) Amar, Agath, Mihikiya, Timmasiya, Bhetakiya

• Chauhan (Agnivanshi)

  • Subdivisions: Gareja

• Vadher (Suryavanshi)

  • Subdivisions: Vadar & Bajigiya

• Chavda (Chandravanshi)

  • Subdividions: Bhatti,Bapodra,Bhutiya & Bhadia)

• Chudasama (Yaduvanshi)

• Solanki (Agnivanshi)

  • Subdivisions: Timba, Divrania, Sida, Bhogesra, Juneja & Waghela

• Vaghela (Agnivanshi)

• Bhatti (Yaduvanshi)       

Folk culture

Mers perform their own unique style of dandiya raas, a traditional folk dance common in Gujarat. Mer Raas is unique in style, pace and athletiscm. The dance is seen by historians to resemble strikes in battle, and is revered internationally.[citation needed]