Nagar Brahmin is a Brahmin subcaste from the Indian state of Gujarat.
Author T. Sasaki writes, amongst Brahmins of Gujarat, Nagar Brahmins were the most prominent subdivision in the political, economic and social activities of this region both before and during the British Raj. They occupied important administrative posts in the courts during the time of the Gujarat Sultanate and the Mughal Empire.
The Nagar Brahmins originate in Vadnagar, in northern Gujarat, but are now mostly concentrated in Kathiawar. The name 'Nagar' is also believed to have come from their geographic origin, Vadnagar.
While a few scholars have explored potential connections between Nagar Brahmins and Bengali Kayasthas, this remains a subject of debate. D. R. Bhandarkar, as cited by Tej Ram Sharma, notes the presence of identical surnames in both communities. Separately, Rabindra Nath Chakraborty proposes a theory of common ancestry, suggesting a settlement of Nagar Brahmins in Bengal in the eighth century CE from whom the Kayasthas descended; however, this view and its historical basis have not been widely supported by other scholars. Historians such as H. K. Barpujari and R. C. Majumdar have contested a shared origin based on surnames, with Majumdar also questioning the evidence for significant Nagar Brahmin migration into Bengal. Harald Tambs-Lyche, in his analysis on Saurashtra, observes that the majority of Nagars are engaged in non-priestly roles as bureaucrats, ministers, and urban landowners, quite similar to Kayasthas. He suggests that Bengali Kayasthas represent a "parallel case" in terms of societal function, even without accepting the hypothesis on shared origin.
Among NÃÂgara Brahmins all four Vedas are found: RÃÂ¥gveda (mainly à ÂÃÂá¹ khÃÂyana Sà «tra), à Âukla Yajurveda (MÃÂdhyandina), SÃÂmaveda (Kauthuma à ÂÃÂkhÃÂ), and Atharvaveda (à Âaunaka à ÂÃÂkhÃÂ).
During the rule of the Caulukya and VÃÂghela dynasties, the NÃÂgars held prestigious positions in royal courts along with Jains and other Brahmins. Their occupations included writing Sanskrit literature, performing Vedic rituals, and conducting royal funerals; they were also famed throughout India as pilgrimage officiants at tërtha (holy water) sites.
The NÃÂgara Khaá¹Âá¸Âa is a quasi-caste purana for the Vadnagar NÃÂgars. It was partly composed before the late 13th century up to circa 17th century and was added to the existing Skanda PurÃÂá¹Âa, as part of a wider trend of adding mainly unrelated khaá¹Âá¸Âas to the text. The text extols the holy sites around Vaá¸Âanagara (historically known as ÃÂnarta, ÃÂnandapura, and CamatkÃÂrapura).
The NÃÂgars are divided into two sections: GrÃÂ¥hasthas who had received land grants from kings and did not have to work as priests, and Bhiká¹£us who earn money through alms from priesthood. In the NÃÂgarakhaá¹Âá¸Âa the NÃÂgars are divided into NÃÂgars who live in the city, and BÃÂhyas who had to live outside (often due to excommunication).
The Vaá¸Âanagara Praà Âasti states that in the time of King KumÃÂrapÃÂla, a wall was built around the town for the protection of the "viprapura" ("BrÃÂḥmaá¹Âa town").
According to the VastupÃÂla Carita of Jinahará¹£a Gaá¹Âi, the VÃÂghela king Vësaladeva formed the branches of the NÃÂgars at a yajña (sacrifice) at Darbhavatëpura (modern Dabhoi), the branches being the Vësalanagara, á¹¢aá¹Âpadra, Kråṣá¹Âapura, Citrapura, and Praà Ânika branches. The subcastes of the Nagars are also known as VisnagarÃÂ, SÃÂá¹ÂhodarÃÂ, Kråṣá¹Âoràor Krasnora, Citroá¸ÂÃÂ, Praà Ânora.
In the later periods many NÃÂgars also became financiers and moneychangers, with Vadnagar as their center.
During the rule of the Gujarat Sultanate and Mughal Empire, the NÃÂgars learned Persian and held important posts in royal courts. Similarly under British rule, the NÃÂgars learned English and held administrative posts.
In the late 19th century, many leaders of the Gujarat Vernacular Society were NÃÂgars, along with Vaniyas. By the 19th century, the dialect of Gujarati as spoken by Nagar Brahmins in Ahmedabad had become the prestige dialect of Gujarati.