Kag Family

Ancestors of Kag

Writer: Aashanand Gadhvi (Zarpara)

In the Kutchi language, a proverb resonates:

"Pariya gun parbhat me, sura je gungaan, tup na ache tini ke, say pariya tan."

Respected Kagbapu is the inheritor of the Indian Vedic Sanatan Culture, recognized as the world’s ancient culture. He safeguards the legacies of Vedas, Upanishads, ancient theology, and revered sages. Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva were born from the navel lotus of Lord Narayana, the origin of the world. Kagbapu descended from Lord Shiva’s lineage during the Vedic period, belonging to the Arya sages Devjati clan of Charans. Their ancestors resided on the seven-pointed peaks of the Himalayas and the Sumeru Gadhya Mahan Adi mountains.

The Charans, from the Prakrut and Vaikrut Sarg’s Charan caste of Devasrushti, lived on Sumeru, the Himalayas’ aboriginal mountains. Lord Pruthu, the great king of India, invited the Charans to participate in a yagna, integrating the Charan creed within the common people of India. These Charans spread Vedic culture among the masses, cultivating the earth and making it affluent. Charans, who propagated goddess ideas in North India, were called by King Pruthu to reach the uncivilized Naag masses along with Telang and Kaling. Carrying the message of goddess culture, they migrated to South India, joined the Naag masses, and then returned to North India, settling near the banks of the Narmada in Saurashtra. At that time, Charans had seven Gotras and seven Yuthas, establishing relations with Naag clans, resulting in 16 gotras emerging, eventually becoming 23. Kagbapu belonged to the Tumbel Gotra of these 23, tracing back to Tumbel, the son of Aai Aadi Aavad and Adhya Charan.

Tumbel’s heirs, including Samur Charan, came into contact with Sama Rajputs residing at Gujarat (Saurashtra)’s Osam mountain. The Sama ancestor, Devendra, had four sons: Asapat, Gajpat, Narpat, and Bhupat. Narpat weighed Charan Kumar against gold, as reflected in an old doha in the Kutchi language:

"Osamta uttari, dana palkhi e per,

te duno tumer, same torya sonabher."

Kagbapu was a remarkable individual, born to Aai Dhanbai of the Tumbel Gotra, Kag Shakha, in the house of Bhaya Kag.

"Bhane narsaiyo tenu darshan karta kul ekoter tarya re."

Let’s explore the rich history of Kagbapu’s ancestors, the saviors of 71 generations, who illuminated the name of Charan Kul, adorning India alongside Maa Bhom Gurjari. Kagbapu’s forebears, from a courageous lineage of poets, selflessly sacrificed for country, religion, society, and culture. Remembering these ancestors at dawn is believed to dispel Maha Patak.

Descendants of Jaam Narpat and Samur migrated from Sindh to the Adi regions of Abdhan-Gij, resisting Islamic invasions. Subsequently, all Rajputs and Charans migrated to different regions, eventually founding the state of Sindh with the help of Aai Avad Ashapura. Charans settled on the banks of the Indus, flourishing culturally.

In this vibrant Charan culture, Nanad Tumbel, son of Gungad Charan, lived in happiness and prosperity with his twelve sons and three wives. Gungad led the Charan community at that time. The present Gungada branch of the Tumbel Gotra, along with its sub-branches, descends from Gungad. Somang, one of Gungad’s sons, is renowned as the poet Somang Barot and was a friend of the famous Jam Lakha Fulani. Sonang, Gungad’s second son, was also a great poet, fondly remembered alongside Kutch’s Danveer Sapad Chotani. Mawar, another son, and his descendants are known as Mawar. The Mawar branch has sub-branches, including Aai Shree Sonalma’s Mod branch and Poet Dula Kag’s ‘Kag’ branch. Bhagchand, Gungad’s third son, and his descendants are known as Bhagchand. They are present in Kodai in Kutch, Pipdiya in Baradi, and other villages. Ladhopir and his son Vachio gained fame among accomplished men from the Bhagchand lineage. Aai Shri Gangama’s descendants in Kodai hold the title of ‘Vadal’ and are considered leaders among Kutch’s Charans.

From Gungad’s son Maya, after several generations, Sedayta (Shiladitya) emerged, establishing the village of Zarpara. The lineage includes Vir Dada, Aamipa, Dayo Gadhero, Ram Ravo, Poet Varu of Kathada, Hurdas, Musrana Thapo Bhagat, Charatrapun, and present members like Aai Shri Deval and Swami Satyanarayan. This lineage is from the Seda Branch of Tumbel Charans.

Sons like Gango, Samo, Rudayas, Bijal, and others further enriched the Gungad Charan lineage. Gungad’s eldest son, Mawar, led to the lineage of Mayo, and Bijal followed in Mayo’s lineage. Bijal Singh, a renowned poet in Kutch and Saurashtra, was a master in Sara poetry, singing, speech, and musical knowledge. Great kings revered him, sacrificing everything for his vocal music.

In the famous Sufi poet Shah Abdul Latif’s scripture ‘Shahjo Rasalo’, Bijal is mentioned in Kutchi-Sindhi language as follows:

"Allah ji asha kare, charan chore chang,
Marun je jungle jo, kan rehanu rang,
‘Bijal’ sandho bung, khalim khalim kaiye."

Translation: The animals of the jungle were mesmerized by Bijal’s music, praying that Bijal’s promise is fulfilled.

As per Kutch’s Tumbel Charans history, Bijal had two sons, Dhandhuk and Kag. According to another opinion, among the twelve sons of Gangad Tumbel, one was Bijal, and all three—Somang, Sonag, and Bijal—were great poet brothers. According to Raval Devs’ book, Bijal’s elder son Dhandhuk established Vavar village in Kutch. Dhandhuk’s son Mod is among the four famous heroic men of Kutch—Mod, Lapo, Amipo, and Jojirag. The lineage of Mod continues in Vavar, and Aai Shri Sonal Maa also belongs to the Mod lineage.

Disputes exist regarding the residence of the Kag branch in Kutch. One opinion suggests their residence near Sindhodi, near Pigleshwar Mahadev, presently known as ‘Kagevara’ farm. A similar ‘Kagvera’ farm is situated in Vavar. Additionally, the Patiya village at Khedoi (Anjar district) is mentioned to have a hamlet of the ‘Kag’ branch. It is also said that Kag branch Charans maintained good relations with Khedoi’s Darbars.

Despite differing opinions, there is no doubt that the ‘Kag’ branch Charans resided in Kutch. The great Charan poet, Shri Dula Bhaya Kag, incarnated in the ‘Kag’ sub-branch of the Gungda branch of the Tumbel Gotra, enhancing the pride of Gujarat and the entire Charan Clan.

The ancestral history of Kagbapu’s ancestors follows a glorious tradition—from the Giri Shikhar of the Himalayas to Telang in South India, then to the banks of the Narmada, Saurashtra, Kutch, Sindh, Punjab, Rajasthan, and back to Kutch and Saurashtra’s ‘Majadar’ village. This village is now renamed “Kagdham” as a tribute to the poet Kag. Rano Kag, Kagbapu’s sixth-generation descendant, migrated from Kutch to Saurashtra, settling in villages near Bhavnagar. Bhagat Bapu’s grandfather, Zala Kag, married Jasha Ardu’s daughter. From the womb of Jasha Ardu’s daughter, Aai Ranbai, a man like Bhaya Kag was born. On Vikram Samvant 1958 Kartak Vad 11, i.e., November 25, 1903, on a Saturday midnight, Dula Bhaya Kag emerged as the son of the great Bhaya Kag and Aai Dhanbai.

Dula Bhaya Kag added a feather to the laurel wreath of his heroic ancestors, blessing them with increased glory. Hats off to Poet Kag.