_Bharbhunja._ [271]--The occupational caste of grain-parchers. The
name is derived from the Sanskrit _bhrastra_, a frying-pan, and
_bharjaka_, one who fries. The Bharbhunjas numbered 3000 persons in
1911, and belong mainly to the northern Districts, their headquarters
being in Upper India. In Chhattisgarh the place of the Bharbhunjas is
taken by the Dhuris. Sir H. Elliot [272] remarks that the caste are
traditionally supposed to be descended from a Kahar father and a Sudra
mother, and they are probably connected with the Kahars. In Saugor
they say that their ancestors were Kankubja Brahmans who were ordered
to parch rice at the wedding of the great Rama, and in consequence
of this one of their subcastes is known as Kanbajia. But Kankubja is
one of the commonest names of subcastes among the people of northern
India, and merely indicates that the bearers belong to the tract
round the old city of Kanauj; and there is no reason to suppose that
it means anything more in the case of the Bharbhunjas. Another group
are called Kaitha, and they say that their ancestors were Kayasths,
who adopted the profession of grain-parching. It is said that in Bhopal
proper Kayasths will take food from Kaitha Bharbhunjas and smoke from
their huqqa; and it is noticeable that in northern India Mr. Crooke
gives [273] not only the Kaitha subcaste, but other groups called
Saksena and Srivastab, which are the names of well-known Kayasth
subdivisions. It is possible, therefore, that the Kaitha group may
really be connected with the Kayasths. Other subcastes are the Benglah,
who are probably immigrants from Bengal; and the Kandu, who may also
come from that direction, Kandu being the name of the corresponding
caste of grain-parchers in Bengal.