Jogi(Yogi)
The '''Jogi''' (also spelled “Yogi”) are a Hindu community, found in North India and Sindh, with smaller number of ancient north migrants in the southern Indian states Karnataka]], Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. They are known as ''Nath'', ''Jogi Nath'', ''Jugi Nath'', ''Nath Jogi'', and ''Rawal'' and various surnames.
Jogi is a colloquial term for the "yogi", which refers to the people who practiced yoga as part of their daily rituals. Over the time, this led to the formation of a community, and subsequently was formed into a caste.
History and origin
The Jogi are followers of yoga an Ascetic Warriors or Jogi Kshatriya whose Gotra (lineage origin) is Lord Shiva himself a Supreme God and God of War in Hindu culture, and he is the clan deity (Kuladevata) of them. As followers of yoga, they traditionally wear saffron-colored clothing. They are basically “Protector of Religion” (Dharam Rakshak). They are Warriors (Kshatriya) with the motto "Fight but not to gain for self". They represent their lineage origin (Gotra) to Lord Shiva, where “Weapon” (Shastra or Astra) and “Knowledge” (Shaastra or Gyan) are seen together. Undoubtedly this is the reason for their socio-economic status decline as compared to other communities.
The once community comprised by lineage members only (Rajputs) but now are outnumbered by the other caste members. They and their descendants form a caste with two sub-groups, the Kanphata and Augur. In North India, they speak Hindi and its various dialects.
Jogi (Yogi) Warriors during Mughal period.
Jogis of Haryana
The Jogi are found throughout the state of Haryana and speak Haryanvi, Hindi languages. They are often referred to as Padha Jogi, and are divided in three groupings or orders. These are the Kanphate Jogi, Padha Jogi and Jangam Jogi. Like in other parts of North India, the Jogi started off as holymen, but over time formed a distinct caste. This is seen by the fact that they are strictly [[endogamous]]. Most Haryana Jogis are farmers, with very few still involved in their traditional occupation.
Jogis of Sindh
The Jogi of Sindh are both Hindus as well as Muslims, their presence is in districts and places such as Khairpur District, Tharparkar, Larkana, Shikarpur District, Sukkur, Naushahro Feroze District of Sindh province in Pakistan. One of the Rajpar tribe's subcaste is Jogi who are inhabitants in Thari Mirwah Khairpur. These Jogi are landlord, businessmen and other professions.
Jogis of Bangalore
The Jogarhalli near magadi road Bangalore and contains around 400 to 500 families of Nathapanthi community peoples with their own small temples near to their places.in jogerahalli there is a famous temple of Swamy Bhairaveshwara, where it is worshipped by the Nath panth families. These families are invited to family functions which is organised by the sarpanchas. These people of Jogerahalli are treated royal in their village. Most of the people among these are zamindars and landlords.
Jogis of Mangalore
There is a small population of Jogis in the Uttara Kannada (bhatkal, murdeshwar, honnavar, kumta, shirsi, siddapura, hubli total above 800 families), Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka state in India. Going by the registration to the Jogi Sangha there could be around 600–800 families of Jogis in Mangaluru city and in villages of the district. They are north migrants to the south centuries ago the presence of Jogi families around the Kadri Jogi Mutt (Matha) indicates that they were associated with this Hindu monastery and trace their ancestry origin to the northindia. According to tradition, the Kadri Jogi (Yogi) Mutt and the nearby Manjunatha Temple were a seat of Jogi (Yogi) culture since the time of Ascetic Warriors Matsyendranath and Gorakshanath, both of whom arrived from the Nepal and Uttar Pradesh region and established the mutt (monastery) here.
The Jogis established the permanent "rule" of the Kadri Mutt by assigning a new "Jogi Arasu" (Ruler) once in 12 years and making it a part of the Bara (Twelve) Panths of the Jogi system. The bara panths or twelve mutts are spread across India. Jogi (Yogi) Warriors (Kshatriya) were not supposed to have luxury desires of owning wealthy entities as they are connected with Hindu God Shiva but they are Warriors (Kshatriya) with asceticism. They were more of a "Protector of religion"(Dharam Rakshak), "caretakers" of their Followers as well as Mutt. The Arasu has no major daily rituals to perform and is expected to spend most of his time in spiritual contemplation. But He will be the Chief Person during any festivals held in Temple.
A small group of Jogis in Mangalore are still keeping alive, the hope of a unified and powerful caste, by running a Jogi Sangha and conducting periodic meetings. But the small size of the caste and rapidly changing social norms are defeating such attempts. Eventually the caste may disappear into the potpourri of Indian and Global culture.
Jogi Language
Jogi, or at least the Jogi of Pakistan, is generally considered a dialect of Marwari language.
Surnames
It is not necessary to have the surname of all members of community ends with Jogi (Yogi) or Nath. But common surnames are Jogi, Yogi, Nath, Joginath, Jugi, Goswami, Gosain, Giri, Puri, Rawal.
Conclusion
Once Community in initiated from Nepal, North india later migrated to different part of India. People were once stick to their tradition being away from worldly desires but later settled in different part of India involving in various occupation like Administration, politics, music, teaching, trade and various private and public sectors for their livelihood and for the dependents.