Studies in the Geography of Ancient and Medieval India c9.s4.8

c9.s4.8

² Wilson's *Glossary of Judicial and Revenue Terms* gives an account of the Gauḍa Brāhmaṇas under the entries *Brāhman* and *Gauḍ*. Under *Gaur-Brāhman*, Wilson says, "The Brāhman of the Gaur tribe or caste; one of the five Gaurs, but located in the upper provinces throughout the Subah of Delhi to the hills. There are many sub-divisions of these Gaur-Brāhmaṇs of Hindustān, who are apparently unknown in Bengal, as the Ādh-Gaur, Kaithal-Gaur, Gūjar-Gaur, Sidh-Gaur, etc., amounting in all to forty-two." He also speaks of the Gaur Kāyath said to be settled from Bengal in the upper provinces by Nāṣir-ud-din (son of Balban) in the thirteenth century, Gaur-Rājpūt numerous in the North-Western Province (U. P.), Gaur-Tagā a tribe of Brāhmaṇical descent in the north-west of India, and Gaur-Thākur a tribe of Rājpūts settled in the Farrukhabad District. The Gaur-Tagās claim that they were originally invited from Bengal by Rājā Janamejaya, the Kaurava king of Hastināpura, for the purpose of exterminating the Takṣakas or snakes.