The Kshatriya Dhangar caste is primarily located in the Indian state of

Maharashtra. Most Dhangars are shepherds. The literal translation of

the name Dhangar is "Who is having lots of wealth". Dhangars are said
to be descendents of Yadavas. The main Dhangar subcastes in
Maharashtra are Ahir, Hatkar, Khutekar, Sengar/Shegar, Sangar,
Bande, Konkani, Khatik, Zende, Dange, Zade, Jade(derived from yadu
see:Yadav), Dhanawar, Kuruba, Lad Mendhe, Pal, Gadari, Kurbar,
Khatik, Gadhariya, Metkari, Gadge, Gawali, Kambar, Kshitri, Khillari,
Bhillari, Kuktekar, Mhaskar, Shirotya and Utekar.

The Dhangar community is one of the oldest existing communities of

India, tracing its history back to Mahabharata times. They have sprung
several ruling dynasties, most recently the Holkars of Indore.

Prominent Dhangars have been Hakkaraya and Bukkaraya, founders of

Vijayanagara Empire, Hoysalas, Pallavas, Rashtrakutas, Rathore,
Mauryas, Holkars, Kadambs, Sids, Sangolli Rayanna, Yadava Dynasty
etc. Great poets like Kalidasa, Kanakadasa are Dhangars.

The famous Vittal temple at Pandharpur was built by Vishnu Wardhan

who was a Dhangar from the Hoysala Dynasty.

The famous Meenakshi temple at Madurai was built by the Pallavas.

Traditionally being warriors, shepherds and farmers, Dhangars were

late to take up modern day education.

Dhangari Gaja
This is a dance form performed by Dhangars of Sholapur district of
Maharashtra. Their poetry is mainly inspired by the evergreen trees all
around. The poetry is in a form called 'Ovi' which is made up of
couplets. These poems also contain tales of the birth of their God
"Biruba" or Birappa, in simple and basic lines. The group of dancers
surround the drum players and move at the rhythm.

Jejuri
Jejuri is one of the famous temples in Maharashtra. The God of Jejuri -
Mhalsakant or Malhari Martand - is popular amongst the Dhangars.

Other Names
Dhangars are known by different names in different regions of the
country.

• Andar
• Ahiyaru
• Bharavadaru
• DoddiGowda
• Gaddi
• Gadri
• Gollavadu
• Gowda
• Halumatha
• Heggades
• Idyar
• Kuruba
• Kuruba Gowda
• Kurumba Goundar
• Kurumbar
• Kalavar
• Kuruma
• Kurumavaaru
• Kurkhi
• Kurupu
• Naikers
• Palaru
• Paalakyatriya
• Poduvar
• Yadavalu.

Clans
Dhangars are Kshatriyas. Kshatriyas have three Castes. The Rajputs,
Marathas and Dhangars. Rajputs mainly had their Kingdoms in North
India, the Marathas in Maharashtra and Dhangars in Karnataka. Rajputs
have 36 Clans, Marathas have 96 Clans and Dhangars have 32 Clans. A
caste is generally divided into exogamous groups based on the same
gotras (गोत), and defined by the mutual interaction among its members.
The two most common of these relationships are:

• "Roti" (bread): dining together.

• "Beti" (daughter): intermarrying together.

Originally these castes were one and had mutual interactions of "Roti",
"Beti" amongst them.
The following list of clans is limited to few surnames of all sub-castes
from Maharashtra.

1 Kharat

• Lineage(Vansh): Agnivanshi
• Gotra: Parihar
• Guru: Pundlik

• Surnames:-

Dhaygude, Pandhare, Sul, Borwar, Amane, Dhake, Tele, Palve /

Pallavas, Kolpe, Ghagare, Pinjare, Raijade, Kavle, Bhadke, Ghodke, Vele,
Tarade, Tamkhade, Ratnaparkhe, Malage, Zhurale,Vande, Gete,
Vharkate, Landge, Patkare, Bhople, Thorbole, Sursule, Punekar,
Guldawade, Kharate, Satkule, Vange, Palasgawade, Chutkule, Golari.

2 Lawate

• Lineage (Vansh): Agnivanshi

• Gotra: Solanki
• Guru: Bharadvaja

• Surnames:-

Narute, Bandgar, Mane, Margale, Hajare, Shendge, Wavare, Dabale,

Pokale, Garwat, Pisal, Kasgude, Nemane, Dhulwade, Bhanawse,
Kshirsagar, Shemde, Chore, Halge, Kargal, Kiswe, Gawade, Bindugade,
Thite, Kakade, Gaske, Margude, Rode, Zhival,Reve, Badre, Wadere,
Dargude, Bagnawar, Zhadgar, Birle, Nigunde, Badhanwar, Misal, Birje,
Tandale.

3 Thorat

• Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi

• Gotra: Gahlot
• Guru: Kashyapa

• Surnames:-

Anawase, Mahanwar, Tanal, Khatke, Waykule, Pavne, Satpute,

Lokhande, Shigwate, Deokar, Kalgude, Dhakar, Barve, Khamgal,
Supkar, Supne, Late, Pandharmise, Sumne, Patole.

4 Kolekar
 • Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi
• Gotra: Kanvah
• Guru: Manav

• Surnames:-

Murde, Sose, Daigande, Hamamkhore, Botyate, Didwagh, Aaglave,

Karpe, Bansode, Cavdhare, Aanavale, Naske, Gadve, Raut, Kundlik,
Bhagwat.

5 Shinde

• Lineage (Vansh): Agnivanshi

• Gotra: Parihar
• Guru: Pundlik

• Surnames:-

Zunje, Kaljate, Kandure, Handware, Khadke, Bendre, Dhone, Bichukle,

Harale, Sute.

6 Hake

• Lineage (Vansh): Chandravanshi

• Gotra: Yadav
• Guru: Kaudinya

• Surnames:-

Madne, Khareje, Gophane, Dahibhate, Ghutkade, Hande, Dolwade,

Lubale, Ebade, Zhalgar, Metkari, Pise, Bijgude, Hise, Lande, Bane,
Bargale, Warge.

7 Swar

• Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi

• Gotra: Gahlot
• Guru: Kashyapa

• Surnames:-

Sudnawar, Hegadkar, Balar, Barange, Dhpatwar, Gele, Dinde, Sirgire,

Goikar, Satye.

8 Solankar
 • Lineage (Vansh): Chandravanshi
• Gotra: Yadav
• Guru: Kaudinya

• Surnames:-

Parkar, Khandekar, Waghmode, Hirve, Ekkar, Thavre, Ogare, Nitwe,

Ingale, Doiphodhe, Tambe, Sid, Padule, Hagre, Gawand, Ghogre,
Dhupe, Sarje, Gadekar, Kolse, Hade, Dhamdere, Virkar.

9 Deokate

• Lineage (Vansh): Agnivanshi

• Gotra: Chauhan
• Guru: Vatsa

• Surnames:-

Arjun, Gorad, Vhanmane, Walekar, Rupnawar, Barkade, Metkari, Dhere,

Tambe, Tale, Dongre, Bagade, Bhamte, Utare, Kole, Zhade, Khilari,
Dabe, Agune, Dorwe, Hanumane, Sudlak, Nigade.

10 Wakse

• Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi

• Gotra: Gahlot
• Guru: Kashyapa

• Surnames:-

Uske, Maske, Choramle, Sirsat, Bangale, Kurhade, Mugutrao.

11 Sargar

• Lineage (Vansh): Agnivanshi

• Gotra: Chauhan
• Guru: Vatsa

• Surnames:-

Sadnawar, Phonde, Pipre, Katre, Malgonde, Gadve, Metkari, Kuspe,

Nambalkar, Sumpape, Khupkar, Turbare.
12 Sarak

• Lineage (Vansh): Agnivanshi

• Gotra: Solanki
• Guru: Bharadvaja

• Surnames:-

Zharak, Taranwar, Shelke, Ghite, Lakde, Chopde, Bhadke, Perwale,

Harale, Virje, Pisal, Shelar.

13 Halnawar

• Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi

• Gotra: Gahlot
• Guru: Kashyapa

• Surnames:-

Bivkar, Dilgude, Hulgunde, Dudhe, Sarwade, Yele, Shiddhaguru,

Kodalkar.

14 Kokare

• Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi

• Gotra: Rathod
• Guru: Gautama

• Surnames:-

Hajge, Hogle, Aswale, Pingale, Sontakke, Karhade, Malwade, Rachkar,

Devpuje, Sondge, Bhusare, Rajgar, Virkar, Lambhate, Hulkar/Holkar.

15 Jankar

• Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi

• Gotra: Gahlot
• Guru: Kashyapa

• Surnames:-

Karande, Raut, Mote, Male, Ghule, Bidghar, Waghe, Karmare, Kare,

Padalkar.

16 Kale
 • Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi
• Gotra: Kadam
• Guru: Manav

• Surnames:-

Mahin, Ghahine, Sarse, Hubale, Shriram, Gore, Dombale, Singare,

Gharbudwe, Dadas, Namkade, Sigire.

17 Khatal

• Lineage (Vansh): Agnivanshi

• Gotra: Solanki
• Guru: Bharadvaja

• Surnames:-

Shejal, Dudhal,Waghmare, Garande, Galande.

18 Yedage

• Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi

• Gotra: Gahlot
• Guru: Kashyapa

• Surnames:-

Jedage, Sanne, Jugdar, Jondhale, Jawalge, Garande, Galande, Redke.

19 Ainwar

• Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi

• Gotra: Gahlot
• Guru: Kashyapa

• Surnames:-

Aainwar, Budhnawar, Daknawae, Koyanwar, Makanwar, Bhadnawar.

20 Shingade

• Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi

• Gotra: Sengar
• Guru: Gautama
 • Surnames:-

Burungale, Tarade, Vhatkar, Dhawan, Malawe.

21 Bute

• Lineage (Vansh): Agnivanshi

• Gotra: Pratihara
• Guru: Vasishta

• Surnames:-

Tate, Kachare, More/Maurya, Kuwalkude, Bavdan, Doiphode, Wagh,

Pise, Bire, Dalvi, Keskar.

22 Lengre

• Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi

• Gotra: Sengar
• Guru: Gautama

• Surnames:-

Pisundare, Kalindare, Wagare, Jalindare, Sigare.

23 Aawale

• Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi

• Gotra: Gahlot
• Guru: Kashyapa

• Surnames:-

Pukale, Yamgar, Yamanwar.

24 Thombre

• Lineage (Vansh): Yaduvanshi

• Gotra: Tomara
• Guru: Gargayan

• Surnames:-

Sonawle, Vhate, Katmare.

25 Thengal

• Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi

• Gotra: Gahlot
• Guru: Kashyapa

• Surnames:-

Sangane, Tule, Thengale

26 Aaldar

• Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi

• Gotra: Gahlot
• Guru: Kashyapa

• Surnames:-

Waldawar, Karnawar, Kamade, Dange.

27 Takale

• Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi

• Gotra: Gahlot
• Guru: Kashyapa

• Surnames:-

Arade, Tupe, Tikale.

28 Markad

• Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi

• Gotra: Gahlot
• Guru: Kashyapa

• Surnames:-

Shivarkar, Mutkar.

29 Dagade

• Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi

• Gotra: Gahlot
• Guru: Kashyapa
 • Surnames:-

Pole, Pole, Sansalate, Suslade/Sisodiya.

30 Masal

• Lineage (Vansh): Agnivanshi

• Gotra: Solanki
• Guru: Bharadvaja

• Surnames:-

Misaal, Gonmasal, Amuksiddha, Khajane, Saal, Bhadange, Walse,

Paleri, Wader

31 Lokare

• Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi

• Gotra: Gahlot
• Guru: Kashyapa

• Surnames:-

Belnawar

32 Kulal

• Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi

• Gotra: Gahlot
• Guru: Kashyapa

• Surnames:-

Bhise, Buchte
The people of the Ahir tribe are traditionally cow herders and shepherds. They are a
subcaste of Dhangar and are not only found in the Kaatch (Kutch) area of western
Gujarat, but also in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The Ahirs
also share most gotras with the Jats (Abhars) and have the same physical appearance as
them. This led to the theory they being of the same stock.
Ahirs
Classification: Caste/Dhangar Significant populations in:
Northern India, Western India and Central India Language
Hindi and its dialects, Punjabi,Gujarati and Marathi Religion
Hinduism.