Historical Origin of Khudabadi Sonara Community

Author : Rtn. Gangaram Shamdas Purswani(P.H.F)

According to Puranic sources, (theAryan) civilization was established by King Ishaku (Ikshvaku) some five to six millennia before Christ (BC). His 22nd descendant was great King Raghu, a great conquerer, who established the Raghuvansh Dynasty. King Raghu’s 14th descendant was Lord Rama (incarnate of Lord Vishnu) in (TretaYug) (RamayanTime), was (SuryaVanshi), whose  kingdom extended from Ayodhiya to Punjab & Sindh on one side and to Bengal & Tamilnad on the other side. According to Valmiki Ramayan & Hinglaj Puran, after slaying Ravan, Lord Rama with Mata Sita and Laxman, visited and meditated at Hinglaj, in Sindh, to atone for his sin of “Brahmhatya”. Ravan was Brahmin and a great devotee of Lord Shiva & Goddess Durga. Explorer Capt.Harthad mentioned that there were seven kops (wells) near Sonmayani, called after Mata Sita and another eleven kops (wells) which were located towards Makran between Keech and Gowadhar, were called Chandra Kop (Wells of Lord Rama), till l946. Nearby it, there are Ram SarTalao (lagoon) and a Ram Baug (Garden), where, Lord Rama had camped. Near by Kiyamari, in Karachi, there is a cave on Oyster Rock where Lord Rama had meditated, is called Ram Jharoko (Palace of Rama). 

It is learnt from Ramayan that Lord Rama divided his vast kingdom into eight parts, giving one each to his two and his three brother’s six children. Elder of Ram’s two sons was Kush, who was given Gangetic basin, known as Dakshin Kaushal. Descendants of Kush are known as Kushwaha. His younger son Luv was given the north of his kingdom, known as Uttar Kaushal, which later, came to be called “Luvulka” or Luv’s Land, consisting of Loharghat, presently known as Lahore, as its capital. Luv is portrayed as a brave warrior, who, in his young age, halted his father Rama’s army (commanded by Laxman). His descendants too were cast in same mould and extended their territories to the west and annexed today’s Afghanistan and adjoining areas. King Luv’s descendants came to be known as Luvana.

Around 580 BC., when King Bimbisra ruled over Bharat (India), the society came to be divided into different communities based on their occupation. One of those was called Kshatriiya and King Luv’s descendants were classed with them and came to be  known as Luvanam, which was also referred to as Luvana. The Luvanas from Loharghat became known as Loharana (masters of swords), which later, were called Lohana. Chinese traveler Fahien, who visited India between 4 I 4 and 399 B.C., called Lohana a brave community, ruling the northwest territory of India, in his diary. Another Chinese traveller, Kurmang who came in l1th century A.D., spoke of Lohana kingdom as a mighty power Historian Burton wrote that Lohana were brave people and said they spread over today’s Baluchistan, Afghanistan and eastern fingers  of Central Asia. Col. Todd, who delved into history of Rajlsthan, described Lohana as the oldest Kshatriya community. The Lohana had placed themselves for centuries in the direct path of invaders from Persians, Huns, Macedonians and Mughals etc.

Historically, the Sindhis (including Khudabadi Sonara Community) are  the descendants of Prince Luv (the son of Lord Rama) of SuryaVansh, afftliated with the Lohana faction of the warrior Kshatriya caste of Hindu religion. During the ensuring  prolonged period of lasting peace thereafter when, the Sindhi Lohana could not be supported by the armies and could not find any work as warriors, they turned to peace time occupations like agriculture, shop keeping, carpentry, mason, blacksmithing, skilled and semi-skilled jobs to survive, whereas, the Khudabadi  Sonara Community  became involved in goldsmith, a trait still associated with the community.