The Nagar Brahmins originate in
Vadnagar, in northern
Gujarat, but are now mostly concentrated in
Kathiawar. Separately, Rabindra Nath Chakraborty proposes a theory of common ancestry, suggesting a settlement of Nagar Brahmins in Bengal in the eighth century CE from whom the Kayasthas descended; however, this view and its historical basis have not been widely supported by other scholars. Historians such as H. K. Barpujari and R. C. Majumdar have contested a shared origin based on surnames, with Majumdar also questioning the evidence for significant Nagar Brahmin migration into Bengal.
Harald Tambs-Lyche, in his analysis on
Saurashtra, observes that the majority of Nagars are engaged in non-priestly roles as bureaucrats, ministers, and urban landowners, quite similar to
Kayasthas. He suggests that Bengali Kayasthas represent a "parallel case" in terms of societal function, even without accepting the hypothesis on shared origin. Among Nāgara Brahmins all four Vedas are found:
R̥gveda (mainly
Śāṅkhāyana Sūtra),
Śukla Yajurveda (
Mādhyandina),
Sāmaveda (Kauthuma Śākhā), and
Atharvaveda (Śaunaka Śākhā). During the rule of the
Caulukya and
Vāghela dynasties, the Nāgars held prestigious positions in royal courts along with
Jains and other Brahmins. Their occupations included writing Sanskrit literature, performing Vedic rituals, and conducting royal funerals; they were also famed throughout India as pilgrimage officiants at
tīrtha (holy water) sites. , 1928 The
Nāgara Khaṇḍa is a quasi-caste purana for the Vadnagar Nāgars. It was partly composed before the late 13th century up to circa 17th century and was added to the existing
Skanda Purāṇa, as part of a wider trend of adding mainly unrelated khaṇḍas to the text. The text extols the holy sites around
Vaḍanagara (historically known as Ānarta, Ānandapura, and Camatkārapura). The Nāgars are divided into two sections: Gr̥hasthas who had received land grants from kings and did not have to work as priests, and Bhikṣus who earn money through alms from priesthood. In the
Nāgarakhaṇḍa the Nāgars are divided into Nāgars who live in the city, and Bāhyas who had to live outside (often due to excommunication). The
Vaḍanagara Praśasti states that in the time of King
Kumārapāla, a wall was built around the town for the protection of the "viprapura" ("Brāḥmaṇa town"). According to the
Vastupāla Carita of Jinaharṣa Gaṇi, the Vāghela king Vīsaladeva formed the branches of the Nāgars at a
yajña (sacrifice) at Darbhavatīpura (modern
Dabhoi), the branches being the Vīsalanagara, Ṣaṭpadra, Kr̥ṣṇapura, Citrapura, and Praśnika branches. The subcastes of the Nagars are also known as Visnagarā, Sāṭhodarā, Kr̥ṣṇorā or Krasnora, Citroḍā, Praśnora. In the later periods many Nāgars also became financiers and moneychangers, with Vadnagar as their center. During the rule of the
Gujarat Sultanate and
Mughal Empire, the Nāgars learned Persian and held important posts in royal courts. Similarly under
British rule, the Nāgars learned English and held administrative posts. In the late 19th century, many leaders of the
Gujarat Vernacular Society were Nāgars, along with
Vaniyas. By the 19th century, the dialect of Gujarati as spoken by Nagar Brahmins in Ahmedabad had become the prestige dialect of
Gujarati. == Notable people ==