168: Genealogical Records, And The Pandas of Haridwar

A rich collection of genealogical records that have been meticulously maintained for centuries.

Hindus believe a ritual bath in the holy river Ganga, washes away all sins.

Upon the death of a family member, many Hindu families undertake a pilgrimage to Haridwar, an ancient town on the banks of river Ganga. This is when they also visit their family (clan) priest to register the death as well as other family developments. If people forget the whereabouts of the priest, there are members stationed at every one of the 12 ghats(river banks) to help locate the Panda, depending on the village the person originally belonged to. The priests have organized themselves into so-called ‘firms’ based on States, districts, and villages they handle.

Nestled in the heart of the Himalayas, Haridwar, a city in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, is not only a prominent pilgrimage destination but also a treasure trove of Hindu genealogy records. However, beyond its spiritual significance, Haridwar holds another remarkable aspect: its rich collection of genealogical records that have been meticulously maintained for centuries.

The term "pandas" is often used to refer to the priests or purohits who assist pilgrims with rituals and ceremonies, particularly during the Ganga Aarti (a daily ritual of worship to the Ganges River) and other religious ceremonies in Haridwar. These pandas are an integral part of the religious and cultural fabric of the city, helping devotees with various rituals, blessings, and guidance during their visit to the holy city.

Ganga Aarti on the Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar

The last time, I visited Haridwar was nine years ago to immerse the ashes of my mother into the holy river, Ganga. The sea of humanity, the burning pyres and the rituals were mind numbing. Jostling through the narrow streets filled with meandering cows, small shops selling you items required for performing rituals, you keeping bumping into random strangers, who come asking you the reason of your visit, your name and the family name. Soon the word travels and a person lands up informing you that he is your “family” priest, and you need to go with him to complete the family record. To convince me that he is the right person, he offers me to take a look at some of the older entries from people on my family tree. It sounded intriguing enough, that I follow him along a narrow, broken, urine-smelling alley to a damp little room where we squatted on the ground as he opened our scroll and started tracing the course of our family's history backwards from the present day. I could recognize the handwriting of my father, as he had made an entry into the book when my grand mother had passed away. So, the guy seemed to be genuine. As this stuff it totally unregulated, this guy had figured out smooth ways of extracting money. Anyway, I make the payments he required, and made an entry for my mother and moved on.

Street shops selling items for performing rituals

The Pauri System

Haridwar's genealogical records are primarily centered around a unique administrative system known as the "Pauri System." Pauris are administrative units or divisions within Haridwar, each represented by a specific surname or clan. Families belonging to a particular Pauri have historically maintained detailed genealogical records, which include family trees, birth and death records, and other vital information about their ancestors.

The records are kept in a patrilineal sequence. Married daughters scarcely find a mention as they are supposed to figure in the bahis of the family they get married into, though now visitors often make sure that their names also get into the record. Whenever a new branch of a family opens up and they run out of space, the scroll is unbound and new a sheet of paper is inserted. So, one sees pages of different shades as age works on their texture. 

These genealogy records are handwritten in ancient scripts like Sanskrit and often inscribed on copper plates, palm leaves, or parchment. The meticulous preservation of these records has been passed down through generations, and the custodians of these documents play a crucial role in their upkeep. A genealogy priest called a Panda, one of about 2,500 in Haridwar. The community holds records of families going back 15 to 20 generations, with details like place of origin, names, births, deaths, reason of death, place of residence, grants made etc.

Preservation Challenges and Modernization

Preserving these ancient genealogy records has been challenging. Factors such as climate, natural disasters, and the fragile nature of the materials on which they are recorded pose significant risks. Efforts to digitize and archive these records to ensure their long-term preservation have not been successful, mostly because of the fear of loss of livelihood of these Pandas. Additionally, the younger generation's migration to urban areas and the adoption of modern lifestyles have led to a decline in interest and expertise in maintaining these records.

For me Haridwar was a place where heaven and hell met. The African Savanna of humanity, a watering hole where the prey and the predator come together. A difficult place, but as a son, the most important responsibility is to help and guide the soul of your mother to begin a new journey and find a peaceful path to a new home. Amen.