[edit] History & Origin

History & Origin

This community derives its name from the Sanskrit word "Skandhakara", which means one who carries things on his shoulders. A tribe who engage in cultvation particularly in connection with growing water nuts in lakes, fishing, palanquin carring, and domestic service. This variety of occupation renders a complete analysis of the tribe and its sub castes very difficult. Kahars are sometimes known as Mahra (Sanskrit, Mahila, "a woman"), because they have the entry of the female apartments. Another name for them is Dhimer, (sanskrit, Dhivara, " a fisherman"), though some of them profess to regard it as a honoric term from sanskrit Dhi, or "intellect, intelligence". When they are engaged in domestic service they are often known as Behara which is probably a corruption of the English "bearer". In parts of Bundelkhand they are known as Machhmara, "fish killer" and in other places Singhariya, because they cultivate the Singhara fruit or water caltrop. Jarasndh, the king of Magadha, during the times of Krishna was supposed to be originator of this community as per