________________ CHAPTER 7 ORIGIN OF 18 SECTS OF OSHWALS Acharya Ratnaprabh Suri, of Upkesh gaccha, who converted the Kshtryias of Upkesh nagar (city) 70 year after Mahavir's nirvana (i.e. 400 years before Vikram Samvat), assigned them to 18 separate groups (gotras). For readers who are not familiar with the term, gotras may be described as 'sects' and 'sub-sects' within the wider Oshwal community, family groups each having its own surname or last name. The names of these origin gotras are: 1. Tatehad (King's father who was called Tatji). 2. Karnat. 3. Bafna. 4. Balhra (Balaha). Moraksh. 6. Kulhat. 7. Virhat. 8. Shrimal. 9. Shreshthi (King's). 10. Sahchinti or Sancheti (King's chief minister). 11. Aaichnag (Adityanag). 12. Bhuri (King's commander of army). 13. Bhadra. 14. Chinchat. 15. Kumbhat. 16. Didoo. 17. Katrij. 18. Laghu Shreshthi (King's brother). As time went by many new branches sprang out from these original gotras. As the Oshwal community spread out to different places and lands, new gotras originated from the names of their ancestors, professions and places.
