________________ CHAPTER 15 THE GOTRAS OF HALARI VISA OSHWALS Why were gotras created? Initially they were created to identify the followers of different acharyas. As time passed they became independent congregations. Depending upon which acharya they followed the lay people identified themselves with that particular gotra. The gotra's name became their surname (last name). Jaina acharya Jaisinh Suriji founded many gotras like Lalan, Gala, Dedhia, Karania, Polandia, Sandhoy, Hathudia, Loladia, Mithodia, Padahalia, Nishai, and Chhajod and others. List of last names (surnames) of Halari Visa Oshwals: Bavaria* Gala Karania Patani Bid Galaiya Khimasia Pethod Chandaria Gangar* Malde Savla Chheda Gosrani Mamania* Sumaria Shah Dedhia Gudka Maru Virpuria Shah Dodhia Haraniya Nagaria Shah Visaria Dhanani Haria Nagda Vora Gada Jhakharia Shah Parekh Zakharia *Not a major subgroup Chandaria: Many Rajput families of the Parmar dynasty from the city of Chandravati moved and settled down in City of Osiya and called themselves Chandavalia. They built a town and named it also Chandavalia. This in time evolved to Chandalia. When they embraced the Jaina
