Lineage & Early Life
Maharaja Agrasen was born into a Kshatriya family in the Suryavansha. He was the eldest son of King Vallabh of Pratapnagar. According to the scriptures, he was born at the end of the Dwapar Yuga and the beginning of the Kali Yuga (approximately 5100 years ago). As a young prince, he was known for his compassion and valor. He participated in the swayamvara of Princess Madhavi, daughter of Nagaraja (a serpent king). Madhavi chose Agrasen over Indra, the king of Devta's. This marriage united the Suryavansha and the Naga clan.
Maharaja Agrasen — The Founder
Maharaja Agrasen established Agroha and promoted non-violence, equality and mutual support. He encouraged newcomers to start life with a small donation ("one rupee, one brick").
Shift from Kshatriya to Vaishya Tradition
After Agrasen's marriage to Madhavi the jealous Lord Indra stopped the rains in his kingdom, causing a severe famine. Agrasen declared war on Indra. However, seeing the devastation caused by war and realizing that violence would solve nothing, he chose a different path. He performed severe penance to appease Goddess Mahalakshmi. Pleased with his devotion Goddess Mahalakshmi appeared and advised him to abandon the Kshatriya tradition of weapons and adopt Vaishya Dharma (trade and commerce). She blessed Agrasen, saying that his descendants would be known for prosperity and business acumen.
The Golden Principle: "One Rupee, One Brick"
To ensure equality and eliminate poverty in his kingdom of Agroha, Maharaja Agrasen enacted a revolutionary socialist law. "Every immigrant wishing to settle in Agroha should be given one rupee and one brick by each existing family in the city." The bricks helped the newcomer to build home and the collected money provided capital to start businesses. This ensured that no one would be left homeless or unemployed.
Agrawal Community and Business
Thanks to the blessings of their family deity, Goddess Mahalakshmi, the Agrawal community still enjoys a significant share and dominance in the traditional business world. Furthermore, members of the Agrawal community are also performing commendable work in the fields of religious and social service.
The 18 Gotras & Ahimsa
Maharaja Agrasen performed 18 great yagnas for the prosperity of his people. These yagnas led to the formation of 18 distinct clans, named after the sage who performed them.
18 Gotras of Agarwal
18th Yagna and non-violence
During the 18th yajna, Agrasen noticed that a horse being led for sacrifice was suffering greatly. Filled with compassion, he immediately stopped the yajna. He declared that his kingdom would follow the path of nonviolence and no animal would be sacrificed. This is why the Agrawal community is traditionally vegetarian.