MAHESHWARI'S

The word Maheshwari has originated from the word Mahesh or Lord Shiva. People of this community are the followers of Lord Shiva. According to the community's traditions, they were said to be previously Kshatriyas, a warrior sect but later with the wish of Lord Shiva they converted to Vaishnava, a trader sect. (Curiously, men are said to have been converted to Vaishnavas but the ladies of the Maheshwari community are still Kshatriyas!). This change is said to have occurred in the town of Khandela