camparing one of 52 clans of Gor banjara Priestly Group Vadthiya,

Author : Lunavath Pavan, +91 6303783132, pavanlunavath2@gmail.com

1. Gor Banjara didn’t have written history, they don’t know what was there origin
2. lunavath is a surname / lineage from priestly clan ( family ) vadthiya.
3. lunavath was a oral name… I am an witness for lunavath pronounced as Nunavath or lonavath in some areas.
4. Lunavath people mostly white, very tall and strong. An angry people also.
5. People Filled with Great Agony, make Great Lamentations…make psalms while crying
6. women when crying especially in lunavath family… She says one word frequently that everyone died, everyone died…. I amazed why she saying that… What was the reason behind it.

An Gor Banjara Elders About There Origin.

we are gor, my grandfather came to this place & settled permanently. I don’t know from where he came, but i knew upto 6 generations. But one thing is clear that we are not local here, most of my relatives spread in India, our people spread throughout world.

lun means dwelling or Resting place, temperory dwelling place, stay over night

avath seems as Avot means fathers. Avraham, Yitzaq, Yacov are called as avot

Genesis 12:1 God tells Abraham:

“Leave your land… to a land I will show you.”He becomes a wanderer, without home, living in tents (Hebrews 11:9)

Abraham was the first “Lun” — the first to dwell temporarily in faith

Lived in Philistine territory

Dwelt in tents

Struggled with land ownership, wells, borders

Isaac was a Lun in the land of promise — living on the edge of exile

Jacob — The Exiled Dreamer

Fled from his brother, lived with Laban

Slept under stars (Genesis 28), saw Heavenly Ladder

Later exiled to Egypt

Jacob’s whole life was exile, wandering, heartbreak — a true “Lun”

levavoth very similar to lunavath linguistically

The Hebrew Context – Levites, Levavoth, and Avot

“Levav” and “Levavot” in Tanakh: usage and meaning (“heart”, “inner being”)

Avot in Jewish tradition: patriarchs, ancestral lines

The significance of names ending with “-yah,” “-oth,” and “-th” in Hebrew culture, in Banjara also names ends like this.

Comparative examples: mesya, Shemaiah a, bukkiag, sakriyah, Sukhiya, sangloth, gugloth, etc. from Banjara context

Migration, Language Contact, and Cultural Transmission

Historical migration of lost Israelite tribes (Assyrian exile, 8th century BCE)

Possible routes: Israel → Assyria → Media → Persia → Afghanistan

Banjaras, Gor Banjara possible Routes

Persia to afganistan to Pakistan to Rajasthan to Madhya pradesh to Maharashtra to Telangana.

before parsia historian tracing the origin of banjara, only they traced back till afgani

academically.

Language contact and transformation:

Judaeo-Marathi, Judaeo-Malayalam, Yiddish—similar syncretism

How Banjara language absorbed Persian, Pashto, Hindi, rajasthani, panjabi, Marathi, Telugu ect.

Memory preservation through surnames and tribal divisions

DNA, Physical Anthropology, and Genetic Clues

Y-chromosome haplogroups found among Gor Banjaras: R1a-M198 and R1b-M269

genes like CFTR, OCA2 and mmp9 points toward Ashkenazi, Sephardic and levant population…

Presence of Ashkenazi Levite markers

Cultural behaviors, dietary practices, and physical appearance correlations

The concept of Zikkaron (memory) in Jewish identity

The Banjaras as a preserved tribe with lost priestly knowledge

Re-emergence of Levitical consciousness among the Vadthiya

Relevance to modern Israel and the restoration of the Twelve Tribes

Explanation :

The Lunavath community, often found among the Gor Banjara tribal groups of India, holds a name that echoes mystery, movement, and sacred lineage. Though often overlooked in mainstream history, a closer examination of their identity reveals deep spiritual and possibly ancient cultural connections.

🌕 The Meaning Behind the Name “Lunavath”

The name “Lunavath” can be broken into parts:

“Lun” – A word closely associated with dwelling, moon, or temporary camps in many old dialects. In Hebrew, “Lun” (לוּן) also means to lodge, to dwell, or to remain overnight — often used in the context of travelers or exiles.

“Avath” or “Vath” – Resonates with “Avot” (אבות), a Hebrew word meaning fathers or ancestors.

Combining these roots, Lunavath could symbolically mean:

“Those who dwell as the fathers did,” or “Dwellers in exile like the forefathers.”

This interpretation evokes the imagery of a people on a sacred journey, similar to the biblical patriarchs like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who were nomads and seekers of divine promise.

🏕️ Nomadic Roots and Tribal Parallels

The Gor Banjara community, including the Lunavath clan, are traditionally nomadic. They lived in temporary settlements, moved goods across kingdoms, and were often compared to the lost tribes of Israel for their wandering life, tribal customs, and spiritual inclination.

Their tribal symbols, oral traditions, and even ritual clothing have uncanny similarities with ancient Hebrew customs:

The women’s breastplates with coins resemble the High Priest’s ephod.

Many clans, including Badavath, claim priestly origin — possibly reflecting a Levitical (priestly) memory.

🕊️ Spiritual Identity: Dwellers of the Divine Presence

In mystical thought, the moon (Luna) represents Shekhinah — the divine presence that dwells with people in exile. The Lunavath, carrying “Luna” in their name, could be seen as carriers of the Shekhinah, preserving spiritual light in dark times.

Their whiteness, tall stature, and strong emotional expressions are often noted — reminding some of biblical tribes chosen for sacred service.

The Levavoth (לבבות), meaning hearts, is a Hebrew term resembling Lunavath, and symbolizes the inner spiritual dwelling where God resides.

🔗 Hidden Lineage? Echoes of Levi

Could the Lunavath be connected to the ancient tribe of Levi, especially priests who served in the Jerusalem Temple?

Their customs and devotion to God through oral stories and service bear resemblance.

Several within the community report spiritual dreams, emotional intensity, and a deep sense of calling—traits often linked with prophetic or priestly tribes.

This line of thought, though speculative, opens a sacred narrative for Lunavath youth to explore their roots with dignity and pride.

📜 A Legacy Waiting to Be Remembered

History may not have written enough about the Lunavath in textbooks, but the spirit of remembrance is rising. As researchers, storytellers, and spiritual seekers revisit ancient tribal identities, the Lunavath story shines as a symbol of sacred exile, resilience, and divine remembrance.

Let the Lunavath not be seen as just a caste or clan — but as a spiritual name carrying generations of light, memory, and the longing to dwell again in wholeness.

✨ Closing Thought

“In the moonlight of exile, the dwellers of old remain faithful.
The Lunavath carry the flame of fathers — not lost, but hidden — waiting to rise.”