Hussaini Brahmin

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Hussaini Brahmins are a small sect within the Mohyal Brahmin community of the Punjab region. The Mohyal community normally associated with orthodox Brahmins comprises seven sub-clans named Bali, Bhimwal, Chhibber, Datt, Lau, Mohan and Vaid. They have adopted non-Brahmanical traditions leading to the sub-set of the Moyhal community paying reverence to Islam, most notably to the third Imam Hussain. According to V. Upadhyaya they were influenced by the Chisti Sufis. While they wear the yajnopavita and the tilak, they take alms from only the Muslims, and not from Hindus. Some of them are found in Pushakar, Ajmer, where Mu'in al-Din Chishti is buried. According to another tradition, Yazid's troops had brought Imam Husain's head to their ancestors home in Sialkot. In exchange for his head, the ancestor exchanged his own sons' heads. Famous Hussaini Brahmins include the actor Sunil Dutt, Urdu writers Kashmiri Lal Zakir, Sabir Dutt, and Nand Kishore Vikram. Few families can still be found in parts...

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