पटेल समुदाय - एक प्रमुख वैश्य जाति - PATEL

Patels are found in large numbers in the state of Gujarat in India (see Gujarati people). Information on the caste system in Hinduism indicates that farmers and agricultural workers tend to belong to Vaishya caste, the third highest caste.

Patels in Gujarat are divided into two major groups: 1) Kadava Patel 2) Leva Patel

A mythological story says that Lord Rama had two sons with his wife Sita: Luv and Kush. Leva Patels consider themselves the descendants of Luv and the Kadva Patels say they are descendants of Kush.

Some believe that Patels are descendants of Kshtryas known as the Kurmi Kshtryas. Over time, the word Kurmi changed to Kunbi and later to Kanbi. This Kurmi Kshatrya population grew in Punjab such that several families did not possess enough land to cultivate and this was one of the reasons for out migration. Another reason for this exodus from the Punjab area were the atrocities, mistreatment and loss of family members encountered during the attack by King Sairas of Iran in 600 B.C., King Dairas of Iran in 518 B.C and Alexander the Great of Greece in 300 B.C. These families called the Kurmi Kshtryas who endured losses of family members and setbacks emigrated eastbound or southbound towards Rajasthan, then to the area of present Gujarat, for survival as well as making a better life for their families. When the Kurmi Kshatriyas came to Gujarat, they first went to Saurastra, then to Vadnagar, later on to Vadodara & Baruch. During A.D 1820’s, the Kurmis, by that time known as Kanbis, moved to the area of current Surat District and then to Valsad District. In addition to being known as Kanbis, they were also known as Kadvas and Levas. 

Patels are also classified based on the geographical regions. 

1. Kachchi Patel: Kachchi Patels are one type of Kadava patel worshipping Shri Umiya Mata as their clan deity. 

2. Mehsani Patel: Mehsani Patel are predominantly Kadava patel worshipping Shri Umiya Mata as their clan deity. They are mainly concentrated in North Gujarat's districts mainly in Mahesana and Gandhinagar. 

3. Kathiawadi Patel: Kathiawadi/Saurashtra Patels are Leva Patel and Kadva Patel. Leva Patel are concentrated mainly in Saurashtra, Anand district, Charotar and Kheda district. Kadava Patels are mainly Junagadh, Rajkot, Jamanagar & Surendranagar district of Kathiawar or Suarashtra, Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Banaskantha of North Gujarat and in North Rajasthan, Jaipur and rest of the Rajasthan. Leva Patel primarily worships Shri Khodiyar Mata, Mahisasur Mardini or Badhrakali as their clan deity.

Over history they have mostly been landowners and farmers.

Patels like most of the population in Gujarat are traditionally strict vegetarians.

Sardar Patel of Karamsad, Gujarat was a Charotari Leva Patel.

Leva Patel/Kambi/ Patils claim Suryavanshi origin from Lava (or Leva), the son of Rama in the Hindu epic Ramayana.

According to one theory, Lava established the settlement at Lahore, which was the original residence of Levas.[citation needed] The writer Keshavlal Patel says that, the fourth son of Manu, the hereditors of Disht sect Janmejay (not the Janmejay of Mahabharat), Vishalavati (the present Vyas city in Punjab) was ruling over a region. Lava removed him and established 'Lavapur' and gave the kingdom to his son.After Lava 55th hereditor Sumitra was defeated by Arjuna's hereditor Parikshit(second) and conquered Punjab. According to Ikshanku sect, Lava and Kush belonged to 40th generation.

The myth of the origin of the Leva Patidar from the descent of the sons of Rama is of prime importance and is mainly used to differentiate the community from the Kadva Patidar of kush origin. Majority of leva patel community is also found in Saurashtra region.

PATIL 

Different scholars have suggested different theories about the origin of the word Patil (also Patel or Patidar).

'Patil' meant "group" or "branch" during the regime of Mohammad Begada. 'Patt' meant "part of the land" and 'Patidar' meant "Tax Collector". 'Patil' meant "chief of the village".

The word Patil could also have derived from 'Patkil'. 'Patu' means "Clever", and "patta" means "Chief". The person who established the village used to become Patil. Patil used to become known, because of Village recognition. Patil was not a government post or self occupied post. Virtues and works of the person used to make him a Patil. Later on this post became hereditary. Patil became the Village King and later received Government honor, even after receiving many posts. The Sardars means "soldiers" who did not give up Patilship.

Originally, the Leva Patils belonged to two provinces (Parganas), the Khandesh province (Pargana), and the Vidarbha province (pargana). Each province (pargana) had a Bhorgaon Panchayat (A Judicial system to solve family & other problems). The head of this province (pargana) received government rights (Deshmukhi rights).

.