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Mahajan is an Indian surname or title, (e.g., Chaitanya Mahajan) found among several castes and communities. The word "Mahajan" is an amalgam of two Sanskrit words: Maha meaning great, and Jan meaning people or individuals (Respectful people). Over the years, the word Mahajan has become a common generic job title used to describe people involved in money lending and financial services.

CASTE

Mahajans originally are believed to be descendants of King Kuru who were Chandravanshi. He was very religious, just, fair and good administrator. Chandravanshi ruled entire Aryavrat Region. They were descendants of Pandavas & Kauravas. Mahajan word is a very respectable word, meaning high in knowledge, religion and actions. According to Vaman Puran - "Mahajano si mahalroshi mahajano yen gataa sa pantha." God Vishnu was pleased with King Kuru, and King was shifted to Vaishya. God Vishnu said to King Kuru that he has done great job and he is great person. Therefore, your dynasty will be called MAHAJAN and all rulers will be known as Vaishya, because doing agriculture, you have accepted Vaishya. They migrated from central India to Rajasthan and then to Punjab region several hundred years back. A renowned social reformer Lala Hans Raj Mahajan urged people to replace "Gupt" by 'Mahajan' as their surname in the early 20th century as Mahajan word denotes respectable community. The Mahajan community of North India was based in the undivided Punjab region. They are in money lending activities for centuries within the Punjab and nearby areas such as Himachal, Jammu and Kashmir, the present-day state of Punjab, the Punjab province and the North West Frontier area. Most of these Mahajans speak Punjabi and Dogri, and reside in the regions of the Punjab, Jammu, Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Mahajans are landlords, traders and business men who were highly respected and have a major influence in the society.

Gujrat and Madhya Pradesh Some People in Gujarat Madhya Pradesh's Nimar region also bear Mahajan as a surname. They also use other common surnames such as Nema. They believe in Srinathji at Nathdwara (Rajasthan) and are staunch vegetarians. In Gujarat, the Bhatia caste also use the "Mahajan" surname, as the Mahajan community was traditionally associated with money lending. Some people with the surname Mahajan are found in Maharashtra but they are Brahmin.

SUB CASTE

In North India Mahajans surname have been found in many sub castes such as Mahotra, Swaar, Beotra, Sanghois, Phagetra, Jandials, Vaid, Bangwathiya, Langars, Rarotra, Fave (Phave), Padotra, Kubre, Piddu, Gadhede, Chunne, Manath, Karmotra, Kankaal, Lamhe, Khadyals, Kanghal/kaag, Sadad, Paba, Jugnal, Ukhalmunde, Bucche, Gadri, Laira, Kalsotra, Chapate, Bharray, Jadyal, Parru, Rometra, Malguria, Chukarne, Iddar, Chogga, Thathar and Lamma, Makhirru, Bichchu, Thapre, Tathyan, . Mahajans from these sub castes observe annual mail on Sri Guru Nanak Dev's Birthday, usually in November and gather at their respective religious places located in J&K, Punjab, HP and seek blessings of their devta/deity. Family ceremonies such as sutra and mundan are also organised. Prasad is distributed through langars (community food). Each sub caste believes in its own deity, known as devte

Mahajans are prohibited to marry into the same sub caste because they are considered as brother and sister, according to their belief. Some Mahajans use the castes of Gupta and Jandiyals. The Gupta surname is mostly used by the Mahajans of the Jammu region.

Mahajan as a generic title Mahajan is also used a generic job title referring to people involved in money lending. In this case, a person involved in money lending is referred to as a Mahajan whether or not he is a Mahajan by caste.

In the coastal state of Goa, Mahajan is not used as a family name. It means elders (Maha — great and Zan — person) or respectable people. The Mahajans originally referred to rich merchants, traders, money lenders and bankers. In later its meaning changed to mean the founders of Hindu temples, their patrons and their descendants, who mostly were descendants of the older Mahajans, mentioned before. The Portuguese codified Mazanias which are associations of a religious nature, who were the patrons of the temples, Mahajan or Mhajan(in Konkani) is an appellation which is used by the members of Mazanias These people mostly belong to castes such as Gaud Saraswat Brahmins, Daivajnas, very few Padyes as well Kshatriyas, and some Vaishya Vanis.