The Kansara is a Hindu community found throughout India. They are mostly found in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. Also found in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. According to Varna, they come under Kshatriya varna. They can be also known as kings and warriors. They are known as ChandravanshiHaihayavanshi Kshatriya. Their Kuldevi is Mahakali Mata. Their main pilgrimage place is Pavagadh in Gujarat. It is a temple of Goddess Mahakali. They also visit to the Nathdwara or Shree Lalvadrayji Junagadh District of Saurashta and ""FUTDA TEMPLE - GOKUL"".
The penance of sage Matangaj was disturbed by the tolling of bronze bells which were hanging on the flying chariots of Yaksha at mount Mahendra. Sage cursed them to born on the land of mortal as Kansara, but also relieve them by the boon of being protected by Goddess Mahakali. The first man of origin named Krutvirya was born, and thus the hei-hei tribe started. King Krutvirya was the son of Mahabhujang and Spiritual mare. Mahabhujang and the spiritual mare were none other but another appearance of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi on earth under the influence of curse given to each other. King Krutvirya was very brave, mighty and sovereign emperor. Kartavirya was son of Krutvirya who was also famous as Sahastra Arjun. Sahastra Arjun was married to four sisters of Sage Parshuram, they were named Shwetakshi, Shwetmala, Chandrasya, and Chandrika respectively. Parshurama has declared the war against Kshatriya and oath to carnage them. Under that oath Parshurama killed Sahastra Arjun. But on the request of his sisters he forgives their unborn sons. All sisters went to Haradwar and gave birth to princes named Jayant, Vijay, Vanmali and Jayadrath. With the boon from Lord Shiva, those four Princes were became proficient in metallurgy and able to do levy free business in any kingdom and being assured to have Maa Kali as their Mother-Goddess, they went to Vishwakarm to avail required knowledge of metallurgy and art of making metal utensils and ornaments. Being acquaintance and proficient in required knowledge in metallurgy, they started their business in various parts of Indian region. According to an incident written in Ramayana about how Kansaras were exampted to do levy free business in the reign of Rama in Ayodhya; that proves the art of making utensils and ornaments developed during Treta Yuga, hence the Hei-hei tribe. King Chaud of kingdom Kanchinagar had capture four princes in their un-pious condition as the revenge of insult of his Princess and killed three of them. But forth prince named Jayadratha fought and survived and with the grace of Maa Kali became the king of Avanti. He was then renamed as Dharmapal and was also known as grandfather of Kansaras. He built a majestic temple of Maa Mahakali in Avantipur. Dharmapal reign was spread across Gujarat, Maharashtra and Konkan. He had different queens at the land of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Konkan. The Progenies of those queens are known as Gujarati Kansara and Konkni Kansara, respectively. His progenies from queen of Gujarat had domiciled in Champaner and built a temple on a mountain and named that mountain "Pavitragadh", but it later ill-worded as "Pawagadh". At the verge of destruction of Champaner kingdom Maa Mahakali commanded Kansara to move to the safer places. On the command of Maa Mahakali Kansara scattered in form of various groups and dwelled to different locations of Gujarat like Amdavad, Vishnagar, Vijapur, Kutch and Surat. Later they were sub-classified as Amdavadi, Vishnagari, Vijapuri, Soni, and Surati Kansara. Their history associates them with Parshurama who exterminated the Kshatriyas. This is told in the Kalika Purana, named after their deity Kali.
Caste groups
The Kansara belongs toGujarat, India. Their associated groups live in Maharashtra such as Tambat. The Kansara are divided into Gujarati Kansara, Maru Kansara, Sorathia Kansara, and Jamnagari Kansara,Surti Kansara, based on their native place. They traditionally wear kanthi mala. In other states there is no concentration of the people in any particular region and can be found in almost all the places. People living in Gujarat and Maharashtra are vegetarian. People living in other places have mixed eating habits.
