Chaturvedis' of Mathura

'''Talking about History'''

Chaturvedi is an Indian family name (chatur = four, vedi = one who has learned the Vedas).

A brahmin family name indicating that the title bearer's forefathers were proficient in all of the four Vedas (including the vedic branch one is born into). This was considered a significant achievement and an elevated social status. Legend has it that it takes 16 human lives for one to master the four vedas, the holy books of unlimited knowledge. If one were to master all the vedas in one human life, that was indeed a super human achievement and therefore the title Chaturvedi.

Chaturvedis are also known as Mathur Chaturvedis. People who belonged to Mathura and know as 'Mathura Ke Choubey'. Among the Mathura ke Choubeys, there is one classification as 'Mithe'(sweet) and another as 'Kadwe'(bitter). Mithe choubey belongs to the group of people who negotiated peace with the Muslim invaders and left their colonies and chose to settle down some where else, Kadwe choubeys belong to the group who did not negotiate with the Muslim rulers and chose to stay back and fight for their home land by engageing in guerrila warfare with the invadersand therefore Kadwe (bitter)
Mathur Chaturvedis still have their roots in Mathura and they are all bound together by the Mathur Chaturvedi Mahasabha and usually they have get-togethers that comprise of Chaturvedis living in a particular city. Chaturvedi Sabhas ( meetings) of Kanpur and other cities of UP are famous for the large number of gatherings. Annual Mathur Chaturvedi Mahasbaha ( a very large gathering ) is held every year in Mumbai and prominent Chaturvedis, Chaturvedis from all over India and other personalities are invited to the meetings.

==Origins==

There are also some anecdotes as to how Chaturvedis came to India. One belief is that they were priests in Alexander's army who later decided to settle after his retreat.
The pride and urge and fight in some ways could be attributed to such military ties. Some people also find physical features of Chaturvedis (fairer complexion, physical build) more akin to European roots. How ever which is a lot contradictry as their are evidences of chaturvedi wrestlers in Shoorshen's army also helped Shri Krishna getting their kingdom back and defeating Kansa.
Their roots are also to be said long back during aryan culture and dissendent of some particular tirbe setteled in the foot hills of Kashmir and River Indus(Todays Northern Frontier , now in Pakistan), after several invasions and search of food forced them to migrate once again in smaller groups and search for green pastures.
Their traditions are difftrent but quite similar to Persians and Romans, as groups from same tribe have been said fleed away towards Europe also. However not much is documented but still history speaks at times.

Some Chaturvedi's also keep other surnames like Mishra, Pathak, and Choubey.
Chaturvedi's major population is in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India, but have moved to all the states and are present in all the states.

==Practices==

Being Brahmin, they are strict Vegetarians and usually they don't smoke and drink also. Chaturvedis are known for their unique traditions among the Brahmins and are usually fair skinned compared to other clans. The strict followers of Chaturvedi traditions don't have onion, garlic either.