Bania

(variant of Baniya) In traditional northern Indian society, a merchant or shopkeeper often but not exclusively
belonging to the vaishya varna, which is
the third of four social classes in Hindu
culture. Aside from their merchant
activities, the more prosperous ones
often engaged in moneylending, sometimes at prodigious rates of interest, as a
way to further increase their capital. In
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Bania
The bana linga, an egg-shaped stone,
is believed to be a manifestation of the god Shiva.
traditional lore, banias are invariably
painted as greedy and avaricious people
who care about nothing but money.
Although they were often stereotyped as
parasites, banias were a necessary part
of the traditional agricultural economy,
because they gave farmers goods on
credit to be repaid after the harvest.
They also lent farmers money to get
started again after a bad harvest. Both
groups thus depended on one another—
the farmers for capital, the banias for
continuing consumption and patronage. For a masterful reconstruction of
the ethos in the northern Indian merchant family, in which Hindu piety was
an important element, see C. A. Bayly,
Rulers, Townsmen and Bazaars, 1983.