Similarly, the Kanjeevaram Silk Weavers are also considered as descendants of Rishi Markanda, who was considered to be the "weaver of the clothes that Gods themselves wore." In this way it can be said that all the weaver communities in Hinduism associated with Rishi Mrikanda too.[8][13]
Bunker is a subgroup of the caste of Balai. Some bunkers still do the work of weaving and they belong to the vaishya caste. They are attached with the work of weaving or selling.[14]
Jainism
Jain Shravak Sangha had preached among the Balai community in 1964 near Ratlam in village Guradia. Acharya Nanalal Maharaj from Jain Shravak Sangha gave Dharampal Jain Samaj to the Balai community in the name of Lord Dharmanath, who was among the Tirthankaras of Jain society. Currently 1.25 lakh people of Malviya and Gujarati Balai community across the country have become Dharampal Jains.[15][16][17]
Raj Balai
Historically the Raj Balais were royal messengers. They used to convey messages from one kingdom to another kingdom in ancient times. Raj means royal, therefore the Balais who was engaged in such royal services called Raj Balais.[18]
Beliefs
Balai are Hindus by religion. They are devotees of Maa Durga, Maa Chamunda and Maa Kalaratri.[19] They also pay tribute to Baba Ramdeo Ji and consider Kalarati as their kuldevi.[20][21] Balais do not marry in their families or within their gotra.[22] Balais are divided into a number of gotras such as Chouhan, Rathore, Parihar, Parmar, Solanki,[23] Marichi, Atri, August, Bhardwaj, Matang, Dhaneshwar, Mahachand, Jogchand, Jogpal, Meghpal, Garva and Jaipal.[24] They live in multi-caste villages in their own areas and bury their dead.[25]
Balais are traditionally non-vegetarian as they believe in Bali (animal sacrifice).[20] Animal sacrifice is the part of worshiping Maa Durga and Kalaratri.[22][26]
Sometimes Balai is also referred as Julaha and Meghwal.[29][30] Originally most Balais associate themselves with the Meghwal community and refer themselves as Meghwal and Meghvanshi.[31][32]
^General, India Office of the Registrar (1962). Census of India, 1961. Manager of Publications. pp. Page no. 14 ( Sutarkars mention themselves as bunkars).