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| Language(s) | Nepali |
|---|---|
| Origin | |
| Language(s) | Khas language |
| Word/name | Khasa kingdom |
| Meaning | The Great One[1] |
| Other names | |
| Derivative(s) | Mahat Kshatri, Mahat Ekthariya |
| See also | Katwal, Budhathoki, Rayamajhi |
Mahat (Nepali: महत) is an Ekthariya chhetri surname among Nepalese, of Khasa heritage.[2] The name may have originated when one of the Jumli Malla kings in medieval times made his younger brother, Dharma Malla, chief of staff in the army. This granted Dharma Malla the title of Mahat (Kshatriya) (meaning The Great One[1]), and as a result, his descendants started using 'Mahat' as their surnames.
Like other Khasa chetris such as Thapa, Basnyat/Basnet, Karki and Khadka, Mahats worship Masta, a local non-vedic deity of the Karnali region. Among twelve Mastas, Khaapar Masta is their Kuldevata. Khasa Chhetris are referred to by their place of origin, and therefore Mahats are also called as Kalikote Mahat.
- ^ a b "Mahat | Encyclopedia.com".
- ^ Subba, Tanka Bahadur (1989). Dynamics of a hill society: Nepalis in Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalayas. Mittal Publications. ISBN 9788173041143.
Some of the Chhetri clans are Adhikari, Baniya, Basnet, Bist, Bohra, Bura or Burathoki, Gharti, Karki, Khadka, Khatri, Khulal, Mahat, Raut, Rana, Roka, Thapa, etc.